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"Oh where oh where has my Underdog gone," whines what anthropomorphic dog reporter, the love interest of Underdog, whenever she gets in trouble?

The Underdog Show | The Mitchell Beausejour Company Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia The Mitchell Beausejour Company Wiki Share Logo. The Underdog Show is an American animated television series that debuted October 3, 1964, on the NBC network under the primary sponsorship of General Mills and continued in syndication until 1973 (although production of new episodes ceased in 1967), for a run of 124 episodes. Underdog, Shoeshine Boy's heroic alter ego, appears whenever love interest Sweet Polly Purebred is being victimized by such villains as Simon Bar Sinister or Riff Raff. Underdog nearly always speaks in rhyme, as in "There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!" His voice was supplied by Wally Cox. Contents Edit In 1959, handling the General Mills account as an account executive with the Dancer Fitzgerald Sample advertising agency in New York, W. Watts Biggers teamed with Chet Stover, Treadwell D. Covington, and artist Joe Harris in the creation of television cartoon shows to sell breakfast cereals for General Mills. The shows introduced such characters as King Leonardo, Tennessee Tuxedo, and Underdog. Biggers and Stover contributed both scripts and songs to the series. When Underdog became a success, Biggers and his partners left Dancer Fitzgerald Sample to form their own company,  Total Television Productions , with animation produced at Gamma Studios in Mexico. At the end of the decade, Total Television Productions  folded when General Mills dropped out as the primary sponsor in 1969 (but continued to retain the rights to the series until 1995; however, they still own TV distribution rights through The Program Exchange). Abroad and in syndication Edit The syndicated version of The Underdog Show consists of 62 half-hour episodes. The supporting segments differ from the show's original network run. The first 26 syndicated episodes feature  Tennessee Tuxedo  as a supporting segment (Tennessee Tuxedo originally aired as a separate show and also has its own syndicated adaptation). Thereafter, for most of the balance of the package, the middle segments include Go-Go Gophers and Klondike Kat for three consecutive half-hours and Tennessee Tuxedo in the fourth. Commander McBragg is featured in the majority of episodes, replaced by three segments of The Sing-A-Long Family (in shows #1-2-3, #28-29-30, and #55-56-57). The final two syndicated Underdog half-hours feature one-shot cartoons originally part of an unsold pilot for a projected 1966 series, The Champion (Cauliflower Cabbie and Gene Hattree), with Commander McBragg appearing in show #61 and Go-Go Gophers in show #62. The syndicated series, as shown in the United States, is a potpourri of segments from previously aired versions of the show. Prior to a 1994 remaster, each episode included a "teaser" at the top of the show, asking viewers to stay tuned for a clip from "today's four-part story." (This originates from a 1969–1973 NBC Saturday morning rerun version of the show.) However, there were never more than two parts of the Underdog stories shown in any half-hour program. Prints of such would either be followed by a closing and credits or no credits at all. The closing (which showed the first portion of a variation of the Underdog theme showing a giant terrorizing the city with George S. Irving, the series narrator, saying, "Looks like this is the end!" in place of the theme music) followed by the end credits (re-edited from the cast credits for Underdog and Tennessee Tuxedo), originated from a 1965 repackaged syndicated series, Cartoon Cut-Ups, which originally featured Underdog, Tennessee Tuxedo, and Commander McBragg. For many years starting with NBC's last run in the mid 1970s, all references to Underdog swallowing his super energy pill were censored, most likely out of fear that kids would see medication that looked like the Underdog pills (red with a white "U") and swallow them. Two instances that did not actually show Underdog swallowing the pills remained in the show. In one, he drops pills into water supplies; in the other, his ring is damaged and he explains that it is where he keeps the pill—but the part where he actually swallows it was still deleted. Most stories were multi-parters, but the first four were stand-alones: "Safe Waif," the pilot, which featured a rescue, but no villain. Underdog is shown causing major destruction while trying to help people. "March of the Monsters," the first appearance of Sweet Polly Purebred as giant robots run amok. Simon Says," the first appearance of Simon Bar Sinister. "Simon says HOLD IT!" is the maniacal refrain, as Bar Sinister uses a weird camera to turn his victims into full-size, two-dimensional photographs. "Tricky Trap by Tap Tap," an epilogue to the multi-part story "From Hopeless to Helpless," featuring Riff Raff. The show aired on Nickelodeon from June of 1992 until the mid 1990s. Underdog also aired on ABC in Australia on February 18, 1966. In 1995, Biggers, Stover, Covington and Harris (with General Mills) negotiated a sale of their creations to Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, who later sold the rights to Golden Books. When Classic Media took over Golden Books, it acquired the underlying rights to Underdog. In 2012, Classic Media was sold to DreamWorks Animation, and thus they are the new owners of the series. IGN ranked Underdog #74 on its 'Best 100 Animated Series' list. Characters Edit Underdog was an anthropomorphic superhero. The premise was that "humble and lovable" Shoeshine Boy, a cartoon dog, was in truth the superhero Underdog. George S. Irving narrated, and comedy actor Wally Cox provided the voices of both Underdog and Shoeshine Boy. When villains threatened, Shoeshine Boy ducked into a telephone booth, where he transformed into the caped and costumed hero, destroying the booth in the process when his super powers were activated. Underdog almost always spoke in rhyme: When Polly's in trouble (or When help is needed), I am not slow, For it's hip-hip-hip and AWAY I GO!!! Underdog's most frequent saying when he appeared was: There's no need to fear-- Underdog is here! The majority of episodes used a common template as the final scene. A crowd of people looking up into the sky would say, "Look in the sky!" "It's a plane!" "It's a bird!" After this, an old woman wearing glasses would exclaim, "It's a frog!" Another onlooker would respond, "A frog?!?" To this, Underdog replied with these words: Not plane, nor bird, nor even frog, It's just little old me... (at this point, Underdog would crash into something, then sheepishly finish) Underdog. Underdog usually caused a lot of collateral damage. Whenever someone complained about the damage, Underdog replied: I am a hero who never fails; I cannot be bothered with such details. The villains almost always managed to menace Sweet Polly Purebred (voiced by Norma MacMillian), an anthropomorphic canine TV reporter, as part of their nefarious schemes; she was a helpless damsel in distress most of the time and had a habit of singing in a somewhat whining tone of voice, "Oh where, oh where has my Underdog gone?" This she would sing, to the music of the song "Oh Where My Little Dog Is Gone", whenever in jeopardy. Recurring villains included: Simon Bar Sinister, voiced by Allen Swift, is a mad scientist with a voice reminiscent of Lionel Barrymore. He has an assistant named Cad Lackey. A Bar Sinister is a diagonal line, running from top right to bottom left on medieval family crests, indicating the person is a bastard by birth; this was a clever inside joke typical of animation writing at the time. Riff Raff, also voiced by Allen Swift, is an anthropomorphic wolf gangster based on noted actor George Raft. His gang consists of Sandy the Safecracker, Mooch (the underworld syndicate's top gunman), Spinny Wheels (who drives the gang's getaway car), Dinah Myte (the underworld syndicate's greatest bomb tosser), Nails the Carpenter, Needles the Tailor, Smitty the Blacksmith, the Witch Doctor, and other unnamed members. Other villains include The Electric (Slippery) Eel, Battyman, Tap-Tap the Chisler, and Overcat. Underdog also regularly faced enemies from alien worlds, such as the Marbleheads from Planet Granite, the Magnet Men of the Magnet Planet, the aliens from the Planet of Zot, and the Flying Sorcerers of the Saucer Planet. The majority of the Underdog adventures were presented in the form of four-part serial episodes. Other cartoons, including Go Go Gophers and The Hunter, filled the middle segments. A 1969–1973 NBC run featured all four parts of an Underdog storyline in one half-hour show. The series was first syndicated in the U.S. in the mid 1960s under the title Cartoon Cut-Ups, which presented two Underdog segments along with Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales  and The World of Commander McBragg. This package was revised in the 1970s under the Underdog Show title, now including all 124 Underdog segments and featuring Tennessee Tuxedo, Commander McBragg, Go Go Gophers, and Klondike Kat in various episodes. A syndicated package prepared for distribution outside the United States (and also aired on Boomerang) usually featured two brief Underdog episodes in a single show along with a wider variety of other Total Television Productions cartoon shorts which appeared in between such segments: Go Go Gophers,  King Leonardo and His Short Subjects , Klondike Kat, Tennessee Tuxedo, The Hunter, Tooter Turtle, and Commander McBragg. Tennessee Tuxedo, a penguin, was accompanied by two friends, slow-witted walrus Chumley and Phineas J. Whoopie. Tennessee Tuxedo was voiced by Don Adams of Get Smart (and later Inspector Gadget) fame; knowledgeable professor Phineas J. Whoopee was voiced by Larry Storch of F Troop fame. With the possible exception of Tennessee Tuxedo, none of these characters ever reached Underdog's level of popularity. Episodes Main article: List of The Underdog Show episodes There were a total of 62 Underdog episodes. Underdog also ran with Tennessee Tuxedo, Commander Bragg, the Sing-A-Long Family, Klondike Kat, Go Go Gophers, King Leonardo and His Short Subjects , and other  Total Television Productions  cartoons. A typical 30-minute show included two Underdog episodes bracketing either two or three other cartoons. Super powers Edit When he is not Underdog, he is incognito as Shoeshine Boy. Like Superman, when trouble calls, he hurriedly dresses in a phone booth (which would inexplicably explode upon his conversion). On occasion, in order to replenish his powers, he would take an "Underdog Super Energy Pill." The "Underdog Super Energy Pill" was first introduced in Episode 9. He keeps one of these pills inside a special ring he wears at all times. (Before taking one, he would often utter the words: "The secret compartment of my ring I fill / With an Underdog super energy pill.") Several episodes show Underdog losing the ring and being powerless, since he must take another pill as his super powers begin to fail ("Without my Super Energy Pill / I grow weaker and weaker and weaker still"). When the series was syndicated in the 1980s and 1990s, the scenes of him taking his energy pill were edited out. In the recent release, "Underdog: The Ultimate Collection", the word "energy" was replaced with "vitamin." Underdog is shown to have incredible superhuman powers. However, the number and scope of his superpowers are inconsistent from episode to episode, being subject not only to the conventions of superhero comics, but also to the conventions of humorous cartoons. In one episode he easily moved planets, safely butting against them with his rear end. In another episode his super energy pill, diluted billions of times when added to a city's water system, was capable of giving normal humans who drank the water enough strength easily to bend thick steel bars. Among his the many powers shown on the show are: super strength, supersonic flight, physical invulnerability, X-Ray Vision, super breath, cosmic ray vision, atomic breath, atomizing eyes, ultrasonic hearing, Supersonic High Pitch Hi-Fi Voice and a great calculating brain. Other media Underdog has also appeared in one Little Golden Book, Underdog and the Disappearing Ice Cream. Charlton Comics produced a comic book that ran 10 issues from July 1970 to January 1972. Gold Key Comics produced a comic book that ran 23 issues from March 1975 to February 1979. Spotlight Comics did 3 issues in 1987. Harvey Comics did a one-shot in 1993, and a 5-issue series from November 1993 to July 1994. Theme song Edit The show is also remembered for its title song, "Underdog", which was written by Chester Stover, W. Watts Bergers, Treadwell Covington, and Joseph Harris. There have been several notable covers of the theme song. The song was sung by Peter Trevis. The Butthole Surfers released a version included on the 1995 tribute album Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall for MCA Records. Ted Kooshian's Standard Orbit Quartet included the song on their 2009 CD "Underdog, And Other Stories...". An extended a cappela version was done by The Blanks on the TV program Scrubs during the episode titled "My Hero". They later recorded it on their 2004 album Riding The Wave. The hip-hop producer and members of the Wu-Tang Clan the RZA sampled "Underdog" theme in their 1993 song titled "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin To F' Wit". This song was released in Wu-Tang debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). The Underdog theme was used in a commercial for Reebok ZQuick shoes in 2014. DVD releases Edit On July 24, 2007, Classic Media released Underdog on DVD in Region 1 in a three-volume collection, following a previous three-volume set released in the late 1990s. Each volume features six digitally remastered episodes, each featuring two Underdog segments along with additional cartoons from the Total TV library. On February 21, 2012, Shout! Factory (under license from Classic Media) released a 10-disc Complete Series set containing new bonus material, including commentaries. According to Shout! Factory- 'they're rebuilding the shows to their original television airing as best as they can'. Film adaptation In 2005, Variety reported that a live-action Underdog motion picture was in development by Spyglass Entertainment, scripted by Joe Piscatella and Craig A. Williams. As announced, the story introduces "a diminutive hound named Shoeshine [who] gets superpowers after a lab accident. When he's adopted by a 12-year-old boy, the two form a bond around the shared knowledge that Shoeshine is really Underdog." Actor Peter Dinklage was cast to play Simon Bar Sinister, while Alex Neuberger was cast to play Underdog's human companion Jack Unger. The movie started filming in Providence, Rhode Island, in March 2006 and was released on August 3, 2007, rated by the MPAA Film Board as PG. The film was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Shoeshine/Underdog, voiced by Jason lee, was played by a lemon beagle named Leo sporting a red sweater and a blue cape. Radio In 1999, Biggers created a new episode of Underdog as a half-hour radio show narrated by veteran Boston newsman Tom Ellis with new original music composed by Biggers. Radio stations were asked to participate in Biggers' Victory Over Violence organization by airing the adventure in which the evil Simon Bar Sinister develops a Switchpitch baseball to turn positive people negative. His attempt to become king of Boston is foiled by Underdog (played by Biggers) and Sweet Polly Purebred (portrayed by Nancy Purbeck).

List of Underdog characters

According to Greek mythology, which group of men accompanied Jason on his quest for the golden fleece?

List of references in non-Disney television shows | Disney Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia List of references in non-Disney television shows 40,843pages on This page contains mature content. Continue on at your own risk. List of references to Disney in television shows that were not produced or distributed by Disney. Contents In "And the Great Escape" (aired May 10, 2016), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is mentioned. In "And the Loophole" (aired April 14, 2016), Han and Evie are called Mickey and Minnie Mouse . In "And the Partnership Hits the Fan" (aired April 28, 2016), Earl calls Randy Buzz Lightyear . In "And the Rom-Commie" (aired November 7, 2016), Walt Disney World Resort and The Lion King are mentioned. In "And the Duck Stamp" (aired November 21, 2016), Mulan is mentioned. In "And the Riverboat Runs Through It" (aired January 2, 2017) Zootopia is mentioned. The Addams Family In "The Addams Family Splurges" (aired January 29, 1965), the sound the motor car drivers made when they are about to go by Mr. Toad in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad can be heard by the computer of the Addams Family. In one episode, Wednesday tells Pugsley he is going to Disneyland as punishment. In another episode, Fester learns he bought a copy of Bambi home by mistake. America's Funniest Home Videos Please note that America's Funniest Home Videos was produced by Buena Vista Television and Disney-ABC Domestic Television . Plus, the episodes that starred Tom Bergeron took place at the Disney Parks. One clip in the series featured a family paying a visit to Walt Disney World , and one of the Tweedle Brothers proceeded to sneak up on the grandmother, with her turning around and then proceeding to scream in shock. As part of Disneyland 's 60th anniversary, one show took place there as the show's season finale. This was also the final season that Tom Bergeron served as host. AFI 100 Years... series Two separate editions of "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies" ( 1998 and 2007 ) have featured Disney films making both lists. One film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , made both lists, ranking at #49 in 1998 and #34 in 2007. Fantasia made the 1998 list, ranking at #58, and Toy Story made the 2007 list, ranking at #99. For "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions" ( 2002 ), two Disney films made the list: Lady and the Tramp , ranking at #95, and Beauty and the Beast , ranking at #34. For "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains" ( 2003 ), several Disney characters were ranked on the villains list: Cruella De Vil at #39, Man (from Bambi ) at #20, and The Evil Queen at #10. Several Disney songs have made the top 100 songs in American cinema, as seen in "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs" ( 2004 ). These include: at #99, " Hakuna Matata "; at #62, " Beauty and the Beast "; at #47, " Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah "; at #36, " Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious "; at #19, " Some Day My Prince Will Come "; and within the top ten, at #7, " When You Wish Upon a Star ". Also making the list, at #74, is the Muppet song " The Rainbow Connection ". For "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies" ( 2006 ), one Disney film, Pinocchio , made the list, at #38. For "AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals" ( 2006 ), two Disney films made the list: Beauty and the Beast at #22 and Mary Poppins at #6. For "AFI's 10 Top 10" ( 2008 ), all movies in the top ten list of animated films are Disney movies (with the exception of Shrek, ranking at #8): Finding Nemo at #10, Cinderella at #9, Beauty and the Beast at #7, Toy Story at #6, Fantasia at #5, The Lion King at #4, Bambi at #3, Pinocchio at #2, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at #1. The Amazing Race In the fifth episode from Season 10, David says, "With a million dollars, I can take my kids to Disneyland , the Grand Canyon! I can put 'em on a plane!" In the last episode from Season 13, as Starr watches Nick ride the zipline across the island, she tells him, "You look like Peter Pan ." The Apprentice In "Boat Show" (aired November 17, 2016), when team Nebula searches for fish cushions, one woman says "I've found Nemo !" In "London Landmarks" (aired November 24, 2016), one of two mermaids sing " Part of Your World " from The Little Mermaid . In "Virtual Reality Game" (aired December 1, 2016), there are two Disney references. The family that pass by in the ExCeL London are dressed as the Incredibles . Barney Miller In "Bureaucrat" (aired March 6, 1975), after Sgt. Chano Amenguale arrests a young boy for stealing and threatens to send him to prison, the boy insists that he is not going to jail, to which Chano replies, "No? Where do you think they send you for stealing, Disneyland ?" The Big Bang Theory In "The Grasshopper Experiment" (aired November 12 , 2007 ), Howard mentions that at Disneyland , people can hire Snow White to come to their house. In "The Bat Jar Conjecture" (aired April 21 , 2008 ), Raj suggests they do a strategic laugh, to intimidate Sheldon. When he shows them what it may sound like, Howard comments that his laugh would make them sound like: " A tall, thin woman , who wants to make a coat out of your Dalmatians ." In "The Vartabedian Conundrum" (aired December 8 , 2008), Penny searches Leonard's apartment for Stephanie, trying to prove that they are living together, which he insists is not so. In the process, Penny discovers some framed pictures taken from Walt Disney World , and wants to know who is in them. Leonard says that the big dog is Goofy , but that he does not know who the older couple in the mouse ears are. In "The Work Song Nanocluster" (aired March 16 , 2009 ), a girl mixed-up says "Jiminy Crockett" when a man says it is Jiminy Cricket and Davy Crockett . In "The Vegas Renormalizaiton" (aired April 27 , 2009), Raj says of Las Vegas, " Disneyland can suck it. This is the real happiest place on earth." In "The Spaghetti Catalyst" (aired May 3 , 2010 ), Penny takes Sheldon to Disneyland , but Sheldon heard her making plans with her friends and was not going to say 'no.' Leonard tells her not to give Sheldon too much junk food, and does not let him ride Space Mountain after he eats. Leonard then tells Penny to keep him away from Goofy , or else he will get nightmares, but Pluto is okay, though. In "The Friendship Contraction" (aired February 2 , 2012 ), Sheldon says, in contradiction of the famous Toy Story quote, " You haven't got a friend in me ". In "The Vacation Solution" (aired February 9 , 2012), Amy is so excited about Sheldon working with her that she compares such to Marie and Pierre Curie working in the glow of radium that killed Marie, and then exclaims, "Screw Beauty and the Beast , that's the love story Disney should tell." In "The Decoupling Fluctuation" (aired October 4 , 2012), Bernadette refers to Howard as a sexy Buzz Lightyear . In " The Fish Guts Displacement " (aired December 6 , 2012), Howard sings a parody of the song " Heigh-Ho " from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . In "The Contractual Obligation Implementation" (aired March 7 , 2013 ), Bernadette, Amy, and Penny go to Disneyland, and planned to dress up as some of the Disney Princesses (namely, Cinderella , Snow White and Aurora ). In the ending of the episode, Bernadette is revealed to be dressed as Cinderella (Howard implies that he was hoping she would be Cinderella when he returns home), Penny is revealed to have dressed up as Aurora (while explaining to Leonard why she was dressed up, he was shown taking his pants off, implying that he was aroused by her) and Amy was revealed to be Snow White (she feigns being asleep in order to get kissed by Sheldon, but he implies that he does not wish to kiss her). In "The Prom Equivalency" (aired November 6 , 2014 ), Howard and Bernadette notice that Emily has a tattoo of Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas . Emily says that she likes Sally, not only because they both have red hair, but also because Sally is covered in scars and can pull her own limbs off and sew them back on. As if to change the subject, Bernadette then says that she likes Cinderella . Emily points out to her how in the original book, the stepsisters cut their toes off with knives so as to fit in the glass slipper, to which Bernadette replies, "I like ' Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo '." In "The Champagne Reflection" (aired November 20 , 2014), Leonard finds a 50-year-old bottle of champagne with a note from Professor Roger Abbot's mother. While Leonard is reflective, Howard and Raj think it is funny that Roger Abbot's name sounds like Roger Rabbit . In "The Matrimonial Momentum" (aired September 21 , 2015 ), when Leonard and Penny get married, the song " You've Got a Friend in Me " is used in Penny's wedding vows. In "The Opening Night Excitation" (aired December 17 , 2015), the boys show enthusiasm to purchase tickets to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens . In "The Meemaw Materialization" (aired February 4 , 2016 ), Raj quotes Frozen and mentions The Good Dinosaur as "the film that changed his life". Big Time Rush In "Big Time Break (aired March 5, 2010), the television show Witches of Rodeo Drive is a parody of Wizards of Waverly Place . In "Big Time Rocker" (aired September 24, 2011), the film Spy High is a parody of Sky High . Bones In "The Twisted Bones in the Melted Truck" (aired December 2 , 2010), Booth's son Parker mentions that his favorite TV show is Wizards of Waverly Place , during his conversation with Hannah Burley. In "The Truth in the Myth" (aired April 14 , 2011 ),  Bambi  is mentioned during a conversation by Cam and Angela, for a reason why she hates hunting. In "The Hole in the Heart" (aired May 12 , 2011), one of the characters mentions Disney World . In "The Suit on the Set" (aired May 7, 2012),  Disneyland  is mentioned. In "The Brain in Tahoe Bot" (aired January 10, 2016) Peter Pan and Tinkerbell are mentioned. BrainDead In "The Path to War Part One: The Gathering Political Storm" (aired August 14, 2016), Disney World is mentioned. In "Six Points on the Congressional Budget: The False Dichotomy of Austerity vs. Expansionary Policies" (aired September 4, 2016), Jiminy Cricket is mentioned. A contestant named Fiona is shown as the " Little Mermaid " and when she runs to the treadmill having been catapulted to the foam, " Under the Sea " can be heard in the underscore. Car Crash TV In episode three of season two (aired October 17, 2016), the host Chris Barrie refers to a car as " Dumbo " because there is a billboard with a tightrope walking elephant in the background. In episode eight of season two, (aired November 25, 2016), one of the men who run around a van is dressed as Mickey Mouse . The Carol Burnett Show One segment in the episode from December 29 , 1971 is a "Salute To Disney", featuring live appearances by Disney characters. As part of this, Carol Burnett assumes the role of Peter Pan , flying about the stage just like him as she does. In another episode, from 1973 , there is a sketch entitled "The Firing of Donald Duck ", featuring guest star John Byner as Donald. Cheers The workmen initiate a work slow-down. After that, Sam thinks they have to up the bribe ante, but again Rebecca refuses. As such, Rebecca suggests building a back entrance to the bar from the alley. During that work, Norm gets stuck between the iron bars in the back window. They call in the police to get him unstuck. They also compare Norm's situation to Winnie the Pooh when he got stuck in Rabbit 's hole. Two of these references are to that of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh franchise . During Henry's story, his mother claims for him to have asked if they were going to Walt Disney World Resort . The Colbert Report On the July 1 , 2010 show, Colbert believes that Joe Scarborough is criticizing John Boehner because his skin is more orange than his. After going through several orange fictional characters, he says "I'm not saying orange people are perfect, this guy is clearly a tweaker". On the October 3 , 2011 episode, Stephen Colbert reports on the controversial name of Gov. Rick Perry's family hunting camp. Since he cannot say the name on the air, Colbert resorts to playing "Charades". At one point, he makes a "sounds like" gesture with his ear and points to a picture of Tigger . On the June 27 , 2013 show, Colbert reports on the controversy about a lesbian couple appearing on the next season of Good Luck Charlie , which he says makes him feel he has been "kicked in the Mickeys." He also makes a dig at the amount of properties Disney owns. At the end, he says that Disney should go back to teaching children that it is okay for a prince to make out with a princess if she is drugged and that " bestiality is okay if a talking candle says so ." On the September 4 , 2013 show, Colbert mocks Obama calling for war with Syria by saying that Bashar al Assad will hit Epcot , "thereby taking out Paris , London and China , and it blows over to Disney, that's all our robotic presidents !" On the October 22 , 2013 show, Colbert hosts an "In-Box" segment where he reads a fan letter asking which is better, lions or tigers. When he compares the two animals, he mentions that both animals have been turned into cartoon characters and shows pictures of Simba and Tigger. He then remarks that "It's okay when they call each other Tigger, but you should not." In one episode, while talking about Robin Williams' movies, Abed mentions that his father does not like movies because Arabs appear as stereotypes, and Troy advises him to see Aladdin because " Jafar rocks". In " Paradigms of Human Memory " (aired April 21, 2011), Disney's racism is criticized. In "Josh Is Going to Hawaii!" (aired March 7, 2016), the song "The Villain in My Own Story" parodies Disney Villain songs. The protagonist, Rebecca Bunch, generally does references to Disney films. The season 1 season finale "Paula Needs to Get Over Josh!" (aired April 18, 2016) includes several references to Aladdin , including a song by Lea Salonga . The Daily Show with Jon Stewart On the May 16, 2011 show, Stewart reports on the controversy of Disney filing a trademark application for the name "SEAL Team 6" two days after the killing of Osama bin Laden, showing a fake poster depicting cartoon seals and says that he "can't wait for the Happy Meal." He then introduces a "new segment" called "Well, That Was Fast", and says he will trademark The Lion King , but since it already is trademarked, he says he will trademark the "TM" symbol on the Lion King logo. On the August 26, 2011 show, Jon Stewart pokes fun at presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann's recent appearances on multiple news programs: "She went on ESPN 's Sunday Night Baseball, Real Housewives of New Jersey and ended the night by attempting to bust Phineas and Ferb ." An image from " Phineas and Ferb's Quantum Boogaloo " with Bachmann in place of Candace is shown as Stewart briefly impersonates Dr. Doofenshmirtz : "Oh, there you are, Perry . Perry the Platypus." On the May 16, 2013 show, Stewart discusses the controversy surrounding the makeover of Merida for her inclusion into the Disney Princess franchise. On the July 15, 2013 show, Jon Oliver (who has been subbing for Stewart for the summer) closes his argument of the results of the George Zimmerman case and Florida's controversial laws by showing a video of Mickey Mouse waving from atop Spaceship Earth , saying that Mickey was trying to tell you "Please get me the f*** out of here." On the October 21, 2013 show, as a jab at the glitches on the Obamacare website, John Oliver is shown to have been sucked into his computer after logging onto the site, complete with him wearing a Tron outfit. On the October 30, 2013 show, Jon Stewart parodies the logo for A Bug's Life with his "A Bugged Life" logo. On the September 29, 2014 show, Jon Stewart sang a line from " Let It Go ", and then said he's seen that movie a thousand times. In the February 9, 2015 episode, " Let It Go " from Frozen is partially sung by Bassam Youssef. Dansk naturgas In one episode (aired December 7, 1985), Donald Duck 's duck voice is imitated at one point. How I Met Your Mother In "Slutty Pumpkin" (aired October 24, 2005), Marshall dresses up as Captain Jack Sparrow for Halloween. In "No Tomorrowland" (aired March 17, 2008), Barney says that going to St. Patrick's Day is "so not Raven", a reference to That's So Raven . Also, Barney's attire is compared to that of Peter Pan . In "The Mermaid Theory" (aired December 6, 2010), Marshall advises Robin to sing the song " Part of Your World " from The Little Mermaid . In "Something New" (aired May 13, 2013), Marshall mentions Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln from Walt Disney World Resort . Also, Lily says "I want to watch a movie that doesn't start with a desk lamp jumping on top of an I ". In "The Locket" (aired September 23, 2013), Ted says that with his family he went to Walt Disney World Resort . In "Bass Player Wanted" (aired December 16, 2013), the Mother (Tracy McConnell) tells Marshall that Darren regularly steals a tragic backstory shown in a Disney film as a way of guilting people into sympathizing for him. Films he's ripped off of include Bambi , The Lion King and Finding Nemo . In "Rally" (aired February 24, 2014), Dumbo 's feather was mentioned by Robin when she remembered that Barney made up the Stinsons' Hangover Fixer Elixir so that the gang would all believe that they could rally. even though it wasn't real, it actually worked. To which Barney replies back saying "Dum-BRO's feather". In " Disneyworld " (aired April 28, 1998), Sabrina goes to Disney's Animal Kingdom . Santa Makes You LOL Saturday Night Live On the October 4, 2008 show, guest host Anne Hathaway plays Mary Poppins in a sketch. Poppins reveals that Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is a rare and painful live disease, that she is suffering from. It's also revealed to be an STD and that she's given it to both Bert and Constable Jones . On the January 17, 2009 show, guest host Rosario Dawson plays Jasmine in a parody of Aladdin . The sketch features Jasmine and Aladdin being miserable on their tenth wedding anniversary and reveals that they've both slept with the Genie . On the April 11, 2009 show, guest host Zac Efron reprises his role as Troy Bolton from the High School Musical films in the sketch High School Musical 4: New Senior Class, where he deconstructs the school's musical logic when he describes his education and first year in college. Walt Disney also appears and references the rumor of him being frozen. On the October 17, 2009 episode featured a sketch called You Think I'm the Beast? It features several of the characters from Beauty and the Beast and has the Beast reveal that he thinks Belle is the "beast", while he's the "beauty". On the May 7, 2011 episode featured a sketch called Below the Waves, which was a parody of The Little Mermaid . The song "Below the Waves" was a reference to " Under the Sea ." On the March 3, 2012 episode contains a parody of The Real Housewives of New Jersey titled The New Housewives of Disney, depicting the Disney Princesses in the roles of the housewives. On the April 5, 2014 episode, guest host Anna Kendrick and the cast members sung the SNL monologue to the tune of " Belle " from Beauty and the Beast . The same episode also featured a sketch based on The Little Mermaid . On the January 16, 2016 episode, guest host Adam Driver plays Aladdin in another parody of Aladdin . The sketch features Aladdin and Jasmine out on a date, on the Magic Carpet , where horrible things keep happening to Jasmine: she gets hit by a bird, hit on the head by a bomb and finally gets the content of an airplane toilet over her. After that, the carpet crashes at an Air Force base. On the October 15, 2016 episode, Colin Jost of the Weekend Update mentioned that the 2016 Election was like the movie, Up and later showed an image of Carl Fredricksen wearing a Trump Supporter Badge. Sesame Street Besides Disney distributing its videos in the UK, there are several references in this show as well. The only three Muppets characters who appeared in this show were Kermit the Frog who demonstrated concepts and sometimes appeared as a reporter 1969 to 2001 and in Elmo's World: Frogs in 2009; Rowlf the Dog who appeared in the "Song of Nine"; and Beautiful Day Monster who appeared in the earliest seasons of the show. Sesame Workshop never has the rights to these characters. A picture of Miss Piggy appeared in two segments. A Baby Fozzie plush can be seen in a girl's bedroom in a 1991 episode film segment. The Young Ones In " Bambi " (aired May 8, 1984), the boys go on the TV show University Challenge, which is hosted by Bambi (played by a human and a reference to University Challenge's original host, Bamber Gascoigne). Mike claims that he and Bambi are old friends and that he introduced him to Walt Disney . Upon meeting Bambi at the TV studio before the University Challenge taping, Neil starts to cry and says "I'm just remembering, like, that bit when you got lost in the snow, and the little rabbit found you, it was so beautiful." We also learn Bambi starred in a porn sequel called Bambi Goes Crazy Ape Bonkers with his Drill and Sex, to which Neil responds "Is that true Bambi? Did you do a Disney Nasty?" Animated shows Adventure Time The title card of "What is Life?" (aired June 14, 2010) is an obvious reference to Up . In "His Hero" (aired September 20, 2010), a character named The Lich (who appears in later episodes), bears a strong resemblance to the Horned King from The Black Cauldron . In "Crystals Have Power" (aired November 29, 2010), Tree Trunks can fly with her ears, referencing Dumbo . In " Guardians of Sunshine " (aired February 21, 2011), Finn and Jake enter a digital world by the same method Kevin Flynn is digitized in Tron . The same method is later used in " A Glitch Is a Glitch " (aired April 1, 2013; note that both episodes are done via CGI in contrast to the usual traditional animation used in the series). In " Fionna and Cake " (aired September 5, 2011), when Fionna, Cake and Gumball ride on Lord Monochromicorn, their singing is a reference to the song " A Whole New World " from Aladdin . In " Princess Monster Wife " (aired May 28, 2012), the scene where the Ice King's musical number is a reference to the song " A Whole New World " from Aladdin . In " The Red Throne " (aired February 10, 2014), a character named Ursula might have been inspired by the character of the same name from The Little Mermaid . In " Betty " (aired February 24, 2014), a character named Bella Noche can have his named translated from Spanish to Italian Bella Notte , referencing the song from Lady and the Tramp . The Amazing World of Gumball In 2010 , Ben Bocquelet uploaded its early reel on YouTube , where Darwin bears a strong resemblance to Nemo from Finding Nemo . Despite the early reel's upload, Cartoon Network omitted it for violating copyright laws. Ben later re-uploaded it onto his Twitter page on January 18, 2013. In "The Prank" (aired July 18, 2011), Gumball and Darwin send Richard out on a raft during his sleep, a reference to The Parent Trap . In "The Picnic" (aired August 29, 2011), the description of food causing connection to everything is a reference to The Lion King song " Circle of Life ". In "The Curse" (aired February 14, 2012), the theme park Daisyland (based around the character Daisy the Donkey) is a parody of Disneyland . In "The Treasure" (aired October 25, 2012), Gumball criticizes a film called How to Ratatwang Your Panda, a parody of Vídeo Brinquedo films Ratatoing and The Little Panda Fighter , which are in turn parodies of Ratatouille and Kung Fu Panda . Note that the mockbuster also parodies How to Train Your Dragon . In "The Words" (aired November 13, 2012), the song "What He Thinks About Us!" is based off songs from the film High School Musical . The next song "No More Mr. Nice Guy" is sung in Disney Villains style. In "The Bumpkin" (aired January 29, 2013), Richard produces a whistling noise with a broken tooth, making him sound similar to Gopher from the Winnie the Pooh franchise. In "The Flakers" (aired February 5, 2013), Anais and Richard knock over two gnomes who bear a strong resemblance to Gnomeo and Juliet from the film of the same name . In "The Dream" (aired June 26, 2013), a few seconds in the real world is the equivalent to five days in the dream world. This is a reference to the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe . Also, Gumball says to Darwin "YOU DIDN'T JUST KISS HER, YOU STARED ME IN THE EYES WHILE YOU DID IT LIKE AN EVIL SULTAN!", an implied reference to Jafar from Aladdin . In "The Storm" (aired July 31, 2013), Carmen and Alan share spaghetti with each other, a reference to the Lady and the Tramp . In "The Lesson" (aired August 7, 2013), Bomb Guy's design is based off Mickey Mouse . Pink Bear also greatly resembles Winnie the Pooh . In "The Limit" (aired August 28, 2013), Richard refers to himself as "a chubby Peter Pan ". In "The Voice" (aired September 10, 2013), Gumball gets surrounded by woodland creatures, a reference to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . In "The Internet" (aired November 12, 2013), Gumball is scanned similar to Kevin Flynn being digitized in Tron . In "The Joy" (aired June 19, 2014), when Gumball rotates his face, the music in the underscore is similar to the theme of the Disneyland ride The Haunted Mansion . In "The Recipe" (aired July 3, 2014), Gumball and Darwin create their own version of Anton who they name Ant-Two. Its underdone version is a reference to Paper Jam Dipper from the Gravity Falls episode " Double Dipper ". In "The Extras" (aired July 17, 2014), the main characters sing and dance as a reference to High School Musical . In "The Gripes" (aired July 24, 2014), Darwin receives help from animals as he sings. This is a reference to the song " Whistle While You Work " from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . In "The Void" (aired August 14, 2014), Gumball and Darwin use hairspray cans to fly through the void. This is a reference to the film WALL-E where WALL-E uses a fire extinguisher to fly through space. Objects sucked into the void include Darwin's CGI model from the early reel and How to Ratatwang Your Panda from "The Treasure". In "The Password" (aired September 25, 2014), Darwin and Gumball say they will finish each other's sandwiches. This is a reference to the song " Love is an Open Door " from Frozen . In "The Shell" (aired October 9, 2014), Gumball and Penny act out the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. However, when Gumball goes after her later on in the episode, Richard calls his son " Gum-Belle " when he calls out to him to "Go save the Beast !" This is a reference to the Disney film . In between this, Penny (still in her peanut shell), informs Gumball about her moving but first stops to ask if he is crying, to which Gumball answers that he is sweating through his eyes until he finds that disgusting. This is a reference to the Phineas and Ferb episode " Voyage to the Bottom of Buford ", where Buford is occasionally asked if he is crying, to which he answers that he is sweating through his eyes. In "The Bros" (aired October 23, 2014), Gumball and Penny attempt to kiss each other on the lips with the same spaghetti noodle, which references the film Lady and the Tramp , until Darwin eats the noodle himself. In "The Nobody" (aired March 5, 2015), Gumball creates an invention he calls "The Entertainernator", which is a reference to the Inator inventions by Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb . In "The Love" (aired May 12, 2016), a segment based on the Robinsons is a reference to " Married Life " from Up . In "The Night" (aired June 16, 2016), Hector's T-shirt features a character that greatly resembles Pluto . In "The Roots" (aired August 15, 2016), Gumball dresses up as Ariel from The Little Mermaid . In "The Blame" (aired August 16, 2016), Sussie, wearing a crown, says "Off with their heads!", a reference to the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland . In "The Slap" (aired August 17, 2016), Gumball and Tobias sing a song called " Stay Alive ", which has the same tune as the song " I'll Make a Man Out of You " from Mulan . In "The Fury" (aired August 19, 2016), a backstory is shown with Nicole and Yuki, where one of the enemies they battled against greatly resembles Pinocchio . In "The Scam" (aired October 27, 2016), Gumball's snake form that hypnotizes Darwin is a reference to Kaa from The Jungle Book . In "The Boredom" (aired September 15, 2016), one of the gadgets in the dumpster is Cliff Secord 's jetpack from The Rocketeer . In "The Choices" (aired October 13, 2016), Nicole's flashback of her wedding with Richard is a reference to " Married Life " from Up . Animaniacs In "Taming of the Screwy" (aired September 17, 1993), Belle and the Beast are knocked out of a dance circle by the Warners. In the segment "Opportunity Knox" (aired October 18, 1993), when Pinky and The Brain make it into Fort Knox, Pinky remarks, "There's more gold here than in a DuckTales episode!" "Bumbie's Mom" (aired September 22, 1993) directly parodies the scene in Bambi where Bambi's mother is shot (and the mass reaction to it). In the same episode, during the ending sequence the in-flight movie Slappy Squirrel and Skippy Squirrel are watching is "Old Yellow" (parody of Old Yeller ). In "Deduces Wild" (aired September 9, 1995), among the things Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are looking for in their scavenger hunt is "a funny episode of Bonkers ". In "Rest in Pieces", Slappy tells Skippy that there is no death in cartoons, but considers Bonkers an exception. "The Tiger Prince" (aired September 30, 1995), sung by Cree Summer and Jim Cummings is a parody of "Circle of Life", featuring Yakko Warner as Rafiki and Simba, Mufasa, and Sarabi as tigers despite the clearly African setting. The opening is parodied, with Tiger-Simba during the presentation also being accidentally dropped and presumably killed by Yakko-Rafiki, with the latter expressing that he thought cats could land on their feet. In "This Pun for Hire" (aired November 4, 1995), Yakko claims that somebody "tried to slip a mickey into my drink". Yakko is shown pushing away a drink with a familiar-looking mouse in it, saying "Sorry, bub, but I work for Warners." In "The Sound of Warners" (aired November 18, 1995), Dot asks Prunela Flundergust "Why don't you go bug the kids on Goof Troop ?" Later, at the end of the segment, Mary Poppins shows up, saying she's going to be the Warners' new nanny. "Cutie and the Beast" (aired September 7, 1996) is a parody of Beauty and the Beast . "Jokahontas" (aired September 14, 1996) is a parody of Pocahontas . Dot's song at the beginning mocks Disney's constant reuse of princess stories in their movies, and Mel Gibson is depicted wearing pants that resemble Mickey Mouse's shorts and a helmet with mouse ears. Aqua Teen Hunger Force In "Gene E." (aired March 29, 2009), Meatwad claims for The Suite Life of Zack & Cody to air on Nickelodeon , despite its actual run on Disney Channel . This is one sign of his low intelligence. In the series finale "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (aired August 30, 2015), Carl's prison number is A113 . The Cleveland Show In "The Curious Case of Jr. Working at the Stool" (aired February 21, 2010), Rallo sings " Circle of Life " and mentions that, in Africa, he went with a warthog and a meerkat. In "Murray Christmas" (aired December 5, 2010), Carl Fredricksen makes an appearance. Edward Asner reprises his role as Carl for that scene. In "The Essence of Cleveland" (aired April 3, 2011), Cleveland mentions Up to Patty. In "Hot Cocoa Bang Bang" (aired May 15, 2011), during the Avatar -based battle between nerds and Hollywood big-shots, two nerds destroy a Darth Vader statue by smashing signs bearing the Disney and Marvel logos together a la Return of the Jedi . It doubles as a reference to Disney's acquisition of Marvel. In "Skip Day" (aired November 20, 2011), the Crows from Dumbo make cameos. Also, Cleveland Jr. dresses up as Tinker Bell for The Wonderfully Racist World of Disney. In "There Goes El Neighborhood" (aired January 29, 2012), a poster entitled L.A. Bambi is seen. In "Wide World of the Cleveland Show" (aired January 27, 2013), Cleveland Jr. dances whilst dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast . In "A Rodent Like This" (aired March 10, 2013), Rat Lauer pulling Cleveland's hair to help him cook is a parody of the film Ratatouille . "Game Over" is a parody of Tron . The episode's main antagonist, Master Computer, is based off Master Control Program . In "Way of the Dee Dee" (aired December 11, 1996), Dee Dee sings "Can you see with all the colors of the rain", a reference to the song " Colors of the Wind " from Pocahontas . In "Dee Dee Locks and the Ness Monster" (aired August 13, 1997), Dee Dee flies with enormous ears, a reference to Dumbo from the Disney film of the same name . In "Dial M for Monkey: Peltra" (aired November 26, 1997), the episode's main antagonist Peltra is based of Cruella De Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians . Doug Please note that this list only includes episodes of the show made before Disney bought Jumbo Pictures and the show itself. In "Doug Can't Dance" (aired August 18, 1991), a kid in the background at the costume party dance is dressed as Mickey Mouse . At the end of "Doug Says Goodbye" (aired December 8, 1991), Stinky is wearing Mickey Mouse ears at Beebe 's costume party. Drawn Together In "Gay Bash" (aired November 10, 2004), Xandir gets his hands on a magic lamp that contains a genie, which is a parody of  Genie  from  Aladdin . As he comes out from the lamb (which resembles Genie's Lamp ), he changes in to several characters, one of them are Mrs. Doubtfire, one of Robin Williams'  characters (whom was the voice actor for Genie). In the same episode, The Lion King is parodied when Foxxy tells Xandir that "everything the light touches is gay" while African chanting is heard in the background. In "Clum Babies" (aired November 16, 2005), Wooldoor proudly shows his first "clum baby" after masturbating for the first time, and the other housemates bow in respect a la The Lion King . The episode "Terms of Endrearment" (aired January 25, 2006) has Mickey Mouse as a Darth Vader -esque figure who wants to make it the "happiest place on Earth" by eliminating all ethnic stereotypes, with Mickey's name getting partially bleeped every time it is said. A parody of Uncle Remus is among the stereotypes imprisoned by Mickey. In "Xander and Tim, Sitting in a Tree" (aired February 15, 2006), during Spanky's time away from the house working as a police officer, he goes to a hostage situation in Toontown where Pluto holds a gun to Goofy 's head while ranting about why he's the only dog who gets to wear pants. Pluto then kills Goofy before committing suicide. A clip of this episode would be seen in the "In Memoriam" segment from "American Idol Parody Clip Show". In "Spelling Applebee's" (aired October 19, 2006), the Disney princesses Snow White , Aurora and Ariel appear in this episode as Princess Clara's best friends, riding together in a Cinderella-style carriage. They are all victims of the crash Captain Hero causes at the end of the episode to punish Clara for using him. Mulan is mentioned but not seen. In "N.R.A.Y RAY" (aired November 1, 2006), Bambi shows up at the door of the Drawn Together house claiming that Captain Hero killed his mother, a reference to the film's climactic event. This is the second time Bambi has appeared in the series the first was in "Foxxy vs. the Board of Education" (aired October 26, 2005), in which Bambi appears in the hospital waiting room, again with his wounded mother. In "Breakfast Food Killer" (aired October 18, 2007), we see silhouettes of various cartoon characters on line to audition to be a cereal mascot, one of whom is Mickey Mouse . Also, Toot guides the others to a mascot's murder site by going on the Carousel of Progress , and the cast sings "Now Is the Time" when the scene shifts from the house to a field like in the attraction. Prince John's Rhino Guards in Drawn Together. Family Guy In "A Hero Sits Next Door" (aired May 2, 1999), there is a scene where Peter says to his new neighbor Joe that baseball is "so fun, that it should be illegal, like copyright infringement"). His face then morphs into that of Mickey Mouse and imitates his voice and laugh. This scene satirizes Disney's copyright stance on characters like Mickey. Also, at one point, Peter self-questions Calvin Klein being the name of the antagonist in Tron . In "Brian: Portrait of a Dog" (aired May 16, 1999), when Brian is kicked out of the Sicilian restaurant, he comes across Lady and Tramp from Lady and the Tramp , in a parody of the famous spaghetti scene. In "Love Thy Trophy" (aired March 14, 2000), one influenced child rudely says to her adopted sister "Go back to your rice paddy, Mulan !" A cutaway gag from "A Picture is Worth 1000 Bucks" (aired April 18, 2000) depicts Walt Disney taking an art class with Minnie Mouse as a very reluctant nude model. In "Brian Does Hollywood" (aired July 18, 2001), Stewie is playing Interrogation with his Kermit the Frog doll, and starts to "get tender" with his Miss Piggy doll. This clip later appears briefly during the "Freaking FCC" song in the episode PTV. In "One if by Clam, Two if by Sea" (aired August 1, 2001), Peter imagines himself doing the Light Cycle sequence. In "Lethal Weapons" (aired August 22, 2001), Lois says that she's cutting loose, "like in that movie where Julie Andrews shows her breasts." This then leads to a cutaway gag, where Mary Poppins flashes to Michael and Jane . The movie Lois is actually refering to is the 1981 film S.O.B. At the beginning of "Screwed the Pooch" (aired November 21, 2001), the Griffins visit a petting zoo and Peter hops in a kangaroo's pouch pretending to be Roo . In "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" (aired December 10, 2004), Peter sings a song entitled "I Need a Jew", a parody of " When You Wish Upon a Star " from Pinocchio . In "Jungle Love" (aired September 25, 2005), Peter complains about how he's constantly being pushed around at his new job, similar to his last job with Dr. Bunsen Honeydew . This then leads to a cutaway gag, where Peter is doing said job, while looking extremely similar to Beaker . In Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (aired September 27, 2005; DVD version only), a fake trailer shows an upcoming Disney film titled The Littlest Bunny, featuring music by Randy Newman . In "The Courtship of Stewie's Father" (aired November 20, 2005), Peter and Stewie go to Walt Disney World Resort . While Peter and Stewie watch Captain EO , a kid says "It's like Michael Jackson 's coming right at me", followed by Jackson actually jumping out of the screen and snatching the kid, a nod to his child molestation cases. Stewie is kidnapped by security guards and is forced to sing with other lost kids in a parody of It's a Small World . When Stewie demands to be let out, a kid tells him that if he doesn't sing, he'll be put in " a Christmas movie with Tim Allen ". Peter talks to the crows from Dumbo . The climax involves Peter rescuing Stewie dressed as Indiana Jones and riding on an Indiana Jones attraction . Michael Eisner appears acting as Mola Ram. In "I Take Thee Quagmire" (aired March 12, 2006), when Quagmire falls in love with Joan, he imagines himself and Joan as Beast and Belle (with Peter and Cleveland as Cogsworth and Lumiere ), Lady and the Tramp , and finally Aladdin and Jasmine . In "Movin' Out (Brian's Song)" (aired September 30, 2007), Brian turns down a chance to see Disney on Ice with Jillian, so she decides to give his ticket to Peter. In "Lois Kills Stewie" (aired November 11, 2007), Stewie mentions banning the fake movie " Aladdin IV: Jafar May Need Glasses" and in "Foreign Affairs", the Griffins watch the fake movie "Aladdin V: Jafar Answers the Census". The title of these movies are also a reference to the infamous Disney sequels during the Michael Eisner era. In "Stew-Roids" (aired April 26, 2009), Lois watches the film Lady and the Tramp and Michael Vick, which depicts Lady and Tramp eating spaghetti before Michael Vick dunks their heads in a bucket of water, a reference to Vick's conviction for his dogfighting operation. In "Road to the Multiverse" (aired September 27, 2009), the Disney universe has many of the characters appear as parodies of Disney characters. The title of "Hannah Banana" (aired November 8, 2009) is a reference to Hannah Montana , and the episode's plot has Miley Cyrus (though her hair is red instead of brown) performing as herself and Hannah Montana in Quahog, which Stewie was interested to see her as being her biggest fan, though it later turns out that it was actually an android version of herself, which Stewie mentions to Brian that it is "a product of Disney Imagineering ." Satan condemns Goofy to the pit of fire in "Dial Meg for Murder" (aired January 31, 2010) for being involved in the September 11th terrorist attacks. Goofy admits to being part of it, because the United States supports Israel. In "Brian and Stewie" (aired May 2, 2010), Brian says that he wants to commit suicide. Stewie responds by saying, he feels that way when he watches Handy Manny . A cutaway gag from "Road to the North Pole" (aired December 18, 2010) depicts Winnie the Pooh asking Eeyore why he is so glum, to which Eeyore responds "I have a nail in my anus". Pooh was voiced by Will Ryan in that scene. In the uncensored version of "The Big Bang Theory" (aired May 8, 2011), Stewie says to Brian that he was able to stay up until 7:30pm to watch Phineas and Ferb , which its creator Dan Povenmire was also a former director of Family Guy. In "Lottery Fever" (aired September 25, 2011), a cutaway has Peter dive into a bin full of coins like Scrooge McDuck , only to end up bloodied and bruised. In "Family Guy Viewer Mail #2" (aired May 20, 2012), Stewie states that with the variations of Robin Williams , they were not allowed by Disney to play the Genie from Aladdin . In "Chris Cross" (aired February 17, 2013), Stewie tries to impress Brian and his toys by singing. After Brian approves, he says all of the toys were impressed except for Buzz Lightyear , who is absent. This leads to a cutaway gag, where Buzz is picking up some girls in a bar, using his catchphrase. In "Bigfat" (aired April 14, 2013), Quagmire makes a nod to " The Ballad of Davy Crockett " by saying that Davy killed a bear when he was three years old. This triggers a cutaway gag where Davy's parents are convinced that their son is disturbed, as he is killing animals for fun. The episode "Peter Problems" (aired January 5, 2014) features a parody of The Lion King where a monkey holds up a lion cub, only for Peter to show up on a forklift and lift another lion cub higher than the monkey. Two giraffes then comment on when the bris will take place. In "Grimm Job" (aired January 12, 2014), the entire Cinderella segment is a parody of the Disney version. Lois and Peter are featured as Cinderella and Prince Charming , both wearing clothing modeled after the ones of the respective characters from the 1950 film version. The wedding scene is even a short-for-shot reenactment of Cinderella's finale. "Brian's a Bad Father" (aired January 26, 2014) has Brian's son Dylan starring in a new Disney Channel series titled Parent Boppers. Near the end of "3 Acts of God" (aired March 16, 2014), when Stewie asks Brian if he's still an atheist since Peter personally met God, Brian retorts that it's no different than how Peter acts whenever he goes to Disney World and Mickey Mouse "just so happens to be there that day." The title of the episode "Herpe the Love Sore" (aired April 6, 2014) is a parody of Herbie . At the beginning of the episode, Peter and Lois are watching an episode of Behind the Music about Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem , the band from the Muppets . Also, when Stewie finds out he's contracted herpes from Brian, he calls Handy Manny and tells him to turn his speaker-phone off so his tools won't find out. In "Hot Pocket-Dial" (aired November 22, 2015), Joe loses his legs and they drift out into the ocean. Below, Ariel is wishing for a pair of legs, and his pair slowly drifts to her. Ariel then starts to viciously eat them, because the fish part of her really wanted some legs to eat. MAD's Guide to Celebrity Siblings shows siblings of the Jonas Brothers and Emily Osment , Merva and Haley Joel Osment . In the episode "Star Blecch / uGlee" (aired September 27, 2010), a segment called Rejected Toy Story 3 Characters shows Speak & Swear (Mr. Spell), Mr. Couch Potato Head (Mr. Potato Head), Baby Never Stops Crying (Big Baby), Bizz the Friendly Fax and Private Space. Tinker Bell's Operation is a spoof of Tinker Bell . Additionally in uGlee (a parody of Glee ), the Glee members admit that their show premise is no different than the premises for High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Jonas . Troy Bolton , Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers also appear. WALL-E-NATOR is a parody on WALL-E and The Terminator . The segment begins where WALL-E encounters Wolverine for crashing his motorcycle. WALL-E demands Wolverine to hand him his clothes. He then goes Shelby Forthright to inform him about the world being covered in garbage. Shelby claims not to be involved in this until he misses the bin, provoking WALL-E into turning him into a garbage cube. WALL-E then does the same to other fictional characters such as Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street (for referring to him as R2-D2 and telling him to keep off the surrounding garbage), SpongeBob SquarePants from the TV series of the same name (after hearing of consumed too much Krabby Patties ) and Flint Lockwood from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs . He then spots a broadcast van of MAD and follows it to MAD headquarters. He cubes Kevin Shinick and is about to do the same to the other MAD writers only to fall in love with a Xerox machine. At the wedding, Wolverine insists of getting his jacket but is cubed by WALL-E. Wolverine considers it as a wedding gift. In Extreme Renovation: House Edition (parody of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ), Ty Pennington sends Superman to Disneyland while they work on his house in the North Pole. Additionally, Zack was seen as Superman's bunk mate. In MAD vs. Wild (a parody of Man vs. Wild ), Winnie the Pooh is seen as a wild animal, and Camp Rock is seen. Zeke and Lex Luthor is a parody on Zeke and Luther and Lex Luthor from DC Comics . Zeke is forced to team up with Lex for a skateboarding competition. An ad product called Cloudy with a Chance of Flavor (based on the film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ) shows a Cars -themed cereal named CARshmellows (a pun on marshmallows). Class of the Titans / Zeke and Lex Luthor's (aired November 8, 2010) MAD Ask the Celebrity has the Jonas Brothers answering a question of how they stay so close. A later segment features a man named Orlando becoming Zorro . Mickey Mouse in MAD's Mouse M.D. In the episode "S'UP / Mouse M.D." (aired November 15, 2010), it's a parody on Up and MTV 's Jersey Shore and Mickey Mouse and House (also known as House, M.D.). Hannah Montana even appeared in "Mouse M.D.". In "S'UP", everything is great in Carl's House, until the cast of Jersey Shore knocks on his door. In "Mouse M.D.", Dr. Mouse tries to solve three medical cases involving Cookie Monster , Bob the Builder and Miley Cyrus . Also, the Genie Bottle Drink cartoon is a spoof of Aladdin . In the episode "Da Grinchy Code / Duck" (aired November 22, 2010), Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Gates from the National Treasure franchise is one of three characters to be brought to Whoville to solve whoever was responsible for the Christmas thievery (along with Indiana Jones and Robert Langdon from The Da Vinci Code on which the segment is based). Narnia Lunchbox, is a parody of The Chronicles of Narnia and a lunchbox. Snow White , the Seven Dwarfs, Chernabog (as the Dwarfs' summon) and Ariel appeared in Snott Pilgrim vs. the Wonderful World of Disney (parody of Disney and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World ). After his breakups with Knives and Flowers, Scott Pilgrim begins dating Snow. But to prove his love, Snott must defeat her seven evil dwarves. Ariel appeared dating Snott in the last part. In the episode "Snott Pilgrim vs. the Wonderful World of Disney / Malcolm in the Middle Earth" (aired February 7, 2011), a Lightning McQueen spoof gets crushed by a car squisher. Peter , Susan , Edmund and Lucy Pevensie appeared in Malcolm in the Middle Earth (parody of Malcolm in the Middle and The Lord of the Rings). Tumnus and Alice also appear out of the wardrobe. So You Think You Can Train Your Dragon How to Dance / Yo Gagga Gagga!'s (aired February 21, 2011) MAD Ask the Celebrity has Selena Gomez answering a question of if she has magical powers like on Wizards of Waverly Place . Phineas , Ferb and Perry appeared in The Straight-A Team (parody of The A-Team ). When Alan sticks with Phineas and Ferb as his science partners, it becomes a competition to see who has the best project. Buzz and Carl in "The Buzz Identity". The creatures of Narnia , even the White Witch appeared in Two and a Half Man (parody of Two and a Half Men ). In the original version of Are You Karate Kidding Me? (parody of The Karate Kid 2010 remake), Jim Henson is doing the "why are you hitting yourself?" method to Kermit the Frog when Mr. Han explained where he got the method. In that same version, Mr. Han gets distracted from teaching Dre Parker on sensing his opponent when he looks at his watch showing a picture of Kick Buttowski and runs away to watch the show . In HOPS / Naru210 (aired April 25, 2011), SoulTron is a cross-parody of Tron and Soul Train . The name of the host, Tron Cornelius, is a pun on Don Cornelius, the host of Soul Train on which the segment is based. Also in HOPS (parody of Hop and Cops ), the cop says "Yes. Yes, I am!", alluding to Phineas Flynn from Phineas and Ferb . Winnie the Pooh in MAD's Pooh Grit. In the episode "Pooh Grit / Not a Fan a Montana" (aired May 16, 2011), it's a parody of Winnie the Pooh and True Grit and Hannah Montana . Tron even appeared in Pooh Grit. When Christopher Robin 's father is bounced by Tigger in Pooh Grit, he hires Pooh to apprehend him. However, things turn sour when Jeff Bridges confronts Pooh for stealing his identity, who in turn is confronted by another Jeff Bridges and his younger self. It then becomes a competition as to who will take the glory. When Disney star Miley Cyrus starts losing her fans to Justin Bieber in Not a Fan a Montana, she begins to sabotage him in many styles, including Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner -style, and learns a strange truth about her friends, her father, and her fame. Zack and Cody appeared in The Social Netjerk (parody of The Social Network ) where they tried to befriend the Winklevoss twins when they were on RichBlonde Twins. TwiGH School Musical is a parody on High School Musical and The Twilight Saga . When transfers from East High School arrive at Forks High School, things become difficult for Bella Swan, the Cullen family and Jacob who find their upbeat attitude and constant singing annoying. "Pirate visits Davy Jones ' One Foot Locker" is a spoof of Davy Jones' Locker and Foot Locker . Lightning McQueen and Mater appeared in Thomas the Unstoppable Tank Engine (parody of Thomas the Tank Engine and Unstoppable ), where they were taking a drive until Thomas ran over them. McQueen was voiced by Keith Ferguson in that scene. The Super 80's / Captain America 's Got Talent (aired August 29, 2011) segment Pinocchio 2: Boy, Oh Boy, Real Life is Hard is a parody of Pinocchio , where Pinocchio finds out that being a real boy is harder than it looks in this "all-new direct-to-DVD movie". In a later segment in the episode, a doctor pulls Buzz Lightyear out of the ear of a little boy who was complaining about a buzz in his ear. In Kung Fu Blander (parody of Kung Fu Panda 2 ), the Soothsayer mentions Walt Disney . Pirates of the Pair of Tweens is a parody of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides . After finding the Fountain of Youth , Angelica and Blackbeard drink its waters in the hopes of living forever. However, the waters work too well, and the pair are regressed into their tweens, much to Jack Sparrow's dismay, as he is now forced to take care of them. He reluctantly takes them to the mall, where they do nothing but shop and play without end. Eventually, Jack has enough and turns to Willy Wonka (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ) for help. Wonka has a formula made, disguised as frozen yogurt, which Jack gives to the kids. Unfortunately, the formula causes the kids to turn into anamorphic blueberries that swell up and explode. Wonka explains that there was a mix-up from his new workers, the Alfa-Loompas (cross of Oompa-Loompas and Alfred E. Neuman). In the episode "Fast Hive / Minute to Flynn It" (aired September 19, 2011), the two main segments are a parody of Winnie the Pooh and Fast Five and Tron: Legacy and Minute to Win It . When Winnie the Pooh's attempt to steal some honey from some bees fails in Fast Hive, he turns to Dominic Toretto for help. Seeing the problem, Dom devises a complicated plan using a ramp and a couple of custom street cars. However, the plan works too well, and everybody leaves the story entirely and land in other books, whose inhabitants graciously shares their honey. As for Dom, he ends up in the movie novelization of Cars, where Lightning McQueen and Mater launch him up another ramp. In Minute to Flynn It, Sam Flynn visits his father in the Tron arcade game, where he is greeted by his father's clone Clu . Clu challenges Sam to prove that he is the superior player on the grid with various mediocre challenges. In the final challenge, to see who could balance an egg on a light cycle the longest, Sam questions why his father would design a game so dumb. While out in the real world, Kevin Flynn is discussing with Guy Fieri about how the game will make a great TV show. In Celebrities Without Their Makeup, Peter Pan appeared as " Emma Watson without her makeup". Additionally, Ariel appeared on MAD News as an underwater correspondent wearing Kim Kardashian's lost earring. Mater appeared on Interstate 40 in TransBOREmores 3: Dark of the Blue Moon (parody of Transformers: Dark of the Moon and The Smurfs ). Kitchen Nightmares Before Christmas is a parody on The Nightmare Before Christmas and Kitchen Nightmares . After starring on so many kitchen reality shows, Gordon Ramsay becomes bored with repetitive grind and longs for something new. He suddenly falls through a trap door and lands in Halloween Town just as the patrons are in the middle of a cook-off. He begins to berate their progress and orders each one to start over, much to the horror of the monster chefs. The Mayor informs Jack Skellington of Ramsay's arrival, stating that Ramsay is more horrifying than Skellington, as Ramsay is brutally honest to everyone. Seeing that he has been bested, Skellington asks Ramsay for advice to deal with his work related doldrums. Ramsay helps Skellington by making him a television executive in the place. In Kitchen Nightmares Before Christmas / How I Met Your Mummy's (aired October 24, 2011) Animated Marginals, Mike Wazowski appears to be preparing for an eye drop. In How I Met Your Mummy (parody of How I Met Your Mother ), Mike and Sulley are seen at the restaurant. However, Mike is blue instead of green, and Sulley is orange instead of blue with purple spots. Tater Tots & Tiaras is a parody on Toy Story 3 and Toddlers & Tiaras . Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head put their daughter in a pageant, where they compete against many people including Bo Peep and her daughter, and are judged by Barbie , Ken and Woody . Abu is one of the occupants of the Super Ape Motel in Demise of the Planet of the Apes (parody of Rise of the Planet of the Apes ). The Spy vs. Spy Kids / The Superhero Millionaire Matchmaker (aired November 28, 2011) segment Mickey Mouse Mouse Exterminator Service is a spoof on Mickey Mouse and Mouse Extermination Service. Also, Remy, Jaq and Gus appeared as a few of the mice caught by Mickey in cages. FROST is a parody on ABC 's Lost , the Rankin/Bass Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Toy Story 3. Woody, Buzz and the Toy Story gang get "lost" on a mysterious island of misfits. DolPhineas and Ferb Tale is a parody on Dolphin Tale and Phineas and Ferb . When Sawyer Nelson finds Winter the tailless dolphin stranded on the beach, Phineas and Ferb offer to help build a suitable prosthetic for the dolphin. Their first few attempts backfire until they build a helmet that increases her brain activity. To test her ability, they enter her in a half machine competition against Hiccup and Toothless (from How to Train Your Dragon), and Cyborg (from Teen Titans). Winter proves to a formidable opponent, taking out Hiccup and Toothless. But before she can beat Cyborg, Morgan Freeman appears, informing that despite winning, the important thing is that everybody learns when messing with the balance of nature using robot parts. He then reveals that he now has rocket feet like Cyborg's. In the end of VICTORious (spoof of Doctor Doom and VICTORiOUS ), Doctor Doom, Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake go to Disneyland. One of the photos shows Doctor Doom punching Mickey Mouse. In the My Little War Horse / The Tonight Show with Jay Lion-O (aired February 13, 2012) segment Magic Magic Marker (parody of Magic Marker), the Magic Magic Marker turns a boy's pants into Snow White's dress. Real Veal is a parody of Real Steel . The Garfield of Dreams / I Hate My Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (aired March 26, 2012) segment Lancing with the Stars is a parody of Dancing with the Stars . The The Adventures of TaunTaun / Everybody Loves Rayman (aired April 2, 2012) segment Sick Buttowski is a parody of Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil . Sick attempts to become the world's greatest daredevil, but vomits before landing. In Potions 11 (parody of Ocean's Eleven and Harry Potter ), Alex Russo and Balthazar Blake participate with other fictional wizards to steal a special wand from Albus Dumbledore since Harry Potter learns that his franchise is finished, meaning that that there will be no more fictional wizards in pop culture for the first time in ten years. In Addition Impossible (parody of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol ), Ethan Hunt saw Lightning McQueen, got in him, and used him to defeat Kurt Hendricks by driving into him. Hunt then got Hendricks' launch codes and says that no one got hurt, but McQueen says that he's on fire. Ghost Rider's motorcycle, who was also a talking vehicle and was also on fire, then says that McQueen will get used to it. Also, the guy with the pants unzipped has a T-shirt with a logo similar to the logo of The Incredibles. New Gill is a parody of The Little Mermaid and New Girl . When Ariel is dumped by Prince Eric for Ursula , she moves in with three guys who, like Prince Eric, find her tendencies really annoying. So they help her find a new boyfriend. First, they pair her with Marlin , but he has too many family issues including to mention how his wife got eaten and that he was in a tank gang. Next, they have her date SpongeBob SquarePants , but she finds out he is way more chipper than she expected. Ariel finally goes on a date with Aquaman , and finds that they have everything in common. But before she can do anything about it, he is caught by the cast of Deadliest Catch . Seeing she will never find happiness, Ariel begins to sing, much to the annoyance of her roommates, who begin using hamburgers as earplugs as Scuttle states that he heard that they are great for blocking sound. In Hulk Smash (spoof of Hulk and NBC 's Smash ), Hulk and Bruce Banner pay to see John Carter . WALL•E and EVE are seen as part of the Green Space program in The Iron Giant Lady (parody of The Iron Giant and The Iron Lady ). Nessie is a parody of Jessie and the Loch Ness Monster. Yawn Carter is a parody of John Carter . After receiving a device from Abin Sur, John Carter teleports to Mars . There, he meets Marvin the Martian (from Looney Tunes ) who dubs him "Yawn Carter" for his long winded boring back story. Marvin asks Carter for his help to fight their civil war, but Carter is reluctant since he would rather search for gold. Marvin's dog K-9 grabs Carter and takes him to their village. Seeing that he has survived the trip, it is declared that Carter has super powers that can be useful in the war. While there Carter is greeted by the princess Dejah Thoris , who informs him that she has be betrothed to J'onn J'onzz, a man she does not love. J'onzz has Carter arrested for fraternizing with Thoris. As punishment, Carter is pitted to a fight to the death with ravenous Bruno Mars. Carter manages to kill Mars, escape to the arena, and crash the wedding. However, Carter learns that the entire events were just an elaborate plan for Thoris to get an engagement ring. As Carter declares his feelings and gives her a diamond ring, Thoris teleports Carter back to Earth. In Battleship vs. Titanic (spoof of the film adaptation of the Battleship board game and the 1997 film of the RMS Titanic ), Alex Hopper was going to make a sequel to John Carter. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was mentioned in Betty White & the Huntsman (parody of Betty White and Snow White & the Huntsman ). Mickey and Minnie is MAD's I Am Lorax / Modern Family Circus. In I Am Lorax (parody of the films I Am Legend and The Lorax based on the books of their respective names), Mickey and Minnie are having a dinner date. Will Smith (referred to as the Willsler in the segment) shoots the chandelier, which drops on them. Mickey complains, saying that they were not even zombified. Later in I Am Lorax / Modern Family Circus (aired June 25, 2012), Brave was mentioned as Pixar 's first movie with a heroine, but the summer's 59th movie with an archer in it. The The Mixed Martial Artist / Aquaman vs. Wild (aired July 30, 2012) segment King Tuttowski is a cross-parody of Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. Merida appeared in The Blunder Games (a parody of The Hunger Games ) when she and Actless Evergreen (Katniss Everdeen) face each other for a bow, which Actless says that she uses a bow and arrow as well as Merida. Merida then says it's cool, but Actless then punches Merida. The Average-ers is a parody of The Avengers . Nick Fury needs to save the world with whatever heroes don't have their own movies to make. Later in The Average-ers / The Legend of Dora (aired Septmber 13, 2012), a stop motion animated Spy vs. Spy segment (based on the comic strip in the MAD magazine ) features both spies having watched The Avengers . The Black Spy goes at Captain America and the White Spy goes as Thor . The Black Spy uses the shield as a frisbee which, despite missing the White Spy, flicks a power switch. Later, when the White Spy confronts the Black Spy and is just about to hit him, the electricity from a cable above strikes the White Spy's hammer , electrocuting him (ostensibly to death). In Pokémon of Interest (parody of Pokémon and Person of Interest ), images of the cast of Gravity Falls can be seen on the bulletin board. Eeyore meets up with Twilight Sparkle. Eeyore , Winnie the Pooh and Tigger appeared in Adjustment Burro (a parody of Winnie the Pooh and The Adjustment Bureau). Lampwick , Hoof and Donkey from Shrek try to keep Eeyore from being happy when he meets up with Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic . Marlin and Dory in "Taking Nemo / Once Upon a Toon". In the episode"Taking Nemo / Once Upon a Toon" (aired October 4, 2012), it's a parody on Finding Nemo and Taken and Once Upon a Time and Cartoon Network . In Taking Nemo, Nemo gets taken. Marlin then calls up Liam Neeson to save him. To get clues on Nemo's whereabouts via beating up anyone in his way, Neeson proceeds with harassing Bruce and the sharks, Ariel and Flounder , and SpongeBob SquarePants before the crazy actor is captured by John Lasseter . Though he intends to stop the director's diabolical plan to make a profit from Nemo, Neeson is bought with a 3D movie deal. Also, John shows a Toy Story 3D poster, as well as one of Up that was called "3D Story". However, this episode mentioned as if all the Pixar movies are live-action even though Pixar films are animated (WALL•E contained live-action segments). Also, Carl's house on the Up poster in the episode is red instead of random colors. And the poster for Finding Nemo 3D shown in the episode incorrectly has it titled "Finding 3D-mo". In Once Upon a Toon, the residents of a seaside town are actually characters from shows of Cartoon Network's past that were transported to the 'real world' town by an evil force. However, Henry Swan gathers the characters consisting of Johnny Bravo, Dexter, Samurai Jack, Cow and Chicken, Blossom, Numbuh 1 and others to stand up to this evil while tearing down the fourth wall. They soon discover that Dexter's sister Dee Dee is behind this threat so that she can have new shows on Cartoon Network like MAD. It turns out to be a nightmare experienced by Johnny Bravo until he notices Alfred E. Neuman, dressed as Elvis Presley, sitting in a chair next to him. Buzz Lightyear in "Outtagascar / F·I·E·N·D·S". Lightning McQueen and Buzz Lightyear appear as part of the Sequel Circus in Outtagascar (parody of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted ), which the characters have run out of ideas for sequels. Additionally, after Shrek corrects that he's not the Hulk , Alex explains that The Avengers "made more money than any movie ever!" Maleficent and Doctor Doom appeared in F•I•E•N•D•S (a parody of F•R•I•E•N•D•S). Frankenwinnie is a parody on Frankenweenie and Winnie the Pooh . The segment begins where Pooh is stuck in Rabbit 's hole until Christopher Robin pull him out - so hard, he literally rips in half and his head gets severed. A sympathetic Christopher, however, later puts his body parts back together (notice the scene at this point is black and white) but when he orders Eeyore to give him A.A. Milne 's brain, Eeyore mistakenly gives him the honey (since Chris did not specify the jar). As a result, when Pooh is resurrected, he goes on a rampage in pursuit of honey and even punches Yogi Bear (after trying to persuade to take the whole picnic). Christopher then declares that Pooh will inherit his pants, which Piglet did assume was the solution. Later in Frankenwinnie / Para Morgan (aired October 25, 2012), a segment where the Avengers have a Halloween Party. Zeke and Luther appeared in Dark Night at the Museum (parody of the films The Dark Knight Rises and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian ) where they are mistaken for Zack and Cody . Monsters, Inc. 3D poster in "The Perks of Being a Wallcrawler / Regular Shogun Warriors". In the episode "The Perks of Being a Wallcrawler / Regular Shogun Warriors" (aired January 28, 2013), the announcer announces that the Mayans must now suffer through Disney and Pixar's Monsters, Inc. 3D after predicting the world would end by the year 2013. The poster shown, however, has Sulley purple with gray spots instead of blue with purple spots, and Mike blue with a blue eye instead of green with a green eye. Perry appeared in Reply All (a parody of James Bond 's 23rd film Skyfall ). However, his fur is liberty instead of teal. He also dies in this episode (note his grave), despite still appearing in Phineas and Ferb. However, this is only a parody. Additionally, Perry's grave says he was born in 2008 . This is not true, since his show began in 2007 . Randy Savage: 9th Grade Wrestler is a parody on Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. A 9th grader known as Randy Cunningham dons the beard of a legendary wrestler from the '80s to fight the forces of evil. Rainbow Dash with Wyatt Bernstein. Rainbow Dash & Bernstein is a parody on Crash & Bernstein and Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Wyatt Bernstein builds a new bestie: Rainbow Dash! Pokémonsters, Inc. is a parody on Pokémon and Monsters, Inc. . Mike and Sulley must stop Ash Ketchum from catching all of the monsters in Monstropolis . Wreck It Gandalph is a parody on Wreck-It Ralph and Gandalf from The Hobbit . Gandalf the Grey is sick of being a wizard when hearing he'll be in three Hobbit films, so he escapes to other movies. Later, he switches places with Wreck-It Ralph to prevent being sent back to their own franchises. Ralph uses his strong hands to crush a cliff and bury the Ogres under rubble, while Gandalf uses his magic to battle Fix-It Felix, Jr. . But this makes the Fix-It Felix, Jr. game explode, with Gandalf back in the real world and being told by Bilbo Baggins that he hopes he's happy. Sequels Anonymous is a parody of Bad-Anon . The three movies in this segment represent the video games in Wreck-It Ralph (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey representing Fix-It Felix, Jr., James Bond's 23rd film Skyfall representing Hero's Duty , and Steven Spielberg 's Lincoln representing Sugar Rush ). Dog With a Captain's Log is a parody on Star Trek and Dog With a Blog . The U.S.S. Starship Enterprise gets a new crew member: Stan the Dog . WALL-E appeared in POblivion (spoof of Oblivion and Po from Kung Fu Panda), which he was found in the wasteland. He was being hit by Jack Harper. After that, he was being repaired and gets loved by a drone after the podracer scene from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace . Umbrellamentary is a parody on Mary Poppins and Elementary. When Sherlock Holmes goes missing, Mary Poppins investigates the mystery. But is she going to be much help? Jaws the Great and Powerful is a parody on Steven Spielberg's film Jaws and Oz the Great and Powerful . When a bunch of balloons carry a ship and a ferocious shark along with it to the Land of Oz ... things get really, really weird. Jack Skellington and Captain Jack Sparrow appeared in Jacks the Giant Slayers (parody of Jack the Giant Slayer). Ariel, Prince Eric , Grimsby and Ursula / Vanessa appeared in The Most Beautiful Voice (parody of The Little Mermaid and The Voice). Prince Eric holds a singing competition to learn the identity of his true love. McDuck Dynasty is a parody of DuckTales and A&E Television Networks ' Duck Dynasty. Scrooge McDuck tries to teach his three grandnephews: Huey, Dewey and Louie , how to be real ducks: by sleeping under the stars! Lone Rango is a parody on The Lone Ranger and Rango. The Mad Hatter from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland even appeared in Lone Rango. The Lone Ranger recruits Rango to track down Butch because Tonto is too annoying. Later in Lone Rango / Doctor Who's Line is it Anyway (aired September 2, 2013) is a segment named What If They Had Cell Phones?, which a cross-parody of the films Mary Poppins , Home Alone and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . Iron Bland 3 is a parody of Iron Man 3 . Monsters Community is a parody on Monsters University and Community . Mary Poppins and the wardrobe to Narnia even appeared in it. Mike, Sully and their monster friends are going back to college at Greendale Community College, where they were being reunited with the Community cast. Star Blecch Into Dumbness / Stark Tank's (aired September 16, 2013) Happily Ever After Earth is a parody of  After Earth  and Disney. When Cypher Raige and his son Kitai arrive on Earth, they are ambushed by menacing versions of the seven Dwarfs, Beast , Ariel and Dumbo . Cypher discovers that they have in fact landed in an abandoned Disneyland . Stark Tank is a parody of  Iron Man 3  and ABC's  Shark Tank . Jack Skellington appeared in Lukewarm Bodies (spoof of Warm Bodies). Also, posters of WALL•E and The Little Mermaid are seen in the airplane scene at the airport. Agents of S.M.U.R.F. is a parody of The Smurfs and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. . The agents are sent by Gargamel to capture the Smurfs. My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Hub Network's Facebook picture with the Mane-iac and Cruella De Vil . In " Friendship is Magic - Part 2 " (aired October 22, 2010), when Nightmare Moon appears, the Mayor shouts to the guards, "Seize her!" and Nightmare Moon replies, "Stand back, you foals!" This is a quote from a famous moment in the Disney film Sleeping Beauty , when the evil fairy Maleficent disappears after cursing the newborn princess, the latter's original quote being "Stand back, you fools!" And after Nightmare Moon destroyed the Elements of Harmony, she said "You little foal, thinking you can defeat me." This is similar to another quote by Maleficent in the scene after Aurora pricked her finger on the spinning wheel - "You poor simple fools. Thinking you could defeat ME?! Me, the Mistress of all evil!" In " Applebuck Season " (aired November 5, 2010), the Bunny Stampede resembles the Wildebeest Stampede in  The Lion King . In " Boast Busters " (aired November 19, 2010), Twilight casts a spell to summon wind so that she can sing a lullaby. This is a reference to The Old Mill . In " Over a Barrel " (aired March 22, 2011), Rainbow Dash pokes her head with her hoof and says, "Think, think, think" the same way  Winnie the Pooh  does. In "A Bird in the Hoof" (aired April 8, 2011), the scene with Angel the rabbit holding a pocket watch references the White Rabbit that carries a pocket watch and is always running somewhere due to being late. In addition, Fluttershy 's remark "I'm late, for a very important date" is a quote from Disney's Alice in Wonderland . In " The Best Night Ever " (aired May 6, 2011), a groundskeeper maintaining the garden says he likes to "whistle while [he] works", a reference to Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . The whistle is the same tune Snow White sings into the well. The magical apple carriage, the mice being turned into horses, and Rarity accidentally leaving her glass slipper are elements from Cinderella . In the same episode, Princess Celestia creates an arc of twinkling stars over her castle in the same manner of the Walt Disney Pictures title sequence. The episode as a whole is the show's take on Into the Woods , with the show's usual optimism contrasted with Into the Woods more cynical and pessimistic take on fairy tales. In " May the Best Pet Win! " (aired Novmebr 19, 2011), the streaks left behind by Dash's sprinting bears resemblance to the Light Cycles in Tron . In " The Mysterious Mare Do Well " (aired November 26, 2011), the title character shares the same purple-and-black color scheme and wide-brim hat and black ribbon as Darkwing Duck . In " Secret of My Excess " (aired December 10, 2011), the song played while Twilight is organizing the books is a sound-alike for Paul Dukas ' symphonic poem "The Sorcerer's Apprentice". The scene parallels a scene from the Walt Disney movie Fantasia where Mickey Mouse uses his powers to move everything around him. In " Read It and Weep " (aired February 4, 2012), the scene where Daring Do is pursued by numerous big cats, followed by a small house cat that meows cutely at her, parallels a scene in The Emperor's New Groove where Kuzco is pursued by several jaguars followed by a tiny jaguar cub that meows cutely at him, shortly before being rescued. In " A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2 " (aired April 21, 2012), during "This Day Aria", Queen Chrysalis (disguised as Princess Cadance) looks in the mirror and trashes things in the room, which is a reference to Vanessa's Song in The Little Mermaid . In " Keep Calm and Flutter On " (aired January 19, 2013), the dancing candles are a reference to the Disney film Beauty and the Beast . The episode's plot is also similar to the plot of the film. In the same episode, before the friends leave Fluttershy's house, there is a reference to Alice in Wonderland with Discord in the Mad Hatter 's outfit. In " Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 " (aired November 23, 2013), the black thorny vines bear a resemblance to those in Disney's Sleeping Beauty . The half-day, half-night sequence somewhat resembles a similar occurrence in the Lewis Carroll Poem, The Walrus and The Carpenter , told by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum in the Disney adaptation. When Spike straps into Twilight's back with a seatbelt, this references how Bernard and Bianca ride on the back of Orville in The Rescuers . Spike's regret about not taking the train also alludes to lines said by Bernard. In " Flight to the Finish " (aired December 14, 2013), the song "Hearts Strong as Horses" is inspired by a modern Disney classic. In " Pinkie Apple Pie " (aired January 11, 2014), the way Pinkie Pie pounced on Applejack resembles Tigger pouncing on  Winnie the Pooh . The four photos taken in the waterfall are parodies of photos taken at  Splash Mountain . In " Three's a Crowd " (aired January 25, 2014), Discord's song features a shot of Discord looking out a window wishing on a wishing star, a parody of the scene from Pinocchio . In the scene after, Discord is rubbing a magic lamp as a reference to Aladdin . In " Pinkie Pride " (aired February 1, 2014), the song Pinkie the Party Planner resembles the song from  Beauty and the Beast , " Belle ". In " Filli Vanilli " (aired February 15, 2014), Fluttershy singing close to animals is a reference to  Aurora  from Sleeping Beauty singing close to animals. In " Somepony to Watch Over Me " (aired March 8, 2014), the Chimera's snake head briefly had hypnotic eyes, a reference to Kaa from The Jungle Book . In " Leap of Faith " (aired March 29, 2014), the Flim Flam Miracle Tonic song is similar to the song from  Pete's Dragon " Passamaquoddy ". In " Inspiration Manifestation " (aired April 26, 2014), the scene where Spike finds the spell book in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters is similar to the scene in  Aladdin  where  Aladdin finds the lamp  in the  Cave of Wonders . In " Twilight's Kingdom " (aired May 10, 2014), the way Discord first appeared in the episode is a reference to  Mary Poppins  coming to the Banks' home. In " Appleoosa's Most Wanted " (aired May 2, 2015), Trouble Shoes' voice was influenced by both Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh and Karl Childers from the 1996 film Sling Blade . In " Slice of Life " (aired June 13, 2015), the scene in which DJ-Pon3 and Octavia Melody race through Ponyville on a mobile DJ station and pick up several bystanders is based on a similar sequence in the Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil episode " Runaway Recital ", which M.A. Larson also wrote. In " Amending Fences " (aired July 4, 2015), the bookseller pony at Moondancer's party bears a resemblance to the character Honey Lemon from Disney's 2014 animated superhero film Big Hero 6 . In " Made in Manehattan " (aired September 26, 2015), the newspaper boy's attire is based off that of Jack Kelly from Newsies . The song "Unleash the Magic" from My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games (aired September 26, 2015) has a very similar sound and rhyme scheme to " Poor Unfortunate Souls " from the 1989 Disney animated film The Little Mermaid . Also, Applejack releases her second arrow in slow motion as a homage to a scene in Brave . In " The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows " (aired October 17, 2015), when Shining Armor and Cadence try to tell Twilight Sparkle a secret Pinkie Pie does not want her to know, she makes a face as a reference to a face Roger Rabbit when he attempts to escape the routine "Shave and a haircut" in Who Framed Roger Rabbit . The title of " What About Discord " (aired November 7, 2015) is a reference to What About Bob? . In " The Crystalling - Part 2 " (aired March 26, 2016), Starlight's quote "We have to go back!" is a reference to Lost . In " A Hearth's Warming Eve Tale " (aired May 14, 2016), the Ghost of Hearth's Warming Eve Future talks. This draws from Mickey's Christmas Carol , which is the only other adaptation where the Ghost of Christmas Future talks. Josh Haber on his Twitter page stated that " Buckball Season " (aired September 3, 2016) was a fusion between The Bad News Bears and Dumbo . " Every Little Thing She Does " (aired September 24, 2016) is similar to The Sorcerer's Apprentice . Starlight Glimmer is the eager upstart apprentice of a powerful sorceress (Twilight Sparkle filling Yen Sid 's role). After Twilight Sparkle goes away, Starlight tries to short-cut the task Twilight gave her by using a magical spell. But she has no control over the spell, created a chain of chaotic circustamces that culminate in Twilight's Castle being flooded. At the end, Twilight Sparkle returns, stops the flood and undoes the spell, while giving Starlight a stern look. Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain "A Walk in the Park" (aired February 20, 1999) centers on Elmyra's class taking a field trip to Duckyland, an obvious parody of Disneyland. Brain attempts to change the song on the It's a Small World parody ride to one containing a subliminal message. At one point, Brain says that "cheering music will spread the message that a mouse should rule the world," to which Pinky replies, "Oh, no, Brain. Narf! You're thinking of that other park in Orlando." In "That's Edutainment!" (aired February 27, 1999), Pinky's response to "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?" is "I think so, Brain, but Pepper Ann makes me sneeze." Later in the episode, Pinky portrays Pinky the Unstinky, a spoof of Manny the Uncanny . Pirate Family In "The Alchemist" (aired July 10, 1998), Lucille MacBernik was seen dressing up as Snow White while trying on some new dresses as her pirate family was getting richer by the minute every time they started creating more gold. Pirates of the Pancreas is a parody of Pirates of the Caribbean . Spleen Mountain is a parody of Splash Mountain . The Haunted Liver is a parody of The Haunted River . The Bone Train is a parody of Monorail . Cerebral Cortex Carousel is a parody of the Carousel of Progress . In "Something Ricked This Way Comes" (aired March 24, 2014), the episode's main antagonist, Mr. Needful, greatly resembles Mr. Dark from Something Wicked This Way Comes (which is the episode's title reference). In "Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind" (aired April 7, 2014), one of Rick's portals emerge a pen, a notebook and a coffee cup (with a question mark on it), the same objects Stan Pines lost to an interdimensional portal in the Gravity Falls episode " Society of the Blind Eye ". In "Big Trouble In Little Sanchez" (aired September 13, 2015), one of the monitors projects an image that greatly resembles Bill Cipher from Gravity Falls . One of the Adult Swim released claymation segments known as the "Non-Canonical Adventures" (aired October 26, 2016) parodies Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and was made by Lee Hardcastle . Robot Chicken The episode "Nutcracker Sweet" (aired February 27, 2005) features a segment where Walt Disney 's severed head with its giant robotic spider-body attacks Cuba . The episode "Toyz in the Hood" (aired March 20, 2005) features a segment where a man murders his wife and tells his son they are going to Disneyland as an excuse to flee town. The episode "Badunkadunk" (aired April 24, 2005) features a segment where Pinocchio 's nose catches fire. There are also two other segments, both of which focus on Midnight Madness . The episode "Toy Meets Girl" (aired May 1, 2005) features the end of a segment (that parodies The Diary of Anne Frank) seeing Hilary Duff mocking the TV series Lizzie McGuire . The episode "Kiddie Pool" (aired July 12, 2005) features a segment where Cinderella gets arrested for using the Pumpkin Coach to go to the ball because of its magic. The episode "The Sack" (aired July 3, 2005) features a segment focusing on the possible future of the Carousel of Progress (which is called the Carousel of Tomorrow in the segment). The remake of the episode, titled "Adultizzle Swizzle" (aired May 16, 2008), features a segment where a toy soldier is strapped to a firework, which makes the segment similar to a scene in Toy Story . The episode "The Black Cherry" (aired August 17, 2005) features a segment called "A** Pirates of the Caribbean" (focusing on homosexual pirates), which is a parody of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series . The episode "1987" (aired May 7, 2006) has two Disney-themed segments. One is a parody of The Love Bug . Another is a parody of Midnight Madness . The episode "Cracked China" (aired May 14, 2006) features a segment where the Golden Girls perform sexual stunts in a parody of the television series Sex and the City . The episode "Massage Chair" (aired May 28, 2006) features a segment where George W. Bush, as a Jedi having vandalized the Lincoln Memorial and in turn waking up Abraham Lincoln (who he then has a lightsaber duel with), Lincoln says "Who dares disturb my slumber?" This is based off the quote "Who disturbs my slumber?", used by the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin . The episode "Password: Swordfish" (aired June 4, 2006) features a segment that parodies Harry Potter where the Genie's Lamp from Aladdin is mentioned. In addition, Dumbledore's clothing is similar to that of Yen Sid from Fantasia . The episode "The Munnery" (aired September 24, 2006) features a segment called "Wishes Come True", where children's dreams are coming true. This is a reference to the song " When You Wish Upon a Star " from Pinocchio . The episode "Metal Militia" (aired October 1, 2006) has two-Disney consecutive themed segments. One features Peter Pan showing the children he can fly but then realising he forgot that he cannot. The next features a child given a Light Cycle as a used car surprise. The episode "Annie Marie's Pride" (also referred to as Donkey Punch; aired November 12, 2006) features a segment that parodies At the Movies that includes film reviews of many films (sequels based off actual films), one of which includes The Nightmare Before Hanukkah, which is a parody of The Nightmare Before Christmas . The episode "Werewolf vs. Unicorn" (aired August 12, 2007) features Zorro being arrested for drawing the letter 'Z' on a wall belonging to a shop owner. Although the segment focuses on fictional Mexican characters crossing the Mexican border, Zorro's cameo appearance is inaccurate because Zorro is Spanish instead of Mexican. The episode "Endless Breadsticks" (aired September 16, 2007) features a segment where Doug Funnie describes to a man in a bar what his life was like. The episode "More Blood, More Chocolate" (aired September 30, 2007) features a segment called "Unplanned Invasion" (focusing on aliens attacking Earth without any real intention) that bears similarities to the Pixar short Lifted . The episode "Moesha Poppins" (aired October 21, 2007) is a mashup title of the American sitcom television series Moesha and Mary Poppins . The episode "Robot Chicken's Half-A**ed Christmas Special" (aired December 9, 2007) features a segment where a character exclusive to the show, named the Nerd, enters the land of Narnia through a locker. The episode "President Evil" (aired September 28, 2008) features a segment where Danny Ocean (from the film Ocean's Eleven) gathers thirty-eight people, including Peter Pan . The episode "Help Me" (aired December 7, 2008) features a segment that parodies many television series and films such as Enchanted . The episode "I'm Trapped" (aired December 21, 2008) features a parody of Schoolhouse Rock! where a girl sings about homonyms. The episode "In a DVD Factory" (aired December 28, 2008) features a crazed stalker delivering the biggest challenge ever to Hannah Montana 's secret identity. The episode "Love, Maurice" (aired January 18, 2009) features the main characters from Who Framed Roger Rabbit and O.J. Simpson in a parody of the film Strangers on a Train . The episode "Two Weeks Without Food" (aired January 25, 2009) features a segment that includes a poster of Hannah Montana . The episode "I Love Her" (aired February 8, 2009) features a segment where Lindsay Lohan interrupts some boys by pretending to be Herbie . The episode "President Hu Forbids It" (aired August 16, 2009) features a segment where a woman wants her husband to "capture" her like Jack Sparrow . When her husband shows barely any enthusiasm, she dreams of herself really being captured by Jack. The episode "Due To Constraints of Time and Budget" (aired August 23, 2009) features a segment where an announcer tests Flubber condoms on a naked woman. The episode "Especially the Animal Keith Crofford!" (aired September 20, 2009) has a sketch in which the Wuzzles explain how they came to be via inter-species sex. The episode "Saving Private Gigli" (aired January 9, 2011) features a segment where Carl Fredricksen 's house ascends then, when all of the balloons fly off, descends, killing a person. In the last segment of the episode that focuses on Masters of the Universe , the head frat refers to Skeletor as " Jack Skellington ". The episode "Big Trouble in Little Clerks 2" (aired January 23, 2011) features a segment where a boy asks his father how a cork got into a bottle of wine, then his father envisioning a bartender using Pinocchio 's nose as the cork. The episode "Kramer Vs. Showgirls" (aired January 30, 2011) features a segment called Toy Story 4, where Andy comes home from college for spring break, and his toys cannot wait to greet him. The final segment in the episode, "The 90's Revisited" features characters from Darkwing Duck . The episode "Malcom X: Fully Loaded" (aired February 6, 2011) is a mashup title of the films Malcolm X and Herbie: Fully Loaded . This was part of all of the Season Five episodes being mashup titles of good and bad films, according to the producers of the show. The episode "Schindler's Bucket List" (aired February 20, 2011) features the Muppets in a parody of the film I Know What You Did Last Summer . During the segment, there is a flashback to a Muppet Babies parody, where Miss Piggy insists on playing The Little Mermaid . The episode "No Country For Old Dogs" (aired February 27, 2011) is a mashup title of the films No Country for Old Men and Old Dogs . The episode "Catch Me If You Kangaroo Jack" (aired May 6, 2011) features a segment where the Nerd is sucked into his computer and becomes dressed as Tron . The episode "Casablankman" (aired October 30, 2011) features a segment where Pinocchio spends time with a woman until his nose extends into her privates. "Some Like it Hitman" (aired November 13, 2011) has two consecutive Disney-themed segments. One sketch is a parody of " Be Our Guest " from Beauty and the Beast , where a living chamber pot interrupts the characters' singing. The next sketch (and final one for the episode) depicts what happened to Della Duck . Here, Della works as a prostitute. However, when she exposes her true self to Mr. Phillipson (the man she was going to spend time with), he complains that she is a duck and not what he ordered. His reluctance to pay her $300 results in Della phoning a man named Stedman who antagonises Mr. Phillipson, attracting the police's attention. They all start shooting at each other until Della shoots at two more officers, causing them to shoot at her and make her fall out of a multi-window and onto a car. The sketch ends with Huey, Dewey and Louie asking Donald when they can see their mom again, with Donald telling them he does not know. The special credits of the episode that include Sarah Michelle Gellar , Mila Kunis (who voiced Della in the segment) and Cam Leeburg spell out a message: "WHIP HIS A**", one of Della's quotes in the segment. TV listings for this episode mention a Pooh-related sketch, but it was cut out from the final show. Animatics of two Pooh-themed sketches can be seen on the "deleted scenes" section of the Season Five DVD. "The Core, the Thief, His Wife and the Lover" (aired November 20, 2011) has a sketch where Mickey and Donald meet Minnie and Daisy and reference that they look just like them but in drag. The episode "Fool's Goldfinger" (aired December 18, 2011) features Hannah Montana making a brief cameo appearance in a segment that parodies The Lord of the Rings . The episode "Executed by the State" (aired September 16, 2012) features Luxo, Jr. being used by an officer to help interrogate a criminal, who he then hits with his base. The episode "Crushed by a Steamroller on My 53rd Birthday" (aired September 22, 2012) has two Disney-themed segments. One features Mary Poppins being destroyed by a SWAT helicopter because of her unusual behavior. Another features a group of scientists who have re-created the DNA of a dinosaur and use a machine to bring it back to life. The dinosaur they resurrect is Robbie Sinclair from Dinosaurs , who begins to spout various catchphrases related to the 1990s. He is promptly shot by the lead scientist, who has his crew burn and destroy the lab. The episode "Punctured Jugular" (aired September 30, 2012) features a segment where the Seven Dwarves get bored from waiting for Snow White to experience true love's kiss. The episode "Poisoned by Relatives" (aired October 7, 2012) features a segment called "Malice In the Making" where DuckTales is mentioned. Another segment is a parody of The Biggest Loser show that features Miss Piggy as a contestant (having crushed Kermit 's pelvis during their relationship), facing off against Mario , Garfield and Winnie the Pooh . The game is hosted by Barbie, who makes the contestants work out to lose weight. The final task is to push their favorite foods in a wheelbarrow on top of a hill and into a fire. When the race begins, Garfield is in the lead until he feels the need to do some private time, and knocks Winnie the Pooh over. This leads to Mario and Miss Piggy going past Garfield. Miss Piggy wins the race, but Mario sees meat in her and tries to consume her, only to accidentally make her trip into the fire. When Miss Piggy is measured, she is revealed to have lost 174 pounds whilst all the other contestants have gained after consuming her flesh. Miss Piggy, for all her weight loss, has now become the "Fattest Fat Loser". The episode "Disemboweled by an Orphan" (aired October 21, 2012) contains a sketch that parodies Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers by having Gadget go without pants to challenge the double standard of the males going without pants. This makes the other characters want to go into different rooms to do some private time. Later in the episode, all of the characters are asked to have a photo taken of them. Gadget is still not wearing pants at this point. The episode "In a Bed Surrounded by Loved Ones" (aired October 28, 2012) contains a sketch in which the Gummi Bears hold an intervention for Tummi 's gummiberry juice addiction. The episode "Collateral Damage in Gang Turf War" (aired November 18, 2012) has four Disney-related segments. One segment is an episode of Top Chef Sweden where various versions of the Swedish Chef create chaos in the kitchen, resulting in the deaths of several of them. Another features Iron Man , Captain America , Hulk , Thor , Hawkeye and Black Widow in a discussion. When Black Widow feels that she does not contribute as well as the others, she turns away. As she does so, they start to have a crush on her until she dies. When Hawkeye then believes that he does not contribute as much, the other Avengers are then attracted to him. Another segment is a parody of The Little Mermaid , where Ariel and other mermaids use sea creatures for personal fashion. Another segment is a fake advertisement for Disneyland in which they talk to the teen demographic by providing places where they can give/receive private time after rides. The episode "Butchered in Burbank" (aired December 9, 2012) has three Disney-themed segments. One segment is a parody of Tron , where, upon trying to reprogram MCP , a character named BASIC types that it "eats farts". Another segment is a parody of " Part of Your World " where Ariel admires human junk. This includes biohazardous material, wrecked car parts, and even a T-shirt. After submerging near New York City , a seagull defecates in her mouth. Even another segment called "To Infinity" features Buzz Lightyear flying throughout light speed for a long time period and "was never seen again." In the episode "Papercut to Aorta" (aired January 6, 2013), a segment parodies One Hundred and One Dalmatians and the song " Dalmatian Plantation ". The episode "Botched Jewel Heist" (aired January 27, 2013) contains a sketch in which Mickey Mouse calls for the Disney characters to ban inter-species relationships in response to Goofy and Clarabelle dating. The episode "Robot Fight Accident" (aired February 3, 2013) has three Disney-themed segments. One features a segment where the Conductor , Zero and the Bill from Schoolhouse Rock! all sing a song that implies that because children have grown up into mature adults, they do not understand math or grammar as much. This is partially inaccurate, because the Bill in the original series taught history instead of math or grammar. Another features the Prince doing romantic gestures that hold him back from actually kissing Snow White . Another features the Avengers doing a Broadway musical that goes awry with many stage accidents. The episode "Choked on a Bottle Cap" (aired February 10, 2013) has two Disney-themed segments. One features Sweet Polly Purebred spending time with Underdog . Another features Flik getting rid of a mayfly family due to their short lifespans. The episode "Immortal" (aired February 17, 2013) features a segment where Ego has a cat on his head who Remy has a battle with (on Linguini 's head) until the cat is shot by a police officer that has a dog on his head. The episode "Born Again Virgin Christmas Special" (aired December 16, 2013), features a segment where the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come sends Ebenezer Scrooge into his coffin regardless of his change. The episode "G.I. Jogurt" (aired April 13, 2014) has two Disney-themed segments. One features a drunk person from Narnia entering the real world through the wardrobe. Another features Iago asking Jafar why he became evil, but he cuts him off after Jafar starts singing a song with the fact that he was attacked. The episode "Link's Sausages" (aired April 20, 2014) features a segment called "Grown-Up Halloween", where Jack Skellington and the Mayor of Halloween Town go to an adult Halloween party. The episode "Secret of the Booze" (aired April 27, 2014) features a segment where a man and woman watch Gargoyles on television. The episode "Rebel Appliance" (aired May 4, 2014) features a segment called " You've Got a Collectable Asset in Me ", where Andy's toys return to Andy's House , only to find replacement toys bought by Andy on eBay. The episode "Legion of Super-Gyros" (aired May 11, 2014) has two Disney-themed segments. One segment focuses on a The Parent Trap prequel. Another is a parody of Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers , where Gadget is back in her jumpsuit (having gone without them from Disemboweled by an Orphan onwards) where Monterey Jack goes away from her. The episode "Snarfer Image" (aired May 25, 2014) features a segment that parodies the film Pacific Rim where The Golden Girls is mentioned. The episode "Up, Up, and Buffet" (aired June 1, 2014) has two Disney-themed segments. One is where Cinderella 's Fairy Godmother reveals to be Satan in disguise. Another is a parody of ABC 's Shark Tank where Scrooge McDuck is a guest investor. The episode "Super Guitario Center" (aired June 22, 2014) has two Disney-themed segments. One is where Aurora says a lot about her dream. Another is a parody of TaleSpin . The episode "Noidstrom Rack" (aired June 29, 2014) features a mashup of Tron: Legacy and Digimon: Digital Monsters . The episode "Stone Cold Steve Cold Stone" (aired July 6, 2014) has two Disney-themed segments. One is where Snow White, having consumed the Poisoned Apple , becomes an Evil Queen . Another is the sketch "Disney Princess War", in which the Disney Princesses get into a little scuffle. Merida arrives and is mocked by Snow White , making Merida declare war on her. Mulan , Tiana , Belle , Rapunzel and Pocahontas join her. The other Disney princesses are given rifles by the Fairy Godmother . Ariel rejects the group after being insulted by Jasmine . When a battle starts, Ariel returns with an atomic bomb that sets off. Sebastian starts singing, only to be killed when the bomb explodes. Merida survives the explosion, only to be shot by Tinker Bell in the forehead with a rifle before Tinker Bell winks when breaking the fourth wall then exiting the scene. Her cameo appearance references the fact that Tinker Bell used to be part of the Disney Princess franchise before the Disney Fairies franchise was created. In both segments of this episode, Snow White was voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin , who also played the character in Once Upon a Time . Several in the episode "Walking Dead Lobster" (aired July 13, 2014): One segment features Kim Possible heading to North Korea to steal some nuclear launch codes and prevent World War III, only to get captured by Kim Jong-un. They then begin to make fun of their names (as the forename "Kim" rhymes with the prefix im-.) Another segment is a parody of " Kiss the Girl ", where Sebastian forces Prince Eric to pay him. The episode "Victoria's Secret of NIMH" (aired July 20, 2014) features Peter Pan taking the Darling children to Never Land , so their parents hire Bryan Mills from the film Taken to bring them back home. The episode "Batman Forever 21" (aired August 3, 2014) has two Disney-themed segments. One features Nana flying because of Tinker Bell 's dust then, once wearing off, falling to her death. Another is a crossover of Baloo from The Jungle Book and the film The Bourne Identity . The episode "The Hobbit: There and Bennigan's" (aired August 10, 2014) features a segment where a fairy tale starts with Rapunzel 's carpet. The special "Lots of Holidays but Don't Worry Christmas is Still in There Too so Pull the Stick Out of Your A** Fox News Special" (aired December 7, 2014) features several Disney characters mourning on their mothers. Bambi notices his mother watching over him like Mufasa , only to hear her telling him to kill himself when she explains about the deer population being a big problem. Ariel wishes that she knew her mother , and asks King Triton what she looked like. After it shows him with Ariel's mother, who was a dolphin instead of a mermaid, he answers that she was enthusiastic and the most beautiful member of her pod. Marlin orders Nemo to put on a yarmulke for Coral , which Nemo is unhappy to do due to being a fish, which the special has them being Jewish. Mickey Mouse then wishes the viewers a happy Mother's Day from all of the Disney characters who lost their mothers. When asked by Nemo if he misses his own mother, Mickey explains that he does not, saying she ate all of his brothers and sisters because mice are monsters. The episode "Garbage Sushi" (aired October 25, 2015) has two Disney-themed segments. Another features Ariel and Prince Eric spending time. The episode "Ants on a Hamburger" (aired November 1, 2015) features a segment where Goofy is diagnosed with autism. The episode "Zeb and Kevin Erotic Hot Tub Canvas" (aired November 8, 2015) features a segment where the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are in major need, though none of the heroes are available. The episode "Cheese Puff Mountain" (aired November 15, 2015) features a segment where an extremely wasteful Xanatos pushes a sleeping Goliath off a building before slipping off himself thanks to New York's typical pigeon population. The episode "Joel Hurwitz" (aired January 3, 2016) features a segment where Pinocchio has just died because of being a real boy. The episode "The Unnamed One" (aired January 17, 2016) has two Disney-themed segments. One features Aladdin and Jasmine spending time. Another features Camilla and Gonzo mixing eggs in a bowl to have them for breakfast. Muppet Babies in Robot Chicken. The episode "Western Hay Batch" (aired March 20, 2016) features the Muppet Babies parodying King Kong with Kermit as King Kong, Miss Piggy as Ann Darrow, and Fozzie , Gonzo and Scooter as pilots who all shoot down Kermit with a gluey liquid. Kermit dies from falling off their version of the Empire State Building. However, Kermit's death actually reveals to have been him climbing up a stack of chairs then falling into glass that cut his skin. When Nanny enters, she orders the children to clean up. The planes used in the segment were all individual copies of Baby Gonzo 's plane from the McDonald's Muppet Babies Happy Meal toys from 1990 . The episode "Hopefully Salt" (aired April 10, 2016) features a segment where Scrooge McDuck gains money from a loan shark. The episode "Yogurt in a Bag" (aired April 17, 2016) features a segment where a veterinarian explains how the Dalmatian Puppies can each reproduce. The episode "Secret of the Flushed Footlong" (aired April 24, 2016) features a segment where Andy buys a new toy named Pinko who, because of his support of communism, does not fit in with Andy's other toys. The episode "Food" (aired May 1, 2016) features a segment where Remy makes a new kind of ratatouille . The episode "Not Enough Women" (aired May 8, 2016) has Edna Mode from The Incredibles becoming a contestant to Project Runway . In "Treehouse of Horror I" (aired October 25, 1990), Walt Disney's name is on a grave in the beginning. In the episode "Krusty Gets Busted" (April 20, 1990), Krusty's prison number on his outfit is A113 . In "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" (aired December 20, 1990), there is a sequence where the children of Springfield are playing outside which is modeled after " The Pastoral Symphony " segment from Fantasia . In "Old Money" (aired March 28, 1991), the Diz-Nee-Land amusement park that Grampa visits with Bea's money has a sign that reads "Diz-Nee-Land – Not affiliated with Disneyland , Walt Disney World , or anything else from the Walt Disney Company ". In "Black Widower" (aired April 1992), Homer, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are shown watching an episode of Dinosaurs on TV. The parody clip shown of a "Simpson-ized" Earl, Robbie and Baby hints at the fact that the show was perceived in some quarters as another Simpsons clone. The episode "Kamp Krusty" (aired September 24, 1992) has two references to DisneyLand: Like in "Itchy and Scratchy Land" above, the tepid initial reactions to Euro Disneyland were referenced by the character Mr. Black, who mentioned that he had formerly been the director of Euro Krustyland "before it blew up." In the ending, when Krusty makes up to the campers for their terrible experience at Kamp Krusty by taking them to Tijuana, Mexico, Krusty refers to it by the motto for Disneyland: "The Happiest Place on Earth." In "Lisa the Beauty Queen" (aired October 15, 1992), the sign for Springfield Elementary's carnival says it is "The Happiest Place on Earth". Lawyers from Disney confront Principal Skinner about the use of the tag, but he quickly dispatches them with fighting skills he learned in Vietnam. "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie" (aired November 3, 1992) depicts the cat and mouse's debut as being in 1928's Steamboat Itchy . At the end, set 40 years into the future, we see that the Itchy & Scratchy movie is playing on a theater's "classics of animation" program alongside Beauty and the Beast . In "Selma's Choice" (aired January 21, 1993), the song and ride that Bart, Lisa and Selma go on at Duff Gardens, with animatronic kids from all over the world singing is a parody of the song " It's a Small World " and the Duff Gardens parade is parody of Disneyland 's Main Street Electrical Parade . In "The Devil and Homer Simpson" segment from "Treehouse of Horror IV" (aired October 28, 1993), when the Simpsons family is preparing for Homer's trial and hiring Lionel Hutz, Hutz is seen combing his hair with a fork, similar to Ariel in The Little Mermaid  and the Devil Flanders gets angry at Homer at the nuclear power plant, the form he assumes is exactly like the demon Chernabog in "A Night on Bald Mountain" segment from Fantasia . "Itchy & Scratchy Land" (aired October 2, 1994) has several references to Disney's theme parks. The main theme park is a parody of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom . The film The Roger Meyers Story is a reference to The Walt Disney Story . Depicted in the film are parodies of Pinocchio and Fantasia as "Pinitchio" and "Scratchtasia". An inverted parody of Der Fuehrer's Face called "Nazi Supermen are Our Superiors" is seen. The area Parents' Island is a reference to Pleasure Island . There, it shown that New Year's Eve is celebrated every fifteen minutes, a reference to Pleasure Island's tradition of celebrating it every midnight. The ending shows the deserted Euro Itchy & Scratchy Land, a reference to Disneyland Paris ' lack of tourism in its early years. In "Homer Badman" (aired November 27, 1994), Homer tells his family to escape their worries by going "under the sea". He then has a fantasy of him and his family in a parody of the Under the Sea number from The Little Mermaid in which Homer eats a lot of the fish. Marge says that's his answer for everything and would never happen, which Homer replies "Not in that attitude". In "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" (aired April 9, 1995), the episode title and plot is a parody of Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians . The scene where Santa's Little Helper and She's the Fastest eat spaghetti is a spoof of Lady and the Tramp , and Mr. Burns' song See My Vest is a parody of Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast . During the song, a maid resembling Nanny from 101 Dalmatians (which some fans mistakenly thought was Mrs. Potts ) appears. In "The PTA Disbands" (aired April 16, 1995), the name of the park for the school field trip is "Diz-Nee Historical Park", an obvious reference to Disney. In "Round Springfield" (aired April 20, 1995), Bleeding Gums Murphy appears in the sky to thank Lisa for making more people familiar with his music. Then Mufasa the lion appears in the sky, in reference to a similar scene in The Lion King where the late Mufasa gives his son advice from the clouds. Mufasa says: "You must avenge my death, Kimba... I mean: Simba!" In "Homer³" segment from "Treehouse of Horror VI" (aired October 29, 1995), Homer accidentally enters into an eerie third dimension (represented by 3D computer graphics). When Homer tried to explain his surroundings to everyone in his living room, he says, "Uh... it's like... did anyone see the movie Tron ?" to which everyone replies, "No", except for Chief Wiggum who at first says yes but changes his answer to no. A113 reference. In the episode "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming" (November 26, 1995), Sideshow Bob's prison number on his outfit is A113 . In "The Day the Violence Died" (aired March 17, 1996), in addition to the aforementioned Steamboat Itchy cartoon, there were several other Disney elements referenced in the episode: Roger Meyers, Sr. being mentioned to be placed in cryogenic stasis was a reference to the debunked rumors about Walt Disney being placed in cryogenic stasis. The name of the original rendition of Itchy before Roger Meyers Sr. stole the idea from Chester Lampwick, Itchy the Lucky Mouse, is a reference to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit . In fact, the conflict between Chester and Roger regarding the latter plagiarizing the former mirrored a similar feud between Walt Disney, the original creator of Oswald, and his boss, Charles Mintz, relating to a raise that Disney requested that his boss denied, which resulted in the latter taking control of Oswald himself for Universal Studios . The episode "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (aired February 7, 1997) is a spoof of Mary Poppins . Shary Bobbins is based on the character Mary Poppins and the episode title is a spoof of the word " Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ". Several songs are also direct parodies of songs from the film, including " The Perfect Nanny ", " The Life I Lead ", " A Spoonful of Sugar ", " Feed the Birds " and a deleted scene featured Patty and Selma singing their version of " I Love to Laugh ". Homer's imagination is a parody of the dancing characters in Steamboat Willie , and features the song "Turkey in the Straw". Shary Bobbins states that she is an original creation like Rickey Rouse or Monald Muck. The name takes on Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck respectively. The title of the episode "When You Dish Upon a Star" (aired November 8, 1998) is a reference to the song " When You Wish Upon a Star ". In "Make Room for Lisa" (aired February 28, 1999), Homer asks Lisa what her favorite movie is. She mentions that it was The Little Mermaid until Homer taped over it. In "HOMR" (aired January 7, 2001), one of the places Homer walks by to look for a place for smart people is a Disney Store . In "Weekend at Burnsie's" (aired April 7, 2002), Homer's car during his hallucination as he’s getting ready for work looks like Benny the Cab from Who Framed Roger Rabbit . The title of the episode "The Great Louse Detective" (aired December 15, 2002) is a reference to The Great Mouse Detective . In "Special Edna" (aired January 5, 2003), Bart nominates his teacher for a Teacher of the Year award and the family gets to attend the ceremony at EFCOT Center, a parody of Epcot . At the end, Homer escapes over the fence to the Magic Kingdom , where a Mickey-like voice is heard alerting him of trespassing. The mugger in the episode "Strong Arms of the Ma" (aired February 2, 2003) is wearing a Disneyland Goofy hat. One of the ranchhands in "Dude, Where's My Ranch?" is a redneck-like character named Cookie, referencing Atlantis. In "The Fat and the Furriest" (aired November 30, 2003), Homer develops a phobia of bears after an encounter with one and soon has a hallucination of various fictional bears attacking him, one of whom is Winnie the Pooh  and Baloo. In "The Wandering Juvie" (aired March 28, 2004), Gina Vendetti explains to Bart Simpson that she got sent to juvie for pushing Snow White off the parapet in Disneyland. In "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" (aired February 6, 2005), LeBron James claims he's starring in a new Disney Channel movie. The episode "Mobile Homer" (aired March 20, 2005) has a scene in which a series of photographs are used to describe Homer's various near-death experiences. One of them is Homer getting beaten up by Mickey Mouse and Goofy at Disneyland . In "The Heartbroke Kid" (aired May 1, 2005), when Homer is chasing away the "German backpackers" who have been staying at house now that Bart's fat camp expenses have been paid, one German asks what will they do now. Another answers "To Disneyland, where we will heap ze scorn on Goofy". In "The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star" (aired May 15, 2005), Bart has converted to Catholicism and says a Latin prayer at the dinner table. When Lisa describes Latin as "the language of Plutarch", Homer answers " Mickey Mouse's dog ?". In "Girls Just Want to Have Sums" (aired April 30, 2006), the Itchy and Scratchy musical "Stab-A-Lot" spoofs the songs and the look of " The Lion King " musical. The song "The Circle of Knife" is a parody of " Circle of Life ". The chalkboard gag for "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" (aired December 16, 2007; note that the episode itself parodies the film It's a Wonderful Life ) is "the capital of Montana is not Hannah". This is an explicit reference to Hannah Montana . The second story featured in "Love, Springfieldian Style" (aired February 17, 2008) is a spoof of Lady and the Tramp titled "Shady and the Vamp". At one point, a parody of Goofy is seen in the pound despite his claims that he's "part dog". He later remarks "It's no picnic, but it beats working for Disney". In "All About Lisa" (aired May 18, 2008), at the end Krusty the Clown dresses as Nana from Peter Pan as part of his act with Sideshow Mel as a fire hydrant. In the episode "Mypods and Boomsticks" (aired November 30, 2008), Homer's dream sequence mimics Aladdin , with a magic carpet, lamp, and Genie , with Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer) reprising his role as the Genie. In the episode "Gone Maggie Gone" (aired March 15, 2009), Homer discovers that there are rats in the kitchen, which he compares to "that movie I taped in the theater". He pulls out a bootleg DVD of Ratatouille , with the title misspelled as "Ratatooey". A segment from "Four Great Women and a Manicure" (aired May 10, 2009) parodies Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , which includes the song " Ho-Heigh ". During the credits, the song is sung again with the lyric "If Disney sues, we'll claim fair use". In addition, the manner in which the queen met her end resembled how Scar met his hand at the jaws of the Hyenas in The Lion King . In the episode "Coming to Homerica" (aired May 17, 2009), when Carl and Lenny sit on a chair with balloons attached to it, Carl Fredricksen's House can be seen flying in the background. The song "Amendment to Be" was a parody of " I'm Just a Bill " from Schoolhouse Rock! , and in fact Jack Sheldon even reprised the role as the Bill/Amendment to be. In "The Color Yellow" (aired February 21, 2010), Ralph Wiggum displays a drawing for his Black History Month presentation: "Martin Luther King had a dream! Dreams are where Elmo and Toy Story had a party and I went there!" In "The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed" (aired March 28, 2010), Ned refers to Jerusalem as "the happiest place on Earth". "Elementary School Musical" (aired September 26, 2010) is a parody of High School Musical . In "Loan-a Lisa" (aired October 3, 2010), the Itchy and Scratchy short "PU" is a parody of Up . In "How Munched is that Birdie in the Window?" (aired November 10, 2010), the Itchy and Scratchy short featured, "Dogday Hellody of 1933", is a parody of "Pluto's Judgement Day". Dumbkoff is a Nazi parody of Dumbo in the Christmas episode, "The Fight Before Christmas" (aired December 10, 2010). In "Angry Dad: The Movie" (aired February 20, 2011), one of the nominees is Condiments, a parody of the film Toy Story and is created by Mixar, which is a parody of Pixar . Also, Mr. Carrot Head is a parody of Mr. Potato Head . In that same scene, Randy Newman sings "You've Got an Enemy", a parody of " You've Got a Friend in Me ". In "The Food Wife" (aired November 13, 2011), the meth dealer has a flashback about him as a child being prepared dinner by his mother after sampling a piece of food, styled after Anton Ego 's flashback from Ratatouille . In "Pressure" (aired March 8, 2001), SpongeBob goes up with an umbrella, a reference to Mary Poppins . The owner of Foofy also does this in "Grooming Gary" (aired November 28, 2008). In "The Lost Mattress" (aired May 13, 2005), a character named Administrator Flotsam shares his named with the one of the two eel minions from The Little Mermaid . In "The Thing" (aired January 15, 2007), when Squidward, who was covered with cement, is taken in by the other animals at the end, SpongeBob said to Patrick, "But he's with his own kind now, where he belongs, and with that, let us go back to where we belong." This references the final scene in The Jungle Book , where Bagheera and Baloo quote about Mowgli being where he belongs, and going back to where they belong. In "Squid Wood" (aired July 24, 2007), Squidward plays a tune on his clarinet that sounds remarkably similar to the song " Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo " from Cinderella . The title and plot of the episode "Squidward in Clarinetland" (aired March 24, 2010) is a reference to Alice in Wonderland . In "Married to Money" (aired May 3, 2016), after Mr. Krabs tells his daughter Pearl that he has found her a new mom, Pearl replies with, "No way! I have seen stepmoms in movies, Dad. She'll make me sweep up the cinders, and then she won't let me go to the ball! And then I'll never meet my Prince Charming !" This is an obvious reference to Cinderella . Steven Universe In "Onion Trade" (aired March 17, 2014), Steven marks his toy (which is one of the G.U.Y.S.) under the feet, a reference to Woody from Toy Story . Onion later receives advice from Steven on his Dave Guy pool to "try to act like a rich duck", an implied reference to Scrooge McDuck and the DuckTales theme . In " Steven the Sword Fighter " (aired April 9, 2014), Steven puts next to Pearl's gem a lamp that greatly resembles Luxo, Jr. . In "Keystone Model" (aired July 14, 2015), scenes at Keystone Model and the Best Diner in the World are similar to a scene in A Goofy Movie . In "Nightmare Hospital" (aired September 10, 2015), as the group walks down the hallway of the hospital, a painting with a mountain and forest can be seen. The middle of it resembles the emblem of the hat worn by Dipper Pines from Gravity Falls . In " The Answer " (aired January 4, 2016), Ruby and Sapphire dance together as a reference to the song " Once Upon a Dream " from Sleeping Beauty . In addition, Garnet's attire resembles that of Aurora during the song "Pink and Blue". The title of the episode "Same Old World" (aired May 19, 2016) is a reference to the song " A Whole New World " from Aladdin . In "Steven Floats" (aired July 18, 2016), when Steven falls down he mentions about happy thoughts referencing Peter Pan . He also says "Oh, bother" which is the catchphrase said by Winnie the Pooh . In "Beach City Drift" (aired July 22, 2016), Greg shows the pictures when he was young doing a spaghetti kiss with a car, referencing Lady and the Tramp . The Tom and Jerry Show (1975) In "Beanstalk Buddies" (aired November 15, 1975), the inability for the giant to speak the iconic quote "Fee-Fie-Fo-Fum" is a possible reference to Willie the Giant from Mickey and the Beanstalk . The plot of "The Sorcerer's Apprentices" (aired November 22, 1975) is generally similar to that of the segment in Fantasia because it recalls the actions of Mickey Mouse with Yen Sid 's hat on. "Hold That Pose" shares its name with the 1950 Disney cartoon . "Chickenrella" (aired November 27, 1975) is a parody of Cinderella . In "The Great Motorboard Race" (aired December 13, 1975), Jerry causes the whale to sneeze in attempt to get himself out. This tactic was similar in a segment of Pinocchio where Pinocchio tried to get himself and Geppetto out by making Monstro sneeze. Tom and Jerry Tales In "Digital Dilemma" (aired November 18, 2006), Tom builds a home PC out of junk and winds up getting zapped inside it, along with Jerry, whom he chases through the digital realm, even playing a game of Pong with a fiery ball of energy reminiscent of Crom and Kevin Flynn 's jai alai game. In "Medieval Menace" (aired November 25, 2006), a spoiled little princess engages in a tea party with her toys (each resembling Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Winnie the Pooh ) while reading a fairy tale story to them. In "The Itch", when a band member breaks Jerry's flute, Jerry pulls up another one referencing Donald Duck 's way of doing it from 1935's The Band Concert . "I Dream Of Meanie" (aired September 29, 2007) is a parody of Aladdin , with Jerry as Aladdin and Spike as the Genie . The scene where Tom enters the magic lamp and transforms into an evil genie himself is a reference to the scene from the film where Jafar transforms into a genie. In "Jungle Love" (aired October 13, 2007), it shows Tom the Jungle Cat in the Elephant Graveyard .

i don't know

Name the 1989 Oscar winning movie from the IMDB plot summary: "An old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years."

Driving Miss Daisy (1989) - IMDb IMDb 17 January 2017 4:34 PM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error An old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 28 titles created 24 Mar 2012 a list of 43 titles created 10 Apr 2014 a list of 41 titles created 29 May 2014 a list of 34 titles created 28 Dec 2014 a list of 26 titles created 25 Nov 2015 Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989) 7.4/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 4 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 21 nominations. See more awards  » Videos Lt. John Dunbar, exiled to a remote western Civil War outpost, befriends wolves and Indians, making him an intolerable aberration in the military. Director: Kevin Costner The story of the final Emperor of China. Director: Bernardo Bertolucci Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country. Director: Barry Levinson A young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays. Director: John Madden Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago. Director: Rob Marshall Ted Kramer's wife leaves her husband, allowing for a lost bond to be rediscovered between Ted and his son, Billy. But a heated custody battle ensues over the divorced couple's son, deepening the wounds left by the separation. Director: Robert Benton In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter. Director: Sydney Pollack At the close of WWII, a young nurse tends to a badly-burned plane crash victim. His past is shown in flashbacks, revealing an involvement in a fateful love affair. Director: Anthony Minghella Follows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love and her daughter's family problems. Director: James L. Brooks Two British track athletes, one a determined Jew and the other a devout Christian, compete in the 1924 Olympics. Director: Hugh Hudson Los Angeles citizens with vastly separate lives collide in interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption. Director: Paul Haggis Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. Directors: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise Stars: Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, Richard Beymer Edit Storyline An elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta can no longer drive. Her son insists she allow him to hire a driver, which in the 1950s meant a black man. She resists any change in her life but, Hoke, the driver is hired by her son. She refuses to allow him to drive her anywhere at first, but Hoke slowly wins her over with his native good graces. The movie is directly taken from a stage play and does show it. It covers over twenty years of the pair's life together as they slowly build a relationship that transcends their differences. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net> The comedy that won a Pulitzer Prize See more  » Genres: 26 January 1990 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: Miss Daisy und ihr Chauffeur See more  » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia Morgan Freeman originated the role of Hoke in the off-Broadway production of the play. See more » Goofs In the beginning of the movie; when her son notes that he wants to read 'that' book: The title he mentions is nothing close to the title on the one she's holding. See more » Quotes (Chicago, Illinois) – See all my reviews "Driving Miss Daisy" is one of the nicest movies ever made. Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture of 1989, "Driving Miss Daisy" is about a black man who goes to work as a chauffeur for a stubborn old Jewish woman. Morgan Freeman and the late Jessica Tandy give brilliant performances in the lead roles, and they've never been better. I sure do miss seeing the presence of Tandy in the movies. She was good in just about everything she did in both feature and TV movies (her heart in acting always belonged to the stage). She very deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Miss Daisy, a person who at first is not happy about this man coming into her life but learns to accept it and forms a real special friendship. Freeman is every bit her match here as Hoke, the chauffeur. The exchanges between the two in the beginning are very funny and very touching at the end. Dan Aykroyd takes on a rare serious role in "Driving Miss Daisy" as Tandy's son Boolie, a businessman who hires Hoke to be Miss Daisy's driver. And the late Esther Rolle (of TV's "Good Times" and "Maude") has a nice small part as Miss Daisy's maid. When this movie came out in late 1989 it was guaranteed many Oscar nominations. Then the nominations came out in February 1990 and "Driving Miss Daisy" got the most with 9 nominations. But one nomination was missing: Best Director. And what a gyp that was! Bruce Beresford did a terrific job of directing "Driving Miss Daisy" and to this day I will never understand why the Academy didn't nominate him. The Academy voters for the Best Director category got stupid that year and Beresford was omitted unfairly. This is a terrific movie and the director should have been nominated. Richard Zanuck, one of the producers of "Driving Miss Daisy", said something in March 1990 when accepting the Best Picture Oscar for this movie along with the other producer and real-life wife Lili Fini Zanuck that I completely agree with. He said quote: "Were up here for one very simple reason and that's the fact that Bruce Beresford is a brilliant director. It's as simple as that!" And "Driving Miss Daisy" is proof. It's a great movie. **** (out of four) 47 of 61 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? Yes

Driving Miss Daisy

With over 6 million sold, the Roomba is an autonomous what?

Feature Films - African American Studies Research Guide - LibGuides at Michigan State University Libraries African American Studies Research Guide African American Heritage Month Contents A compilation of film resources about African Americans and/or featuring African Americans available in the MSU Libraries.  Also check the Music tab for films and documentaries featuring African American singers and musicians. Home Use Only vs Public Performance Rights Tarleton State University offers advice on home use only versus public perforance rights , as well as a list of organizations that can help you obtain public performance rights. Documentary Films Looking for a documentary film?  Look for the tab at the top or click here . Film Covers, A You Got Served Selected Feature Films, A All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. 8 Mile (2002)  / Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment present a Brian Grazer/Curtis Hanson production ; producers, Brian Grazer, Curtis Hanson, Jimmy Iovine ; writer, Scott Silver ; director, Curtis Hanson.  Universal City, CA : Universal, [2003], c2002.  1 DVD videodisc (110 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. ML420.E56 E5 2003 VideoDVD : Jimmy, known to his friends as Rabbit, is a young man trying to make his way out of the burned-out shell of inner-city Detroit. Rabbit is a white kid trying to make music in a predominantly African-American community and culture. After Rabbit freezes up in the midst of an MC battle, he's convinced he's missed his chance and that he's doomed to lead a marginal life as a factory rat for the rest of his days. With the help of his friends, and his new girlfriend Alex, Rabbit struggles to work up the courage and the confidence to take one more shot at making his dream a reality.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . 12 Years A Slave / Fox Searchlight Pictures ; directed by Steve McQueen ; screenplay by John Ridley ; produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner ; produced by Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Anthony Katagas ; executive producers, Tessa Ross, John Ridley ; Regency Enterprises and River Road Entertainment present a River Road, Plan B, and New Regency production ; in association with Film4 ; a film by Steve McQueen.  Beverly Hills, California : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2014.  1 DVD videodisc (approximately 134 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 T84 2014 VideoDVD : Maybe it had to take a British filmmaker to depict clearly the United States' greatest failing: the horrors of centuries of slavery. In 12 Years a Slave, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kinky Boots, Dirty Pretty Things) is a free man living in New York until he's kidnapped and sold in Louisiana as a slave. He's owned by masters relatively kind (Benedict Cumberbatch) and harrowingly brutal (Michael Fassbender), but even under the best conditions, the movie never loses sight of Northup's condition as property, that his well-being and very life are at the whim of his owners. There's no hype here, nor any hemming or hawing; each scene is captured simply but vividly, letting the cruel facts of life in the pre-Civil War era speak for themselves. The movie's power lies in the unsettling details and psychological contortions slavery inflicts on everyone involved, black and white. Performances are fantastic throughout, including supporting work from Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Sarah Paulson, Lupita Nyong'o, Brad Pitt, and particularly Alfre Woodard as a slave who's gained a position of comfort and clings to it with haughty entitlement. But it's Ejiofor who anchors the movie; his mix of intelligence and fundamental decency carries 12 Years a Slave to a moving conclusion. From Steve McQueen, director of Hunger and Shame. 42, the Jackie Robinson Story / Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures ; written and directed by Brian Helgeland.  [Los Angeles, CA] : Warner Bros., c2013.   1 DVD videodisc (ca. 128 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  GV865.R6 F67 2013 VideoDVD : 42 is a powerful film about how one man changed baseball… and changed America. The film opens in 1945, after the end of World War II, when team executive Branch Rickey has set his mind on bringing the first black baseball player into the ranks of an American major league baseball team despite the disapproval of his advisers and team manager. A stubborn man who declares that money is green, not black or white, and claims profit as his motivation, Rickey carefully selects Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs. He chooses Robinson both because he's an excellent baseball player and because Rickey believes him to be a man with the inner strength to withstand the bullying and abuse that's sure to follow his appointment to an all-white team. So begins an emotionally charged journey of prejudice, abuse, growth, and empowerment that follows player and manager as they submerge themselves in something much bigger than themselves. Harrison Ford is perfectly cast as Mr. Rickey, a stubborn man with a mission he refuses to be dissuaded from and who is contradictorily harsh and kind, wise and comical, progressive and old school. Chadwick Boseman, as Jackie Robinson, exudes the intense inner strength and barely contained rage of a black man whose physical and moral strengths are ignored by fellow players and a public fixated on the color of his skin. He is absolutely believable as a man who changed the world while refusing to let the world change him. Equally strong performances are given by Nicole Beharie as the ever-calm Mrs. Rachel Robinson and Andre Holland as Wendell Smith, the black reporter who accompanies Jackie Robinson almost everywhere. 42 is a poignant film that has some unexpectedly witty moments, and viewers can expect their emotions to run the gamut from shame, helplessness, and rage to the awakening of inspiration and empowerment to continue to effect change and eradicate discrimination. 42 is one of the best films produced in a long time.  Trailer . 48 hrs / Paramount Pictures ; written by Roger Spottiswoode [and others] ; produced by Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver ; directed by Walter Hill.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount Home Entertainment, [2011]  1 Blu-ray videodisc (96 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. ROVI Movie Collection CW6 D0130409 Blu-ray Video : Nolte is a rough-edged cop after two vicious cop-killers. He can't do it without the help of smooth and dapper Murphy, who is serving time for a half-million dollar robbery. Both pursue their separate goals--Nolte wants the villains and Murphy wants his money and some much-needed female companionship.  Features Eddie Murphy.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . 10,000 Black Men Named George (2002) / Showtime and Paramount Pictures presents ; producer, Michelle Mundy ; written by Cyrus Nowrasteh ; directed by Robert Townsend.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount, [2003], c2001.  1 DVD videodisc (89 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 T456 2003 VideoDVD : In the 1920s, the rights of American workers to join a labor union was still considered an open question, and African-Americans were routinely denied their civil and economic rights. So in 1925, when black journalist and political activist Asa Philip Randolph and railway car porter Ashley Totten formed the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first black-controlled union, it was a bold gesture which proved to have a major impact in both labor and race relations in America. At that time, almost all porters for the Pullman Rail Company were black, and called "George", after George Pullman, the first person to employ emancipated slaves.  Cast : André Braugher, Charles S. Dutton, Mario Van Peebles, Carla Brothers, Brock Peters, Kenneth McGregor, Ernestine Jackson, Ellen Holly, Kedar, Joel Gordon, Ardon Bess, Karen Eyo.  Mark Deming, All Movie Guide. Action Jackson  (1988) / written by Robert Reneau ; directed by Craig R. Baxley ; Silver Pictures.  Irvine, Calif. : Lorimar, 1988.  1 12-inch videodisc (LaserVision CLV) (96 min.) : sd., col.  PN1995.9.D4 A38 1988 Video (12 inch) disc : Carl Weathers is Detroit police sergeant Jericho Action Jackson. He's pitted against the brutal thugs of ruthless auto tycoon Peter Dellaplane, who's out to murder his way to political power. Jackson's also involved with Dellaplane's beautiful wife Patrice -- and his exotic mistress Sydney. Adios Amigo (1976)   [United States] : Trinity Home Entertainment, c2004.  1 DVD videodisc (90 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.W4 A356 2004 VideoDVD : Richard Pryor and Fred Williamson take on the Wild West with nothing but charm and a hysterical sense of adventure in this tale of con or be conned! Riding the Old West’s comedy range, making off with bags of cash and charming the bloomers off the local ladies the two make off like bandits in this crazy slapstick Western!  Cast : Richard Pryor, Fred Williamson, James Brown. The African American Cinema / producer, Scott Simmon ; the Library of Congress.  New York : Unapix Consumer Products, Unapix Entertainment : Library of Congress : Smithsonian Video, c1995.  2 VHS videocassettes (ca. 159 min.) PN1995.9.N4 A347 1995 Videocassette : Presents early, classic silent films produced by and for African Americans. "Within Our Gates" is one of the earliest surviving features directed by an African American. It confronts racism through the story of a young African American woman who seeks to raise money for a Southern school for black children from a rich white Northerner. Scenes of lynching and attempted white-on-black rape are thought to be a response to D.W. Griffith's "The birth of a nation." The second work, "The Scar of Shame" depicts poverty, ambition, and prejudice within the African American community through the tale of a middle-class black composer who marries a woman to rescue her from her lower-class, ghetto life, but comes to despise her lower-class background. "Sissle and Blake" is an early experimental musical short featuring Nobel Sissle singing with Eubie Blake accompanying her on the piano. Akeelah and the Bee  (2006)   / Spelling Bee Productions, Inc. ; 2929 Productions ; Cinema Gypsy Productions ; Lions Gate Films ; Out of the Blue Entertainment ; Reactor Films ; Starbucks Entertainment ; produced by Laurence Fishburne, Sidney Ganis, Nancy Hult, Daniel Llewelyn, Michael Romersa ; written and directed by Doug Atchison.  Santa Monica, CA : Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2006.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 112 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C45 A544 2006 VideoDVD : Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She is a smart girl, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah decides to participate in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from Dr. Larabee, an English professor, for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of making it all the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of. First Akeelah has to overcome her insecurities, her distracting home life, and the knowledge that there is a field of more experienced and privileged fellow spellers. Ali   (2001) / Columbia Pictures presents, in association with Initial Entertainment Group, a Peters Entertainment/Forward Pass Production, in association with Lee Caplin/Picture Entertainment Corporation and Overbrook Films ; produced by Jon Peters, James Lassiter, Paul Ardaji, Michael Mann and A. Kitman Ho ; story, Gregory Allen Howard ; screenplay, Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, Eric Roth & Michael Mann ; directed by Michael Mann.  [United States] : Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 2002. 1 DVD videodisc (157 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 insert. PN1995.9.B55 A45 2002 VideoDVD : Dramatic biography of boxing great Muhammad Ali, which focuses on the ten-year period of 1964-1974. In that time, the brash, motor-mouthed athlete quickly dominates his sport, meets and marries his first wife, converts to Islam (changing his name from Cassius Clay), and defies the United States government by refusing to submit to military conscription for duty in Vietnam. His world heavyweight champion title thus stripped from him entirely for political reasons, the champ sets about to win back his crown, culminating in a legendary unification bout against George Foreman in Zaire, dubbed the "Rumble in the Jungle."  Cast : Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, Mykelti Williamson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nona Gaye, Michael Michele, Joe Morton. American Gangster   / Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment present in association with Relativity Media ; a Brian Grazer production ; produced by Brian Grazer, Ridley Scott ; written by Steven Zaillian ; directed by Ridley Scott.  Universal City, CA : Universal Studios Home Entertainment, 2008.  1 Blue Ray DVD videodisc (2 hr., 57 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in  PN1995.9.G3 A44 2008 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Frank Lucas is a crime boss armed with ruthless, streetwise tactics and a strict sense of honor. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, Lucas comes to rule the inner-city drug trade.  Cast : Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, Armand Assante, John Oritz, John Hawkes, Rza.  Features Denzel Washington. American son (2008) / Miramax Films presents a Winghead Films production in association with Map Point Pictures and Night & Day Pictures, a Neil Abramson film.  Burbank, CA : Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2009. 1 DVD videodisc (ca. 85 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  86 minuts.  PN1995.9.M53 A447 2009 VideoDVD : Take an intimate look into the heart and mind of an American soldier in the riveting urban drama that captivated audiences at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. What would you do if you had just four days to say goodbye to everyone who was importrant to you? Nineteen year old Mike Holland (Nick Cannon) has 96 hours to make peace with his frieds and family and maybe even begin a new relationship on the eve of his deployment to Iraq. Get a glimpse of the emotional battlefield our troops navigate as they leave America's streets to fight in a completely different world. Experience a gripping story that rises above politics and centers on the personal challenges of a tough young man with an uncertain future. It's a facinating film you won't soon forget. Amistad / DreamWorks Pictures in association with HBO Pictures ; produced by Steven Spielberg, Debbie Allen, Colin Wilson ; written by David Franzoni ; directed by Steven Spielberg.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount Pictures, [2014]  1 Blu-ray videodisc (155 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. ROVI Movie Collection  AD2 D0160348 Blu-ray Video : Chronicles the incredible journey of a group of enslaved Africans who overtake their captor's ship and attempt to return to their beloved homeland. When the ship is seized, the captives are brought to the United States where they are charged with murder and await their fate in prison. An enthralling courtroom battle ensues that captures the attention of the entire nation. And the Children Shall Lead / producer, Topper Carew ; teleplay by Emma Pullen and Ilunga Adell ; director, Michael Pressman.  [Salt Lake City, Utah] : All Things Family, [2003]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 58 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 A45 2003 VideoDVD : It is 1964, in the segregated town of Catesville, Mississippi, and Rachel who is black and Jenny who is white are best friends, caught up in the firestorm surrounding black voter registration. The adults, both black and white, afraid of the inevitable changes that are surely coming, hang onto the old ways of dealing with their differences. Stars Danny Glover, Pam Potillo LeVar Burton, Denise Nicholas, Andrew Prine....This drama, set in Catesville, Mississippi during the height of the civil rights movement, looks at the effects of political change on children -- who can often prove wiser than their elders....Despite segregation, 12-year-old Rachel has maintained close ties with several white children. Then, civil rights activists arrive in Catesville determined to assure equal rights for blacks. As tension and distrust between the races grow, Rachel and her friends decide they must help the town unite and overcome prejudice...When a group of civil rights activists arrive in a sleepy Mississippi town and bring the citizens' simmering racial tensions to the surface, a 12-year-old girl named Rachel joins the fight against segregation and leads the adults to better racial understanding....A Rainbow Television Workshop production. Anna Lucasta   Santa Monica, Calif. : MGM Home Entertainment, 2005. 1 DVD videodisc (97 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PS3575.O6 A8 2005 VideoDVD : "When wild child Anna Lucasta is thrown out of the house by her self-righteous father, she falls into a life of prostitution ... and into the arms of street-wise sailor Danny Johnson. But after Anna shocks them all by finally finding true love with a well-heeled young suitor, her unforgiving father sets a vengeful plan in motion to remind his daughter of her sordid past ... and destroy her future forever!"  Cast: Eartha Kitt, Sammy Davis, Jr. Antwone Fisher (2002) / Fox Searchlight Pictures presents a Mundy Lane/Todd Black production, a Denzel Washington film ; produced by Todd Black, Randa Haines, Denzel Washington ; written by Antwone Fisher ; directed by Denzel Washington.  20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, [2003], c2002.  1 DVD videodisc (120 min.) PN1995.9.N4 A589 2003 VideoDVD : Guided by a determined Navy psychiatrist, a troubled sailor embarks on a personal, emotionally inspiring journey to confront his past and connect with the family he never knew. Inspired by the true life experiences of Antwone Fisher.  Features Denzel Washington. Trailer . The autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman / produced by Robert W. Christiansen, Rick Rosenberg ; written by Tracy Keenan Wynn ; directed by John Korty.  New York, NY : Sony Wonder, [2005]  2 DVD videodiscs (150 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 A97 2005 VideoDVD  1-2  (Also available as part of the ROVI Film Collection)  : This superb historical drama tells the fictional story of 110-year-old former slave Jane Pittman. Or more accurately, the movie allows the fictional Miss Jane to tell her own story as both eyewitness and participant in 110 years of painfully real American history. Cicely Tyson gives a powerhouse performance as the plainspoken and spirited Jane, tracing her turbulent life journey from the skittish young slave girl freed at the end of the Civil War to the withered but indomitable old woman who finds herself at the center of a local civil rights struggle. Tyson’s portrayal is made all the more vivid by the thoroughly believable "aging" make-up created by Stan Winston and a young Ric (Star Wars) Baker. Tracy Keenan Wynn’s brilliant screenplay, adopted from Ernest J. Gaines’s novel, manages to convey the complexity of the black experience in this country with a subtlety and intelligence rarely achieved in film or television. The movie is also full of excellent supporting performances, including iconic folk singer Odetta as fellow slave Big Laura, Katherine Helmond as a Confederate widow, and Thalmus Rasulala as Jane’s adopted son, Ned. But the movie belongs to Tyson, whose tour-de-force performance earned her one of the production’s nine Emmy awards and universal acclaim as one of the greatest actresses of her generation.  Cast : Cicely Tyson, Richard A. Dysart. Selected Feature Films, B All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Baby Boy/You Got Served / directors, Chris Stokes, John Singleton ; writers, Chris Stokes, John Singleton ; producers, Amy Yukich, Billy Pollina, Cassius Weathersby, Dwight Williams.  United States] : Columbia TriStar, 2004.  2 DVD videodiscs (3 hr., 45 min.) : sound ; 4 3/4 in. ROVI Movie Collection CL9 D0039512 VideoDVD  discs 1-2  :  Baby Boy (Movie 1)  is the powerful urban drama directed by John Singleton (Shaft and Boyz N the Hood) starring rap music superstars Tyrese Gibson and Snoop Dogg (Half Baked, I Got the Hook Up). With knockout performances from Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible II, Pulp Fiction, Con Air) and A.J. Johnson (Friday House Party, The Players Club), Baby Boy is a tough, honest and unflinching look at modern urban life. Jody (Gibson) is a 20-year-old African American in South Central L.A. who is trying to live large but doesn't have a job. He's got two babies by two different women and still lives at home with his mother (Johnson). Growing up is tough on Jody, but a series of events involving his mother's new boyfriend Melvin (Rhames), his girfriend Yvette (Taraji P. Henson) and her ex-con ex-boyfriend Rodney (Snoop Dogg), force him to learn lessons about living, loving and surviving as a man in the hood.   You Got Served (Movie Number 2) : At Mr. Rad's Warehouse, the best hip-hop crews in Los Angeles compete for money and respect. But when a suburban crew crashes the party, stealing their dancers-and their moves-two warring friends have to pull together to represent the street. Combining a sexy story and the best dance moves to hitthe screen, You Got Served is a fast-moving urban drama with a hip-hop heart of steel. Starring Marques Houston of IMX, Omari of B2K, Lil' Kim and comedian Steve Harvey. Bad Boys (1995) / Columbia Pictures ; story by George Gallo ; screenplay by Michael Barrie & Jim Mulholland and Doug Richardson ; produced by Don Simpson & Jerry Bruckheimer ; directed by Michael Bay.  Culver City, CA : Columbia TriStar Home Video, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (119 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9 .A3 B33 2000 VideoDVD : A cheerfully over-the-top action film, Bad Boys is notable chiefly for the rapport between its two stars, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, as two Miami cops on the trail of a drug kingpin as they try to protect a witness (Tea Leoni). Smith is the swinging bachelor and Lawrence the family man, and both must juggle their personal lives as they baby-sit the one chance they have to recover a stolen drug shipment, save their jobs, and take down the drug dealer. While the film is almost always implausible and its story is something seen many times before, director Michael Bay (The Rock) keeps things moving stylishly and at a feverish pace, as Smith and Lawrence prove themselves a terrific comic pairing. Their odd couple banter flies at a faster clip than the bullets and explosions, and becomes the best reason to see this hyperbolic but entertaining action flick.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .   Bamboozled (2000) / New Line Cinema.  [Calif.] : New Line Home Entertainment, c2001.  1 DVD videodisc (136 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997 .B35 2001 VideoDVD  : Director Spike Lee has never shied away from controversy, and with Bamboozled he tackles a thorny mix of racism and how images are bought and sold. A frustrated TV writer named Delacroix (Damon Wayans), unable to break his contract, tries to get fired by proposing a new minstrel show, complete with dancers in blackface. But the network loves the idea, and Delacroix hires two street performers (Savion Glover, who is truly the finest tap dancer since Fred Astaire, and Tommy Davidson) whose hunger for success and ignorance of history combine to make them accept the blackface. Despite protests, the show is a huge success--but gradually, the mental balance of everyone involved starts to crumble. As an argument, Bamboozled is incoherent--but how can racism be discussed rationally in the first place? Lee takes a much braver approach: Every time something seems to make sense or make a point, he complicates the situation. At one point, Delacroix goes to see his father, a standup comedian working at a small black club. Delacroix perceives his father as a broken failure. But his father's routine is full of articulate critiques of white hypocrisy, and the older man describes refusing to play the narrow movie roles that Hollywood had offered him, while Delacroix has convinced himself that his minstrel show is actually doing some social good. And what is the effect of the show itself? Lee obviously finds blackface abhorrent, but the minstrel routines are perversely fascinating and Glover's dancing, even when he mimics Amos and Andy-era routines, is outstanding. Most cuttingly, Lee points out parallels between minstrel and contemporary hip-hop personas. By the time it's over, Bamboozled won't have told you what to think, but you will have to think about these issues--and that alone is a remarkable accomplishment.Director : Spike Lee.  Performers : Damon Wayans, Savion Glover, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Tommy Davidson, Michael Rapaport.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Barbershop & Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) / Culver City, Calif. : Distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2006.   2 DVD videodiscs : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 B373 2006 VideoDVD : Barbershop description : From the producers of Soul Food comes this "warm, generous" taleabout a Chicago barbershop where razor-sharp comedy never goes out of style! Starring Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Cedric the Entertainer, Barbershop is both a "sweet, life-affirming movie" and outrageous, bust-a-gut fun!  Calvin (Ice Cube) is a would-be entrepreneur with big plans and running his family's barbershop isn't one of them. But when he impulsively sells the shop to a shady loan shark, he soon realizes just how important the neighborhood parlor is to him and just how far he'll go to get it back!  Barbershop 2 description : Ice Cube triumphantly returns as Calvin Palmer, proud proprietor of a neighborhood barbershop in Barbershop 2. The first Barbershop was a surprise smash; even more surprising is how good this sequel is. The plot isn't much--there's a corporate haircutting chain opening across the street, leading to the usual sentiments about the importance of small businesses and neighborhoods--but the well-conceived characters and the loose, genuine banter give this movie a striking richness of feeling. Barbershop 2 cuts back and forth in time, flashing back to when Eddie (garrulous Cedric the Entertainer), the shop's oldest and most outspoken barber, first came to work for Calvin's father. Glimpses of black history give weight to the modern-day struggles; most impressively, this device doesn't feel forced or cynical. Also returning are Eve, Troy Garity, and Sean Patrick Thomas; Queen Latifah is a new face on the block.   Beasts of the southern wild   / Fox Searchlight ; producers, Chris Carroll ... [et. al.] ; writers, Benh Zeitlin, Lucy Alibar ; director, Benh Zeitlin.  [Beverly Hills, Calif.] : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2012.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 94 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.F36 B43 2012 VideoDVD : The devastated landscape of the Louisiana bayou becomes a primordial world in the eyes of 6-year-old Hushpuppy (the fierce and magnetic Quvenzhané Wallis). Hushpuppy's father Wink (Dwight Henry), emotionally unstable and increasingly ill, fights to maintain their ramshackle home, along with the rest of the precarious community of the area known as the Bathtub--but a Katrina-esque storm leaves the Bathtub flooded, driving Wink to desperate lengths. Faced with the loss of everything she knows, Hushpuppy decides her only hope is to find her mother, but her only clue is a winking light in the distance. Beasts of the Southern Wild tells its story entirely from the 6-year-old girl's perspective; the actions and emotions of adults take on a mythic scope, as does the damaged environment in which she lives. The movie is dense and rich, often as obscure and murky as the overgrown bayou itself, sometimes off-putting and enticing at the same time. Wallis, her performance brimming with feral energy and a wounded soul, carries the movie with more star power than most adults could muster. The dialogue is thick with intriguing metaphors and the images resist being easily interpreted into a conventional plot, but the story gradually emerges, rising to a potent end. Viewers who take the time to sink into its mysteries will be rewarded. Beauty Shop (2005) / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures presents ; A State Street Pictures, Mandeville Films production ; produced by David Hoberman ... [et al.] ; screenplay by Kate Lanier and Norman Vance, Jr. ; directed by Bille Woodruff.  [Santa Monica, Calif.] : MGM Home Entertainment, c2005.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 105 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 B43 2005 VideoDVD  : With Queen Latifah holding court over a cast of sassy females, Beauty Shop continues the Barbershop franchise in entertaining style. Reprising her role from Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Latifah plays Gina the big-booty stylist, now on her own (she's a widow) and moving from Chicago to Atlanta, where she gets sick of her flamboyantly bitchy boss (played by... Kevin Bacon?), inherits her two best clients (Andie MacDowell and Mena Suvari) and her popular formula for "hair crack" conditioner, and opens her own styling shop with a $30,000 loan and a rainbow coalition of hairdressers played by Golden Brooks, Sherri Shepherd, Alfre Woodard and Alicia Silverstone. While it lacks the frank, sharply observant racial humor of Barbershop, this easygoing comedy moves along at an agreeable pace, with a supporting cast of beauty-shop customers (and a love interest, played by Djimon Hounsou) who play off Queen Latifah's effortless appeal with energy to spare. Sure it's conventional, and most of the characters are thinly developed, but Beauty Shop is a fun place to visit for 105 hassle-free minutes. Beloved  (1998) / directed by Jonathan Demme ; screenplay by Akosua Busia ... [et al.] ; produced by Edward Saxon ... [et al.] ; Touchstone Pictures ; a Harpo Films/Clinica Estetico production.  Burbank, CA : Touchstone Home Video, [1999?]  1 DVD videodisc (171 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PS3563.O8749 B433 1999 VideoDVD  : Jonathan Demme directed this adaptation of Toni Morrison's fact-based fifth novel (winner of a 1988 Pulitzer Prize), written in an experimental stream-of-consciousness flow and capturing the impact and aftermath of slavery on the human soul. In 1873, middle-aged Sethe (Oprah Winfrey) lives near Cincinnati with her teenage daughter, Denver (Kimberly Elise). She gets a surprise visit from her old friend Paul D (Danny Glover), whom she knew when they were both slaves on the Kentucky plantation Sweet Home. Paul D moves in, and a number of mysteries are introduced, including Sethe's memories of her dead older daughter and the fact that Sethe has been abandoned by her husband, two sons, and Denver's grandmother, Baby Suggs (Beah Richards). When a feral, insect-covered, stuttering teenager (Thandie Newton) turns up at Sethe's house, she is nursed back to health by Denver and called "Beloved." Violent flashbacks begin to explore shocking episodes from Sethe's past. (The film is rated R "for violent images, sexuality and nudity.") Hints of the supernatural surface as the question arises -- could Beloved be Sethe's older daughter, back from the dead? This film was a pet project of producer-star Oprah Winfrey, who spent over a decade bringing this work to the screen after she bought the film rights in 1987.   Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Best Man (1999) / Universal Pictures.  Universal City, CA : Universal Studios, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (121 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M3 B47 2000 VideoDVD : A glossy romantic comedy, The Best Man centers on four college friends and the women in their lives, all brought back together for a wedding. Taye Diggs (How Stella Got Her Groove Back) plays the title character, a young writer whose first novel is a barely fictionalized account of his college days, featuring barely fictionalized versions of all his friends. This novel hasn't yet been released, but ambitious TV producer Nia Long (Soul Food) has snagged an advance copy in the hopes of getting an early interview with Diggs. Unfortunately, when this advance copy begins circulating among the college gang, they discover it reveals some secrets that may have a disastrous effect on the wedding. The Best Man features a handsome, charming cast and a propulsive story, but the female characters are poorly developed and the male banter is, to say the least, chauvinistic. This banter is mostly to comic effect, but by the end it still leaves a sour taste that the movie's happy ending doesn't counter. With a particularly strong performance by Terrence Howard as an aimless but relentlessly honest member of the college quartet.  2000 NAACP Image Award winner. Beware (1946) / [released by] Astor Pictures Corp.  North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video : Timeless Video [distributor], c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 60 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 B483 1993 Videocassette  : Louis and his band are stranded at his college where they find a feud between the Dean and a pretty gym teacher.  Want more info?  Try the Internet Movie Database . The Big Timers, part of : Harlem Rides the Range ; Moon over Harlem ; The Big Timers ; Dirty Gertie from Harlem, USA .  United States : Platinum, 2004.   1 DVD videodisc (approximately 231 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 H374 2004 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVi Film Collection)  :  A poor girl falls in love with an army officer, and her mother pretends to own the hotel she works at as a chambermaid to encourage her daughter's romance. Cast : Stepin Fetchit, Francine Everett, Lou Swarz, Duke Williams.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen   series.  Want more info?  Try the Internet Movie Database . The Birth of a Nation 1915) / Lumivision Corporation & International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House ; director and producer, D.W. Griffith ; writers, Thomas F. Dixon, Jr., D.W. Griffith, Frank E. Woods.  Burbank, CA : Triton Multimedia, c2002. 1 DVD videodisc (200 min.) : si., b&w ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.75 .B57 2002 VideoDVD : The story of two families, North and South, who are caught up in the Civil War and then the Reconstruction period. Includes an abbreviated version of "The birth of a race" which was conceived as a protest against the racism of "Birth of a nation", the story of the birth of the Ku Klux Klan.  Additional notes from Wikipedia: Set during and after the American Civil War, the film was based on Thomas Dixon's The Clansman, a novel and play.  Although the first movie "blockbuster" using innovative filming techniques, the movie  provoked great controversy for promoting white supremacy and positively portraying the Ku Klux Klan as heroes. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People protested premieres of the film in numerous cities. It also conducted a public education campaign, publishing articles' protesting the film's fabrications and inaccuracies, organizing petitions against it, and conducting education on the facts of the war and Reconstruction.  When the film was originally shown, riots broke out in Boston, Philadelphia, and other major cities. Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis refused to allow the film to open. The film's inflammatory character was a catalyst for gangs of whites to attack blacks.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Birth of a Nation (New York, NY; Kino International, 1915) 193 minutes. available as streaming video via Silent Film Online by Alexander Street Press.  A film adaptation of Thomas Nixon's novel The Clansman. The Black Brigade  (1970 ) (1:10 min) Streaming video via Matinee Classics Cast: Stephen Boyd, Robert Hooks, Paul Stewart, Richard Pryor, Susan Oliver, Glynn E. Turman, Billy Dee Williams. DVD release of the television movie Carter's Army, which aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on January 27, 1970. The movie is a war drama that stars a host of prominent African-American film actors, including Richard Pryor, Rosie Grier, Robert Hooks, Billy Dee Williams, and Moses Gunn. A redneck officer (Stephen Boyd) is put in charge of a squad of all black troops charged with the mission of securing an important hydro dam in Nazi Germany. Their failure would delay the Allied advance into Germany, thus prolonging the war. These African-Americans had been relegated to cleaning latrines and therefore have little real military training, but Captain Beau Carter has no choice. He leads the rag-tag unit to secure the dam and the men reveal themselves as heroic. Black Caesar / a Larco production ; written, produced and directed by Larry Cohen.  Santa Monica, CA : MGM Home Entertainment, [2001], ©2001.   1 DVD videodisc (94 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Film Collection AF7 D0004933 VideoDVD   : Fred Williamson is "imposing, tough and unflappable" as a street kid who muscles his way into the big time mob racket.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  Black Gunn (1972)  / Columbia Pictures presents a John Heyman production of a Robert Hartford-Davis film ; produced by John Heyman and Norman Priggen ; screenplay by Franklin Coen ; directed by Robert Hartford-Davis.  Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 2004.  1 DVD videodisc (97 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.M23 B53 2004 VideoDVD : A successful and popular nightclub owner who believes financial independence is the path to equality and success must act as a go-between for his militant-minded brother and the white gang syndicate his brother has attacked and robbed. Their involvements lead to a breathless race-course chase, the destruction of a dope pusher and a violent waterfront climax. Stars Academy Award® Winner Martin Landau and Jim Brown. The Black King (1932) / presented by Sack Amusement Enterprises.  North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video : Timeless Video [distributor], c1993. 1 VHS videocassette (ca. 72 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 B572 1993 Videocassette : Fiery preacher Charcoal Johnson, though no model of sanctity, gains control of a Mississippi Baptist church through personal magnetism; he uses this springboard to organize a 'Back to Africa' movement among his fellow afro-Americans, along the lines of evangelical religion. Weathering accusations of swindling, he emerges as the self-styled (future) Emperor of the United States of Africa. But his tin-plated pomp is threatened by greed, personalities, and practicalities... The film is based on the career of Marcus Garvey, who organized a Back-to- Africa movement among blacks in the United States, and is not an "All-Black-Cast" film, as there are white actors, including the director/producer Bud Pollard, playing some minor, uncredited roles. Deacon "Charcoal" Johnson is heading a Back-to-Africa group and raising funds (to his pockets, mostly) all the way from Logan, Mississippi to New York City's Harlem, where a procession of Johnson's followers and elite troops parade to the music of Victor Herbert's "March of the Wooden Soldiers." Try Internet Movie Database . Black Nativity / Fox Seachlight Pictures presents a Maven Pictures/Wonderful Films production ; produced by Celine Rattray, William Horberg, Galt Niedrhoffer ; written for the screen and directed by Kasi Lemmons.   Los Angeles, CA : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment ; [2014}.  1 DVD videodisc (approximately 93 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  N1995.9.F35 B533 2014 VideoDVD    : "I would rather be a lamppost in Harlem than the Governor of Georgia." This is a famous quote from Langston Hughes (1902-1967), who was part of the Harlem Renaissance that began in the early 1920s. His classic play, "Black Nativity," appears on American stages each holiday season, so it's time an updated musical version is offered on film....We have a fatherless boy sent by his destitute mother in Baltimore to stay with her estranged parents in Harlem until she finds a new job and another place to live. He is confused and angry; plus his backpack is stolen just minutes after he gets off the bus in New York City.  The cast includes:  * Jacob Latimore (Lots of TV) is Langston, bewildered by the rift between his mother and his grandfather. No one will tell him why they aren't speaking, so all he wants is to go back to Baltimore and try to help his mom. * Forest Whitaker ("The Butler") is Langston's grandfather, the Reverend Cornell, a dedicated minister and loving husband, but inflexible where his daughter is concerned. * Angela Bassett ("American Horror Story") is the lovely and wise Aretha Cobbs. Langston says, "I don't even know what I'm supposed to call you. Should I call you Grandma?" * Jennifer Hudson ("Winnie Mandela") is Langston's single mother, out of options and desperate to protect her son, even though she will NOT accept any help from her family. That inflexible apple didn't fall very far from that inflexible tree.... * Vondie Curtis-Hall (Lots of TV) is the pawnbroker our young hero visits in a naïve attempt to raise money for his mother. * Tyrese Gibson ("Fast Five") is a spooky guy who just seems to keep showing up in that Harlem neighborhood. This PG-rated musical features a wide range of selections, from original ballads and traditional hymns to rap, so it has something for everyone. The finale is the Christmas nativity presented in Reverend Cornell's Harlem church, so it's seasonal as well. Black Panther / Marvel Entertainment ; director Mark Brooks.  Los Angeles, CA : Shout Factory, [2011]  1 DVD videodisc (132 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Film Collection  CW8 D0128324 VideoDVD : The Black Panther's origin is retold in cinematic scope with social satire and all-out action. Created by Stan Lee and penciller-co-plotter Jack Kirby, Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966). He is the first black superhero in mainstream American comics. Black Picket Fence   (2002)  / Holysneakers, Inc. ; Seventh Art Releasing ; director, Sergio Goes ; producers, Sergio Goes, Keiko Takahashi. Chatsworth, CA : Image Entertainment, Inc., c2003.  1 DVD videodisc (93 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in  ML420.M55 B53 2003 VideoDVD : Tiz has a dream. He wants to be a successful hip-hop rapper, get out of the projects and have a nice house in the suburbs where he can chill without worrying about a bullet in his back. But at 25, with a young son and close friends depending on him, is real escape ever possible? An inspiring story of survival, this hard-hitting documentary from award-winning Sergio Goes follows Tislam Miller, a struggling rapper in the public housing projects of Brooklyn's East New York. Mentored by the legendary Kool G Rap, Tiz is making impressive strides in his career but remains tied to his old life, primarily through his drug-dealing best friend, Mel, who has just gotten out of prison. With candid interviews, lyrical moments of grim beauty and powerful verite footage taking us beyond rap world stereotypes, Black Picket Fence is an powerful experience honored by the Brooklyn International Film Festival. Black Rebels  (1959) / screenplay by Morris Lee Green ; story by William Rowland and Irma Berk ; added scenes created and directed by William Rowland ; produced by William Rowland ; directed by Richard L. Bare. Murder in Mississippi (1956) / written by Herbert S. Altman ; produced by Herbert S. Altman, J.P. Mawra ; directed by J.P. Mawra.  [United States] : Something Weird Video, c2005.  1 DVD videodisc (177 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.R23 B553 2005 VideoDVD : Black Rebels summary - "'We don't want your kind around here....' When drug-dealing Buck kills the boyfriend of Lola Montalvo (West Side Story Oscar winner Rita Moreno) then pins the rap on her brother, Lola seeks revenge by pretending to love Buck -- moments after Buck's former girlfriend (Dyan Cannon!) tries to stick a switchblade in his back! All of which culminates in a race riot at the home of a high-school rich kid involving black, white, and Mexican gangs, undercover cops, Lola's poor ol' papa, and even a pool full of naked girls...." Murder in Mississippi summary - "Voter registration leads to Murder in Mississippi when a 'cracker' Sheriff arrests white dilettante Carol Byrd and two other 'Communist Yankees' for 'agitating colored folks.' Though her friends are killed, Carol is kept alive as the personal sex slave of two white-trash cretins in this nasty lesson in racial intolerance..." Two examples of Black exploitation films.  Want more info?  Try Internet Movie Database . Blackboard Jungle (1955) / MGM presents ; produced by Pandro S. Berman ; screen play by Richard Brooks ; directed by Richard Brooks.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, 2005.  1 DVD videodisc (100 min.)  PS3558.U473 B55 2005 VideoDVD : Urban drama about an idealistic teacher in a slum area who fights doggedly to connect with his unruly students. Based on Evan Hunter's novel.  Features Sidney Poitier in one of his earliest roles.  More details .  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Blacula / Orion Pictures ; American International ; Samuel Z. Arkoff presents ; screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig ; produced by Joseph T. Naar ; directed by William Crain.  Santa Monica, CA : Distributed by Metro Goldwyn Mayer Home Entertainment, 2004.  1 DVD videodisc (93 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection AQ4 D0035870 VideoDVD :  In 1780, African Prince Mamuwalde visits Count Dracula at his castle in Transylvania, seeking his support in ending the slave trade. The Count curses the prince and murders his wife. Mumuwalde is transformed into a vampire and is confined to a coffin for nearly two centuries until he was unwittingly freed by two interior decorators who become his first victims.  Want more info? Try Movie Review Query Engine . Blade (1998) /  New Line Cinema presents an Amen Ra Films production.   [Canada] : Alliance Films, [2009?]  1 Blu-ray videodisc (120 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S26 B5 2009 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Wesley Snipes plays a half-mortal, half-immortal in charge of ridding the earth of a race of vampires led by Stephen Dorff in this action-packed blockbuster.  Want more info? Try Movie Review Query Engine .  Blade II (2002) / New Line Cinema presents an Amen Ra Films production in association with Imaginary Forces.  Canada] : Alliance Films, [2009]  1 Blu-ray videodisc (117 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S26 B52 2009 Blu-ray VideoDVD  : Aptly described by critic Roger Ebert as "a vomitorium of viscera," Blade II takes the express route to sequel success. So if you enjoyed Blade, you'll probably drool over this monster mash, which is anything but boring. Set (and filmed) in Prague, the plot finds a new crop of "Reaper" vampires threatening to implement a viral breeding program, and they're nearly impervious to attacks by Blade (Wesley Snipes), his now-revived mentor Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), and a small army of "normal" vampires who routinely combust in a constant conflagration of spectacular special effects. It's up to Blade to conquer the über-vamps, and both Snipes and director Guillermo del Toro (Mimic) serve up a nonstop smorgasbord of intensely choreographed action, creepy makeup, and graphic ultraviolence. It's sadistic, juvenile, numbing, and--for those who dig this kind of thing--undeniably impressive. With the ever-imposing Ron Perlman as a vampire villain. Want more info? Try Movie Review Query Engine . Blade : Trinity (2004) / New Line Cinema presents an Amen Ra Films Production. [Canada] : Alliance Films, c2009.  1 Blu-ray videodisc (1 hr. 53 min.) : digital, col. ; 4 3/4 in.   PN1995.9.S26 B522 2009 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Even skeptical fans of the Blade franchise will enjoy sinking their teeth into Blade: Trinity. The law of diminishing returns is in full effect here, and the franchise is wearing out its welcome, but let's face it: any movie that features Jessica Biel as an ass-kicking vampire slayer and Parker Posey--yes, Parker Posey!--as a vamping vampire villainess can't be all bad, right? Those lovely ladies bring equal measures of relief and grief to Blade, the half-human, half-vampire once again played, with tongue more firmly in stone-cold cheek, by Wesley Snipes. With series writer David S. Goyer in the director's chair, the film is calculated for mainstream appeal, trading suspenseful horror for campy humor and choppy, nonsensical action. The franchise still offers some intriguing ideas, however, including Drake (Dominic Purcell), the original vampire, whose blood contains the secret that could destroy all blood-suckers in a plot that incorporates a sinister "blood farm" where humans are held--and drained--in suspended animation. And Biel's wise-cracking sidekick (Ryan Reynolds) in her cadre of "Nightstalkers" provides comic relief in a series that's grown increasingly dour. All of which makes Blade: Trinity a love-it-or-hate-it sequel... supposedly the last in a trilogy, but the ending suggests otherwise. Want more info? Try Movie Review Query Engine . Blade : Trinity (2004) / New Line Cinema ; producers, David S. Goyer, Lynn Harris ; written and directed by David S. Goyer.  [United States] : New Line Home Entertainment, 2005.  2 DVD video discs (124 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. Special Collections Comic Art PN1995.9.S26 B522 2005 VideoDVD (Note : Library use only) : A group of vampires resurrect "Drake" the all-powerful Count Dracula. Teaming up with the Nightstalkers, a group of similar-minded hunters, Blade is ready for battle. A scientist creates a potion that can kill Drake and the entire bloodsucking race.  Cast : Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Dominic Purcell, Jessica Biel, Ryan Reynolds, Parker Posey, Triple @H.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Blind Side  (2010) / Alcon Entertainment ; Zucker/Netter Productions ; produced by Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, Gil Netter ; written by John Lee Hancock ; directed by John Lee Hancock.  Burbank, CA : Distributed by Warner Home Video, [2010]  1 Blu-ray Disc (128 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997.2 .B55 2010 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Michael Oher is a homeless African-American teenager who is from a broken home. Mike is taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, Mike faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome - as both a football player and student. Mike works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.  Cast : Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Kim Dickens, Adriane Lenox, Kathy Bates, Catherine Dyer, Andy Stahl.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Blood of Jesus  (1941) (56 min.) Streaming video from Internet Archive : A classic example of the "race film" genre of films by African-American directors and casts, geared exclusively for an African-American audience. This film, written and directed by Spencer William Jr. of the TV show Amos & Andy Show (who also played Razz Williams in the film), is a morality tale about a woman (Cathryn Caviness) who is accidentally shot to death by her husband. Facing death, she must choose between Hell, represented as urban life, and Zion, represented as pastoral America, and between Satan and God. The climax comes when she makes her decision at the foot of the cross and wakes up to singing of her church choir. Intended to promote a Black Southern Baptist ideal of a virtuous rural life, the film was a major success and the most popular hit in its genre.  The Blood of Jesus (1941) (57 minutes)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Directed by Spencer Williams.  In the rural south of the United States, a godly young woman is accidentally wounded by her un-churched husband. She succumbs to the injuries, whereupon a good angel bids her to journey with him to the Crossroads of Life. Before she can travel far, the devil lures her with the temptations of juke joints and the city. Can she regain the straight and narrow before it's too late? And what is to become of those she left behind? The Blood of Jesus / Sack Attractions ; Amegro Films presents ; written and directed by Spencer Williams ; Lying lips / Alfred N. Sack presents ; a Monogram Picture ; written and directed by Oscar Micheaux.  Narberth, PA : Alpha Home Entertainment, ©2006.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 144 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 B5566 2005 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVI Film Collection)  :  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Blue Caprice / Sundance Selects presents ; produced by Isen Robbins, Aimee Schoof ; screenplay by R.F.I. Porto ; produced and directed by Alexandre Moors. 1 DVD videodisc (94 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.B55 B58 2014 VideoDVD  : Inspired by true events, Blue Caprice investigates the notorious and horrific Beltway sniper attacks from the point of view of the two perpetrators, whose distorted father-son relationship facilitated their long and bloody journey across America. Recently abandoned by his mother, teenager Lee Malvo (Tequan Richmond) finds an unlikely father figure in John Allen Muhammad (Isaiah Washington, Grey's Anatomy), who takes the boy in and shows him the moral decay of the society that declared him unfit to be a husband and parent. Before long the impressionable Lee follows in John's footsteps and learns the art of killing for vengeance. When John obtains the whereabouts of his estranged wife and children, he outfits a blue Chevy Caprice with a shooting bay and he and Lee head for Maryland. What follows is a weeks-long assault that held the nation's capital in fear as the duo's sniper attacks took the lives of innocent men, women, and children until their apprehension by police. Featuring captivating performances by Washington and Richmond, Blue Caprice paints a riveting portrait of 21st-century America and is a haunting depiction of two cold-blooded killers that endures long after the final frame. Boarding House Blues (1948) (80 min.) Directed by Josh Binney. Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Cast: Jackie 'Moms' Mabley, Dusty Fletcher and Lucky Millinder. Despite the slapstick atmosphere there, the inhabitants of Moms' theatrical boarding house in Harlem are broke and in danger of losing their home. For some ready cash, they trick a producer into helping them put on a show, featuring a variety of specialty acts. Body and Soul (1924) / produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux.  Chicago, Ill. : Facets Video, [1994]   1 VHS videocassette (100 min.) : si., b&w ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.N4 B62 1980z Videocassette  : An article about an escaped prisoner posing as a preacher causes a terrible nightmare for the readers....Paul Robeson in his first screen role, plays two parts, an evil preacher and his good brother, who wage a personal war for the body and soul of the heroine.... Cast : Paul Robeson, Marshall Rodgers, Chester A. Alexander, Walter Comick.  Silent film with music and English subtitles. Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Bodyguard / Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Tig Production in association with Kasdan Pictures ; produced by Lawrence Kasdan, Jim Wilson and Kevin Costner ; written by Lawrence Kasdan ; directed by Mick Jackson.   [United States] : Warner Home Video, 2012.  1 Blu-ray videodisc (129 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Film Collection CX5 D0138920 Blu-ray Video : In her spectacular film debut, Houston plays Rachel Marron, a music/movie superstar at her peak. Fans want to see her, hear her, touch her. But one wants to kill her - and that's where security expert Frank Farmer (Costner) comes in. Farmer is a professional who never lets his guard down. Rachel's glamorous life often puts her at risk. Each expects to be in charge. What they don't expect is to fall in love.  Cast : Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Book of Eli  (2010)  / produced by Broderick Johnson ... [et al.] ; written by Gary Whitta ; directed by the Hughes Brothers.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, 2010.  1 DVD videodisc (118 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997.2 .B66564 2010 VideoDVD : A man travels across a post-apocalyptic American protecting a sacred book that holds secrets to the survival of humans.  Cast : Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals, Ray Stevenson.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Boss nigger / Dimension Pictures presents ; Jacs Films Inc. and 3P Productions presents ; written by Fred Williamson ; produced by Jack Arnold, Fred Williamson ; directed by Jack Arnold.  [United States] : Kit Parker Films : Blair and Associates : distributed by VCI Entertainment, c2008.  1 videodisc (93 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.W4 B67 2008 VideoDVD : The Boss (former football star Fred Williamson), has "decided to hunt white folks for a change," becoming a bounty hunter and setting out on the trail of fugitive outlaw Jed Clyton (William Smith). With his comic sidekick Amos (D'Urville Martin), he rides into the town of San Miguel, finds that it has no sheriff and takes the job himself. Boss takes a bite out of local crime and brings the hammer down on Clyton in this amusing and action-filled parody of the 1970s blaxploitation genre, as he institutes black man's law in this white man's town!  Boyz 'n the Hood  (1991) / Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. ; written and directed by John Singleton ; produced by Steve Nicolaides.  Burbank, CA : Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1998, c1991.  1 DVD videodisc (112 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 B699 1998 VideoDVD  A 12-inch disc version is also available : John Singleton, at the age of 23, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his debut film, Boyz N the Hood. The film stars Laurence Fishburne, Angela Basset, Ice Cube, and Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. in his first starring role in a feature film. Gooding plays Tre Styles, a teenager growing up in South Central Los Angeles. His father, Furious (Fishburne), is divorced and living away from Tre and his mother (Basset), but he's still involved in Tre's upbringing, teaching him the values of right and wrong and responsibility. Meanwhile, Tre's childhood buddies Ricky (Morris Chestnut) and Doughboy (Ice Cube) are living their lives in terms of the epidemic of violence and poverty that has plagued their neighborhood. Ricky, a talented football player, strives to get a full athletic scholarship to college. If only his SAT scores were higher. Doughboy lives a life full of crime but still remains true to his friends. The obstacles that these three young men come across result in dire consequences, devastatingly avoidable and inevitable at the same time. Boyz N the Hood is a landmark film beyond its commercial success, presenting a portrait of South Central in the late '80s and early '90s as painted by Singleton (who grew up in that neighborhood), achieving accuracy and dramatic resonance in this story of at-risk youth. Cast : Larry Fishburne, Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Morris Chestnut.  1993 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Brian's Song (1971) / Columbia Pictures.  Burbank, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, 2000.  1 DVD videodisc (74 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.S67 B75 2000 VideoDVD : A drama about the deep friendship between Gale Sayers, black halfback for the Chicago Bears, and his white teammate, Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer in 1970.  This biopic about the Chicago Bears' Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers is no mere sports film. It's one of those transcendent stories that struck a rare cultural nerve, a sensitive film about love, friendship, cancer, racial harmony, and football that came along at just the right time. James Caan is at his free-spirited best as Piccolo, and Billy Dee Williams is very charming as the quiet Sayers destined for superstardom. Roommates and rivals, these two rookies soon become best friends because of their competitive natures and complementary personalities. When Piccolo becomes stricken with cancer, his relentless will to live inspires the talented Sayers to reach his athletic potential. Jack Warden, as the masterful coach George Halas, superbly manipulates the ying and yang relationship for all it's worth. Michel Legrand's melancholy theme still lingers in the mind as one of the all-time greats. Broken Strings (1940) / [presented by] Goldport ; an International Roadshow Release ; an L.C. Borden Production.   [S.l.] : Matinee Classics, [199-?]  1 VHS videocassette (70 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.N4 B76 1990 Videocassette : An all-Black melodrama concerning a classical violinist who injures his fingers. His son tries to earn the needed cash to restore his father's paralyzed hand by following in his father's footsteps as a violinist but to his father's displeasure, he prefers swing to classical music. Cast : Clarence Muse, Sybil Lewis, William Washington, Tommiwitta Moore, Stymie Beard, Pete Webster, Edward Thompson, Buck Woods, Jess Lee Brooks, Earl Morris.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series.  Want more info?  Try Internet Movie Database . The Bronze Buckaroo (1939) (55 min.)  Streaming video from Internet Archive.  Bob Blake and his boys arrive at Joe Jackson's ranch to find him missing. While Slim cheats Dusty out of his money using ventriloquism and marked cards, Blake tries to find Jackson. Learning that Thorne and his gang hold him prisoner, he and his men trail them. When Thorne's gang gets the drop on them, Slim puts his ventriloquism to work.  Example of early African American western.  Source : Internet Archive, Feature Film.  For a related article, see Michigan History: Hollywood's First African-American Cowboy  : In the 1930s, when white singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers carved out names for themselves, Herbert Jeffries decided there should be black cowboy films especially since there had been many African American cowboys in the American west. The Bronze Buckeroo (1939) (57 minutes)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics :  Directed by Richard C. Kahn. Cast: Herb Jeffries, Artie Young and Rollie Hardin.  Bob Blake and his boys arrive at Joe Jackson’s ranch to find him missing. While Slim cheats Dusty out of his money using ventriloquism and marked cards, Blake tries to find Jackson.  Learning that Thorne and his gang hold him prisoner, he and his men trail them. When Thorne’s gang gets the drop on them, Slim puts his ventriloquism to work. The Bronze Buckaroo (1939) Streaming video from YouTube. The Brother From Another Planet (1984) / MGM, 2003. 1 DVD (108 minutes) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.C55 B767 2003 VideoDVD : The visionary writer-director behind such films as Passion Fish, Lone Star and Sunshine State, Oscar nominee John Sayles has been at the forefront of independent cinema for more than twenty years. In this "vastly amusing, offbeat fantasy" (Variety), Sayles takes "a fresh look at our society" (Los Angeles Times) through the eyes of a black extraterrestrial (Joe Morton) who crash-lands on Earth in Harlem and is taken in by the regulars of a local bar. The alien changes everyone he meets on his "original and eye-opening" (The Hollywood Reporter) journey through the streets of urban America. But can his message of brotherly love resonate with the intergalactic bounty hunters trying to track him down?  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Bubbling Over (1934) (20 minutes) Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Cast - Ethel Waters, Southernaires Quartet, Hamtree Harrington.  In this all-black short musical comedy a woman has a husband so lazy she can stick a pin in him without waking him up, but announcing lunch gets him up pretty fast.  She’s also saddled with a bevy of his lazy relatives.  Four more come by and sing as a quartet.  After the wife learns they had been traveling men, she advises them to keep traveling and kicks them out. Buck and the Preacher (1971) / Columbia Pictrues prsents an E&R BEI production ; producer, Joel Glickman ; screenplay, Ernest Kinoy ; directed by Sidney Poitier. Culver City, Calif. : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2007, c1971. 1 videodisc (117 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.W4 B835 2007 VideoDVD : Sidney Poitier made his directing debut with this 1972 action comedy with an edge to it. Made at the height of the Black Power movement in America, the film has an unmistakable militancy in its story of a wagon-train guide and a con man who team up to throw a posse of white nightriders off the trail of escaped slaves. Poitier has never been a distinctive filmmaker, and Buck and the Preacher certainly doesn't indicate any early signs of raw talent that later went undeveloped. But the film's energy and sense of fun, hand in hand with the suggestively political zing, make it watchable. Bucktown (1975) / American International Pictures.  [Santa Monica : MGM Home Entertainment, c2001]   1 DVD videodisc (94 min.) : sd., col., 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 B83 2001 VideoDVD : This middling but entirely watchable blaxploitation thriller from 1975 stars football-legend-turned-actor Fred Williamson as the brother of a murdered bar owner in a racially divided town. After bringing in a gaggle of tough street buddies from the old neighborhood to help break up a corrupt police force, Williamson's character figures he can settle into domestic bliss with Pam Grier. But there's a snag: the hero's restless posse decides to take over the white cops' graft operation, forcing a bloody finale of retribution. In the '70s genre of reactionary revenge movies, Bucktown is a minor entry, and Grier's rather passive performance is certainly anomalous in the blaxploitation vein. But it is worth a visit, especially for cult film completists.  Buffalo Soldiers  (1997) / TNT presents a Trilogy Group/Citadel Enterprise productions ; producer, Gordon Wolf ; teleplay, Frank Military, Susan Rhinehart ; story, Jonathan Klein, Frank Military ; director, Charles Haid. Burbank, CA : Distributed by Warner Home Video, [2006]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 120 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 B844 2006 VideoDVD   : Frank Militar and Susan Rhinehart scripted this western, a look back at the post-Civil War Black cavalry troops known as the Buffalo Soldiers, the fierce fighting unit previously covered in a PBS four-parter (1970) and an NBC pilot (1979). In the New Mexico Territory, ex-slave Sgt. Wyatt (Danny Glover) and the Buffalo soldiers arrest Captain Draper (Robert Knott) and other Texas Rangers, but politics mean the Rangers are quietly freed later. Back at Fort Craig, Wyatt reports to anti-black General Pike (Tom Bower) and Col. Grierson (Bob Gunton), a white responsible for assembling and supporting the black regiment. A search is underway for Indian chief Victorio (Harrison Lowe). Indian prophet Nana (Chesley Wilson) is tortured in an effort to get him to reveal Victorio's whereabouts. Determining that Victorio is at Rattlesnake Springs, the Buffalo Soldiers head in that direction for a confrontation. Filmed in the desert of Arizona's Cochise County, Buffalo Soldiers premiered December 7, 1997 on TNT. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Burlesque in Harlem (1954), see  Paradise in Harlem : [and] Burlesque in Harlem .  Narberth, PA : Alpha Home Entertainment, [2007], ©2007.  1 DVD videodisc (134 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 P36 2007 VideoDVD   : A filming of a burlesque act in 1954 Harlem, complete with singers, baggy-pants comics and "exotic" dancers.   Movie review . The Butler, see Lee Daniels' The Butler. Bush Mama   / [producer/director, Haile Gerima].  Washington, DC : Mypheduh Films, Inc, [1993?]  1 VHS videocassette (98 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  E185.86 .B87 1993 Videocassette : A powerful drama of a black woman living on welfare in the Los Angeles ghetto, trying to care for her daughter after being stranded alone by her man's imprisonment for a crime he didn't commit. Selected Feature Films, C All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Cab Callaway’s Jitterbug Party (1935) (7:32minutes) Streaming video via Matinee Classics : A Paramount Picture.  In the film, Cab Calloway and his Orchestra perform Hotcha Razz-Ma-Tazz and 'Long About Midnight at the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York before going to a house party and performing Jitter Bug. In the final sequence, a young Lena Horne can be seen dancing. Cabin in the sky / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents ; screenplay by Joseph Schrank ; produced by Arthur Freed ; directed by Vincente Minnelli.  Burbank, CA : Distributed by Warner Home Video, [2006], ©2006.  1 videodisc (approximately 98 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection CN5 D0060232 VideoDVD : Hollywood's first all-black film since The Green Pastures tells the vibrant fable of rascally Little Joe, torn between the love of his good wife Petunia and the wiles of good-time bad girl Georgia Brown...and caught in a tug-of-war between emissaries from the Lord and Satan. How can virtue triumph over evil? Well, as Petunia says, "Sometimes when you fight the devil, you gotta jab him with his own pitchfork." Debuting movie director Vincente Minnelli (An American in Paris, Gigi) and stars Ethel Waters, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are more than a match for the devil in this musical treasure. With a soundtrack of dazzling standards including Taking a Chance on Love and Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe, Cabin in the Sky is a joyous classic.  This musical offers its pleasures, but also may make you squirm at the racial stereotypes that were considered both acceptable and entertaining in 1943. Also have a 1985 VHS version .  Want more info?  Try Internet Movie Database . Cadillac Records (2008)   / Sony Music Film and Parkwood Pictures present a Sony Music Film production ; produced by Andrew Lack, Sofia Sondervan ; written and directed by Darnell Martin.  Culver City, Calif. : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, [2009]  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (ca. 108 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M86 C33 2009 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Chess Records was located on the south side of Chicago. In 1947, it began recording blues music with Muddy Waters and Little Walter. This eventually gave birth to rock and roll in 1955 with Chuck Berry. Record producer, Leonard Chess has an ear for this different type of music and believes he can cash in by signing up new talent such as songwriter, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, and Etta James. Chess makes all of his artist part of his family and takes care of them. This is not easy since they spend a small fortune on booze, drugs, and the high life. When Chuck Berry goes to jail, Leonard is able to find another talented performer, Etta James, to take his place. In the late sixties, as their music goes out of favor, Leonard Chess gets out of the record business.  Cast : Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Cedric the Entertainer, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Eamonn Walker, Mos Def, Beyoncé Knowles.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Carmen Jones, see Oscar Hammerstein's Carmen Jones. Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (2001)  / produced, written, and directed by Chi Muoi Lo.  [S.l.] : First Look Media Home Entertainment, c2001  1 DVD videodisc (119 mins.) : 4 3/4 in  PN1995.9.F35 C38 2001 VideoDVD : Dwayne and his sister are Vietnamese siblings who were adopted by an African-American couple. Now in their mid-20s, they both have chosen different paths, but when they learn that their biological mother is coming to Los Angeles, they eagerly await the reunion. This drama is both funny and moving in an emotionally rewarding journey through the tapestry of one group of immigrants searching for what it means to call themselves a family. Cast : Paul Winfield, Mary Alice, Chi Mudi Lo, Kieu Chinh, Lauren Tom, Sana Lathan, Tyler Christopher, George Wallace. Chameleon Street / a Prismatic One, Inc. production in association with Films Around the World, Inc. ; produced by Dan Lawton ; written and directed by Wendell B. Harris, Jr.  Chatsworth, Calif. : Distributed by Image Entertainment, [2007]   1 videodisc (DVD) (94 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.B55 C36 2007 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVI Movie Collection  : Dramatizes the true story of William Douglas "Chameleon" Street, a quick-witted, self-tutored young man from Detroit who barely managed to earn a high school diploma, yet in the 70’s pulled off a series of high-profile hoaxes. The Charles Burnett Collection   [Harrington Park, N.J.] : Milestone Film & Video ; [New York, N.Y.] : Distributed by New Yorker Video, c2007.  2 DVD videodiscs (332 min.) PN1997.A1 C53 2007 VideoDVD :  1st movie - Killer of Sheep (1977) : An African-American slaughterhouse worker searches for tiny moments of beauty in his predominantly bleak life.  2nd movie - My Brother's Wedding (1983) : A young African-American man navigates his conflicting obligations while trying to figure out what he really wants in life. Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom, see Half Slave, Half Free  : Pt. 2 : Charlotte Forten's Mission . Claudine (1974) / Twentieth Century Fox presents a Third World Cinema production ; produced by Hannah Weinstein ; directed by John Berry.  Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2002.  1 DVD videodisc (92 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 C553 2002 VideoDVD : It's easy to get hooked by Charlotte Forten's Mission, a lean, funny, Nixon-era movie about a romance nearly undone by a patronizing welfare system. Diahann Carroll stars as Claudine, single mother of six children in Harlem and a maid working for under-the-table wages. Forever worried that her white caseworker will discover her meager, outside income (thus eliminating meager government benefits), Claudine further complicates her domestic situation by falling in love with Roop (James Earl Jones). An affable Romeo and absent but financially supportive father of several kids, Roop by his presence jeopardizes Claudine's official status as a mom without means. The couple's decision to go forward results in welfare backlash, personal humiliation, family strain, and corrosive behavior. A sharp script layers the personal story within a socially conscious treatment, while Jones and Carroll's special chemistry turns the characters into fully rounded people. John Berry, an interesting if forgotten director, brings a clipped vitality to this urban affair.  Also available as streaming video from YouTube. Clockers / Universal Pictures presents a 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks production ; a Spike Lee joint ; executive producers, Rosalie Swedlin, Monty Ross ; screenplay by Richard Price and Spike Lee ; produced by Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Jon Kilik ; directed by Spike Lee.   Universal City, CA : Universal Home Video, [1999]  1 DVD videodisc (2 hrs., 9 min.) : DVD video, sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection  AJ4 D0017421 VideoDVD : Two brothers grow up together in the same Brooklyn housing projects, but they are as opposite as good and evil. Victor Dunham has a family, works two jobs and leads a respectable life. His 19-year-old brother, Strike, hangs out with his friends on a bench and sells crack cocaine. Strike agrees to kill a rival dealer as a favor to Rodney, the neighborhood drug kingpin, but when the man is murdered, it is Victor who confesses. Detective Rocco Kleine won't buy Victor's confession, and attempts to break down the stories of both brothers in order to save Victor.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Coffy / American International ; Samuel Z. Arkoff presents ; produced by Robert Papazian ; written and directed by Jack Hill.     Santa Monica, CA : MGM Home Entertainment, [2001]  1 DVD videodisc (90 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection AF5 D0007701 VideoDVD : Coffy (Pam Grier) is a nurse turned avenger, becoming a one-woman, anti-drug vigilante who roots out the dealers who "turned on" her 11-year-old sister. This violent, sexy drama is a variation on urban vigilante flicks, where family members fight crime more effectively than the cops, and in much more provocative ways.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Color of Courage .  Universal City, CA : Universal Studios, c1999.  1 VHS videocassette (92 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.D555 C65 1999 Videocassette    : In Detroit 1944, after welcoming Minnie McGhee and her family into the neighborhood, Anna Sipes is shocked to learn that the community, even her own husband, is plotting civil action to evict the McGhees because of their skin color. Anna and Minnie become close friends and that friendship is tested as each struggles with tensions rising around them.  The movie tells the story of the 1940's Sipes v. McGhee trial - the case which considered the question of the legality of restrictive deed covenants in Detroit.   (Restrictive covenants created segregated neighborhoods and kept blacks out of all white neighborhoods) The Color Purple (1985)   / Warner Brothers.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, c1997.  1 DVD videodisc (154 min.)  PS3573.A425 C62 1997 VideoDVD   : An uneducated woman living in the rural American south who was raped by her father, deprived of the children she bore him and forced to marry a brutal man she calls "Mister" is transformed by the friendship of two remarkable women, acquiring self-worth and the strength to forgive. 1988 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Coming to America (1988)  / Paramount Pictures presents an Eddie Murphy production ; a Landis/Folsey film ; story by Eddie Murphy ; screenplay by David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein ; produced by George Folsey, Jr. and Robert D. Wachs ; directed by John Landis.  Hollywood, California : Paramount Home Entertainment, 1988.  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (116 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 C663 2007 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Comedy about a wealthy, pampered African prince who comes to America in search of a bride. Accompanied by his closest companion, the prince quickly finds a new job, new friends and lots of trouble.  Cast : Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Shari Headley.  1990 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Cooley High  (1975) / Orion Pictures ; American International ; Samuel Z. Arkoff presents a Steve Krantz production.  Santa Monica, CA : MGM Home Entertainment, [2000]  1 DVD videodisc (107 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 C6654 2000 VideoDVD : Cooley High has frequently been compared to American Graffiti, and for good reason. Like that classic, Cooley High has a loose, multicharacter structure, autobiographical origins, and the rich texture of its time. Set in Chicago in 1964, the movie follows aspiring writer Preach (Glynn Turman) and local basketball star Cochise (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, who went on to star in Welcome Back, Kotter) as they wander their neighborhood, drifting in and out of their classes at Cooley Vocational High School. The two friends pull pranks, crash parties, commit petty crimes, and generally try to enjoy their lives in an impoverished urban environment. Preach falls in love with a smart girl named Brenda (Cynthia Davis), whom he wins over by reciting poetry--leading to one of the silliest and sweetest love scenes you'll ever see. When Preach and Cochise go on a joy ride with a pair of young hoods, they end up arrested. Their history teacher, Mr. Mason (a superb Garrett Morris), gets them off, but the hoods think the boys sold them out and come seeking revenge. Cooley High depicts the rough life of African Americans in the 1960s with honesty and humor, offering no easy solutions or pat lessons. It's a roughly made movie, but Turman and Jacobs are both excellent, and there's an attention to reality that makes it engaging, refreshing, and ultimately moving. The soundtrack is a great compilation of 1960s soul, including the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, and Smokey Robinson. An unjustly neglected film that deserves rediscovery. Cotton comes to Harlem / United Artists ; Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. presents ; produced by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. ; screenplay by Arnold Perl and Ossie Davis ; directed by Ossie Davis. Santa Monica, CA : MGM Home Entertainment, [2001], ©2001.  1 DVD videodisc (96 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Film Collection  AF5 D0007700 VideoDVD   : St. Jacques is Coffin Ed. Johnson, Cambridge is Gravedigger Jones, black cops who suspect preacher Lockhart's back-to-Africa campaign is a swindle. Neatly combines action and comedy. Courage under fire / Twentieth Century Fox presents ; a Davis Entertainment Company/Joseph M. Singer production ; an Edward Zwick film ; written by Patrick Sheane Duncan ; produced by John Davis, Joseph M. Singer, David T. Friendly ; directed by Edward Zwick.  Beverly Hills, CA : 20th Century Fox, ©2009, ©1996.   1 DVD videodisc (approximately 117 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.W3 C68 2009 VidoeDVD  (Also available as part of ROVI Movie Collection  : Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Sterling (Denzel Washington) investigate whether Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed during Operation Desert Storm, deserves the Medal of Honor. Crash (2005) /  Lions Gate Films and Bob Yari Productions & DEJ Productions present a Blackfriar's Bridge and Harris Company production ; an Apolloproscreen production ; a Bull's Eye Entertainment production ; a film by Paul Haggis ; produced by Cathy Schulman ... [et al.] ; story by Paul Haggis ; screenplay by Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco ; directed by Paul Haggis.  Santa Monica, Calif. : Lions Gate Entertainment, 2004.  1 DVD (122 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997 .C7374 2004 VideoDVD  : Movie studios, by and large, avoid controversial subjects like race the way you might avoid a hive of angry bees. So it's remarkable that Crash even got made; that it's a rich, intelligent, and moving exploration of the interlocking lives of a dozen Los Angeles residents--black, white, latino, Asian, and Persian--is downright amazing. A politically nervous district attorney (Brendan Fraser) and his high-strung wife (Sandra Bullock, biting into a welcome change of pace from Miss Congeniality) get car-jacked by an oddly sociological pair of young black men (Larenz Tate and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges); a rich black T.V. director (Terrence Howard) and his wife (Thandie Newton) get pulled over by a white racist cop (Matt Dillon) and his reluctant partner (Ryan Phillipe); a detective (Don Cheadle) and his Latina partner and lover (Jennifer Esposito) investigate a white cop who shot a black cop--these are only three of the interlocking stories that reach up and down class lines. Writer/director Paul Haggis (who wrote the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby) spins every character in unpredictable directions, refusing to let anyone sink into a stereotype. The cast--ranging from the famous names above to lesser-known but just as capable actors like Michael Pena (Buffalo Soldiers) and Loretta Devine (Woman Thou Art Loosed)--meets the strong script head-on, delivering galvanizing performances in short vignettes, brief glimpses that build with gut-wrenching force.  2006 NAACP Image Award winner. Crimson Tide  (1996) / produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer ; directed by Tony Scott ; screenplay by Michael Schiffer.   Burbank, CA : Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2006. 1 DVD videodisc (116 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.A3 C75 2006 VideoDVD : Dynamic Denzel Washington joins Hollywood favorite Gene Hackman  along with Viggo Mortensen  and James Gandolfini (in this intense action thriller that's a smash hit with audiences and critics alike! In the midst of a global crisis, the USS Alabama receives an unconfirmed order to launch its nuclear missiles -- signaling the start of Word War III! The tension quickly rises as the sub's respected commander (Hackman) and his brilliant executive officer (Washington) clash over the validity of their orders ... battling each other for control of the sub! As this epic struggle rages under the sea, Crimson Tide brings motion picture excitement to a new level -- and you to the edge of your seat! Crooklyn : a Spike Lee joint! / Universal Pictures presents a 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks production in association with Child Hoods Productions ; story by Joie Susannah Lee ; screenplay by Joie Susannah Lee, Cingué Lee and Spike Lee ; co-producer, Monty Ross ; produced and directed by Spike Lee.  Universal City, CA : MCA Universal Home Video, [1999], ©1999.  1 DVD videodisc (videodisc) (114 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.F35 C766 1999 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVI Movie Collection)  : Director Spike Lee fashions a bold, flavorful picture of family life in a crowded but cozy Brooklyn neighborhood nicknamed "Crooklyn" by the Carmichaels, who experience one very special summer in their hometown under difficult but often wonderful circumstances.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Cry, the Beloved Country (1952)  / a British Lion Film Corporation production ; a United Artists release ; London Films ; screenplay adapted from his novel by Alan Paton ; produced and directed by Zolton Korda.  Malibu, CA : Monterey Home Video, c1992.  1 VHS videocassette (100 min.) PR6031.A757 C73 1992 Videocassette  : This is a story of two men, two fathers, one black, one white, drawn together through one father's search for a lost son.  Featuring Sidney Poitier.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Cry Freedom / Universal City Studios.  Universal City, CA : MCA Home Video, c1999.  1 DVD videodisc (139 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. DT1949.B55 C79 1999 VideoDVD : Story of Black activist Stephen Biko (Denzel Washington) and a liberal white newspaper editor Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) who risks his own life to bring Biko's message to the world. Selected Feature Films, D All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Darryl F. Zanuck's Pinky  (1949) / Twentieth Century Fox ; producer, Darryl F. Zanuck ; director, Elia Kazan, screenplay by Philip Dunne and Dudley Nichols.  Beverly Hills, Ca. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2005 . 1 DVD videodisc (102 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 P56 2005 VideoDVD : Pinky (Jeanne Crain), a black woman who works as a nurse in Boston, finds she is able to "pass for white." Afraid her true heritage will be discovered, she leaves her white fiancé (William Lundigan) and returns home to Mississippi. There, she helps her ailing grandmother (Ethel Waters) by caring for her employer (Ethel Barrymore), an imperious plantation owner. When she names Pinky heiress to her estate, the community rises in resentment, triggering a sensational court trial....Subject of landmark Supreme Court case in film censorship, this story about a mulatto woman's rights against prejudice, became itself, a battle for civil rights.  Also available in VHS format . Daughters of the Dust (1991)  : a film by Julie Dash.  Kino Video, [1992], c1991.  1 VHS videocassette (113 min.)  PN1995.9 .N4 D383 1992 Videocassette : A large African-American family prepares to move north at the dawn of the 20th century, bringing to life the changing values, conflicts and struggles they face. The family drama reveals the unique culture of the Gullah people, descendants of slaves who lived in relative isolation on the Sea Islands off the Georgia Coast.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Deacons for Defense (2003)   / Showtime presents a Robert Rehme production ; a film by Bill Duke ; producer, Mark Little ; produced by Nick Grillo ; story by Michael D'Antonio ; screenplay by Richard Wesley and Frank Military ; directed by Bill Duke.  [United States] : Showtime Entertainment : Hallmark Entertainment Distribution, LLC, c2003.  1 DVD videodisc (99 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 D42 2003 VideoDVD :  Set in Louisiana in the 1960s, a group calling themselves Deacons for Defense rise up against the Ku Klux Klan. A hard-working man forms the Black militia group which then became a focal point during civil rights movement.  Cast : Forest Whitaker, Jonathan Silverman, Ossie Davis, Paul Benjamin, Gene Mack, Beau Starr, Tyrone Benskin, Melanie Nicholls-King, Chris Britton. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Dead Presidents  (1995) / Hollywood Pictures presents in association with Caravan Pictures an Underworld Entertainment production ; a Hughes Brothers film.  [S.l.] : Hollywood Pictures Home Video, c1995.  1 DVD videodisc (119 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C66 D43 1995 VideoDVD : Get ready for action with this explosively exciting hit! On the streets they call cash dead presidents. And that's just what a Vietnam veteran (Larenz Tate -- Menace II Society) is after when he returns home from the war only to find himself drawn into a life of crime. With the aid of his fellow vets he plans the ultimate heist -- a daring robbery of an armored car filled with unmarked U.S. currency! From the Hughes Brothers, acclaimed directors of the smash hit Menace II Society -- you'll love every pulse-pounding second as these bold thieves risk it all for the score of a lifetime! Dear white people / Lionsgate Roadside Attractions and Code Red present ; in association with Homegrown Pictures ; produced by Angel Lopez, Ann Le, Lena Waithe ; producer, Julia Lebedev, Effie T. Brown ; written, produced, and directed by Justin Simien. Santa Monica, California : Lionsgate, 2015. 1 DVD videodisc (approximately 109 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.C55 D417 2015 VideoDVD   : How many times have you heard some fool say "We have a black President so racism must be over"? How many stories have we seen in just the last couple of years about white people throwing black-themed parties full of insulting racial stereotypes? No other film came with more pre-festival buzz than Justin Simien's debut feature, Dear White People, particularly amongst the black community expecting a blistering new voice similar to a Spike Lee. There's no doubt Simien has a lot to say about race relations in a supposedly post-racial America, but a lack of focus on the core issues and a ponderous script muddle any message to today's young black generation.  Also see Rebecca Koenig, "' Dear white People': A New Movie About Race on Campus Is, Sadly, Spot-on ", The Chronicle of Highed Education, October 16, 2014.  Includes teasers. The Defiant Ones (1958) / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ; produced and directed by Stanley Kramer ; written by Nathan E. Douglas and Harold Jacob Smith.  Santa Monica, CA : MGM Home Entertainment, c2001.  1 DVD videodisc (96 min.) : sd., b&w. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.P68 D44 2001 : This 1958 variation on Huck Finn's adventures with Jim finds a white convict (Tony Curtis) chained to a black convict (Sidney Poitier) as they both escape their captors. With each man literally stuck with the other, racial conflicts take a back seat to survival. Directed by Stanley Kramer (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), the film's obvious consciousness-raising is mitigated by a pair of raw performances from the stars, memorable appearances by Lon Chaney Jr. and Cara Williams, and Kramer's strong storytelling abilities. The award-winning script was cowritten by blacklisted writer-actor Nedrick Young.  Best Picture, 1958. Déjà Vu (2006)  / Touchstone Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present a Scott Free Productions ; a film by Tony Scott ; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer ; written by Bill Marsilii & Terry Rossio ; driected by Tony Scott.  Burbank, CA : Touchstone Home Entertainment : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2007.  1 DVD videodisc (126 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S87 D45 2007 VideoDVD : A ferry filled with crewmen from the USS Nimitz and their families is blown up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. BATF Doug Carlin is brought in to assist in the recovery of evidence from the massive investigation, and gets attached to an experimental FBI surveillance unit. The unit uses technology to directly look back in time a little over four days into the past. While tracking down the bomber, Carlin gets an idea in his head: would it be possible to use the device to actually travel back in time and not only prevent the bombing but also the murder of a local woman whose truck was used in the bombing?  Features Denzel Washington.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Devil in a blue dress / TriStar Pictures presents a Clinica Estetico and Mundy Lane Entertainment production ; a Carl Franklin film ; executive producers, Jonathan Demme and Edward Saxon ; produced by Jesse Beaton and Gary Goetzman ; directed by Carl Franklin ; screenplay by Carl Franklin. Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, [2006], ©2006.  1 DVD videodisc (102 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. PS3563.O88456 D482 2006 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVI Film Collection) : Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins is a decorated war hero who returns home to work as a private eye. His job of finding a missing socialite puts him between the white power elite and the vibrant black commumnity of Central Avenue. As soon as Easy and his trigger-happy friend Mouse find Daphne Monet, trouble follows....Denzel Washington stars in this moody and sexy murder based on Walter Mosley's novel and series about the Black detective Easy Rawlins.  The Devil’s Daughter (1939)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Directed by Arthur H. Leonar.  Sylvia Walton (Ida James) of Harlem inherits a Jamaican banana plantation and returns to manage it. Since her arrival, there's been no sign of her disinherited half-sister Isabelle, who ran the plantation until their father's death. But Sylvia, her two rival suitors, and her comic-relief servant Percy are disturbed by the constant, growing sound of drums. Diary of a mad black woman  (2005) / Lions Gate Films in association with BET Pictures present a Lions Gate Films and the Tyler Perry Company, Inc. production in association with Reuben Cannon Productions. LionsGate.  Santa Monica, Calif. : Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2005.  1 DVD videodisc (116 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in  PN1995.9.M27 D537 2005 VideoDVD : Charles, an attorney, and Helen, the devoted wife, seem to have everything: money, a beautiful mansion - the American Dream. But just as Helen prepares to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary, her life takes a surprising turn.  Director Tyler Perry had very little support from the studio for this film. It was up to him to promote it through his extensive contacts from performing plays in African American churches around the country. Expected to gross under $2 Million in the opening weekend, the film exploded onto the scene when it grossed upwards of $22 million making it one of the best February opens of all time. Perry became a franchise and the market for African American moral tales was born. Die Hard With a Vengeance   / Twentieth Century Fox presents in association with Cinergi ; an Andrew G. Vajna production ; a John McTiernan film.  Beverly Hills, CA : FoxVideo, 1995.  2 laserdiscs (130 min.) : sd., col. ; 12 in.  PN1995.9.A3 D54 1995 Video (12 inch) disc ; New York cop John McClane is the personal target of the mysterious Simon, a terrorist determined to blow up the entire city if he doesn't get what he wants. Accompanied by an unwilling civilian partner, McClane careens wildly from one end of New York to the other as he struggles to keep up with Simon's deadly game. It's a battle of wits between a psychopathic genius and a heroic cop who once again finds himself having a really bad day....In the third version of the Die Hard franchise, John McLane (Bruce Willis) is separated from his wife and is working clear across the country for the NYPD.  He pairs with a Harlem electrician, Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson), to foil the plot of a master bomber, who has threatened to blow up several sites in the city. Dirty Gertie from Harlem, USA, part of : Harlem Rides the Range ; Moon over Harlem ; The Big Timers ; Dirty Gertie from Harlem, USA .  United States : Platinum, 2004.   1 DVD videodisc (approximately 231 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 H374 2004 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVi Film Collection)  : A sexy, enticing dancer from Harlem makes things happen in a sleepy Caribbean island resort.   Want more info?  Try the Internet Movie Database . Django Unchained   / Weinstein Company and Columbia Pictures present ; produced by Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin, Pilar ; written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Beverly Hills, CA : Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2013.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 166 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.V5 D53 2013 VideoDVD : From the moment Jamie Foxx throws off a filthy, tattered blanket to reveal a richly muscled back crisscrossed with long scars, it's obvious that Django Unchained will be both true to its exploitation roots but also clear-eyed about the misery that's being exploited. Django (Foxx), a slave set free in the years before the Civil War, joins with a German dentist-turned-bounty hunter (the marvelous Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds), who has promised to help Django rescue his wife (Kerry Washington), who's still enslaved to a gleeful and grandiose plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio, plainly relishing the opportunity to play an out-and-out villain). What follows is a wild and woolly ride, crammed with all the pleasures one expects from a revenge fantasy written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Plot-wise, some things happen a little too easily (for example, Django instantly becomes a master gunslinger), but the moral perspective is not glib. For all its lurid violence and jazzy dialogue, this is a still-rare movie that paints slavery for what it was: a brutal, dehumanizing practice that allowed a privileged few to profit from the suffering of many, a practice guaranteed by the gun and the whip. Think of it as the antidote to Gone with the Wind. Tarantino is more heartfelt in Django Unchained than in any of his previous movies--without sacrificing any of the pell-mell action, tension, and delicious language that made Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and Pulp Fiction so very enjoyable. Do the Right Thing (1989)  / a Universal release ; a Forty Acres and a Mule Filmworks production ; a Spike Lee joint ; produced, written and directed by Spike Lee.  Universal City Studios, 2001.  2 DVD videodiscs (ca. 240 min.) PN1997 .D6 2001 VideoDVD : "The hottest day of the year explodes onscreen in this vibrant look at a day in the life of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. A portrait of urban racial tensions sparked controversy while earning popular and critical praise."  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Dorothy Dandridge : an American Beauty   (2003)  North Hollywood, Calif. : Passport Video, c2003.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 60 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 4 3/4 in. PN2287.D256 D676 2003 VideoDVD : Dorothy Dandridge was both goddess and trailblazer. Here is the Dorothy you haven't been introduced to, a close-up look at her triumphant and tragic life.  Cast : Halle Berry, Brock Peters, Fayard Nicholas, Joe Adams, Jasmine Guy, Laurence Fishburne. Double Deal (1950)  / [presented by] Alfred N. Sack ; produced by Dixon R. Harwin.   North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video : Timeless Video [distributor], c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 60 min.) PN1995.9.N4 D68 1993 Videocassette : Rivals for a pretty singer get mixed up in gangster trouble. One of the beaus is a crook who robs a jewelry store and frames the other boyfriend. The girl sorts the truth out for herself.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Down in the Delta (1998)  / directed by Maya Angelou ; written by Myron Goble ; produced by Rick Rosenberg ... [et al.] ; an Amen Ra Films production ; a Chris/Rose production ; a Miramax Films and Showtime presentation.  [Burbank, Calif.] : Miramax Home Entertainment : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Video, [1999]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 112 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 D69 1999 VideoDVD : A troubled single mother from a tough Chicago neighborhood is sent to spend a summer at her family's home in rural Mississippi.  Cast : Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Jr., Esther Rolle, Mary Alice, Loretta Devine, Wesley Snipes.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Dreamgirls (2006)    / DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures present a Laurence Mark production, a Bill Condon film ; produced by Laurence Mark ; written for the screen and directed by Bill Condon.  Universal City, Calif. : DreamWorks Home Entertainment, [2007]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 130 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M86 D75 2007 VideoDVD :  Three young women, Deena Jones, Effie White and Lorrell Robinson desire to become pop stars. They get their wish when they are picked to be backup singers for the legendary James "Thunder" Early. When they are set free for leads, Curtis Taylor and Effie's brother C.C. decide that Deena should be the lead singer, which upsets Effie. The girls discover exactly what it takes to be in the music business and what they must give up to realize their dreams.  Cast : Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson, Jennifer Hudson.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Driving Miss Daisy (1989)   / Warner Bros. Pictures ; Zanuck Company production ; screenplay by Alfred Uhry ; produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Lili Fini Zanuck ; directed by Bruce Beresford.  [New York : Jewish Media Fund, 1997]  1 VHS videocassette (99 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.C55 D75 1997 Videocassette : It tells the story of genteel but strong-willed Southern matron Daisy Werthan and her patient but equally determined chauffeur Hoke. For two people so different, they have a lot in common. And the bumpy road they travel ultimately leads to the friendship of a lifetime.  Other copies available.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Drumline (2002)   / Fox 2002 Pictures ; producers, Wendy Finerman, Timothy M. Bourne, Jody Gerson ; screenplay by Tina Gordon Chism and Shawn Schepps ; director, Charles Stone III.  Beverly Hills, CA : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2002.  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (118 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in  PN1997.2 .D78 2008 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Once you've seen Drumline, halftime shows will become works of art. This formulaic yet surprisingly captivating movie honors the military precision of college football marching bands, those battalions of eager, sternly disciplined brass sections, drummers, and fly girls who turn halftime shows into well-oiled Vegas variety acts on steroids. Devon (played by Will Smith protégé Nick Cannon) is a cocky Brooklyn kid with a snare-drumming scholarship to (fictional) Atlanta A&T University. He can't read music (he lied on his application) and his attitude sucks, but he's the best natural drummer the college has ever had, so he quickly rises through the marching band ranks. The school year brings Devon the obligatory girlfriend (Zoë Saldana, smart and charming); clashes with his old-school band director (Orlando Jones); and well-earned redemption at the championship marching band showdown. No surprises here, but great chemistry all around, and a fantastic, positive role-model showcase for a musical form that has evolved far beyond the main street parades of Smalltown, U.S.A.  Cast : Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  The Duke is Tops (1938), see Hi de ho ; The Duke is tops / directed by Josh Binney ; original story and screenplay by Hal Seeger; directed by William L. Nolte.  Narberth, PA : Alpha Home Entertainment, [2006], ©2006. 1 videodisc (138 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in.    PN1995.9.M86 H53 2006 VideoDVD : If The Duke Is Tops needs to be remembered today, it's for two reasons. First, this was Lena Horne's first movie. She was 21 and still has a little baby fat. The voice catches you immediately. She's no actress yet, and all that sleek sophistication is in the future. She's already a stunning looker, however, with a great smile. In a satin dress with her shoulders just a little sloped and a toss of her head while she looks at the sky, she reminds me a lot of Jean Harlow, sexy and good-natured. "Look at that personality," a promoter says while the character she's playing is on-stage singing, "she's a cinch for the big-time. Hear that voice? That's what they're buying!" The second reason, as with all the other cheaply-produced all-Negro films aimed for the movie equivalent of the chitlin circuit, are the specialty acts. This circuit was made up of law-enforced segregated movie houses in the south and de facto segregated movie houses everywhere else. The speciality acts preserved on these films are often the only things we have left to witness some great black entertainers. In The Duke Is Tops we have William Covan, a stylish tap dancer; Rubber Neck Holmes, a singular combination of tap and odd gymnastics; Cats and the Fiddle, a swinging singing group; Marie Bryant, a terrific exotic dancer in African costume; the Basin Street Boys, a singing group who are all style; plus the Harlemania Orchestra.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Duke is Tops (1938) (63 minutes)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics  : Directed by Leo Popkin.  Cast: Lena Horne, Ralph Cooper and Lawrence Criner.  Lena Horne plays a night club singer who gets a chance at Broadway. Selected Feature Films, E-F All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Early Works of Cheryl Dunye  [United States] : First Run Features, 2008.  1 DVD videodisc (80 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.L48 E35 2008 VideoDVD : Vilified by conservatives in Congress, defended by major newspapers, and celebrated by audiences and festivals around the world as one of the most provocative, humorous and important filmmakers of our time, Cheryl Dunye practically invented a new form of cinema - call it the 'Dunyementary.', featuring the world of urban, young black lesbians as they make their way through the murky waters of love, friendship and dating. Using a mixture of narrative and documentary techniques, the 'Dunyementary' challenges social and cultural norms through a sharply funny and reflexive lens. Never scholarly or didactic, Dunye appreciates the value in entertaining viewers....Her acclaimed first feature The Watermelon Woman (1996) introduced Cheryl to wider audiences, who quickly fell in love with her self depreciating and insightful wit - not to mention the great casts she assembled (including herself). But what came before this modern-day classic? Presented here for the first time on DVD are the films that started it all - the early works which gave birth to an extraordinary and original filmmaking talent. Made on miniscule budgets, they represent the first chapter of the Cheryl Dunye oeuvre. The Emperor Jones (1933)  ; and, Paul Robeson, tribute to an artist .  [Chicago, Ill.] : Home Vision, [1993?]  1 VHS videocassette (101 min.)  PS3529.N5 E5 1993 Videocassette : 1. Brutus Jones, a fugitive Pullman porter, who jumps ship and becomes the cruel, despotic emperor of a Caribbean island. -- 2. Tribute to an artist celebrates the warmth, dignity, courage, and talent of one of the greatest American artists of all time. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Emperor Jones  (1933) (73 min.) Streaming video from Internet Archive : The Emperor Jones is a 1920 play by American dramatist, Eugene O'Neill which tells the tale of Brutus Jones (Paul Robeson), an African-American man who kills a man, goes to prison, escapes to a Caribbean island, and sets himself up as emperor.  Source : Internet Archive, Open Source Movies. Enemy of the State  (1998) / Touchstone Pictures presents a Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer production in association with Scott Free Productions ; written by David Marconi ; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer ; directed by Tony Scott.  Burbank, Calif. : Touchstone Home Video ; Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, [1999?]  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 132 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. Schaeffer Law Library Reserve Video E : A lawyer becomes a target of a corrupt politician and his NSA goons when he accidently receives key evidence to a serious politically motivated crime.  Cast : Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Regina King, Loren Dean, Jake Busey, Barry Pepper, Gabriel Byrne Enemy of the State (1998) / Touchstone Pictures ; Jerry Bruckheimer Films ; a Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer production in association with Scott Free Productions ; a film by Tony Scott ; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer ; written by David Marconi ; directed by Tony Scott.  Burbank, Calif. : Touchstone Home Video : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2006.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 132 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.A3 E54 2006 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith) is a lawyer with a wife and family whose happily normal life is turned upside down after a chance meeting with a college buddy (Jason Lee) at a lingerie shop. Unbeknownst to the lawyer, he's just been burdened with a videotape of a congressman's assassination. Hot on the tail of this tape is a ruthless group of National Security Agents commanded by a belligerently ambitious fed named Reynolds (Jon Voight). Using surveillance from satellites, bugs, and other sophisticated snooping devices, the NSA infiltrates every facet of Dean's existence, tracing each physical and digital footprint he leaves. Driven by acute paranoia, Dean enlists the help of a clandestine former NSA operative named Brill (Gene Hackman), and Enemy of the State kicks into high-intensity hyperdrive. Eve's Bayou (1997)  / Trimark Pictures presents a Chubbco/Addis-Wechsler production ; a Kasi Lemmons film ; produced by Caldecot Chubb and Samuel L. Jackson ; written and directed by Kasi Lemmons and Samuel L. Jackson.  [S.l.] : Trimark Home Video, c1997.  1 DVD videodisc (108 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4.  PN1995.9.M27 E87 1997 VideoDVD c.2 : Roz Batiste is a beautiful and dedicated mother of three, who is forced to admit that her family is falling apart due to her philandering husband Louis. Her younger daughter, Eve, witnesses one of her father's infidelities. Struggling to make sense of what she has seen, Eve turns to her older sister Cisely, who dismisses her in fear of the truth, and then to her Aunt Mozelle, a known psychic and rumored black widow. Unable to find the understanding she is looking for Eve decides to take matters into her own hands. For the Batiste family, the ties that bind may not be strong enough to keep them together, and what they learn will change their lives forever.  Cast : Samuel L. Jackson, Lynn Whitfield, Debbi Morgan, Vondie Curtis Hall, Branford Marsalis, Lisa Nicole Carson, Jurnee Smollett, Diahann Carroll.  Want more info?  Try Movie Reiew Query Engine . The Exile (1931) / Frank Schiffman presents Oscar Micheaux's production ; written and directed by Oscar Micheaux.  [S.l.] : Distributed by A Cinema Apart, [200-?]  1 DVD videodisc (92 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 E93 2000z VideoDVD : A milestone in American film history, The Exile (1931) was the first all-black-cast independently produced “talkie” (or sound film). Also remarkable was the film’s depiction of hero Jean Baptiste, an ambitious “decent colored man.” Critical of his fiancée Edith’s plan to turn a mansion she has inherited into a house of ill repute, Baptiste leaves her and travels from Chicago to South Dakota. There, he establishes his own homestead and falls in love with Agnes, a hard-working, enlightened woman; and after overcoming numerous obstacles, the pair decides to marry and start a new life on the plains, away from the depravity and temptations of the big city. Unlike the fashionable but disresputable Edith, the virtuous Agnes is as simple as the prairie from which she hails. And the aspiring Baptiste, who succeeds because of his hard work and talents, represents the new (if somewhat idealized) generation of blacks whose ambitions and achievements Oscar Micheaux typically celebrated in his films. The Express (2008)  : the Ernie Davis Story / Davis Entertainment ; IDEA Filmproduktions ; Relativity Media ; produced by John Davis ; written by Charles Leavitt ; directed by Gary Fleder.  Universal City, Calif. : Universal Studios Home Entertainment, [2009]  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (130 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S67 E9 2009 Blu-ray VideoDVD :  Witness the inspirational true story of a real American hero, Ernie Davis. Rising from humblest of beginnings, Ernie Davis overcame impossible odds to become the first African-American to win college football's greatest honor-the Heisman Trophy.  Cast : Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Aunjanue Ellis, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Clancy Brown, Omar Benson Miller, Nelsan Ellis, Saul Rubinek, Charles S. Dutton.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Fighting Temptations  (2003)  / Paramount Pictures presents an MTV Films production in association with Handprint Films, a Jonathan Lynn film ; produced by David Gale, Loretha Jones, Jeff Pollack ; screenplay by Elizabeth Hunter and Saladin K. Patterson ; directed by Jonathan Lynn.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount, [2004], c2003.  1 DVD videodisc (122 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.C55 F54 2004 VideoDVD : Darren (Cuba Gooding) is a New York ad executive who travels to a small town in the deep south after receiving word that his aunt has left him a sizable inheritance. Darren is informed that he will only receive the money if he successfully leads a local gospel choir to victory at an upcoming competition. Darren takes on the task of finding the best singers in town and forming the group. There, he meets Lilly (Beyonce) , a single mother who not only possesses an incredible voice but also the ability to warm Darren's cold heart.  2004 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Finding Forrester  (2000) / Columbia Pictures presents a Laurence Mark production in association with Fountainbridge Films ; written by Mike Rich ; produced by Laurence Mark, Sean Connery and Rhonda Tollefson ; directed by Gus Van Sant. Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, [2001], p2000. 1 DVD videodisc (136 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.B29 F56 2001 VideoDVD : Jamal Wallace (Ron Brown) is an African-American and inner-city kid from the Bronx who has an aptness at basketball and a genius at writing. While always a C student, Jamal comes to the attention of a prestigious New Yorkprep school when he scores highly on his standardized tests. While Jamal is given a heavy load at his new school, both he and the school know that the real reason they took him on is for his prowess on the court. Befriended by fellow student Claire (Anna Paquin) and helped along by Pulitzer-prize winning author and recluse William Forrester (Sean Connery), Jamal pursues his dreams both on and off the court while overcoming obstacles placed by his bitter literature teacher (F. Murray Abraham). As Jamal is shaped by Forrester, he finds that he is changing the old writer as well, forcing him to confront his past...and his future.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Flight / Paramount Pictures presents ; directed by Robert Zemeckis ; written by John Gatins ; produced by Walter F. Parkes ... [et al.] ; an ImageMovers production ; a Parkes + MacDonald Image Nation production. Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount Pictures, c2013. 1 DVD videodisc (138 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S87 F55 2013 VideoDVD : Few directors can meld high-tech whiz-bang with solid narrative values like Robert Zemeckis, a filmmaker whose best work (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Back to the Future trilogy, Cast Away) stands tall among the blockbusters. Although there have been times when Zemeckis's insistence on pushing the special effects envelope can end up overshadowing the story being told (as in his animated version of A Christmas Carol), his innate gifts persist: when he's in the groove, he can show you something you've never seen before, as well as a reason to care about it. Flight, the director's first wholly live-action film in over a decade, serves as a reminder of just how good he can be, featuring both an exquisitely terrifying crash sequence and a fearless central performance from Denzel Washington. John Gatins's script serves as a bizarro inversion of the Sully Sullenberger tale: when a routine flight over Atlanta goes terrifyingly wrong, the aircraft's pilot (Washington) saves his passengers with a near-miraculous display of skill. As the investigation into the disaster begins, however, it becomes apparent that its hero's impromptu bravery hides a multitude of bad habits. Washington does a brilliant job as a man who is all too aware of his feet of clay, subverting his innate nobility to shattering effect. (As in the earlier Training Day, when he goes to the dark side, the shock ripples the screen.) The strength of his central performance is only amplified by some outstanding supporting work from Kelly Reilly (as a recovering heroin addict), Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, and a scene-stealing John Goodman, who gets a few lines crass enough to remind you that yes, Zemeckis is the same person who once made the low-taste classic Used Cars. Impressive as the cast is, though, it's unlikely that things would work nearly as well without the director's grasp of the material, which shifts between horror, black comedy, and uplifting pathos without missing a beat. In his hands, this potential sap story makes for a smart, worldly addiction saga that blessedly refuses to stay within the usual melodramatic lines. Just don't ever, ever expect to see it as the in-flight entertainment. Flyboys (2006)  / [Electric Entertainment presents in association with Skydance Productions and Ingenious Film Partners a Dean Devlin production ; a Tony Bill film ; directed by Tony Bill].  Beverly Hills, CA : Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2006.     Blu-ray videodisc (138 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. D522.23 .F59369 2006 Blu-ray VideoDVD : A dramatization of the LaFayette Escadrille in 1916-1917, a pioneering French air-combat unit that welcomed American enlistees prior to the United States' entry into the war.  One of the characters in the film was a black pilot, Eugene Bullard, who actually served with a different unit -- the American Flying Corps and is recorded as the only Black pilot in WWI.  For more about Eugene Bullard, see Wikipedia  or the National Museum of the American Air Force web site. For Colored Girls  (2011) / a 34th Street Films/Lionsgate production ; produced by Roger M. Bobb and Paul Hall ; written for the screen, produced and directed by Tyler Perry.  Santa Monica, Calif. : Lions Gate Entertainment, 2011.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 134 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 F67 2011 VideoDVD : Tyler Perry breaks through to a new level of achievement as a writer and director in his remake of For Colored Girls (based on the groundbreaking 1970s play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, by Ntozake Shange). The cast is superb, especially Kimberly Elise and Phylicia Rashad. And the rest of the cast is just as compelling, including a low-key Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, singer Macy Gray, Thandie Newton, Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, and Anika Noni Rose. For Colored Girls follows each actress/character as she faces prejudice, economic challenges, male abandonment, role upheaval--and all the emotions that go along with them. The original play was performed as poetry, and while the editing of For Colored Girls is a little uneven, Perry lets Shange's poetry truly shine through. Any person of color, any woman, and anyone who cares about them, will be drawn in to the deepest dramas a woman of color can experience--in the '70s or today. Viewers will get goose bumps when Newton's character, Tangie, says, "Being alive and being a woman is all I got, but being colored is a metaphysical dilemma I haven't conquered yet." And Elise as Crystal is utterly heartbreaking, with a performance reminiscent of her unforgettable turn in Beloved. The soundtrack of For Colored Girls is as unforgettable as the film, with performances by Gray, Sharon Jones, and others, including Estelle, in a showstopping version of "All Day Long (Blue Skies)." The blues may be wrenching--but in For Colored Girls, they make up the poetry of life. Foxy Brown (1974)   / [presented by] Samuel Z. Arkoff ; written and directed by Jack Hill ; produced by Buzz Feitshans.  Los Angeles, Calif. : Filmways Home Video ; Los Angeles, Calif. : [Distributed by] Orion Home Video, 1988.  1 VHS videocassette (92 min.)  PN1995.9.A3 F699 1988 Videocassette : Foxy Brown goes undercover to breakup a crime ring headed by Miss Katherine, who keeps a male harem of violent strong men, along with a stable of female prostitutes. Foxy is sexy, and angry, as she avenges the death of her boyfriend, betrayal by her brother, and her own rape and beating, in this urban vigilante drama about drugs, prostitition, political corruption, and family meltdown.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Friday  (1995) / New Line Home Entertainment ; New Line Productions presents an Ice Cube/Pat Charbonnet production in association with Priority Films ; produced by Patricia Charbonnet ; co-produced by W.E. Baker ; directed by F. Gary Gray ; written by Ice Cube & DJ Pooh.  Burbank, Calif. : New Line Home Video, c1999.  1 DVD videodisc (91 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 F75 1999 VideoDVD  : The rarest specimen of African American cinema: a 'hood movie refreshingly free of the semiseriousness and moralism of shoot 'em up soaps such as Boyz N the Hood, yet still true to the inner-city experience. Scripted by rapper Ice Cube, Friday is a no-frills tale of a typical day in the life of a pair of African American youth in South Central. Cube plays Craig, a frustrated teen who endures the ultimate humiliation: getting fired on his day off. Then unknown Chris Tucker plays Smokey, a marijuana-worshipping homeboy whose love for the green stuff lands him in predicament after predicament. Sitting on the stoop of Craig's rundown home, the two hilariously confront a kaleidoscopic array of gangbangers, weed dealers, crack heads, prostitutes, scheming girlfriends, and neighborhood bullies--all of whom, it should be noted, come off as sympathetic even as they are being caricatured, a true achievement in the crass, "booty call" environment of '90s African American comedy.  Includes two music videos "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" by Dr. Dre and  "Friday" by Ice Cube. Friday Foster / American International ; an Arthur Marks film.  Santa Monica, Calif. : MGM Home Entertainment, 2001.  1 DVD videodisc (89 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection AF4 D0007841 VideoDVD  : Friday Foster, ace photographer for "Glance" magazine, and Colt Hawkins, private eye, team up to solve an international plot to assassinate leaders from around the world. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) / Universal Pictures and Act III Communications present in association with Electric Shadow Productions an Avnet/Kerner production ; directed by Jon Avnet.  Universal City, CA : MCA Universal Home Video ; [Boston, Mass.] : Distributed by DVS Home Video, c1992.  1 VHS videocassette (130 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.W6 F75 1992 Videocassette : A chance encounter in a nursing home between a dowdy housewife and a spry octagenarian leads to an unexpected friendship. The story told of a fiercely independent woman half a century ago in Alabama inspires the housewife to change her life, often with hilarious results.  Includes cameos by Cicely Tison as Tipsey and Stan Shaw as Big George, and a Ku Klux Klan scene. Selected Feature Films, G-H All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. The Gang's All Here  (1941) [videorecording] / Monogram Pictures. 1 VHS videocassette (63 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.N4 G364 1980z Videocassette : While this comedy does not feature the complex screenplay of "Up In the Air," the best of the Frankie Darro and Mantan Moreland team-ups, it is certainly an above-average comedy for its time -- that being a time of segregation laws and the dawning of the nascent civil rights movement. And as if a Black/White buddy movie were not enough of a ground-breaker for 1941, this film also features the wonderful Chinese-American actor Keye Luke as an insurance investigator. Nowadays dual-racial and cross-cultural buddy movies are so common as to hardly merit special notice, but long before such famous films as "48 Hours" with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy, savvy audiences were amazed at the comedic interplay between Frankie Darro and Mantan Moreland. I sincerely believe that in their own way, fun little movies like this laid the groundwork for racial tolerance and an end to segregation laws -- but that is not the only reason to watch them -- the truth is, Mantan Moreland is one of the great comedians of the 20th century, and every film he made is worth a look. Cast Frankie Darro, Marcia Mae Jones. Gang War   (1940) / Million Dollar Productions, Inc. ; produced by Clifford Sanforth ; written by Walter Cooper and Lewis Sherman ; directed by Leo C. Popkin.  Burbank, CA : Hollywood's Attic, 1996.  1 VHS videocassette (65 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.N4 G36 1996 Videocassette : Classic battle between 2 gangs for control of the juke box machines in Harlem.  Cast : Ralph Cooper, Gladys Snyder, Reggie Fenderson, Lawrence Criner, Monte Hawley, Jesse Brooks, Johnny Thomas, Maceo Sheffield, Charles Hawkins, Robert Johnson, Henry Roberts, Harold Garrison.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. Gang War (1940)  (63 minutes) Streaming video via Classic Matinees : Directed by Leo C. Popkin. Cast:  Ralph Cooper, Gladys Snyder. An ambitious gangster fights his way towards the top of the Harlem underworld by taking over what appears to have been a lucrative business in jukeboxes.  It’s a pretty good gangster movie and a chance to see life in Harlem prior to WWII, and quite probably, one of the few chances to see these entertainers on film. Get on the Bus / Columbia Pictures presents a 15 Black Men production in association with 40 Acres & a Mule Filmworks ; a Spike Lee joint ; produced by Reuben Cannon, Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush ; written by Reggie Rock Bythewood ; directed by Spike Lee.   Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (121 min.) : sd. col. ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 guide ([4] p. : ill. ; 19 cm.).  PN1995.9.N4 G48 2000 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVI Movie Collection AF9 D0002288 VideoDVD ) : Prolific director Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X) offers the fictionalized account of the pilgrimages black men all across the country made to the Million Man March in Washington, D.C., and the process showcases a fine ensemble cast of eclectic actors. Shot in a fast-paced low-budget style, the film chronicles a bus trip beginning in Los Angeles and the passengers, all from vastly divergent ages, backgrounds, and beliefs, getting to know one another and discussing their respective reasons for making the trip. The group, including a gay couple, a father and his son, a cop, and an actor, each confront the hostilities and prejudices they have faced as well as the ones they hold within themselves. And along the road they encounter incidents that bring into sharp focus the need they feel to acknowledge their heritage and shared struggle. Frequently entertaining in its rapid pace and cutting dialogue, this small but ambitious effort is sure to provoke debate even as it entertains.  Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)   / Castle Rock Entertainment ; produced and directed by Rob Reiner ; written by Lewis Colick ; producers, Frederick Zollo, Nicholas Pallologos, and Andrew Scheinman.  [United States] : Columbia Pictures, c1996.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 131 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  MSU College of Law Library Reserve Video G : The film features the final trial of the assassin of the '60s civil rights leader Medgar Evers.  Cast : Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Gifted Hands : The Ben Carson Story (2009)/ Sony Pictures Television Inc. ; written by John Pielmeier ; directed by Thomas Carter.  [United States] : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, [2009]  1 DVD videodisc (88 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  RD592.9.C37 A3 2009 VideoDVD  : Follows the life of Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, who overcame problems in school and obstacles in life to become a world-renowned neurosurgeon. His lifelong journey led him to become director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, a bestselling author, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Includes behind-the-scenes, and featurettes.  Cast : Cuba Gooding, Jr., Kimberly Elise, Ron Coden.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Girl 6 (1996) / Fox Searchlight Pictures presents ; written by Suzan-Lori Parks ; produced and directed by Spike Lee.  20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c1996.  1 videocassette (108 min.) PN1995.9.C55 G57 1996 Videocassette : Perhaps only Spike Lee could make a dignified yet extremely funny comedy-drama about phone sex. Theresa Randle (Bad Boys) is the title character, a hard-working actress who becomes addicted to this peculiar form of safe sex (the movie is verbal, not physical, in that department) at a high-class New York agency. Throughout the film, Girl 6 (she's unnamed beyond this) sports a dazzling array of new looks, hairstyles, and clothes. Randle radiates every step of the way. Lee even delivers on fantasy elements when Girl 6 finds herself in a send-up of blaxploitation films and a keen lampoon of The Jeffersons (the three-minute sequence is better than any planned TV-to-movie film that may come along). Revelations about Girl 6's life are brought out through her ex-husband (Isaiah Washington), who, in his very flawed but honest way, plans to reunite with her. Better yet are conversations with the next-door neighbor (Spike Lee, doing some of his best work). Solitary, experimental, with plenty of delicious cameos (including Madonna), Girl 6 is playwright Suzan-Lori Parks's first screenplay. Similar in tone to Lee's debut, She's Gotta Have It, Girl 6 also boasts an energetic mix of old and new songs by Prince and, as always with Lee, colorful camerawork. An alleyway kiss near the end is a great romantic image.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Girl from Chicago (1932)   Chicago : Facets Video, c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (69 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 .G573 1993 Videocassette :  A young secret service agent falls in love with a schoolteacher in a small Mississippi town. Later in New York, he has to save her friend from the numbers racket and is accused of murder. Micheaux produced an earlier, silent version of this crime melodrama in 1926 under the title The spider's web. The film is controversial because Micheaux was accused of selecting his stars on the basis of their "high yellow" skin color.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Girl in Room 20  (1946)  / produced by United Films.  North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video : Timeless Video [distributor], c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 63 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 G57 1993 Videocassette : A girl goes to New York to make her way as a singer. Befriended by Joe, a kind hearted taxi driver, she finally gets a job singing only to be pursued by a slick club manager who just happens to also be married. Joe calls her boyfriend back home and he comes running to save the girl.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Glory (1989)  / Tri-Star Pictures.  Columbia TriStar Home Video, c1990.  1 VHS videocassette (122 min.)  E513.5 54th .G55 1990 Videocassette : Two idealistic young Bostonians lead the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, America's first Black regiment in the Civil War.  Features Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman.  1992 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Glory Road (2006)   / Walt Disney Pictures presents in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Films ; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer ; written by Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois ; directed by James Gartner.  Burbank, CA : Walt Disney Home Entertainment : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, [2006]   1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (ca. 118 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S67 G55 2006 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Don Haskins, a future Hall of Fame coach of tiny Texas Western University, bucks convention by simply starting the best players he can find: history's first all-African American lineup.  Cast : Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Austin Nichols, Jon Voight.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Go Down, Death (1944)   / [presented by] Alfred N. Sack.  North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video : Timeless Video [distributor], c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 50 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 G6 1993 Videocassette :  Religious race film from Spencer Williams of "Amos N' Andy" fame. A bar owner attempts to discredit the new preacher with whom he is feuding by framing him with a photograph showing him drinking with women with bad reputations. The bar owner's adoptive mother, a member of the minister's church, supports the preacher and gets the photographic prints. When the bar owner struggles with his mother for the prints, he accidentally kills her. After the preacher's funeral sermon, the bar owner's conscience drives him to his death. Director: Spencer Williams Production Company: Harlemwood Studios Audio/Visual: sound, black and white Cast. Myra D. Hemmings Samuel H. James Eddye L. Houston Spencer Williams ... Big Jim Bottoms Amos Droughan Walter McMillion Irene Campbell Charlie Washington Helen Butler.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . God's Step Children   (1938) / a Micheaux production ; distributed by Micheaux Pictures Corporation ; Sack Attractions.  1 VHS videocassette (70 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9 .N4 G63 1996 Videocassette : Oscar Micheaux's film deals with a light-skinned African-American orphan who refuses to acknowledge her race.  A girl named Naomi of mixed white and black blood is left on the doorstep of a goodhearted black woman and her son. Naomi grows up to be a holy terror running wild, slandering her teacher, picking fights, filled with hatred toward the black race she lives among, and is sent to live with the nuns. She comes back as an adult and inflicts further damage (she also falls in love with her stepbrother). The ending of this film, which I will not describe here, is one of the most psychologically troubling you will ever see for such a low-budget film. A deep message about self-hatred among blacks and one of Micheaux's best surviving films.  Cast: Alice B. Russell, Trixie Smith, Jacqueline Lewis, Charles Thompson, Ethel Moses, Carman Newsome, Gloria Press, Alec Lovejoy, Columbus Jackson, Laura Bowman, Sam Patterson, Charles Moore, Consuelo Harris.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series.  Gone With the Wind  : Margaret Mitchell's Story of the Old South (1939) / [presented by] Selznick International in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ; produced by David O. Selznick ; screenplay by Sidney Howard ; directed by Victor Fleming.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, [1999].  1 DVD videodisc (233 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3525.I972 G6 1999 VideoDVD : Focuses on the life and loves of the beautiful and selfish Scarlett O'Hara. The story begins on the O'Haras' Georgia plantation of Tara in antebellum days and moves through the Civil War and Reconstruction.  Cast : Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel, Butterfly McQueen.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Gospel (2005) / Screen Gems and Rainforest Films present a Willpower production ; produced by William Packer ; writer, Rob Hardy ; directed by Rob Hardy. [Culver City, CA] : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, [2006]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 111 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997 .G67 2006 VideoDVD : As a teenager, David was studying to follow in his fathers footsteps, by becoming a minister. However, after his mother suddenly dies and his father arrives late, David accuses his father of caring more about others than his mother. David decides to run away and eventually becomes a hot young R & B performer. However, when his father becomes ill he returns home to find his father's church in disarray. David finds that his former best friend, now a minister and in charge of the congregation, seems to care more about his own image than the welfare of the church or its members. Now David must find a way to save the church as well as his own soul. Cast : Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Clifton Powell, Aloma Wright, Donnie McClurkin, Omar Gooding, Tamyra Gray, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Nona Gaye. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .     The Great Debaters (2007)  / TWC presents a Harpo Films production ; produced by Todd Black ... [et al.] ; story by Robert Eisele & Jeffrey Porro ; screenplay by Robert Eisele ; directed by Denzel Washington.  [New York, N.Y.] : Weinstein Company ; Santa Monica, CA : Distributed by Genius Products, [2008]  2 DVD videodiscs (124 min.) PN1995.9.M45 G7438 2008 VideoDVD : Melvin B. Tolson is a professor at Wiley College in Texas. Wiley is a small African-American college. In 1935, Tolson inspired students to form the school's first debate team. Tolson turns a group of underdog students into a historically elite debate team which goes on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Inspired by a true story.  2008 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Great White Hope (1970)   / Twentieth Century Fox.  Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2004.  1 DVD videodisc (102 min.)  PS3537.A156 G7 2004 VideoDVD : "Based on the life of boxer Jack Johnson, this fictional account of his rise to fame chronicles the battles that the flamboyant champion fought in and out of the ring".  Based on the 1970 film.  Cast : James Earl Jones, Jane Alexander. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Green Mile (1999)     Warner Bros. Pictures ; [presented by] Castle Rock Entertainment ; a Darkwoods presentation ; written for the screen and directed by Frank Darabont ; produced by David Valdes, Frank Darabont.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, [2000]  2 VHS videocassettes (188 min.)  MSU College of Law Library VIDEO G : Death Row guards at a penitentiary in the 1930's have a moral dilemma with their job when they discover one of their prisoners, a convicted murderer, has a special gift.  Features Michael Clarke Duncan in the role of  the inmate who has special healing powers.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Green Pastures (1935)  / Warner Bros. Pictures ; Warner Bros. Productions Corporation ; directors, Marc Connelly, William Keighley.  [United States] : Warner Home Video, [2006] 1 DVD videodisc (ca. 93 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.B53 G7446 2006 VideoDVD :   The Green Pastures began life as a group of "revisionist" Biblical stories titled Ol' Man Adam and His Chillun, written in exaggerated Negro dialect by white humorist Roark Bradford. These Old Testament stories were purportedly told from the point of view of an elderly black Sunday School teacher, who translated the Biblical prose into words that his congregation ("untutored black Christians" was Bradford's description) could readily understand. Thus, "De Lawd" behaves very much like a Southern black Baptist preacher; Heaven is a wondrous bayou-like land of big cigars and eternal fish fries; "Cap'n" Noah is a languid ferryboat skipper who argues with De Lawd over the advisability of bringing along a couple of kegs of liquor on the Ark; and the court of the Pharoah is redefined as a "Mystic Knights of the Sea" type lodge hall, with Moses introduced as a "conjure man." It is, of course, a white man's perspective on black life, but both the original "Ol' Man Adam," and the subsequent Pulitzer Prize-winning stage version written by Marc Connelly and retitled Green Pastures, have a lot more clarity, profundity and spiritual reverence than most "serious" Biblical adaptations. In this 1936 film version of the Connelly play, Rex Ingram is nothing less than brilliant as De Lawd, speaking the most ludicrous of lines with dignity and quiet authority. Others in the all-black cast include Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Noah, Frank Wilson as Moses, George Reed as Rev. Deshee, and Oscar Polk as Gabriel, who has the film's single most stirring line: "Gangway! Gangway for de Lawd God Jehovah!" Unlike many other so-called racist films of decades past, The Green Pastures nearly always charms and captivates its modern-day audiences; even the most adamant of "P.C" advocates will probably thoroughly enjoy the experience. Playwright Marc Connelly is credited as director of Green Pastures, as he was for the original stage version, but co-director William Keighley and director of photography Hal Mohr deserve most of the credit for the film's strong cinematic sense.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  Also available as streaming video from YouTube. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)   / Columbia Pictures Corporation presents a Stanley Kramer production ; written by William Rose ; produced and directed by Stanley Kramer.  Culver City, CA : Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1998.  1 DVD videodisc (108 min.) PN1997.G84 K723 1998 VideoDVD : When the daughter of well-to-do liberal parents plans to marry a black doctor, both families must sit down face to face and examine each other's level of intolerance.  Featuring Sidney Poitier.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Guess Who's Coming to Dinner  / Columbia Pictures Corporation presents a Stanley Kramer production ; written by William Rose ; produced and directed by Stanley Kramer.  Burbank, CA : RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, [1985?], c1967.  1 videocassette (VHS) (108 min.)  PN1997.G84 K723 1985 Videocassette : Joanna, the daughter of a crusading publisher, Matthew Drayton, and his patrician wife, Christina, returns home with her new fiance, John, a distinguished black doctor. Christina's mother accepts her daughter's decision to marry John, but Matthew is shocked by this interracial union, and the doctor's parents are equally dismayed. Features Sidney Poitier. Half Slave, Half Free  : Pt. 2 : Charlotte Forten's Mission  (1985)   [S.l.] : Xenon Home Video, c1991.  1 VHS videocassette (120 min.) : sd., col., 1/2 in.  LA2317.F67 H35 1992 Videocassette  : Frail, sickly and from a free Black family in Philadelphia no one could imagine that Charlotte Forten would risk her life to teach on the Sea Islands of South Carolina prior to Emancipation. Charlotte Forten was no ordinary woman. She defied her family and challenged the white missionairies to send her to help her people as they undergo the process of becoming free.  Melba Moore stars as this brilliant heroine who is determined to make a difference in spite of all the set backs she must endure. Charlotte shares with us her brief time in the islands where she learns how to overcome distrust, how to appreciate the religious faith of the newly freed slaves but most of all how to love with her heart. Charlotte has much more in common with the white missionairies than the former slaves but in time she is able to break through those barriers that impede her mission. This is a good film depicting the work of abolitionists trying to educate the newly freed slaves. It also shows the unsavory side of northern capitalists who are more interested in the freedmen's labor than they are about distributing land among the disinfranchised. A number of issues are raised in the film as Charlotte tries to make a difference in the lives of the people that she has come to support and love.  Cast : Melba Moore, Ned Beatty, Moses Gunn and Glynn Turman.  Hallelujah (1929)  / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ; story and direction by King Vidor ; scenario by Wanda Tuchock ; treatment by Richard Schayer ; dialogue by Ransom Rideout.  Culver City, CA : MGM/UA Home Video ; [S.l.] : Turner Entertainment, c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (90 min.) PN1995.9.M86 H3554 1993 : Made in 1929, Hallelujah is an artifact of no small historical significance: the first major studio movie with an all-black cast and a white director (the esteemed King Vidor), it was also one of the earliest "talkies" after the silent film era. But it also has considerable artistic merit; simply put, Hallelujah is damned entertaining. Sure, the story isn't exactly subtle, a morality tale chronicling the tribulations of Zeke (Daniel L. Haynes), a poor cotton farmer who, succumbing to the carnal charms of the sexy Chick (Nina Mae McKinney, who was sometimes known as "the black Garbo"), finds himself caught up in a soul-scarring cycle of sin and salvation. There's also some painful dialogue of the "Where is you gwine?" and "Honey, I likes anything you's got!" variety. But the major themes presented here--temptation and transgression, redemption and repentance--are pure and universal, the dancing and singing (including two songs by Irving Berlin) are marvelous, and there are several scenes of extraordinary intensity. Those include Zeke's family's weeping, wailing response to the tragic death of his younger brother, followed by the repentant Zeke's turning to God, a sequence in which he's transformed into a latter day Martin Luther King, Jr., preaching with rhythms and cadences of hypnotic power. A final note: Victoria Spivey, who portrays Missy Rose, the down home girl devoted to Zeke, was also one of the finest blues singers of the time. When she underwent a career revival in the early 1960s, she formed a record label whose first recording featured accompaniment by none other than Bob Dylan. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  Hancock (2008) (Blu-ray)  / Columbia Pictures presents Relativity Media in association with Blue Light, Weed Road Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Forward Pass, GH Three ; produced by Akiva Goldsman, James Lassiter, Michael Mann, Will Smith ; written by Vy Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan ; directed by Peter Berg.  Culver City, Calif. : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, c2008.  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (102 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in +Bonus digital disc.  PN1995.9.S76 H36 2008 Blu-ray VideoDVD  discs 1-2 : John Hancock is an unhappy and reluctant superhero who is depressed and has drinks heavily. He has saved many lives in Los Angeles, but in doing so, he has no regards for the damages he causes. The public has had enough of Hancock. Then one day, Hancock saves the life of Ray Embrey from being hit by a train. Ray is a public relations executive who now can go home to his wife and child, thanks to Hancock. Ray owes Hancock his life, and he makes it his mission to change his superhero's image. Ray's wife doesn't want Hancock around and makes certain that Hancock knows it.  Cast : Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Jae Head, Eddie Marsan.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Harlem Rides the Range, part of : Harlem Rides the Range ; Moon over Harlem ; The Big Timers ; Dirty Gertie from Harlem, USA .  United States : Platinum, 2004.   1 DVD videodisc (approximately 231 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 H374 2004 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVi Film Collection)  :  A sagebrush singer's two-gun law is all that stands between the claim-jumpimg villains and the heroine and her father's uranium mine.  Videocassette release of the 1939 motion picture.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Harlem Rides The Range (1939) Steaming video from YouTube.  55 minutes. Have a Little Faith / produced by Andrew Gottlieb ; written by Mitch Albom ; directed by Jon Avnet.  [United States] : Hallmark Hall Of Fame Productions, c2011.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 95 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.F83 H34 2011 VideoDVD : Mitch Albom has a pretty great life. He lives in Detroit and is happily married, he's an award-winning sportswriter, a must-read newspaper columnist, a screenwriter, a radio and television broadcaster. Then two men come into his life, and he realizes something's missing. Rabbi Albert Lewis presides over a thriving synagogue in a comfortable New Jersey suburb, and pastor Henry Covington, a recovering drug user and dealer, preaches to the poor and homeless in a crumbling Detroit inner-city church. He Got Game (1998)  / Touchstone Pictures ; a 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks production ; produced by John Kilik and Spike Lee ; written and directed by Spike Lee.  Touchstone Home Video ; Burbank, Calif. : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, [1998]  2 12 inch videodiscs (ca. 136 min.)  PN1995.9.B29 H4 1998 Video (12 inch) disc : With promises of a reduced sentence, a man is granted temporary release from state prison in order to persuade the nation's top college basketball recruit, his estranged son, to play ball for the Governor's alma mater. But just as the son faces intense pressures and irresistible temptations contemplating his big decision, the father is also forced to consider not only what's best for himself but what's best for his son.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Heavens Fall (2006)  / Allumination FilmWorks ; Strata Productions ; executive producers, Timothy Hutton, Norman Twain ; produced by Anna Marie Crovetti, Gloria Everett, Wade W. Danielson ; written and directed by Terry Green.  Woodland Hills, Cal. : Allumination FilmWorks, 2007.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 105 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997.2 .H438 2007 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVI Film Collection) : A tragic true story of nine black men who were pulled off an Alabama freight train and accused of raping two young white women, quickly tried, and sentenced to the electric chair. Forcing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, a lone man defends them.  Cast : Timothy Hutton, Anthony Mackie, Bill Sage, Azura Skye, James Tolkan, Bill Smitrovich, Maury Chaykin, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Leelee Sobieski, David Strathairn.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Hell on wheels : the complete first season / an Entertainment One/Nomadic Pictures production ; created by Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton ; written by Joe Gayton ... [et al.] ; directed by David Von Ancken ... [et al.]. [United States] : E1 Entertainment, 2012. 3 videodiscs (450 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1992.77 .H466 2012 VideoDVD Season 1 : The AMC series "Hell on Wheels" is a wonderful glimpse of life after the Civil War during the building of the Transcontinental Railroad -- a story line that has only been briefly touched-on in past westerns.  Interlaced within the 1865 details is the unlikely friendship between an ex-confederate soldier and a former slave (flawlessly portrayed by Anson Mount and Common respectively). Their bond grows with each episode as their commonality becomes apparent and they have each other's back in revolving dilemmas....The two strongest components of the show (evident from the very beginning) are its lavish depiction of the Old West with some spectacular battles and effects and a dynamic lead villain in Colm Meaney. The story opens in a post-Civil War America with an enigmatic soldier (Anson Mount) seeking revenge for the murder of his wife by Union officers. His journey puts him in the heart of a railroad construction project led by Meaney at an untamed post on the outskirts of civilization. There are working girls, disgraced clergy, thuggish bosses, newly emancipated slaves, a Native American presence and a myriad of other unscrupulous business types coexisting in this tempestuous microcosm and seeking to exploit the new possibilities on the road west. Meaney is absolutely terrific and other notable performances are turned in by Common (unexpectedly solid as a sometimes ally of Mount) and Tom Noonan (as a preacher trying to reform his life). Hell on wheels. The complete second season / produced by Michael Frislev, Chad Oakes ; written by Joe Gayton ... [et al.] ; directed by David Von Ancken ... [et al.].  Port Washington, New York : eOne, 2013. 3 videodiscs (413 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. PN1992.77 .H466 2013 VideoDVD Season 2 Hellfire Austin (1932) (52 min.) Streaming video from the Internet Archive. : Heading west, Ken and Bouncer end up at the Brooks ranch where Ken is to ride Tarzan in the big race. But both the Sheriff and Edmonds are after him and he must hide both himself and the horse until race time.  Example of early African American western. The Help (2011)  / Dreamworks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment present in association with Participant Media and Imagenation ; a 1492 Pictures/Harbinger Pictures production ; produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan ; written for the screen and directed by Tate Taylor. [Burbank, Calif.] : Touchstone Home Entertainment, [2011]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 146 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 H457 2011 VideoDVD  : There are male viewers who will enjoy The Help, but Mississippi native Tate Taylor aims his adaptation squarely at the female readers who made Kathryn Stockett's novel a bestseller. If the multi-character narrative revolves around race relations in the Kennedy-era South, the perspective belongs to the women. Veteran maid Aibileen (Doubt's Viola Davis in an Oscar-worthy performance) provides the heartfelt narration that brackets the story. A widow devastated by the death of her son, she takes pride in the 17 children she has helped to raise, but she's hardly fulfilled. That changes when Skeeter (Easy A's Emma Stone) returns home after college. Unlike her peers, Skeeter wants to work, so she gets a job as a newspaper columnist. But she really longs to write about Jackson's domestics, so she meets with Aibileen in secret--after much cajoling and the promise of anonymity. When Aibileen's smart-mouthed friend Minny (breakout star Octavia Spencer) breaches her uptight employer's protocol, Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard) gives her the boot, and she ends up in the employ of local outcast Celia (Jessica Chastain, hilarious and heartbreaking), who can't catch a break due to her dirt-poor origins. After the murder of Medgar Evers, even more maids, Minny among them, bring their stories to Skeeter, leading to a book that scandalizes the town--in a good way. Not since Steel Magnolias has Hollywood produced a Southern woman's picture more likely to produce buckets of tears (and almost as many laughs). A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich (1978) / Radnitz/Mattel Productions Inc. presents ; a Robert B. Radnitz, Ralph Nelson Film ; produced by Robert B. Radnitz ; screenplay by Alice Childress ; directed by Ralph Nelson.  Port Washington, NY : Koch Vision, c2009.  1 videodisc (107 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3505.H76 H47 2009 VideoDVD :  : Like the revolutionary novel for young adults by Alice Childress that was its source, the film adaptation of A Hero Ain’t Nothing But a Sandwich told the compelling story of a young man’s addiction to heroin and chronicled the ways that his drug habit almost destroys his family. Thirteen-year-old Benjie Johnson (Larry B. Scott), who lives with his single mother Rose (Cicely Tyson) and his widowed grandmother, starts shooting up on a dare from another boy. Soon Benjie is “skin-popping” regularly, stealing money from his family, and isolating himself from old friends. After two of his teachers report him, he is forced to enter a hospital detoxification program. But when he is released, he falls back into his old ways. After coming close to death, he is rescued by his mother’s hardworking boyfriend, Butler (Paul Winfield), a father figure who reaches out to him, literally and figuratively. Although the realism was less gritty at times than in the novel (in which Benjie lives in a cramped apartment in Harlem, not a little house in Los Angeles, and relates his experiences in the first person), the film vividly conveyed the boy’s sense of loneliness and abandonment, his search for his missing father, and his difficult rehabilitation. (The detoxification was graphically depicted in a series of black-and-white still photos and in lengthy encounter-group sessions with actual former addicts.) Like Native Son, A Hero Ain’t Nothing But a Sandwich offered a frightening portrait of black adolescent turmoil, of a boy’s maturation in a modern society that is hostile to him, and of the failure of even a loving family to shield or save him from harm. Hi De Ho  (1938), see Hi de ho ; The Duke is tops / directed by Josh Binney ; original story and screenplay by Hal Seeger; directed by William L. Nolte.  Narberth, PA : Alpha Home Entertainment, [2006], ©2006. 1 videodisc (138 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in.    PN1995.9.M86 H53 2006 VideoDVD  : Big band leader Cab Calloway is torn between two womens' desires, his manager Nettie and his jealous girlfriend Minnie, who hires killers to do him in.  Cast : Cab Calloway, Ida James, Jeni Le Gon.  High Crimes   (2002) / Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises present a New Regency/Manifest Film Company/Monarch Pictures production, a Carl Franklin film in association with Epsilon Motion Pictures ; producers, Arnon Milchan, Janet Yang, Jesse B'Franklin ; screenplay writers, Yuri Zeltser, Cary Bickley ; director, Carl Franklin.  Beverly Hills, CA : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2002.  1 DVD videodisc (115 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S87 H454 2002 VideoDVD : Claire Kubik, a smart and sexy attorney whose perfect world comes crashing down when the FBI charges her husband Tom with the murder of innocent civilians during a covert Army operation fifteen years earlier. Aided by a shrewd ex-military lawyer, Claire fights to clear Tom's name, but gets too close to exposing a government cover-up in the process. Now she must risk her career-- and even her life-- to find the truth.  Cast : Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. Hollywood Shuffle  (1987) / Samuel Goldwyn Company ; Conquering Unicorn.  Beverly Hills, CA : Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (81 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.C55 H654 2006 VideoDVD :  The alumni of Hollywood Shuffle are spread across dozens of current comedies and TV sitcoms--this is the movie that introduced Robert Townsend and the Wayans Brothers to the world. Townsend plays a young actor who struggles with being offered stereotyped street hustler roles while trying to maintain his self-respect and the approval of his family. Between scenes of comically humiliating auditions, Bobby has satirical fantasies about the plight of black actors, including the classic "Black Acting School" sketch, in which white teachers demonstrate jive talk and street moves for the befuddled black students. Townsend has a charming, low-key comic style, one considerably more subtle than that of some of the black comics who have risen to success with supposedly self-aware renditions of the stereotypes Townsend mocks. Townsend made this movie on his credit cards and it is clearly a heartfelt labor of love. How Stella Got Her Groove Back  (1998)  / 20th Century Fox ; screenplay by Terry McMillan & Ron Bass ; produced by Deborah Schindler ; directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, c1998. 1 DVD videodisc (124 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PS3563.C3868 H68 1998 VideoDVD  : Having made an impressive showing in the movie adaptation of one Terry McMillan novel (Waiting to Exhale), Angela Bassett eagerly accepted -- and did a bang-up job with -- the title role in this glossy 1998 interpretation of another McMillan story. Stella is a gorgeous 40-year-old San Francisco stockbroker who successfully runs with the bulls of the financial world but finds herself confronted with a bear market in romance. While on vacation in Jamaica with her friend Delilah (played by a scene-stealing Whoopi Goldberg), Stella meets and falls for handsome med-school hopeful named Winston (Taye Diggs). Only problem: He's 20 years old -- just half her age. Director Kevin Rodney Sullivan milks this dilemma for all it's worth, playing up the predictable disapproval of Stella's family and friends. A melodramatic subplot involving Delilah's critical illness and hospitalization temporarily diverts attention from the love affair, but Sullivan steers the film back on course and brings it to a dramatically satisfying conclusion. How Stella Got Her Groove Back tells McMillan's story of a May-September romance with élan, but even more important, it features the beautiful Bassett in a dazzling tour de force. The film's production is documented in a featurette included on the DVD.  2000 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info? Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Human Stain (2003)  / Miramax Films and Lakeshore Entertainment present ; a Lakeshore Entertainment and Stone Village production, in association with Cinerenta-Cineepsilon ; producers, Gary Lucchesi, Scott Steindorff, Tom Rosenberg ; screenplay by Nicholas Meyer ; directed by Robert Benton.  Burbank, CA : Miramax Home Entertainment : Distributed by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, 2011.  1 DVD videodisc (106 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI MOVIE COLLECTION   CW6 D0130075 VideoDVD  : Coleman Silk is a respected professor at a New England college who suddenly finds his life unraveling after a comment he makes about some African-American students is misinterpreted as a racial slur. As the scandal heats up, Nathan Zuckerman, a writer researching a biography of Silk, begins to dig deeply into Silk's life. Eventually, matters are made worse when Coleman's affair with a young married janitor named Faunia Farley is exposed. But amid the controversy, Silk must struggle to keep his greatest secret, a secret he's held for the majority of his life, from becoming made public. The Hurricane (1999)  / Universal Pictures and Beacon Pictures present an Azoff Films/Rudy Langlais production ; produced by Armyan Bernstein, John Catcham, Norman Jewison ; screenplay by Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon ; directed by Norman Jewison.  Universal, [2000]  1 VHS videocassette (146 min.)  MSU College of Law Library Reserve Video H L Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, in the prime of his boxing career, finds himself wrongfully convicted of murder. Sentenced to life in prison, Carter's published memoir, The sixteenth round, inspires a teenager from Brooklyn and three Canadian activists who believe in the truth, to join forces with Carter to prove his innocence.  Features Denzel Washington.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Selected Feature Films, I-J All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. I Am Legend   (2007) [(Blu-ray)  / Warner Bros. Pictures presents in association with Village Roadshow Pictures a Weed Road/Overbrook Entertainment production ; produced by Akiva Goldsman, James Lassiter, David Heyman, Neal Moritz ; screenplay by Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman ; directed by Francis Lawrence.  Burbank, Calif. : Warner Home Video, [2008]  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (100 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S26 I24 2008 VideoDVD  : The last man on earth is not alone. Somehow immune to an unstoppable, incurable virus, military virologist Robert Neville is now the last human survivng in New York City. He believes he may be the last human alive in the world. Mutant plague victims lurk in the shadows. They watch Robert's every move and wait for him to make a fatal mistake. Robert is driven by only one remaining mission - to find an antidote using his own immune blood. But, he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time.  Cast : Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . I, Robot / Twentieth Century Fox presents in association with Mediastream IV ; directed by Alex Proyas ; screenplay by Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman ; screen story by Jeff Vintar ; produced by Laurence Mark [and others] ; a Davis Entertainment Company/Laurence Mark/Overbrook Films production.   Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, [2012]   2 videodiscs (115 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection CY9 D0143708 Blu-ray Video & VideoDVD  discs 1-3     : In the year 2035, robots are a common, trusted part of life. But that trust is broken when a scientist is found dead, and a skeptical Chicago police detective investigating the murder believes that a robot is responsible. It seems impossible for a robot to break the Three Laws of Robotics, for if that were to happen there would be nothing to stop them from taking over the world. Aiding the detective in his investigation is a psychologist who specializes in the psyches of robots. Will technology ultimately lead to mankind's salvation or annihilation?  Features Will Smith. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . I Spy Season One (1965) /  Peter Rodgers Organization ; Three F Productions.  Chatsworth, Calif. : Distributed by Image Entertainment, [2008]   5 videodiscs (1429 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1992.8.S67 I22 2008 VideoDVD Season 1  discs 1-5 :  International espionage agents Kelly Robinson and Alexander Scott go on highly dangerous missions posing as a world-class playboy/tennis player and his trainer.  The first major tv series to feature an African American in a starring role.    I Spy entry from the Encyclopedia of Television. Idlewild (2006) / Universal Pictures and HBO Films present a Mosaic Media Group/Forensic Films production; produced by William Green, Scott Macaulay, Robin O'Hara ; written and directed by Bryan Barber. Universal City, CA : Universal Pictures, c2006.  1 DVD videodisc (2 hrs., 1 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.M86 I354 2006 VideoDVD : OutKast duo André "Andre 3000" Benjamin and Antwan Andre "Big Boi" Patton star as two Prohibition-era performers determined to fend off the vicious gangsters currently attempting to gain a stake in the pair's lucrative club in this musical drama directed by longtime collaborator Bryan Barber and featuring choreography by three-time Tony award winner Hinton Battle. In the 1930s, Idlewild was the hottest speakeasy in the South thanks to the impressive showmanship of flamboyant manager/lead performer Rooster (Patton) and the notable talents of introverted pianist Percival (Benjamin). Everything changes, however, when a powerful gangster and his ruthless henchmen move in on the scene with every intention of landing a healthy portion of the club's considerable profits. Ving Rhames, Terrence Howard, Faizon Love, Patti LaBelle, Macy Gray, Ben Vereen, and Cicely Tyson co-star. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka   / United Artists Pictures, Inc.  [New York] : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, c1988.  1 VHS videocassette (88 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.C55 I232 1988 Videocassette : Jack Spade, a goody-goody war hero with medals for short-hand, returns to the ghetto to discover that his brother, Junebug, has OG'd, (Over-golded on jewelry). Jack swears revenge against the local gang boss, Mr Big, and sets off to enlist an army of Shaft, Superfly and Black Caesar--look-a-likes, that is.  Cast : Bernie Casey, Jim Brown, Isaac Hayes, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Antonio Fargas, Ja'net Dubois. Imitation of Life   (1934) / a Universal picture ; a John M. Stahl production ; produced by Carl Laemmle ; screenplay, William Hurlbut ; directed by John M. Stahl.  Universal City, CA : Universal Home Video, [1998]  1 videocassette (111 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PS3515.U785 I55 1998 Videocassette : Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers star in this 1930's melodramatic tale of two mothers struggling for their children. Colbert plays Beatrice "Bea" Pullman, a widow with a young daughter. Life is hard for Bea until Delilah Johnson, Louise Beavers, arrives with her daughter Peola and becomes Bea's maid. Delilah cajoles Bea to give her a job as her maid. Bea discovers that Delilah has a delicious pancake recipe. Bea acquires this recipe, and uses it to start her empire; with Delilah getting a not so equal cut. However, this empire has a price for both. For one, the price is happiness in a relationship. For the other, the price is dealing with racial confusion. Ironically, their daughters serve them the check. When the girls grow up, Peola realizes that she can "pass" for white, and in the 1930's, with racism and joblessness rampant, her choice makes sense, for the times. When Peola, played by Fredi Washington, completely rejects her mother, it is heartbreaking. To see Louise Beavers sobbing onto the counter in the department store is truly painful.  Also have a DVD version of the 1934 and a 1959 remake.  The DVD package also includes bonus commentary by African-American cultural scholar Avery Clayton. In the Heat of the Night (1967)  / Culver City, Calif. : MGM/UA, c1992.  1 VHS videocassette (110 min.)   PS3552.A455 I58 1992 Videocassette : A small town Southern sheriff finds himself in an uneasy alliance with a big-city black homicide detective as they investigate a murder. Features Sidney Poitier. In the Heat of the Night (1967)  / the Mirisch Corporation ; the Norman Jewison-Walter Mirisch production ; United Artists ; screenplay by Sterling Silliphant ; produced by Walter Mirisch ; directed by Norman Jewison.   [United States] : Metro Goldwyn Mayer Home Entertainment : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, [2008].  1 DVD videodisc (112 min.) PS3552.A455 I582 2008 VideoDVD : A black homicide expert is asked to help solve the murder of a wealthy businessman in a small town.  Videodisc release of the 1967 motion picture.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Independence Day (1996)  / Twentieth Century Fox presents a Centropolis Entertainment production ; directed by Roland Emmerich ; written by Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich ; produced by Dean Devlin.  Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, [2000]  2 videodiscs (153 min.)  PN1997.A1 I53 2000 VideoDVD : Massive spaceships appear in Earth's skies and wonder turns to terror as the ships blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet. The world's only hope lies with a determined band of survivors. Cast : Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, James Rebhorn, Harvey Fierstein, Brent Spiner. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Introducing Dorothy Dandridge  (1999) / HBO Pictures presents an Esparza/Katz production in association with Berry/Cirrincione ; a Martha Coolidge film.  [New York, NY] : HBO Home Video, c1999.  1 DVD videodisc (115 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN2287.D256 I67 1999 VideoDVD : Dorothy Dandridge was a singer, nightclub entertainer, and actress who became the first African-American woman to receive an Academy award nomination as Best Actress (for her standout performance in 1954's Carmen Jones; she lost to Grace Kelly ). However, despite her striking beauty and obvious talent, Dandridge was a sexy, glamorous black femme fatale at a time when Hollywood pin-up queens were supposed to be giggly blondes. The film industry didn't know what to do with her, and while her nightclub act was a bit too smooth for the Southern roadhouse circuit, as a black performer she wasn't allowed to stay in many of the hotels and resorts where she performed. Dandridge also had a sad personal life, filled with tragedy and romantic disappointment, and she died of an overdose of pills in 1965, at the age of 41. This made-for-cable biographical drama stars Halle Berry as Dorothy Dandridge, supported by Brent Spiner, Obba Babatunde, and Klaus Maria Brandauer.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Intruder in the dust / a Clarence Brown production ; screen play by Ben Maddow ; produced and directed by Clarence Brown.  Hollywood, CA : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 90 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PS3511.A86 I52 1993 Videocassette  :  Based on the novel by William Faulkner.  In a small Mississippi town, a white boy rescues a black man who is about to be lynched for a murder he did not commit. The Jackie Robinson Story  (1950) / Jewel Pictures Corporation ; Sterling Entertainment Group ; Eagle Lion Films release ; William Joseph Heineman presents ; producer, Mort Briskin ; director, Alfred E. Green.  Charlotte, NC : Ovation Home Video, c1999. 1 DVD videodisc (76 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. GV865.R6 J334 1999 VideoDVD Also available on VHS videocasette : Blurring the lines of documentary and narrative, the story tackles the abuse and ultimate glory of being the first African American Major League baseball player....As a student at UCLA in 1940, Jackie Robinson developed the athletic skills to play baseball, basketball, football, and track, earning him a statewide reputation in sports. In 1941 he played professional football with the Los Angeles Bulldogs and, following service as a lieutenant in World War II, was signed by the Montreal Royals, a minor league farm club of the Brooklyn Dodgers. After winning the league's batting title in 1946, Robinson joined the major leagues as first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers....He made his debut at Ebbet's Field on April 15, 1947, breaking the "color line" to become the first African American to play major league baseball. Hostile opponents and racist spectators publicly provoked him with bean-ball pitches and death threats. Conscious of his unique position as a role model, Robinson managed to ignore all racial epithets, even his own teammates' attempt to eject him from the team. In 1947, he led the National League in stolen bases and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1949, he won the National League batting title and the Most Valuable Player award. Robinson gained respect and became a symbol of black accomplishment and opportunity. His story quickly captured the nation's imagination, and after the Dodgers won the 1949 pennant, he took time off to star in The Jackie Robinson Story, a film about the story of his life....It co-stars Ruby Dee, Louise Beavers, Joel Fluellen, Bernie Hamilton and football great Kenny Washington. Branch Rickey, the tough-minded crusader and owner of the Dodgers, stood up to all criticism and offered many reasons for hiring Robinson. Initially, Rickey maintained that he wanted to put the best possible team on the field. Teams at that time relied almost exclusively on ticket sales to pay for spring training, travel, salaries, stadium upkeep, and still try to make a profit. Attendance was always higher for winning teams and Rickey believed that African-American players could improve his team....The Dodgers succeeded with such black stars as Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe. Rickey later acknowledged that his belief in equal rights was also a strong motive in signing African Americans to the Dodgers. With baseball's door open for black players, others soon followed. In that first year, Dan Bankhead pitched for the Dodgers, Larry Doby played for the Cleveland Indians, and Henry Thompson and Willard Brown played briefly for the St. Louis Browns. Although some teams began to integrate right away, it was not until 1959 that all major league teams fully integrated. Robinson succeeded in breaking racial barriers and paving the way for other black athletes to participate in professional sports....Having endured years of openly expressed racial prejudice, he became the first African American to receive recognition in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in 1962. Robinson played his entire major league career for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1947-1956). As a tribute, in 1997, major league baseball retired Robinson's jersey number 42. Source : Separate Cinema. The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) (1:13 minutes)  Streaming video from Hulu. : The life of Jackie Robinson from his college days to the military and then his becoming the first African-American professional baseball player in the modern era is covered in this feature. Robinson portrays himself in this feature that allows you insight into the psyche of Robinson, Branch Rickey and his fellow Brooklyn Dodgers teammates. This feature shows the pressure that was placed upon Robinson by the public and by some of his fellow players due to the racism that was common during that era. Jefferson in Paris  (1995) / Touchstone Pictures and Merchant Ivory Productions.  Burbank, CA : Touchstone Home Entertainment, 2004, c1995.  1 DVD videodisc (139 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.H5 J444 2004 VideoDVD  :  Best known for their historical epics that examine class and social issues in British life through a thick lens of tasteful production design and good manners, director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant set their sights on an American protagonist for a change with Jefferson in Paris. As the title suggests, Jefferson in Paris deals with the five years that Thomas Jefferson (Nick Nolte) spent as U.S. ambassador to France prior to the French Revolution; while Jefferson is sympathetic to the revolutionary forces in France, he's become well enough acquainted with the ruling aristocracy that he finds himself torn between the two sides of the issue. Jefferson, a recent widower, also becomes friends with Maria Cosway (Greta Scacchi), who is married to a foppish British artist; while it's obvious the two are in love, neither is in a position to do anything about their infatuation. And while Jefferson's daughter Patsy (Gwyneth Paltrow) loves her father, she's very upset with him when he sends her to a convent school. In this midst of this personal turmoil, Jefferson's younger daughter Polly (Estelle Eonnet) arrives in Paris, with her slave Sally Hemmings (Thandie Newton) in tow. Attractive and bright (if uneducated), Sally catches Jefferson's eye, and a friendship develops that grows into something deeper; in time, Sally becomes pregnant, and her family claims that Jefferson is the father. At the time Jefferson In Paris was released, the question of Sally Hemmings' relationship with Thomas Jefferson was a matter of lively historical debate; since then, genetic evidence has shown that, while Jefferson's paternity can't be proved beyond a doubt, it is likely that he did father children with Hemmings.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Jerry Maguire (1996)  / TriStar Pictures presents a Gracie Films Production.  Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1997.  1 DVD videodisc (138 min.) PN1995.9.S67 J4 1997 VideoDVD : The surprise box-office smash of 1996, Jerry Maguire reestablished Tom Cruise as a star of romantic comedies, earned stardom for Renée Zellweger, and won writer-director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) a spot on Hollywood's A-list. It also scored an Oscar for supporting player Cuba Gooding Jr. and thrust a new catchphrase -- "Show me the money!" -- into the popular lexicon. Crowe's zesty romance has an enduring charm: Cruise still shines as the brash but vulnerable sports agent whose moment of uncharacteristic frankness gets him fired. Opening his own small agency, the dispirited go-getter receives encouragement from his only employee, a single mom (Zellweger) who secretly adores him. Tom's twinkling eyes and toothy grin notwithstanding, the show is nearly stolen by Gooding's comically conceited athlete -- Maguire's lone client -- who makes his demands very clear. Crowe's Oscar-nominated script sparkles with clever lines and fleshes out characters in ways not typical of breezy Hollywood love stories. This winning combination of snappy storytelling, endearing characters, and incisive direction keeps Jerry Maguire fresh and contemporary.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Jivin’ in Be-Bop (1946) (59 minutes)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Directed by Leonard Anderson and Spencer Williams. Cast: Dizzy Gillespie, Freddy Carter and Milt Jackson. A well-crafted hour full of solid entertainment. Singers, instrumentalists, dancers both male and female, even comedy. Add to that getting to see such performers as Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, Benny Carter and Gillespie himself, along with many more, in what amounts to a front-row seat for a very cool variety show, photographed intelligently and orchestrated to please. The Joe Louis Story  (1953) / Federated Films Inc. production ; released by United Artists Corp. ; produced by Stirling Silliphant ; directed by Robert Gordon ; original screenplay by Robert Sylvester. Narbeth, Pa. : Alpha Video Distributors, 2003, c1953. 1 DVD videodisc (88 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. GV1132.L6 J64 2003 VideoDVD : Dramatization of the life story of "The Black Bomber" Joe Louis who became a World Heavyweight Champion and defended his title for twelve years- longer than any fighter before ore since. Includes actual footage from his greatest fights, including matches with Rocky Marciano, Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Max Baer, and Jim Braddock. John Q   (2002) / New Line Cinema presents a Burg/Koules production ; producers, Mark Burg, Oren Koules ; writer, James Kearns ; director, Nick Cassavetes.  [United States] : New Line Home Entertainment, c2002.  1 DVD videodisc (116 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S87 J64 2002 VideoDVD : A desperate father takes hospital employees hostage when his HMO refuses to pay for his son's life-saving surgery.  Cast : Denzel Washington, James Woods, Robert Duvall. The Josephine Baker Story   (1991) / HBO Pictures presents in association with RHI Entertainment, Inc. and Anglia Television Ltd. ; a John Kemeny production ; a Brain Gibson film ; produced by John Kemeny ; teleplay by Ron Hutchinson ; directed by Brian Gibson.  New York?] : HBO Video, [2001]  1 DVD videodisc (131 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. GV1785.B3 J685 2001 VideoDVD : Brian Gibson's made-for-cable biography of the famed singer Josephine Baker stars Lynn Whitfield as the black American who found stardom and scandal as the toast of the Paris night-life during the 1920s and '30s. Cast : Lynn Whitfield, Rubén Blades, David Dukes, Craig T. Nelson. Try Movie Review Query Engine . Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys (1976) / Tomorrow Entertainment.  1 BETA videocassette (96 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PN1997 .J8 1980z Beta Videocassette : In 1933 the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a new trial for nine young Black men who had been falsely accused of rape and sentenced to death. Describes how Judge James E. Horton struggled to insure a fair trial in a lynch mob atmosphere.  Cast : Arthur Hill, Lewis J. Stadlen, Ken Kercheval, Vera Mills, Ellen Barber, Suzanne Lederer. Juke Joint (1947)  / Alfred N. Sack presents ; directed by Spencer Williams ; a Bert Goldberg production.  [Baker City, OR : Nostalgia Family Video, c1996.]  1 VHS videocassette (75 min.) PN1995.9.N4 J85 1996 Videocassette  : "Juke Joint" (1947) was the product of Spencer Williams, best remembered as "Andy" from the Amos & Andy comedies. Not only did he write and direct this, he co-starred in this Dalls-made comedy with his then-partner July Jones (nee' Robert Orr) as two likeable con artists who pose as "thespians" to gain free room and board at Mama Lou's Boarding house. They also show their good side by stopping Mama Lou's wayward daughter from being tricked by an (implied) pimp who wants to take her to Chicago. This is a very pleasant and likeable comedy and interesting to compare to Williams's later work with Tim "King Fish" Moore in Amos & Andy. The jitterbug contest is an amazing highlight, but the camera is anchored a bit too far from the dancers. The cinematography is rough, but can be overlooked by the overall good feelings one gets from this film.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series.   Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Juke Joint (1947) (58 minutes)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics ; Directed by Spencer Williams. Cast: Spencer Williams, July Jones, Inez Newell, Melody Duncan and Katherine Moore. This feature presents Williams and Jones as down and out in the Great Southwest.  They pose as theatrical experts and get free room and board in the Holliday home for helping Honeydew prepare to win a beauty pageant.  Florida, the other daughter, is propositioned by the owner of a Juke Joint, who wants to take her to Chicago, but the two 'theatrical experts' and Mama Lou's sense of righteousness keep the family intact....Hitch-hiking con-men Bad News Johnson and July Jones arrive in a Midwestern small town with a capital of twenty-five cents. Taking a room with Mama Lou, whose daughter is entered in a local beauty contest, they pose as Hollywood actors who can train Honey Dew in stagecraft. Meanwhile, Mama's other daughter Florida prepares to elope to Chicago with Johnny, owner of the Juke Joint, where, after a jitterbug contest, Mama herself takes a hand. Jumpin' Jack Flash  / Twentieth Century Fox presents a Lawrence-Gordon/Silver Pictures production ; produced by Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver ; directed by Penny Marshall.   Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, [2011]    1 DVD videodisc (105 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 J867 2011 VideoDVD : Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple) gives one of her earliest and finest film performances as Terry Doolittle, a computer programmer who unwittingly becomes embroiled in an international espionage scheme, forced to outmaneuver the CIA and KGB in this riotous 1986 Cold War comedy. Doolittle, the outspoken and irreverent employee of an international bank, is working overtime one evening when her terminal receives an encrypted message pleading for help from Jumpin’ Jack Flash, code name for a British spy (Jonathan Pryce) trapped in Eastern Europe. At first reluctantly and then audaciously, Doolittle becomes privy to his predicament and essential to his escape while delivering a steady stream of ribald one-liners and witty slapstick—whether it’s her Mick Jagger impersonation, police station meltdown, or infamous dress-caught-in-the-paper-shredder escapade at the British Consulate ball. A host of supporting talent includes Annie Potts, Jon Lovitz, Jim Belushi, the late Phil Hartman, and Stephen Collins (who shines as Marty, the mole), yet the film belongs to Whoopi. Though the plot is far-fetched and often flimsy, Penny Marshall (in her directorial debut) gives Goldberg enough latitude to showcase her immense talent in a role she obviously relishes—and audiences will too. Rated R for extreme profanity and mature themes. Jungle fever / Universal Pictures presents a Forty Acres & a Mule Filmworks production ; a Spike Lee joint ; produced, written and directed by Spike Lee.  Universal City, Calif. : Universal Home Video, 1998.  1 DVD videodisc (132 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.R23 J86 1998 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of ROVI Movie Collection)   : A black architect begins an affair with his working class Italian secretary. Their relationship causes them to be scrutinized by their friends, cast out from their families and shunned by their neighbors in this moving view of inner-city life. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Selected Feature Films, K-L Keep Punching   (1939)   [S.l.] : Hollywood's Attic, [199-?]  1 VHS videocassette (80 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.N4 K446 1990 Videocassette : Henry Jackson, known as Little Dynamite, is a Golden Gloves champion, who agrees to turn professional when approached by fight manager Ed Watson, despite the opposition raised by his father and Fanny Singleton, his sweetheart. Soon, Jackson is ready to fight for the championship, when he runs into Frank Harrison, an old school friend. Harrison is not the faithful friend that Jackson believes him to be as he is betting heavily that the heavily-favored Jackson will lose the bout. To ensure he does, Harrison introduces Jackson to a hot mama, Jerry Jordan, who is instructed to make him drink, stay out late and generally mess him up by whatever means. The day of the fight, Harrison orders Jerry to slip Jackson a sleeping potion just before he leaves for the fight. Jerry, now in love with Jackson, finally agrees after Harrison threatens her. A few hours before the fight, Jackson, Windy, a Harlem hanger-on, Harrison and Jerry are in Harrison's apartment when Jerry proposes a toast to Jordan. When he is not looking, she slips the sleeping potion into his glass. Windy sees her and switches glasses with Jackson. Jerry, ringside at the fight, sees the boy she loves getting a bad beating.Sobbing wildly, she leaves the arena and runs to a near-by church, where she drops on her knees and prays to God to forgive her and to let Henry win.  Cast : Henry Armstrong, Willie Bryant, Mae E. Johnson, Hamtree Harrington.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. Killer Diller (1948). (1:12 min)  Streaming video from the Internet Archive.  African American musical variety show featuring The Nat King Cole Trio, the Clark Brothers and other musical and comedy acts. Lackawanna Blues  (2005)  / HBO Films presents a Bellah Films/Good Shepherd production ; a film by George C. Wolfe ; screenplay by Ruben Santiago-Hudson ; produced by Nellie Rachel Nugiel ; directed by George C. Wolfe.  [New York, N.Y.] : HBO Video, [2005].  1 DVD videodisc (95 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997.2 .L323 2005 VideoDVD : In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives. Based on Ruben Santiago-Hudson's autobiographical play about his relationship with his guardian Rachel Crosby, set in 1950's and 1960's Lackawanna, New York. After the separation of his parents, young Ruben, a part-black, part-Hispanic child, is sent to live in a small-scale boarding house run by the kind-hearted "Nanny" Crosby and her younger husband Bill.  Cast : S. Epatha Merkerson, Marcus Carl Franklin, Mos Def, Carmen Ejogo, Louis Gossett, Jr., Macy Gray, Terrence Dashon Howard, Ernie Hudson, Delroy Lindo, Rosie Perez, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Liev Schreiber, Jeffery Wright. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Lady Sings the Blues  (1992) / Paramount Pictures and Berry Gordy present ; produced by Jay Weston and James S. White ; screenplay by Terence McCloy and Chris Clark and Suzanne de Passe ; directed by Sidney J. Furie.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount Home Entertainment, [2005]. 1 DVD videodisc (143 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  ML420.H58 L33 2005 VideoDVD  : Diana Ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist Billie Holiday, who while writhing in a strait jacket in a prison cell, awaiting sentencing on drug charges, reflects on her turbulent life. Raped in her youth by a drunk (Adolph Caesar), then compelled to work as a domestic in a Harlem whorehouse, Holliday is encouraged to try for a singing career by the bordello's pianist (Richard Pryor). She rises as high as it is possible to go in the white-dominated show business world of the 1930s, but can't handle the pressure and turns to narcotics. The film takes several liberties with the 44-year existence of "Lady Day." Among the Billie Holiday standards performed by Ross are "My Man," "I Cried for You," "Lover Man," "Them There Eyes," and the title song.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Lean on Me / Warner Bros. ; produced by Norman Twain ; directed by John G. Avildsen ; written by Michael Schiffer.   Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, 2010.  1 DVD videodisc (109 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.S253 L43 2010 VideoDVD   : This is the fact-based story of high school principal Joe Clark, who armed himself with a bullhorn and a Louisville Slugger and slammed the door on losers at Eastside High in Paterson, New Jersey. Directed by John G. Avildsen.  Starring Morgan Freeman. 1991 NAACP Image Award winner. The Learning Tree  (1969) / a film by Gordon Parks ; written for the screen, produced and directed by Gordon Parks.  Burbank, Calif. : Warner Home Video, 1987.  1 BETA videocassette (107 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1997 .L4 1987 BETA Videocassette : Traces one year in the life of young Newt, in which he learns about love, fear, racial injustice, and his own capacity for honor. The Learning Tree  (1969)  / Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Inc. ; written for the screen, produced and directed by Gordon Parks. Burbank : Warnerarchive.com : Warner Home Video [distributor, 2011]  1 DVD videodisc (107 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1997 .L4 2011 VideoDVD : Remember that special growing-up year in your life? When you had your first real adventure, discovered love, faced an enemy, withstood the death of a loved one, stood up for a principle, backed a friend? Maybe, like Newt Winger's growing-up year, it was all of them. A personal triumph for director-producer-writer-composer Gordon Parks (adapting his novel), The Learning Tree traces one watershed year in the life of young Newt (Kyle Johnson), in which he learns about love, fear, violent racial injustice and, during an emotional murder trial, his own capacity for honor. "Most important of all," Parks said, "he learns that hating is a waste of valuable energy." Poignant, passionate and powerful, The Learning Tree will make you smile, break your heart and heal your spirit. Lee Daniels' The Butler   / the Weinstein Company ; Windy Hill Pictures ; Follow Through Productions ; Pam Wallace Productions ; screenwriters, Danny Strong ; producer/director, Lee Daniels.  [Beverly Hills, California] : Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2014.  1 DVD videodisc (132 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.F35 L44 2014 VideoDVD : The Butler tells the story of a White House butler who served eight American presidents over three decades. The film traces the dramatic changes that swept American society during this time, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this man’s life and family. Forest Whitaker stars as the butler with Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, and many more. Academy Award® nominated Lee Daniels (Precious) directs and co-wrote the script with Emmy®-award winning Danny Strong (Game Change). A Lesson Before Dying  (1999) / Spanky Pictures production in association with Ellen M. Krass Productions ; producer, Robert Benedetti ; teleplay by Ann Peacock ; directed by Joseph Sargent. New York : HBO Home Video, c1999. 1 DVD videodisc (101 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PS3557.A355 L47 1999 VideoDVD : Don Cheadle, Mekhi Phifer, and Cicely Tyson star in this drama set in the 1940s about a black man sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit and teacher who is to counsel him as he awaits execution. A Lesson Before Dying is based on a novel by Ernest J. Gaines.  Want more info? Try Movie Review Query Engine . Lethal Weapon   (1987) / written by Shane Black ; produced and directed by Richard Donner ; Warner Bros.  Burbank, Calif. : Warner Home Video, 1987.  1 videodisc (LaserVision CLV) (110 min.) : sd., col. ; 12 in.  PN1995.9.P57 L47 1987 Video (12 inch) disc : Two Vietnam-vets-turned cops have only one thing in common : they both hate to work with partners, but when a routine murder investigation turns into a no holds barred war with an international heroin ring their partnership becomes the key to survival. Directed by Richard Donner.  Starring Mel Gibson & Danny Glover. 1989 NAACP Image Award winner. Lethal Weapon 2  (1989) / directed by Richard Donner ; screenplay by Jeffrey Boam ; story by Shane Black and Warren Murphy ; produced by Richard Donner and Joel Silver ; a Silver Pictures Production.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, c1991.  1 videodisc (114 min.) : sd., col. ; 12 in.  PN1995.9.P57 L47 1991 Video (12 inch) disc : Riggs and Murtaugh must guard a free-wheeling witness in a comedy/drama of car chases, gun battles, under-water escapes, and the destruction of a chic hillside house.  Cast : Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Joss Ackland. The Lion King (1994) / [presented by] Walt Disney Pictures ; produced by Don Hahn ; screenplay by Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton ; directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.  Burbank, Calif. : Walt Disney Home Entertainment : Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2003.  2 DVD videodiscs (ca. 90 min.)  PN1997.5.L56 L56 2003 VideoDVD  1-2 : Simba begins life as an honored prince, son of the powerful King Mufasa. The cub's happy childhood turns tragic when his evil uncle Scar murders Mufasa and drives Simba away from the kingdom. In exile, the young lion befriends the comically bumbling pair of Pumbaa the warthog and Timon the meerkat and lives a carefree jungle life. As he approaches adulthood, however, he is visited by the spirit of his father, who instructs him to defeat the nefarious Scar and reclaim his rightful throne.  Features the voice of Michigan's James Earl Jones as the voice of Mufasa. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Long Walk Home  (1990) / Miramax Films.  Van Nuys, CA. : Live Home Video, 1991.  1 VHS videocassette (98 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. MSU College of Law Library Reserve Video L : Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg is Odessa Cotter, a quietly dignified woman, who works as a housekeeper for Miriam Thompson (Academy Award winner Sissy Spacek). When Odessa honors the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott by walking an exhausting nine miles to and from work, Miriam offers her a ride. Defying both Miriam's racist husband (Dwight Schultz) and the powerful White Citizen's Council, Miriam and Odessa put their lives in danger for civil rights. Their shared experiences draw them closer as a deep respect and lasting friendship forms. Together, in a difficult world of black versus white, they manage to discover a common ground. Cast : Sissy Spacek, Whoopi Goldberg, Dwight Schultz. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Lookout Sister (1946)  / [presented by] Astor Pictures Corp.  North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video : Timeless Video [distributor], c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 67 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 L66 1993 Videocassette : Louis Jordan not only sings but also proves that he can cowboy with the best of them in this shoot'em up musical romp. Losing Ground /   Kathleen Collins.    Harrington Park, NJ : Milestone Films & Video, 1982/2012.  1 DVD.  86 minutes. PN1997 .L676 2012 VideoDVD   :At the time of her death from cancer in 1988, Kathleen Collins was just 46 years old, but she was already an internationally renowned playwright, a popular professor (at New York’s City College) and a successful independent filmmaker.  Her second film, Losing Ground tells the story of a marriage of two remarkable people, both at a crossroads in their lives. Sara Rogers, a black professor of philosophy, is embarking on an intellectual quest to understand “ecstasy” just as her painter husband Victor sets off on a more earthy exploration of joy. Celebrating a recent museum sale, Victor decides to rent a country house where he can return to more realism after years working as an abstract expressionist. Away from the city, the couple’s summer idyll becomes complicated by Sara’s research and by Victor’s involvement with a young model. When one of her students casts Sara as the woman scorned in a film version of the song “Frankie and Johnny,” she experiences a painful emotional awakening. While dealing with strong individuals and feelings, the film is also charming--Collins described it as a comedy about a young woman who takes herself too seriously. One of the very first fictional features by an African-American woman, Losing Ground remains a stunning and powerful work of art. Accomplished actors Seret Scott (who appeared in Louis Malle’s Pretty Baby and Ntozake Shange’s play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf”), Bill Gunn (Ganja and Hess) and Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead) star. Funny, brilliant and personal, Losing Ground should have ranked high in the canon of indie cinema. But the early 1980s was not an easy time for women or independent filmmakers and the film was never theatrically released. It was shown once on PBS’s American Playhouse, and then it effectively disappeared. Twenty-five years after her mother’s death, Nina Collins rescued the original negative and created a beautiful new digital master of her mother’s film. Losing Ground now looks and sounds as fresh, bracing and complex as it did when it was first filmed. It is a testament to Kathleen Collins’ incredible talent and a lasting treasure of African American and women’s cinema. Lost Boundaries (1949) / an RD-DR Production ; screen adaptation by Charles Palmer ; produced by Louis de Rochemont ; directed by Alfred L. Werker.  Burbank, Calif. : Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. : Warner Home Video, 2009.  1 DVD videodisc (99 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 L67 2009 VideoDVD : Scott Carter is a skilled doctor - and a man without prospects. Rejection letters from hospitals pile up. His young wife is pregnant with their first child. Unable to land a job because of his race, Scott (Mel Ferrer) decides. "For one year of my life," he says, "I'm going to be a white man." That one year becomes two, then 10, then 20. But it's still only a matter of time before Scott's secret is out and he confronts racism in the New Hampshire town he's served for decades....A light-skinned black family passes for white in this powerful, fact-based tale. Produced by Louis de Rochemont, one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the late 1940s, Lost Boundaries belongs to a forward-looking cluster of postwar films that declared war on society's ills. Like Boomerang!, Pinky, Gentleman's Agreement and others of the era, it resonates with conviction, proving great issues are the stuff of great filmmaking. Love & Basketball  (2004) / New Line Productions.  [United States] : New Line Home Entertainment, c2004. 1 DVD videodisc (127 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.B29 L68 2004 VideoDVD  : This refreshingly offbeat love story -- allegedly based on the life of Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Brown -- revolves around the game of basketball and the stabilizing influence it exerts on a pair of friends whose lengthy, erratic relationship ultimately blossoms into romance. Sanaa Lathan, a fresh, beguiling screen presence, plays Monica, a female basketball player with unusual talent and the drive to match. Omar Epps as Quincy, the gifted but cocky son of a fading Los Angeles Clippers star (Dennis Haysbert), initially ridicules her ambition. Eventually, though, he comes to realize that this is one young woman who's determined to get what she goes after. First as friendly rivals growing up in Los Angeles in the early '80s, then as lovers at USC and in the disparate worlds of men's and women's professional basketball, Epps's and Lathan's relationship has a definite ring of naturalness; so, too, does the film's adoring image of basketball as both a maker and breaker of hearts. (No surprise: New York Knicks fan No. 1 Spike Lee was one of the producers.) Writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood makes Lathan a likable, believable young woman for whom every audience can cheer. Epps, whose character is more edgy, veers close to the unsympathetic at several points, but ultimately convinces us that he's worthy of Lathan's energies. Unflinchingly contemporary in tone and presentation, Love & Basketball also shares the warm, uplifting feel of the screen's most popular romantic dramas. In short, it's a slam-dunk. Lying Lips   (1939)  Chicago : Facets Video, c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (60 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 L956 1983 Videocassette : A classic melodrama by Oscar Micheaux.  A nightclub singer refuses to "date" customers, so she's framed for the murder of her aunt, convicted of the killing and sent to prison. However, her friend, who is a police detective, doesn't believe she did it and sets out to prove her innocence.  Want more info?  See Wild Realm Review .  Also available online . Selected Feature Films, M All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Malcolm X (1992)  / Director, Spike Lee ; producers, Marvin Worth & Spike Lee ; co-producers, Monty Ross, Jon Kulik & Preston Holmes ; screenplay, Arnold Perl & Spike Lee ; based on the book "The autobiography of Malcolm X" as told to Alex Haley ; music, Terence Blanchard.  Warner Home Video, [1993], c1992.  2 VHS videocassettes (ca. 3 1/2 hrs.)  E185.97.L5 M3534 1993 Videocassette : Screen version of the life of Malcolm X, who through his religious conversion to Islam, found the strength to rise up from a criminal past to become an influential civil rights leader. Trivia: Malcolm X lived in Lansing, Michigan during most of his youth.  1995 NAACP Image Award winner.  Need more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Malcolm X  (1992)  / Warner Brothers Pictures ; Warner Bros. presents in association with Largo International N.V. ; a 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks production ; a Marvin Worth production ; a Spike Lee Joint ; screenplay by Arnold Perl and Spike Lee ; produced by Marvin Worth and Spike Lee ; directed by Spike Lee.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (201 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  E185.97.L5 M3534 2000 VideoDVD : DVD version of the above movie. Mama Flora's Family . [United States] : Hallmark Home Entertainment : Distributed by Family Home Entertainment, [2001]. 1 DVD videodisc (ca. 175 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PS3558.A3575 M35 2001 VideoDVD : This four-hour miniseries is based on author Alex Haley 's continuing family saga. Covering the 1920s-1970s, the story centers on Mama Flora, the matriarch of a large black family who is determined to keep her brood together and close to their God during rapidly changing and tempestuous times.  Cast : Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, Queen Latifah, Mario Van Peebles. Man on Fire (2004)  / Fox 2000 Pictures and Regency Enterprises present a New Regency/Scott Free production, a Tony Scott film ; produced by Arnon Milchan, Tony Scott, Lucas Foster ; screenplay by Brian Helgeland ; directed by Tony Scott. Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2007.  1 DVD videodisc (146 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PS3567.U36 M3 2007 Blu-ray VideoDVD : A wave of kidnappings sweeps through Mexico City spreading panic among its wealthier citizens. John Creasy is a burned-out ex-CIA assassin who has given up on life. Creasy's friend Rayburn brings him to Mexico City to be a bodyguard to nine-year-old Pita Ramos. Pita is the daughter of industrialist Samuel Ramos and his wife Lisa. Creasy is not interested in being a bodyguard, especially to a young girl, but he accepts the assignment. Slowly, Pita chips away at Creasy's seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. Then Pita is kidnapped and Creasy is seriously wounded. He vows to kill anyone involved in or profiting from the kidnapping.  Features Denzel Washington.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Mandela and De Klerk (1997)  / Showtime presents a Bernard Sofronski production ; a Joseph Sargent film ; produced by Bernard Sofronski ; written by Richard Wesley ; directed by Joseph Sargent.  [Los Angeles, CA] : Evergreen Entertainment, 1997.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 114 min.) DT1949.M35 M354 1997 Videocassette : The film features the life of African National Congress co-founder Nelson Mandela. Movie features Sidney Poitier.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Mandingo (1975)  / Paramount ; produced by Dino De Laurentiis ; directed by Richard Fleischer ; screenplay by Norman Wexler.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount, [1991], c1975.  1 VHS videocassette (121 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PS3529 .N732 1991 Videocassette : This shocking and controversial potboiler set in antebellum Louisiana chronicles the decline and fall of the slave-breeding Maxwell family, headed by dictatorial patriarch Warren (James Mason). Determined to have another heir, Warren persuades his randy son (Perry King) to wed a pouty Southern belle (Susan George) whose vengeance-fueled sexual encounters with a slave (Ken Norton) lead to disastrous consequences.  Shows the true brutalizing nature of slavery, which made victims of both owner and slave.  A back-alley parody of Gone With the Wind?    Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Mark of the Hawk (1957)  / Film Productions International.  [S.l.] : Distributed by American Video, c1988. 1 videocassette (VHS) (83 min.) PN1995.9.S553 M37 1988 Videocassette : Sidney Poitier stars as a rabble-rousing revolutionary among black plantation workers in the South after the Civil War. As his romantic interest, Eartha Kitt is at his side as he fights for their basic rights under the American Flag.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Men in Black (1997)  / Columbia Pictures presents an Amblin Entertainment production in association with MacDonald/Parkes Productions ; screen story and screenplay by Ed Solomon ; produced by Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald ; directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.  Columbia TriStar Home Video, c1997.  1 VHS videocassette (98 min.) PN1997 .M435 1997 Videocassette : New York City is being threatened by a villainous bug who has inhabited the body of a farmer. The mission is to locate and exterminate the bug before it destroys the planet.  Features Will Smith.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Men in Black II  : MIIB (2002) / Columbia Pictures presents an Amblin Entertainment production, in association with MacDonald/Parkes productions... [etal].  [United States] : Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 2002.  2 DVD videodiscs (88 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1997 .M4352 2002 VideoDVD  1-2 : Four years after agents J and K averted an intergalactic disaster J is still working for the MIB while K has returned to the comforts of civilian life. While investigating a seemingly routine crime, J uncovers a diabolical plot masterminded by Serleena, an evil Kylothian monster who disguises herself as a sexy lingerie model. It's a race against the clock as J must find and convince K--who not only has no memory of his time spent with the agency, but is also the only person alive who has the expertise to save the galaxy--to reunite with the MIB before Earth is destroyed completely. Cast : Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson, Tony Shalhoub, Rip Torn.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  Men of Honor  (2000)  / Fox 2000 Pictures presents a State Street Pictures production ; directed by George Tillman, Jr. ; produced by Robert Teitel, Bill Badalato ; written by Scott Marshall Smith.  Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2001.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 128 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  V63.B73 M46 2001 VideoDVD : One of those rare films that grabs you by the gut and never lets go, Men of Honor was inspired by the life of Carl Brasher (Cuba Gooding Jr.), an African American who dared to dream of becoming a U.S. Navy Master Diver. Despite a bigoted training officer (Robert DeNiro) and a tragic shipboard accident, Carl never gives up and achieves the impossible in an incredible finish that will leave you cheering.   Menace II Society  (1993)  / New Line Cinema presents a New Line production ; a Hughes Brothers film ; directed by the Hughes brothers ; story by Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes, Tyger Williams ; screenplay by Tyger Williams ; produced by Darin Scott.  [New York, N.Y.] : New Line Home Video, c1997.  1 DVD videodisc (104 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequence ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 M46 1997 VideoDVD Also available as a 12-inch disc : Tyrin Turner may not have broken out into stardom as was initially expected, but his work in Menace II Society is one of the more powerful cinematic debuts. The film, from the brother writer-director team of Allen and Albert Hughes, chronicles life in the Los Angeles 'hood. Similar territory was covered in the equally commanding Boyz N the Hood, but what makes this cautionary tale stand out is not only the Hughes brothers' forceful story, (written with their friend, Tyger Williams) and direction, but the naturalness of then-newcomer leads Turner as Caine, Larenz Tate as O-Dog, and Jada Pinkett as Ronnie. They are so credible--occasionally frighteningly so--that the repressive universe of violent ghetto life is captured effectively. Life as portrayed here--and no doubt accurately so--is both figuratively and literally narrow. As a very young boy, Caine witnesses his dad murdered over something inconsequential, and his mom OD. His is a world where respect comes from intimidation, power from violence. Despite his understanding of right and wrong (values passed on by a good friend, his kind grandparents, a caring teacher), his life and its entrapments are too much to overcome.  Cast : Tyrin Turner, Jada Pinkett, Larenz Tate, Arnold Johnson, MC Eiht, Marilyn Coleman, Vonte Sweet, Clifton Powell, Glenn Plummer, Bill Duke, Charles S. Dutton, Samuel L. Jackson. Miracle at St. Anna   / Touchstone Pictures presents in association with On My Own Produzioni Cinematografiche and Rai Cinema, a Forty Acres and a Mule Filmworks production, a Spike Lee joint ; produced by Roberto Cicutto, Luigi Musini, Spike Lee ; screenplay James McBride ; directed by Spike Lee.  Burbank, CA : Touchstone Home Entertainment : distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, [2009].  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PS3613.C28 M57 2009 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Spike Lee's World War II film Miracle at St. Anna begins in 1983 with Hector Negron, a veteran of that war, unexpectedly shooting a customer dead. Police discover that the suspect, a quiet postal worker, kept a statue head worth millions of dollars in his apartment. An eager young reporter (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) interviews Negron in his cell about the mysterious artifact. While serving in the all-minority 92nd "Buffalo Soldier" Division, Negron and three comrades managed to sneak deep into enemy territory in Italy. One of the men, Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller), picked the head up while they were serving in Florence and believes it brings him good luck. Negron (Laz Alonso), Train, and Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy), along with their sergeant, Aubrey Stamps (Derek Luke), take refuge in the Italian village of St. Anna, harbored by locals who are resisting the Nazis -- who themselves surround the area. Train also protects an injured Italian boy he discovers while investigating a seemingly abandoned dwelling. Eventually, the soldiers make contact with their superiors, and are ordered to capture a German so that he may be interrogated about an upcoming attack. Lee adapted Miracle at St. Anna from a novel by James McBride, who also penned the screenplay.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Miss Evers' Boys (1997)  / HBO NYC presents in association with Anasazi Productions ; produced by Kip Konwiser and Derek Kavanagh ; teleplay by Walter Bernstein ; directed by Joseph Sargent.  New York : HBO Home Video, [2001]  1 DVD videodisc (118 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1992.8.F5 M57 2001 VideoDVD :  In 1932, Nurse Eunice Evers is invited to work with doctors on the "Tuskegee Experiment" to study the effects of syphilis. She is faced with a terrible dilemma when she learns the patients are denied treatment that could cure them.  Cast : Alfre Woodard, Laurence Fishburne, Craig Sheffer, Joe Morton, Obba Babatundé, E.G. Marshall, Ossie Davis.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Mississippi Burning (1988)   / Orion Pictures Corporation.  New York : Orion Home Video, c1989.  1 VHS videocassette (127 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.D4 M58 1989 Videocassette : Set in Mississippi in 1964, this is a fictionalized version of the case of the murder of three young civil rights workers, the FBI's attempts to find the missing boys and the clash between the authorities and the locals in a Klan-dominated town.  Cast : Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Mississippi Damned   /a Morgan's Mark production ; producers, Morgan R. Stiff & Lee V. Stiff ; written and directed by Tina Mabry.  [Los Angeles, Calif.] : Morgan's Mark, c2010.  1 DVD videodisc (120 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 M57 2010 VideoDVD  :  Wanting to escape was the easy part. Taking place in 1986 and 1998 and based on a true story, three poor, Black kids in rural Mississippi reap the consequences of their family's cycle of abuse, addiction, and violence. They independently struggle to escape their circumstances and must decide whether to confront what's plagued their family for generations or succumb to the same crippling fate, forever damned in Mississippi. Bitterly honest and profoundly subtle, writer/director Tina Mabry successfully captures growing up in a world where possibilities and opportunities seem to die in the face of the suffocating reality of physical and sexual abuse, obsession, and a myriad of destructive compulsions.  Winner of 14 awards.  Trailer . Mississippi Masala (1991)  / SCS Films Inc. presents, in association with Odyssey/Cinecom International and Film Four International ; a Mirabai Films Production, in association with MovieWorks and Black River Productions ; produced by Michael Nozik, Mira Nair ; directed by Mira Nair ; written by Sooni Taraporevala.  [Burbank, CA] : Columbia TriStar Home Video, c1992.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 118 min.)  PN1995.9.R23 M577 1992 Videocassette : In this exotic and erotic interracial love story, an African American businessman falls for a beautiful Indian immigrant, only to encounter shock and outrage from both families.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith (2011) / produced by Andrew Gottlieb ; written by Mitch Albom ; directed by Jon Avnet.  [United States] : Hallmark Hall Of Fame Productions, c2011.   1 DVD videodisc (ca. 95 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.F83 H34 2011 VideoDVD : Mitch Albom (Bradley Whitford) has a pretty great life. He lives in Detroit and is happily married, he's an award-winning sportswriter, a must-read newspaper columnist, a screenwriter, a radio and television broadcaster. Then two men come into his life, and he realizes something's missing. Rabbi Albert Lewis (Martin Landau) presides over a thriving synagogue in a comfortable New Jersey suburb, and pastor Henry Covington (Laurence Fishburne), a recovering drug user and dealer, preaches to the poor and homeless in a crumbling Detroit inner-city church. Moving between their worlds - Christian and Jewish, African-American and white, impoverished and privileged - Albom witnesses first-hand how these two very different men not only live life, but celebrate it. What else do these two have in common? They believe there's divine spark in all of us - and that a single person can make a big difference in others' lives, as long as they have a little faith. Mo' Better Blues (1990)  / Universal Pictures ; 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks production ; produced, written and directed by Spike Lee.  Universal City, Calif. : MCA Universal Home Video, c1991.  1 VHS videocassette (129 min.)  PN1995.9.M863 M6 1991 Videocassette : Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington gives a riveting performance in Spike Lee's breathtaking film on music and love. Talented trumpeter Bleek Gilliam (Washington) is obsessed by his music and indecisiveness about his girlfriends Indigo (Joie Lee) and Clarke (Cynda Williams). But when he is forced to come to the aid of his manager and childhood friend (Spike Lee), Bleek finds his world more fragile that he ever imagined. Stunning cinematography, a rousing score and superlative performances come together in this unforgettable feast for the senses.  Need more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Monster's Ball (2001)   / Lions Gate Films presents a Lee Daniels Entertainment production ; produced by Lee Daniels ; written by Milo Addica & Will Rokos ; directed by Marc Forster.  [United States] : Studio S : Trimark Home Video : Distributed by Lions Gate Home Entertainment, [2002], c2001.  1 DVD videodisc (112 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M27 M667 2002 VideoDVD  : Hank and Leticia inhabit stark, queasy realities of the contemporary South, he as a death row corrections officer and she as the soon-to-be widow of an inmate whose execution Hank helps conduct. In the aftermath of the execution, both lose their children to tragic deaths and they form an unlikely bond.  Cast : Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Halle Berry, Sean Combs, Mos Def, Will Rokos, Milo Addica, Coronji Calhoun, Peter Boyle.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Moon Over Harlem, part of : Harlem Rides the Range ; Moon over Harlem ; The Big Timers ; Dirty Gertie from Harlem, USA .  United States : Platinum, 2004.   1 DVD videodisc (approximately 231 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 H374 2004 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of the ROVi Film Collection)  :  This movie begins with a wedding and ends with a funeral, so one would expect it to be a tragedy. In fact, it is uplifting and exciting. This film is a wonderfully interesting and extraordinary portrayal of life recorded in of Harlem around the 1930's.  Want more info?  Try the Internet Movie Database . Moon Over Harlem (1939) (65 minutes)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics.  : Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer.  Cast: Bud Harris, Cora Green, Alec Lovejoy and Sidney Bechet.  This movie begins with a wedding and ends with a funeral, so one would expect it to be a tragedy. In fact, it is uplifting and exciting. This film is a wonderfully interesting and extraordinary portrayal of life recorded in of Harlem around the 1930's. Mooz-lum (2010) / Q Productions presents a Dana O production ; producer, Samad Davis ; produced by Dana Offenbach ; written and directed by Qasim "Q" Basir.  [United States] : CodeBlack Enterprises ; Universal City, CA : Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, [2011]   1 DVD videodisc (100 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C543 M66 2011 VideoDVD  : Amid a strict Muslim rearing and a social life he's never had Tariq (Evan Ross) enters college confused. New peers, family, and mentors help him find his place but the 9-11 attacks force him to face his past and make the biggest decisions of his life. Mr. Adam’s Bomb (1949) (20 minutes) Streaming video via Matinee Classics.  : Directed by Eddie Green.  Cast: Jessica Grayson and Mildred Boyd. In this bizarre all-black cast short, a man dances to a jazz record with his maid, until his wife and daughter discover him.  His wife isn’t pleased by the music or him dancing with the maid.  They talk about how Uncle Adam has been bringing strange objects in bags into the house at midnight for an experiment and they think maybe he has a bomb… Mr. and Mrs. Loving  (1996)  / Showtimes presents in association with Hallmark Entertainment ; executive producers, Timothy Hutton, Susan Rose.  La Crosse, WI : Platinum Disc, 2005, c1996.  1 DVD videodisc (105 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.R23 M7 2005 VideoDVD  : In Central Point, Virginia, Richard Loving, a poor white laborer, falls in love with Mildred "Bean" Jeter, a beautiful young black woman. Mixed-race relationships are accepted here, but marriage, in 1960, is illegal under a miscegenation law dating from slave times. Bean becomes pregnant, and despite their families' fears, Richard insists on marrying her. They are arrested and thrown in jail. Having to choose between a three year jail sentence or a 25-year banishment from the state of Virginia, the Lovings choose freedom and move to Washington, D.C. Inspired by the speeches of Martin Luther King, Bean writes a letter to then Attorney-General Robert Kennedy requesting that the law be changed so that she and Richard can go home. Her letter reaches young ACLU attorney Bernie Cohen, who sees a great opportunity for social justice in this landmark case. Seven years after their banishment, The Lovings' case is heard by the Supreme Court. In a landmark ruling, the Court declares the Virginia law unconstitutional.  Cast : Timothy Hutton (Richard Loving), Lela Rochon (Mildred "Bean" Jeter), Ruby Dee (Sophia), Bill Nunn (Leonard), Corey Parker (Bernie Cohen), Isaiah Washington (Blue), Lawrence Dane (Sheriff), Charles Gray (Papa Jeter), Jackie Richardson (Mama Jeter), Michael Clarke (Gerald), Karen Robinson (Norma), Stephen Walsh (Father Loving), Linda Goranson (Mother Loving), Ardon Bess (Justice of the Peace), Scott Spidell (Harley), Larry Reynolds (Judge), Richard Fitzpatrick (defense attorney), Sharon Lewis (Leanne), Suzanne Coy (Marcella), Dianna Belshaw (landlady), Briar Boake (receptionist), Carol Anderson (nurse), Christopher Kalogerakos (Sidney, 2 yrs.).   Also available on YouTube . Murder in Harlem (1935)   /  North Hollywood, Calif. : Timeless Video, c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (102 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 M86 1993 Videocassette : A black night watchman in a chemical factory finds the body of a young white woman in the basement. Blamed for the murder the man is tried but during the trial the real killer is unmasked. Videocassette release of the 1935 motion picture.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Murder in Mississippi  (1989) / a David L. Wolper production in association with Bernard Sofronski ; producer Mark M. Wolper ; written by Stanley Weiser ; directed by Roger Young. Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, [2008]  1 DVD videodisc (97 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 M8736 2008 VideoDVD : This movie dramatizes the murder of three civil rights workers -- all of college age -- in Mississippi in 1964. This DVD illustrates the difficulties encountered by those who attempted to register blacks to vote in Mississippi during the racial strife that took place during the 1960s and eventually led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 through the efforts of President Lyndon Johnson. Murder in Mississippi (1956) / written by Herbert S. Altman ; produced by Herbert S. Altman, J.P. Mawra ; directed by J.P. Mawra.  Black Rebels  (1959) / screenplay by Morris Lee Green ; story by William Rowland and Irma Berk ; added scenes created and directed by William Rowland ; produced by William Rowland ; directed by Richard L. Bare.   [United States] : Something Weird Video, c2005.  1 DVD videodisc (177 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.R23 B553 2005 VideoDVD : Murder in Mississippi summary - "Voter registration leads to Murder in Mississippi when a 'cracker' Sheriff arrests white dilettante Carol Byrd and two other 'Communist Yankees' for 'agitating colored folks.' Though her friends are killed, Carol is kept alive as the personal sex slave of two white-trash cretins in this nasty lesson in racial intolerance..."   Black Rebels summary - "'We don't want your kind around here....' When drug-dealing Buck kills the boyfriend of Lola Montalvo (West Side Story Oscar winner Rita Moreno) then pins the rap on her brother, Lola seeks revenge by pretending to love Buck -- moments after Buck's former girlfriend (Dyan Cannon!) tries to stick a switchblade in his back! All of which culminates in a race riot at the home of a high-school rich kid involving black, white, and Mexican gangs, undercover cops, Lola's poor ol' papa, and even a pool full of naked girls...." Two examples of Black exploitation films. Murder on Lenox Avenue (1941)  / Colonnade Pictures Corporation ; directed by Arthur Dreifuss.  North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video Inc. : Distributed by Timeless Video Inc., c1993. 1 VHS videocassette (60 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 M79 1993 Videocassette : The disgraced rounder of the Harlem Better Business League attempts to murder his respectable replacement.  A precious glance at Harlem and African American culture in the nineteen forties, Murder on Lenox Avenue is a walk through nightclubs and political strife, home life and murder. Also featured is an extraordinary performance by Mamie Smith, one of the first women to ever record blues music, as she sings in a hot swing club. Intricately woven, the biting characters of Murder on Lenox Avenue are mostly out to get each other: from stealing jobs to stealing daughters. Historically significant, abrasive, and politically charged, Murder on Lenox Avenue is an electric foray into Harlem in the early twentieth century. Selected Feature Films, N-O All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Naked Acts  (1996)  / Kindred Spirits Productions in association with Sirron Communications presents ; a Bridgett Davis film ; written, produced & directed by Bridgett Davis.  [Los Angeles, Calif.?] : Manufactured and distributed by Delta Entertainment, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (1 hr., 26 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N92 N35 2000 VideoDVD : Twenty-something Cicely has a lot to work through. She's estranged from her mother, a Blaxploitation film star. Videos of her mother's nude scenes disgust Cece now and remind her of when her mother worked long hours and left her in the care of a boyfriend who sexually abused the pre-teen child. Cece's battled her weight for ten years, losing 57 pounds. An old boyfriend, Joel, casts her in a film he's directing for a tyrannical writer-producer who expects Cece to play nude scenes as an artist's model. She refuses to disrobe, not only for the film, but also with Joel in the privacy of their rekindled romance and with women in a sauna. Can she find the calm and will to disclose herself?  Want more info?  See Internet Movie Database . Native Son  (1951) / adapted from the novel by Richard Wright ; produced by James Prades ; directed by Pierre Chenal ; released through Classic Pictures, Inc.  [S.l. : s.n., 198-?]  1 VHS videocassette (98 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. PS3545.R815 N3 1980z Videocassette : Adaptation of the classic novel by Richard Wright. Set in Chicago, Native son tells the story of Bigger Thomas, a young black man who accidentally murders his employer's daughter while performing his duties as chauffeur. The combined forces of institutional racism and condescending white liberalism pursue Thomas to an unhappy end. The author plays the leading role in this film version.  Cast : Richard Wright (Bigger Thomas), Jean Wallace (Mary Dalton), Gloria Madison (Bessie Mears), Nicholas Joy (Mr. Dalton).  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. The Negotiator   / Regency Enterprises presents a Mandeville Films/New Regency production ; an F. Gary Gray film ; written by James DeMonaco & Kevin Fox ; produced by David Hoberman and Arnon Milchan ; directed by F. Gary Gray.  Burbank, Calif. : Warner Home Video, c1999.  1 VHS  videocassette (140 min.) : sd., col ; 1/2 in. PN1997 .N446 1999 Videocassette : In a desperate attempt to prove his innocence, a skilled police negotiator accused of corruption and murder takes hostages in a government office to gain the time he needs to find the truth. Cast : Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin, John Spencer, J.T. Walsh. New Jack City  (1991) / Warner Bros. presents a Jackson/McHenry production ; screenplay by Thomas Lee Wright and Barry Michael Cooper ; produced by Doug McHenry and George Jackson ; directed by Mario Van Peebles.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, [2005]  2 DVD videodiscs (101 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in  PN1995.9.D78 N49 2005 VideoDVD  1-2 : Some pundits called it a flawed, exploitative action film that glamorized drug dealing and the luxury of a lucrative criminal lifestyle, spawning a trend of films that attracted youth gangs and provoked violence in theaters. Others hailed it as a breakthrough movie that depicted drug dealers as ruthless, corrupt, and evil, leading dead-end lives that no rational youth would want to emulate. However you interpret it, New Jack City is still one of the first and best films of the 1990s to crack open the underworld of cocaine and peer inside with its eyes wide open. It's also the film that established Wesley Snipes as an actor to watch, with enough charisma to bring an insidious quality of seduction to his role as coke-lord Nino Brown, and enough intelligence to portray a character deluded by his own sense of indestructible power. Director Mario Van Peebles stretched his otherwise-limited talent to bring vivid authenticity and urgency to this crime story, and subplots involving a pair of tenacious cops (Ice-T, Judd Nelson) and a recovering coke addict (Chris Rock) provide additional dramatic tension. Although some critics may hesitate to admit it, New Jack City deserves mention in any serious discussion about African American filmmakers and influential films....Just as cool and topical today as when it first opened, New Jack City stars Wesley Snipes as the angel-of-death crack kingpin who holds a city in his grasp. Ice T, Judd Nelson and Mario Van Peebles (who also directs) play police officers who lay it all on the line. Chris Rock and Vanessa Williams co-star. A dynamic cutting-edge soundtrack includes tunes by Ice T, Queen Latifah, 2 Live Crew and more. Newlyweeds / Phase 4 Films presents a Tin Or W Production in association with 10th Hole Productions; produced by Jim Wareck, Michael Matthews, Shaka King, Gbenga Akinnagbe; screenplay by Shaka King; directed by Shaka King.  Fort Mill, South Carolina : Phase 4 Films, [2013?]   1 DVD videodisc (87 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M27 N49 2013 VideoDVD  :  A Brooklyn repo-man and his globetrotting girlfriend forge an unlikely romance. But what should be a match made in stoner heaven turns into a love triangle gone awry in this dark comedy that is part ballad of chemical dependency, part coming-of-age romance, part hallucinatory adventure. Night Catches Us (2010) / Magnolia Pictures presents a Simonsays Entertainment production in association with Gigantic Pictures ; producer, Sean Costello, Jason Orans ; produced by Ron Simons ; written and directed by Tanya Hamilton.  New York, NY : Magnolia Home Entertainment, c2011.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 90 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.R23 N544 2011 VideoDVD :  Set in 70s Philadelphia. After years away, an ex-black panther returns to his old neighborhood only to find himself drawn right back into the rivalries and love affair he left behind. Music by the Roots. Nightjohn  (1996) / Hallmark Entertainment ; Sarabande Productions in association with the Disney Channel ; produced by Dennis Stuart Murphy ; directed by Charles Burnett ; teleplay by Bill Cain.  [United States] : Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, c2005.  1 DVD videodisc (96 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S557 N54 2008 VideoDVD : Sarny (Allison Jones) is born into slavery and separated from her mother at an early age. She's raised by Dealey (Lorraine Toussaint), who promises early on that "nuthin' too bad" will happen to her young charge. Clel Waller (Beau Bridges), who owns the plantation, is a cruel man, who sees the slaves only in terms of their monetary value. Life on the plantation changes when Clel buys Nightjohn (Carl Lumbly), a hulk of a man, with scars across his back from the whip. Branded as a troublemaker, Nightjohn has trouble earning the trust of the other slaves. But one night when their work is done, he offers to make a trade with Sarny to get some tobacco. In exchange, he begins to teach her the alphabet. Sarny is fascinated and takes to learning with passion, but when the other slaves find out, they are afraid. Old Man (Bill Cobbs) shows Nightjohn how he's been punished for his own literacy; his thumb and forefinger have been chopped off. But Nightjohn explains that he gave up a chance to escape to the North so that he could teach. "Words are freedom, Old Man," he explains. "That's all slavery is: words." Sarny reads the love letters that she delivers from Clel's wife (Kathleen York) to an educated doctor who lives nearby, and she reads Clel's ledger, in which he lists the monetary value of all the slaves. She soon learns that knowledge, for all its dangers, brings a certain power. Nightjohn was directed by venerated independent filmmaker Charles Burnett (To Sleep With Anger) for the Disney Channel. It's based on the young adult novel by Gary Paulsen.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Nothing but a Man (1964)   / produced by Robert Young, Michael Roemer and Robert Rubin ; written by Robert Young and Micheal Roemer ; directed by Michael Roemer.  Burlington, VT : New Video NYC ; New York, NY : Distributed by New Video, [2004]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 92 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 N67 2004 VideoDVD : Set against the stirrings of the civil rights movement and a rising wave of burgeoning Black pride. This tells the story of Duff, a railroad section hand who is forced to confront racial prejudice and self-denial when he falls in love with Josie, an educated preacher's daughter. An uplifting story about a man and a woman whose love overcomes racial and class barriers.  Cast : Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, Gloria Foster, Julius Harris, Yaphet Kotto.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Notorious (2008) / Beverly Hills, Ca. : Twentieth Century Fox, 2009.  1 DVD videodisc (122 minutes) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.   ML420.N76 N76 2009 VideoDVD : Chronicling the extraordinary life of Christopher 'The Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace. Through raw talent and sheer determination, Biggie transforms himself from a Brooklyn street hustler (once selling crack to a pregnant woman) to superstardom. He has to juggle the increasing demands of fatherhood, marriage, and a music career that is strife with chaos and controversy. On March 8, 1997, in Los Angeles, a black Chevy Impala pulls up along Biggie's car and fires several shots at Biggie, killing him. He had become one of the greatest rappers of all time.... In music terms, Brooklyn's Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace was a hip-hop superstar to rival Oakland's Tupac Shakur. In movie terms, however, 2Pac has long overshadowed B.I.G. with the films he made as an actor and the documentaries that followed in the wake of his similarly-unsolved murder. George Tillman Jr. aims to correct that imbalance with Notorious, the authorized biography of the larger-than-life New York rapper. Produced by his mother, Voletta Wallace (played by Angela Bassett), and record producer Sean "Puffy" Combs (Derek Luke), Tillman presents Biggie as a bright child who grew up to be a drug dealer before finding his true calling on stage, only to be cut down in the prime of life. In his feature-film debut, Jamal "Gravy" Woolard captures Biggie's complexity--the loyalty to his crew, the disloyalty to his ladies (including Lil' Kim and Faith Evans)--but struggles to make him as sympathetic as the figure that emerges in Nick Broomfield's Biggie & Tupac, simply because the script relies too heavily on the usual musical-bio clichés. Fortunately, several bright spots elevate the scenario, such as Anthony Mackie as Pac, Christopher Wallace Jr. as young Biggie, and Woolard's rapping, which segues seamlessly into B.I.G.'s (the soundtrack mixes original tracks with remakes). If Notorious isn't a failure, it isn't a triumph either, but Tillman has crafted it with love and respect, and only a stone could remain unmoved by the real-life funeral footage at the end. The Old Settler (2001)  Streaming video via YouTube.  87 minutes : The Harlem Renaissance of the 1940s serves as the backdrop for this small-screen adaptation of John Henry Redwood's play as directed by Debbie Allen. The aptly-named Husband (Bumper Robinson) has come to New York City from down South to find his old flame Lou Bessie (Crystal R. Fox), who has thrown off the shackles of her old life in favor of the pace and excitement of the city. Needing a place to stay, Husband boards with Elizabeth (Phylicia Rashad) and Quilly (Allen), two sisters from the South with family trauma in their past. As he realizes that Lou Bessie no longer has any use for her old life, Husband starts up a May-December romance with Elizabeth, much to the consternation of Quilly. The Old Settler was brought to director Allen's attention by her sister Rashad, who optioned the play and signed on as executive producer. Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored (1995)  / Republic Pictures ; directed and produced by Tim Reid.  [Los Angeles] : Republic Pictures ; [s.l.] : distributed by Artisan Entertainment, 1998, c1995.  1 DVD videodisc (113 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  F349.G54 T38 1998 VideoDVD : Tells the story of growing up in the segregation-era South, in a community that faced adversity and held together with amazing dignity and grace.  Cast : Al Freeman Jr., Phylicia Rashad, Leon.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Open the Door Richard (1945) (10 mins.)   Streaming video via Matinee Classics.  :  Directed by William Forest Crouch. Cast: Dusty Fletcher and Stepin Fetchit. A musical switching back and forth between Stepin Fetchit laying in bed at home and a jazz band playing swing music for the film. Oscar Hammerstein's Carmen Jones  (1954) / Oscar Preminger presents ; screenplay by Harry Kleiner ; produced and directed by Otto Preminger. Beverly Hills, Calif : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, [2001]  1 DVD videodisc (105 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.M86 O83 2001VideoDVD :  Joe, a military policeman about to make officer, is infatuated with the flirtatious and sexy Carmen Jones. Their ill-fated romance comes to a grisly end by the conclusion of the drama but not before their liaison has wreaked havoc with their lives and all who cross their paths.  Cast - Harry Belafonte, Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey, Olga James, Joe Adams, Diahann Carroll, Brock Peters. Oscar Michaux's Ten Minutes To Live  (1932)  / [presented by] A. Burton Russell ; adaptation, dialogue and direction by Oscar Michaux.  [Burbank, Calif. : Hollywood's Attic, 1996].  1 VHS videocassette (60 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.N4 T46 1996 Videocassette : A mystery-musical built around a threatening note which gives the heroine who sings and dances in a Harlem nightclub only "ten minutes to live." There is much nightclub entertainment as the mystery unravels with song and dance numbers and a stand up comedy routine. Based on three short stories from the book Harlem after midnight. Cast: Lawrence Chenault, A.B. Comathiere, Laura Bowman, Willor Lee Guilford, Tressie Mitchell, Mabel Garrett. Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. Out of Time  (2003) / directed by Carl Franklin ; written by David Collard.   Santa Monica, CA : MGM Home Entertainment, 2004.  1 DVD videodisc (105 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.A3 O98 2004 VideoDVD : Partly inspired by 1948's The Big Clock and its nominal 1987 remake No Way Out, the Denzel Washington thriller Out of Time is quite enjoyable if you ignore its implausible plotting. Like those earlier films, this reunion of Washington and his Devil in a Blue Dress director Carl Franklin is about a man--in this case the police chief (Washington) of sleepy Banyan Key, Florida--who falls into a trap set by others, sinks into legal quicksand of his own making, and must race the clock to extricate himself from a series of incriminating setbacks. The Florida setting adds welcome character to the potboiler plot, and Washington's screen-cred makes it easy to overlook the absurdities of rookie writer David Collard's screenplay. Eva Mendes is sharp and sensible as Washington's estranged wife (do you think they'll reconcile for a happy ending?), and the talented John Billingsley--whose portrayal of "Dr. Phlox" on TV's Enterprise is vastly underrated--is a constant delight as Washington's medical examiner, beer buddy and wily co-conspirator. It's hardly a classic, but Out of Time goes well with a big tub of popcorn. Selected Feature Films, P-Q All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Paradise in Harlem (1954), see  Paradise in Harlem : [and] Burlesque in Harlem .  Narberth, PA : Alpha Home Entertainment, [2007], ©2007.  1 DVD videodisc (134 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 P36 2007 VideoDVD   :  Paradise in Harlem (1939) is a classic movie directed by Joseph Seiden, and starring Mamie Smith; Norman Astwood; Edna Mae Harris. It is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest classic films of all time.  Plot : Between swing and blues musical numbers, the story of comedian Lem Anderson, whose long-awaited chance to act dramatically vanishes when he witnesses a mob killing and is forced to leave town. Lem becomes a wanderer, then an alcoholic. Finally a chance to play Othello draws him back to Harlem. Is it too late for Ned? Or too soon to suit Rough Jackson's mobsters? Melodramatic events lead to an unusual conclusion.    Movie review .  Paris Blues (1961) Steaming video from YouTube.  94 minutes : The music of Duke Ellington is given a film treatment by Martin Ritt with Paul Newman (of all people) as the trombone playing composer, Sidney Poitier as his best friend/sax player, Joanne Woodward as Newman's love interest, Dianne Carroll as the conscious black chick for Poitier and (thank heavens) Louis Armstrong as himself. There are also a couple of good supporting performances from Barbara Laage (as Marie Séoul) and André Luguet (as René Bernard). Paul Mooney  : know Your History : Jesus was Black, So was Cleopatra / QD3 Entertainment, Inc. ; directors, Bart Phillips, Jonathan X ; producers, Shane Mooney,KMalik Levy, D'Angela Steed.  [Chatsworth, Calif.] : Image Entertainment, [2007]  86 minutes.  PN1969.C65 M66 P38 2007 VideoDVD : Few comedians can stir up controversy like the legendary Paul Mooney -- writer for Richard Pryor, creator of In Living Color's Homey the Clown and featured guest on Chappelle's Show. With his characteristic brutal honesty, Mooney passionately and hysterically charges into the electrified currents of racial tension. In this magnificent standup performance at Hollywood's Laugh Factory, Mooney earns a standing ovation with his relentless no-holds-barred observations on black history, stereotypes and prejudices, living in White America, celebrity divas and much, much more! Paul Robeson  : Portraits of the Artist .  [Irvington, NY] : Criterion Collection, c2007.  4 DVD videodiscs (ca. 586 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (76 p., ill.) E185.97.R63 P383 2007 VideoDVD  Disc 1-4 & Booklet : A collection of feature films (1925-1979) that starred Paul Robeson, plus one short documentary narrated by Sidney Poitier. [Disc 1] Icon. The Emperor Jones (1933, 76 min., directed by Dudley Murphy) ; Paul Robeson: Tribute to an artist (1979, 29 min., directed by Saul J. Turell) -- [Disc 2] Outsider. Body and soul (1925, 79 min., directed by Oscar Micheaux) ; Borderline (1930, 75 min., directed by Kenneth Macpherson) -- [Disc 3] Pioneer. Sanders of the river (1935, 87 min., directed by Zoltan Korda) ; Jericho (1937, 75 min., directed by Thornton Freeland) -- [Disc 4] Citizen of the world. The proud valley (1940, 77 min., directed by Pen Tennyson) ; Native land (1942, 88 min., directed by Leo Hurwitz and Paul Strand)  Special features include: audio commentaries by historians Jeffrey C. Stewart (The Emperor Jones) and Pearl Bowser (Body and Soul) ; musical scores by Wyclife Gordon (Body and Soul) and Courtney Pine (Borderline) ; Pacifica Radio interview with Paul Robeson from 1958 ; four new video programs, featuring actors Ruby Dee and James Earl Jones, filmmaker William Greaves, cinematographer Tom Hurwitz, Paul Robeson Jr., and film historians Ian Christie and Stephen Bourne, and including clips from throughout Robeson's film career.  Also available as part of the ROVI Film Collection CQ7 D0081923 VideoDVD  discs 1-4 The Pelican Brief / Warner Bros. Pictures presents an Alan J. Pakula film ; produced by Alan J. Pakula and Pieter Jan Brugge ; screenplay by Alan J. Pakula ; directed by Alan J. Pakula.  Burbank, CA : Distributed by Warner Home Video, [2009]  1 Blu-ray videodisc (141 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 digital copy (4 3/4 in.)  ROVI Movie Collection  CT9 D0104022 Blu-ray Video   : A young law student (Julia Roberts) stumbles across the unlikely explanation for the recent assassination of two Supreme Court justices, which reaches to the highest levels of the government.  This John Grisham adaptation is fairly faithful to the best-selling novel, but the book's interracial romance between Shaw and Grantham was left out of the script (or at least the finished product), leaving many progressive viewers annoyed at Hollywood's conservatism. Features Denzel Washington as a Washington investigative reporter.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Philadelphia (1993)  / TriStar Pictures presents a Clinica Estetico Production ; a Jonathan Demme picture ; written by Ron Nyswaner ; produced by Edward Saxon and Jonathan Demme ; directed by Jonathan Demme.  Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1994.  1 VHS videocassette (125 min.)  PN1995.9.A434 P47 1994 Videocassette : Powerful story of two lawyers who join together to sue a prestigious Philadelphia law firm when the firm fires one of them because he has AIDS.  Features Denzel Washington.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Piano Lesson (1995) / Craig Anderson Productions, Inc. in association with Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions ; produced by August Wilson ; teleplay by August Wilson ; based on the play by August Wilson ; directed by Lloyd Richards.  [S.l.] : Hallmark Home Entertainment, 2006.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 98 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PS3573.I45677 P546 2006 VideoDVD  : Winner of the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, August Wilson's lively domestic drama focuses on a black family in the 1930s and their piano, which dominates the living room of Doaker Charles and his niece Berniece in Pittsburgh. The piano is adorned with the faces of their slave ancestors, carved by a distant relation who was owned by the Sutter family in Mississippi before Emancipation. Berniece's brother Boy Willie, recently released from a prison farm, has come to Pittsburgh from Mississippi with his friend Lymon, determined to sell this ancient piano in which he claims half-ownership....Charles Dutton, as Boy Willie, Berniece's brother, endows his role with a humor and good-naturedness not obvious from a reading of the play, and his passion to use the money from the sale of the piano to buy a hundred acres of Sutter farmland, which his slave ancestors once worked, is palpable. Courtney B., as Boy Willie's friend Lymon, is credulous and innocent as he explores the city, responding to its differences from the life on the farm, and bringing Berniece (Alfre Woodard) out of the grief she has borne since the shooting death of her husband three years before. Woodard herself is a fierce Berniece, protective of her young daughter and determined to preserve the piano and its heritage....Directed by Lloyd Richards for the Hallmark Hall of Fame in 1995, the screenplay was adapted by August Wilson from his own play. A bit shorter than the original, with offensive expletives omitted for television, the script remains close to the original. When Sutter's ghost makes several appearances, the superstitions and folklore which have been part of the family's culture become both real and violent, and when Willie Boy, Lymon, Wining Boy (his gambler uncle, played by Lou Meyers), and uncle Doaker (Carl Gordon) sing, on several occasions, the viewer is reminded of the role of spirituals in black culture, their unifying spirit, and the dignity they inspired....The appearances of Sutter's ghost and Boy Willie's battle with him create a sense of melodrama in this otherwise thoughtful battle between the reverence for the past (as seen in Berniece) and the hopes for the future (as seen in Boy Willie). As a record of the era in which many blacks left the farms for the opportunities of the city, however, the play is unparalleled in its insights. Source : Separate Cinema. Pinky  (1949) / Twentieth Century Fox ; producer, Darryl F. Zanuck ; director, Elia Kazan, screenplay by Philip Dunne and Dudley Nichols.  Beverly Hills, Ca. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2005 . 1 DVD videodisc (102 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 P56 2005 VideoDVD : The years following the Second World War continued the impetus for integration and ushered in other social changes, including the development of a black middle class and a dramatic increase in the number of black workers, especially professionals. Hollywood, too, reacted to the public’s growing cultural and racial awareness by launching an era of “problem” or “message” movies that highlighted black family and social issues. One of the most innovative and liberal of these was Pinky, directed by Elia Kazan and based on the novel Quality by white novelist Cid Ricketts Sumner. In the film, Pinky, a fair-skinned nurse who has been passing for white in the North, returns for a visit to the Deep South, where her hardworking Christian grandmother Dicey Johnson (played by the incomparable Ethel Waters) teaches her vital lessons about self-respect. Dicey, whose meager wages as a laundress paid for her granddaughter’s education, encourages Pinky to stop “pretending you is what you ain’t.” Drawing on her grandmother’s example, Pinky wins the right to retain the home bequeathed to her by Dicey’s white employer, Miss Em (Ethel Barrymore), decides to stay in the South, and turns the property into a black nursing clinic and nursery school. She also finds the courage to break up with her white fiancé, who is willing to marry her only if she maintains the “secret” of her race, and to assert proudly her black identity. Despite its compromises -- including the happy Hollywood ending, which was a significant departure from the book, and the casting of white actress Jeanne Crain to play the title role -- Pinky was noteworthy for its ambitious attempt to depict the nature and extent of racial inequality and the depth of the loving bonds that sustain the black family, through even the most troubling of times. For her brilliant performance as the illiterate but dignified old laundress Aunt Dicey, Ethel Waters was nominated for an Academy Award (only the second black performer in cinema history to receive an Oscar nomination). Source : Separate Cinema ...Interestingly enought, this movie about a mulatto woman's rights against prejudice, became itself, a battle for civil rights and was the subject of a landmark Supreme Court case in film censorship.  Also available in VHS format . The Players Club / New Line Cinema ; Ice Cube/Pat Charbonnet Production ; score, Hidden Faces ; producers, Carl Craig and Patricia Charbonnet ; written and directed by Ice Cube.  [Burbank, Calif.] : New Line Home Video, [2001], ©2001.  1 videodisc (103 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection AF7 D0004435 VideoDVD :   For gorgeous and smart Diana there is no choice but to work her way through college. It is difficult to resist the money that the club owner of the Players Club offers her to strip. She avoids the pitfalls of dancing by trusting no one except the respectable and funny DJ. But her naïve cousin joins the club and gets into all sorts of trouble. Diana has to figure a way out for both of them before they go down with the building.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Poetic justice  : a street romance (1993) / Columbia TriStar Home Video ; Columbia Pictures presents a New Deal/Nickel Production ; a film by John Singleton.   [United States] : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, c2005.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 109 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M27 P648 2005 VideoDVD : Director John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood, Rosewood) made an earnest effort in this, his second, film to say a great deal that is true and relevant about living and loving in a violent, difficult time in American history. Janet Jackson plays a beautician and poet who withdraws into herself after her boyfriend is murdered by gangsters. The late Tupac Shakur plays a postman who tries to get through to her, and the two travel on a course through urban America, connecting with family and community. Singleton has so much on his mind that the film comes out a terrible muddle, but there is a certain integrity peeking through the fog. Shakur makes a startlingly good impression in his film debut, and Jackson strips away her star veneer to play something like a real person--and entirely succeeds. Maya Angelou wrote the poems that pass as those penned by Jackson's character, and she also appears in the film. Preacher's Kid (2009) / Warner Premiere presents in association with Gener8Xion Entertainment, an Epidemic Pictures/Stan Foster Pictures production ; produced by Darryl Taja, Matthew Crouch, Stan Foster ; written and directed by Stan Foster.  Burbank, CA : Distributed by Warner Home Video, [2010]  1 DVD videodisc (110 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M27 P743 2010 VideoDVD :  Family, faith, and music" are the unifying themes in Preacher's Kid, a film that manages to both embrace and transcend formula and predictability while delivering an inspirational message about parents' obligation to let their kids lead their own lives and learn their own lessons, even if the education comes at the school of hard knocks. Former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett is Angie King, featured singer at a church presided over by her father (Gregory Alan Williams), a bishop and well-meaning but clueless widower who treats his adult daughter as if she were still a child. Angie's already chafing under his iron hand when a traveling gospel musical comes to town; uplifted by the music and infatuated with the show's sexy, charismatic star (Durrell "Tank" Babbs), she joins the cast and hits the road, despite her father's dire warning about the consequences of what he regards as a betrayal. One needn't be a psychic to foresee much of what happens after that, as the filmmaking isn't exactly subtle; the musical is entitled "Daddy, Can I Come Back Home?" while the Babbs character, who turns out to be a very bad dude, is named "Devlin" (get it?). But while there are abundant clichés (including the good man Angie leaves behind, her steady descent into sin, and various stereotypical characters), Preacher's Kid isn't nearly as soft as it might have been, earning its PG-13 rating with some profanity and scenes (none of them very graphic) of drinking, drugging, and domestic violence. What's more, the cast is fine and the music is good (Luckett is a powerful and convincing singer), and it's tough to find fault with a largely wholesome and uplifting piece of entertainment in which the faithful ultimately prosper, the truly sinful get their rightful comeuppance, and a profound question--Is it possible to love yourself and God?--is addressed with dignity and humility. Precious (based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire)   (2009) / Lee Daniels Entertainment ; in association with Smokewood Entertainment Group ; produced by Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness ; screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher ; directed by Lee Daniels.  Santa Monica, Calif. : Lionsgate, [2010]  1 DVD videodisc (109 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997.2 .P74 2010 VideoDVD : Few films have painted a grimmer portrait of poverty, abuse, and despair than Precious: Based on the Novel “Push”by Sapphire.. At the same time, few films have offered a more welcome message of hope. Claireece Precious Jones (played by Gabourey Sidibe, in an stunning film debut) is an illiterate, morbidly obese, sixteen-year-old junior-high-school student living in the squalor of Harlem in 1987. Pregnant with her second child, she is already mother to a disabled baby she calls “Mongo” (short for Mongoloid). Both children are the result of repeated rapes by her father, a figure who -- except for a few scenes in flashback -- is largely absent from the film. Her mother (Mo’Nique) provides little support or balance: jealous of Precious for “stealing” the attentions of her man, she abuses her daughter emotionally and sexually and strips her of all sense of self-worth. It is no wonder that, despite her immense size, Precious feels invisible to everyone around her. To cope with the indescribable misery of her real life, she creates an elaborate fantasy world into which she escapes, a world in which she imagines herself as a black celebrity with a light-skinned boyfriend, an adorable little dog, and a fabulous wardrobe, or as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white girl. Eventually, though, Precious learns to rely on a cadre of women who become her surrogate mothers, especially Blue Rain (Paula Patton), the teacher at her alternative school who takes a genuine interest in her and encourages her to pursue her talents. The performances by Oscar-nominated lead actress Sidibe, supporting actress Mo’Nique (who earned virtually all of the year’s most coveted awards, including the Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Academy Award), and the entire ensemble cast were remarkable. Consequently, Precious deftly managed to challenge the cinematic clichés of the uneducated teenage mother, lazy welfare queen, selfless teacher, and overworked social worker to present a raw inner-city saga of transformation and triumph that cannot easily be forgotten. Directed by Lee Daniels, the producer of Monster’s Ball (the film for which Halle Berry won a Best Actress Oscar in 2002) and only the second black director in Academy Award history to be nominated for a Best Director Oscar, the film was executive-produced by the industry powerhouses Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. Reviewers uniformly praised Precious, calling it a poignant and shocking near-Gothic story of a child tormented by the cruelty of adults and “a genuine work of art” determined to challenge its audience’s complacency. Moreover, its graphic and painfully honest portrayal of a young woman’s exploitation and abandonment confirms just how much black representation, especially the depiction of the black family, has evolved over more than a century of film. Source : Separate Cinema ... Cast : Mo'nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, Sherri Shepherd.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .   Princesse Tam Tam (1935)  / Dicimo ; Arys Production ; réalisation de Edmond T. Greville ; dialogues de Yves Mirande ; scénario et direction artistique, Pepito Abatino ; directeur de la production, Arys Nissotti.  New York, N.Y. : Kino on Video, c1989.  1 VHS videocassette (80 min.)  PN1995.9.F67 P75 1989 Videocassette : An exotic Pygmalion-like musical comedy about a French author who goes to North Africa to write a novel but becomes distracted--then entranced--by a native girl whom he transforms into a "princess."  Features Josephine Baker.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Proud   / Castle Hill Productions and T.H. Entertainment present a film by Mary Pat Kelly ; produced by Ally Hilfiger ; written and directed by Mary Pat Kelly.  Santa Monica, Calif. : Lions Gate Home Entertainment, [2006].  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 87 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. D743.23 .P7683 2006 VideoDVD : The inspirational tale of the USS Mason comes to the screen in a dramatic account of the perils faced by the all-African-American-crewed World War II sea vessel, and the brave souls who cheated death to overcome the cancerous racism eroding the very shores they fought for. From the very onset of their mission, the men aboard the USS Mason knew they had little chance of returning from their mission alive. Return they did, though, and after a harrowing journey through some of the most treacherous international waters of the war years, the remarkable crew of the USS Mason proved without question that they could stand tall and fight fiercely alongside soldiers of all races and backgrounds.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Proud Valley (1940)   / Capad ; directed by Pen Tennyson.   North Hollywood, CA : Hollywood Select Video : Distributed by Timeless Video Inc., c1994.  1 VHS videocassette (77 min.) PN1995.9.N4 P75 1994 Videocassette  : The Proud Valley (1940), Paul Robeson stars as David Goliath, a young man with a beautiful singing voice who is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when disaster threatens the pit in his Welsh coal mining community.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Pulp Fiction (1994)  / Miramax Films presents a Band Apart and Jersey Films production ; stories by Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary ; produced by Lawrence Bender ; written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.  Miramax Home Entertainment ; Burbank, Calif. : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, [1998?]  1 DVD videodisc (154 min.)  PN1995.9.F54 P853 1998 VideoDVD : Clever, dark film that tells 4 separate stories that are gradually brought together. Involved are two low-rent hit men, their boss and his sexy wife, a prizefighter and a pair of desperate robbers.  Features Samuel L. Jackson.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Pulp Fiction [laserdisc ] / Miramax Films presents a Band Apart and Jersey Films production ; a film by Quentin Tarantino.   Miramax Home Entertainment, 1994.  2 12-inch laserdiscs (154 min.) PN1995.9.F54 P853 1994 Video (12 inch)  : Clever, dark film that tells 4 separate stories that are gradually brought together. Involved are two low-rent hit men, their boss and his sexy wife, a prizefighter and a pair of desperate robbers. Purlie Victorious  (1963)  / Rainbow Films Holdings, LLC. ; directed by Nicholas Webster.  Orland Park, IL : MPI Home Video, [2006].  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 100 min.) : sd., b&w. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 P87 2006 VideoDVD  : This film version of the successful stage play was written by and stars Ossie Davis as Purlie Victorious, a flamboyant, self ordained minister. Along with wife Lutibelle (Ruby Dee), he returns to Georgia to buy an old barn and convert it into a church. He seeks out Captain Cotchipec (Sorrel Booke), the aging plantation owner entrusted with a $500 inheritance left by the preacher's sister after her death. Lutibelle is talked into posing as a long-lost cousin to get the money quickly from the dying landowner. Comedian Godfrey Cambridge reprises his stage role as the black plantation straw boss who pays lip service in the presence of the Captain but mercilessly mock the old man behind his back. Lutibelle gets the money from the old man with the help of his sympathetic son Charlie (Alan Alda), who is as liberal and progressive as his father is racially intolerant.. Religious hypocrisy, racial bigotry, civil rights issues and the changing Southern society backed by forced integration are subjects in this film that coincided with the turbulent social issues of the time. The title is taken from the first line of Stephen Foster's sentimental classic "Old Black Joe." The film was released nearly one hundred years after the famous songwriter's death. Produced and directed by Nicholas Webster, most of the actors reprised their roles from the original stage production. The Pursuit of Happyness (2007)  / Overbrook Entertainment ; Escape Artists ; Columbia Pictures Corporation ; Relativity Media ; produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, James Lassiter, Will Smith, Steve Tisch, Teddy Zee ; written by Steven Conrad ; directed by Gabriele Muccino. Culver City, Calif. : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2007.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 117 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.B55 P877 2007 VideoDVD : Among the most common cinematic stereotypes of the contemporary black family is the character of the black father. At worst, he is portrayed as violent, abusive, even incestuous; at best, he is absent or detached. But The Pursuit of Happyness, based on the life of Chris Gardner, reverses that familiar formula. As the film opens, Gardner is a struggling San Francisco salesman who has invested most of his money in a portable bone density scanning machine that he tries to peddle to local doctors. But the machine proves unnecessary, overpriced, and defective. Unable to support his family from its sales, Gardner loses his home, his bank acount, his credit cards, and his marriage. Yet even after his wife moves to New York and leaves him to fend as a single father to their five-year-old son, he refuses to give up hope for a better life. When he wins a prestigious internship at the Dean Witter brokerage house, he believes that his luck has finally changed. But the internship is unpaid, and without any income to sustain them, Gardner and his son are forced to seek out beds at city shelters or sleep in the public bathrooms of bus and train stations. Motivated by the affection and the trust his son has placed in him, however, Gardner remains committed to achieving his dream. Overcoming many obstacles, he successfully completes the internship and earns a coveted position as a stockbroker. The role of Gardner presented a real challenge, and the wrong actor might have played it too broadly. But Will Smith brought precisely the right amount of gravity, humor, and intelligence -- although Jaden Smith (real-life son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith), making his film debut as young Christopher, almost steals the movie from his father. The Horatio-Alger aspect of the story clearly added to the film’s appeal: Gardner’s triumph is ultimately a personal one, unencumbered by social or political context. But it is the heartwarming relationship between a single father and his son that gave The Pursuit of Happyness its special poignancy. Source : Separate Cinema ... 2007 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Queen aka Alex Haley's Queen [1993]  / Elliot Friedgen & Company ; The Wolper Organization ; Warner Bros. Television ; produced by Bernard Sofronski ; teleplay by David Stevens ; directed by John Erman. Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, [2008]  2 DVD videodiscs (283 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  E185.97.H24 A3 2008 VideoDVD  discs1-2 : The remarkable history of Alex Haley's paternal side. Queen is the daughter of a slave and a plantation owner. During the turbulent decades of the antebellum South, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and beyond, she searches for a home in the two cultures and at times is shunned by both. Rejection and hate are no match for her unconquerable will.  Cast : Ann-Margret, Halle Berry, Dan Biggers, Patricia Clarkson, Tim Daly, Ossie Davis, Victor Garber, Danny Glover, Tim Guinee, Jasmine Guy, Jane Krakowski, Patrick Malone, Martin Sheen, Madge Sinclair, Paul Winfield.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . The Quiet One  (1948) / Film Documents, Inc. ; released by Mayer-Burstyn, Inc. ; produced by Janice Loeb ; directed by Sidney Meyers ; written and edited by Helen Levitt, Janice Loeb, Sidney Meyers. Burbank, Calif. : Hollywood's Attic, c1996.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 66 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. HV873 .Q854 1996 Videocassette : Filmed on the streets of Harlem in the late 1940's. Film shows the devastating psychological effects of life in the ghetto on a ten year-old boy named Donald. Abandoned by his parents, Donald lives a life of quiet despair until he is sent to Wiltwyck School for Boys for psychiatric care. Cast : Donald Thompson, Clarence Cooper, Sadie Stockton, Estelle Evans, Paul Baucum ; narrated by Gary Merrill.  Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. The Quiet One (1948) (65 mins.)   Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Directed by Sidney Meyers.  Cast: Donald Thompson, Clarence Cooper, Sadie Stockton, Estelle Evans and Paul Baucum.  The story of a lonely young boy growing up in Harlem. Using a semi-documentary technique, the film-makers realistically capture the hostile environment which leads the boy to delinquency. The youth is sent to Wiltwyck School for rehabilitation, where a psychiatrist and counselor try to break through the wall of silence which the boy uses to hide his fear and bitterness. Selected Feature Films, R All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Ragtime (1981)  / Paramount Pictures.  Hollywood, Ca. : Paramount Home Video, c1982. 2 BETA videocassettes (156 min.) PS3554.O3 R32 1982 Beta Videocassette : The lives and passions of a middle class family are interwoven with the scandals and events of a transitional America in 1906.  Features Harold E. Rollins Jr.   Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Ragtime  (1981) / Dino De Laurentis presents a Milos Forman film ; a Sunley production ; produced by Dino De Laurentis ; screenplay by Michael Weller ; directed by Milos Forman. Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount, c2004.  1 DVD videodisc (155 min.) : sd., col. : 4 3/4 in.  PS3554.O3 R34 2004 VideoDVD : Fact and fiction intertwine in Milos Forman's colorful kaleidoscope of E.L. Doctorow's sprawling novel of turn-of-the-century America. Anchored in the true story of the murder of architect Stanford White (Norman Mailer) by Harry Thaw (Robert Joy) over the affections of his wife Evelyn Nesbit (Elizabeth McGovern), Forman weaves a portrait of early 1900s America in a tapestry of intertwining fictional tales. The primary thread involves the proud black pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Howard Rollins) and his demand for justice when a racist fireman destroys his automobile, which escalates into a reign of terror by Walker and a band of revolutionaries. A secondary story involves an ambitious immigrant artist (Mandy Patinkin) whose primitive flipbooks send him on the road to creating early cinema. Centering all of these stories in one way or another is an upper-class family known simply as Father (James Olson), Mother (Mary Steenburgen), and Younger Brother (Brad Dourif). James Cagney came out of a twenty-year retirement to play the irascible Irish police commissioner, a character created for the film. Forman's biggest departure from Doctorow's novel, however, is his focus on Walker's story, cutting away the other threads to little more than asides in the final half of the picture, the primary dramatic weakness of an otherwise rich evocation of America's past. Randy Newman's lyrical score and Miroslav Ondricek's understated cinematography earned two of the film's eight Academy Awards nominations A Raisin in the Sun /  written by Lorraine Hansberry ; a production of Fireside Entertainment Corporation and KCET, Los Angeles in association with WNET, New York ; produced in association with American Playhouse ; NBLA Productions.  Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Monterey Home Video, c1996. 1 VHS videocassette (173 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.   PN1997 .R159 1996 Videocassette   : Film of the award-winning play about a struggling black family living on Chicago's South Side and the impact of an unexpected insurance bequest. Each family member sees the bequest as the means of realizing dreams and of escape from grinding frustrations.  A Raisin in the Sun  / Columbia Pictures ; producers, David Susskind and Philip Rose ; screenplay writer, Lorraine Hansberry ; director, Daniel Petrie.  [Culver City, Calif. : Columbia Tristar Home Video, c1999]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 128 min.)  PN1997 .R159 1999 VideoDVD  (Also available as part of  ROVI Movie Collection  AF6 D0005679 VideoDVD     : Film of the award-winning play about a struggling black family living on Chicago's South Side and the impact of an unexpected insurance bequest. Each family member sees the bequest as the means of realizing dreams and of escape from grinding frustrations. A Raisin in the Sun   / American Playhouse presents a production of Robert Nemiroff / Jaki Brown / Toni Livingston / Josephine Abady Productions ; produced by Chiz Schultz ; written by Lorraine Hansberry ; directed by Bill Duke.  [United States] : Monterey Media, Inc., [2004], c1988.  1 videodisc (172 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.   ROVI Movie Collection  AF6  AQ6 D0033366 VideoDV D A Raisin in the Sun   / produced by John M. Eckert ; executive producers, Sean Combs ... [et al.] ; teleplay by Paris Qualles ; directed by Kenny Leon ; Bad Boy Films ; Storyline Entertainment ; Sony Pictures Television.  Culver City, Calif. : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, c2008.  1 videodisc (ca. 131 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.   ROVI Movie Collection    CR1 D0095717 VideoDVD : n African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago comes into a sudden financial windfall, the potential uses of which divides them bitterly. Ray (2004) / directed by Taylor Hackford ; story by Taylor Hackford and James L. White ; screenplay by James L. White.  Universal City, Calif. : Universal, 2005. 1 DVD videodisc (153 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  ML420.C459 R49 2005 VideoDVD : One of America’s best-loved musicians, the late Ray Charles deserved a big-screen biography that did justice to his incredible life and career -- and he got it, thanks to director Taylor Hackford and star Jamie Foxx. There’s rarely been a biopic that’s done a better job of capturing its subject’s essence, which is why Ray can be forgiven its occasional departures from the historical record. The film doesn’t simply present the hit songs and other professional triumphs, although those are extremely well represented; it delves into the psyche of Ray Charles Robinson, whose destiny was shaped by back-to-back childhood traumas: his brother’s accidental death by drowning, which Ray witnessed; and his sudden descent into blindness a few years later. Driven by his poor but proud mother to succeed despite his handicap, the boy gets an education and becomes a talented musician who eventually carves out an amazing career. Hackford faithfully illuminates scripter James L. White’s biographical narrative, which posits that Ray’s subsequent excesses, including heroin addiction and marital infidelity, sprang from the tremendous guilt he felt for not saving his brother’s life. The film also depicts the difficulty a black musician had in playing white towns during the latter days of the Jim Crow era, which Charles helped end by flexing his increasing cultural muscle. Hackford does not skimp, though, on depicting the spectacular successes that elevated Charles to iconic status, first as a rhythm-and-blues star and then as an innovator who fused R&B and gospel music into soul. The film ends in 1966, but it features many of the songs for which Charles was best known, including “What’d I Say” and “Georgia on My Mind.” Although he’s lip-syncing to the Charles vocal tracks, Foxx perfectly replicates the musician’s stage manner and body language: You’ll swear you’re watching the genuine article in action. Very nearly as good are Kerry Washington as Ray’s long-suffering wife, Della Bea; Regina King as his backup singer and lover Margie Hendricks; Clifton Powell as close friend and business associate Jeff Brown; Curtis Armstrong as record producer Ahmet Ertegun; and Larenz Tate as the young Quincy Jones. The movie doesn’t spare Ray by glossing over his most egregious failings, but it reaches an uplifting climax by showing his recovery from heroin addiction and, more important, his unburdening of the guilt he had long shouldered over his brother’s death. Extraordinarily moving and ultimately inspiring, Ray is among the very best films of this type Hollywood has ever turned out. 2005 Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Red Tails / Twentieth Century Fox presents a Lucasfilm Ltd. production ; produced by Rick McCallum and Charles Floyd Johnson ; screenplay by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder ; directed by Anthony Hemingway. Beverly Hills, CA : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2012.   1 Blu-ray disc (125 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 DVD ; 4 3/4 in.  D743.23 .R43 2012 Blu-ray & VideoDVD discs 1-2 : Academy Awardr Winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and Academy Awardr Nominee Terrence Howard lead a powerful ensemble cast in this high-flying epic inspired by the real-life adventures of the first African-American combat unit to serve in World War II. Italy, 1944. As the war takes its toll on Allied forces in Europe, a squadron of black pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen are finally given the chance to prove themselves in the sky...even as they battle discrimination on the ground. Featuring jaw-dropping aerial action and thrilling special effects, Red Tails is a breathtaking tribute to the unsung heroes who rose above extraordinary challenges and ultimately soared into history.  Trailer .  The Red Violin (1998)  / a Lion's Gate Films release of a New Line International Channel Four Films Telefilm Canada presentation of a Rhombus Media/Mikado production ; a film by Francois Girard ; produced by Niv Fichman.  Universal Studios, 1999.  1 VHS videocassette (132 min.)  PN1997 .R375 1999 Videocassette : An appraiser of rare musical instruments traces the history of a blood-red violin and everyone whose lives it touched.  Features Samuel L. Jackson.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Reet-Petite and Gone (1947) (67 minutes)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Directed by William Forest Crouch.  Cast:  Louis Jordan, June Richmond and Milton Wood.  This all African American film stars bandleader Louis Jordan in a dual role as father and son.  Schyler Jarvis, a successful old-time musical star, dies and wishes to leave his fortune to his son, Louis, and Honey, the daughter of his long-lost love.  Henry Talbot, a crooked lawyer, decides to swindle the funds away from the rightful heirs and take the money for himself.  After taking the money, Talbot meets an untimely end and suspicion falls upon Louis as the killer.  Everything works out in the end for this film featuring plenty of music provided by Louis Jordan’s Tympany Five. Remember the Titans (2000)  / Walt Disney Pictures presents, in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Films, a Technical Black production ; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman ; written by Gregory Allen Howard ; directed by Boaz Yakin. [United States] : Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2007.  1 Blu-ray DVD videodisc (113 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.S67 R464 2007 Blu-ray VideoDVD : A drama of forced high school integration in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971. After leading his team to fifteen winning seasons, white football coach Bill Yoast is demoted and replaced by African-American Herman Boone, tough, opinionated and as different from Yoast as could be. The two men overcome their differences and turn a group of hostile young men into champions. A rousing celebration of how a town torn apart by resentment, friction and mistrust comes together in triumphant harmony.  Cast : Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Nicole Ari Parker.  2001 NAACP Image Award winner.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Rhythm and Blues Review (1955) (71 min.)  Streaming video from Internet Archive.  Musical variety show filmed at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York City featuring a cast of popular African-American performers: Willie Bryant, Freddie Robinson, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Faye Adams, Bill Bailey, Herb Jeffries, Amos Milburn, Sarah Vaughan, Nipsey Russell, Big Joe Turner, Martha Davis, Little Buck, Nat 'King' Cole, Mantan Moreland, Cab Calloway and Ruth Brown.  Source : Internet Archive, Feature Film. Richard Pryor Here and Now (1983)  (1:34 mins).  Streaming Video available from Crackle. : Pryor at his prime! A rare glimpse of a high-voltage comedian in a unique, piercing and incredibly funny performance. Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)   (1:21 mins.)  Streaming Video available from Crackle.  : Comedy genius Richard Pryor laughs at the world and his own personal tragedies in this hysterical, yet emotional, concert performance that even made Jessie Jackson bust a gut. Rising Sun   / Twentieth Century Fox presents a Walrus & Associates, Ltd. production. Beverly Hills, Calif. : FoxVideo, Inc., 1993.  2 DVD videodiscs (ca. 242 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.   PS3553.R48 R57 2006 VideoDVD    : A Los Angeles cop is called in to investigate the murder of a prostitute in the boardroom of a Japanese-owned company, only to discover a "shadow world" of futuristic technology, ancient ways and confusing loyalties.  Cast : Sean Connery, Wesley Snipes, Harvey Keitel, Tia Carrere, Mako. River Niger / S.l.] : Passion Productions, distributed by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, c2002.  1 DVD videodisc (105 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1997 .R584 2002 VideoDVD :  : Blaxploitation films were not the only films to portray the growing sense of black militancy. The River Niger, adapted by Joseph A. Walker from his Tony Award-winning play performed on and off Broadway four years earlier by the Negro Theater Ensemble, drew on the same reactionary, revolutionary fervor that motivated Sweetback, Shaft, Superfly, and other black superheroes of the era. Directed by Krishna Shah, the film depicts a black family at a critical time in their lives: Jeff Williams (Glynn Turman) returns from the Air Force to his home in Los Angeles, where his father Johnny Williams (James Earl Jones), a frustrated philosopher-poet, and his mother Mattie (Cicely Tyson) have planned a celebration in honor of his completion of navigators’ school. In fact, Jeff washed out, because he refused to act the way the white officers expected him to. But he is not the only family member with a secret: Johnny drinks too much, and Mattie has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. As the Williams family unwittingly becomes involved in a crime perpetrated by a gang of Jeff’s old neighborhood pals, Jeff and Johnny become increasingly radicalized. Ultimately, after Johnny is shot protecting the gang members, he turns his sacrifice into a protest of a lifetime of social injustice. Both as family and protest drama, the adaptation was a rather weak version of the play; and it wasted the talents of its excellent cast. Yet although The River Niger received universally poor critical reviews, it managed to hint at an important and recurring theme in contemporary films -- that violence against white institutions may be the only way to counter the violence of white racism. And it revealed the way that the black family, with its hopes and concerns, was a kind of microcosm of society at large. Source : Separate Cinema Roots aka Alex Haley's Roots (1977)  / a David L. Wolper production ; Warner Bros. Television ; producer, Stan Margulies ; written for television by Wiliam Blinn ... [et al.] ; directed by Marvin J. Chomsky ... [et al.].  [United States] : Warner Home Video, [2001]  3 DVD videodiscs (573 min.)  PQ7297.R74 R3 2002 VideoDVD : An adaptation of Alex Haley's Roots, in which he traces his family's history from the mid-18th century when one of his ancestors was captured and sold into slavery. Follows the struggle for freedom that began with the boys' abduction to America and continues throughout the generations that follow.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Roots, The Next Generations   / a David L. Wolper production in association with Warner Bros. Television ; producer, Stan Margulies ; teleplay by Sydney A. Glass, Ernest Kinoy, Thad Mumford, John McGreevey, Daniel Wilcox ; directed by Georg Stanford Brown, Charles S. Dubin, John Erman, Lloyd Richards.  Burbank, CA : Distributed by Warner Home Video, [2007].  4 DVD videodiscs (688 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PS3558.A3575 R33 2007 VideoDVD  1-4  : The phenomenal success of the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots all but demanded a sequel to writer Alex Haley's epic story of his African and African-American forebears. Debuting February 18, 1979, Roots: The Next Generations picked up where its predecessor left off, with Haley's slave ancestors winning their freedom in the aftermath of the Civil War. Even so, life for black Americans was wrought with hardship and oppression thanks to the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the staunch refusal of the white power structure to pass anti-lynching laws, and the formation of the dreaded Jim Crow laws which legalized racial segregation in the South (and much of the North). Covering the period from 1882 to the mid-1970s, the miniseries first focuses on blacksmith Tom Harvey (Georg Stanford Brown), great-grandson of Kunta Kinte (the protagonist of the original Roots), and his family. Meanwhile, reacting to the marriage of his son to a black woman, anal-retentive Southern colonel Warner (Henry Fonda) begins setting the legal wheels in motion to deny blacks like Tom the right to vote and to hold "white" jobs. A few decades later, Tom's son-in-law, Will (Marc Singer), encourages his fellow blacks to stand firm against the KKK's reign of terror. Will's labors on behalf of his race are rewarded when his daughter Bertha (Irene Cara) becomes the first descendant of Kunta Kinte to receive a college education. It is Bertha who weds the equally ambitious Simon Haley (Dorian Harewood), who goes on to serve in WWI and to organize farmers and sharecroppers during the Depression....Simon's son Alex (played at various ages by Kristoff St. John, Damon Evans, and finally James Earl Jones) is just as determined to succeed in a white man's world as his father, and to that end becomes a professional writer after his own service stint in the Coast Guard during WWII. At the height of his professional success (largely due to his having ghost-written the autobiography of Muslim activist Malcolm X), Alex Haley pays a visit to his boyhood hometown -- where, almost by accident, he receives the first clue to his heritage, a clue that will lead him on an odyssey of self-discovery, arriving full circle at Kunta Kinte's birthplace in Africa. Although the miniseries' "money scene" was Haley's nervous interview with American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell (Marlon Brando in a superb cameo turn), the climactic episode, in which Haley tearfully embraces the living African descendants of Kunta Kinte, is one of the most unforgettable moments in the history of network television. Running 12 episodes and 14 hours, Roots: The Next Generations concluded on February 25, 1979, playing to huge ratings all along the way and ultimately garnering several Emmy nominations (and one win). The Rosa Parks Story (2002)  / Jaffe/Braunstein Films, Ltd. ; CBS Television ; produced by Christine Sacani, Elaine Eason Steele, Pearl Devers ; written by Paris Qualles ; directed by Julie Dash.  [Santa Monica, CA] : Xenon Pictures, [2002]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 100 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  E185.97.P3 R67 2002 VideoDVD : Angela Bassett stars in the story that sparked the birth of the modern civil rights movement in the late 1950s. Parks took the only available seat in the first row of the "colored" section on a city bus; when a white woman boarded and the driver demanded that the black riders in her row move, everyone complied except Parks. This singular event threw Parks and her family into the Ku Klux Klan's ring of hatred -- and into the NAACP's limelight.  Cast : Angela Bassett, Peter Francis James, Tonea Stewart, Von Coulter, Dexter King.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  Note: also available as part of the ROVI Movie Collection AN9 D0021606 VideoDVD Rosewood (1997)  / [presented by] Warner Bros. ; a Peters Entertainment production in association with New Deal Productions ; written by Gregory Poirier ; produced by Jon Peters ; directed by John Singleton.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, c1997.  1 VHS videocassette (ca. 142 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.R23 R67 1997 Videocassette : In 1923 Rosewood, a black town in Florida, was burned to the ground, its people murdered because of a lie. Some escaped and survived because of the courage and compassion of a few extraordinary people.  Cast : Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, Bruce McGill, Loren Dean, Esther Rolle, Michael Rooker. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Rosewood / Warner Bros. presents a Peters Entertainment production in association with New Deal Productions ; produced by Jon Peters ; written by Gregory Poirier ; directed by John Singleton. Burbank, Calif. : Warner Home Video, 2007  1 DVD videodisc (142 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.R23 R67 2007 VideoDVD : In 1923, a prosperous black town in Florida was burned to the ground, its people hunted and murdered, all because a white woman falsely claimed that a black man sexually assaulted her. Ruby Bridges  (1998) / the Wonderful World of Disney presents ; produced by Anne Hopkins ; written by Toni Ann Johnson ; directed by Euzhan Palcy.  / [United States] : Walt Disney Home Video ; Burbank, Calif. : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., 2004. 1 DVD videodisc (90 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.B55 R839 2004 VideoDVD : This well-conceived made-for-television Disney movie brings the pain and difficulty of desegregation to life for a generation of kids to whom the 1960s is ancient history. Young Chaz Monet plays Ruby, who in real life walked up those Southern school steps with armed guards barely shielding her from the hate-filled epithets white adults hurled at her as she single-handedly desegregated the institution. Penelope Ann Miller plays her Yankee teacher--actually a tutor, since no white kids will share her classroom. Kevin Pollak plays the psychiatrist who donates his time to help her deal with the trauma, but won't eat her mother's food. This 89-minute film offers surprisingly complex portraits of many of the adult characters and an admirably frank look at the less-than-positive reaction from her own community. Even her father (Michael Beach) waivers in resolution, especially when his white boss fires him. Superior acting, writing, and production mark this look at one of the uglier periods in American social history and the little girl who helped the country take a giant step in the right direction. Somewhat scary situations and use of racial slurs make parental guidance advisable for young children. Ruby's Bucket of Blood .  [S.l.] : Showtime Entertainment, c2002.  1 DVD videodisc (95 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 R83 2002 VideoDVD : The music is as hot as the sexual tension between Ruby Delacroix and the new white singer, Billy Dupre at her popular juke joint in Louisiana. When Ruby's husband deserts her and their rebellious teenage daughter, Ruby takes on a vulnerability that becomes too much for the married Dupre to resist. Even though their affair could be a fatal mistake in the racist South of the early 1960's, the couple cannot resist temptaion.  Cast : Angela Bassett, Kevin Anderson, Brian Stokes Mitchell. Rules of Engagement  (2000) / Seven Arts Pictures ; director, William Friedkin ; produced by Scott Rudin, Richard D. Zanuck ; co-producer, Arne Schmidt ; screenwriter, Stephen Gaghan ; story, James Webb.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount, 2000.  1 DVD videodisc (127 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3552.O4375 R85 2000 VideoDVD  : Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones are lifelong friends who served in Vietnam together. Twenty-eight years later, Jones, now a Marine lawyer, must defend Jackson in a court-martial case after he's accused of instructing his troops to fire on supposedly unarmed protesters outside the U.S. embassy in Yemen. Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley also star in this tense military courtroom drama from director William Friedkin. Selected Feature Films, S All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Sanders of the River (1935) (98 min.)  Streaming video available from Internet Archive.  Leslie Banks stars as the title character, a British officer who manages to keep the peace between the African tribes loyal to His Majesty and those loyal to the African king.  His right-hand man, one of the tribal leaders, played by Paul Robeson, does all he can to help Banks maintain the peace, but when Banks takes a trip away from the region, all hell breaks loose.  Sanford and Son. The Complete Series (1972-1977) Culver City, CA : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2008. 17 DVD videodiscs (ca. 3331 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1992.77.S364 S364 2008 VideoDVD 1-17 : I'm comin', Elizabeth! Join ne'er do well Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) as he runs his junkyard, and runs his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) ragged. Add Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) and Grady (Whitman Mayo) into the mix, and you've got six seasons of hilarious entertainment.  Selected Episodes from TVLand   Sanford and Son Theme Song, aka, Quincy Jones' Streetbeater .  Wikipedia entry Sankofa  (1993) / Negod-Gwad Productions ; a film by Haile Gerima.  Washington, D.C. : Mypheduh Films, Inc., [2003].  1 DVD videodisc (125 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 S36 2003 VideoDVD : The story about the transformation of Mona, a self-possessed African-American woman sent on a spiritual journey in time to experience the pain of slavery and the discovery of her African identity....Sankofa is an Akan word that means, one must return to the past in order to move forward. Mona, a contemporary model, is possessed by spirits lingering in the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana and travels to the past, where, as a house servant called Shola she is constantly abused by the slave master. Nunu, an African-born field hand, and Shango, Sholas West Indian Lover, continuously rebel against the slave system. For Nunu this means direct conflict with her son, a mulatto benefitting from the system as a head slave. Inspired by Nunu and Shangos determination to defy the system, Shola finally takes her fate into her own hands. Scar of Shame  (1927).  Chicago : Facets Video [distributor], c1993.  1 VHS videocassette (90 min.) : si., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.N4 A442 1993 Videocassette : In no film was the racial theme more apparent than in this story about an ill-matched marriage between a black concert pianist and a poor, lower class young black woman. Secretly ashamed of her, the young man keeps his wife hidden from his socially-prominent middle-class mother. Despite the melodrama, it is a strong statement on the issues of class and the color caste system which existed within the African-American community, as well as probing questions of ambition and authority. This was the first film of the Colored Players Film Corp. of Philadelphia. Scar of Shame (1927), also available in The African American Cinema . The Scar of Shame (1927) (75 mins.)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics.  Silent film.  : Directed by Frank Perugini. Produced by Colored Players Film Corporation of Philadelphia School Daze   / Columbia Pictures presents a Forty Acres and Mule Filmworks production ; a Spike Lee joint ; produced, written and directed by Spike Lee. Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (121 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.C543 S25 2000 VideoDVD : Contemporary music-filled comedy about life at a black college during one eventful homecoming weekend.  Cast : Larry Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, Kyme, Joe Seneca, Art Evans, Ellen Holly, Ossie Davis. The Secret Life of Bees   / Fox Searchlight Pictures presents Overbrook Entertainment/Donners Company production a Gina Prince-Bythewood film ; produced by Lauren Shuler Donner ... [et. al.] ; written for the screen and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.  Beverly Hills, California : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2008. 1 Blu-ray videodisc (110 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3611.I44 S38 2008 Blu-ray VideoDVD : Fourteen year old Lily Owens flees her cruel, angry father with her caregiver and friend, Rosaleen to a South Carolina town where she is taken in by the bee-keeping Boatwright sisters.  Cast : Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo and Paul Bettany.  2009 NAACP Image Award winner. Separate But Equal  (1991) / a New Liberty production in association with Republic Pictures ; executive producer, George Stevens, Jr. ; [written and directed by George Stevens, Jr.].  Los Angeles, CA : Republic Pictures Home Video, c1991.  2 VHS videocassettes (ca. 193 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  KF4757.Z9 S47 1991 Videocassette : Dramatization of the events leading to the landmark Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation, with a special introduction by Sidney Poitier.  Cast : Sidney Poitier, Burt Lancaster, Richard Kiley. Sergeant Rutledge  (1960) / Warner Bros. Pictures presents John Ford's production of ... ; written by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck ; produced by Willis Goldbeck and Patrick Ford ; directed by John Ford.  Burbank, CA. : Warner Home Video, c2006.  1 DVD videodisc (112 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PS3552.E527 S4 2006 VideoDVD  : The first big budget Western to feature a black hero, this military courtroom drama from director John Ford starred his long-time stock player Woody Strode. When a cavalry commander and his daughter are discovered murdered, racism amidst the 9th Cavalry immediately leads to suspicions that Sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Strode), a black man, is responsible for the crime. Arrested by Lieutenant Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter), Rutledge escapes from captivity during an Indian raid but voluntarily returns to warn his fellow cavalrymen that they are about to face an ambush by hostiles, saving the detachment from certain doom. At first among those who accept Rutledge's probable guilt, Cantrell and his love interest Mary Beecher (Constance Towers) become two of the accused man's scarce defenders as he is put on trial and faces testimony from prejudiced "witnesses." Set It Off   (1996) / New Line Cinema presents a Peak production, a film by F. Gary Gray ; story by Takashi Bufford ; screenplay by Takashi Bufford and Kate Lanier ; produced by Dale Pollock and Oren Koulis ; directed by F. Gary Gray / New Line Home Video. [Burbank, Calif.] : New Line Productions, Inc. : Distributed by Warner Home Video, c2009   1 DVD videodisc (124 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.G3 S48 2009 VideoDVD : Even when it misses a dramatic opportunity in favor of generic action, Set It Off benefits from a sharp understanding of its well-drawn central characters. They're a quartet of young African American women in Los Angeles (Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise), all struggling against a system that seems designed to prevent them from realizing their dreams. The movie establishes their plight with credible attention to emotional detail, making their decision to rob banks believable enough to give the ensuing plot its inevitably tragic momentum. Cowritten by the screenwriter of What's Love Got to Do With It?, the film conveys genuine compassion for its characters, and the ensemble cast is uniformly strong--especially Queen Latifah as a brash lesbian whose fate is as certain as her forceful attitude....Set It Off expresses a real sense that these women have been close friends for years, and that gives the film additional impact, even when their transition to crime and violence feels somewhat forced and superficial. A romantic subplot involving Pinkett and a social-climbing banker (Blair Underwood) is too contrived to be convincing, and director F. Gary Gray (Friday) tries too hard to combine hard-hitting action with social relevance (a weakness shared by Gray's following film, The Negotiator). Still, Set It Off effectively avoids passing judgment; its emotional complexity transcends simple notions of right and wrong, injecting vitality--and a kind of renegade integrity--into the traditions of a familiar plot. Seven Pounds  (2008) / Columbia Pictures presents in association with Relativity Media an Overbrook Entertainment production, an Escape Artists production ; produced by Todd Black ... [et al.] ; written by Grant Nieporte ; directed by Gabriele Muccino.    Culver City, Calif. : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, c2009.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 123 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M27 S484 2009 VideoDVD : The mysteriously titled Seven Pounds stars Will Smith as Ben Thomas, who flashes his badge as an IRS agent to gain entrance into the lives of seven strangers in need. To each, he offers something that will reverse their troubles, seeking to atone for a haunting past mistake. But when Ben starts falling in love with a young woman with heart trouble (Rosario Dawson), his carefully laid plans threaten to collapse. To reveal more of the story would diminish it. Smith is an engaging, charismatic presence, but the impact of Seven Pounds comes from Dawson--she has the kind of emotional transparency that shimmers off the screen. Which is crucial, because Seven Pounds requires considerable suspension of disbelief; some scenes push and pull at plausibility, and you may question a few plot turns after the movie is over. But as the story unfolds, the performances can carry you over these bumps. If you surrender to its gently circling rhythms and its luminous images (including the glowing undulations of a poisonous jellyfish), Seven Pounds will pack an emotional wallop, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Also featuring Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan), Michael Ealy (Sleeper Cell), and Woody Harrelson. Shaft   / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ; produced by Joel Freeman ; directed by Gordon Parks ; screenplay by Ernest Tidyman and John D. F. Black.  Burbank, CA : Turner Entertainment Co. ; Warner Home Video, c2000.  1 VHS videocassette (100 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.D4 S47 2000 Videocassette : Shaft is hired by a Harlem mobster to find his kidnapped teenage daughter and finds himself up against some Mafia chieftains who want to take over a chunk of the Black Underworld's uptown territory.  Cast : Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn. The Shawshank Redemption  (1994) / Castle Rock Entertainment presents a Frank Darabont film ; screenplay, Frank Darabont ; producer, Niki Marvin ; director, Frank Darabont.  Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, [1995].  1 VHS videocassete (142 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in  PS3561.I483 S43 1995b Videocassette : Two convicts, one white and one black, never give up the dream of freedom, and together they turn hope and friendship into an uplifting bond no prison can ever take away.  Cast : Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, James Whitmore. She's Gotta Have It   / Island Pictures ; producer, Shelton J. Lee ; written, edited and directed by Spike Lee.  [S.l.] : Cineplex Odeon Home Video ; Willowdale, Ont. : MCA Home Video, c1987.  1 VHS videocassette (VHS) (84 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.C55 S47 1987 Videocassette : Nola and her three boy friends try to cope with the fact that she doesn't want to give up any of them.  Cast : Tracy Camila Johns, Redmon Hicks, John Canada Terrell, Raye Dowell, Joie Lee, Spike Lee. Showtime at the Apollo (1954) (80 minutes)   Streaming video via Matinee Classics : The best and the greatest black singers, comedians and bands perform live on the stage of the Apollo Theater in New York City. Cast: Nipsey Russell, Willie Bryant, Duke Ellington, The Clovers, Larry Darnell, Herb Jeffries, Dinah Washington, Amos Millborne, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, Mantan Moreland, Lionel Hampton, Martha Davis, Nat King Cole and Bill Bailey. The Siege   (1998) / Twentieth Century Fox presents a Lynda Obst production ; an Edward Zwick film ; story by Lawrence Wright ; screenplay by Lawrence Wright and Mennio Meyjes & Edward Zwick ; produced by Lynda Obst, Edward Zwick ; directed by Edward Zwick.  Beverly Hills, CA : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c1999.  1 DVD videodisc (116 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.A3 S543 1999 VideoDVD : A high-profile action/exploitation thriller set in the present, The Siege is really a fantasy that extrapolates from major terrorist attacks. Denzel Washington is FBI special agent Hubbard, "Hub" to his friends, whose anti-terrorist task force must track down the terrorist cells responsible for a spate of bombings in New York. His partner is an FBI agent of Arabian extraction (played convincingly by Tony Shalhoub), proving not all Arabs are bad guys--a point the film should be lauded for making again and again. Thrown into the mix is a CIA spy (played almost kittenish at times by Annette Bening), whose ties to the terrorists appear to be at the center of the conflicts. When the bombings escalate out of control, the President institutes martial law, sending in General Devereaux (played with impenetrable countenance by Bruce Willis) with tanks and troops to ferret out the terrorists. Echoes of Japanese-Americans in internment camps ring out as Arabs, including the son of the Arab-American FBI agent, are herded into a stadium. Periodic audio-montages of "man in the street" sentiments anchor the material in the present and show how serious and relevant the material is. But finally what we have is a taut and entertaining popcorn movie, giving itself the humanistic nod when it can.  Cast : Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Bruce Willis, Tony Shalhoub, Sami Bouajila, David Proval. Sister Act   / Touchstone Pictures presents in association with Touchwood Pacific Partners ; produced by Teri Schwartz ; directed by Emile Ardolino ; written by Joseph Howard.  Burbank, Calif. : Touchstone Home Video ; [Boston, MA] : DVS Home Video, [199-?]  1 VHS videocassette (100 min.), sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.C55 S57 1990 Videocassette : In this "divine comedy" a nightclub singer is forced to take refuge from the mob in a convent. While there she turns the convent choir into a "soulful chorus of swingin' sisters" complete with a Motown repertoire. The sudden celebrity of the choir jeopardizes her identity.  Features Whoopi Goldberg.  1994 NAACP Image Award winner. Six Degrees of Separation   / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents a Maiden Movies/New Regency production of a Fred Schepisi film ; screenplay, John Guare ; produced by Fred Schepisi and Arnon Milchan ; directed by Fred Schepisi.  Santa Monica, CA : MGM Home Entertainment, 2000.  1 DVD videodisc (112 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3557.U2 S59 2000 VideoDVD : When Manhattan art dealers take a young man into their home believing him to be a friend of their children and Sidney Poitier's son, he leaves them with a lasting impression.  Cast : Stockard Channing, Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, Mary Beth Hurt, Bruce Davison, Heather Graham, Anthony Michael Hall, Eric Thal, Richard Masur, Ian McKellan. Small Steps, Big Strides   / Van Ness Films in association with Foxstar Productions ... [et al.] ; written, produced and directed by Velma Cato.  1 VHS videocassette (60 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.N4 S57 1997 Videocassette : This tribute celebrates African American silver screen legends. Included are interviews and rare footage documenting the kinds of roles black actors were first given, the challenges these performers met, and the real behind-the-scenes story of their acceptance and triumphs in Hollywood.  Interview subjects: Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Nicholas Brothers, Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, James Earl Jones, Gregory Hines ; narrator, Louis Gossett, Jr. Sneakers  (1992)  / Universal Pictures presents a Lasker/Parkes production ; a Phil Alden Robinson flim ; written by Phil Alden Robinson and Lawrence Lasker & Walter F. Parkes ; produced by Walter F. Parkes, Lawrence Lasker ; directed by Phil Alden Robinson.  [Universal City, Calif.] : MCA/Universal Home Video, 1993. 1 VHS videocassette (125 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.A3 S64 1993 Videocassette  : When computer expert Martin Bishop and his team of renegade hackers are blackmailed into carrying out a covert operation to recover a mysterious black box, they discover factions from all sides are willing to kill for it.  Cast : Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, David Strathairn. Soldiers of Change  (2001) / [presented by] Hammer Productions I, LLC and Imageworks Entertainment Int'l, Inc. ; produced by Michael Armand Hammer ; written by Buddy Sheffield ; directed by Joshua Rose and Peter Manoogian.  Universal City, CA : Screen Media Films, 2005.  1 DVD videodisc (97 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.W3 S6535 2005 VideoDVD  : In the midst of riots, rebellion and revolution of the 1960s, a reluctant solider finds himself in the center of two wars. Ripped from the front lines of the civil rights struggle at home and thrust into the war in Vietnam, Randy is forced into a heroic struggle for his life and his love. Soldiers of Change tells the explosive story of one man's coming of age during the assassinations, protest, and war that defined the '60s and changed the world. A Soldier's Story  (1984)  / Columbia Pictures presents a Norman Jewison Film ; screenplay by Charles Fuller ; produced by Norman Jewison, Ronald L. Schwary, Patrick Palmer ; directed by Norman Jewison.  Culver City, Calif. : Columbia Tristar Home Video, [1999]  1 DVD videodisc (101 min.) : sd., col., double sided ; 4 3/4 min.  PN1995.9.R23 S65 1999 VideoDVD : A black army attorney is sent to Fort Neal, Louisiana, near the end of World War II to investigate the murder of Sgt. Waters, a black man who despised his own roots.  Cast : Howard E. Rollins, Jr., Adolph Caesar, Denzel Washington, Patti Labelle. Son of Ingagi (1940) (60 minutes) Streaming video via Matinee Classics : : Directed by Spencer Williams. Cast: Zack Williams, Laura Bowman and Spencer Williams.  A cantankerous yet kindhearted lady scientist does her best to help humanity - the only problem is there's a giant ape-man living in her basement.  This is believed to be the first science fiction/horror film which featured an "all colored cast." Song of Ingagi (1940) (60 minutes) Streaming video via Internet Archive. Song of the South (1946) / a Walt Disney production ; screenplay by Dalton Raymond, Morton Grant, Maurice Rapf ; cartoon story, William Reed, Ralph Wright, George Stallings.  [S.l.] : Walt Disney Home Video, [200-?]  1 DVD videodisc (91 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997 .S5685 2000z VideoDVD  By the early 1940s, once-popular plantation movies like Gone With the Wind had fallen out of vogue. Yet in 1946, Walt Disney released Song of the South, a surprisingly regressive film based on the Uncle Remus tales by Joel Chandler Harris and set on a nineteenth-century plantation full of contented slaves and a devoted Mammy named Aunt Tempy, played by Hattie McDaniel (the first black actress ever to receive an Academy Award, for her performance as Scarlett O’Hara’s Mammy [1939]). The patriarchal old Remus (James Baskett) tells uplifting stories of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear to Johnny, the lonely and troubled white boy who has been sent to live with his grandparents after his parents’ separation; and he provides the boy with the strong father figure that he so desperately needs. (As is typical of such plantation tales, Remus’ own family is almost completely subordinated to the white family whom he serves.) But when he is scolded by Johnny’s mother for interfering, Remus decides to leave the plantation. After the boy follows him and is injured by a charging bull, Remus returns to offer solace at his bedside. Naturally, all ends well: the parents reconcile, and soon Johnny is dancing up hills again with his friends, as old Remus trails happily behind them. The film, which intercut live acting with some of the most stunning cartoon animation and color techniques ever seen by movie audiences, was praised for its technical excellence; and Baskett was awarded a special honorary Academy Award for his touching performance. Yet, while Southern popular and critical response to the film was overwhelmingly favorable, protesters from New York to Hollywood picketed the film -- more heavily, in fact, than any film since The Birth of a Nation (At the Atlanta premiere, protesters shouted, “We fought for Uncle Sam, not Uncle Tom!”) The NAACP condemned the film’s distortions, such as the idyllic relationship between master and slave, and black politicians called for its suppression. The Song of the South was seen as a metaphor for the plundering of black culture: the indispensable Remus is criticized, not rewarded, for stabilizing the family structure; his distinctive black voice is silenced; and his tradition is usurped and exploited as Johnny learns to conjure the cartoon animals on his own. While the film was commercially successful, it forced Hollywood to reconsider the way black characters were depicted, especially in light of the increased emphasis on racial tolerance in the postwar period. Song of the South was quietly retired by Disney in 1986.  Source : Separate Cinema : A Century of Film website. Soul Food (1997) / Fox 2000 Pictures presents an Edmonds Entertainment production ; a George Tillman, Jr. film ; produced by Tracey E. Edmonds, Robert Teitel ; written and directed by George Tillman, Jr.  Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2000.   1 DVD videodisc (114 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 S68 2000 VideoDVD : Soul Food is the kind of movie that seems to have been blessed throughout its low-budget production, and it's got a quality of warmth and charm that fits perfectly with its authentic drama about a large African-American family in Chicago. Twenty-eight-year-old writer-director George Tillman Jr. drew autobiographical inspiration from his upbringing in Milwaukee, and on a well-spent $6.5 million budget he succeeded where similar films (including Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back) fell short: He depicts his many characters with such depth and sympathy that, by the time they have weathered several family crises, we've come to care and feel for them and the powerful ties that bind them together. As seen through the eyes of Tillman's young alter ego Ahmad (Brandon Hammond), the film primarily focuses on the rivalries and affections that rise and fall among Ahmad's mother (Vivica A. Fox) and her two sisters (Vanessa L. Williams, Nia Long). Through them, and through the weekly Sunday dinners cooked with love by their mother, Big Mama (Irma P. Hall), we witness marital bliss and distress, infidelity, success, failure... in short, the spices of life both bitter and sweet. But when Big Mama falls into a diabetic coma, Ahmad watches as his family begins to fall apart without the stability and love that Big Mama provided with every Sunday meal....Tillman's touch can be overly nostalgic, melodramatic, and cloyingly sentimental, but never so much that the movie loses its firm grip on reality. As a universal portrait of family life, Soul Food ranks among the very best films of its kind--believable, funny, emotional, and always approaching its characters (well-played by a uniformly excellent cast) with a generous spirit of forgiveness and understanding. As satisfying as one of Big Mama's delicious dinners, Soul Food is the kind of movie that keeps you coming back for more. 1998 NAACP Image Award winner. Sounder   / Radnitz/Mattel Productions.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount Pictures Corp., c1982, 1972.  1 VHS videocassette (105 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1997 .S648 1982 Videocassette  : The heartwarming story of a black sharecropper family in Louisiana during the Depression. A father steals food for his family, his wife provides love, security and strength while he is in prison, and their oldest son bravely becomes the man of the house until his father returns. Together they love and laugh, struggle and survive, and dream and hope of a more promising future.  Cast : Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Taj Mahal, Janet Maclachlan. The Spook Who Sat By The Door  (1973) / a Bokari Ltd. production ; director, Ivan Dixon ; producers, Ivan Dixon, Sam Greenlee ; screenplay, Sam Greenlee, Melvin Clay.  [United States] : Monarch Home Video : Obsidian Home Entertainment, 2004.  1 DVD videodisc (102 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3557.R396 S63 2004 VideoDVD : "Dan Freeman,.. is enlisted in the CIA's elitist espionage program as its first Black agent. Upon mastering agency tactics, he returns home to Chicago with a mission to train street gangs as "Freedom Fighters." Quickly they become experts in urban guerrilla warfare and plan to launch a war against the white power structure in every major US city."  Cast : Lawrence Cook, Jack Aaron, Don Blakely, Paul Butler, Paula Kelly.  Note : Also available at least momentarily on YouTube . St. Louis Blues (1929)  (16 mins.) Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Directed by Dudley Murphy. Cast: Bessie Smith.  In this all-black cast short, legendary blues singer Bessie Smith finds her gambler lover Jimmy messin' with a pretty, younger woman; he leaves and she sings the blues, with chorus and dancers.  Only known footage of Bessie Smith. Stir Crazy   / Columbia Pictures.  Culver City, Calif. : Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1999, c1980.  1 DVD videodisc (107 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 S75 1999 VideoDVD : Two zany drifters are mistakenly sent to prison for a robbery they didn't commit. They must rely on their wits in order to survive a sadistic warden, a hulking mass-murderer and worst of all, the inter-prison rodeo.  Cast : Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, George Stanford Brown, JoBeth Williams. Stomp the Yard / Screen Gems presents a Rainforest Films production ; produced by William Packer ; screenplay by Robert Adetuyi ; directed by Sylvain White.  Culver City, Calif. : Sony Pictures TriStar Home Entertainment, c2007.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 114 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.C543 S7667 2007 VideoDVD : After the death of his younger brother D.J. a troubled 19-year-old street dancer from Los Angeles is able to bypass juvenile hall by enrolling in the historically black Truth University in Atlanta, Georgia. His efforts to get an education and woo the girl he likes are sidelined when he discovers 'stepping,' a traditional dance performed by African-American fraternities. He soon finds himself in the middle of a fierce rivalry between the top two campus fraternities. Both want and need D.J.'s fierce street-style dance moves to win the highly coveted national step show competition. Cast : Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo, Darrin Henson, Brian White, Laz Alonso, Valarie Pettiford, Harry Lennix. Stormy Weather (1943) / 20th Century Fox, 2006.  1 DVD (78 min.)  PN1995.9.M86 S76 2005 VideoDVD : Vaguely based on the life of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson himslef, Stormy Weather offers the story of a WWI vet who falls in love with a singer -- and under her influence goes into show business, only to find that their careers draw them in different directions.  As a story, it is pretty slim stuff... but as a collection of musical turns by some of the early 1940s best black talent, it simply can't be beat.... Robinson was, of course, one of the truly great dancers of his era. Made late in his career, this film doesn't really manage to capture the scope of his talents, but he remains a constant joy to watch. A very young and remarkably beautiful Lena Horne also offers several enjoyable songs, including one that she would go on to perform with increasing sophistocation and ultimately make entirely her own: the title tune "Stormy Weather." In addition to Calloway and Horne, this movie offers great performances by such under-filmed artists as Cab Calloway, Katherine Dunham, Fats Waller (performing his signature tune, "Ain't Misbehaving"), the brillant Nicholas Brothers, and Ada Brown, as well as the popular comic actor Dooley Wilson. Expect nothing from the story, but you won't be disappointed by this rare glimpse at some truly remarkable talents. A Stranger in the Kingdom / an Ardustry Home Entertainment ; screen play by Don Bredes and Jay Craven ; produced and directed by Jay Craven.  Woodland Hills, CA : Ardustry Home Entertainment, 2004.  1 DVD videodisc (111 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  ROVI Movie Collection CL6 D0042034 VideoDVD  : Murder wasnt the only crime this town would never forget. Hidden beneath its rustic charm, Kingdom County was a lawless frontier. Inspired by true events, A Stranger in the Kingdom tells the story of a small Vermont town where powerful conflicts arise when a black former Army chaplain arrives as the towns new pastor and, before long, finds himself charged with adultery and murder. A potent and unforgettable mystery with off-beat characters, vivid action, stunning photography, and double-edged wit. By award-winning director Jay Craven (Where the Rivers Flow North.  Trailer via YouTube Stranger Inside  (2001)  / HBO Films presents a C-Hundred Film Corp movie in association with Stranger Baby Productions, a film by Cheryl Dunye ; producers, Jim McKay, Michael Stipe, Effie T. Brown ; writers, Cheryl Dunye, Catherine Crouch ; director, Cheryl Dunye. New York, NY : HBO Home Video : Distributed by Warner Home Video, [2002], c2001.  1 DVD videodisc (90 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.P68 S77344 2002 VideoDVD : Treasure Lee just moved out of "juvenile" into the State Pen. Now she needs to learn how the system works, search out where the power lies, and find herself a new lover. She soon meets Brownie, a jail-toughened lifer, who works through her extended family of loyal girls. The closer Treasure gets to Brownie, the more enemies she makes.  Cast : Yolanda Ross, Davenia McFadden, Rain Phoenix, Ella Joyce, Conchata Ferrell, Lee Garlington, LaTonya T. Hagans, Medusa. Sugar Hill    Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2006.  2 DVD videodiscs (ca. 242 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3553.R48 R57 2006 VideoDVD : When the younger brother tries to break free from his world of crime and violence he is reluctantly lured back to help his brother keep the mob from taking over his territory.  Cast : Wesley Snipes, Ernie Hudson, Abe Vigoda. Superfly (1972) / the Sig Shore Productions ; produced by Sig Shore ; written by Phillip Fenty ; directed by Gordon Parks, Jr.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, c2004, c1972.   1 DVD videodisc (95 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.N4 S86 2004 VideoDVD : The pinnacle of blaxploitation movies, the 1972 Superfly stars Ron O'Neal as a drug dealer who wants out of the business but decides to take out some enemies in the process. With its criminal hero, one might almost think this could be an existential crime movie, but no...it's really just an effective piece of pulp with a strong performance by O'Neal, grim settings, cool direction by Gordon Parks Jr., and a famous soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield. Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song  (YouTube) 1:37:07 - After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels. Selected Feature Films, T-V All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Take a Giant Step (1959) / United Artists Pictures Inc. ; Hecht, Hill and Lancaster present ; directed by Philip Leacock ; produced by Julius J. Epstein ; a Sheila Productions, Inc. picture. [Los Angeles, Calif.] : MGM, c2011.  1 DVD videodisc (100 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.N4 T34 2011 VideoDVD : Although less sophisticated than the Broadway hit A Raisin in the Sun, Take a Giant Step, another black-authored, family-oriented drama, had a similar theme of struggle and accommodation. Written by black playwright Louis Peterson and adapted to the screen by Peterson and his colleague, Academy Award-winning writer Julius J. Epstein, Take a Giant Step was produced by Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, the independent film company formed in 1947 by Burt Lancaster and producer Harold Hecht. Popular rock-and-roll singer Johnny Nash starred as Spencer Scott, a black middle-class teen coming of age in a northern white community (a role that Lou Gossett, Jr. had played on Broadway). In scenes that were quite volatile for the time, the film depicted Spencer’s attempt to discover and assert his identity. In one such scene, after a white teacher presumes that slaves were simply too lazy to fight for emancipation, Spencer challenges the falsehood and is expelled; then he clashes with his father, who upholds the teacher’s authority instead of empathizing with his son’s frustration. Spencer, however, finds support from his strong-willed grandmother, the family matriarch who dispenses blunt but loving advice, and the family’s young black housekeeper, who empathizes with his loneliness. Eventually he comes to appreciate the sacrifices that his parents made in order to give him opportunities that they themselves never enjoyed; and he is able to express his love for them aloud. He also recognizes that, as a “black boy” in white society, he must make certain accommodations. (His experience of frustration and humiliation, screenwriter Peterson implies, parallels the struggles of the larger black community in a pre-civil rights era.) The film’s frank treatment of the black teenager’s defiance, like the exploration of his awakening sexual desire, raised sensitive racial issues, while Spencer’s use of profanity threatened to jeopardize the film’s MPAA Production Code seal. Unfortunately, interest in the film was poor. Theater owners complained that audiences did not want to see unknown black stars as serious actors; others suggested that racial problem films were just not a draw -- though, ironically, around the same time, the major studios were successfully promoting movies about rebellious white youth, including James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo, in films such as The Wild One, Blackboard Jungle, and Rebel Without a Cause. The striking and timely portrait of a troubled, defiant, but intelligent and well-intentioned black adolescent, however, was truly a “giant step” in black film imagery. Source : Separate Cinema Taken From Me : the Tiffany Rubin Story (2001) / produced by Harvey Kahn ; written by Michael Bortman ; directed by Gary Harvey.  [United States] : Lifetime, [2011]  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 88 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1992.77 .T35 2011 VideoDVD : Based on the dramatic true story of Tiffany Rubin's daring 2008 rescue of her six-year-old son, Kobe, after he was abducted by his biological father and taken from his home in Queens, New York, all the way to Seoul, South Korea. At the urging of her mother Belzora, Tiffany seeks the counsel of Mark Miller  and his charitable organization, the American Association for Lost Children. With Mark's help, Tiffany is able to travel to Korea to execute a high-stakes plan to bring her son home. Talk to Me / Focus Features and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment ; Mark Gordon Productions ; Pelagius Films ; The Mark Gordon Company.   Universal Studios, 2007.  DVD.  119 minutes.  PN1995.9.B55 T355 2007 VideoDVD : Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle portrays the one and only Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. in this funny, feel-good and inspiring true story. Ex-convict Greene talks his way into an on-air radio gig with program director Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and his unprecedented "tell it like it is" style breaks all the rules while electrifying a city and bringing a nation together when it needs it the most. Also starring Cedric The Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Mike Epps and Martin Sheen, Talk to Me tells the extraordinary story of an outrageous and beloved voice ready to shake up the world in the movie critics are hailing as "fresh and revelatory". That's Black Entertainment  / Skyline Entertainment : Distributed by Video Communications, 1989.  1 VHS videocassette (60 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 T53 1989 Videocassette  : In the 30's and 40's an underground film industry sprang up in the black community. Since Afro Americans were not always welcome in white movie theatres and were badly represented in white movies, they made their own movies. These black cast films were never intended to be viewed by white audiences. Black producers, directors and actors were truer to the realities of life as they experienced and felt them than their white counterparts. This tightly run underground film industry operated efficiently until the mid-fifties. Its demise was basically a result of changing economic tides and (thankfully) the growing hope of integration. This is a tribute to the treasures of black cinema. Rare and historic movie footage from many forgotten films has been compiled in this special videocassette.  Contents - Murder in Harlem (1935) -- Souls of sin (1949) -- Blood of Jesus (1941) -- Juke Joint (1947) -- Miracle in Harlem (1948) -- Broken earth (1939) --Rufus Jones for president (1933). That's Black Entertainment  : African-American Contributions in Film and Music, 1903-1944 / North Hollywood, CA : produced and distributed by OnDeck Home Entertainment, c1997.  2 vhs videocassettes (ca. 106 min.)  PN1995.9.N4 T47 1997 Videocassette : Vol. 1 covers the history of Black filmmaking from its earliest days through the twenties, focusing on the movies that were made and the production companies that produced them and includes three short films. Vol. 2 compiles a vintage video collection of three-minute music videos called "soundies" that were originally screened on a visual jukebox called Panorams during the 1940s.  Contents - v. 1, Race movies : the early history of Black cinema with three original short films. St. Louis blues (starring Bessie Smith) -- Hi-de-ho (starring Cab Calloway) -- Boogie-woogie dream (starring Lena Horne).  v. 2, The soundies era : Black music video's from the 1940's. Hey lawdy mama (June Richmond with Roy Milton and his band) -- Take me back, baby (Count Basie Orchestra) -- Some of these days (Maxine Sullivan) -- Beat me, daddy (Maurice Rocco) -- Is you is, or is you ain't my baby? (King Cole Trio and Ida James) -- Baby won't you please come home (Herb Jeffries) -- Keep waitin' (George Washington Brown) -- Toot that trumpet (Deep River Boys) -- Keep smiling (Four Ginger Snaps) -- Babbling Bess (Chanticleers) -- Dispossessed blues (Lynn Albritton and the Four Knobs) -- Lovin' up a solid breeze (Chanticleers) -- Block party revels (Billy and Ann, Lynn Albritton, Four Knobs, the Harlem Cuties) -- Minnie the moocher (Cab Calloway and his orchestra) -- I call it love (King Cole Trio) -- King of the vibes (Lionel Hampton). A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (1996)  / New Line Cinema and Savoy Pictures presents a Jackson-McHenry Entertainment production in association with You Go Boy! Productions ; a Martin Lawrence film.  [S.l.] : New Line Home Video, c1999.  1 DVD videodisc (108 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.M27 T4745 1996 VideoDVD : A hilarious comedy about a nightclub promoter and perpetual playboy who learns the hard way about the dangers of being a ladies man. Directed by and starring Martin Lawrence. Things Never Said / Raising Kane Films ; Ohio Street Pictures ; director, Charles Murray ; writer, Charles Murray ; producer, Charles Murray and Brian "Skinny" Lewis.  Santa Monica, CA : Lionsgate, [2013]    1 DVD  videodisc (ca. 111 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.M27 T465 2013 VideoDVD :  Kal (Shanola Hampton) is an aspiring poet, but truthfully, she's an artist who is lost. She tries desperately to find an outlet for her artistic voice as she struggles with her self-esteem and a difficult home life. When Kal meets fellow poet Curtis (Omari Hardwick), it's the turmoil, surprise and uncertainty of a new love that ultimately help her find her voice...and a sense of selfworth.? A Time to Kill (1996) / Warner Bros. presents in association with Regency Enterprises ; an Arnon Milchan production ; a Joel Schumacher film ; screenplay by Akiva Goldsman ; produced by Arnon Milchan, Michael Nathanson, Hunt Lowry and John Grisham ; directed by Joel Schumacher.  [Los Angles] : Regency, 2009.  1 DVD videodisc (150 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.T75 T55 2009 VideoDVD : A murder trial brings a small Mississippi town's racial tensions to the flashpoint. Amid a frenzy of activists marches, Klan terror, media clamor and brutal riots, an unseasoned but idealistic young attorney mounts a stirring courtroom battle for justice. Directed by Joel Schumacher.  Starring Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, & Samuel L. Jackson. Based on the book A Time to Kill by John Grisham. 1997 NAACP Image Award winner. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)  / directed by Robert Mulligan ; produced by Alan Pakula ; screenplay by Horton Foote ; A Pakula-Mulligan, Brentwood Productions Picture.  Universal City, CA : Universal Home Video, c1998.  1 VHS videocassette (130 min. + extra footage) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PS3523.E332 T6 1998 Videocassette : Two children in a small southern town are thrust into an adult world of racial bigotry and hatred when their lawyer father chooses to defend a black man unjustly accused of raping a white girl. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Search Engine . To Sir, With Love (1967)   / [written and directed James Clavell]. : London : Columbia/Tristar, c1999. 1 DVD video (PAL region 2) (101 min.) : sd., col. (Not compatible with American DVD players)  LA639.L8 B72 1999 PAL VideoDVD : Novelist James Clavell wrote, produced, and directed this 1967 British film (based on a novel by E.R. Braithwaite) about a rookie teacher who throws out stock lesson plans and really takes command of his unruly, adolescent students in a London school. Poitier is very good as a man struggling with the extent of his commitment to the job, and even more as a teacher whose commitment is to proffering life lessons instead of academics. The spirit of this movie can be found in such recent films as Dangerous Minds and Mr. Holland's Opus, but none is as moving as this one. Besides, the others don't have a title song performed by pop star Lulu.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  Also available as streaming video from YouTube . To Sir, With Love II (1996)  / Verdon-Cedric Productions, Inc. ; Andelson/Baumgarten Productions, Inc. ; [produced by Richard Stenta ; written by Philip Rosenberg ; directed by Peter Bogdanovich].  [London] : Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment : distributed in the E.U. by Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd., [2004]  1 DVD videodisc (89 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1997 .T591 2004 PAL VideoDVD : A story of how a retired teacher from London influences the lives of unruly students in a Chicago inner city high school.  Cast : Sidney Poitier, Christian Payton, Dana Eskelson, Fernando Lopez, Casey Lluberes, Michael Gilio, Lz Granderson, Bernadette L. Clarke, Jamie Kolacki, Saundra Santiago, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Lulu, Judy Geeson, Daniel J. Travanti. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine .  To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar / Universal Pictures presents an Amblin Entertainment production ; a Beeban Kidron film ; written by Douglas Carter Beane ; produced by G. Mac Brown ; directed by Beeban Kidron. Universal City, Calif. : MCA Universal Home Video, 1996.  1 VHS videocassette (109 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. PN1997 .T592 1996 Videocassette : After Vida Boheme and Noxeema Jackson win a major New York drag contest and a trip to Hollywood, they are persuaded to take the inexperienced drag princess Chi-Chi with them. They hire a beat-up old Cadillac and set off for Los Angeles, but their car breaks down in a small town in the middle of nowhere. With just their wits and an endless supply of garish costumes, they transform the town and everyone who lives there--until homophobic cop Sheriff Dollard catches up with them. Cast : Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Arliss Howard, Chris Penn. Training Day (2010) / Warner Bros. Pictures presents in association with Village Roadshow Pictures and NPV Entertainment an Outlaw Productions ; producers, Jeffrey Silver, Bobby Newmyer ; writer, David Ayer ; director, Antoine Fuqua.  1 Blu-ray videodisc (122 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.P57 T73 2006 Blu-ray VideoDVD : A powerhouse performance by Denzel Washington fuels this brutal urban police drama, in which a rookie narcotics cop learns the hard way that even good cops can go very, very bad. Washington plays veteran detective Alonzo Harris, a self-proclaimed "wolf among wolves," eager to teach his rookie partner Jake (Ethan Hawke) that normal rules don't apply on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Caught in a web of deception, Jake watches with escalating horror as Alonzo uses his badge (and the support of his superiors) to justify a self-righteous policy of corruption. In stark contrast to most of his previous work, Denzel unleashes his dark side with fearlessness and fury, and the result is excellence without compromise. Director Antoine Fuqua (The Replacement Killers) won't score any points for subtlety, but gritty details (including actual L.A. gang members as extras) and Hawke's finely tuned performance are perfectly matched to Washington's frightening volatility.  Cast : Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke. The Tuskegee Airmen  (1995) / HBO Pictures presents a Price Entertainment production ; a film by Robert Markowitz ; produced by Bill Carraro ; teleplay by Paris Qualles and Trey Ellis and Ron Hutchinson ; directed by Robert Markowitz.  New York, N.Y. : HBO Home Video, [2000]  1 DVD videodisc (106 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  D810.N4 T874 2000 VideoDVD : This true story of the black flyers who broke the color barrier in the U.S. Air Force during World War II is a well-intentioned film highlighted by an excellent cast. Proud, solemn, Iowa-born Laurence Fishburne and city-kid hipster Cuba Gooding Jr. are among the hopefuls who meet en route to Tuskegee Air Force Base, where they are among the recruits for an "experimental" program to "prove" the abilities of the black man in the armed services. Fighting prejudice from racist officers and government officials and held to a consistently higher level of performance than their white counterparts, these men prove themselves in training and in combat, many of them dying for their country in the process. Andre Braugher costars as a graduate who takes charge of the unit in Africa and in Italy (where it's christened the 332nd). The film is rousing, if slow starting and episodic, but it's periodically grounded by a host of war movie clichés, notably the calculated demise of practically every trainee introduced in the opening scenes (ironic given the 332nd's real-life combat record--high casualties for the enemy, low casualties among themselves, and no losses among the bombers they escorted). Ultimately the Emmy-nominated performances by moral backbone Fishburne and the dedicated Braugher and the energy and cocky confidence of Gooding give their battles both on and off the battlefield the sweet taste of victory. Two Gun from Harlem (1937) (1 hr.) Streaming video from the Internet Archive. Taken from IMDB A cowboy is wrongfully accused of murder. He winds up in Harlem, where he assumes the identity of a preacher-turned-gangster who looks like him. He infiltrates the gang to catch the men who framed him.  Example of early African American western.  Source : Internet Archive, Feature Film.  Two Gunman From Harlem  Streaming video from YouTube.  60 minutes.  A cowboy is wrongfully accused of murder. He winds up in Harlem, where he assumes the identity of a preacher-turned-gangster who looks like him. He infiltrates the gang to catch the men who framed him. Stars Herb Jeffries, Marquerite Whitten, Clarence Brooks Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls (2007)/ LionsGate and Tyler Perry Studios present a Tyler Perry Studios, Rueben Cannon Productions, LionsGate production, a film by Tyler Perry ; produced by Reuben Cannon, Tyler Perry ; written and directed by Tyler Perry.  Santa Monica, Calif. : Lionsgate, c2007.  1 DVD videodisc (ca. 100 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.F35 T9547 2007 VideoDVD : Monty (Idris Elba) is a mechanic struggling to make ends meet while raising his three young daughters. When the court awards custody of his daughters to his ex-wife, Monty desperately tries to win them back with the help of Julia (Gabrielle Union), a beautiful, Ivy League-educated attorney. Monty and Julia couldn't be less alike, but a flame is ignited...touching off a firestorm of love and conflict. Uncle Tom's Cabin (1927) / a Universal Picture.  New York, NY : Kino on Video, c1999.  1 DVD videodisc (112 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in.  PS2954 .U52 1999 VideoDVD : Eliza flees the security of a Kentucky plantation when her young son and her dignified protector, Uncle Tom, are sold to a rival landowner. Her experiences culminate in her arrival at the swampy lair of the murderous Sam Legree.  Harry Pollard's epic 1927 version of Harriet Beecher Stowe's landmark novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was one of the most expensive silent films ever made. James B. Lowe, whose composure, dignity, and gentleness suggest a silent-era Danny Glover, stars as kindly Tom, the slave ripped from his family to pay his master's debt, but the film favors the more sensational melodrama of the married light-skinned couple Eliza and George and their son Harry (all played by white performers), split up and sold to the highest bidder. Pollard, a Southerner himself, maintains an uneasy balance between a sentimental portrayal of a happy Dixie with smiling slaves and a land where humans are bought and sold like cattle to wicked, money-grubbing masters. The exaggerated performances and stereotypes have not aged well and Pollard shows a weakness for broad Victorian melodrama, but the film boasts many moving moments and nail-biting sequences, highlighted by Eliza's harrowing escape across the ice floes as hounds literally nip at her heels. (A staple of the many touring stage productions of the play, D.W. Griffith borrowed the scene for the climax of Way Down East.) Uncle Tom's Cabin is more interesting as a product of its era than any serious attempt to explore the evils of slavery, but it's an exciting, handsomely mounted picture. Kino's restored edition features the original Movietone score by Erno Rapee, complete with sound effects and songs.  The DVD also features a detailed and informative essay by historian David Pierce, an extensive collection of stills, promotional materials, and music cue sheets, and details of cuts made to the film, including two deleted scenes that are among the best moments the film has to offer. Want more info?  Try Movie Review Query Engine . Uncle Tom's Cabin directed by Pollard, Harry A. (Kino International, 1927) 111:50 mins available as streaming video from Silent Film Online via Alexander Street Press. Underworld  (1937) / Sack Amusement Enterprises ; [presented by] Alfred N. Sack ; produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux.  Burbank, Calif. : Hollywood's Attic, [1996]  1 VHS videocassette (80 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.N4 U63 1996 Videocassette : A young Black man who recently graduated from a Southern college is persuaded to come to Chicago with a gambler. He travels in Black underworld circles, falls for a vamp and is framed for murder before finding a better life.  Adapted from a story Chicago after midnight by Edna Mae Baker.  Cast : Bee Freeman, Sol Johnson, Ethel Moses, Oscar Polk, Lorenzo Tucker. Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. Unforgiven / Warner Bros. presents a Malpaso production.  Burbank, Calif. : Warner Home Video, c2000.  1 DVD videodisc (127 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.W4 U543 2000 VideoDVD : Two retired outlaws (Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freedman) take up their guns one last time to collect a bounty offered by a group of prostitutes seeking revenge, and run up against the sadistic sheriff (Gene Hackman) of Big Whiskey Montana. Vampire in Brooklyn / Paramount Pictures presents an Eddie Murphy production ; a film by Wes Craven.  Hollywood, Calif. : Paramount Pictures, c2001.  1 DVD videodisc (102 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 V424 2001 VideoDVD  :  Eddie Murphy's got the bite in this movie mix of bone-chilling horror and chill-out comedy directed by Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street). As the vampire Maximillian, the popular star is the most diabolical, dashing and definitely undead dude in the 'hood. To add to the macabre fun, Murphy morphs into two other must-see characters: a paunchy preacher and a fast talking thug. Angela Basset (Waiting to Exhale, What's Love Got To Do With It) plays the cop whose world is rocked by Maximillian's attempts to make her his mate for eternity. And Kadeem Hardison (TV's A Different World) is the haplessly decaying vampire's sidekick who (a hand here, and ear there) is forever losing things. Brooklyn may be home to the undead now that Max is around-but means it's livelier than ever!  Veiled Aristocrats   (1932) / a Micheaux production. Burbank, Calif. : Hollywood's Attic, 1996.  1 videocassette (50 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. PN1995.9.R23 V45 1996 Videocassette : Twenty years after leaving home, John Walden returns, having achieved his ambition to become a lawyer. He and his mother, Molly, discuss the marital situation of his sister, Rena, and the racial complications it poses. Molly asks John to break up Rena's romance with Frank because she disapproves of him and wants her daughter to marry a man of more refinement. Eventually, after trying to live the life her family desires for her, Rena renounces trying to pass for white, and is reunited with Frank.  Cast : Laura Bowman, Lorenzo Tucker, Barrington Guy, Lawrence Chenault, Walter Fleming, Lucile Lewis, Carl Mahon, Bernadine Mason. Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. Selected Feature Films, W-Z All African American feature films, either featuring African American studies themes or African American actors,  are located in the Digital and Multimedia Center unless otherwise indicated.  Movies can be checked out unless reserved for a class. Waiting to Exhale   / Twentieth Century Fox presents a Deborah Schindler/Ezra Swerdlow production ; directed by Forest Whitaker.  Beverly Hills, CA : FoxVideo, c1996. 2 laserdiscs (123 min.) : sd., col. ; 12 in. PS3563.C3868 W352 1996 Video (12 inch) disc : Savannah, Bernadine, Robin and Gloria are all searching for the Real Thing: true love. Bernadine thought she had it, until her husband left her for another woman. Savannah and Robin are successful in business but their love lives are bankrupt. And divorcee Gloria is getting back in the game by flirting with her new, very eligible neighbor. Cast : Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine.  1996 NAACP Image Award winner. The Waterdance  (1991)  [Burbank, Calif.] : Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1992. 1 videodisc (laser optical) (106 min.) : sd., col. ; 12 in. PN1997 .W39 1991 Video (12 inch) disc : A talented young writer is permanently paralyzed in a hiking accident and must graduate from a physical rehabilitation center in order to return to the "real" world.  Cast : Eric Stoltz, Wesley Snipes, William Forsythe, Helen Hunt, Elizabeth Peña. The Watermelon Man (1970)  (1:39 mins.)  Streaming video available from Crackle.  : A bigoted white insurance agent turns black overnight, learning first-hand about racism in America. The Watermelon Woman   / written and directed by Cheryl Dunye ; produced by Barry Swimar, Alexandra Juhasz ; Dancing Girl Productions.  New York, NY : First-Run Features, c1997.  1 DVD videodisc (93 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.L48 W37 1997 VideoDVD  : Set in Philadelphia. Cheryl is a 25 year old, black, lesbian film maker struggling to make a documentary about Fae Richards, a beautiful and elusive 1930s, black film actress, popularly known as 'The Watermelon Woman.'  Cast : Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker, Lisa Marie Bronson. What's Love Got To Do With It (1993)  / Touchstone Pictures.   [United States] : Touchstone Home Video ; [Burbank, Calif.] : Distributed by Buena Vista Home Video, [1994]  1 laserdisc videodisc (118 min.) : sd., col. ; 12 in.  ML420.T95 W47 1994 Video (12 inch) disc : The turbulent relationship of Ike and Tina Turner eventually forces Tina to leave and find the courage to believe in herself.  Cast : Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Search Engine . Where's My Man To-nite  (1943) / a Bourgeois-Jenkins picture. Burbank, Calif. : Hollywood's Attic, c1996.  1 videocassette (ca. 80 min) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.N4 W47 1996 Videocassette : A reluctant Army draftee breaks all the training rules but manages to catch Japanese spies and also to find his long lost father. Cast : Emmet Jackson, George T. Sutton, L.K. Smith, Myra J. Hemming, Hugh Martin, Georgia Kelly, Clarissa Deary.Emmet Jackson, George T. Sutton, L.K. Smith, Myra J. Hemming, Hugh Martin, Georgia Kelly, Clarissa Deary. Part of the Black artists of the silver screen series. White Men Can't Jump  (1992)  / a Ron Shelton film ; Twentieth Century Fox.  [Beverly Hills, CA : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment : Distributed by] FoxVideo, [1996]  1 VHS videocassette (115 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.  PN1995.9.B29 W47 1996 Videocassette : Comedy about a pair of basketball hustlers who team-up to play their way across the courts of Los Angeles.  Cast : Woody Harelson, Wesley Snipes, Rosie Perez.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Search Engine . Wild Wild West (1999) / Warner Bros. in association with Todman, Simon, LeMasters Productions ; produced by Jon Peters and Barry Sonnenfeld ; screenplay by S.S. Wilson ... [et al.] ; directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, c1999.  1 DVD videodisc (116 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PN1995.9.C55 W554 1999 VideoDVD : Wild, wild laughs, adventure and special-effects wizardry abound when megastar Will Smith reteams with the director of "Men in Black." Smith is agent James West, leading sidekick Artemus Gordon (Kevin Kline) and a sexy adventuress (Salma Hayek) on a perilous assignment: stop Dr. Arliss Loveless (Kenneth Branagh) and his contraption-driven plot to establish a Disunited States of America. WildCats   (1986) / Warner Bros. presents a Hawn/Sylbert production ; a Michael Ritchie film ; written by Ezra Sacks ; produced by Anthea Sylbert ; directed by Michael Ritchie.  Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, [2006], c1986.  1 DVD videodisc (107 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.S67 W55 2006 VideoDVD : Goldie Hawn plays a physical education teacher who gets a chance to coach an inner-city high school football team. If that sounds contrived, it is, but in the hands of director Michael Ritchie (Smile), the jokes all fire, and there's plenty of comedy teased out in details. (The cheerleading squad has some funny moments just belting out their morale-boosting chants.) The supporting cast has a couple of significant up-and-comers: Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes.  Cast : Goldie Hawn, James Keach, Swoosie Kurtz. Within Our Gates (1920)  79 minutes, see The African American Cinema   : This film is one of the earliest surviving examples of a film by an African American filmmaker. Sylvia Landry is engaged to a black soldier, but her rival Alma Pritchard arranges for him to catch Sylvia in an innocent but compromising situation. No longer engaged, she moves to the South to work as a teacher in an all-black school. When the school has financial problems, she returns to Boston to raise money for it. There, she is befriended by a white doctor, Dr. Vivian, who falls in love with her. In a flashback, her rival tells the doctor how Sylvia lost her family. Sylvia's father was unjustly accused of murder, and her parents were lynched. Micheaux was not a great artist, but his films are important because they dealt with issues that the mainstream white studios ignored.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Search Engine . Within Our Gates (1920) (79 mins.)  Streaming video via Matinee Classics : Directed by Oscar Micheaux.  Cast: Evelyn Preer, Flo Clements, James D. Ruffin, Jack Chenault, William Smith and Charles D. Lucas.  Southern negro Sylvia Landry visits her cousin Alma in the north, where there is less racial prejudice than in her home town of Piney Woods in the deep south, and is anxiously awaiting her fiancé, Conrad. But Alma has designs on Conrad and tricks Sylvia into a compromising situation when he arrives, and he abandons her. Disheartened, she returns to Piney Woods to help a reverend running a school for young negroes. Sylvia learns that the reverend hasn't the heart to turn away poor students, and unless he can raise $5,000 to supplement the $1.49 per child per year that the state supplies, the school will be closed. She goes up north again to try to raise the money and has little success, but meets kindly negro, Dr. V. Vivian, who helps her regain her stolen purse. When she saves a child from being hit by an auto, she herself is slightly injured. But the owner of the car is philanthropist Mrs. Elena Warwick, who is sympathetic to her quest and promises to donate the $5,000 to the school. Her bigoted southern friend, Mrs. Stratton, tries to talk her out of the donation, and Mrs. Warwick gets so incensed she raises the amount to $50,000. Her job done, Sylvia returns to Piney Woods. But Dr. Vivian has fallen in love with Sylvia and goes to Alma to try to find her. There he learns the shocking details of her past and that of her family. The Wiz  (1978) / Universal ; a Motown production ; screenplay by Joel Schumacher ; produced by Rob Cohen ; directed by Sidney Lumet. Universal City, CA : Universal Studios, c1999. 1 DVD videodisc (135 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. PN1995.9.M86 W59 1999 VideoDVD : A discontented kindergarten teacher living in Harlem is lost in a blizzard and comes upon the wonderland of Oz. There she meets new friends, tries to find her way home, and finds that her life is not so bad after all.  Certainly one of the grandest versions of L. Frank Baum's classic tale The Wizard of Oz, filmed in New York City. The production team created sets with a sense of urban magic and spectacle: a New York subway station literally comes to life, and the massive plaza between the World Trade Center towers is transformed into the Emerald City, featuring nearly 400 dancers with three costume changes. Like all good musicals, the Quincy Jones arrangements are highly hummable long after viewing (especially the funky "Ease On Down the Road" and the inspirational "Brand New Day"). In an era before MTV, the camera stays nearly stationary as Ross and Lena Horne vocally soar through their numbers. Their stage-like performances successfully make the leap to film, making The Wiz a testament to their singing talents and star presence.   Cast - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsy Russell, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter.  Want more info?  Try Movie Review Search Engine . A Woman Called Moses (1978) / directed by Paul Wendkos ; written for television by Lonne Elder III ; produced by Ike Jones, Michael Jaffe.  Santa Monica, CA : Xenon Pictures, c2001.  1 DVD video (200 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.   PS3558.E4514 W62 2001 VideoDVD : Narrated by Orson Welles, this 1978 made-for-TV movie stars Cicely Tyson as Harriet Tubman, who founded the Underground Railroad. At the risk of being recaptured, the abolitionist and former slave helped hundreds of enslaved African-Americans find their way to the freedom of the promised land: the northern states. Tubman also conducted reconnaissance for the Union Army and later became influential in the women's suffrage movement.  Cast : Cicely Tyson, Orson Welles, Will Geer, Robert Hooks, James Wainwright.  Warning : reviews say this recording of the tv movie, transferred to dvd, is poor quality, but the story is worth telling.  Also available via Netflix.  Want more info?  Try the Internet Movie Database . The Women of Brewster Place (1988) / Xenon Entertainment Group ; produced by Patricia K. Meyer and Reuben Cannon ; teleplay by Karen Hall ; directed by Donna Deitch ; Phoenix Entertainment Group, Inc. ; Harpo Productions, Inc. ; King Phoenix Entertainment.  [United States] : Hearst Entertainment Inc. ; Santa Monica, CA : Distributed by Xenon Pictures, c2011.  1 DVD (182 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3564.A895 W66 2011 VideoDVD :  Based on Gloria Naylor’s “novel in seven stories,” the telefilm of The Women of Brewster Place explored the lives of seven women who reside in a decaying tenement on a dead-end street in an unnamed Northern city. A brick wall at the end of the street, erected as a result of political and economic machinations, separates them from the rest of the world. As the women come to know and trust each other, though, they rediscover the essential solidarity -- the sisterhood -- that is lacking in their lives. In the end, they break down the wall, both literally and metaphorically; and its destruction leads to their healing and rebirth. Each of the women has a separate identity, but all blend fluidly as they form an extended family. Their personal histories share certain commonalities: discrimination, racism, and above all, violence and abuse at the hands of men. Yet the suffering that the women share affords them a kind of redemption. The young unwed Mattie (played by Oprah Winfrey, who also co-produced the telefilm) is taken in off the street by Miss Eva, a complete stranger, who helps to raise Mattie’s son as if he were her own. Later Mattie, assuming Eva’s matriarchal role, performs a similar act of generosity towards Ceil. Their maternal bond is typical of the relationships in the film. For example, single, affluent Kiswana -- who moves to Brewster Place as part of her social rebellion -- befriends poor, uneducated Cora Lee and prompts her to aspire to new goals for herself and her children. And the heterosexual but celibate Mattie helps libertine Etta Mae understand the affection between lesbians Lorraine and Theresa by admitting that all of her life she too has loved women, albeit in a non-sexual way. Adapted from Naylor’s popular novel and brought to the screen by female director Donna Deitsch and screenwriter Karen Hall, The Women of Brewster Place opened up questions about the nature of women’s experience. It also violated familiar expectations of black women. Not defined merely by their sexuality or their relationship to white employers, the telefilm’s characters demonstrate their individual and collective strengths and confirm that the notion of family, consistent with the black female literary tradition, encompasses more than mere blood ties.  Source : Separate Cinema.   A Worn Path  (1999) / Harcourt Brace College Publishers presents ; a Bruce R. Schwartz film ; producer, Joseph M. Davis ; adapted for the screen and directed by Bruce R. Schwartz.  Princeton, NJ : Films for the Humanities & Sciences, c2004.  1 videodisc (32 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.  PS3545.E6 W66 2004 VideoDVD   : On a "bright, frozen day" in Mississippi, 95-year-old Phoenix Jackson makes her mythic journey into town for the medicine her grandson needs. Touching upon themes of family, love, aging, and poverty, this dramatization of Eudora Welty’s classic story "A Worn Path" provides both a heroic image of the human spirit enduring against tremendous odds and a poignant commentary on the African-American experience. An interview with Welty herself by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley concludes the program.   Also available on   YouTube   at least temporarily.   Interview with the author of the short story, 9 minutes. You Got Served/Baby Boy / directors, Chris Stokes, John Singleton ; writers, Chris Stokes, John Singleton ; producers, Amy Yukich, Billy Pollina, Cassius Weathersby, Dwight Williams.  United States] : Columbia TriStar, 2004.  2 DVD videodiscs (3 hr., 45 min.) : sound ; 4 3/4 in. ROVI Movie Collection CL9 D0039512 VideoDVD  discs 1-2  :  Baby Boy (Movie 1)  is the powerful urban drama directed by John Singleton (Shaft and Boyz N the Hood) starring rap music superstars Tyrese Gibson and Snoop Dogg (Half Baked, I Got the Hook Up). With knockout performances from Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible II, Pulp Fiction, Con Air) and A.J. Johnson (Friday House Party, The Players Club), Baby Boy is a tough, honest and unflinching look at modern urban life. Jody (Gibson) is a 20-year-old African American in South Central L.A. who is trying to live large but doesn't have a job. He's got two babies by two different women and still lives at home with his mother (Johnson). Growing up is tough on Jody, but a series of events involving his mother's new boyfriend Melvin (Rhames), his girfriend Yvette (Taraji P. Henson) and her ex-con ex-boyfriend Rodney (Snoop Dogg), force him to learn lessons about living, loving and surviving as a man in the hood.   You Got Served (Movie Number 2) : At Mr. Rad's Warehouse, the best hip-hop crews in Los Angeles compete for money and respect. But when a suburban crew crashes the party, stealing their dancers-and their moves-two warring friends have to pull together to represent the street. Combining a sexy story and the best dance moves to hitthe screen, You Got Served is a fast-moving urban drama with a hip-hop heart of steel. Starring Marques Houston of IMX, Omari of B2K, Lil' Kim and comedian Steve Harvey. Subject Guide Want to Make a Suggestion? Feel free to recommend your favorite documentary or feature film for acquisition by the library.  Better yet the Library will be happy to accept donations and they are tax deductible too! Contact Jon Harrison. Black Cowboy Films Not only did Hollywood ignore black cowboys, it plundered their real stories as material for some of its films. The Lone Ranger, for example, is believed to have been inspired by Bass Reeves , a black lawman who used disguises, had a Native American sidekick and went through his whole career without being shot. The 1956 John Ford film The Searchers, based on Alan Le May's novel, was partly inspired by the exploits of Brit Johnson , a black cowboy whose wife and children were captured by the Comanches in 1865. In the film, John Wayne plays as a Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his niece who has been abducted by Indians. Black cowboys in the movies Herb Jeffries (who darkened his skin) and Spencer Williams in Harlem on the Prairie (1937) Woody Strode in Sergeant Rutledge (1960) Bill Cosby and Yaphet Kotto in Man and Boy (1971) Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte in Buck and the Preacher (1972) Cleavon Little in Blazin' Saddles (1974) Danny Glover in Silverado (1985) Morgan Freeman in Unforgiven (1992) Source : Sarfraz Manzoor, " America's forgotten black cowboys ", BBC News Magazine, March 22, 2013. Slavery Films

i don't know

Complete the following quote from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose/ By any other name would”?

What's in a name? That which we call a rose - eNotes Shakespeare Quotes What's in a name? That which we call a rose Juliet: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." Read on Owl Eyes This eText is now on Owl Eyes. Clicking this link will open a new window. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet meet and fall in love in Shakespeare's lyrical tale of "star-cross'd" lovers. They are doomed from the start as members of two warring families. Here Juliet tells Romeo that a name is an artificial and meaningless convention, and that she loves the person who is called "Montague", not the Montague name and not the Montague family. Romeo, out of his passion for Juliet, rejects his family name and vows, as Juliet asks, to "deny (his) father" and instead be "new baptized" as Juliet's lover. This one short line encapsulates the central struggle and tragedy of the play, and is one of Shakespeare's most famous quotes.

smell as sweet

What designer founded the fashion house DKNY?

Romeo & Juliet Quotes: Translation Of Romeo & Juliet Quotes Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heavin Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night. Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Juliet’s beauty would eclipse the sun as daylight does a lamp.At night her eyes would shine so brightly in the sky that the birds would think the night was over and start singing.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Hey, I was just wondering if you can maybe help me figure out what this quote mean’s from the book Romeo & Juliet (Act I,v speaking to Juliet at the banquet) “Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged” Thank you so much 🙂 Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote This is quite a complicated one. Romeo and Juliet are pretending that their hands and lips are pilgrims on a holy pilgrimage. They hold hands and talk about sins being forgiven etc. Then he kisses her and says ‘let lips do what hands do’, meaning touch each other. it is a mixture of religion and sex. He carries on the game and says that through their kissing, his sins are forgiven.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. (Romeo & Juliet quote Act II, Scene II) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Her window is the East and Juliet is the rising sun.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of thy tongue’s uttering, yet i know the sound, art thou romeo, and a montague? Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote I’ve hardly heard your voice and yet I recognise it. Are you Romeo, and a Montague?   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow (Romeo & Juliet quote Act II, Scene II) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Good night, good night! Parting is so sweetly painful that I say goodnight until tomorrow.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. (Romeo & Juliet quote Act II, Scene II) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote What is there in a name? Whatever name we may call a rose by it would smell just as sweet.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast. (Romeo & Juliet quote Act II, Scene III) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Nice and easy does it; those that run too fast will fall.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Tempt not a desperate man. (Romeo & Juliet quote Act V, Scene III) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Don’t tangle with a desperate man.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote For you and I are past our dancing days. (Romeo & Juliet quote Act I, Scene V) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote You and I are too old for dancing.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright. (Romeo & Juliet quote Act I, Scene V) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote She shows torches how to shine brightly. Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear (Romeo & Juliet quote Act I, Scene V) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote She seems to hang against the cheek of night like a diamond earing in an African’s ear.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote See how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek! (Romeo & Juliet quote Act II, Scene II) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Look how she rests her cheek on her hand. Oh I wish I were a glove on that hand so that I could touch that cheek.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty. (Romeo & Juliet quote Act IV, Sc. II) Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Not going too far. Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Romeo and Juliet Act 3, Scene 1 SCENE I. A public place. MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, Page, and Servants BENVOLIO I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire: The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. MERCUTIO Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword upon the table and says ‘God send me no need of thee!’ and by the operation of the second cup draws it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need. Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Benvolio Please, good Mercutio, let’s go. It’s hot and the Capulets are around. If we bump into any of them there’s bound to be a fight because the heat is stirring everyone up. Mercutio You are like one of those blokes who goes into a pub, bangs his sword down on the table and says, ‘I hope to God I’m not going to need you’ and then, by the time he’s on his second glass, draws on the barman, when there really was no need for it.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote prologue of romeo and juliet where civil blood makes civil hands unclean from forth the fatal loins of these two foes whose misadventured piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents strife which, but their children’s end, nought could remove the fearful passage of their death-marked love is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; the which if you with patient ears attend, what here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Where fighting between citizens make a great number of people guilty from the families of these two enemies (a pair of star crossed lovers kill themselves) whose accidental unfortunate reversals end their parents’ conflict with their own deaths. which nothing could end except their children’s death the terrible course of their doomed love is now what you are going to see on the stage during the next two hours and if you pay attention with all ears what we’ve missed out in this prologue we will make up for in the play   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote I am doing essay and need a little help – I need to translate a few lines from romeo and Juliet to a more modern English: I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes And but thou love me, let them find me here My life were better ended by their hate Than death prorogues, wanting of thy love. Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote They won’t be able to see me in the dark. And if you only love me, let them find me here. I would rather my life were ended by their hatred than that I went on living without your love.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Hey! I was just wondering if u guys could tell me what these quotes mean…thanks “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun” Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote ‘Tis but ty name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name; And for that name, which is no part of thee, Take all myself. Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Juliet knows that the blood feud prevents her from loving a Montague. She ponders it. It’s only your name that’s the enemy. You are what you are, even though you may be a Montague. What’s ‘Montague’? It isn’t hand or foot or arm or face or any other part belonging to a man. Oh I wish you had a different name. What is so special about a name? A rose, even if it were called something else, would smell just as sweet. So Romeo would still have all the perfection that he has, even if he were not called Romeo. Romeo, take off your name and in exchange for that whole name, which is not really a part of what you are, you can have all of me.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote I pray thee chide me not. Her I love now Doth grace for grace and love for love allow The other did not so. Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Please don’t reprimand me. The girl I love now returns my love in every way. The other girl didn’t.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Who had but newly entertain’d revenge, And to ‘t they go like lightning, for, ere I Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain. And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote And they went at each other like lightning, because, before I could part them, strong Tybalt was killed. And as he fell, Romeo turned and ran away. This is the truth, otherwise you can have me (Benvolio) put to death. Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And ‘twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled; But by and by comes back to Romeo Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote He tries to stop them by beating their swords down, and rushes between them. Tybald takes advantage and thrusts at Mercutio underneath his arm. He stabs Mercutio. And then Tybald ran away. Eventually he comes back to Romeo. Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote Benvolio: “Go thither, and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I shall show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow.” [Act I, Scene II] Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote Benvolio tells Romeo: Go to the party and look at the other girls that I will show you, with an unbiased eye, and compare their faces with hers. I will make you think that this girl that you are in love with (Rosaline) is not a beautiful swan but an ugly crow.   Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Quote can you help me translate this(Act IV scene I): *line 3 Paris-And I am nothing slow to slack his haste *line 22 Friar- That’s a certain text *line 63-67-Juliet- Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that Which the commission of thy years and art Could to no issue of true honor bring. Be not so long to speak. I long to die. If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy. *lines 74-75-friar- A thing like death to chide away this shame, that cop’st with death himself to scape from it; Thanks a ton. I just had a bit of trouble on these Plain English Romeo & Juliet Quote line 3. And I have no intention of slowing him down. line 22. That’s very true 63-67. this bloody dagger will decide, over ruling that which your years and skills can’t do. Don’t take so long to speak: I long to die if what you tell me can’t offer a solution. 74-75. Then i think you will undertake something very like death to counter this shame. you will have to cope with death itself in order to escape death.  

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“When You Wish Upon a Star” was recorded for what classic Disney film?

When You Wish Upon a Star | Disney Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia When You Wish Upon a Star Share When You Wish Upon a Star is a featured article , which means it has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Disney Wiki community. If you see a way this page can be updated or improved without compromising previous work, please feel free to contribute. When You Wish Upon a Star Composer Now That's What I Call Movies (UK) Followed By [Source] "When You Wish Upon a Star" is a song written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney 's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio . [1] The original version was sung by Jiminy Cricket ( Cliff Edwards ) [1] and is heard over the opening credits and in the final scene of the film. It has since become the representative song of The Walt Disney Company . The recording by Cliff Edwards and Chorus was released by Victor Records as catalogue number 261546 and 26477A (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice Label as catalogue number BD 821. Edwards recorded another version in 1940 for an American Decca Records "cover version" of the score of Pinocchio, conducted by Victor Young and featuring soprano Julietta Novis and The King's Men. It was first released on a 4-record 78-RPM album set, and years later as one side of an LP, backed by selections from The Wizard of Oz. A recording with Christian Rub (with Mister Geppetto 's voice), Cliff Edwards and Chorus was released by Victor Records as catalogue number 26479B (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalogue number BD 823. It won the 1940 Academy Award for Best Original Song. [1] It was also the first Disney song to win an Oscar. Contents When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires If your heart is in your dream No request is too extreme When you wish upon a star As dreamers do She brings to those who love The sweet fulfillment of Like a bolt out of the blue Fate steps in and sees you through When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true When your heart is in your dream No request is too extreme Chorus (Singing): When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true You'll find your dreams come true Influence The American Film Institute ranked the song seventh in their 100 Greatest Songs in Film History, the highest ranked Disney animated film song, and also one of only four Disney animated film songs to appear on the list, with the others being " Some Day My Prince Will Come " from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ranked at #19, " Beauty and the Beast " from Beauty and the Beast ranked at #62, and " Hakuna Matata " from The Lion King ranked at #99. The song reached the top one in Billboard's Record Buying Guide, a predecessor of the retail sales chart. Popular versions included Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, Horace Heidt and, of course, Cliff Edwards. In Japan , Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark , the song has become a Christmas song, often referring to the Star of Bethlehem. The Swedish language version is called Ser du stjärnan i det blå, roughly translated: "do you see the star in the blue(sky)", and the Danish title is "Når du ser et stjerneskud", which translates as "When you see a shooting star". In Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, the song is played on television every Christmas Eve in the traditional Disney one-hour Christmas cabaret, and the gathering of the entire family to watch this is considered a Scandinavian tradition. The song was also covered by Dion and the Belmonts in 1960 . The song was covered by KISS bassist Gene Simmons, on his eponymous solo album in 1978 . Simmons said that he covered it because he related to ut and was a fan of Disney movies. "When I first heard that song I could barely speak English but I knew the words were true. Anybody can have what they want, the world and life can give its rewards to anyone." [2] In 1986 , Linda Ronstadt recorded the classic song for her Platinum-certified album For Sentimental Reasons. Released as the album's first single, it peaked at #32 in Billboard Magazine at year's end. Billy Joel performed the song in the 1991 direct-to-video special Simply Mad About the Mouse: A Musical Celebration of Imagination and its soundtrack. A video was produced with Joel featuring as an animated character interacting with famous Disney characters. [3] In 1995 , Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Chipettes recorded a cover as the final track to their Disney-themed album When You Wish Upon a Chipmunk. The song is presented twice in Disney's RocketMan ( 1997 ). The first time it appears in the film, it is sung by Fred Z. Randall (played by Harland Williams ) while looking at a star outside of a spaceship. Then at the end of the film, an abridged version of the original by Cliff Edwards plays as Randall and Julie Ford (Jessica Lundy) dance together on a spaceship. Neil Diamond covered the song on his 1998 album The Movie Album: As Time Goes By. 'N Sync recorded a cover for Disneymania ( 2002 ), Ashley Gearing covered the song for Disneymania 2 ( 2003 ), Jesse McCartney covered it for Disneymania 3 ( 2005 ), and Kate Voegele performed it for Disneymania 6 ( 2008 ). In 2005, Julie Andrews selected the original Cliff Edwards recording for the album Julie Andrews Selects Her Favorite Disney Songs. In 2009 , Meaghan Jette Martin covered the song for the DVD release from Disney's 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition of Pinocchio. The Library of Congress deemed the song "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and preserved it into the National Recording Registry in 2009. [4] On February 15 , 2011 , Celtic Woman released a cover of the song as the first track on their album Celtic Woman: Lullaby. [5] Brian Wilson admits that the melody of The Beach Boys hit song "Surfer Girl", which has the same AABA form, [6] is loosely based on the Dion and the Belmonts version of "When You Wish Upon a Star". [7] [8] [9] [10] Wilson also covered it on his album In the Key of Disney, which was released on October 25 , 2011. Later, on Christmas Day 2011, Jessica Jung of Girls' Generation covered the song for their MBC Christmas Special. On 2012 album Disney - Koe no Oujisama, which features various seiyus covering Disney songs, this song was covered by Takahiro Sakurai Rod Stewart covered the song for his 2012 Christmas album Merry Christmas, Baby. [11] Idina Menzel also recorded the song for her 2014 Christmas album Holiday Wishes. [12] Avant-garde guitarist Buckethead occasionally plays a shortened version live. A cover version of the orchestral underscore is used in the Walt Disney World commercial: "Wake Up Call" to replace " A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes " as seen in the Pocahontas 1996 VHS tape. "When You Wish" was the corps song of the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps . [13] In addition, it was the first musical chart in Star's first competitive program in 1985 (as the entire musical book was drawn from Disney properties). Disney icon "When You Wish Upon a Star", along with Mickey Mouse , has become an icon of The Walt Disney Company. In the 1950s and 1960s, Walt Disney used the song in the opening sequences of all the editions of the Walt Disney anthology television series . It has also been used to accompany the Walt Disney Pictures opening logos – including the present-day logo – since the 1980s. The ships of the Disney Cruise Line use the first seven notes of the song's melody as their horn signals. Additionally, many productions at Disney theme parks – particularly fireworks shows and parades – employ the song. Other Versions Turkish Jazz The piece has become a jazz standard. [14] It has been performed by artists including Louis Armstrong, June Christy, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Glenn Miller, Joe Pass, the Keith Jarrett Trio, The Manhattan Transfer, Sun Ra, Jason Becker and Bill Evans. Lawsuit The owner of the rights to the song, Bourne Co. Music Publishers, sued Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Fox Broadcasting Company, Fuzzy Door Productions, Cartoon Network, Walter Murphy and Seth MacFarlane to try to stop distribution of a 2003 Family Guy episode entitled "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" that parodies the song in a version called I Need a Jew. A federal judge ruled against Bourne Co, stating that parodying the song did not infringe on the company's copyright. [15] References ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 134. ISBN 1-904994-10-5 .

Pinocchio

What synthetic material, developed by DuPont in 1965, is a high strength material used in bike tires and as the basis for modern bullet proof vests?

Pinocchio (1940) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A living puppet, with the help of a cricket as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy. Directors: Carlo Collodi (from the story by) (as Collodi), Ted Sears (story adaptation) | 6 more credits  » Stars: From $19.99 (HD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 49 titles created 24 Dec 2010 a list of 42 titles created 15 Aug 2011 a list of 40 titles created 21 Dec 2013 a list of 46 titles created 18 May 2014 a list of 33 titles created 24 Nov 2014 Search for " Pinocchio " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards  » Videos Directors: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, and 5 more credits  » Stars: Hardie Albright, Stan Alexander, Bobette Audrey Directors: Samuel Armstrong, Norman Ferguson, and 5 more credits  » Stars: Sterling Holloway, Edward Brophy, James Baskett Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and 2 more credits  » Stars: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried Directors: William Cottrell, David Hand, and 4 more credits  » Stars: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and 1 more credit  » Stars: Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Peggy Lee Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and 1 more credit  » Stars: Ilene Woods, James MacDonald, Eleanor Audley After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on a princess which only a prince can break, along with the help of three good fairies. Director: Clyde Geronimi Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and 1 more credit  » Stars: Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, J. Pat O'Malley Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and 1 more credit  » Stars: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn The story of the legendary outlaw is portrayed with the characters as humanoid animals. Director: Wolfgang Reitherman With the help of a smooth talking tomcat, a family of Parisian felines set to inherit a fortune from their owner try to make it back home after a jealous butler kidnaps them and leaves them in the country. Director: Wolfgang Reitherman A poor boy named Arthur learns the power of love, kindness, knowledge and bravery with the help of a wizard called Merlin in the path to become one of the most beloved kings in England history. Director: Wolfgang Reitherman Edit Storyline Inventor Gepetto creates a wooden marionette called Pinocchio. His wish that Pinocchio be a real boy is unexpectedly granted by a fairy. The fairy assigns Jiminy Cricket to act as Pinocchio's "conscience" and keep him out of trouble. Jiminy is not too successful in this endeavor and most of the film is spent with Pinocchio deep in trouble. Written by Tim Pickett <quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au> Disney's all-time family classic is back ...No strings attached! [1987 re-release Australia] See more  » Genres: 23 February 1940 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Honest John's "real" name is given in promotional materials as J. Worthington Foulfellow, but this name is never mentioned in the film itself. See more » Goofs When Jiminy cozies up to sleep on the end of a fiddle, he kicks his shoes off in front of him. But when he is aroused by the Blue Fairy's arrival and grabs his shoes, they are now some distance away, sitting neatly heel to heel. See more » Quotes [first lines] Jiminy Cricket : [after singing "When You Wish Upon a Star"] Pretty, huh? I'll bet a lot of you folks don't believe that, about a wish comin' true, do ya? Well, I didn't, either. Of course, I'm just a cricket singing my way from hearth to hearth, but let me tell you what made me change my mind. (U.S.A.) – See all my reviews Darker in tone than most Disney animated features (except for 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'), 'Pinocchio' came shortly after 'Snow White' and showed marked improvement in the art of animation technology to produce startling special effects. The first twenty-five minutes alone raise the film to the level of true animation art. Gepetto's inventive clocks come to life as realistically as any real-life photography could do. The warmth and cosiness of his dwelling and the charming shenanigans of Figaro the kitten and Cleo the goldfish, are all perfectly realized. The imaginative use of music and animation art is never finer than in these opening scenes. Afterwards, as the plot thickens, the special effects are just as impressive. The scene of Gepetto searching for Pinocchio with a lantern on a rainy night after he has been captured by Stromboli is unforgettable imagery. The wagon lurching along roads with Pinocchio in a cage is a frightening thing. Even darker are the adventures that await Pinocchio when he reaches Pleasure Island. The scene of the boys turning into donkeys is probably one of the most awesome and frightening moments in the film. Altogether charming are the underwater sequences before the meeting of Monstro the Whale. The climactic chase after the escape from the belly of the whale is handled brilliantly. The music perfectly accents the dramatic chase for this sequence and the songs throughout are in keeping with the mood and characters of the story. It is the sharp contrast between the lighter moments and the darker ones that gives the film a correct blend of fantasy and horror. Parents should be cautioned that very young children may be frightened. Has to be considered one of the most beautifully animated Disney features of all time. A treasure to see again and again. 34 of 36 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? Yes

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An Eskimo roll is a maneuver to right what type of craft?

How to Do an Eskimo Roll: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Learning Eskimo Roll Technique 1 Position your paddle parallel to your boat. [2] You want the paddle to be along the left side, or port, of your boat. As you go throughout the process of learning your Eskimo roll technique, make sure that you maintain a firm grip on your paddle. 2 Twist your torso to the right, and retract your right arm. [3] You will bring your paddle in an arch across your kayak deck in front of you. You want to lead your paddle into the water on the right, or starboard, side of your boat. After you form this arch, you want to follow through with your paddle in the water all the way back to the stern, along the starboard side of your boat. A higher arch with the paddle will give you more power in your Eskimo roll. However, form takes practice. You’ll want to have maximum power without compromising your ability to pull the paddle against the resistance of the water. This is a personal balance, and it will depend on your upper body strength. 3 Practice your technique above water before you attempt to roll. [4] Going through the motions with your paddle will help you to develop your muscle memory before you actually attempt your roll under water. Make sure that you have a friend or instructor near by to watch and provide feedback on your technique. You don’t want to form any bad technical habits. A large part of the success of an Eskimo roll lies in the fluidity of your motions. You want to be able to go through the motions of s roll without stopping to think about each position or step. Practice for a few hours over the course of a few days before you attempt to roll under water. Part 2 Practicing Your Eskimo Roll 1 Capsize your kayak. [5] As you are practicing your roll, you want to know how to flip yourself over. The first time you do this, you’re going to exit the kayak rather than roll. To make yourself comfortable, ease into flipping over completely. Have your friend bring the bow of their boat next to your cockpit, perpendicular to your boat. Reach out one hand to rest on their bow. Slowly lean toward your friend, and tip your boat into the water about 45 degrees. Then, return to an upright position by pushing down on their bow. Repeat this a few times. Each time, slightly increase how far you lean into the water. Do this until you can lean far enough to flip yourself over completely. 2 Exit your capsized kayak. [6] After you flip your kayak over completely, you want to make a controlled exit. This will give you a safety net as you begin to practice your rolls. You’ll know you are never trapped underwater, as you can always perform a boat exit. Practice with the spray skirt on your kayak. You will need a spray skirt when you roll. Make sure that your spray skirt’s handle is within your reach, and that you are in a snug seated position in your kayak. After you capsize your kayak, take a second or two to orient your self, and remain as calm as possible. Grab your spray skirt by the handle, and pull it off. Place the paddle between your hands, firmly grip the edge of the cockpit, and push yourself out to either side of your kayak. Keep your head as close to the surface as you can. 3 Practice your exits. [7] Even though this isn’t your complete roll, practicing wet exits can help you to feel comfortable upside down in the water. Each time you perform your exit, try to stay under water for a little longer. You want to have as much control over your breath as you can. 4 Keep a friend by your side for emergency surfacing. Because you are new to Eskimo rolls, you may not be able to flip yourself back over completely on your first few tries. [8] Remember, if you need help at any point, bang your hands against the side of your boat, or stick your hand up out of the water. Make sure your friend is on high alert. 5 Capsize your boat, and perform the motions of your roll under water. Once you capsize, your arm technique and paddle arch motion will be exactly the same as it was when you practiced on the surface of the water. It will simply be inverted. If you can’t pull yourself up on the first try, you complete the motion twice to practice under water, depending on how long you can hold your breath. Don’t be alarmed if you surface for a second and are pulled back underwater. You will need to exert a large amount of force to right yourself complete, and this takes trial and error. 6 Repeat the action. The only way to learn to do an Eskimo is to continue to practice. Don’t become discouraged and quit if you can’t get it right away. Eventually, the action will become natural and fluid. Experiment with different amounts of force and the height of your paddle. Don’t try to roll in a setting such as the ocean or a river until you are extremely comfortable with the action and have completed it many times. Part 3 Getting Comfortable in the Water 1 Start in a controlled, still-water setting. [9] As you learn to roll, you want to begin in a setting that is predictable and safe, like a lake or a large pool. White water or ocean water can be too rough and unpredictable for those learning to do an Eskimo roll for the first time. If you are in a lake, avoid areas with submerged limbs or shallow areas with large rocks. You don’t want to hit your head as you roll. 2 Choose a spot familiar to you. When you are learning new techniques, it’s best to kayak in places that you’ve been before. If you choose to kayak on a lake, try to pick a place where you know the landscape and are comfortable. You want to choose a familiar space so you are aware of all possible variables and dangers as you begin your Eskimo roll. 3 Kayak with another person. Anytime you’re out on the water, you want to make sure you have a friend there for safety, especially when you are learning new techniques. If you can, recruit someone to help you who has kayaking experience and knows how to roll. They can watch your technique and give you personalized tips on improving as you begin. 4 Dress for the water temperature. [10] Because you are planning on capsizing to learn how to roll, you want to make sure you have appropriate gear for the weather. In addition to air temperature, check the water temperature, as the water is often much colder than the air. If you have access to one, wear a wetsuit. [11] 5 Condition your body and breath. [12] Your physical fitness and mental calm will likely determine your success in completing your Eskimo roll. Practice holding your breath in increments, increasing the length of time you hold it. Do upper body exercises like push-ups and pull-ups to increase your arm power. For overall kayaking improvement, do core exercises like planking and crunches for better body control. Community Q&A What is the technical term for an eskimo roll? wikiHow Contributor An eskimo roll is simply a general term for a complete roll in kayaking. There are more specific variations on the eskimo roll, including a screw roll, a reverse screw roll, a C-to-C roll, a hand roll, and an obsolete roll.

Kayak

One of the largest book publisher, what company took it's name from the founders desire to publish a few arbitrary books on the side?

Learn the Lingo - Glossary of Uncommon Paddling Terms Ferry – A maneuver used to cross a current with little or no downstream travel. Uses the current to move a boat laterally. Eddy – Place in the current where water flows around an obstacle, such as a rock, and then reverses course to fill in the space behind it. Offers a haven from the flowing current. Skeg – An adjustable fin used to keep some sea kayaks tracking straight. Roll – Technique to right an overturned kayak or canoe without getting out of it. Carp – A failed roll in which the boater manages to get his lips above water to take a hasty breath. Bulkheads – Walls forming sealed compartments fore and aft in a kayak. Chine – Transition area between the bottom and the side of the boat. Hard chines are angular; soft chines are rounded. Cockpit – The opening in the deck of a kayak where the paddler sits. Bearing – The direction you want to go to reach your destination. – The direction your bow is pointing. Lee – An area protected from the wind; also the quarter or region toward which the wind blows. Gunwales – Structural supports that run end to end along the top of a canoe hull. Portage – Derived from the French word for “carry.” A fancy name for carrying your boat around a difficult rapid or other obstacle. Hole (also, hydraulic, keeper) – A spot where water tumbles over an obstacle and reverses course upon itself. Can trap boats from continuing downstream. Beatdown – What sometimes happens to a boater caught in a hole. Boof – A whitewater maneuver used to launch the craft up and over an obstacle. Huck – The act of running a waterfall. “Way to huck carcass brah. That was sick.” Keel – A strip or extrusion along the bottom of a boat to prevent side-slipping. Rocker – Curvature of the keel line from the center toward the ends of a boat. Lots of rocker means quick, easy turns; less rocker means better tracking. Sweep Stroke – Used to turn the boat by reaching out and ahead, then “sweeping” in a wide arc fore to aft. Thwart – A cross-brace between the sides of a canoe. Tracking – The ability of a boat to hold a straight course due to its hull design. Yoke – A modified thwart used as a shoulder rest to carry a canoe. Baja sleigh ride – When a kayak fisherman hooks into a fish big enough to pull him and his kayak in circles; also Texas sleigh ride, Gulf Coast sleigh ride, etc. Brace – A stroke used to provide support and prevent the craft from capsizing. Riffles – Light, shallow rapids found in Class I whitewater. Pushing rubber: Rowing or paddling an inflatable raft, especially one full of tourists. Groover – The latrine on a multi-day river trip. Name derives from the time when such devices were re-purposed ammunition cans that left a distinctive groove on one’s posterior. River right/River left – The banks of a river are always referred to by their relation to the view downstream. Bus stop – Raft guide slang for dumping every client in your raft (Bus stop: everyone out except the driver). CFS – Cubic feet per second. Standard measure of river volume in the United States. Swim – Exiting your craft into the water after a capsize. Swim beer – The beverage a rescued swimmer customarily purchases for his rescuer, to show his gratitude and ensure future rescues. Tricky-woo – Freestyle kayaking move that’s too complicated to describe here.

i don't know

What musical instrument is often crafted with two parallel pipes, one known as a chanter and the other known as a drone?

bagpipe | musical instrument | Britannica.com musical instrument wind instrument Bagpipe, wind instrument consisting of two or more single- or double-reed pipes, the reeds being set in motion by wind fed by arm pressure on an animal-skin (or rubberized-cloth) bag. The pipes are held in wooden sockets (stocks) tied into the bag, which is inflated either by the mouth (through a blowpipe with a leather nonreturn valve) or by bellows strapped to the body. Melodies are played on the finger holes of the melody pipe , or chanter, while the remaining pipes, or drones , sound single notes tuned against the chanter by means of extendable joints. The sound is continuous; to articulate the melody and to reiterate notes the piper employs gracing—i.e., rapidly interpolated notes outside the melody, giving an effect of detached notes. Scottish Highland bagpipe; in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, England. The Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, Eng. Bagpipes were alluded to in Europe as early as the 9th century; earlier evidence is scarce but includes four Latin and Greek references of about ad 100 and, possibly, an Alexandrian terra-cotta of about 100 bc (at Berlin). In the earliest ones the bag is typically a bladder or a whole sheepskin or goatskin, minus the hindquarters; later, two pieces of skin were cut to shape and sewn together. Bagpipes have always been folk instruments, but after the 15th century some were used for court music , and others have survived as military instruments. For the chanter, two single-reed cane pipes are placed parallel, one pipe often sounding a drone or other accompaniment to the other pipe. Most have cowhorn bells, being bag versions of hornpipes; they are found in North Africa , the Arabian Peninsula , the Aegean, the Caucasus , and among the Mari of Russia. Other double chanters in eastern Europe (Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, and elsewhere) are made of a single piece of wood with two cylindrical bores (as in cane pipes) and single reeds of cane or elder. There is also a separate bass drone tuned, like most bass drones, two octaves below the chanter keynote. The Bulgarian gaida and the Czecho-Polish dudy (koza) have a single chanter, and in the dudy, the chanter and drone each carry a huge cowhorn bell. Similar Topics sheng In western European bagpipes the chanter typically is conically bored and sounded by a double reed; drones are cylindrical with single reeds, as in bagpipes found elsewhere. The Scottish Highland bagpipe has two tenor drones and a bass drone, tuned an octave apart; its scale preserves traditional intervals foreign to European classical music. It was once, like other bagpipes, a pastoral and festive instrument; its military use with drums dates from the 18th century. The Scottish Lowland bagpipe, played from about 1750 to about 1850, was bellows-blown, with three drones in one stock, and had a softer sound. Akin to this were the two-droned bagpipes played up to the 18th century in Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, and England. The modern two-droned Irish war pipe is a modified Highland bagpipe revived about 1905. The cornemuse of central France is distinguished by a tenor drone held in the chanter stock beside the chanter. Often bellows-blown and without bass drone, it is characteristically played with the hurdy-gurdy . The Italian zampogna is unique, with two chanters—one for each hand—arranged for playing in harmony, often to accompany a species of bombarde (especially at Christmas); the chanters and two drones are held in one stock, and all have double reeds. The bellows-blown musette , fashionable in French society under Louis XIV , had one, later two, cylindrical chanters (the second extending the range upward) and four tunable drones bored in a single cylinder. Partly offshoots of the musette are the British small pipes (c. 1700), of which the Northumbrian small pipe is played today. Its cylindrical chanter, with seven keys, is closed at the bottom, so that when all holes are closed it is silent (thus allowing true articulation and staccato). The four single-reed drones are in one stock and are used three at a time. Britannica Stories bagpipe - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Although the bagpipe is traditionally associated with Scotland, many other regions and countries have their own version of the instrument. Bagpipes are found in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Aegean, the Caucasus, and among the Mari people of Russia. A member of the wind instrument family, the bagpipe is one of the oldest reed instruments-it was known to the civilizations of ancient Greece, Rome, and Persia. The bagpipe is a folk instrument that has been used for pastoral and festive music as well as for marching bands and military purposes. The simplest form of bagpipe, from which all modern types evolved, consists of three parts: (1) a tube called a chanter, which has as many as eight finger holes and is usually fitted with a reed, enabling a melody to be played, inserted into (2) an airtight bag that holds the instrument’s supply of wind, which the player traditionally blows into the bag through (3) another tube equipped with a valve that prevents the return of air. (See also wind instruments.) Article History

Bagpipes

William Shatner is the spokesperson for what online discount travel sight?

Bulgaria And Other Eastern European Instruments - Bulgarian and other Balkan musical instruments. Bulgaria And Other Eastern European Instruments     About Bulgarian Folk Instruments - Scroll For More Information The Gaida (bagpipe) is one of the most characteristic folk instruments of Bulgaria. It is said that a traditional wedding is incomplete without its presence. Traditionally the solitary shepherd's companion, it is often heard solo or accompanied by a large drum. It is also popular in small village orchestras. Like all Bulgarian folk instruments there are many regional variations with distinctive styles of detail and ornament. All share a common form: white kidskin bag, blowpipe, drone and chanter. The pipes of the eastern regions of Thrace and Dobrudja are usually high-pitched, while those of western Shope region tend to be lower. In the south Bulgarian Rhodope mountain region they are extremely deep-pitched with huge goatskin bags. These are often played in pairs or trios and sometimes in large groups. There is one ensemble in that area called "Sto Gaidi", which translates as "One Hundred Gaidas". The standard instrument today is an outfit consisting of three chanters and two drones, giving the player capacity to perform music of all regions. The chanter, called a "gaidanitsa", makes this instrument unique. It has the capability of a full chromatic scale. Its conical bore may have up to seven subtle changes. The tone holes are curved and recessed to give the fingers a relaxed and comfortable grip. Its most unusual detail is the "flea hole", a small metal pipe or bushing at the top of the bore. This gives the instrument its exceptional chromatic range. The pipes are traditionally richly decorated with delicate grooving or combing and trimmed with metal and ox horn of varying hues. The kaba-gaida of south Bulgaria is a huge instrument. Its single drone is almost four feet long. It has a deep and noble tone. Its gaidanitsa is hexagonal rather than round in cross-section, and it is richly ornamented with subtle carving. The gadulka is probably the most popular and also most ancient folk instrument in Bulgaria today. Although loud and resonant, its distinctive Slavic voice is warm and soothing. It is traditionally played in small orchestral groups or used to accompany singing. Most folk musicians make their own instruments following strong regional traditions of form and tuning, though there are many renowned professional makers. Two types of gadulkas are commonly played. Both are made from large single blocks of hardwood that are carved and hollowed into pear like corpus, then covered with resonant softwood faces. The more prevalent form has three bowed strings, tuned A'EA with ten to twelve additional sympathetic strings. The other type is much smaller and its playing is restricted to the Dobrudjan region near the Black Sea. It usually has three strings tuned EAA'. Unlike violins, gadulkas are played tucked into a shoulder strap or belt and bowed horizontally. The Tambura is also a popular instrument. It is similar in form to the gadulka, with a curved, pear shaped form. It has a loud, bright tone somewhat like a banjo, and is commonly used for both melody and chords. The strings are double-coursed like a mandolin but are tuned like the upper strings on a guitar. The kaval, a Bulgarian or Balkan end-blown flute is also a common shepherd's instrument played in orchestras and as an accompaniment to singing. It is universally popular in Bulgaria. Playing techniques vary throughout the country. Typically a staccato style is played in the West, while a richly ornamented style is played in the East. Bulgarian Jura Gaida Bagpipe in D The wooden parts are made of plum tree. The bag is made of the skin of young goat. Great sound. Sound Sample BAG329   $510.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tupan or Davul Drum, 16 inch, Rope Tuned Tupan, also known as Daouli, Davul, Dawul, and Tabl Baladi, is a two-headed drum. This version is rope tuned. Includes beaters. DRU624   $215.10   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tupan or Davul Drum, 20 inch. Rope Tuned Tupan, also known as Daouli, Davul, Dawul, and Tabl Baladi, is a two-headed drum. This version is rope tuned. Includes beaters. DRU625   $269.10   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tupan or Davul Drum, 26 inch, Rope Tuned Two large natural skin heads stretched over a light-weight plywood body, gives this 8 1/4 pound tupan a deep booming voice. On this version of the drum there is no shoulder strap provided. The edges of the heads are rolled and sewn, and then attached to the frame by cording stitched back and forth from head to head. The drum can be tuned by adjusting the leather tabs over the cords. Similar large double-headed frame drums (also known as Daouli, Davul, Dawul, and Tabl Baladi) have been used in ceremonies, festivals, and in wars throughout the Middle East for centuries; such tupans accompanied Alexander the Great s armies as the marched from Macedonia east to the Indus River. Today they are common in Bulganian folk music, where they are known as Tupan. In Turkey they are called davul or tabl baladi. This instrument is most often an accompnaying instument used to mark the rhythm, but it can be played solo as well. The two heads of the drum are played with two beaters. The dominate hand plays the accented beats with the larger thicker beater, called a tokmak. The end of the tokmak may be rapped in cloth to create a muted sound. The other hand holds the thinner switch and plays rapid rhythms. An accomplished drummer will get various sounds from different parts of the two heads, as well as rapping the wooden body. This Tupan has a 26 inch diameter and an 18 inch deep frame body, and comes with two beaters. DRU626   $377.10   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Nylon Case, 16 inch Tupan Quilted nylon case with zipper closure and carrying handle, for storage and transport. NC16   $87.90   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Nylon Case, 20 inch Tupan Quilted nylon case with zipper closure and carrying handle, for storage and transport. Fits the rope tuned drums only. NC20   $89.90   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Gadulka A beautiful instrument, the Masterclass Gadulka is handcrafted from solid wood by Bulgarian artisans. Made one by one, these detailed, precisely carved traditional bowed Gadulkas offers three playing strings, 10 sympathetic strings, non-slip friction tuning pegs, suspended saddle, set soundpost, handcrafted bow with black horsehair, custom forged tuning wrench, and a formfitting hardcase. Sound Sample STR138   $720.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Bulgarian Tamboura 8 strings by Ivan Terziiski Tamboura with 8 strings. The craftsmann Ivan Terziiski is from Macedonian Bulgaria. The tamboura making and playing traditions are specific for this Pirin mountain folk region. His tambouras are played by many proffissional folk musicians all over the world. With cloth case. All tamboura's strings are metal and played with a plectrum, which often is called with the Turkish name"tesane". STR232   $550.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tamburitza Prim 5 String We offer authentic hand made Tamburitza hand made by Yotke from Croatia STR238   $425.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tamburitza Brach 5 String We offer authentic hand made Tamburitza hand made by Yotke from Croatia STR239   $920.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tamburitza Brach 6 String Pear Shape We offer authentic hand made Tamburitza hand made by Yotke from Croatia STR240   $920.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tupan Beaters, pair Pair of wooden beaters, one thin straight switch and one thicker, curved beater. TUPB   $10.90   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Tupan Strap, Leather Adjustable leather strap for holding the tupan. TUPSTRAP   $10.90   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Bulgarian decorated Kaval Flute in D A three piece instrument crafted of plum wood, the Kaval offers an approximate two and one half octave, nearly chromatic range. It is a long instrument, measuring approximately 23 inches in overall length, with an ethereal, natural melodic sound. A handcrafted folk flute, pitch is relative, based on the instruments tonal characteristics. Still, pitch interval is true according to the relative root. An example: Bulgarian Kaval pitched in D (solface "Re"), offers a note range of D, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, and B. Overblowing will jump the instrument a fifth higher, with a low note of A. Further overblowing will push the instruments range further, into a low note scale of F#. A special multiphonic mode called "Kaba" allows playing in low octave D and B registers. Sound Sample WIN088B   $415.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Best Model Large Zurna Commonly known as a primitive oboe of the Middle East, the Zurna is perfect for belly dance, festivals, parades, or any music that calls for a loud reed instrument. Funnel shaped with 7 big fingerholes on top, plus a couple smaller tone holes. 14 inches in overall length, with a bell diameter of 3 7/8 inches. A handcrafted instrument, pitch is relative, although usually playing in G or A. Sound Sample WIN099   $154.95   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Bulgarian Dvoyanka Double pipe Third by Emil Pavlov Traditional Bulgarian third Dvoyanka - a double pipe. Made of two cylindrical wooden tubes. It has 6 holes on the one pipe and 3 on the other. Made of acacia (common locust) tree. 35 cm long. Made by our craftsman - Emil Pavlov. Sound Sample WIN203   $130.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Bulgarian Traditional Dvoyanka Double Pipe by Emil Pavlov Made of two cylindrical wooden tubes. It has 6 holes on the one pipe and 1 on the other. Made of acacia (common locust) tree. 35 cm long. Made by our craftsman - Emil Pavlov. Sound Sample WIN204   $130.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Bulgarian Traditional Dvoyanka Double Pipe by Beshendjiev IN D Traditional Bulgarian double pipe. Plays in the key of D. Approx. 11" long x 1-1/2" wide. Made of ash tree. Sound Sample WIN205   $130.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Bulgarian Traditional Dvoyanka Double Pipe by Beshendjiev In A Traditional Bulgarian double pipe. Plays in the key of A. Approx 14" Long x 1-3/4" wide. Made of ash tree. Sound Sample WIN205A   $130.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Bulgarian Traditional Dvoyanka Double Pipe by Beshendjiev In C Traditional Bulgarian double pipe. Plays in the key of C. Approx 12" Long x 1-3/4" wide. Made of ash tree. Sound Sample WIN205C   $130.00   By ordering through this button I agree to Lark In The Morning's Terms for all orders. If you are ordering more than one item you may be able to save on shipping costs by calling your order in to 707 964 5569. Lark In The Morning PO Box 1176, Mendocino, CA 95460 USA (707) 964-5569 Lark Main Menu : Lark In The Morning Home Page Articles on Instrument Maintenance, Instrument Tunings, Interviews, M&E, Music Humor, Dance. 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In the world of pari-mutuel betting, what is it called when the bettor must pick the 3 horses that finish first, second, and third in the exact order?

Strategy and Odds in Horse Racin #8 $40 The total amount wagered is $514.  First, the wagering company or the track host will take a certain percentage from the total wagered.  This is called the "take" or "vig".  For example, suppose the take was 14.25%.  This amounts to $73.25 and therefore the remaining pool of money is $440.76.  Now suppose horse #4 won the race.  The amount bet on this horse was $55 and therefore the payout (for each dollar bet) will be 440.76/55 = 8 (approximately). At any given moment (prior to the start of the race) the odds posted on the board are estimates of this final payout.  For example, odds of 8 to 1 translate to a payout of $8 for each $1 bet.    First, there are the "straight bets": win � to succeed the bettor must pick the horse that wins the race. place � the bettor must pick a horse that finishes either first or second. show � the bettor must pick a horse that finishes first, second or third. Then the "exotic bets": exacta (also called perfecta)  � the bettor must pick the two horses that finish first and second, in the exact order. quinella  � the bettor must pick the two horses that finish first and second, but need not specify which will finish first (similar to an exacta box). trifecta � the bettor must pick the three horses that finish first, second, and third, in the exact order. superfecta � the bettor must pick the four horses that finish first, second, third and fourth, in the exact order. double � the bettor must pick the winners of two successive races; most race tracks in Canada and the United States take double wagers on the first two races on the program (the daily double) and on the last two (the late double). Pick 3 and pick 4 - Picks the first in three or four consecutive races, not necessarily the first three or four races of the day. Some tracks offer a "rolling pick 3," on the first three races, the second through fourth, third through fifth, and so on. Pick 6 (jackpot) - Picks the winners in six consecutive events.   Strategies for betting the 10 cent Superfecta Lately a new bet, called the "10 cent superfecta", has been introduced with a lot of success.  This is mainly because it allows "small bettors" access to big pools without investing too much money.  The following table indicates the prices of certain combinations of this type of bet. Assuming that we use a fixed number of horses ("key" horses) in each combination, with different sizes of the field (the total number of horses), the total cost of the bet will be given by the following formulas: or   where F = the total number of horses in the race and k = the number of key horses. ( k  \  F ) $84.00 $134.40 Here are some tips that you must consider the next time you step out to the track.  Read the previous two tables carefully in order to calculate your "investment".  Reminder:  Don't forget the rows indicate the size of the field and the columns indicate the key horses in your bet (horses you believe will finish first, second, third or forth). Consider that a rough estimate for the payoff for these types of bets is $60 per 10 cent ticket. Determine how many horses you consider to be ("for sure") in the board, this fixes the value of k. Use the first part of the table when you are in a "low risk" mood or the second part of the table when you are in a "high risk" mood. In any case, consider only those cells of the table in green.  

Trifecta

Which jewelry house created a series of jeweled eggs that made popular gifts for the Russian nobility from 1885 to 1917?

Professional Gamble: Parimutuel betting Professional Gamble Parimutuel betting Parimutuel betting (from the French language, Pari Mutuel or mutual betting) is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the “house-take” or “vig” are removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets. In some countries it is known as the Tote after the totalisator which calculates and displays bets already made. The parimutuel system is used in gambling on horse racing, greyhound racing, jai alai, and all sporting events of relatively short duration in which participants finish in a ranked order. A modified parimutuel system is also used in some lottery games. Definition Parimutuel betting differs from fixed-odds betting in that the final payout is not determined until the pool is closed – in fixed odds betting, the payout is agreed at the time the bet is sold. Parimutuel gambling is frequently state-regulated, and offered in many places where gambling is otherwise illegal. Parimutuel gambling is often also offered at “off track” facilities, where players may bet on the events without actually being present to observe them in person. Example of parimutuel betting Consider a hypothetical event which has 8 possible outcomes, in a country using a decimal currency such as dollars. Each outcome has a certain amount of money wagered: 1 8 $40.00 Thus the total pool of money on the event is $514.00. Following the start of the event, no more wagers are accepted. The event is decided and the winning outcome is determined to be Outcome 4 with $55.00 wagered. The payout is now calculated. First the commission or take for the wagering company is deducted from the pool, for example with a commission rate of 14.25% the calculation is: $514 × (1 – 0.1425) = $440.76. The remaining amount in the pool is now distributed to those who wagered on Outcome 4: $440.76 / $55 ≈ $8 per $1 wagered. This payout includes the $1 wagered plus an additional $7 profit. Thus, the odds on Outcome 4 are 7-to-1 (or, expressed as decimal odds, 8). Often at certain times prior to the event, betting agencies will provide approximates for what should be paid out for a given outcome should no more bets be accepted at the current time. Using the wagers and commission rate above (14.25%), an approximates table in decimal odds would be: 1 8 $11.02 In real-life examples such as horse racing, the pool size often extends into millions of dollars with many different types of outcomes (winning horses) and complex commission calculations. Sometimes the amounts paid out are rounded down to a denomination interval—in the United States and Australia, 10¢ intervals are used. The rounding loss is sometimes known as breakage and is retained by the betting agency as part of the commission. The above description of the mechanics of parimutuel wagering would suggest that it is impossible for the wagering company (the “house”) to lose money, as the commission is deducted before the payouts are calculated. However, in rare circumstances, it is possible for the house to lose money on an event. This situation can occur when there are legal requirements for minimum winning payouts (for example, there may be a legal requirement to pay at least $1.10 on a winning one dollar wager). If the minimum legal winning payout exceeds the payout computed by the standard parimutuel mathematics by a sufficient amount, the house might lose money on this set of wagers. In horse racing, a practical example of this circumstance might be when an overwhelming favorite wins. The parimutuel calculation results might call for a very small winning payout (say, $1.02 or $1.03 on a dollar bet), but the legal regulation would require a larger payout (e.g., $1.10 on a dollar bet). In North America, this condition is usually referred to as a minus pool. Algebraic summary In an event with a set of n possible outcomes, with wagers W1, W2, …, Wn the total pool of money on the event is After the wagering company deducts a commission rate of r from the pool, the amount remaining to be distributed between the successful bettors is WR = WT(1 − r). Those who bet on the successful outcome m will receive a payout of WR / Wm for every dollar they bet on it. History of parimutuel betting The parimutuel system was invented by Catalan impresario Joseph Oller in 1867. The large amount of calculation involved in this system led to the invention of a specialized mechanical calculating machine known as a totalisator, “automatic totalisator” or “tote board”, invented by the Australian engineer, George Alfred Julius. The first was installed at Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, New Zealand in 1913, and they came into widespread use at race courses throughout the world. The U.S. introduction was in 1927, which led to the opening of the suburban Arlington Racetrack in Arlington Park, near Chicago and Sportsman’s Pack in Cicero, Illinois, in 1932.In 2010, LIL manager launched the first parimutuel betting website, friendbet. Parimutuel bet types There may be several different types of bets, in which case each type of bet has its own pool. The basic bets involve predicting the order of finish for a single participant, as follows: North America In Canada and the United States, the most common types of bet on horse races include: Win – to succeed the bettor must pick the horse that wins the race Place – the bettor must pick a horse that finishes either first or second Show – the bettor must pick a horse that finishes first, second or third Exacta, perfecta, or exactor – the bettor must pick the two horses that finish first and second, in the exact order Quinella or quiniela – the bettor must pick the two horses that finish first and second, but need not specify which will finish first (similar to an exacta box) Trifecta or triactor – the bettor must pick the three horses that finish first, second, and third, in the exact order Superfecta – the bettor must pick the four horses that finish first, second, third and fourth, in the exact order Box – a box can be placed around exotic betting types such as exacta, trifecta or superfecta bets. This places a bet for all combinations of the numbers in the box. A trifecta box with 3 numbers has 6 possible combinations (of the horses in the ‘box’ 3 can finish first, 2 can finish second, and one can finish third, 3 x 2 x 1) and costs 6 times the betting base amount. A trifecta box with 5 numbers has 60 possible combinations and costs 60 times the betting base amount (5 x 4 x 3). In France, a ‘box’ gives only the ordered permutations going along an ordered list of numbers such that a trifecta box with 6 numbers would cost 20 times the base amount Any2 or Duet – The bettor must pick the 2 horses who will place first, second or third but can finish in any order. This could be thought of as a double horse show key (see below) Double – the bettor must pick the winners of two successive races (a ‘running’ or ‘rolling’ double); most race tracks in Canada and the United States take double wagers on the first two races on the program (the daily double) and on the last two (the late double) Triple – the bettor must pick the winners of three successive races; like doubles, many tracks offer ‘running’ or ‘rolling’ triples. Also called pick three or more commonly, a treble Quadrella or Quaddie – The bettor must pick the winners of four nominated races at the same track Sweep – the bettor must pick the winners of four or more successive races. In the US, this is usually called pick four and pick six, with the latter paying out a consolation return to bettors correctly selecting five winners out of six races, and with “rollover” jackpots accumulating each day until one or more bettors correctly picks all six winners Win, place and show wagers class as straight bets, and the remaining wagers as exotic bets. Bettors usually make multiple wagers on exotic bets. A box consists of a multiple wager in which bettors bet all possible combinations of a group of horses in the same race. A key involves making a multiple wager with a single horse in one race bet in one position with all possible combinations of other selected horses in a single race. A wheel consists of betting all horses in one race of a bet involving two or more races. For example a 1-all daily double wheel bets the 1-horse in the first race with every horse in the second. People making straight bets commonly employ the strategy of an ‘each way’ bet. Here the bettor picks a horse and bets it will win, and makes an additional bet that it will show, so that theoretically if the horse runs third it will at least pay back the two bets. The Canadian and American equivalent is the bet across (short for across the board): the bettor bets equal sums on the horse to win, place, and show. In Canada and the United States bettors make exotic wagers on horses running at the same track on the same program. In the United Kingdom bookmakers offer exotic wagers on horses at different tracks. Probably the Yankee occurs most commonly: in this the bettor tries to pick the winner of four races. This bet also includes subsidiary wagers on smaller combinations of the chosen horses; for example, if only two of the four horses win, the bettor still collects for their double. A Trixie requires trying to pick three winners, and a Canadian or Super Yankee trying to pick five; these also include subsidiary bets. The term nap identifies the best bet of the day, derived from the Napoleon which was the most valuable French coin at the time the phrase was first used. A parlay or accumulator consists of a series of bets in which bettors stake the winnings from one race on the next in order until either the bettor loses or the series completes successfully. Australia Win – Runner must finish first Place – Runner must finish first, second or third place (In events with five to seven runners, no dividends are payable on third place. (“NTD” or No Third Dividend) and in events with 4 or fewer runners, only Win betting is allowed) Each-Way – A combination of Win and Place. A $5 bet Each-way is a $5.00 bet to Win and a $5.00 bet to Place, for a total bet cost of $10 Exacta – The bettor must correctly pick the two runners which finish first and second Quinella – The bettor must pick the two runners which finish first and second, but need not specify which will finish first Trifecta – The bettor must correctly pick the three runners which finish first, second, and third First4 – The bettor must correctly pick the four runners which finish first, second, third and fourth Duet – The bettor must pick the 2 horses who will place first, second or third but can finish in any order Running Double – The bettor must pick the winners of two consecutive races at same track Daily Double – The bettor must pick the winners of two nominated races at the same track Treble – The bettor must pick the winners of three nominated races at the same track. This bet type is only available in the states of Queensland and South Australia Quadrella or Quaddie – The bettor must pick the winners of four nominated races at the same track Big 6 – The bettor must pick the winners of six nominated races, which can be at the same track or split over two or more tracks In Australia, certain exotic bet types can be laid as “flexi” bets. Usually the price of an exotic bet is determined by a set multiple of the outcome, for example $60 for a five horse boxed trifecta at one unit ($1) – or $30 at half unit (50c). If the bet is successful, the bettor will get either the full winning amount shown on the board, or half the winning amount. Under a flexi system the bettor can nominate their desired total wager, and their percentage of payout is determined by this wager’s relationship to the full unit price. Using a five horse box trifecta, the bettor may wish to lay only $20 on the outcome. Their percentage of winnings is now calculated as $20/$60 = 33.3%. If the bet is successful, the payout will be 33.3% of the winning amount for a full unit bet. Republic of Ireland and Great Britain Win – Runner must finish first Place – Runner must finish within the first two places (in a 5-7 runner race), three places (8-15 runners and non-handicaps with 16+ runners) or four places (handicaps with 16+ runners) Each-way – Charged and settled as one bet to win and another bet to place (for example, a punter asking for a bet of “five pounds each way” will be expected to pay ten pounds) In Northern Ireland, Tote Ireland operates pools on racing at Down Royal, but neither Tote Ireland nor the British Tote operates pools on racing at Downpatrick. Downpatrick pools are operated by Datatote who also run all greyhound pools in Ireland and most greyhound pools in the UK. From 23 April 2000 to 23 May 2010, Tote Ireland operated 4-place betting on ALL races with 16 or more runners. Sweden Bet types for harness racing (trotting): Vinnare (winner) – Runner must finish first Plats (place) – Runner must finish within the first two places (up to 5 runners) or first three places (6 runners or more) Vinnare & Plats – Two bets, one on “vinnare” and one on “plats” for the same runner. Asking for a bet of “50 SEK vinnare och plats” costs 100 SEK Tvilling (twin) – The bettor must pick the runners that finish first and second, but need not specify which will finish first Trio (trio) – The bettor must pick the runners that finish first, second and third in a nominated race Dagens Dubbel (daily double) and Lunchdubbel (lunch double) – The bettor must pick the winners of two nominated races at the same track V3 – The bettor must pick the winners of three nominated races at the same track. Unlike V4, V5, V65 and V75, where a bet for all races must be made before the start of the first race, in V3 the bettor selects the winner one race at a time V4 – The bettor must pick the winners of four nominated races at the same track V5 – The bettor must pick the winners of five nominated races at the same track V65 – The bettor must pick the winners of six nominated races at the same track. Return is also given for (combinations of) five correctly picked winners, even if the same bet included all the six winners V64 – The bettor must pick the winners of six nominated races at the same track. Return is also given for (combinations of) five or four correctly picked winners, even if the same bet included more correct picks V75 – The bettor must pick the winners of seven nominated races at the same track. Return is also given for (combinations of) six or five winners picked correctly, even if the same bet included more correct picks. The betting pool is split into three separate pools for all combinations of seven (40%), six (20%) and five (40%) correctly picked winners. This is the largest nationwide betting game in Sweden, running each Saturday with weekly pools of about 80 MSEK ($11 million) Strategy and comparison with independent bookmakers Unlike many forms of casino gambling, in parimutuel betting the gambler bets against other gamblers, not the house. The science of determining the outcome of a race is called handicapping. It is possible for a skilled player to win money in the long run at this type of gambling, but overcoming the deficit produced by taxes, the facility’s take, and the breakage is difficult to accomplish and few people are successful at it. Independent off-track bookmakers have a smaller take and thus offer better payoffs, but they are illegal in some countries. However, with the introduction of Internet gambling has come “rebate shops”. These off-shore betting shops in fact return some percentage of every bet made to the bettor. They are in effect reducing their take from 15-18% to as little as 1 or 2%, still ensuring a profit as they operate with minimal overhead. Rebate shops allow skilled horse players to make a steady income. The recent WTO decision DS285 against the United States of America by the small island nation of Antigua opens the possibility for offshore horse betting groups to compete legally with parimutuel betting groups. Search

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What famous house, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is perched over a river in Stewart Township, Pennsylvania?

Fallingwater | Home The house casts a warm glow on summer evenings in this view from the overlook. Glimpses from the birds-eye view reveal an expanse of inviting terrace spaces situated directly above the waterfall. Mr. Kaufmann’s terrace, as viewed from the driveway above the house. An early spring aerial view of the main house and guest houses. Sun streams through the windows in this view from the living room towards the west terrace. Bear Run, still unfrozen, flows underneath the house blanketed in snow. The colors of fall frame the house in this classic view. The cantilevered construction allows for an open living space that still feels warm and inviting during the cool autumn days.   Visiting In Jan. and Feb. Fallingwater is closed for house tours in January and February due to annual preservation work and will reopen March 4, 2017. Grounds passes are available daily, weather permitting.  Book your 2017 tour tickets online now . Exhibition

Fallingwater

What soft drink advertised itself as the Uncola?

1000+ images about Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater on Pinterest | New program, Ink and Guest houses Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater Kaufmann House, Completed October 1937 Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect. Fallingwater is located on PA Route 381 between the villages of Mill Run and Ohiopyle, in Pennsylvania. Fallingwater Tour Information: 724-329-8501. Most pics and text from: Wright-house.com. Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture: http://www.wright-house.com/frank-lloyd-wright/ 77 Pins63 Followers

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What was Little Miss Muffet eating when the spider came along?

Little miss muffet nursery rhyme - YouTube Little miss muffet nursery rhyme Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Dec 8, 2013 Little miss muffet came to the tuffet eating her curds and whey along came a spider which sat on a sider and scared miss muffet away then little muffet went running inside to her mother and say there was a big spider which sat on the sider it scared me and I dropped my whey then mrs muffet came to the tuffet and told her dont scare away this little spider which sits on the sider means no harm it just wants your whey Category When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. Up next Play now Mix - Little miss muffet nursery rhymeYouTube Little Miss Muffet | Nursery Rhymes | Kids Songs | Baby Videos - Duration: 42:42. Kids TV - Nursery Rhymes And Children’s Songs 809,020 views 42:42 Old Mother Hubbard | Mother Goose Club Playhouse Kids Song - Duration: 2:27. Mother Goose Club Playhouse 12,317,762 views 2:27 Little Miss Muffet Nursery Rhyme with Barbie and Chelsea - Duration: 1:30. Toy Box 72,276 views 1:30 Little Miss Muffet | Nursery Rhymes | Rhymes for Children by NurseryRhymeStreet - Duration: 29:54. Nursery Rhyme Street - Kids Songs and Rhymes 7,700,815 views 29:54 Little Miss Muffet | Nursery Rhymes Farmees | Kids Songs - Duration: 42:49. Farmees - Kids 3D Nursery Rhymes TV And Baby Songs 1,431,473 views 42:49 Little Miss Muffet | Plus Lots More Nursery Rhymes | 77 Minutes Compilation from LittleBabyBum! - Duration: 1:17:19. LittleBabyBum ® 5,691,539 views 1:17:19 Humpty Dumpty Sat On A Wall and Many More Nursery Rhymes for Children | Kids Songs by ChuChu TV - Duration: 1:52:36. ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs 241,910,552 views 1:52:36 Little Miss Muffet | Nursery Rhymes | Nursery Rhymes Songs For Babies by Hooplakidz - Duration: 1:13. HooplaKidz - Nursery Rhymes for Children 6,563,136 views 1:13

Curds and Whey

Worn by the likes of Slash, Abraham Lincoln, and The Mad Hatter, what is the name for tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed headwear popular from the 19th century through today?

Along_Came_A_Spider Along Came A Spider "Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey.  Along came a spider and sat down beside her ..."   The Muffet rhyme implies Miss Muffet was minding her own business, eating her curds and whey, and an uninvited spider decided to join her.    What a contemporary allegory for America seemingly minding its business while dangerous predators, which no longer just lurk about, are becoming bolder and more assertive in their efforts to trespass upon our sovereign ground.  Pearl Harbor (41') and the TwinTowers 9-11 (01') were both uninvited and unexpected trespass on America with catastrophic results and far-reaching consequences.  The recent flood of illegal immigrants is another type of uninvited trespass-invasion upon America sovereignty, even though it is not considered to be orchestrated by a Government-State, per se. Little Miss Muffet had three choices: to flee (runaway), stand and call for help, or crush and dispatch the intruding spider.   Spiders, by nature, are not social insects, thus it was not looking for chummy conversation or witty repartee.  It was 'on-the-hunt' as it eased into a spot next to Miss Muffet.   Pearl Harbor was an attempted clandestine lethal strike on the USA, and we responded with overwhelming force to crush and defeat that imperial 'arachnid' aggressor.  9-11 was another attack to which we responded with overwhelming force into Iraq ... even though 15 of the 19 attackers were of Saudi origin, and all were affiliated with Sunni-Wahhabism. Since 9-11 was not considered as a State sponsored attack therefore, there were/are no internationally sanctioned recovery (viz., financial) options for the loss of 3000+ lives, financial business enterprises, and the TwinTower buildings.  Saudi Arabia gave little or no assistance in tracking, much less apprehending, Osama and today Islamic dominated Pakistan, Iran, and/or Afghanistan are reportedly giving sanctuary to Bin Linden et al.  The Queen Spider snuck-up (flew) on the unsuspecting America, injected its toxins, and escaped back into the desert.  How different things are today! Spiders have survived millennia through stealth and cunning.  The unsuspecting moth does not see the finely woven spider web and flies directly into its tacky-clutches.  The spider immediately pounces and injects its lethal bit, and then retreats until the poison has accomplished its work.  America is still attempting to throw-off the effects of the 9-11 toxins injected into the heart of its financial district.  The 2008 (4th) National Debt is est.. to be 9.5+ Trillion - divided by the 2008 est. USA population of 331 million, the cost-share for each adult and child is staggering.  With the US economy in a major slump, and the national debt interest at 9+%, at some discernible point the debt-obligation sinkhole will be too deep and wide to dig our way out.  Then what? If major US Treasury Securities debt-holders (e.g., China, Japan, UK, Carib Bank Ctrs, Brazil, Kuwait, Oil Exporters etc.) all decided to collectively unload their debt-paper the US economy would tank overnight on international financial market indexes.   Well that could never happen in this day and age ! ... one major catastrophic event in America be it economic, climatic, or terrorist initiated, could tip the dominos of our fragile currency and monetary exchange parity causing a massive sell-down. Today, the execution of US foreign policy initiatives is approaching a 'knee-jerk' set of reactions.  Operative word here is 'reaction' vs. proactive. The State Department, Congress, DoD, and the Executive Branch of government all seem to have their own separate agenda's, both domestically and internationally.  America has become so politicized, partisan, and bipolar that it is a wonder any significant legislation, national priorities or out-year planning is/can be accomplished.  A house divided against itself cannot stand. (Matt. 12:25)  America is at that great divide.  The last statement is not a critique, per se, of the present administration, but an observation of the way things appear to be in these days and times.  There is a complex mix of intervening variables, and subterfuges, driving American foreign policy.   We are living in eschatological times. Arachnid terrorists, Osama zealots, and nefariously evil and wicked men are beginning to roam the surface of the world looking to take a spoil.   Spoils can included, but not limited to, energy reserves and production capabilities, territorial imperatives (PLO and Russia being two of the more recent acquisitionists), just plain garden-variety greed, political power grabs, religiously-driven opportunities to release visceral hate, and outright imperialism (Iraq vs. Kuwait, Hamas vs. Gaza, Syria vs. Golan). Biblical eschatology (endtime orientated scripture) is replete with warning, admonitions, and prophecies depicting the very circumstances, situations, and conditions beginning to appear in these days and times. While the West is preoccupied with Islamo-Fascism, the Russian Bear is reemerging and looking to reclaim lost territories, as Israel prepares for the forthcoming Arab-Islamic attack on their State.  The EC is rapidly consolidating its resources and the Arab Middle East is preparing a chokehold for the Persian Gulf petrochemical outflow of oil to the West.  America seems obsessed with four-dollar gasoline, the next POTUS, and questioning will we be able to continue to have cheap curds and whey. America in all likelihood will be facing seismic-force changes in its domestic tranquility, within the next 2-4 years.  Why are we, as a Nation, seemingly not able to discern the signs of the times in which we live? (Matt. 16:3).  Answer, as America continues to foist out In God We (place our) Trust as the main plank in our founding declaration, thus so goes away the wisdom and discernment implicit in that Trust. As POGO declared, we have seen the enemy, and he (it) is us. Synopsis: The Bear of the north (Russia) is no longer in hibernation but on the prowl (Georgia, et al.). The Dragon of the Far East (China) has awakened and, by 2010, will boost a 200-million man standing military force. The Middle East (Islam) is preparing for their Ezek. 38 - 39 war-attack against Zion and God's Holy Land.  The EC is rehearsing to enter the world-stage as the Revived III Roman Empire.  The Vatican is ardently promoting its Universal Ecumenism.  America is mired down in Iraq and Afghanistan and struggling with massive national debt-service.  The first global nuclear attack and/or exchange will change this synopsis, in exponential proportions. The spider's web has already been spun and is beginning to stretch across all geopolitical boundaries and sovereign territories.  Endtime prophecy tells us the globe will be engulfed in worldwide turmoil, wars, climatic and seismic upheavals, along with evil running rampant across the far reaches of the earth. The enemy from within: social-progressive divestiture of God's Absolutes, Commandments and decrees; political expediency for the sake of power retention and acquisition; and a callous disregard for the debt-economy quagmire in which America has allowed itself to become mired. This in large part is due to the secularizing of America's guiding institutions, advancement of the psychosocial gospel, GAIA religions, and moral relativism. The enemy from without: burgeoning counterfeit religious persuasions, welling global anti-Semitism; mounting threats of military adventurism challenging USA mutual defense alliances; and, America's over dependence of foreign petroleum imports, appear indomitable. Radical Islam is a present example of incipient endtime evil beginning to manifest throughout the non Judeo-Christian parts of the world.  England, France, India, Malaysia, parts of Russia have already succumbed to this invading geopolitical-religious malignancy.  America will not go unchallenged by this usurping force ... most likely through petrochemcial hostage taking of Middle Eastern holdings.  The more successful the arachnid becomes, the greater is its lust for further conquest and spoil.  The stealth and cunning exhibited on 911 will surely revisit America in the days to come. The nefarious enemies of America are on the rise again and making alliances with the malevolent evil which lurks-about today. The 2008 DNC was a stupendous exhibition of organized conventioneering, yet with shameful displays of the detachment and narrow perspectives would-be aspirants hold for the immediate and near-future critical choice-points facing America.  The RNC arrived and departed as expected with the exception of the new 'base-runner' and 'RBI-hitter'  McCain selected for his VP running mate.  Even though the proceedings were truncated by Gustov, staunch compassionate conservatism was readily apparent in most all presentations.   Both political parties are placing all of their chips on "their man", as it were,  while the systemic crises facing America go far beyond any individual's personality, acumen, and/or  political suave.  The Policy Platforms between the two political strongholds could not be more at odds, and even contentiously antagonistic in various parts. There is a real choice here! Side Bar: The arachnid-like attacks are satanic-driven sorties against the Kingdom of God ,on earth, and are singularly purposed to attempt to despair God's people during the last-days.  Scripture reveals that demonic forces will be successful, in some of their attempts, via greatly tormenting lukewarm Saints in their faith, obedience and trust in God and His Promises. Two of the keys to resisting and overcoming such attacks are found in Scripture. (2, 3)    The steadfast, faithful, obedient, and trusting Saint will not be a victim, causality or spoil to these pre-Tribulation Period snares and contrived demonic sponsored entrapments. However, the apostate church is already in free-fall. The bywords for this moment are faithful-unwavering-vigilant-adherence to God's Absolutes and Promises. The secular world is rushing to embrace the so easily spoken rhetoric of  "Change", 'community-unity' or we "will do it our way, this time."  Mankind is the object and subject squared, in the very center of the field-of-play,between the forces of good and evil.  Mankind cannot have it both ways ... continuning to pursue avant-garde social-progressive secularism, while expecting The Good of The Lord  to always be bountifully available and for Him to be forever chasing after His wayward creation .Gen: 6:3] (5) Bottom-line, God is under relentless attack by unbelieving mankind and man is being lifted-up. The judgment of The Lord is at the door, why are so many unable to hear it (Him) knocking?   As we approach the Valley of Decision/Jehoshaphat (where God makes His determination about  "men", and not men making a determination about God) [Joel 3:14], (4) the nonchalance and lukewarmness of humankind, regarding the things of God, now appear to be a hand-n'-glove fit with endtime bible prophecy. Once the spider sinks its fangs into its prey, it is only a matter of a short-time before the end.  Today, some believe America has inexorably and unwittingly allowed itself to be caught in the tacky-web of worldly events running-up to the beginning of the Tribulation Period. The nuevo-spiritualism sweeping across America carries with it the progressive denunciation of the Judeo-Christian God. The spiritism of the Oprah Church-type is one of the more recent and lethal aberrations of Protestant Christianity. The Gaia (earth-centered) church and Dominion Now religious movements are equally nefariously banal.  Scripture reveals that in the last days even the elect may be vulnerable to being deceived, if that were possible.(6) God is on His Throne of Majesty and Supremacy, and His Plan for His Church, and the unsaved world, is clearly set out in Eph. 1:9-10.(7)   Ever so sadly, a majority of the world has/is rejecting God's offer to be brought under the headship of Christ. This rejection includes, in part; forfeiture of redemption from their many sins; relying exclusively on the arm-and-sword of mankind for security and safety; and denial of the forth coming millennial Kingdom reign of Christ.  This is the day for fervent evangelical outreach to the unbelieving world.  Don't confuse zealous sharing of the Gospel with universal ecumenism, they are decidedly different.  Refer to   http://www.aamen.org/Evangelical-vs-Ecumenical.html (1)  Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey. Along came a spider and sat down beside her, and frightened    Miss Muffet away! (2)  "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to  shrink from death". [Rev. 12:11] (3)  "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. " [Jas. 4:7] (4) "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision !  For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." ... where God  will decide about men, not where men decide about God. (5)  "And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and  twenty years." (6)  "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if  it were  possible, they shall deceive the very elect." [Matt. 24:23] (7)  "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put  into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one  head, even Christ.."

i don't know

Hook and ladder, flea flicker, and fumblerooski are trick plays used in what sport?

The Five Best Trick Plays in Football Scoreboards » Articles » Football The Five Best Trick Plays in Football Trick football plays are among the most entertaining aspects of the game from a fan’s perspective. Because so many standard football tactics are repeated again and again from week to week, a trick play is like a breath of fresh air. Trick plays must be practiced thoroughly, because the room for error is great and the potential loss of yards can be disastrous. Five trick plays that have been successful in major games include the Statue of Liberty, the hook and ladder, the flea flicker, the fumblerooski, and the fake punt. The Statue of Liberty Play The Statue of Liberty is the granddaddy of trick football plays. It dates all the way to the 1800s. The play can be used out of several football formations. The basic premise is a play that appears to be a pass ends up as a run. The quarterback goes back to pass, and as he brings his arm backward, a running back sneaks up behind him, snatches the ball out of his hand, and takes off. The play gets its name from the quarterback’s freezing for a moment during his delivery, as if he were a statue. Perhaps the most famous recent use of this play came in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, when Boise State used it for a two-point conversion that won the game in overtime. The play allows the opportunity for variations; in Boise State’s case, the quarterback pretended to throw with one hand while handing the ball off with the other. The Hook and Ladder Play The same Fiesta Bowl game that saw Boise State succeed with the Statue of Liberty also saw it score a key touchdown with the hook and ladder, also called the hook and lateral. In this play, a receiver catches a pass and, as tacklers close in on him, laterals to a teammate. The key is to have the teammate running at full speed when he catches the lateral so that defenders are not able to react in time to catch him. The hook and ladder is often used in a desperate situation, such as when a team must go many yards for a touchdown with little time left in the game. In Boise State’s case, it had to go 50 yards for a tying touchdown with 7 seconds left in regulation time. The Flea Flicker In the flea flicker, a running back or wide receiver takes a handoff from the quarterback, runs wide, and then tosses the ball back behind him to the quarterback, who tosses the ball far downfield. When executed correctly, the misdirection can freeze the defense and allow a receiver to get wide open downfield. The flea flicker is one of the more common trick plays. This is a particularly risky play, for if the toss back to the quarterback is off target, the offense can lose many yards or even possession of the ball. The Fumblerooski In the fumblerooski, the quarterback intentionally fumbles the ball when it is snapped but then continues with the play as if nothing has happened. An offensive lineman scoops up the ball and takes off with it. The most famous use of the play came in the 1984 Orange Bowl, when Nebraska used it to score a 19-yard touchdown during a narrow loss to Miami. Sadly, the fumblerooski was later made illegal in pro, college, and high school football. The Fake Punt Perhaps the most risky trick play is the fake punt, because if it fails, a team can lose 40 yards of field position. The standard football formations used for punts have blockers behind the line of scrimmage to pick up punt blockers who break through the line of scrimmage cleanly. In a fake punt, either the center can snap the ball to one of these “up backs,” who tries to run for the first down, or the punter himself can pass or run. A fake punt is rarely used by a team that is deep in its own territory, as failure can leave the other team with only a short distance to go for a touchdown. As an electronic football scoreboards manufacturer, we here at Electro-Mech understand the importance of covering a variety of sports material, not just the latest fantasy football stats or what player’s decided not to retire…again. We will continue to cover topics like the one you’ve just read, as the scoreboards continue to light up. More Articles About Football:

Football

What brand of rum, named for a privateer, advertises itself with the slogan "To Life, Love, and Loot"?

The best trick plays in NFL history - NFL.com The best trick plays in NFL history Published: April 1, 2014 at 01:31 p.m. Updated: July 8, 2014 at 05:21 p.m. 0 Likes  |  0 Comments More Columns > "Who's the more foolish: the fool, or the fool who follows him?" is one of my favorite lines from the entire "Star Wars" series. And it's especially applicable on this annual day of mischief, April Fool's Day. In honor of that, I was tasked with taking a look at some of the best trick plays in NFL history. What follows are my favorite plays that have made defenses look foolish for years and years. Below is the list, with the name of the trick play followed by a game when the play was used to perfection. Some are the original instance of the play, others are just prime examples. If you feel I've acted foolishly by leaving a trick play off the list, send your complaints to @AlexGelhar to keep the conversation going. "The Clock Play" -- Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins at New York Jets , 1994 By now, a number of quarterbacks have tried to pull off this move, including Matthew Stafford just last year , but Marino's gutsy ruse is the shining example. Marino had been leading a furious comeback for the Dolphins after being down 24-6 late in the third quarter. With just 30 seconds remaining in the game, and one timeout, the Dolphins trailed as they lined up at the Jets ' 8-yard line. The clock was ticking and Marino motioned to the ground while yelling "Clock! Clock! Clock!" signifying he'd be spiking the ball. He also shot a subtle glance at wide receiver Mark Ingram before taking the snap. Expecting a spike, the Jets defense relaxed and lazily went through the motions. That was until Marino stood up and delivered a strike to Ingram near the pylon for the game-winning score. "The Reverse Option" -- Antwaan Randle El to Hines Ward, Super Bowl XL Calling a trick play in an NFL game is a move that takes some guts. To call a trick play in the Super Bowl verges on insanity. Yet that's just what the Pittsburgh Steelers did in Super Bowl XL when they called "Fake-39 Toss X-Reverse Pass," where wide receiver Antwaan Randle El would fake like he's running a reverse, only to pull up and chuck the ball deep to Hines Ward. Granted, this wasn't the first time this play had been called. Pittsburgh scored on it earlier in the season against the Cleveland Browns . But this was the Super Bowl , and this was the play that put the game on ice for the Steel City and sent Jerome Bettis away from the NFL as a champion. "The Hook and Lateral" -- San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins , 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff Game The Dolphins were losing 24-10, with the clock ticking down in the first half. They needed to make something happen, so they flipped the script back to a schoolyard play they couldn't even make work in practice -- the Hook and Lateral. Quarterback Don Strock took the snap, dropped back, and hit Duriel Harris on a pretty standard curl route. The Chargers converged on Harris, only to watch him lateral the ball at the perfect time to a streaking Tony Nathan, who had slipped out of the backfield and was now on his way, unopposed, to the end zone. That brought the Dolphins and the crowd back into a game they had feared might be over in the first half. Unfortunately for the Dolphins , this game is remembered for a different reason than the hook and ladder. This was the 41-38 overtime thriller known as "The Epic in Miami," during which Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes for 166 yards and had to be carried off the field by his teammates after the Chargers had emerged victorious. Note: I previously had this listed as the "Hook and Ladder" as it's often mistakenly referred to. Thanks to the adamant and thorough @Jonathan_RHC on Twitter, I now have seen the error in my ways. Need proof? Hear it from Strock and Don Shula themselves. "The Music City Miracle" -- Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans , 1999 AFC Wild Card Game Frank Wycheck laterals to Kevin Dyson on a kick return as time expires and Dyson takes it to the house for the game-winning score. Everybody knows this play, and if you are too young to have experienced it then check out the video above because it truly is miraculous. It's even more miraculous when you consider that a) the 1999 Bills had the No. 1 defense in the NFL and one of the top special teams units (allowing zero return touchdowns all season) and b) the entire Bills special teams bites toward Wycheck, a tight end not known for blazing speed, instead of keeping their lane integrity and respecting the possibility of some sort of reverse. Whether you believe it was a legal lateral or a forward pass doesn't matter -- the fact that the play worked only adds to the significance of its historical trickery. "The Hidden Lineman" -- Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills , 2008 If any Bills fans stuck with this article after enduring the Music City Miracle highlight again, this is your reward. Not too long ago, the Bills had a penchant for special teams stunts. They'd run typical fake field goals, but then they'd also bust out flimflams like the one above. During their substitution to swap in the field-goal unit, defensive lineman Ryan Denney lingered by the sideline still on the field but away from the action and out of the minds of the entire Seahawks team. At the snap, holder Brian Moorman stands up and lobs an easy touchdown to Denney, setting up a painful film session for the Seahawks once they started their preparation for the following game. "The Bumerooski" -- Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers , 2006 Football lost a good one last October when Bum Phillips died. In addition to being one of the great characters and innovators in defensive football, Bum also helped institute an offensive trick play that was later dubbed the "Bumerooski" in his honor. In addition to sounding like an expression of sadness by overly fratty frat guys, the Bumerooski is also a classic case of football shenanigans. The play is a legal version of the "Fumblerooski" (made famous in the 1984 Orange Bowl , and immortalized in the film " Little Giants ") but instead of the quarterback placing the ball on the ground (considered an illegal forward fumble in the NFL), he hands it off to a running back between his legs and continues the play-fake the opposite direction while the running back scampers into the end zone, usually without incident as the Chargers display in the video above. The Panthers ran a version of the Bumerooski as recently as 2011, showing that a little old-fashioned chicanery never goes out of style. "The Flea Flicker" -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints , 2013 OK, so this one isn't as tricky as some of the others on the list, but whose heart doesn't start beating a little faster when they see a running back turn and toss the football back to the quarterback? When this trick play goes wrong, it can go wrong in a hurry with a disastrous sack, fumble or tackle for loss. But when it is executed properly and called at the right time, my goodness, it's like poetry in motion. That's still the case when the flea flicker involves a Mike Glennon heave to Tiquan Underwood , as in the video above. Yup, even those two can make this play look pretty. - Follow Alex on Twitter @AlexGelhar and keep the discussion going on the NFL's trickiest plays.

i don't know

A Newfoundland dog named Nana was a nurse in what children's story?

Nana | Disney Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia v - e - d Media Jake and the Never Land Pirates ( Episode List ) | Playing with Skully | Peter Pan Returns | Jake Saves Bucky | Never Land Rescue | Battle for the Book | Disney Junior Storybook Collection | Disney Junior Little Golden Book Library | Disney Junior DJ Shuffle | Disney Junior DJ Shuffle 2 Characters Jake | Izzy | Cubby | Skully | Marina | Captain Hook | Mr. Smee | Sharky and Bones | Tick-Tock the Crocodile | Pirate Princess | Bucky | Winger | Wise Old Parrot | Mama Hook | Captain Flynn | Peter Pan | Never Bird | Octopus | Lucille the Seal | Red Jessica | Sandy | Monkey | Patch the Pirate Pup | Peter's Shadow | Stormy | The Sea Witch‎‎ | Percy the Penguin | Misty the Wonderful Witch | Blinky | Brightly the Firefly | Cecilia | Purple Octopus | Snappy the Hermit Crab | The Seahorses | Camille | Gilly the Goldfish | Dragon | Sasha | Rosie | Ice Ogre | Slippery Serpent | Slink | Slink's Mother | Beatrice Le Beak | Fast Claw | Pip the Pirate Genie | The Sing-Songbird | Mermaids | Cornica | Flow the Dolphin | Golden Crocodile | Golden Squid | Harry | Tinker Bell | Queen Coralie | Bouncing Bumble Queen | Pirate Mummy | Captain Gizmo | King Crab | First-Mate Mollie | Brewster the Beast Trapper | The Singing Stones | Nanny Nell | Sand Serpent | Ogre Princess | Captain Treasure Tooth | Peg-Leg Peg | Wendy Darling | John Darling | Michael Darling | Nana | Finn the Mer-Boy | Electric Storm Eel | ShiverJack | Captain Buzzard Bones | Zongo the Pirate Monkey King | Lord Fathom | Strake | Top Bird | Swifty | Eagle-Eye | Talon | Grim Buccaneer | The Groogar Locations Pirate Island | Crocodile Creek | Neverland | The Jolly Roger | Mermaid Lagoon | Skull Rock | Tiki Forest | Crimson Isle | Island of Bell | Seahorse Shallows | Doubloon Lagoon | Pirate Princess Island | Chi-Chi-Chilly Canyon | Sailor's Swamp | Stink Pot Swamp | Skybird Island | Ha-Ha Hedges | Cattail Chasm | Pirate Putt-Putt Course | Batwing Bog | Windy Cove | Have a Banana Grove | Cranberry Bog | Butterfly Bluff | Coral Cove | Pirate's Plunge | Skull and Bones Rock | Sandbar Straits | The Pirate Pumpkin Patch | Blue Whale Way | Big Tree Forest | City of Gold | Never Land Desert | Fountain of Forever | Buccaneer's Bluff | Birdbath Bluff | Shipwreck Rock | Pirate Rock | Hidden Cove | Basketball court | Crystal Tunnel | Shipwreck Beach | Never Land Jungle | Never Peak | Belch Mountain | Valley of Shadows | Pirate Pyramid | Never Sea Twin Tunnel | Never Falls | Big Bug Valley | Rainbow Falls | Forever Tree | Buccaneer Bird Bluff | King Crab Island | Neptune City | Fa-La-La Falls | Pegleg Pond | Tiptoe Pass | London, England | Bloomsbury, England, UK | Big Ben | Nursery | Hangman's Tree | The Second Star to the Right Songs Yo Ho, Let's Go! | Yo Ho Mateys, Away | Well Done Crew | Aw Coconuts | Never Land Pirate Band | Captain Hook is a Cranky Crook | Castaway On Pirate Island | Hot Lava | Pirate Password | Bucky's Shanty | Roll Up the Map | What's Cookin' Smee? | Never Sky | Tick Tock Croc | Shipwreck Shuffle | Talk Like A Pirate | Trick or Treasure | Peter's Pirate Team | Blast You Peter Pan | I Can't Fly | Here We Go Yo Ho | I Can Fly | A Friend in Never Land | Belay | Hook's Hooks | Gold Doubloons | Work to Get Bucky | Our Ship Be Better | Hook on Ice! | Mama Hook | Pirate Rock Recipe | The Codfish Reel | Jolly Roger | Me Pirate Mom | Rattle Yer Bones | Hook's Hookity-Hook! | Spyglass | Putt Putt | The Legend of the Golden Smee | Where the Rainbow Lands | Pirate Island Hideout | Sea Legs | Swamp Stomp | Tiki Tree Limbo | Blue as the Deep Blue Sea | Fetch that Pirate Pup | Hammock Song | King Crab | Sneaky Le Beak | Down in the Bubbly Blue | Lead the Way Jake | What Be Your Treasure Wish | What Be Your Treasure Wish (Reprise) | Runaway Kitty | Sneezy Genie | X | Starfish Serenade | London Ahoy | Never Land Ahoy | Little Lobster Girl | Walkin' the Plank | I'm a Pirate Princess | Destroy the Book | Bucky Will Be Mine | The Legendary Captain Flynn Other

Peter Pan

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier got married on Sept 11, 1963 married what then US Representative in Newport, RI?

Newfoundland Dogs| Newfoundland Dog Breed Info & Pictures | petMD Next Carousel Slide Roundly considered to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world, the Newfoundlander is an ideal companion. In addition to being an excellent pack carrier and guardian for children and families, the Newfie is unmatched at water rescues. In modern times, it is brought along for hiking and camping expeditions, but is also still held in high esteem by rural families in need of a working dog. Physical Characteristics The Newfoundland is truly a massive dog in all respects. Standing at an average of 26 to 28 inches in height and weighing from 120 to 150 pounds, the powerful, heavily boned Newfoundland is strong enough to drag a drowning man from a turbulent sea. The massive head is set atop a thick and muscular neck, and a body both strong and broad in size. The Newfie's body is longer than it is tall, and its gait is effortlessly powerful, with a good drive and reach that covers much ground in few steps. The Newfoundland's coat is generally black, but can also be brown or gray, and may have additional white markings. The Landseer coat, which is white with black markings, is also a common coloration. It is comprised of a dense, soft undercoat that keeps the dog warm and dry at the skin, and a medium length water resistant outer coat that is straight or wavy and coarse to the touch. The undercoat is less dense during warm months, when the Newfie will shed much of its hair. Personality and Temperament The Newfoundland's gentle and intelligent expression reflects it amiability and friendliness toward humans. It is regarded as one of the most intelligent dog breeds; as such, it is easily trained and enjoys the process of working with humans. As family dogs go, the Newfoundland breed is at the top. Ever patient and loyal, it is more likely that the dog will be abused by the children in its keep than for the dog to ever harm a child. In all respects, this breed is the best suited for children. Although aggression is never an outward trait of the Newfoundland, it will guard its human family and will position itself between the threatening intruder and the people it is protecting, exhibiting aggression only when necessary.  Care Because of its heavy coat, the Newfie does not fare well in hot weather. It should be kept outdoors only in cold or temperate weather, and in summer, the coat may be trimmed for neatness and comfort, and brushed daily to manage excess shedding and prevent the coat from matting. The dog is at its best when it can move freely between the yard and the house, but still needs plenty of space indoors to stretch properly. Daily exercise is essential, as is typical with all work dogs. Although its relaxed appearance might indicate that this breed would prefer to lounge around, the Newfie has an abundance of energy that needs to be spent in order for the dog to be at its top shape. Regular walks and romps in the park or in a large yard will keep the Newfie fit and content. Being large dogs, they do have larger appetites, but care must be taken not to overfeed them, as they can easily become overweight, stressing the organs extremities and shortening their lifespans. In the summer, the Newfoundlander is more likely to drool, since it must pant more to keep its body temperature down, owing to its size and coat. Summertime water activities are ideal, since the Newfie excels at swimming, but keep in mind that even in the winter this breed benefits from a brisk swim. Cold water swimming is what they are built for, after all. According to some breeders, the Landseers are more active, thus requiring more exercise. In fact, it is ideal for families who enjoy camping, fishing, or hiking with an enthusiastic participant and helpful furry companion. Health The Newfoundland, which has an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years, is prone to serious health conditions such as gastric torsion, Sub-Aortic Stenosis (SAS), cystinuria, canine hip dysplasia ( CHD ), epilepsy , and elbow dysplasia , and minor issues like von Willebrand's Disease ( vWD ), cataract, Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD), entropion , ectropion , cruciate ligament rupture. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend cardiac, eye, hip, and elbow tests for this breed of dog. Additionally, some Newfoundlands are extremely sensitive to anesthesia, and most do not tolerate heat well. History and Background As the name suggests, the Newfoundlander hails from the coast of Newfoundland, where it was a popular working dog, both on land and water. There are no records to support the breeds true beginnings, though it is generally assumed that the Newfoundland can be traced to the Tibetan Mastiff . Amongst its chores, the Newfie would carry heavy loads for its masters as draft and pack animals, tow lines from ship to land in choppy seas as ship dogs, and rescue errant swimmers. The Newfie was so accomplished in its ability to save the drowning that at one time they were required at lifeguard stations along the British coast. Indeed, to this day, they are remarked upon for being watchful of swimmers, for not allowing their people to go too deep, and for pulling people back to shore when they have gone too far. As techniques go, the Newfoundlander has an intuitive sense of how to save the drowning. It allows itself to be held onto if the person is conscious, or if unconscious, it grips the person by the upper arm, so that the body rolls onto its back, head out of water, and tows it back to shore. The Newfie's web feet and swimming technique as well make it an exceptional swimmer. Rather than swimming in the usual "doggie paddle," it does the breast stroke. So common was the breed as a ship companion that historians note its role in saving the life of Napoleon Bonaparte when he fell into the dark sea on his return to France from Elba. Often, the only way ships could get to land when the sea was too choppy to cross was to send a Newfie to swim with a small boat or line. Their work on land was just as impressive. Their powerful muscles could pull great loads for long distances, and they could work independently, with teams, and with or without human guidance. Noted tasks include hauling lumber, delivering mail, and transporting foods. The Newfoundlander could accomplish tasks that were difficult for both man and beast. History notes that a Newfoundlander named Scannon accompanied Americans Lewis and Clark during their expedition to the Pacific Northwest. The Newfoundlander was given its name in 1775, when enthusiast George Cartwright applied the name. The "Landseer" Newfoundland, or the white and black variety, was given its name in homage to artist Sir Edwin Landseer, who often featured the black and white Newfoundlander in his paintings. The most famous Newfoundlander is perhaps Nana, the nurse dog for the Darling family in the story of Peter Pan.

i don't know

What can be an official stamp of quality on a precious metal, a greeting card company, and a cable TV channel?

Hallmark Greeting Cards, Gifts, Ornaments & Personalized Books | Hallmark Cards Whip up a variety of dishes from around the world to bring luck with the new year. Plan your menu No one does special occasions like Hallmark. Hallmark has been your family-owned creator of greeting cards, gifts, gift wrap and more for over 100 years. We take deep pride in helping individuals connect in just the right way. Our Hallmark greeting cards , available in a variety of aesthetic styles and tones, help you share your sentiments in a way that fits your unique relationships. Our boxed Christmas cards, boxed thank you notes and other bulk cards help you show friends and family they’re on your mind in a consistent style suited to you. For an even more personalized touch, Hallmark offers a variety of unique customizable cards you can make your own with photos and text at our digital card shop, Ink & Main . In addition to our greeting cards, we proudly carry a large selection of gifts for every occasion and recipient. Whatever the occasion, our gift offerings are diverse, unique and sure to have something for your situation. Hallmark.com is also the online home of Hallmark’s exclusive Keepsake Ornaments . We feature special debuts, premiers and announcements throughout the year to help you stay up-to-date on these beautifully crafted, collector-quality ornaments. Thank you for visiting!

Hallmark

What do you wrap in bacon to make that yummy dish known as Angels on horseback?

Hallmark Store Locator l Find Hallmark Store Locations and Directions Search Find my store Find a Hallmark Gold Crown store near you in the U.S. or Canada. Products and prices may vary by store. Please enter a city & state or ZIP code

i don't know

Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones were the members of which band?

Davy Jones' death shocks Monkees bandmates  - NY Daily News Davy Jones’ Monkees bandmates Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork react to singer’s death  Davy Jones' death shocks Monkees bandmates  Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz (l.-r.) of The Monkees were at the Royal Albert Hall in London last May. (Saul/Redferns) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Thursday, March 1, 2012, 12:49 PM After the sudden death of the Monkees’ lead singer Davy Jones Wednesday, the surviving three members of the band publicly paid their respects. Just as Jones’ fatal heart attack at the age of 66 stunned fans, Peter Tork , Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith were left reeling by the news out of Stuart, Fla. PHOTOS: REMEMBERING THE MONKEES SINGER “It came as a pretty big shocker – right out of the blue,” Dolenz told NBC’s “Today” show. “You know, he was the last one that I thought would [go first] … the youngest one of us.” Though they had originally come together as a prefabricated band for the Beatles-inspired ’60s TV series, Tork said the four musicians bonded into friends. “I know Davy was very happy to be a part of all of this,” Tork told USA Today . “He wanted nothing more than to be an entertainer. And to help people enjoy time.” Tork also relayed his favorite memory of his late bandmate, from the earliest days of the Monkees phenomenon. During a break from filming a commercial, the band went to eat at a nearby diner. “We ordered lunch. Micky [Dolenz] and I got our salads first,” Tork told the newspaper. “We just stuck our forks in the salad bowls and stuck it in our face. Davy Jones was appalled. He said, ‘You pigs. Anyone would think that you were raised in a barn.’ “Davy’s salad came, and all on eyes were on him. He didn’t even look up. He cut his salad into 1-inch strips, turned his bowl 90 degrees and cut the strips into 1-inch squares. He poured the creamy dressing all over it until each and every 1-inch square was covered. “Then he reached into the bowl with his hands, grabbed a fistful of his salad and shoved it into his face.” That sense of humor helped The Monkees break out into stardom when the show debuted on NBC in 1966 and on hit singles like “Daydream Believer.” A 2008 Yahoo poll voted Davy Jones No. 1 teen idol of all time. Jones “was the heart and soul of the show,” Dolenz told CNN’s Piers Morgan Wednesday night.

The Monkees

Name the 1986 movie from the IMDB plot summary: "The macho students of an elite US Flying school for advanced fighter pilots compete to be best in the class, and one romances the teacher."

THE MONKEES LET THE GOOD TIMES! ROLL WITH NEW ALBUM AND TOUR FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY | rhino.com THE MONKEES LET THE GOOD TIMES! ROLL WITH NEW ALBUM AND TOUR FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY tags: 60s New Release News Good Times! Vinyl Tour 2016 Tour The Monkees Who's ready to have some fun with The Monkees as they celebrate their 50th anniversary? With a tour kicking off in May and the group’s first new album in 20 years, GOOD TIMES!, due June 10th, Monkee-mania will be taking 2016 by storm! GOOD TIMES! features all three surviving band members – Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. The unmistakable voice of the late Davy Jones is also included with a vintage vocal featured on one song. To produce the new album, the band found the perfect musical co-conspirator in Grammy® and Emmy®-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne, Ivy). GOOD TIMES! will be available on CD and digitally June 10, with a vinyl version coming out on July 1. Much like The Monkees’ early albums, GOOD TIMES! features tracks written specifically for the band by some of the music world’s most gifted songwriters, including Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), Andy Partridge (XTC), and Zach Rogue (Rogue Wave) as well as a song co-written by Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller. The album also includes songwriting contributions by Nesmith (“I Know What I Know”) and Tork as well as producer Schlesinger. To help bring the anniversary full circle, The Monkees completed songs for GOOD TIMES! that were originally recorded and written for the group during the 60s, including “Love To Love” by Neil Diamond, which features a vintage vocal by Jones. Harry Nilsson wrote the title track “Good Times,” which he recorded at a session with Nesmith in January 1968. The production was never completed, so the band returned to the original session tape (featuring Nilsson’s guide vocal) and have created a duet with his close friend Dolenz. “Good Times” will mark the first time Dolenz and Nilsson have sung together since Dolenz’ May 1973 single “Daybreak.” Other vintage 1960’s tracks included on GOOD TIMES! feature L.A.’s famed “Wrecking Crew” of session musicians. “This is one of the most exciting Monkee projects I’ve been involved in for decades!” says Dolenz. “Working with Adam Schlesinger has been a pure delight and the opportunity to sing a duet with my old buddy, Harry Nilsson, is just beyond cool!” GOOD TIMES!

i don't know

What Latin phrase, which translates as "unknown land", is used in cartography to denote regions that have not been mapped or documented?

terra - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki Related topics terra: Wikis Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Look up Terra  or terra in Wiktionary , the free dictionary. Terra may refer to: The Latin, Romanian, Italian, Catalan and Portuguese name for the planet Earth Terra (satellite) , a research satellite launched by NASA in 1999 In planetary nomenclature , terrae are extensive land masses found on various solar system bodies Terra refers to Earth in many fictional universes Battle for Terra , a 2008 animated film by Aristomenis Tsirbas Holy Terra is the name of Earth in the Warhammer 40,000 universe Terra, the name of Earth in the Fading Suns role-playing game Terra (BattleTech) is the capital of the Terran Alliance and its successor the Terran Hegemony Terra (comics) , a DC Comics character involved with the Teen Titans Terra, an anti-MU defense force in the Anime RahXephon Terra, an Earth-like planet in the original version of Battlestar Galactica Terra (computer game) , a role-playing game Terra Branford , a fictional character from the video game Final Fantasy VI Terra, a "Ra-Seru" worn by Noa in the PlayStation game Legend of Legaia The Planet Terra is a fictional planet from the video game Final Fantasy IX Terra, a stardroids from the Megaman series Terra (Kingdom Hearts) , a character from the Kingdom Hearts series Terra, an unknown being in the story series: Stolen Liberty In other uses: Terra (currency) , a global currency proposed by economist Bernard Lietaer Terra, a brand of root vegetable chips manufactured by the Hain Celestial Group Terra (group) , a J-pop group headed by Konami sound producer Naoki Maeda Terra, a butterfly genus Terra-Gruppen , a chain of Norwegian savings banks Terra Industries, a multinational manufacturer of fertilizers based in Sioux City, Iowa Terra (mythology) , a primeval Roman goddess, also known as Tellus or Tellus Mater (Earth Mother) Terra Naomi , a musician and recognized YouTube user for her songs Terra: The Nature of Our World , a video podcast about science and the environment Terra Networks , S.A., an Internet company headquartered in Spain Terra Australis , a hypothetical continent appearing on European maps from the 15th to the 18th century Terra incognita , the Latin term for "unknown land", used in cartography for regions that have not been mapped or documented Terra nullius , a Latin expression deriving from Roman Law meaning "land belonging to no one", "nobody's land", "empty land" or "desolate" Terra pericolosa , the Latin phrase for "dangerous land", used in cartography to denote regions believed likely to put travelers in jeopardy See also

Terra incognita (disambiguation)

Now the largest back in the US (by assets), what investment bank merged with Chase Manhattan in 2000?

Dialogos of Eide: 04/08 Kaleidoscopic Pattern Metaphorically Used The largeness of this apolytope looses the distinction of it's lines when it is displayed to largely?Garrett Lisi may have pinpointed aspect of this flower as he points to the petals? I had to look for how he descriptively displayed the pattern of those petals, as he choose to represent this expression as a "modality in perception." "...underwriting the form languages of ever more domains of mathematics is a set of deep patterns which not only offer access to a kind of ideality that Plato claimed to see the universe as created with in the Timaeus; more than this, the realm of Platonic forms is itself subsumed in this new set of design elements-- and their most general instances are not the regular solids, but crystallographic reflection groups. You know, those things the non-professionals call . . . kaleidoscopes! * (In the next exciting episode, we'll see how Derrida claims mathematics is the key to freeing us from 'logocentrism'-- then ask him why, then, he jettisoned the deepest structures of mathematical patterning just to make his name...) * H. S. M. Coxeter, Regular Polytopes (New York: Dover, 1973) is the great classic text by a great creative force in this beautiful area of geometry (A polytope is an n-dimensional analog of a polygon or polyhedron. Chapter V of this book is entitled 'The Kaleidoscope'....)" I left a remark at Clifford's blog in relation to the flower, because it is very symbolic to me about what can emerge within context of our own consciousness. That it could encompass my whole life. I would not present this perspective if I did not realize there was a functioning pattern within myself that I identified through study of my own nature. BEHOLDING beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth, not images of beauty, but realities, for he has hold not of an image but of a reality, and bringing forth and nourishing true virtue to become the friend of God and be immortal, if mortal man may. Would that be an ignoble life? PLATO See: Beauty and Asymmetry This pattern becomes reflective of how one can assign one's belief's to the world, and this is how I see this as an aspect in each of us. How this pattern is the reflection of what exists as a very bright light at our centres. This to me is the energy force and momentum that moves our lives to the expressions that we do, while it also reveals the aspect of the life, and the expressions which are shadows of the very reflection of that light. A kaleidoscopic pattern made using a simple toy kaleidoscope tube. The kaleidoscopic pattern metaphorically used as an expression of all life for me then? Now, there are other images besides flowers that also occupy my mind I perceive as holding an expressive tendency of the energy expression as a pattern of being. See: here Also see: Iris recognition Now sure I could be pegged as some one who delves on the fringes of what is the shadows of things, and while being perceived as such, is somehow ineligible to be part of this commentary on the energy of expression, as a pattern in one's life? Yet I do not believe that any of us can be said not to have this privilege, because I see it is an integrate part of our persons and our characters. Yes, you can look at the whole person, and the matters that describe the reality, but it is much more that energy can explode into this reality that exists, and it all came from some centre? Yes it's true I believe that the tunnel to the light, is a perceived way in which the soul in expression manifests itself into the world we called waking reality. It provides new meaning for, "light at the end of the tunnel" and how far an introspective view shall you take this to mean, we have come to a clearer perception of the reality of the situation in your life? But yes, we sleep and life consolidates too. It would not to be to far off the mark that the seed and it's growth could mean much more as we reread the quote I give of Plato's, that has become the food for thought about life as an "expression of being." Let's look at again now in context of this post? "AND we should consider that God gave the sovereign part of the human soul to be the divinity of each one, being that part which, as we say, dwells at the top of the body, inasmuch as we are a plant not of an earthly but of a heavenly growth, raises us from earth to our kindred who are in heaven. And in this we say truly; for the divine power suspended the head and root of us from that place where the generation of the soul first began, and thus made the whole body upright. When a man is always occupied with the cravings of desire and ambition, and is eagerly striving to satisfy them, all his thoughts must be mortal, and, as far as it is possible altogether to become such, he must be mortal every whit, because he has cherished his mortal part. But he who has been earnest in the love of knowledge and of true wisdom, and has exercised his intellect more than any other part of him, must have thoughts immortal and divine, if he attain truth, and in so far as human nature is capable of sharing in immortality, he must altogether be immortal; and since he is ever cherishing the divine power, and has the divinity within him in perfect order, he will be perfectly happy. Now there is only one way of taking care of things, and this is to give to each the food and motion which are natural to it. And the motions which are naturally akin to the divine principle within us are the thoughts and revolutions of the universe. These each man should follow, and correct the courses of the head which were corrupted at our birth, and by learning the harmonies and revolutions of the universe, should assimilate the thinking being to the thought, renewing his original nature, and having assimilated them should attain to that perfect life which the gods have set before mankind, both for the present and the future." Plato from Timaeus, 90a-d, translated by B. Jowett What use any author if he cannot point out the "depth of thought" that one can go into by leaving a "tidbit of information" so that one can be motivated to look at the whole picture and not just, "part of a mystery?" An assumption is made of the person, and from it the world views settles accordingly. Life becomes easy wrapped then to this meaning and we soon learn, where each of us has left "the synergy of the situation they are in," and realized, the counterpart is and will always hold a greater meaning. That we share this aspect of nature we have come to perceive. Crab apple blossom We planted this in memory of a grandchild called Summer, who passed after being born. It was a way to remember, that life is "spring's eternal." Unfortunately, we had to leave it behind as we moved on, yet, is holds greater meaning now that we remember her, as we look at the blossoms. If one is intuitive enough they can read deeper into this then they could have before? See beyond their nose?:) The pathway of expression is an indelible feature then in my mind that it can follow an expression, and what was the origination of this motivation? If it is life as we know it, and it can impel a whole universe, why cannot this energy be impelled by some motivation from within you? All life? Spintronics Spin, which is assigned a value of "up" or "down," is a quantum-mechanical property of electrons. Like charge, spin can be encoded with binary data. See: The Current Spin on Spintronics Spintronics (a neologism for "spin-based electronics"), also known as magnetoelectronics, is an emerging technology which exploits the quantum spin states of electrons as well as making use of their charge state. The electron spin itself is manifested as a two state magnetic energy system. The discovery of giant magnetoresistance in 1988 by Albert Fert et al. and Peter Grünberg et al. independently is considered as the birth of spintronics. Racetrack memory Racetrack memory is an experimental non-volatile memory device under development at IBM's Almaden Research Center by a team led by Stuart Parkin.[1] In early 2008 a 3-bit version was successfully demonstrated.[2] Developed successfully, racetrack would offer storage density higher than comparable solid-state memory devices like Flash RAM and similar to conventional disk drives, but with much higher read/write performance. It is one of a number of new technologies vying to become a "universal memory" in the future. Spintronics Devices Research Racetrack Memory, Spin Injectors, Magnetic Tunnel Transistors, and a host of more exotic spintronic designs take us beyond the realm of the simple GMR spinvalve. See Also: Magnetic Monopoles in Spin Ice See my comment there for computerize correlation defining elementary particle creation. Comment in full below until post recognition. Steven:Or anyone involved in spintronics? That thought of spintronics crossed my mind as well. In a "parabox situation" it is important to understand that quantum gravity history as it might be used, might be used to define some "emergent principle as a algorithm written" may also be written as "quantum gravity signal" for computerized situations in numerical standardization relations? I mean you have to have some format in which to translate the theoretical toward the truest versions of a "vision of the math." What ever that may be. Best, Birds on Their Migrations Sandhill Crane(Grus canadensis) On the drive into town today, my wife pointed out these birds in the field above. She went back later, after arriving at home and unloading the building supplies we needed. We have never seen them before. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) She is the picture taker in this family and she has us looking at the different species as we sit at our dining room table, looking through the patio doors to the feeders she has placed amongst the trees. Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) The Varied Thrust and the Nut hatch are new for us to see around the feeders. The " Evening Grosbeaks " still pay us a visit on a regular basis. Have you seen Alvin? Oh, and yes I know Alvin is a Chipmunk:) American Red Squirrel(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) One thing you can be assured of is the healthy population of squirrels. They maintain their occupation over the food while some of the birds themselves feed. See: Wildlife and related links there. Posted by Damasio's Second LawEmotions precede feelings. Damasio's Third Law Concepts precede words. Consciousness emerges when this primordial story-the story of a object causally changing the state of the body-can be told using the universal nonverbal vocabulary of body signals. The apparent self emerges as the feeling of a feeling. When the story is first told, spontaneously, without it ever being requested, and furthermore after that when the story is repeated, knowledge about what the organism is living through automatically emerges as the answer to a question never asked. From that moment on, we begin to know. Pg 31, The Feeling of What Happens, by Antonio Damasio IN the " primitive aspect of being, " I was hoping one would see through to the realization that if Antonio was to present a clear and precise definition of the way we evolve then what use to see that such an elevation of the perceptions of Jill Taylor could have amounted to anything? But wait, she experiences the stroke and that's physical isn't it? And thus, she was truly lead to such an insight? The point is this. That in order for have such a state to go too, it had already to exist? This goes to the articulation's of how Antonio sees? This then is the challenge to replace the way he articulated his points of reference, too one saw in another way. Yes, there is a physical process with the DNA and such. What use to overcome the physical attributes of the lower centres if we can ascribe to one that there is much higher perspective then what is currently understood? See in between the moments of time, are the digging deep of what passes for our attentive views, to see that the depth of perception is an accumulative thing too. Ouroboros:The Left/Right Brain simbolo alquímico (Ouroboros serpent in old Greek alchemical manuscript) The Ouroboros , also spelled Ourorboros, Oroborus, Uroboros or Uroborus (pronounced /ˌjʊəroʊˈbɒrəs/ or /ʊˈrɒbɔrɔs/), is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon swallowing its own tail and forming a circle. It has been used to represent many things over the ages, but it most generally symbolizes ideas of cyclicality, unity, or infinity. The ouroboros has been important in religious and mythological symbolism, but has also been frequently used in alchemical illustrations. More recently, it has been interpreted by psychologists, such as Carl Jung, as having an archetypical significance to the human psyche. The original of Splendor Solis which contained seven chapters appeared in Augsburg. In miniatures the works of Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein and Lucas Cranach were used. The author of the manuscript was considered to be a legendary Salomon Trismosin, allegedly the teacher of Paracelsus. The work itself consists of a sequence of 22 elaborate images, set in ornamental borders and niches. The symbolic process shows the classical alchemical death and rebirth of the king, and incorporates a series of seven flasks, each associated with one of the planets. Within the flasks a process is shown involving the transformation of bird and animal symbols into the Queen and King, the white and the red tincture. Although the style of the Splendor Solis illuminations suggest an earlier date, they are quite clearly of the 16th century Some who had been followers of my blog are familiar with my references to Carl Jung. You had also seen my reference to Sir Isaac Newton and his relations to Alchemy which many would like to dispel with. As you can see with my emotive descriptions, I am very much concerned with this action, that the essence of distilling the finer aspects of our being, are the anatomical substances of those same emotive inclinations housed in experience. So if you were able to use the crucible and combined the proper substance of these emotive experiences, what value could we have found in placing in every person this Philosopher stone? What the Crown is to signify? In alchemy, the ouroboros is a purifying sigil. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung saw the ouroboros as an archetype and the basic mandala of alchemy. Jung also defined the relationship of the ouroboros to alchemy: [4] The alchemists, who in their own way knew more about the nature of the individuation process than we moderns do, expressed this paradox through the symbol of the ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail. ouroboros, has been said to have a meaning of infinity or wholeness. In the age-old image of the ouroboros lies the thought of devouring oneself and turning oneself into a circulatory process, for it was clear to the more astute alchemists that the prima materia of the art was man himself. The ouroboros is a dramatic symbol for the integration and assimilation of the opposite, i.e. of the shadow. This 'feed-back' process is at the same time a symbol of immortality, since it is said of the ouroboros that he slays himself and brings himself to life, fertilises himself and gives birth to himself. He symbolises the One, who proceeds from the clash of opposites, and he therefore constitutes the secret of the prima materia which [...] unquestionably stems from man's unconscious. While these are not the scientific allegories one like to hear in the science world, shall I condemn Martin Rees fro introducing such an symbol in the penetration of the Universe's cyclical nature as we join the the very large with the very small. How about including Holism and Reductionism as a complementary model while we look deeply into the definitions of the brain as a whole, while not distinguishing it's part? left/right brain? Holism (from ὅλος holos, a Greek word meaning all, entire, total) is the idea that all the properties of a given system (biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc.) cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines in an important way how the parts behave. The general principle of holism was concisely summarized by Aristotle in the Metaphysics: "The whole is more than the sum of its parts." Reductionism is sometimes seen as the opposite of holism. Reductionism in science says that a complex system can be explained by reduction to its fundamental parts. Reductionism essentially claims that chemistry is reducible to physics, biology is reducible to chemistry and psychology and sociology are reducible to biology, etc. Some other proponents of reductionism, however, think that holism is the opposite only of greedy reductionism. On the other hand, holism and reductionism can also be regarded as complementary viewpoints, in which case they both would be needed to get a proper account of a given system. Bold added for emphasis. Looking for a unitary alliance between quantum realities and the the world at large are the recognition that in the end, like the distinctions of left/right brain cannot be taken alone, and not as some larger perspective that is necessary in being. Yet enclosed with this very thinking is the idea of position and momentum? Posted by See also Cerebral Hemisphere So I got up and I jumped onto my cardio glider, which is a full-body exercise machine. And I'm jamming away on this thing, and I'm realizing that my hands looked like primitive claws grasping onto the bar. I thought "that's very peculiar" and I looked down at my body and I thought, "whoa, I'm a weird-looking thing." And it was as though my consciousness had shifted away from my normal perception of reality, where I'm the person on the machine having the experience, to some esoteric space where I'm witnessing myself having this experience. Stroke of insight: Jill Bolte Taylor Bold added for emphasis. I think this is part of the discovery of who you are. What makes up the person that has slipped ever so gently into this matter defined state. Who would of thought the elements of entanglement could have meant that energy and matter intertwined could have the oscillatory nature of this person become "who it is" by defining the atmosphere of it's relations with the world. So technically, if we see the vast resources of so many bodies, what is relevant to our species that we could say there is indeed eternal hope that we will one day return to the very places we all arrived from? What happens to that "I am?" I may of gone to far here for the minute because what I wanted to focus on was the recognition of those things that are primeval in all of us. Things that from such an elevated state of perspective are recognized. That while the elements of the physical are apparent in Jill Taylor's observations, it was through that "ancient part of our brains" that evolution has redeemed itself by the very evolution of perspective. We have somehow elevated the existence of being apart from the containment? But in the meantime, there is a "relativity of being" that all things hold us to the ground, while the recognition of those things that are much more ephemeral in nature, can be the elements of emotive states of recognition that bind us firmly to our abodes. The Triangle So very basic in it's shape it can symbolize many things to many different people. The basic factor here is that we choose this design to exemplify a systemic approach to what our minds can relate in viewing reality. While thinking about the ephemeral quality of the emotive states, and fully understanding this anatomical relation, I thought of these emotive elevations/descents and such. It was more the work for me to realize that the quality of perspective could be ruled by such "emotive states of recognition" whether you can identify these on your own or not. They were experientially defined in our relation and anatomically ruled by our minds, whether we could separate from them or not, was never the "not accepting ownership" that I would have implied through recognition, but the realization that we are all imbued with the elements of this "facet of being." So we have Jill's perspective of her hand holding onto her cardio glider? Such observation qualities of mind and viewing from such a space, is the work of assigning responsibility to what we have become entangled in, in our acceptance who heartily of becoming the bodies in which we live. The Square Study of structure formation in the Universe is an area of forefront research in astrophysics. The early evolution, when the seed fluctuations are small, can be calculated analitycally on a piece of paper without the help of large supercomputers. As the fluctuations grow in their amplitude, the evolution becomes too complex and theorists have to use computers to follow the subsequent evolution. See: Formation of the large-scale structure in the Universe: simulations Martin Rees begins, and ends his lecture with the understanding of a given space. If one had thought about the energy valuation of this given space, then what values could be reduced "from the beginning" to define it in these matter defined relations. You had to have a way in which to perceive the given reality at a time before the immersion of these rarefied thought forms that descend into the matter definitions of existence? The grounding of perspective is the direct relation to how we perceive the elements of our physical bodies, to it's most densest form. While of course we recognize the degrees of the different phases of the elemental states,? It is with such conviction that I saw this relation to what defines the body our home, and what can be the bodies highest aspirations in terms of it's functionality as producing such thoughts. While Martin Rees defines this ability of the culture as a sliver in the macroscopic relation of where humanity sits now, the final hour, is a transformational attitude about where we are going as a species? That while all things things can be mapped to their biological nature, did we ever recognize the finer forms of manifestation that are revealed? Whether we accept the emotive states purely as anatomical, or, whether we plainly accept these mental capacities based on the neuronical processes alone? So that is where I went in my journey was to define this "relativity of mind" in full acceptance of what Einstein may have implied in the "measurement of that time" based on our emotive relations, and acceptance, of this relation in the human experience. I based it on a much finer forms of realization, above the most rarefied matter states that one could think of, to develop a "model of understanding" beyond the limitations we had assigned the physical basis of our relations as a human form. Bradbury on FAHRENHEIT 451 See also at Home with Ray What space has this writer given us, as we look forward to the future? What valuations do we then assign the places in television as we have become numb to the experience of discovering who we are? So I do understand the wider perspective here about what people can do to each other as we select and transcribe the future prospects of where we want this society to go. I had learnt about this aspect of numbing as I realized that it was just as great an effort to awake our own selves to the subtle perceptions of existence, as it was to respond most appropriately in our views on the things that we had taken into our beings for assessment. It was "as if" we could find that "space in time" where we could "stop time and look in between the clips of our everyday experiencing" and realized then, that in every moment of time as an arrow, human experiences follows? There was that place to awaken our ingenuity of mind to the discoveries of the world around us. “Television gives you the dates of Napoleon, but not who he was,” Bradbury says, summarizing TV’s content with a single word that he spits out as an epithet: “factoids.” He says this while sitting in a room dominated by a gigantic flat-panel television broadcasting the Fox News Channel, muted, factoids crawling across the bottom of the screen. His book still stands as a classic. But one of L.A.’s best-known residents wants it understood that when he wrote it he was far more concerned with the dulling effects of TV on people than he was on the silencing effect of a heavy-handed government. While television has in fact superseded reading for some, at least we can be grateful that firemen still put out fires instead of start them. Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 Misinterpreted L.A.’s august Pulitzer honoree says it was never about censorship By AMY E. BOYLE JOHNSTON Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7 pm Creativity How subtle this point about this identification of this question on creativity ," What does "creativity" mean in our lives? that it could be thrown in the mix? There was a greater story here waiting for us in the wind? How unpredictable the weather to see that in the third valley of Amy Tan's exploratory journey , that while she in writing sees the object of stones as a part of the story line, then finds reality has been kind to her, that such serendipity is the realization that all things will come home to roost. So too in this aspect and understanding, do I find, that the word "creativity" is a funny thing that such "determinisms are factored with it." That such ideals and relations become the "correlations of cognition" that I had found opening in my own life. It was by discovery of such a method in a literary device I could, look at what other authors were doing as they began their stories. How was I to know that the very search I had put myself on would lead me here or there, and to understand, that I was seeing into the future, and the future was coming home to see me? The discovery of Plato and his Dialogues were a lesson in mind that I had come to look at, as if, the Dialogues themself were a method by which such perspectives could have pointed toward a future. An outcome, determined by the very process of bringing forth the "point of view", whether by a "truer character of being," or some form of left right brain dialogue of coming to a consensus on that oscillatory moment. School of Athens by Raphael That two such positions could have been adopted in the painting of Raphael in the Signatore's room at the Vatican, was a deeper recognition to me of the creativity we can assign such outcomes by placing Plato and Aristotle under such such an "Arche." The "centre of the painting" is itself to draw attention to all the events that were happening in the school(A Royal Road to Geometry?), but to bring us back to this centralized position within ourselves. To brings us back to the very questions about the relationship of this teacher and student. This was a foundational perspective that was a sign of the times to me. While we look at the inductive/deductive relation of what such an Arche represents, it was a method that by such induction/deductions of such things were to become "self evident." This dialogue could be wide sweeping, as we take Aristotle gestures and a sweep of the hand, while Plato, points to a higher purpose, and the revelation of where ideas come from. This is a source of inspiration to me that such deductions while delineating a pathway to historical context, has a relevance to what was always known. Was alway there to be discovered, We just did not realize it yet. The Teacher and the Student "The Teacher and the student" could exist in each of us. What choice would you have while on such a search to know that while there was never the possibility to assign ourselves to this group or that, that you were to wear the stripe and pattern of, and then loose that part of yourself that was till on the journey? The probability of new language development was the realization that from insightful development each of us holds the ability to warm up to the idea of what creativity means in our lives. While we gesture ourselves to that future and PLATO'S HAND, and how IDEAS could descend into every thinking mind that opens itself to such a pathway? He wanted to give a speech, but no remarks are allowed. “Not even a paragraph,” he says with disdain. Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 Misinterpreted Why would he just settle with shaking a president's hand while he was being misinterpreted and was left without a voice? Ray Bradbury rejected part of the mould "of who and what limits such a participation of self to the truth" was the message that betrays the deeper recognition of what we may assign to our fellow creatures on earth. Shall we learn the truth of who we are now being limited by using the distinctions and factoids, now becomes the way of hiding the deeper relevances the messages have about that truth? Were we acquiescence to such numbing? Then, Wake-UP!:) Should we assign such a deduction to what the avenues of new technologies appeal to the nature of "numbing the senses" or, point to the realization, that such devices will allow "fine openings and apertures" which revealed the truth of that ever searching mind? Letting Go of the Mould Amy Tan reveals a thinking of mind that allow me to write on the "Character of our Heroes," to imply that we had to let go of our prejudgements in order to fully experience the methods and thinking of those historical figures.Sensing who they were in their totality. Amy Tan revealed that writing on a particular place in China, the village that she was to write about suffered a terrible loss(sixty homes burnt) and the individual who caused that incident, was to bear the brunt of the village justice. In order for Amy to live and breathe that village, she had to pull back her own opinions about what justice was in order for her to write of the discipline and justice applied to that man. Removing her opinions, and "moving into that space" was to try and expeirence the story fully. Let the story to be written. Posted by Stroke of insight:Jill Bolte Taylor So who are we? We are the life force power of the universe, with manual dexterity and two cognitive minds. And we have the power to choose, moment by moment, who and how we want to be in the world. Right here right now, I can step into the consciousness of my right hemisphere where we are -- I am -- the life force power of the universe, and the life force power of the 50 trillion beautiful molecular geniuses that make up my form. At one with all that is. Or I can choose to step into the consciousness of my left hemisphere. where I become a single individual, a solid, separate from the flow, separate from you. I am Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, intellectual, neuroanatomist. These are the "we" inside of me. Which would you choose? Which do you choose? And when? I believe that the more time we spend choosing to run the deep inner peace circuitry of our right hemispheres, the more peace we will project into the world and the more peaceful our planet will be. And I thought that was an idea worth spreading. So here's the thing. I see the body as a tool for our spirit to manifest, and if we assign the expression of this spirit through the delegations of the brain's hemisphere, then what does this mean about the reality of the idea of position and momentum in our experiencing, if we had thought that such division would have relegated the experience to aspects of the right and left hemisphere? The link offered by Phil, put this question in my mind, as I am trying to see the place my fabrications of mind as the penetrating of experience reside in the hemispheric association, sees, that such mapping can be assign a introspective measure of our realization of the right brain experience Phil offered in this link. If we were to think of the oscillatory relation of position and momentum as a feature of the reality we reside in, then the very stages that the "I am resides in" is a fixation of the reality itself. While this can be reduce to a mathematical framework, this aspect of the uncertainty, would have then become the mattered states of existence, as we have come to define aspects of that same reality? The cerebral hemispheres . See: Chapter 2: The Biological Basis of Behavior-Chapter Review A cerebral hemisphere (hemispherium cerebrale) is defined as one of the two regions of the brain that are delineated by the body's median plane. The brain can thus be described as being divided into left and right cerebral hemispheres. Each of these hemispheres has an outer layer of grey matter called the cerebral cortex that is supported by an inner layer of white matter. The hemispheres are linked by the corpus callosum, a very large bundle of nerve fibers, and also by other smaller commissures, including the anterior commissure, posterior commissure, and hippocampal commissure. These commissures transfer information between the two hemispheres to coordinate localized functions. The architecture, types of cells, types of neurotransmitters and receptor subtypes are all distributed among the two hemispheres in a markedly asymmetric fashion. However, it must be noted that, while some of these hemispheric distribution differences are consistent across human beings, or even across some species, many observable distribution differences vary from individual to individual within a given species. Hemisphere lateralization Broad generalizations are often made in popular psychology about certain function (eg. logic, creativity) being lateralised, that is, located in the right or left side of the brain. These ideas need to be treated carefully because the popular lateralizations are often distributed across both sides. [1] However, there is some division of mental processing. Researchers have been investigating to what extent areas of the brain are specialized for certain functions. If a specific region of the brain is injured or destroyed, their functions can sometimes be recovered by neighbouring brain regions — even opposite hemispheres. This depends more on the age and the damage occurred than anything else. The best evidence of lateralization for one specific ability is language . Both of the major areas involved in language skills, Broca's area and Wernicke's area , are in the left hemisphere. Perceptual information from the eyes, ears, and rest of the body is sent to the opposite hemisphere, and motor information sent out to the body also comes from the opposite hemisphere (see also primary sensory areas ). Neuropsychologists (e.g. Roger Sperry , Michael Gazzaniga ) have studied split-brain patients to better understand lateralization. Sperry pioneered the use of lateralized tachistoscopes to present visual information to one hemisphere or the other. Scientists have also studied people born without a corpus callosum to determine specialization of brain hemispheres. The magnocellular pathway of the visual system sends more information to the right hemisphere, while the parvocellular pathway sends more information to the left hemisphere. There are higher levels of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine on the right and higher levels of dopamine on the left. There is more white-matter (longer axons) on right and more grey-matter (cell bodies) on the left. [2] Linear reasoning functions of language such as grammar and word production are often lateralized to the left hemisphere of the brain. In contrast, holistic reasoning functions of language such as intonation and emphasis are often lateralized to the right hemisphere of the brain. Other integrative functions such as intuitive or heuristic arithmetic, binaural sound localization, emotions , etc. seem to be more bilaterally controlled. [3] Posted by There Be Dragons? Map of North America from 1566 showing both Terra In Cognita and Mare In Cognito. Terra incognita (with "incognita" stressed on the second syllable) is the Latin term for "unknown land", used in cartography for regions that have not been mapped or documented. The equivalent on French maps would be terres inconnues (plural form), and some English maps may show Parts Unknown. Similarly, uncharted or unknown seas would be labeled Mare incognitum, Latin for "unknown sea". An urban legend claims that cartographers labelled such regions with "Here be dragons". Although cartographers did claim that fantastic beasts (including large serpents) existed in remote corners of the world and depicted such as decoration on their maps, only one known surviving map, the Lenox Globe, in the collection of the New York Public Library [1], actually says "Here be dragons" (using the Latin "hic sunt dracones"). [2] Terra incognita may also refer to the imaginary continent Terra Australis. During the 19th century terra incognita disappeared from maps, since both the coastlines and the inner parts of the continents had been fully explored. The phrase is now also used metaphorically by various researchers to describe any unexplored subject or field of research. I added the "T" for a affirmative statement of the There Be Dragons as a question at hand? " Here be dragons " is a phrase used by cartographers to denote dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of the infrequent medieval practice of putting sea serpents and other mythological creatures in blank areas of maps. The earliest known use of this phrase was in the Latin form "HC SVNT DRACONES" (i.e. hic sunt dracones) on the Lenox Globe[1] (ca. 1503-07). The term appeared on the east coast of Asia. Earlier maps contain a variety of references to mythical and real creatures, but the Lenox Globe is the earliest one to bear this phrase. So you got to know that with a statement like, What are the Odds, we might have a truly based reasoning that underscores the importance of presenting the work toward the answer for every statement that causes uncertainty? Not assigning Dragons to unknown territories in terms of new information. I just want to point out something that has crossed my mind in terms of our past. That in the ole European identification processes names were given to people by the places they had inhibited. IN the "Bloggery world" such titles it seems ring true, as we say the name of the person and the the title of the blog respectively? How ancient this idea then to bring such a idea to mind here and the histories to the tongue. Try saying this once, twice and as many times as you like, let it roll off your tongue....."Bee and Stefan of Backreaction," or "Clifford of Asymptotia." Yes, it has a ring to it doesn't it:) Okay, so where am I going with this? The End of the World Scenarios? In a paper published in 2000 with the title “Might a Laboratory Experiment Destroy Planet Earth?” Francesco Calogero, a nuclear physicist at the University of Rome and co-winner of the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Pugwash conferences on arms control, deplored a tendency among his colleagues to promulgate a “leave it to the experts” attitude. “Many, indeed most, of them,” he wrote, “seem to me to be more concerned with the public relations impact of what they, or others, say and write, than in making sure that the facts are presented with complete scientific objectivity.” Gauging a Collider’s Odds of Creating a Black Hole What is in the fate of hands who will determine how secretive this world will become Dorigo. That while they advocate their positions on what is shared by our scientists, what can now be brought to bear on the "false thoughts and illusions" that new stories are forever created, while the true sources of knowledge are being clouded? Do we know better? Observing a Scientist in Action Even I can be harsh in my criticisms, and it is my family trait, that when you come from a very large family you tend to care for those less advantaged then others. It's just part of the psychology that we bring to bear, as if a mother taking care of their young, could turn into teachers, "who take are of their students." In response too " So What Are the Odds? " by Clifford of Asymptotia:) The Angel and the Demons are here and not here .:) Okay, just a teaspoon of the anti-matter then. No molasses, or anything more profound then? From "stringevangelism" to "Frank common sense," you've gone to great lengths? But this time, you may have gone to far with these Draconian measures. :) What next! The mystic in science is always the infancy of something much more profound? So now being so much more analytical? So easy to denounce our pre-understanding of the larger possibilities, and pass it off to the experts. Then we have all our answers set in stone. Yes! It is always safer to scoff at what we now determined as safe, but then, who of us hasn't realized that with more knowledge we understood something more? With the reports I had read to update I realized there were a lot of scientists who just did not know what was being talked about, while at Cern, they were quick to dispel what proposals were set forth with the uncertainties. These were respectable attempts at informing the public. There were reports on strangelets that were answered and these were taken seriously. Least we forget how unsettling the "God particle was" while the Fly's eye was in it's infancy? You see, this is the way of it, and this is the way that those who condemn, light the fires of opposition to what should or should not be revealed to the public. It is our nature to call this thing a Geon possibly? It's clue to our saying goodbye to men who dream up the nature of things. Should we forget how those who denounced the avenues of string theory were quick to spell out where the genus figures left off, are now much further then some of our good scientists previously understood? Storms in teacup I, II III, etc.... for sure.:) You were much nicer to the child on the bus. How wise and prudent our words when there are young ears around to hear,and I have often be scolded by my wife for forgetting about the children. The circumstance in which I am working. So it is not hard to see the reverberations of my not being careful in what I've seen of the children of late whose language has become the reiteration of the circumstance in which they are raised. So can I say that the young in mind are adults whose ears are listening as well, in the matters of their age, are the students of the process and are listening as well? Harry Campbell Source from article above. Beware of the symbolism then used by Dennis Overbye to further this "scoffing at of the ridiculous." These too have a lasting impression. Least we destroy the characters of our heros? See Sir Isaac Newton again for comparisons of what ill fate would be assigned to the ones who reached for the light ,and saw all it's possibilities? The Devil is In the Details? So yes there are the creative writers who embellish the situation that help create this hysteria of the uncertainty. Who also bring forth such lovely stories of the fictional that we can somehow relate these events in our time as above? The Devil, is in the details of a Mirror World? While the "true cast" is here ? :) Mirror world or Alice in Wonderland, we have a unique way of adding the incredibility to the credible? *** Configuration Space Lee Smolin: For Newton the universe lived in an infinite and featureless space.There was no boundary, ad no possibility of conceiving anything outside of it. This was no problem for God, as he was everywhere. For Newton, space was the "sensorium" of God-the medium of his presence in and attachment to the world. The infinity of space was then a necessary reflection of the infinite capacity of God.The Life of the Cosmos By Lee Smolin Oxford University Press; New York, N.Y.: 1997, Page 91 Should one think we should dismiss the historical context by assigning comments to the characters of that past? See the " Character of our Heros " for an update on my thinking.I think it is cheap what we can do sometimes, while this history has never been completely told? What is it I mean? It is a way in which I look at life and the way in which it came together for me. If such a source is recognized that emanates the very constructive phases of all life, then, what was the underlying substance of this creation if it could not be expressive? David Joseph Bohm (b. December 20, 1917, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - d. October 27, 1992, London) was an American-born quantum physicist who made significant contributions in the fields of theoretical physics, philosophy and neuropsychology, and to the Manhattan Project. If man thinks of the totality as constituted of independent fragments, then that is how his mind will tend to operate, but if he can include everything coherently and harmoniously in an overall whole that is undivided, unbroken, and without a border then his mind will tend to move in a similar way, and from this will flow an orderly action within the whole. (David Bohm, Wholeness and the Implicate Order, 1980) If a shaft of light entering a prism is sufficiently narrow, a spectrum results. In optics , a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. The exact angles between the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use "prism" usually refers to this type. Some types of optical prism are not in fact in the shape of geometric prisms. Prisms are typically made out of glass, but can be made from any material that is transparent to the wavelengths for which they are designed. A prism can be used to break light up into its constituent spectral colors (the colors of the rainbow). Prisms can also be used to reflect light, or to split light into components with different polarizations. Dispersion In optics, dispersion is the phenomenon that the phase velocity of a wave depends on its frequency.[1] The most familiar example of dispersion is probably a rainbow, in which dispersion causes the spatial separation of a white light into components of different wavelengths (different colors). However, dispersion also has an impact in many other circumstances: for example, it causes pulses to spread in optical fibers, degrading signals over long distances; also, a cancellation between dispersion and nonlinear effects leads to soliton waves. Dispersion is most often described for light waves, but it may occur for any kind of wave that interacts with a medium or passes through an inhomogeneous geometry (e.g. a waveguide), such as sound waves. Dispersion is sometimes called chromatic dispersion to emphasize its wavelength-dependent nature. The Value of Time Lee Smolin: The alternative is to disbelieve the arguments that time is emergent-which were never very convincing- and instead formulate quantum cosmology in such a way that time is always real. I would suggest that the Boltzman Brain’s paradox is the reducto ad absurdum of the notion that time is emergent and that rather than play with little fixes to it we should try to take seriously the opposite idea: that time is real. Configuration space to me would mean a relationship to the way tungsten bar of lead would have through it's coordinated dimensions as shown below pinpointed the results according to the space that this measure occupies? Now this could mean some totally different to th way I am seeing it, yet knowing full well the scope of the spectrum , the evidence to the contrary of that one wave, would have been the refractive differences shown not only in that Prism, but the elemental consideration as signature by the elements presence. Bar of Lead Tungstate Source: A Quantum Diaries Survivor-Calorimeters for High Energy Physics experiments - part 1 April 6, 2008 Calorimeters measure the collective behavior of particles traveling along approximately the same path, and are thus naturally suited for the measurement of jets-Dorigo Tommaso See Previous post on the Calorimeters When pushing back perspective it is of course used in concert with how we shall see the events unfold in the cosmos. Any measurement used in the LHC at this time is tied to that same understanding of events as they unfold for us, not only in context of this "whole universe," but on any subsequent events that happen within context of parts of that same universe. Bohmian Mechanics Bohmian mechanics , which is also called the de Broglie-Bohm theory, the pilot-wave model, and the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics, is a version of quantum theory discovered by Louis de Broglie in 1927 and rediscovered by David Bohm in 1952. It is the simplest example of what is often called a hidden variables interpretation of quantum mechanics. In Bohmian mechanics a system of particles is described in part by its wave function, evolving, as usual, according to Schrödinger's equation. However, the wave function provides only a partial description of the system. This description is completed by the specification of the actual positions of the particles. The latter evolve according to the 'guiding equation,' which expresses the velocities of the particles in terms of the wave function. Thus, in Bohmian mechanics the configuration of a system of particles evolves via a deterministic motion choreographed by the wave function. In particular, when a particle is sent into a two-slit apparatus, the slit through which it passes and where it arrives on the photographic plate are completely determined by its initial position and wave function. Bohmian mechanics inherits and makes explicit the nonlocality implicit in the notion, common to just about all formulations and interpretations of quantum theory, of a wave function on the configuration space of a many-particle system. It accounts for all of the phenomena governed by nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, from spectral lines and scattering theory to superconductivity, the quantum Hall effect and quantum computing. In particular, the usual measurement postulates of quantum theory, including collapse of the wave function and probabilities given by the absolute square of probability amplitudes, emerge from an analysis of the two equations of motion - Schrödinger's equation and the guiding equation - without the traditional invocation of a special, and somewhat obscure, status for observation. The calorimeter design for GLAST produces flashes of light that are used to determine how much energy is in each gamma-ray. A calorimeter ("calorie-meter") is a device that measures the energy (heat: calor) of a particle when it is totally absorbed. CsI(Tl) bars, arranged in a segmented manner, give both longitudinal and transverse information about the energy deposition pattern. Once a gamma ray penetrates through the anticoincidence shield, the silicon-strip tracker and lead converter planes, it then passes into the cesium-iodide calorimeters. This causes a scintillation reaction in the cesium-iodide, and the resultant light flash is photoelectrically converted to a voltage. This voltage is then digitized, recorded and relayed to earth by the spacecraft's onboard computer and telemetry antenna. Cesium-iodide blocks are arranged in two perpendicular directions, to provide additional positional information about the shower. The complexity and sum over histories leaves an indelible pathway for all energy Disposition patterns(photons in the Electromagnetic Calorimeters), as well as, an adventure "within the confines of the Hadronic Calorimeters views." In a sense when referenced to a "configuration space," then what design of the calorimeter that we would measure the earliest signs o the universe in expression as the "supposed productions of the cosmos." That we could say, we have a "new view in the window of that same cosmos?" Iron wedges of the CMS forward calorimeter-Source from Quantum Diaries Survivor. The future If new detectors will ever be built to explore a yet higher energy regime than the one about to be probed by LHC, calorimeters will be as necessary as they are today. The following characteristics will be desirable in a design of new generation: * self-triggering (the ability of independent portions of the system to identify and measure a signal, interpreting it and sending an accept signal to the data aquisition system) * stand-alone tracking (the ability of the calorimeter system to independently determine the direction of crossing particles) * an integrated time-of-flight measurement (the capability to separate different particle signals based on the delay between their arrival time and the interaction time) * high resolution and granularity (attainable with silicon technology) The needs of these fancy features, however, rests on the specific hunt that we will decide to embark on. Which, in turn, critically depends on the discoveries that the Large Hadron Collider will produce!Calorimeters for High-Energy Physics - part 2, by Tommaso Dorigo See: Topo-Greek, from topos, place. Basic Examples In the early 1960s Grothendieck chose the Greek word topos (which means “place”) to denote a mathematical object that would provide a general framework for his theory of étale cohomology and other variants related to his philosophy of descent. Even if you do not know what a topos is, you have surely come across some of them. Here are two examples: See: What is a Topos? by Luc Illusie Of course I am looking and trying to describe "Topo" in a different way. I do not want to diminish the significance of the mathematical intents. Just the realization of what we are doing with our perceptions, as we send them to extraordinary depth of of creation. In 1952, in his book Relativity, in discussing Minkowski's Space World interpretation of his theory of relativity, Einstein writes: Since there exist in this four dimensional structure [space-time] no longer any sections which represent "now" objectively, the concepts of happening and becoming are indeed not completely suspended, but yet complicated. It appears therefore more natural to think of physical reality as a four dimensional existence, instead of, as hitherto, the evolution of a three dimensional existence. Albert Einstein Of course it was necessary to understand the evolution of Euclidean geometries to the non-euclidean, and the history associated with this. The word "Toposense" is one that becomes endearing when you realize that if your were to take to the meaning of "slide of light to heart" you would see the implications of what gravity could mean in the presence of the photon and it's explanatory revolutionary ideas about how it can encourage "Gravities Rainbow" here within context of this blog. "On the Effects of External Sensory Input on Time Dilation." A. Einstein, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J. Conclusion: The state of mind of the observer plays a crucial role in the perception of time. Unfortunately the link to the article below ( now shows as Intuitively Excellent) has been removed from Scientific America's data base or has changed, or, I may of copied it wrong in my search. Nevertheless, I do not have the link, but would like to conclude the remark above, in terms of those pointed out for further repercussions of that conclusiveness. Einstein scholars disagree, but the pretty girl/hot stove experiment also may have led to another of his pithy remarks, namely: "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" Then again, Einstein was a bit of a wag. Consider his explanation of wireless communication: "The wireless telegraph is not difficult to understand. The ordinary telegraph is like a very long cat. You pull the tail in New York, and it meows in Los Angeles. The wireless is the same, only without the cat." This quote reportedly kept Schrödinger awake well past his bedtime. Summing over Histories? So how does all this come together into a physical theory? It turns out that the proper procedure is to construct every possible diagram allowed by the theory (for a given state of input and output particles and how they're moving) and add up the corresponding complex numbers. The result is essentially the "wave function" for that specific input-output state combination, and by squaring that number you can determine the probability that the given input will result in the given output. Doing that is how theorists at particle accelerators earn their keep. See: An Introduction to String Theory by Steuard Jensen So you look at the basis of interactions that Feynman produced in his Toy models and having some insight to the elemental consideration of those same interactions, what comes out, if we were to see the world in such a way, that continuity of expression is "the Wave that was generated in the very beginning," could have been reduce to some refractive expression of all life. The Spectrum, Hydrogen, or other wise. Do we then know the nature of the source, that we are all derivatives of some coherent plan that manifests toward the "cyclical nature of being?" Some Shakespearean version of, "to E or not to E?" Every known particle has an antiparticle; if they encounter one another, they will annihilate with the production of two gamma-rays. The quantum energies of the gamma rays is equal to the sum of the mass energies of the two particles (including their kinetic energies). It is also possible for a photon to give up its quantum energy to the formation of a particle-antiparticle pair in its interaction with matter. No longer Reducible and Working from the Horizon? How far can our perceptions be pushed? Can consciousness still remain as part of this "ability of creation," that we are still "part and parcel" of it to consider it's full scope? So no geometrical idealizations in sight, other then to consider the significance of a place that is far removed from our looking to the cosmos, and while thinking about it, how far it has been reduce to a fuller picture of it's reality?

i don't know

What US government agency monitors investor fraud, insider trading scenarios, and other investment irregularities?

AllGov - Departments SEC offices:   Office of Acquisitions has the responsibility for overseeing SEC contracts and advises as to requests for contract information.   Office of the Chief Operating Officer oversees agency management policies, including formulating budget policy, allocation and utilization of agency resources, promoting management controls and financial integrity, managing the administrative support offices, and overseeing the agency's information technology capital planning process.   Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations administers the SEC’s nationwide examination and inspection program for registered self-regulatory organizations, broker-dealers, transfer agents, clearing agencies, investment companies and investment advisers. The office conducts inspections to foster compliance with the securities laws to detect violations of the law and to keep the commission informed of developments in the regulated community. Among the more important goals of the examination program is the quick and informal correction of compliance problems. When the office finds deficiencies, it issues a “deficiency letter” identifying the problems that need to be rectified and monitors the situation until compliance is achieved. Violations that appear too serious for informal correction are referred to the Division of Enforcement.   The Office of Ethics Counsel advises all SEC employees and members on such issues as conflicts of interest, securities holdings and transactions of SEC employees and their immediate families, gifts, seeking and negotiating other employment, outside activities, financial disclosure, and post-employment restrictions and clearances. Former SEC employees seeking assistance may call the Ethics Officer of the Day at 202-551-5170.   The Office of the Chief Operating Officer formulates budget and authorization strategies, supervises the allocation and use of SEC resources, promotes management controls and financial integrity, manages the administrative support offices, and oversees the development and implementation of the SEC’s automated information systems. The office has three main areas:   The Office of Administrative Services assists the chairman and the COO in managing the agency’s facilities and assets and provides a wide range of support services to the SEC staff. The office serves the headquarters office and all regional office locations on matters including procurement and contracting, physical security, emergency management, property management, office lease acquisition and administration, space renovation, supplies and office equipment management, transportation, mail distribution, publications, printing, and desktop publishing.   The Office of Human Resources has overall responsibility for the strategic management of the SEC’s humans. The office also represents the commission as the liaison to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and other federal agencies, various public and private-sector professional human resources organizations, and educational institutions in matters relating to human capital management.   The Office of Financial Management administers the financial management and budget functions of the SEC. The office assists the chairman and the COO in formulating budget and authorization requests, monitors the utilization of agency resources, and develops, oversees, and maintains SEC financial systems. These activities include cash management, accounting, fee collections, travel policy development, and oversight and budget justification and execution.   Office of FOIA, Records Management, and Security is responsible for handling requests under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts, the management of all agency records in accordance with the Federal Records Act, and maintaining the security and safety of all SEC facilities. The office has three sub-divisions:   The Office of FOIA Services is responsible for receiving and responding to requests for non-public records under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. It also responds to requests for public information that has not been published to the SEC Web site.   The Office of Records Management Services handles policies, procedures, records schedules, and systems that allow the agency to meet federal statutory and regulatory requirements. This includes identifying, creating, authenticating, and managing active SEC records, as well as disposing of inactive records. The office also provides certified copies of SEC records supporting enforcement activities, other legal proceedings, and performs records management training for SEC staff.   The Office of Security Services is responsible for operations related to the security, safety, and emergency management of all SEC facilities and staff.   Office of the General Counsel assumes overall responsibility for the establishment of agency policy on legal matters. The General Counsel serves as the chief legal adviser to the SEC chairman regarding all legal matters and services performed within, or involving, the commission, and provides legal advice to the commissioners, the divisions, the offices, and other SEC components.   Office of Information Technology has overall management responsibility for the commission’s IT program including application development, infrastructure operations and engineering, user support, IT program management, capital planning, security, and enterprise architecture. The Office operates the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system, which electronically receives, processes, and disseminates more than 500,000 financial statements every year.   Office of Investor Education and Advocacy serves individual investors by seeing to it that their problems and concerns are known throughout the SEC and considered the first priority whenever the agency takes action. The office has these main functional areas:   Reviewing all formal agency action from the perspective of the individual investor, including conducting investor surveys and focus groups. This is the responsibility of the Office of Policy, which plays a leading role in the commission’s efforts to ensure that investor disclosures are written in plain English, as well as the SEC’s technology initiatives such as providing increasingly more investor information in “interactive data” format. Responsibility for acting on investor tips, complaints and suggestions. Tens of thousands of investors contact the SEC each year using the commission’s online forms or its (800) SEC-0330 hotline (toll-free in U.S.) to ask questions on a wide range of securities-related topics, complain about problems with their investments or their financial professionals, or suggest improvements to the agency’s regulations and procedures. Carrying out the SEC’s investor education program, which includes producing and distributing educational materials , participating in educational seminars and investor-oriented events, and partnering with federal agencies, state regulators, consumer groups, industry associations, and others on financial literacy initiatives. With the impending retirement of some 76 million Baby Boomers, one of the primary focuses of these educational efforts is the prevention of fraud against seniors.   Office of the Chief Accountant is the principal adviser to the commission on accounting and auditing matters. The Office of the Chief Accountant assists the commission in executing its responsibility under the securities laws to establish accounting principles and for overseeing the private sector standards-setting process. The office works closely with the Financial Accounting Standards Board , to which the SEC has delegated authority for setting accounting standards, as well as the International Accounting Standards Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants .   Office of the Secretary houses the Secretary of the Commission, who is appointed by the chairman, and is responsible for the procedural administration of commission meetings, rulemaking , practice, and procedure.   Office of International Affairs promotes cooperation among national securities regulatory agencies and encourages the maintenance of high regulatory standards worldwide. The office assists the chairman and the commission in the development and implementation of the SEC’s international regulatory and enforcement initiatives. The office negotiates bilateral and multilateral agreements for commission approval on such subjects as regulatory cooperation and enforcement assistance and oversees the implementation of such arrangements. It is also responsible for advancing the commission’s agenda in international meetings and organizations. The office conducts a technical assistance program for countries with emerging securities markets that includes training both in the United States and in the requesting country. More than 100 countries currently participate in this program.   Office of Administrative Law Judges consists of independent judicial officers who conduct hearings and rule on allegations of securities law violations in cases initiated by the commission. When the commission initiates a public administrative proceeding, it refers the cases to the office, where it is assigned to an individual Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ then conducts a public hearing that is similar to a non-jury trial in the federal courts. Just as a federal judge can do, an ALJ issues subpoenas, rules on motions, and rules on the admissibility of evidence. At the conclusion of the hearing, the parties submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The ALJ prepares an initial decision that includes factual findings and legal conclusions that are matters of public record. Parties may appeal an initial decision to the commission, which can affirm, reverse, modify, set aside, or remand for further proceedings. Appeals from commission action are sent to a United States Court of Appeals.   Office of Equal Employment Opportunity works to ensure that members of the agency’s professional staff come from diverse backgrounds that reflect the diversity of the investing public. To maintain neutrality in resolving disputes, the EEO Office is independent of any other SEC office. The EEO director reports to the chairman. The primary mission of the EEO Office is to prevent employment discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, so that all SEC employees have the working environment to support them in their efforts to protect investors, maintain healthy markets, and promote capital formation.   Office of the Inspector General conducts internal audits and investigations of SEC programs and operations. Through these audits and investigations, the Inspector General seeks to identify and mitigate operational risks, enhance government integrity, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of SEC programs.   The Office of Public Affairs coordinates the agency’s relations with the media and the general public. The office also assists in the enforcement of the commission’s policy concerning the confidentiality of law enforcement and investigative information, which is designed to protect the privacy rights of American citizens. The office reviews and distributes within the agency press coverage of the SEC and of commission-related issues, including the securities industry and the financial markets. It also provides limited research where policy and public affairs goals overlap.   The Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs serves as the SEC’s formal liaison with Congress, other Executive Branch agencies, and state and local governments. The staff monitors ongoing legislative activities and initiatives on Capitol Hill that affect the commission and its mission. Through regular communication and consultation with House and Senate members and staff, the office communicates legislators’ goals to the agency and communicates the SEC’s own regulatory and management initiatives to Congress. The office is also responsible for responding to congressional requests for testimony of SEC officials, as well as requests for documents, technical assistance, and other information. In addition, the office monitors legislative and oversight hearings that pertain to the securities markets and the protection of investors.   The SEC FY 2012 Budget Justification (pdf) reported that the agency was establishing five new offices by requirement of the Dodd-Frank Act: Office of Credit Ratings; Office of the Investor Advocate; Office of Minority and Women Inclusion; Office of Municipal Securities; and Office of Whistleblower Protection (to be a department within the Division of Enforcement). These offices necessitated the creation of 33 new employee positions in FY 2012. Existing departments were assigned to handle the new workload and funds were diverted from market oversight and enforcement operations to pay for it.   The top five contractors employed by the SEC since 2002 were: 1. BDM International                                                                         $124,411,625 2. Keane International Inc.                                                        $60,045,620 3. SAIC, Inc.                                                                             $57,411,794 4. Lockheed Martin Corporation                                              $56,849,675 5. Altegrity, Inc.                                                                       $43,936,703      BDM International, the SEC’s largest contractor, was a subsidiary of TRW, which in turn was acquired by Northrop Grumman. BDM has provided systems and software integration, computer and technical services, and enterprise management and operations to public and private sector clients, including international defense agencies, civil government agencies, and commercial clients.   Keane International Inc. , the SEC’s second-largest contractor, is a subsidiary of NTT Data that provides informational technology services to U.S. government agencies, insurance companies, financial institutions, global manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare insurers   SAIC, Inc. , the SEC’s third-largest contractor is a scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that works in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. For the SEC, the company provides telecommunication and technical assistance including the maintenance and repair of equipment.   Lockheed Martin Corporation, the SEC’s fourth-largest contractor is a global security and information technology company that is the largest provider of IT services, systems integration and training to the U.S. government. The majority of Lockheed Martin's business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. federal government agencies. For the SEC, the company provides automatic data processing and telecom services.    Altegrity, Inc. , the SEC’s fifth largest contractor, is a global screening and security solutions company that provides its clients with law enforcement training and data mining, and provides background investigations for the U.S. government.   According to the SEC FY 2013 Budget Justification (pdf), the agency’s proposed $1.566 billion budget will be spent as follows:     SEC Drops Ball on Stanford Ponzi Scheme In the end justice was served on Ponzi schemer Robert Allen Stanford, no thanks to the Securities and Exchange Commission.   The SEC suspected as early as 1997 that money manager Stanford was defrauding investors to the tune of billions of dollars. But the agency did not investigate the billionaire until 2005, and waited another four years after that to sue him.   Regulators defended their tardiness by claiming another, unnamed federal agency told the SEC to “stand down” in 2006 and not pursue actions against Stanford, as reported in The New York Times.   That excuse was rejected by members of the U.S. Senate who demanded the agency punish or fire someone at the SEC for allowing Stanford to get away with his schemes. If the SEC’s investigation had been timelier, it could have saved many investors from financial risk.   In March 2011, a federal jury convicted Stanford on 13 counts of fraud that totaled $7 billion and impacted 30,000 investors from 113 countries. He was later sentenced to 110 years in prison.   SEC Destroys Thousands of Investigative Documents The destruction of thousands of investigative documents landed the Securities and Exchange Commission in hot water during 2010 and 2011.   Whistleblower Darcy Flynn, an SEC staffer, told Congress some of destroyed papers related to huge investment banks and financial institutions—including Bank of America, Lehman Bros., and Goldman Sachs—that played a role in the 2008 mortgage crisis. One set of documents, among the 9,000 shredded, involved a preliminary investigation into Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff that was never followed up.   In its defense, the SEC said it was not required to retain all documents, especially records of preliminary inquiries, per a policy that was subsequently changed.   SEC Employees Watch Porn As Economy Collapses Having already been lambasted for not catching Bernie Madoff at his pyramid scheme sooner or doing more to head off the 2008 financial crisis, the Securities and Exchange Commission came under even more criticism in 2010 after it was revealed more than 30 employees had wasted time looking at Internet porn on SEC computers.   Beginning in 2008, while major banks on Wall Street were teetering, some high-level SEC staff spent considerable time viewing Web sites like naughty.com, skankwire, and youporn.   The agency’s inspector general found 31 “serious offenders,” including 17 employees with salaries ranging from $100,000 to $222,000 per year.   One senior attorney logged up to eight hours a day accessing porn sites, filling up all the space on his government computer with sexually explicit files and copying even more onto CDs and DVDs that he piled into boxes in his offices.   A female SEC accountant tried to access porn Web sites 1,800 times in a two-week period and stored 600 adult images on her computer hard drive.   Another accountant attempted to access porn sites 16,000 times in a single month, and was blocked, but still managed to bypass the filter often enough to gather an impressive collection of graphic material.   The accounts were reported widely in the media, but the bad news was not enough to stop the problem. The inspector general reported in 2011 that three more SEC workers, including two lawyers, were caught using their computers to access pornography.   Revolving Door at SEC So many workers have shuttled between positions on Wall Street and its government watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission, that the revolving door rarely stops spinning.   More than 200 former SEC staff members went to work for investment firms and banks from 2006 and 2010, according to the Project on Government Oversight.   In the other direction, many high-level Wall Streeters have taken jobs with the federal agency, which has raised questions about the SEC’s ability to investigate wrongdoings and enforce penalties.   One example is Adam Glass, the agency’s co-chief counsel. Prior to going to work for the government, Glass helped set up schemes involving derivatives, the complex financial instruments he now regulates.   Another is Robert Khuzami, the SEC’s director of enforcement, who previously was the general counsel of Deutsche Bank. Yet another is Eileen Rominger, the former global chief investment officer at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, who now works as the agency’s director of investment management.   SEC/Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Program Causes Controversy When the Securities and Exchange Commission set out to bolster its program for rewarding corporate whistleblowers, companies and consumer advocates alike found things to complain about.   As a result of the Dodd-Frank reform bill, the SEC was compelled to strengthen ways for getting more employees to come forward about illegalities at their companies. The changes mandated by Congress called for the SEC to pay rewards of 10% to 30% of fines and settlements from enforcement actions triggered by whistleblowers.   These financial incentives alarmed more than 260 companies, which warned the SEC in a letter that workers would be encouraged to ignore early signs of fraud in order to maximize penalties and rewards. Corporate opponents that signed the letter included Delta Air Lines, FedEx, Gap Inc., and Pfizer.   While industry voiced concerns that the changes went too far, consumer groups said the new whistleblower program would not go far enough. Voices for Corporate Responsibility, the Government Accountability Project, and the National Employment Lawyers Association said there needed to be a mechanism for tracking whistleblowers and their contributions during an investigation. In addition, in order to receive any awards, whistleblowers would actually have to petition the SEC after it had succeeded in an action against a company.   SEC Hedge Funds Limits Stir Backlash A February 2007 Los Angeles Times article revealed that the SEC had decided to sharply limit the number of Americans who can invest in hedge funds, triggering a public backlash. The commission proposed limiting participation in the investment vehicles to investors who have a minimum of $2.5 million in investable assets, excluding the value of their primary residence. At that time, investors had to have at least $1 million in net worth, including real estate, or earn at least $200,000 a year. The change would have restricted hedge funds to 1.3% of U.S. households, down from 8.5%. The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 contains provisions requiring hedge fund advisers with $150 million or more in assets to register with the SEC. To be a qualified client, an individual must have $750,000 in assets invested with the adviser, or have a net worth that is more than $1.5 million. Investors zing SEC on hedge fund rule (by Tom Petruno, Los Angeles Times)   SEC Draws Fire for Decision to Ease Post-Enron Restrictions In February 2007, the SEC began to take steps to protect corporations, executives, and accounting firms from investor lawsuits that accused them of fraud. The first step involved the filing of a brief in the Supreme Court, urging the adoption of a legal standard that would make it harder for shareholders to prevail in fraud lawsuits against publicly traded companies and their executives. Critics claimed this was the SEC’s way of backing away from reforms that had been made in the wake of the 2001 Enron collapse, while proponents claimed that consolidation in the accounting industry had forced measures offering greater protection. The second measure involves bringing a case to the Supreme Court in order to interpret a provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which sets out what investors must charge in a fraud lawsuit to prevent the case from being dismissed. In reinstating the case, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago interpreted the law to mean that the investors had to show whether the accusations, if true, would permit “a reasonable person” to infer that the company and the executives “acted with the required intent.” S.E.C. Seeks to Curtail Investor Suits (Stephen Labaton, New York Times)   SEC Subpoenas Journalists The SEC raised controversy when it issued subpoenas to Herb Greenberg of MarketWatch and Carol Remond of Dow Jones Newswires in 2006. The subpoenas were issued from the commission’s San Francisco office and compelled the journalists to hand over notes, telephone records, emails, and other documents related to an investigation of alleged stock manipulation of online retailer Overstock.com. The journalists, who had both written stories critical of Overstock.com, believe the subpoenas were a form of harassment and trampled on their First Amendment rights.   Modernization Act and Other New Measures Efforts to reform the Securities and Exchange Commission have come from Congress and within the agency itself, but it remains to be seen if any of these plans can stop the SEC’s habit of letting large banks off the hook for violating federal laws and regulations.   Representative Spencer Baucus (R-Alabama), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced in 2011 the SEC Modernization Act, which sought to reorganize the agency’s internal operations.   The proposal includes consolidating redundant offices, implementing management and ethics reforms, and using a reserve fund for essential technology upgrades.   Furthermore, the bill called for the SEC Office of Ethics Counsel—in order to reduce conflicts of interest and help restore confidence in the agency—to develop a new system for documenting recusals for employees who leave the agency.   Within the SEC, Enforcement Director Robert Khuzami was bent on implementing measures designed to facilitate the filing of major cases, reassigning midlevel managers to facilitate investigations, and creating teams specializing in specific areas of financial crime. The union representing SEC employees questioned whether Khuzami’s changes were appropriate or would work.   Regardless of where changes originated, it has become apparent that the SEC needs to stop being so easy on major financial firms after they have broken securities rules. The New York Times found nearly 350 instances over a 10-year period during which the agency did not penalize big Wall Street operators and instead granted waivers permitting them to underwrite certain stock and bond sales and manage mutual fund portfolios.   Con: Arthur Levitt Jr., who chaired the SEC under President Bill Clinton, came to its defense in a New York Times op-ed piece, arguing what the agency needed was for Congress to stop meddling with it and properly fund it. He cited numerous examples when lawmakers and other critics have tried to deplete and micromanage the SEC.   Most recently, Congress adopted the 2,300-page Dodd-Frank financial reform law and demanded the SEC implement it—while not increasing the agency’s budget one dollar. Other congressional moves were even more damaging, according to Levitt.   One proposed bill would have broken up the agency’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. Another piece of legislation would subject “nearly every securities law ever passed—including laws passed in 1933 and 1934 that created the commission and established its core functions—to a cumbersome and impossibly subjective review of their relative costs and benefits,” wrote Levitt.   These bills and other actions demonstrated “a pattern of Congress’s grabbing the steering wheel of an independent agency,” which Levitt said must stop.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

In ‘The Wizard of Oz’ books, what is the name of the Good Witch?

Series License/General Securities Principal - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Series License/General Securities Principal Prepares statements ( no discussion w/ customers) Filing date ends the Preregistration Period Waiting Period (cooling off) Sec reviews the statement Lasts around 20 days from last amendment. If filing is not correct SEC will send deficiency letter Not Permitted to : Sell new issue or accept payment for new issue Can: Discuss the issue, Provide Red-Herring and Record the names of potential purchasers Ended by the effective date Post Effective Period Issuing of final prospectus (no later than the time a sale is confirmed) If the firm has not filed before they need to supply a preliminary prospectus at least 48 hours before and then a final prospectus Reporting status at time for filing: Exchange or Nasdaq Listing Status: After the offering, dealers must provide prospectus for: Non Reporting Will be Listed 25 days Non Reporting Will not be listed and is not an IPO 40 days Non Reporting Will not be listed and is an IPO 90 days Reporting Aftermarket prospectus requirement does not apply Unlawful representation • Failing to file the registration statement • Making a material misstatement and/or material omission • Selling security publicly before registration is effective • Failing to give a copy of final prospectus to purchaser Small businesses (Less than $25 million) (become effective 20 calendar days after filing) • Form SB-1: enables issuer to raise $10 million or less within any 12 months • Form SB-2: enables issuer to raise capital in an unlimited amount for unspecified time period. (as long as it falls under the definition of small business issuer. Trust indenture Act of 1939 • Bonds must register under the Securities act of 1933 • If issuing more than $10 million dollars must provide a indenture (agreement) between the issuer and a trustee who acts on behalf of the bondholders interest Series 24 CH1 8-15 Well- Known Seasoned Issuer (issuer is required to file reports under section 13(a) or 15(d) With in 60m days of determination of eligibility must have - Worldwide market value of common equity by non-affiliates of $700 million or more. - Or in last 3 years have at least $1 billion aggregated principal amount of nonconvertible securities. - Eligible to register on From S-3 (short form) or F-3(foreign private issuers) Majority-owned subsidiary- (subsidiary of a well-known seasoned issuer) Securities are nonconvertible, and the parent company guarantees the securities fully and unconditionally Seasoned issuer- Eligible to use form S-3 or F-3 Unseasoned issuer- reports under section 13 or 15(d) but does not meet requirements to file on from S-3 or F-3 Non-Reporting issuer- does not require filing of reports under section 13 or 15(D) Ineligible issuer- - Issuer that has not filed reports - Blank Check Company - Shell Company - Issuer offering penny stock - Using a form of selling other than firm commitment underwriting - Has filed for bankruptcy or issuer insolvent in past 3 years - Issuer of entity of issuer have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor with securities or anti-fraud in the last 3 years - Has been is of a refusal or stop order Free writing prospectus- Well-known seasoned issuers that will be subject of registration statement. It is an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the form of a written communication. (issuer free writing prospectus must be retained for 3 years) New Issue Communications Examples of illegal communication 1. Research reports- if it contains info about the new offering 2. Advertising- ad campaign related to the new off 3. Oral Communication- discussions between registered reps and customers regarding new offers, Permitted after filing date 4. Internal syndicate memoranda- not allowed to be distributed to customers Cooling off period- Generally underwriters may discuss new offer but may not offer in writing except with preliminary prospectus. Also applies to research reports Exceptions to communication rules: Gun- Jumping Provisions: Rule 134: Communication not deemed a prospectus Tombstone ads may include- o The name of the issuer o The full title of the security o The amount being offered o A brief description of type of business o Price o Date of sale o Identify of underwriters Other ok info - Contact info of organization sending communication ( name, address, phone number and email) - Anticipated schedule for the offering (approximate commencement date) and a description of marketing events - Exchanges where securities will be listed - Name of selling securities holders Rule 135a: Generic Advertising Does not mention specific investment company, but provided general info about investing or generic types of funds Can also contain request for further info with name and address of broker-dealers Rule 137: Persons not participating in an offering In order to be allowed to have a research report the issuer cannot have had a blank check, shell or penny stock offer within last 3 years Research reports can be distributed by non-affiliated dealers who receive no direct compensation Rule 138: Nonequivalent Securities (nonconvertible debt or preferred stock) The broker dealers can distribute and publish research reports. If the report covers common stock, convertible debt or convertible preferred stock of an issuer, the report maybe published if it is regarding the nonconvertible debt or preferred stock. Rule 139: Research Reports Are allowed to publish and distribute if the issuer is subject to 1934 act or is a well-known seasoned issuer. If certain criteria are met Cannot be initiation or re- initiation coverage of the issuer or security Industry specific reports cannot display one security with more prominence Rule 144a offering are also not considered offering or advertising Reg S is not considered a selling effort Rule 168: allows the issuer to continue to publish or disseminate regularly released factual business and forward looking information at any time. Factual info includes: o Information about the issuer o Information about the business or financial development of the issuer o Ads of info about the issuer’s products or services o Dividend notices o Info in reports filed with eh SEC under Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Forward –looking info: o Earning Forecasts o Future management operation plans o Statement about future economic performance o Information in reports filed with the SEC This does not include info about a registered offer or activities in the registered offering does not quality as factual business info. Rule 169 : allows a Non-reporting issuer to continue to publish or disseminate regularly released factual business information. Electronic Road Show Road show conducted over the Internet (a graphic communication) considered a free writing prospectus Live shows (oral) Taped (Graphic communication) If the issuer is non-reporting (equity or convertible securities) then the issuer must file the road show with the SEC at time of registration. Unless it is a Bona Fide electronic road show (discussed shortly used for IPOs only) Rule 415: Reforms: if meets the requirement can be used 3 years after initial effective date other wise should be sold with 2 years § An offer that begins immediately and last greater than 30 days § Registered on Forms S-3 or F-3 and is sold immediately and in the future on a continuous basis Rule 145: Reclassifications Subject to 145: § Reclassifications § Mergers/Consolidations § Transfer of assets Not subject: § Stock Splits § Reverse Stock splits § Change in Pas value ADR’s (American Depositary Receipts) Carry voting rights, Priced in $’s , pay $ dividends but ADRs are sensitive to currency risk Series 24 CH1 21-24 Exemptions (No matter what are still subject to Anti-fraud provisions of Securities act of 1933) Exempt Securities: • US Government and agency securities • Municipal Securities • Securities issued by Nonprofit orgs • Short-term corporate debt (less than 270 days) • Securities issued by domestic banks and trusts (but not bank holding companies) • Securities issued by small business investment companies (exempted by federal legislation) Rule 147: Intrastate sales exemption 1. Issuer derives 80% of its gross revenues within the state 2. 80% of issuers assets are within the state 3. 80% of proceeds of the sale must be used for business within the state 100% of the securities sold pursuant to Rule 147 must be to residence of the state Must wait 9 month before selling to someone outside the state Before the 9 months must sell to someone in the state Regulation A: Aggregate offering price: max of $5 million with in 12 months may be sold. No more than $1.5 million by selling shareholders Offering Statement: Cannot make a written or oral offer unless Form 1-A offering statement has been filed with SEC. Considered qualified on 20th calendar day after filing Preliminary and final offering circular: must be furnished to prospective buyers at least 48 hours prior to mailing of confirmation statements (with final prospectus) Exempt Transactions: Private Placements or REG D Regulation D • Must file Form D with SEC no later than 15 days after first sale • Under $1 Million can sell to any one accredited and 35 non accredited investors (needs offering memorandum) • Over $1 Million allows an unlimited number of accredited investors to purchase must sign a investment letter which states that the securities are unregistered and can only be resold if registered. • Cannot advertise within the general public or open investment seminars • Over $5 million non accredited investors but have ability to gauge the risk • Securities are Restricted because they need to be registered in order to Resell • Must disclose relationship between issuer and purchase rep Accredited investors • Financial institutions • Any director, executive office, or general partner of issuer • Individuals who meet financial tests (Net worth greater than $1 million) or Income over $200,000 (w/ spouse $300,000) Purchaser Representative- a person who represents potential purchasers who are solicited to buy securities pursuant to REG D and Cannot own 10% or more of company, nor be affiliated with issuer unless a close relative to the offeree. Offering Memo- issued only if nonaccredited investors are offered securities it in tales detailed financial information of issuer Series 24 CH1 27-30 Rule 144: permits the resale of restricted stock under certain conditions Control Stock: stock acquired by an affiliated person of the issuer in the open market Holding Period: 1 yr holding period for restricted stock, begins with purchase and must be fully paid at time of purchase. Holding period applied to: • Individuals who purchases and wished to sell • Individual who acquires stock as a gift • Securities acquired by a trust from a beneficiary • Securities acquired by a pledged from a pledgor If person is deceased then it can be sold but estates are subject to rule 144 Control Stock does not have a holding period Exception- Person has not been affiliated for 3 months prior to sale and has held the stock for at least 2 years. Broker transaction- transactions not involving solicitation Exception: • A broker may make inquiry of a customer who has indicated an unsolicited interest in the securities with in preceding 10 days • The broker may make inquiry of another broker that has indicated an interest in the security within the last 60 days. Notice of Sale : must file a Form 144 unless it is less than 500 shares or $10,000 Limitation of Amount: 3 month time period, IF exchange listed cannot exceed 1% of total shares outstanding or the average weekly volume of the past 4 weeks. IF over the counter the limit is 1% total shares outstanding Rule 144a- Permits the sales of restricted stock ( except for the sales by the issuer) to Qualified Institutional Buyers QIBS with out conditions of rule 144 (seller does not need to be QIB) QIBS (three part test) 1) Insurance companies 2) Registered investment companies 3) Small business development companies 4) Private and public pension plans 5) Certain bank trust funds 6) Corporations, partnerships, business trusts, nonforprofits 7) Registered investment advisers Second: must buy for its own account or other QIBS Third: Buyer must own $100 million of securities of issuers not affiliated with the buyer Regulation S: Sale of U.S. company stock issued outside the U.S. Transaction must be offshore. (no offer is make to a person in the US or the transaction is not facilitated in the US Reg S may not be resold to US investors because of the Distribution compliance period. Usually 40 days for debt securities and 1 year for equity CH2 1-4 Underwriting securities TYPE Liab for unsold shares Firm Commitment YES Syndicate must absorb losses in unsold shares Best Effort NO Unsold shares are returned to issuer Best Effort: All or None NO Offer is canceled if all shares are not sold Best Effort: Mini-Maxi NO Offering is canceled if set minimum is not sold, but sale may continue up to preset maximum Stand-by YES Syndicate agrees to buy any shares not purchased by shareholders in rights offering Distribution of Securities Syndicate- Broker-dealer forms a syndicate and takes the role of syndicate manager (managing underwriter) They then create an agreement among underwriters or syndicate agreement. The role of the syndicate is to guarantee (underwrite) the sale Selling Group- the syndicate will sometimes recruit other broker dealer to assist in the sale. Must sign a selling group agreement, which describes the relationship. Selling group does not assume financial liability. Syndicate Practices Underwriting Spread- difference between investing public and issuing company Typical Spread Manager's fee 0.1 Underwriting fee-earned by syndicate 0.2 Concession (selling group) 0.5 CH2 8-12 REG M Rule 101- Helped to prevent manipulation Restricted period – can range from 1-5 days before pricing or when ever the broker-dealer becomes a participant. Exception: • Transactions involving government and muni bond, investment grade nonconvertible and preferred stocks and RICS (2-9) • Actively traded securities , which are those with ADTV of at least $1 million , where public float is $150 million • Odd-lot transactions • Exercise of any options, warrant, right, or similar instrument • Unsolicited brokerage transactions and unsolicited purchases when acting as a principal Research- Referring to covered securities reports they my be distributed during the restricted period if they meet the conditions of rules 138 and139 of securities act of 1933 Rule 102: Activities of issuers Issuing insiders are prohibited from supporting or raising the price of stock before an IPO Exception- • Issuers may not bid for or purchase the following: • Actively traded securities of the issuer or an affiliate • Basket transactions involving a covered security • Inadvertent transactions Rule 103:Passive Market Making Permits distribution participants to continue making markets in a Nasdaq stock that is the subject of an offering during the rule 101 restricted periods but only on a passive basis. Rule 104: Stabilizing- is the placing of any bid or effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing , or other wise maintaining the price. Although it is manipulation the SEC has considered it benefits The max price a stabilizing bid can be initiated is the public offering price. Stabilizing Stabilizing when the Principal market is open- The bid must be initiated in any market at a price no higher than the last independent transaction price for the principal market. IF: 1) security traded in principal market, when day stabilizing is initiated or the preceding business day 2) Current ask price is equal to or greater than the last independent transaction price Closed- The price stabilization may be initiated is generally limited to the lower of the price at which stabilization could be initiated in the principal market at its previous close or the last independent transaction or bid in the market. Can be raised to match independent bids of the market Disclosure: If stabilization occurs, the market must disclose the purpose of the stabilizing bid Rule 105: Short Sales in Connection with an offering Securities from an offering may not be used to cover short sales affected during a period beginning five business days prior to the pricing of the offering and ending with the pricing of the issue Does not apply if not conducted on a firm-commitment basis Underwriters cannot make all- or none unless 1) all the securities being offered are sold at a specific price and time 2) issuer receives the total amount it is due by a specific date Disclose of interest- broker/ dealer must give or send the customer written notice disclosing its participation in the distribution before the completed transaction CH 2 16-18 Selling syndicate- is a group distributing securities under an agreement that imposes a financial commitment on its members. Selling group-is a group distributing securities under an agreement that does not impose a financial commitment on its members. Nonmembers: (suspended nasd members) : nonmembers cannot join in syndicate or selling groups. This does not apply to foreign broker-dealers. Although they must follow the same rules If issuer if selling to public and has hired agent, then no nasd member firm can participate. Review of Underwriting Agreements Usually submitted by managing underwrite (to nasd for review) • Estimated max public offering price • Estimated max underwriting discount • Estimated max reimbursement for underwriting expense Filing is required for most offers including REG A and intrastate offerings Filing must be no later than one day after filing of any registration Exempt: U.S. government sec, Municipal sec, redeemable share investment companies, variable contract and private placements. Exempt from filing requirement: Investment grade debt and preferred stock, other securities of issuer outstanding (debt and preferred stock) Fairness of compensation Nasd Reviews all that a member firm participates, but will not pass judgment on merits of issue of public offer price. Factors: # of shares purchased by the underwriter, time when shares are purchased, cost of stock in relation to public off price. Shares received from the issuer by the underwriters that exceed 10% of the total offering will be considered unreasonable. Option or warranty are considered unfair if they exceed 5 years duration or can be exercised on more favorable terms. Compensation- in addition to the underwriting discount, any payments to underwriters for costs not usually borne by issuer are included in compensation Examples of expense not considered compensation: blue-sky fees, printing costs, accountant fees Restrictions- the sale of securities acquired in connection with an offering is restricted for a period of 6 months following the effective date Selling Concessions: Can only be given to bona fide service providers who are broker-dealers in investment banking. Must sign a written agreement that is will comply with the NASd rules on selling concessions Settlement of syndicate accounts: syndicate manager of a firm-commitment must no later than 90 days following the settlement date, provide each syndicate member with an itemized statement of syndicate expenses. CH2 22-27 Rule 2790 (The New Issue Rule) NASD member firms should make a bona fide offering of new issues and not withhold any shares for its own account, any employees or industry insiders. Also restricts the sale to accounts with restricted persons have beneficial interest. Exception: personal of Limited broker dealers New Issues are ALL IPOs of equity securities that are sold under a registration statement or offering circular. NOT NEW Issues: • Secondary offering • All debt offerings, (convertible and non-investment grade) • Private offerings • Preferred stock and rights offerings • Investment company offerings • Exempt securities as defined under the securities act of 1933 Preconditions fro sale Affirmative statement- a form that positively declares that an account is eligible Firms using electronic communication may not rely on oral statements Selling firms must re-verify eligibility every 12 months and retain copies of all information and records for a minimum of 3 years Prohibited Sales: Cannot sell to a restricted person and a member firm cannot buy new issues unless it is exempt Restricted Persons Is not permitted to purchase any shares of a new issue unless an exemption applies. Nasd member firms an any associated person of the member firm Immediate family of an employee of a member firm (spouse, children, parents, siblings, In-laws) Immediate family is considered restricted if all 3 condition apply 1. The employee gives/receives material support to immediate family. Material support is 25% or more of the persons income 2. The employee is employed by the member firm that is selling new issues 3. Employee has the ability to control the allocation of the new issue Other restricted persons: Finders and fiduciaries, Portfolio managers, person who owns a broker-dealer General Exemptions: New issues can be sold to the following accounts • Investment companies registered under the investment company act of 1940 • The general or separate account of an insurance company • A common trust fund • Account were beneficial interest is less than 10% • Public traded entities other than broker-dealer or its affiliates that engage in the public offering of new issues • Foreign investment companies • Erisa accounts, state and local benefit plans Broker-dealer can purchase shares of new issues if the offer is undersubscribed Restricted persons can purchase shares of new issues in order to keep the their equity at the same level (Anti-Dilution). Must have owned the shares at least 1 year prior and new shares must be held for three months following the effective date Issuer-Directed Securities Entites that control or are controlled by an issuer may purchase shares of a new issue if the issuer specifically directs them to. EX. The parent company of an issuer, the subsidiary of an issuer, employees and director of an issuer Allows registered representative to purchase shares of equity IPO if the issuer is the employing broker-dealer Securities taken in trade: Can exchange owned shares and trade for securities being distributed. Principal capacity (must be purchased at fair market) , Agent capacity (member charged a normal commission for securities that are sold) Affiliate- an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under control with member. Assuming that corporation owns 10% or more of stock member or partnership where any partner owns 10% or more. Employee purchases- Employees can purchase if the sold being sold is: • The member company • A parent company of the member • An entity, which wholly owns the member • An entity, which owns at least 51% of the stock of the member • An entity that would become a member or parent of a member as a result of the transaction Qualified independent underwriter (needed when underwriter is selling its own stock) • Participates in the preparation of any offering documents and would exercise the same due diligence as any underwriter, even if not actively selling the securities • Unless the security is investment grade, then the underwriter must provide a pricing option for the new issue and the new issue can not be sold at a price. • Must have engaged in investment or securities business for 5 years and has seen offers of similar size • Cannot have been convicted of fraud in the past 5 years Disclosures (Registration statement, offer circular, or similar docs) • Must disclose that the offer is made under the provisions of the NASD • Must include a date by which the offer is expected to be complete • Include the name and responsibilities of any qualified independent underwriters Recommendations- Member firms are required to maintain on file the basis for its recommendation to its customers. (On discretionary power , must obtain the clients written consent, even though it holds discretionary power) Filing • Underwriting agreements for member proprietary offers must be filed under the corporate financing rule. • When firm is issuer, it is responsible for filing the required docs and fees • In case of affiliated, the managing underwriter is responsible for filing • If no manager then the member affiliated with issue must file Direct Participation Programs (DPP) A direct participation program is an investment that provides for the flow-through tax consequences to the investors in this security. Types: Limited partnership, joint venture, subchapter S corporation and similar programs NOT DPP’s Real Estate Investment Trust(REITS), Pension plans, investment company securities, and tax-sheltered annuities Disclosure: Full disclosure must be made on this areas: Compensation, Physical properties, tax aspects, the financial condition and experience of the sponsor, risk factors and appraisals on properties. Must also believe that the client: • Will be in a financial position to realize the tax benefits of the program • Has the financial resources to assume the risks and lack of liquidity • Meets all suitability standards Members must maintain records showing the basis for determining suitability. Need written approval on discretionary accounts for transaction Limits to DDP Compensation Max compensation is 10% gross dollar amount of securities plus .5% of the proceeds for the reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses. If firm is an NASD member then the total cap is 15% Rollups- a limited partnership rollup transaction is one that involves the combination or reorganization of one or more limited partnership. NASD Compensation on Rollups • No more than 2% of the exchange value of the newly created securities • Paid regardless of whether or not the partners reject the proposal CH3 1-3 Exchange Markets NYSE RULES Distribution and size- Public shares of at least 1,100,000 with market value of $100,000,000 ($60,000,000 for IPO/Spin-off) Financial criteria- • Pretax income over three years of $10,000,000 • Operating cash flow of $25,000,000 over last 3 years, with positive amounts each year • Average Global Market Capitalization of $750,000,000 with revenues of $75,000,000 for last fiscal yr Unlisted Trading Privileges- in some cases the securities are not listed because of inability to meet exchange requirement. Yet these can still trade on other exchanges such securities are said to have Unlisted Trading Privileges. The Role of the Specialist Specialist- must be approved by NYSE for each stock in which they specialize. In addition to maintaining the book of orders, they are responsible for balancing buy and sell orders to arrange an equitable opening price. Can act as an AGENT OR PRINCIPAL Agent- matching the customer with counterparty when market conditions allow Principal- Trading from their own account. This trading must be down in order to maintain a fair and orderly market. They are prohibited from make a transaction other wise Fair and orderly- means one in which there is price continuity and reasonable depth. This also covers the idea of Trade imbalances. which is where the specialist act to create liquidity. The specialist also cannot compete with public orders Stopping Stock- is a guarantee given by a specialist to a floor broker that the broker’s order will be executed at a specific price unless a better price can be obtained in the crowd. (only for public accounts) Automated Trading Systems- NYSE- uses SUPERDOT (designed order turnaround) It can take market and limit and takes round and odd lots Orders are entered at the branch and are routed directly to the specialist CH2 7-9 Types of Orders Market order- Executes at whatever price the market is when it reaches the floor. Will always be executed Limit order- Wanting to buy or sell at a specific price. It can only execute at a specific price or better. Buy limit- executes at limit or lower Sell limit- executed at limit or higher Usually it is given to a specialist to hold until he can execute. It is possible that the order will not be executed if the limit is never met or there might be stock ahead (other orders at the same price with a higher priority) Stop Order- a stop order becomes a market order to buy or sell once a stock trades to or thought a specific price. The Stop price is the specific price that activates the market order. Thus the order will execute but there is no guarantee of the execution price. Sell Stop Order- A sell Stop order is always placed below the current market price. It is used to limit a loss and protect profits Buy Stop Order- - A order that is always placed above the current market price. It is typically used to limit a loss or protect a short sale Stop Limit Order: a stop- limit order is similar to a stop order except that it becomes a limit order when the stop price causes the activation. It is a combination of a stop order and a limit order. But exposes the risk that the investor misses the market Sell Stop- Limit Order- is always placed below the market price and once activated it become a sell limit order. Buy Stop-Limit order- Always placed above the market price and once activated it becomes a buy limit order ORDER QUALIFIERS Day-Order= If not executed in the days trading it is canceled Good-Till-Canceled(GTC) or Open Order= remains in effect until executed or canceled At-the-Open= order to buy or sell at opening price. If not executed it is canceled At the Close= order executed at the Closing Price. If closing price cannot be obtained to the order must be canceled. MOC- Market on close LOC- Limit on Close Not-Held(NH) = this gives the broker discretion as to the time and price on and order. If the broker cannot execute or find the best price the order is canceled and the broker is not held responsible. Immediate- or- cancel (IOC)- State execute as much of the order as possible immediately and cancel the rest Priority 1) Price 2) Time 3) Size CH2 12-15 NYSE RULES Bids and offers NYSE Brokers- must communicate promptly their bid and offer(size) to a reporter for dissemination to the public If a bid or offer is revised or canceled it must be reported Reporting can be suspended if accurate reporting is not possible Rule 61- All bids and offers in the NYSE trading crowd be for round lost or multiples of round lots. Thus if I am selling 500 and 41 but someone is buying 200 at 41 I would be left with 300 shares with 200 sold at 41 NYSE Rules 91- A member(acting as a specialist) is prohibited from filling an order to purchase securities by selling the securities from any account in which it or for any account that an approved person of the firm NYSE Rule 92- A firm member is prohibited from entering a proprietary order for a listed security if the person entering the order has knowledge of an existing customer order on the same side of the market that may be executed at the same price. Also prohibits members from trading along with a customer who is an individual investor trading in his own name. In order to trade along a customer must be an institutional investor and must provide permission to the firm on a case-by-case basis. Circuit Breakers- Are periods of high volatility Rules 80a- restricts index arbitrage strategies if the NYSE composite changes by at least the ( 2% value) at the beginning of each calendar quarter Rule 80B- Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) Cause Level 1 10% Before 2pm- 1 Hour 2-3PM: 30 Minutes 2:30+: trading continues Level 2 Level 2 20% Before 1pm- 2 Hour 1-2 PM: 1 hour 2:00: trading is halted for the remainder of the day Level 3 30% Suspended for the day Pending and open customer- turn into GTC NYSE Rule 97- Block positioned- min net capital- $1,000,000, A block of stock is considered to have a value of $ 500,000 or more. Prohibits a member firm, that has purchased stock as a principal from a customer in a block sale, from purchasing additional shares of subject security on a plus tick during the last 20 min of trading day Exceptions: • Has information barrier procedures that would limit knowledge of customer orders throughout the firm • Is effecting a transaction to hedge a position that is economically equivalent to a short position acquired in the course of facilitating a customer order • Makes a transaction for bona fide arbitrage reasons or to participate in the trading of securities of a company that is part of publicly announced reorganizations (merger, acquisition, consolidation) • Is trading to offset another transaction that was made in error • Is facilitating the conversion of options • Has a specialist that is trading stocks in which he is registered • Is facilitating a block sale or basket of stocks by a customer • Is facilitating a customer’s existing order to purchase a block, or specific stock within a basket, or a stock that is being added to reweighed in an index at or after the close of trading. Must record transaction and show that the # of shares does not exceed the number needed to fill the customer order • Is enacting a transaction because of a stock’s addition to an index or an increase in stocks weight to an index. Cannot exceed the number of shares required to rebalance. NYSE RULE 127- Crossing a Block: (block of at least 10,000 shares or $200,000 market value which ever is less) If a member firm receives a large block order of stock that might not be absorbed by the market .the firm should explore the market. If the firm intend to cross the block at a set price , they will need to follow certain procedures. Proxies- rule 450: member firm cannot vote on proxies of securities that it hold in street name for customers. Proxy should be forwarded to the customer at issuing corporation expense. If the customer fails to respond then the member firm may vote. Except if it is a investment manager of stock held by an ERISA plan which reserve the right to vote the proxies itself Erroneous Reporting: Rule 411- the price at which an order is executed is binding even if an erroneous report is rendered to a customer. An Erroneous report of a transaction that was not in fact executed is not binding on the member firm. Conversely, if an order is transacted and an erroneous report is sent indicating that the order was not transacted, the execution will be binding on the person entering the order Prohibited Activities- Manipulative activities- this includes a series of purchases at successively higher prices, or a series of sales at successively lower prices. If the purpose was to improperly influence the price of the security. Circulation of rumors- a sensational nature designed to influence the price of a security is prohibited. Prearranged trades- are not permitted. An offer to sell coupled with offer to buy at a higher price Prohibited from publicly offering to: • Buy or sell dividends • Bet on the course of the market • Buy or sell privileges to receive or deliver securities NYSE 409: for every account that there was money or securities in the preceding quarter. A member firm must send an account statement showing securities and money positions and entries. Can hold mail for 2 months if traveling domestically and 3 months if it is a broad. CH4 1-5 Securities Exchange Act 1934 Focus is on the registration and sale of new issues Covers: • Regulation of transactions in the secondary market, including antimanipulation rules and regulation of the extension of credit in securities transactions • Registration and regulation of broker-dealers • Oversight of industry self-regulatory organizations (SRO) • Registration and regulation of companies with securities trading in the secondary market, including regular financial disclosure, proxy rules, and insider reporting Exempt: US Government securities and municipal securities SEC: The Act of 1934 created the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is in charge of enforcing the securities laws and with creating rules to implement. Members are appointed by the president with consent with the Senate. 5 total commissioner, with 3 or less of one party affiliation. Members are appointed for five years Interstate Commerce: “trade, commerce, transportation, or communication among the several states, or between any foreign country and state” Does not cover: Foreign stock exchanges Violations of the Exchange Act Max fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for ten years, or both, for individuals. For business entities the max fine is $2,500,000. If violators can prove they were not aware of the rule, can opt to not be imprisoned Registration and Reporting Requirements • Stock exchanges must register with the SEC • If a Public Company has more than $10,000,000 in assets or 500 shareholders or is traded on an exchange it must be registered with the SEC (in addition to 1933 securities act) • Rules 13a-11 and 13a-13 require issuers of securities to file an annual 10-K and quarterly reports 10Q (except foreign governments, foreign private issuers, ADRS) • 8-K forms are needed to report material events • Nasdaq interdealer quotation system- File reports on 10-C under certain circumstances. 5% of greater change in amount of securities outstanding or changes in the corporate name Insiders- is a director, officer or owner of 10% or more of the stock of a corporation. Have ability to control the corporation. Must report becoming an insider with in 10 days to the SEC. Must report changes in positions within 2 business days. Form 3 is initial filing form and Form 4 is beneficial ownership changes. Short Swing Profits- are profits earned within six months of purchase. • Insiders are prohibited from selling affiliated stock short. • Also applies if insider sells stock held over 6months is sold and the bought back for less within 6 months Disgorgement- when a corporation sues for recovery of profits 5% owners- anyone who acquires 5% or more of issuers securities should notify the issuer, the exchange and the SEC. Proxies- Sec does not require proxies but does require certain rules on them • Must be filed with SEC Purchases of Equity Securities by issuer • If a registered company purchases its own stock or a tender offer then it must file a report with the SEC • Schedule 13e-3: is used to report repurchases to cause any class of equity securities that effect the listing of a stock or that would cause less than 300 shareholders • Requires financial statements for the last 2 fiscal years and latest ytd period Rule 10b-18: was created to control how and issuer, or its affiliate, may buy its own stock in the secondary market. If the following conditions are met the SEC will assume it is not manipulation • One broker-dealer to place bids and makes purchases on any trading session • Avoid making purchases at certain times of the day. If the securities are actively traded it is prohibited to trade in the last 10 min of trading. For most securities cannot be first transaction or during the last 30 mins. • Limit the bids or purchases of at certain prices. May not be higher than the last highest independent bid or last transaction. For all others no higher than highest independent bid obtained from three independent dealer • Limit the amount of stock purchased on any single day. Total single day volume cannot exceed 25% of the ADTV. If trading under 25% then the issuer may effect one block purchase a week if not other 10b-18 purchases were made Block Purchase- quantity has a purchase price of over $200,000 or is at least 5,000 shares w/purchase price of at least $50,000 or is at least 20 round lots that total 150% or more of trading volume After market wide trading suspension is relaxed provided • The reopening of trading to the close of trading on the same day as the imposition of the market-wide trading suspended or • At the next day’s opening, if the market-wide trading suspension was in effect at the scheduled close of trade In either event volume of purchase cannot exceed 100% of ADTV Ch 4 9-14 Antimanipulation Rules- prohibits (a) short sales of listed securities and (b) manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance” employed on an exchange or over-the counter Short Sales: (regulated by SEC rule 10a-1 and SHO) May be made only on a plus or zero-plus tick. Ex. Plus tick 49 49.1 (+) 49.2 (+) 49.1 (-) Ex. Plus zero 49 49.1(+) 49.1( + zero) Can not trade on minus ticks or minus zero ticks All Sell orders are marked Long or Short: if the broker believe the stock is in possession can be marked long but if it is not held should be a short sale Position is Long for purpose of short sale if • Has time to security • Has entered into an unconditional contract to purchase the security but has not yet received delivery • Owns a security convertible into the one sold and has tendered it for conversion • Is long an option or warranty and has exercised the option or warrant If you hold a convertible security but has not been tendered it is not considered long Also if warrants or options are held but not exercised the position is not long Selling short against the box: owns the stock that is being sold but intends to effect the delivery by borrowing the same number of share, retaining the stock held in the long account. Same up-tick requirements as short sale Senior officers cannot sell the securities of there own company short! Dividends: if a dividend is declared on a stock, the price of the stock will be reduced by the amount of the dividend. This is not considered a down tick and the price will be adjusted at close Exceptions- some short sales are beneficial to the market or carry little risk of manipulation. • Arbitrage activities • Hedging activities of block positioners • Odd-lot offsets by odd-lot dealer • Overallotment in a new issue • Activities of exchange specialists exchange market makers and third market makers Short Sales and Recommendations: If a customer accepts a purchase recommendation from a broker-dealer that supplies the stock to the customer by selling it short, the brokers is required to make a covered purchase promptly in order to effect delivery to the customer Insider Trading- the purchase or sale of securities using material, nonpublic information about those securities in a fraudulent manner. If a corporation has material information, it must release it to the public before anyone may use the information to do a transaction Unlawful with the purchase or sale of security • Employ and device, scheme, or artifice to defraud • Make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement made , in light of the circumstances under which they were made , not misleading • Engage in any act, practice or course of business that operated or would operated as a fraud or deceit upon any person A sales of a security based upon untruthful statements or omissions of material fact can be held liable to the purchaser unless the sell was not aware of the untruthful statement or omission Tippers/ Tippees If a tipper tells a tippee confidential info, then both are in violation of insider trading rules. The Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988 ( and ITSA insider trading sanctions act) Broker/dealers are required to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed. Key Procedures • A system for monitoring employees’ personal trading and trading in firm proprietary accounts • Restriction or monitoring of trading in securities when the firm has access to inside information • Procedures to restrict access to file containing confidential information, including the establishment of information barriers • Education of employees regarding insider-trading issues Information barrier procedures- a set of procedures for preventing the transmission of confidential information from one department to another within the broker-dealer (Chinese walls) The burden is on the dealer to be able to show that they are adequate Consequences of insider trading violation Civil Penalties- up to 3 times the amount of the gain, or loss avoided. SEC can also ask for disgorgement of profits Criminal Penalties- ITSFEA states: fines up to $5million and imprisonment up to 20 years, for each violation. Corporation and other non-natural persons may be fined up to $25 million per violation Bounties- the acts allows for granting of bounties for information leading to payment of penalties not greater than 10% of the penalty. Manipulation: consists of wash sales, matched orders and poll activities Wash sales- represents the purchase and sale of securities by an individual without an beneficial change of ownership for the purpose of raising or depressing the price of the security . Matched orders are similar to wash sales, they are when two persons acting together to buy and sell a security for the purpose of raising or lowering the price of a security Manipulator can be sued but the suit must be within 3 years of the activity or 1 year of the discovery Trading Suspensions and Emergency Authority The Sec may: • Suspend trading in any security(except exempt) for a period not exceeding 10 business days • Suspend all trading on any national securities exchange or otherwise (except exempt) for a period not exceeding 90 days. Can be overturned if the president disapproves of the suspension Emergency authority- the sec must determine that the order is in the publics interest and for the protection of investors: • Maintain or Restore fair and orderly securities markets (except exempt) • Ensure prompt, accurate and safe clearance and settlement of transactions in securities (other than exempt) Emergency order must be less than 10 days Emergency- means a major market disturbance characterized by a) sudden and excessive fluctuation of securities prices generally, or a substantial threat of such fluctuations, that threaten fair and orderly markets b) substantial disruptions of the safe or efficient operations of the national system for clearance and settlement of securities Ch 4 20-23 SEC rule 11Ac1-5 Requires market centers to disclose order execution information. Market center- is any national securities exchange, alternative trading system, OTC market maker, national securities association, or a member firm that internalizes order. Required to produce monthly electronic reports that include uniform statistical measures of execution quality for covered orders. Covered securities- are defined as any Global market system security and any other security for which transactions repost, last sale data or quotation information is disseminated Covered order- is any market or limit order received and executed during normal business hours. This includes immediate or cancel, but exclude any order in which the client provides special instructions. (Must be made public) SEC Rule 11Ac1-6 Requires that broker/dealers disclose non-direct customer order-routing information through quarterly reports. Directed order- designates where the customer want the order to be executed Non-direct order- has no market center designation, the broker-dealer chooses the place of execution Report must disclose • Market center that non-direct orders were routed • Payment for order flow • Internalization • Profit-sharing arrangements • Info is also posted on the internet website, free of charge and accessible to the public Upon request: The market center to which a person’s order was routed can only be done within 6 months at no charge to the customer. Exemptions: De Minimus level of orders- firms that route less than 500 orders a quarter are exempt from quarterly reporting. But upon request must prove to customers and notify them of this annually Insignificant Execution Venues- broker/dealers must disclose only the execution centers to which the most orders are route. Less than 5% of non-directed order is not mandatory for report inclusion. Tender Offers- is an offer to buy stock of a company at a specific price. Often done to gain control. A person who is making a tender for stock may not buy the stock or a convertible bond of the same issue during the period of tender is open. Tender offer practices: • The offer must be made public no later than 9am(eastern) on the business day after the scheduled expiration date (the offer must state the approximate # of shares tendered to date. • Shareholder must be notified of tender no later than 10 business days from date tender was made • Management of the subject company must advise shareholders of whether they recommend or decline the tender offer • Tender offers must generally be held open for at least 20 business days from the time they are announced to holders • If the person making the offer increased or decreased the % of the class of securities being sought, the consideration offered, or the dealer’s soliciting fee, the offer must remain open for at least 10 business days from the date that notice of the change is given to holder • It is considered fraudulent for a person making a tender offer to fail to pay the consideration offered, or to return securities tendered, promptly after the offer is terminated or withdrawn. Inside information and tender offers: associated person with knowledge of material nonpublic information that has been obtained through the offeror, the company subject to the offer, are prohibited from trading in securities on the target company. Associated persons of the company attempting a tender include: • Officer • Director • Partner • Employee • As well as anyone acting on behalf of the offeror Partial tender offers- the exact number of shares that will be accepted from any person tendering stock is unknown until the tenders are accepted. Once the tendered securities are accepted, the investor must convert the equivalent securities into the tendered security and make delivery It is illegal to short tender(tender when one does not own) Partial tender offer (long owner) • Has title to stock • Has entered into an unconditional contract to buy the stock but has yet to receive it • Owns a call option and has exercised the option When determine a investors net long position- long puts are not obligated to sell thus are not considered in the position Ch4 26-31 Registration of Broker-Dealer Firms must file Form BD with the SEC They are then subject to Exchange Rules covering: • Minimum financial standards • Protection of customer funds and securities • Books and records to be created and maintained • Disclosures to customers • Manipulative, deceptive, or fraudulent practices Foreign Broker-Dealer If a foreign broker/ dealer operates an office in the U.S. generally must register with the SEC. Unless it is a subsidiary that is not engaged in the securities industry. Also exempts foreign brokers that don’t have U.S. home offices from registration under certain circumstances • If the foreign dealer only effect unsolicited transactions. § Solicitation- includes phone calls encouraging to use the dealer, ads on broadcast or publications, investment seminars for US person. • Research reports are considered solicitation under this rule unless. • 1)the repots are distributed by a U.S. Registered broker-dealer • 2) U.S. Broker accepts responsibility for the content • 3) report directs all orders to the U.S. Broker • 4) all orders are in fact executed by registered broker-dealer • Foreign broker-dealers may contact U.S. institutional investors if trades are booked through U.S. Registered dealer, with in person visits must have a U.S. Broker dealer present (unless assets exceed $100 million or a major institutional investor) • Foreign broker-dealers may directly contact and execute transactions for select groups • Banks • Registered broker-dealers • Supranational agencies (world bank) • Foreign persons in the U.S. • U.S. Persons outside the U.S NASD allows member firms to pay non-registered foreign persons a transaction related fee. Must provide the document to the ‘Referred” client NASD- the power to manage and administer the affairs of the NASD and to promote the welfare, objectives and purpose of the NASD is vest in the Board of Governors NASD administrative districts, which is headed by a district committee, which is an agent of the board of governors . Membership- A broker or dealer that is authorized to transact investment banking or securities business in the United States is eligible for membership in the NASD. Except: • Individuals trading for their own accounts, but not as part of a regular business would not be a dealer thus not eligible • Broker or dealers that have been suspended or expelled from NSA or NSE • Brokers or dealers that are barred or suspended from association w NSA or NSE for conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principle of trade • Broker or dealer enjoined by a court from engaging as investment advisor, underwrite of broker, dealers, or another capacity in the securities industry • Broker or dealer that are deemed unsuitable for membership by NASD Board of Governors Membership is dependant on compliance with the Board if Governors requirements on training, experience, and financial responsibility. NASD members pay an annual assessment based on annual gross revenues from muni’s, OTC securities, U.S. government securities and exchange transactions. Department of Member Regulation decides on applications, if the application is denied, Can appeal National Adjudicatory Council. Can further appeal to the SEC Failure to Pay Fees Failure to pay can result in suspended or cancellation upon 15 days written notice from the NASD Executive Representative- is an associated person appointed by a member firm who is authorized to act on behalf of the firm in all official business between the firm and the NASD Dealing with Nonmembers- Nonmembers must be treated in the same manner as members of the public. This limits the ability for nonmember firms to transact business by not allowing them price concessions and discounts Suspended Members- become a nonmember on the effective date of the expulsion. All admission fees, dues, assessments and other charges paid to the NASD cannot be recovered Broker-dealer membership is terminated if there registration is revoked by the SEC or if they resign from the NASD Restrictions of dealing w/nonmembers • Securities issues or guaranteed by the United States • Securities issued by municipalities • Transactions on an exchange • Commission for execution of an order on an exchange even if the exchange member is not a member of the NASD Member firms may not pay commission to a nonmember for execution of an order in the over the counter market Foreign Broker-Dealers: are not treated like nonmembers, but must comply with the restriction of the rule as though it were a member of the NASD. The Foreign Broker-dealer should treat non-members like the general public Continuing Commissions- prior to retirement if there is a contract with member firms to receive such compensation. Thus they would be a former member of the NASD and would not be allowed to solicit new order or accounts. Penny Stock Regulations- Penny stock- Low-priced OTC stocks, often quoted in pink sheets or NASD OTC bulletin An Equity that is priced less than $5 not included on any exchange or Nasdaq and whose issuer has not met financial standards of listed equity companies Disclosure- Prior to effecting any transaction the broker-dealer must furnish the customer with a Risk Disclosure Document on penny stocks For each penny stock transaction, the broker-dealer must disclose to the customers • Current Quotation for the security • Compensation the Broker-dealer will receive for the transaction • Compensation the registered rep will receive for the transaction Monthly statement are required if the customer has a penny stock in his account for the month. It must include: 1) the identity and number of shares of each penny stock 2) Estimated maker value of the security. Exemptions: to penny stock disclosure rules • Transactions with an institutional accredited investor • Private placements • Transactions with issuer, officer, director , general partners, of 5% owners • Transaction that are not recommended by the broker-dealer • Transactions by a broker-dealer whose commission and marker ups from penny stock do not exceed 5% of its total commissions and markups Sales Practice required for penny stocks Prior to purchase must: Approve the person’s account for penny stock transactions Obtain from the customer a written agreement to the transaction w/identity and quantity of purchase Account Approval Procedure: • Determine that the customer is suitable for penny stock transactions based on info about financials and investment objectives • Deliver to customer a written statement regarding the suitability determination • Obtain from the customer a manually signed and dated copy of the statement Exempt from the cold call rule: 1. Transactions w/ an Institutional accredited investor 2. Private Placements 3. Transactions with the issuer, officer, directors, general partners, or 5% owners 4. Transactions that are not recommended by the broker dealer 5. Transactions by a broker-dealer whose commission and markup from penny stocks do not exceed 5% of its total commission 6. Transactions with established customers Established customer- is one for whom the broker-dealer carries an account and who Has effected a securities transaction or made deposit more than one pervious year Has made three purchases of penny stocks (3 different issuers on 3 different days) Being established does not exempt it from Penny Stock Disclosure Rules CH5 1-4 OTC Markets: Most are unlisted securities • OTC has a wider range of capitalization • OTC is really a collection of markets developed to suit the trading characteristic of various issues • OTC is a Negotiated dealer market, Market makers competing with each other. Broker-dealers in OTC • Don’t have to purchase a seat • Can act as an Agent or a Principal (or counter party • In the Agent or Broker transactions receive commissions • Where are Principal transactions profit are made by bid ask spread • Cannot act as both at the same time • Some Firms only conduct broker transactions in the OTC these firms rely on commissions and rarely act as principals • Riskless principal- Acts as a pass threw from another broker-dealer to customer account • Dealers are at the core of the OTC, help to provide liquidity Market makers- a dealer that stands ready to buy and sell a specific security and is willing to take the other side of a customer transaction and helps provide liquidity Market-Maker Quotes Bid- willing to pay for security Ask- what you are willing to sell for Size: it is assumed that the stock is sold in round lots of 100 thus if you are willing to buy 2000 and sell 3000 it would be 20by30 Retail customers orders are usually down(for the bid) or up(of the offer) Mark up- The price the retail customer pays compared to what the broker bought it for The inside market: Each security has on average 11 market makers at most 50 Lowest offer and highest bid is called the inside market Backing away- market maker fails to honor it quote and is a violating if NASD and SEC Rules This can result in $ fines or suspension of the firm CH5 8-11 Pink Sheets: • Traditional OTC trading- • Paper version- from Pink Sheets, LLC • Electronic: EQS (electronic quotation services) • Pink sheets list, Market makers and their phone numbers (sometimes give bid ask) • Pink Sheet are Subject (static)- which means it’s not a quote and should be verified • There is uncertainty with companies traded and with making sure best price was obtained NASD (best execution)- In any transaction for or with a customer, a member and persons associated with a member shall use reasonable diligence to ascertain the best interdealer market for the security and buy or sell in such market so that the resultant price it the customer is as favorable as possible under the prevailing market conditions Should contact at least 3 dealer to get a real-time quote for customers. Problem is the offer is only good when you are on the phone with the broker NASDAQ- began Automated quotation system in 1971 Nasdaq helps to collect and disseminate real-time, firm quotes in selected OTC stocks. OTC Bulletin Board (otcbb)-is and automated version of pink sheets The Third market- Over the counter sales of exchange-list securities or (The Nasdaq Intermarket) Restrictions on IPOs : Cannot trade an IPO on a third market before the IPO is traded on the primary exchange. (consolidated tape is proof) Consolidated Quotation System- (CQS): attempts to reduce this problem by collecting quotes for all markets in which a listed stock trades and displaying them on one screen. This includes common stocks, preferred stock, warrants and right that are registered or allowed unlisted trading privileges. CQS operates between 9:30am-6:30 pm ITS- Intermarket Trading System: links national and regional exchanges. I allows for one exchange to send and execute on another floor. NASD members who are registered as market makers are permitted to participate in ITS thought Supermontage. NASD members not registered third market makers may not use ITS The Fourth Market: Direct institution-to-institution trading, with out services of a broker dealer. PTS- Propriety trading system- is set up to facilitate institution-to-institutional accounts. The true fourth market activity is impossible to estimate, since there is no reporting requirement Ch6 1-5 The NASDAQ stock market: Corporate governance standards include • Keeping a min of 2 independent directors on the board • Maintaining an audit committee with majority independent directors • Provide shareholder with annual reports and make quarterly and other reports available • Solicit proxies and provide statements for all meeting • Refrain from taking certain actions or issues securities that would disparately reduce or restrict the voting right or existing shareholders Issuers must amend registration statements if there is a material change Although not technically a exchange it still has listing requirements, apply of listing , and be accepted by NASDAQ. Securities not registered with the SEC like Eurobonds are not eligible If an issuer is delisted, the issuer must reapply for listing as other non-listed companies and must meet initial listing standards initial listing standards 1. $15 million of stockholder equity 2. $1 million of pretax income (latest fiscal year or 2 of last 3) 3. Public float of at least 1,100,000 shares w/ MKV of $8million 4. $5 minimum bid price 5. 400 round-lot shareholders 6. at least 3 market makers Initial Listing alternative 2 1. $30 million of stockholder’s equity 2. Public float of at least 1,100,000 shares with market value of $18 million 3. 2-year operating history 4. $5 min bid price 5. 400 round-lot shareholders 6. at least 3 market makers Initial List Alternative 3 1. Either $75 million market cap or $75 million total assets, or $75 million total revenue 2. Public Float of at least 1,100,000 shares w/MV $20 million 3. $5 min bid price 4. 400 round-lot shareholders 5. At least 4 market makers Once list it must meet one of the 2 alternative standards Continued listing alternative 1 1. $10 million of stockholders equity 2. public float of a least 750,000 share w/MV of $5million 3. $1 min bid price 4. 400 round-lot shareholders 5. at least 2 market makers Continued listing alternative 2 1. Either $50 million market Cap, or $50 million total assets, or $50 million total revenue 2. Public float of at least 1,100,000 shares w/ MV $15 million 3. $3 min bid price 4. 400 round-lot shareholder 5. A least 4 market makers NASDAQ Capital Market Standards: Capital Market Initial Listing Standards: 1. Either $5 million of stockholders equity, or $50 million market cap, $750,000 net income 2. public float at least 1,000,000 shares w MKV $5million 3. $4 min bid price 4. at least 3 market makers 5. 300 round-lot shareholders 6. either 1 yr operating history or $50 million market Cap Alternative 1 1. Either $2.5 million equity, or $35 million market cap, of $500,000 of net income(latest fiscal year or 2 of last 3) 2. Public float of at least 500,000 shares with MV of $1million 3. $ 1 min bid 4. at least 2 market makers 5. 300 round-lot shareholders Nasdaq Service and Systems Level 1- provides subscribers with inside market for each Nasdaq security was well as last sale and volume. Used mostly by individuals and registered reps Level 2 Service- provides subscribers w/names and quotes of all registered market makers in each Nasdaq security • Also shows the inside market • Displays Current total volume for the day, the last sale, high low price for the day and net change • From the screen can easily determine which market maker has the best price • All NASDAQ quotes are firm Level 3- is only available to registered market makers in a particular security. The info is interactive and quotes can be updated through level 3 Normal business hours 9:30 am eastern and closes no earlier than 4pm eastern. Business can stay open past 4:00pm eastern voluntarily remain open but must notify Nasdaq operations. Can close no later than 6:30 pm. Between 4:00pm and 6:30 pm is called extended hours Registration as a NASDAQ market maker: A broker dealer may enter quotes into Nasdaq only if it is registered as a Nasdaq market maker. Must file an application with NASD It is effective when notified by the NASD Must also register in specific issues it wished to make market Payments • No NASD member or associated person may accept, direct or indirect for: § Publishing a quote § Acting as a market maker § Submitting an application in connection with market-making activity Consideration- granting or offering securities on terms more favorable than those granted or offered to the general public. Promoter- all persons other than the issuer or its affiliates who would have an interest in influencing a broker-dealer to makes a market in a security. Ex. Advisor, accountant, attorney, someone who owns restricted securities of an issuer or who owns 5% or more of public float The rule does not prohibit a member from accepting Payment for bona fide services Reimbursement for registration fees paid to the SEC Primary market makers- is those that provide liquidity to market, as measured by specific performance standard however due to SEC order handling rules all NASDAQ market makers in securities are considered primary market makers Ch6 9-12 Nasdaq Market Center (SuperMontage) Supermontage: Is an order display, quotation, and execution system. It allows for trading on Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital market, and exchange listed securities and acts as the only system to access the quotes of Nasdaq market maker. • Supermontage: displays 5 price levels for each security. o Including inside market and four best levels beneath Order-entry firm: is a firm that enters an order into SuperMontage. Orders can be for customers and broker-dealers thus they may be market makers or non-market makers Supermontage: accepts= market orders, marketable limits order and limit orders. Order of up to 999,999 Will accept short sales but will only execute if they comply w/ NASD short sale rules NASDAQ market velocity- measures order activity within NASDAQ. Including quotes, orders, updates and cancellations. Quote types: 1. Market participant Entered- The market participant maintains its quote 2. Summary quote- allows several quotes at different price levels. 3. System Generated- When market participant quote is exhausted, Supermontage will generate a quote based on the market price Automatic Quote Refresh (AQR) – Refreshes quotes when previous quote size falls below one round lot. With price and size preselected by market participant. If participant has multiple quotes that might be better priced than the quote that would not be created by the AQR, then better-priced quote will be displayed EX. MM#1 has 2 quotes 15.40 and 15.45 and AQR is set at $.1 and MM1# best offer is (15.40) but is decremented down to zero. Then MM1# quote will increase to 15.45 not 15.50 because it is better-priced quote. If there are no other participants quoting in the stock, the price will be refreshed by no lower than one tick inferior from the last valid inside market or no lower than one tick inferior from the market participant’s last displayed quote before the 30 seconds expired, which is less. Reserve- Allows firms to maintain an additional amount of securities to trade unknown to market participants. In order to maintain must have at least 100 share (one round lot) Once a Market Maker displayed and reserve size is exhausted then the market maker: • Manually enter new quote • Use automatic quote refresh If a quote is not entered or automatic quote refresh is not used them Nasdaq will enter a quote on its behalf New types of orders: Non-Directed Orders- Liability orders are orders that create an obligation to buy or sell a security. They are delivered to or executed against a market maker’s display, or reserve size or delivered to ECN. If orders are not sent non-directed may either be market orders or marketable limit order. Preferenced order: are orders that are sent to a specific market participant that is at the inside market. Perferenced orders are entered into the non-directed order process previously described and considered liability orders. If the market participant who receives the order is not at the inside market, the order will be rejected. IF partial fill then unexecuted portion will be returned to the sending firm Trades on Supermontage- occur automatically(locked-in), except with manual executions. Nasdaq market makers and UTP exchanges must accept automatic executions. Upon trade both parties are notified of the transaction and report is sent to NASDAQ and Clearing agency. Ch6 16-19 Nasd operates: SuperMontage, CQS and the OTC Bulletin Board ECN (not NASD operated)- an electronic system that widely disseminates to third parties orders entered by market makers and permits such orders to be executed against in whole or in part. (doesn’t include- Crossing systems: such as ITG/Posit or internal broker-dealer order routing system Can include institutional investors as well as broker-dealers ECNS are either operated by a broker-dealer, are registered as broker-dealer themselves or are registered with SEC Orders from ECN’s are included in NASDAQ quote montage. ECN Interaction w/ SuperMontage ECN are not required to maintain two sided quote and act only in an agency capacity to execute order. Since ECN quotes can access internally by subscribers to the system. Plus they would be able to execute on SuperMontage creating double jeopardy making them take a principal position or (proprietary positions) 2 types of participation in Supermontage as Order Delivery ECN or Full Participation ECN. Order Delivery ECN: has the ability to post aggregate subscribers order and enter non-directed orders into SuperMontage to access other market participant quotes. Market participates can interact with order delivery ECN’s by sending non-directed SuperMontage orders to them. Supermontage will decrement the ECN’s displayed size by the amount for which the order is sent. An order delivery ECN can accept, decline, partially fill, price improve, or allow an order to time-out. If an order times-out after being sent to an ECN, it is canceled by SuperMontage and sent to the next market participant at the inside market. If the ECN’s displayed quote is partially decremented, the remaining interest will be canceled or set to the next price provided to SuperMontage by the ECN. If no price level is set by the ECN, SuperMontage will be set to zero Full Participation ECNs: an ECN that has agreed to accept automatic executions by SuperMontage participants. The can also send order to other market participant for execution. Full participation ECNs have 5 character identifier ex ECNA+ UTP Exchanges: • Can participate in SuperMontage • Must accept automatic executions • Can enter directed and non-directed order • National securities exchanges that trade unlisted securities only enter multiple quotes if they are agency orders, designated as non-attributable orders • UTP that do not accept automatic executions and are not part of SuperMontage can submit quotes to SIP (securities information processor) or the NASDAQ Stock Market. • The UTP Exchange must be accessible by telephone or a self-created alternative link Advanced Computerized Execution System (ACES) Pass-Thru • Aces Pass-thru is a customizable order-routing systems • Allows order-entry firms with granted access to market maker’s internal trading systems to route orders to the system via ACEs. • Execution reports back through ACES • Market makers can add, delete or restore order-entry firm routing their orders. o Order entry firms send orders through ACES Pass-Tru to market makers with whom they have arrangements • Fees for the use of ACEs are paid for by the Market maker Nasdaq international services Supports European trading sessions from 3:30 am to 9am eastern Coincided with the London market European market maker – operating only during the European session International market maker- operating during both European and regular domestic session. Securities qualified for NASDAQ international: • Nasdaq Global Market Securities • Any non- Canadian foreign security or ADR that is included in Nasdaq but is not an NGM security • Any Equity security listed on a U.S. Exchange Plus • Market making commitment by at least one broker-dealer • If affiliated with NASD members but not part of the NASD are limited to European status only. • Quotes must be two-sided and firm and trading reports similar to U.S. Nasdaq Transactions in NASDAQ international service require • Securitys symbol • Volume • Type of transaction (buy,sell, or short sale) • Date of Transaction • Account Number • Market Center were the trade was executed • Price (exclusive of commission and markup or down) The Alternative Display Facility (ADF) It is the Alternative choice of Nasdaq equities instead of SuperMontage, it operated 8 am. EST to 6:30 pm Gives the ability for participants to post quotes and reports and compare trade executions ADF Quotes are not accessible over SuperMontage but are included in the inside market ADF does not provide order delivery or execution capabilities Thus there is NASD rule 4300(A): The Order Access Rule- ADF market participants must provide direct electronic access to other market participants and all other NASD Members and allow for indirect electronic access to its quote. Under the rule, market participants are either ADF, ECNS, ATS Direct Electronic Access: ability to deliver an order fro execution directly against another ADF market participant without the need for voice communication. The Access must have: equivalent speed, reliability, availability, and costs Indirect Electronic Access: is the ability to route an order through a market participant’s customer broker-dealer for execution against the market participant’s best bid and offer without the need for voice communication. The Access must have: equivalent speed, reliability, availability, and costs available to the market participant customer broker-dealer providing access to the market participant’s quote. Performance Standards: Minimum standards for ADF Linkages: 2 Second turnaround for an order that will be accepted or declined 3 or fewer second turnaround for communication between market participants must be meet in order to ensure adequate technology to send and receive executions in a timely manner. Must be able to meet peak standards before any authorization is given to post quotes Multiple Market Center Quotations- if a Non-Nasdaq member is posting 2 or more venues the posted quotes must be the same Same as for ADF’s except posting different size quotations in different venues is not prohibited although the price must be the same Ch6 22-30 OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) 7:30 am-6:30pm- is an electronic quotation service for OTC equity securities. Displays real-time quotes, last-sale prices and volume information. • OTC Equity security- is generally any equity that is not listed or traded on Nasdaq or a national securities exchange. Including Domestic and foreign equity issues, warrants, units, ADRS and direct participation programs. • Does not have listing requirements • But must file periodic financial information with the SEC or other regulators and must remain current. If not filed with in the 30-60 days grace period will be delinquent Quotes included in OTCBB • 2-sided quote (bid and off) • Bid only • Offer price only • Un priced indications of interest (such as bid wanted or offer wanted • Bids or offers accompanied by a modifier reflecting unsolicited customer interest During normal business hours quotes must be firm except for (DPPS) direct participation programs securities Minimum quote size: 5,000 shares @ prices up to $.5 To 50 shares @ process above $200 OTCBB is a real time system- quotes may be updated by market makers at anytime. DPPs are updated twice a day between 8:30-9:30 and 12-12:30 With at least 2 market makers showing 2 sided quotes for any OTCBB security, the system will then display the inside market based on all quotes in the system for the given security. Including 1 sided price quotes. Like all Non-Nasdaq equities, trades must report within 90 seconds of execution. When referring to OTCBB Securities. Reps must be careful because OTCBB securities should not be mislead to allow investors to believe that it is the NASDAQ market. Since bulletin board stocks do not meet listing standards. For instance the NASD is concerned that because the equity has a ticker symbol then it will be seen as a NASDAQ equity. Initiation of Quotes for Non-NASDQ OTC securities Rules 15c2-11- requires that broker –dealers who wish to publish quotes for a non-Nasdaq OTC equity security must collect and review certain information about the issuer. Meaning to initiate or resume quotes in an inter-dealer quote medium. Information to be collected (must have one unless exception) 1. A prospectus that’s effect for less than 90 days 2. An offer circular effective within the preceding 40 days 3. The issuers latest form 10-k and subsequent forms 10-Q’s and forms 8-ks 4. For certain foreign securities, financial filing under rules 12g3-2(b) during the last fiscal year 5. Sixteen specific items of information about the issuer similar to the aforementioned items The dealer is to review the information and reasonable believe that all the material aspects and sources from which the information was obtained are reliable Must also have the following information: • A record of the circumstances involved in the publication of the quote, including the identity of the person for whom it is being published and any information regarding the transaction provided to the dealer by those persons • A copy of any SEC trading suspension order for any security if the issuer during the proceeding 12 months, or a copy of the SEC public releases announcing the suspension • A copy or written record of any other material information about the issuer that comes into the dealer’s knowledge or possession before the publication of the quote Submission of Information to the NASD The Form 211 must be completed within at least 3 business days to prior to enter a quote The firm must specify: • The issuer • The issuer’s predecessor in the event of a merger or reorganization within 12 months • The type of security to be used • The member’s initial or resumed quote • The particular subsection of Rule 15c2-11 with which the dealer is demonstrating compliance Any filing must be signed by a principal of the member firm The NASD will review the material and within 2 business days, and notify the dealer if the application has been cleared. SEC-Imposed Trading Suspension- If the SEC imposes a trading suspension it should alert the broker-dealer to information in its possession could be inaccurate. The broker-dealer should update the information and or receive reassurances of additional information about the suspension Exception to Rule 15c2-11 • If the security is listed on an exchange or Nasdaq, the rule does not apply • Compliance wit 15c2-11 is not required if a dealer is publishing a quotation on behalf of a customer where it represents Unsolicited customer interest in buying or selling the security. The piggyback Exception: • The quotation must have appeared on at least 12 of those 30 day • And there can be no more than four business days in succession during the 30-days period without quotation If the dealer qualifies for piggybacking exception and begins publishing quotes, it can continue to publish without complying with 15c2-11. If it ceases publishing then it must comply before resuming quotations. A Stock that has been delisted from NASDAQ may be quoted on the OTCBB without filing form 211 if • The market maker has quoted the stock on NASDAQ during the 30-days period prior to its removal • The security has been quoted continuously on Nasdaq during the 30 calendar days preceding its delisting, exclusive of any trade halt • The issuer must not be the subject of bankruptcy proceedings • The issuer must be current in the filing with the SEC The Piggyback exception does not transfer from one quotation medium to another. But if the security is eligible for piggybacking in another quotation medium (pink sheets) then dealer can if it meets the regular and continuous conditions initiate or resume quotations in the OTCBB with out 15c2-11 Characteristics of Non-Nasdaq securities • Lack of liquidity • Thinly traded and prone to manipulation • Now requires transactions involving member firms to be reports • Most Non-Nasdaq issues are domestic companies Third-Market Trading OTC transactions in listed securities (Nasdaq Intermarket transaction) Consolidated Quotation System (CQS)- the avenue by which third market quotes in exchange-list securities A Market maker must apply to the NASD to function as a CQS market maker Market maker must enter quotes into CQS within 5 business days or lose its registration Market- maker obligation: Quotes must be firm at the price and size displayed If no size assume normal lot (100) If multiple exchange quotes must be identical Withdrawals: if a Market maker withdrawals its quotes of a security, it terminates its registration. Cannot register until 2 business days. Excused withdrawals: are available upon application to NASD Market Operations, for illness, vacation, physical circumstance (up to 5 days) , for legal and regulatory ( up to 60) Trading Practices- Specific guidelines to cover transactions by members in the third market. 1) Members may not execute transactions that are fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive. Such as wash sales or painting the tape 2) Circulating information that the members know or has reason to believe is false or misleading is prohibited 3) Members may not engage in third-market transactions in order to influence the closing price 4) NASD members may not execute third-market transactions in a security that is subject of an IPO until the security has opened for trading in the primary exchange. 5) Members may not trade ahead of customer orders that they are holding. EX: if a customer has a unexecuted customer order to buy a listed stock in the third market, it may not sell stock from its own account. Likewise can’t execute a trade that would suffice the buy price of the unexecuted order CH7 1-7 Market-Maker Obligation Regarding Quotes: Firm quote rule-The member is obligated to execute an order presented to it at a price at least as favorable as its published quote. The obligation to fill the order begins when the order is presented regardless of how it was transmitted Except: • The market maker communicated to NASDAQ a revised price or size prior to the presentation of the order. • The market maker just effected or is in the process of effecting a transaction at the time the order is presented and immediately upon completion of the transaction, communicates a revised quote to NASDAQ (Trading Ahead exception) Backing away- failing to buy or sell a normal unit of trading NASD Rules on Quotations: If one member firm disseminates a quote on behalf of another firm, it must have reason to believe the quote was bona fide. Quotes include indications such as Bid wanted or offer wanted not just priced quotes If a member give a priced bid or offer the member must be prepared to honor it at the price and under the conditions stated. (NASD version of the Firm quote rule) If a member published a subject quote but will not update firm quote it is considered backing away Nasdaq Quote rules: Must be two sided and firm. (Except when the market maker is publishing a stabilizing bid.) If a market maker updates its quote, but does not specify a size for the update, a new quote will assume the previous quote size Trade- or Fade: If a market maker is required to honor its quoted size, failure to honor a larger size order would force the market maker to change its quote. The rule requires that NASDAQ market makers to publish an inferior quote anytime they fail to execute the full size of an incoming order that is at least one normal unit of trading greater than the market maker’s published quotation size. Anticompetitive activities regarding quotations: • A market maker moves an offer down at the request of another market maker • A market maker provided information to another member firm’s trader regarding an institutional customer strategies • A market maker reveals to another member firms trader a larger net long or short position Locked or Crossed Markets: Crossed- occurs when a market maker enters a bid quote that is higher than the ask quote of another market maker or the ask quote is lower than the bid quote of another market maker. A situation arising when the bid price of a security exceeds the ask price. Contrary to normal markets where the bid-ask spread is positive; in a cross-market the spread is negative. This scenario occurs mainly in volatile and high volume Locked- occurs when the highest bid and lowest offer are equal A short-term situation occurring within a market where both the bid and ask are identical, resulting in no bid-ask spread. Locked markets are typically corrected immediately through subsequent trades. This abnormal market condition occurs mainly on the Nasdaq exchange for orders entered before the opening bell. Opening Quotes: Opening Nasdaq- 9:25 am EST. At this point quoting is firm and becomes auto-executable. Any quotes that order or carry a price that would lock the market are placed in Queue. Queue- is a holding state in which the order are placed until they can be executed The quotes and orders are executed in time priority against the best bid (for sell orders) and best ask (for buy orders). If a quote or order is reached for execution, but is not executable at the time is added to the book Inside Market: Bid 19.95 ask 15.97 Would lock or cross the book: MM1 Bid for 100 shares 16.25 LLCL bid 500 shares 16.00 MM2 ask 100 shares 15.44 MM1 ask for 200 shares at 15.40 Anti-internalization qualifier will prevent the automated system from executing a market participant’s order with its own quote and will send the order to the next market participant. When an order is entered after 9:25 am it is added to the In Queue Based quotes and orders in time priority. If a Nasdaq market maker enters a quote after 9:25 that would lock or cross the market, an execution occurs at the inside market Opening Cross: Begins 9:28 am orders in the NASDAQ market center are automatically executed. At this time orders cannot be canceled but can be changed to be more aggressive (order that is better in price or size) All ordered executed in the Opening Cross are automatically reported in to ACT with a .T modifier Order imbalance indicator: is an electronic messaging that provides information about orders involved in the opening process. Messages are sent out every 15 seconds until 9:28:20 am and then increases to every 5 seconds until the market opens. Info provided on the Order Imbalance Indicator • The inside match price • The number of shares represented by each order type paired at the inside match price • The size of an imbalance • The buy or sell direction of any imbalance • The indicative prices at which the opening cross would take place if executed at the time of the dissemination and the percent outside the current inside market on the Nasdaq Market center Often indicative prices are termed Near Clearing Price and Far Clearing Price Near Clearing price is the price at which all quotes and orders during the opening cross would execute Far Clearing price- is the price at which MOO,LOO,IO and early regular hours orders only would execute How is the official Opening price determined ? (one of the 3) 1. A price that maximizes the volume of MOO,LOO,IO and early regular hours orders and executable quotes executed- if more than one price exists, the system would check for the next price 2. A price that minimizes imbalances –if more than one price exists, the system would check for the next price 3. A price that minimizes the distance from the bid-ask midpoint of the inside quote The Nasdaq Official Opening price- is based on the orders that are in queue what NASDAQ opens for trading at 9:30 am. It is the price of the first trade executed and reported within Nasdaq market center, if at 9:30:15am there is no opening match then the NOOP is based on the last eligible sale reported in the Market Center. NASDAQ Closing Cross-the process begins at 3:50 pm This is when an order imbalance indicator begins dissemination. The indicators provides info on Market-on close(MOC), Limit- On-close (LOC) and imbalance only orders (IOO) Imbalance indicator is sent at the following times 3:50- 3:55- every 30 seconds 3:55-3:59- 15s 3:59-3:59:59-5s at 4:00pm est SuperMontage executes the max number of shares at a single price, this represents the NASDAQ official closing price . Voluntary and Excused Withdrawals Nasdaq market maker may terminate its registration in a security by withdrawing its quotes on a voluntary (unexcused) basis. May not register as a market maker in the security for 20 business days. Excused circumstances 1. An excused withdrawal for up to 5 business days may be granted for circumstance beyond the market maker control 2. Withdrawals of up to 60 days may be granted for legal or regulatory reasons, if supporting documentation is provided and the conditions are not permanent in nature. 3. Excused withdrawal status for religious holidays may be granted, application must be made one business day in advance and must be approved by the NASD 4. Small firms (defined as market maker with 3 or fewer Level 3 firms) may have difficulty because of vacations by key personal. Excused withdrawals because of vacations may be granted if the application is made one business day in advance and included a list of securities for which withdrawal is requested 5. Market makers that are participants in a securities distribution are covered by special rules. (Passive Market Making) 6. If a firm fails to maintain a clearing relationship with a registered clearing agency or a member of a clearing agency. It may reenter quotes after reestablishing a clearing relationship. If a market makers’ failure to maintain a clearing relationship is voluntary, its withdrawal is considered voluntary, not excused 7. If a firm has a fail to deliver in a threshold security at its clearing firm for a period of 13 continuous settlement days and the security cannot be borrowed in order to effect a short sale transaction as part of a bona-fide market making, the firm qualifies for an excused withdrawal Passive Market Making: • Market makers involved in distribution may not enter a bid or effect a purchase at a price that exceeds the highest independent bid on NASDAQ • In a falling market, when the last independent bid drops below the passive market maker, the passive maker can maintain its bid until § Its purchases have reached or exceeded the lesser of 2 time the minimum quotation size for the security or the maker remaining daily limit. • At that point ,the passive market maker must drop its bid to below the independent bid. • In a rising market the passive makers do not have to raise the bid when the independent bid rises. • If there is no independent market maker then passive market making is not allowed Daily Purchase Limit: a passive market makers limit is the greater of 30% of its ADTV in the stock or 200 shares. Once a passive maker’s net purchases for the day are more than its purchase limit ,it must then withdrawal from the market for the rest of the day. If close to the limit can execute one more trade that would put them over the limit. If execution of a buy and sell order are within 30seconds then the order will only count as a net purchase CH7 13-15 Stabilizing Bids on Nasdaq A market maker must submit to the requirements of Regulation M by entering a request to Nasdaq Market Operations to enter a one-sided bid. SYND is the abbreviation for stabilizing bid. Additional conditions: • Only one market maker may enter a stabilizing bid in a security • In order to enter a stabilizing bid, there must be one independent market maker entering quotes in the security • A stabilizing bid must be available for all freely tradable outstanding securities of the same class as the security being offered. The request doesn’t need to be in writing, but the market maker must confirm its request in writing no later than the close of business on the day the stabilizing bid is entered. this can be accomplished by: • Sending a request to Nasdaq Market Operations and Underwriting Activity Report • Or a written conformation that included: i. The identity of the security and its Nasdaq symbol ii. Contemplated effective date and pricing date of the offering iii. The date and time that an identifier should be included on Nasdaq iv. A copy of the cover page of the preliminary or final prospectus. Market-Maker Status: A Market maker may need to be granted excused withdrawal status or passive market-maker status by the NASD. The syndicate manager must apply for this status on behalf of any affected syndicate member no later than the business day prior to the first entire trading session of the one or 5 day restricted period under rule 101. This can be accomplished by submitting a Regulation M Restricted Period Commencement Form. The manager then notifies each affected syndicate member that it will have a passive market-maker status or that its quote will be withdrawn on an excused basis, unless that market –market directly notifies the NASD otherwise. PSMM- identifies passive market makers Penalty Bids and Syndicate Covering Transactions Written notice must be provided for prior to the start of: • Syndicate covering transactions • Penalty bid • Reference security under rule 101 The notice must include: • Identity of the security and its Nasdaq symbol • The date the member intends to impose the penalty bid or conduct the transaction • (A Reg M Trading notification from can be used) • The manager must do so with in 30 days of the effective date of the offer. • Maintain info in its files about the amount of the syndicate short position Penalty bid- is an arrangement that permits the managing underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with an offer when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions. Abbrevated as PBID Syndicate Covering Transactions- is the placing of any bid or the effecting of any purchase on behalf of the sold distributor or the underwriting syndicate or group to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering. Syndicate short positions can arise from Overallotment, in which a syndicate member sells more than the number of shares being offered. In some cases the short position can be covered buy a syndicate stabilizing purchase. Green shoes option- this is a provision that may be included in the registration statement that allows the syndicate to purchase up to 15% more shares than originally registered to cover Overallotment. Trading Halts: NASD members may not execute any type of order in a NASDAQ security, or exchange-traded securities for which the NASD has imposed a trading halt pending a material information release. Nasdaq issuers must notify the NASD of pending material releases. Then the NASD will determine whether a halt is needed. The purpose of the halt is to allow the information to disseminate to the public. The NASD will also halt trading during period of extreme market volatility if the SEC requests it to do so Nasdaq can halt trading in Nasdaq issues and third market but has limited authority in non-nasdaq stocks Circumstance, which Nasdaq can halt: OTCBB security is dually listed on foreign market or registered with a foreign regulatory authority. The foreign market or authority halts trading in stock for regulatory reasons OTCBB security is derivative or component of a Nasdaq or listed security and Nasdaq or the listing exchange halts trading in the underlying security OTCBB issuer does not provide timely information to the NASD regarding dividends or other distributions as required by the SEC Rule 10b-17 If Nasdaq issues a trading and quotation halt, all NASD member firms may not trade the halted security. NASDAQ has a limit of 5 days to lift the halt Where as if the SEC halts trade it can be in any security CH7 19-24 Short Sales Under Rule 3350 members may not effect a short sale of a Nasdaq Global Market (NGM) security at or below the current inside bid, when this bid is below the preceding best bid. (does not apply to capital market issues) NASD’s short sale rule is in effect during regular trading hours. The restriction applies to both transactions for customers and members. Nasdaq screens will indicate bid that fail the Tick-test with a downward-pointing red arrow., while bids that pas the test will carry an upward green arrow Exceptions: • Sales by a qualified market maker registered in the security on Nasdaq, in connection with bona fide market-making activity. • Sales in which the seller owns the security being sold and intends to deliver the security promptly without undue inconvenience • Sales by a member firm, for an account in which it has no interest, executing an order to sell that is market long when the member does not know that the account owners have or would have as a result of the sale, a short position in the security. • Sales by a member firm to offset odd-lot customer orders • Sales by a member to liquidate a long position of less than a round lot, as long as the sale does not change the member’s position by more than one unit of trading • Arbitrage transactions, such as shorting stock when the seller owns a convertible bond or international arbitrage transactions, where the seller is profiting from the price difference between US and off-shore markets • Sales by a syndicate or selling group member in connection with an Overallotment Short sales on a down bid are permitted for accounts of options market maker registered w/ an exchange in NGM options or an index with an NGM security component. Exempt hedge transactions- are short sales that offset options positions taken as part of the option market makers normal market-function (doesn’t include arbitrage) Bona Fide Market Making- if a market maker anticipates heavy activity in a particular stock, it could affect short sales at down bids to prepare for customer selling interest. (but can’t rely on of speculative short selling in own account) Can’t – use Qualified market maker status to buy on a downtick for a customer short sale Orders Market Long- Bid test rules exempts sales by a broker-dealer for accounts in which it has no interest and are marked long. Also exempt are sales buy any person for an account in which that person has an interest, if the person owns the security and intends to deliver it as soon as possible with out inconvenience. To consider a sale long when the member is not in possession of the security or the account is not long, the firm must make an Affirmative determination- that the customer owns and will deliver in 3 days. If the customer does not deliver the NGM stock then the member did not exercise due diligence in making affirmative determination the member would have violated the Short Sale rule if it was executed on a down tick Short-Interest Reporting NASD Members must maintain a record of total short positions in NASDAQ stocks in all customer and proprietary accounts. All short interest reports must be made as of the close of designated settlement date , which is the 15th or preceding business day The report must be received by the NASD within 2 business days of the settlement date Short interest must also be collected and reported about listed securities and must be reported to the designated examining authority SEC Regulation SHO: applies to equity securities and any security that is convertible into an equity security 3 rules: Rules 200, Rule 200T, Rule 203 Rule200: updates regulations regarding a person who is determined to own a security and when a broker-dealer is determined to own a security although it may not be net long. DEF: (Security owner): is a person who is considered an owner of a security if he has purchased the security or entered into an unconditional and binding contract to make the purchase but has not yet received the security. Also if the person holds a future in a security contract to the security and has received notification that the position will be physically settled. A Broker-Dealer must aggregate all of its positions in a security to determine its net position, except in instance where the broker-dealer qualifies for independent trading unit aggregation. Each independent trading unit must aggregate all of its positions. Except: § The broker-dealer has a documented organization plan that identifies each aggregation unit with specific trading objectives and supports it independent identity. § At the time of each sale, each aggregation unit of the firm determines its net position for every security trades. § All traders in an aggregation unit must follow the trading objectives or strategy of that unit and may not coordinate the strategy with another aggregation unit § Individual traders may be assigned to one aggregation unit at any time. Order marking requirements: Long- seller owns the security being sold and it is either in the possession or control of the broker-dealer or will e delivered by settlement date. Short- The seller own the security being sold but does not reasonably believe that it will be in possession or control of the broker-dealer prior to settlement day or the seller does not own the security being sold. Short Exempt- The seller qualifies for an exception from the tick test or price test of an exchange or NSA Rule 202T –Temporary short sale rule suspension This is a pilot program that the SEC is using to test the effects of removing the (tick test and bid test) on short selling. In order to gain insight on its effect on liquidity, market volatility, price efficiency Rule 203- Borrowing and Delivery Requirements In instances where the broker-dealer knows or should have known that the sale of an equity security is marked long and must make delivery by settlement date. They cannot borrow securities for delivery Except: can use borrowed securities • That broker-dealer is lending a security to another broker or dealer • Broker dealer believes that seller owns the security but fails to deliver • Good faith mistake, with not seller delivery, dealer can either borrow securities or close-out within 35 days after trade date. Locate Requirements: Prior to effecting a short sale, broker-dealer must locate securities that can be used for delivery by settlement date. Broker-dealer may not accept an order to sell short an equity for a person, or for its own account § The broker-dealer has borrowed the security or entered into an arrangement to borrow the security § The broker-dealer reasonably believes that is can borrow the security for delivery on the date of delivery is due Easy to borrow list: must be less than 24 hours old and provide a reasonable grounds that a security on the list is available. Exceptions that allow a broker-dealer to forgo requirements regarding short sales for its account or the account of another person • When Broker-dealer A, ahs accepted a short sale from broker dealer B. Broker-dealer B must meet the requirement regarding the acceptance of short sales for its account or account of another person. • To the sale of security on behalf of or by a person has been determined the owner. If the person does not deliver the security within 35 days after the trade date. The broker dealer must borrow the security or buy a link in kind and quantity order • To short sale transactions by a market maker in a connection with a bona-fide market making activities in the security for which this exception will be claimed (including Specialist acting as a dealer, dealer acting as a block positioners, or dealer that buy and sells on a regular basis) • Transaction in security futures Fail to deliver positions: If a broker-dealer has a fail to deliver position at a clearing firm in a threshold security for a continuous period of 13 settlement days. The broker-dealer must immediately close out the fail to deliver by purchasing securities of a like kind and quantity. Must be no later than 13 settlement day Threshold security- is any equity security that is registered in accordance with Securities exchange act of 1934 or issuer must file reports and • There is an aggregate fail to deliver position for 5 consecutive settlement days at a clearing firm for 10,000 shares or more and equal to at least .5% of the total outstanding shares of the issuer • A self-regulatory organization (SRO) has included the security on a threshold securities list sent to its members. CH7 27-29 Handling Customer Orders The limit order display rule-If a customer limit order is accepted by a market maker and the price on the order would improve that market makers quote, the market maker must immediately change its quote to reflect the customers interest SEC defines immediately to means 30 seconds in normal market. Abnormal conditions: Market open, trading resumes after a halt and IPO begins trading If a market maker is not required to accept a customer limit order. The display rule applies only if the limit order is accepted Size: In some circumstance, it also change their quotes to reflect the size of a client’ order. If the market maker is at the inside market and accepts a customer limit order a the inside, it must change its size to reflect the customer’s interest, unless the order is de minimis (10% or less of the market maker’s size) Exceptions: Customer can request to have an order not be displayed. Documents of this request are not required but are recommended. Other exceptions: § Block-size order (at least 10,000 shares or $200,000 in market value) § Odd-lot orders § All-or-none order § Orders sent to another market or broker-dealer that comply with the ECN Alternative § Orders that are executed immediately upon receipts A market maker would not display orders that would lock or cross the market without making a reasonable effort to execute the quote that would be locked or crossed. Also applies to ECN’s whose quotes appear on Nasdaq Then ECN Amendment: If a market maker quotes a better price in an ECN than on Nasdaq, it must update its Nasdaq quote to reflect the improved price. But doesn’t have to display the full size of the superior priced order. The ECN Display Alternative: Qualifying ECN- (linked or eligible ECN) Must meet 2 conditions: • The best market-maker prices in the ECN must be communicated by the ECN to Nasdaq • The ECN must permit access to such orders by other market makers and dealers who are not subscribers to the ECN ECN Display Alternative: permits market makers to anonymously enter better quotes in an ECN while the same time informing the entire market that these better prices are available. Must use the full size of the ECN order CH 8 1-5 Opening Customer Accounts New Account Documentation- one of the most important documents. Info is collected for regulators and to help the reps A registered Rep who wished to open accounts for a customer is required to obtain information for the new account form prior to entering the order. The account must be approved by a principal promptly. NASD Requires the following new account info • Customer Name and Residence (not a B.O. Box) • Whether the customer is of legal age • Signature of the registered representative opening the account • Signature of the partner, officer, or manager (principal) approving the account If the customer is a business or organization rather than a person, then the RR must obtain the names of the people authorized to transact business in the account. The rep must made a reasonable effort to obtain the following: • Taxpayer ID number (TIN) such as a social security # • Customer’s citizenship • Customer’s occupation as well as the employer’s name and address • Whether the customer is associated with another NASD member • Information used to make recommendations to the customer, including financial background, tax status, and investment objectives Investment knowledge and experience is required but Educational background is not needed. If the client refuses to fill this we can write ‘refused’ If it’s a broker account the persons authorized to transact business in the account must be obtained. Signature is not needed for cash accounts but is for Margin and Options Account information: Copies of account records or documents of the information collected about the account-holder must be sent to the customer within 30 days of opening or with the next statement. Periodic updates must be sent to the customer no later than 36 months Change of information: • A notification to the customer to alert the member or member firm of any changes or corrections must be included in the account-change related mailings. • Any changes to investment objectives within 30 days or with next statement. • Any change to the account name or address listed for the account-holder, that change must be sent to the old address on file and to the registered rep within 30 days Tax Information • Must request the client’s social security or tax id number. Most firms will not open an account without the tax id. • Typically is asked to sign a w-9 certification states that the tax info is accurate and is not subject to back with holdings • Nonresident aliens and foreign entities not subject to backup should complete a W-8 Other New Account Information Predispute Arbitration Clause: Industry rules require arbitration clauses to be presented on the form in a certain format and with specific wording. If a firm elects to include a predispute arbitration clause in its new account for, it must be highlighted and preceded by the following. • Arbitration is final and binding on the parties • The parties are waiving their right to seek remedies in court, including the right to a jury trial • Prearbitration discovery generally is more limited than, and different from, court proceedings. • It is not required that the arbitrator’s award include factual findings or legal reasoning and any parties right to appeal or seek modification of ruling by the arbitrators is strictly limited. • Typically the panel of arbitrator will include a minority of arbitrators who were or are affiliated with the securities industry • Immediately before the signature line there must be a highlighted statement that the agreement contains a predispute arbitration clause • A copy of the agreement must be given to the customer, who must acknowledge its receipt on the agreement or on a separate document Trading Authorizations- If another person will be permitted to trade an account. Additional information and documentation are required. Trading authority (not withdrawals) • Family members, such as spouses • Attorney • Investment advisers • The customer’s registered representative Full trading authorization- permits the authorized person to withdraw money and securities from the account in addition to placing buy and sell orders. In both cases , the broker-dealer must receive a written trading authorization signed by the account owner prior to permitting the authorized person to trade the account. Firms should also obtain signatures of authorized persons and date of trading authority Discretionary Accounts: when a registered rep is authorized third party • Some do not allow this, other give only limited authority • If a firm permits, then a principal must accept the discretionary authority in writing before it becomes effective • Each discretionary order must be approved promptly by a principal and must be reviewed frequently to insure that transactions are not excessive in size or frequency • Churning- excessive trading, the way to test is to examine the investment objectives, followed by the number of trades and size. Frequent trades might be ok for daytraders but not most investors • If a member firm is selling its own stock to the public and wants to place some of the stock in a customer account for whom the member hold discretionary authority, need prior consent Time/Price Exception: Verbal authorization to make certain decisions without it being considered a discretionary account. • Specific security • Whether to buy or sell the security • The number of shares or other units to be bought or sold • If only discretions as to time and or price (then it is not considered discretionary order and written authorization is not required Service Instructions Hold Securities in Street Name: • Most are now held in the such centralized depositories as DTC (Depository Trust Company) • Securities are then transferred on a book-entry basis • Most customer stock is held in street and this makes it difficult to send them information • Issuers may request such information from the broker-dealer Depository Trust Company (DTC) – is a securities depository and national clearinghouse for the settlement of trades in corporate, municipal and mortgage-backed securities DTC- eligible securities include: • Corporate equities • Corporate bonds • Municipal bonds • Money-market instruments • Mortgage-backed bonds • U.S. treasuries and agencies Settlement: DTC provides for book-entry settlement of eligible securities. Brokerage firms that participate in partial transfer use DTC to settle transfers Hold Securities in Customer Name: (Transfer and Hold) Securities are transferred into the customer’s name and are then held in segregation in the firms vault. Customer name appears in the stockholder records of the issuer. All issuer information is sent directly to the customer. Mail Securities in customer name (transfer and ship): Issuer communicates directly with the customer. Securities are transferred into the customer’s name and delivered to the customer, the firm has no record. Hold or mail dividends/ Interest payments: customer can choose between being mailed the dividends or having the account credited Guaranteeing a Customers Account: This is used to guarantee in writing for the purpose of securing margin. Forward to another address: The customer may instruct the firm to have securities and or checks forwards to another address CH 8 9-12 Individual account: opened by and for 1 person, only other person who could be in charge would be a third party Joint Account: More than one owner of record, Any owner can initiate activity. When signatures are required then all signature are required. New account information should be obtained about each owner Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship (JTWROS or JT TEN) (most common) Tenancy in Common (TEN COM) (most common) Tenants by Entirety (TEN ENT) Life Tenancy (LIFE TEN) JTWROS- if one tenant dies, ownership passes to the next tenant with out probate TOD (transfer on Death): allows the account assets to be transferred to a beneficiary at death without passing through probate Corporate Accounts: Reps need to make sure person-opening account has the power to do so. This is done by a corporate resolution- (board of directors- appoints person to open the account) If they want a margin, must provide a corporate charter to show authorization Partnership Account: To open a partnership account: • Each partner should provide § Name, address, citizenship and tax id § Should also sign and copy of the partnership agreement should be put on file Accounts for Employees of other member firms: NASD states that a member firm (executing) transacting business for any employee, partner, or officer of member firm must use due diligence to determine that such transactions will not adversely affect the interest. When a executing member knows that a person associated with an employee member has a financial interest or discretionary authority. Executing member must: • Notify the employer member in writing of the intention to open the account • Send duplicate confirmations and statements to the employer member, if requested • Notify the person opening the account that these procedures will be followed Employee must give notice to both employer firm and executing firm A person opening an account must tell if they are NASD member firms If a NASD member opens an account with a non-member firm then the member must notify the employer in writing prior to opening the account. The employer may request to have the employee request in writing duplicate confirmations, statements and other information to the employing member The employing firm is not required to grant approval Does not apply to investment company shares, variable contracts, or UIT Fiduciary Account: Fiduciary- is someone who acts on behalf of and for the benefit of someone else Should provide documentation of their authority and make investment choices based on a prudent man standard. Prudentman standard- their investment decisions should be consistent with what a prudent man of discretion and intelligence would choose for income and preservation of capital. Accounts for Incompetents; (A person who has been declared by a court unable to handle his own affairs The court appoints one or more persons as fiduciaries to handle the person’ affairs. Guardianship is a legal arrangement based on the statues of the state of domicile under which the affairs of an individual are handled by a guardian. To open an account should provide court certified copy of certificate of appointment. Evidence of appointment of incumbency, this document certifies that the person listed therein is the fiduciary for another person. Evidence of appointment must be dated no more than 60 days prior to presentation other wise needs to be recertified. Unless it is a will and testament. Accounts for Minors: Member firms will not allow minors to open accounts in their own name as they are not legally responsible and could repudiate transactions when they reach their age of majority Uniform Gifts to Minors (UGMA) and Uniform Transfers to Minors (UTMA) UGMA, as irrevocable gift of cash or securities is given to a minor by an adult (minor cannot gift minor under UGMA but can with UTMA) • The donor appoints an adult to act as custodian (can be same as donor) • Limit of 1 custodian per 1 minor account • No limit to amount of gift • Would be registered like Mary Smith as Custodian for Kenneth Schmitz under the Missouri uniform Gifts of Minors Act. But the Account is open under the beneficiaries social security # • Minor must pay taxes on income generated • A custodian is not permitted to sign a power of attorney granting a rep or advisor trading authority. • Custodian may receive a fee for managing the custodial account, except if it the donor • Cannot have a margin account. Thus can’t buy futures • Stock may not be registered in street name (unless UTMA) • If a custodian dies without appointing successor then the court will appoint one • Custodial relationship is terminated when the minor reaches age of majority, should then transfer into beneficial owners individual name. Invest Adviser Accounts Investment advisor- is a business or person who receives compensation for providing investment advice to others. Most are registered with the SEC or state and are often RIA (registered investment advisers) RIA can open one account that contains all advisory clients asset or each client might set up a separate account and provide advisor with third party In both accounts there must be written authorization for the adviser to transact business in the account Report by Institutional Investment Manager-if a institutional investment manager exercises discretion over an account it must file reports with the SEC . If the market value of equity securities under the advisors control exceeds $100 million on the last trading day of any month, form 13f must be filed with the SEC Reports are required only for securities on the NASDAQ and Sec publishes a list of subject securities. SEC requires reports be filled within 45 days of each calendar quarter CH 8 16-19 Types of Accounts Cash account- client will pay for any transaction in full by settlement date, for most securities 3 business days after transaction date Margin Accounts- Transactions in a Margin account require some type of deposited by a customer 2 choices: Long positions and Short positions (while both would be executed in one margin account) When purchasing stock in a long margin account, a customer will pay part of a the purchase price by the settlement date (generally 50%) and the broker dealer will finance the balance of the purchase. To open such an account a margin agreement or customer agreement must be signed Key provisions Credit agreement- discloses the terms under which the broker-dealer will finance the customer’s purchase, including both how interest is calculated and how it is charged to the account Hypothecation agreement- provides that the securities purchased by the customer will collateralize the debt. The Broker-dealer can rehypothecation the securities (use securities to get a loan) Loan Consent agreement- give broker-dealer the right to lend the customer securities to other clients or broker-dealer (short-sales purpose). Loses the right to vote the loaned stock Options Account- A new options account form must be completed for customer who wish to begin trading options. Since options are more risky should make sure to have complete and accurate info on accounts DVP/RVP Accounts DVP –delivery vs. payment RVP- receive vs. payment These transactions are refers to as POD (payment on delivery) and COD (collect on delivery) Usually deposit, withdrawal and transfer or securities is by Integrated Delivery Systems (IDS) IDS- is an industry-wide system, linked through a computer network, which expedites the movement of securities and funds between brokerage firms and agent banks Rules Before accepting a DVP/RVP order, the broker should obtain the name and address of the customer’s agent, as well as the customer’s account number with the agent Order tickets must be marked to indicate these types of orders The customer must provide the broker with an agreement that the customer will promptly furnish its agent with settlement instructions for each transactions DVP/RVP trades must be settled through a securities depositor by book-entry procedures for all transactions involving depository –eligible securities, except for trades settled outside the U.S. Depending on the firm, customer accounts that specify these instructions either on the new account form or on a separate form. Duplicate conformations and account statements are sent to the agent and all pertinent info about the third –party This data: Tax ID number Clearing number Agent internal account number for the customer Internal account number is very important, since it is the agent’s mean of identifying the customer Day-Trading: (Special requirements apply to account opening procedures for broker-dealers who promote the use of day-trading strategy Day-trading strategy: an overall trading strategy characterized by the regular transmission by customer of intra-day orders to effect both purchase and sale transactions in the same security or securities. Transmitting one or more ‘round trip’ transactions in a single day The NASD’s day trading rules apply if a broker-dealer affirmatively promotes day-trading activities or strategies through advertising, training seminars, or direct outreach programs. A broker dealer is also considered to promote day trading if it uses a third party to advertise. A firm will not be considered to be promoting day trading solely by: • Promoting efficient execution services or lower execution costs based on multiple trades • Providing general investment research or advertising the high quality or prompt availability of its general research • Having a Web site that provide general financial information or new or that allows the multiple entry of intra-day purchase and sales of the same security If a Broker-dealer does not itself advertise day-trading strategies, it will be considered to be promoting day trading if one of its principals or officials is aware that any of the firm’s individual registered rep is promoting the practice. Consequences of Promoting day trading: if a firm is considered to be promoting day trading o Provide a risk disclosure statement on day trading prior to opening an account for a non-institutional customer o Either (A) approve the customer’s account for a day-trading strategy; (B) obtain from a customer a written agreement that the customer does not intend to use the account for day-trading purposes A firm may not rely on the written statement from the customer if it know the customer intends to day trade the account. IF a firm later discovers a customer is using an account for day trading the firm must approve the account for day trading as soon as practicable , but no than 10 days after discovery SEC Regulation SP Privacy of Consumer Financial Information REG SP is the SEC response to the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999. States: all broker-dealers, investment companies, and investment advisers registered with the SEC to adopt policies and procedures reasonably designed to protect the privacy of the confidential information The Timing of the notice depends on the client’s relationship with the firm. REG SP divides clients into Customers- someone who has an ongoing relationship with the firm Consumers- someone who provides information to the firm in connection with a potential transaction Firms must provide notice when the relationship is initiated and annually If a firm must give every consumer a privacy notice before it discloses any nonpublic information to any nonaffiliated third party. Must state: Type of personal info the firm collects Categories of third parties to whom info is disclosed Give client a way to opt out of the disclosing. Must be reasonable (writing a letter to indicate this desire is not reasonable) Publicly available information- is info that may be obtained from federal, state, or local government records or distributed media such as telephone directories or newspaper. Non-Publicly available information- includes info obtained from the customer or customer lists put together from personally identifiable information (I.E. Account number) CH 9 1-5 Updating Account Information It is important because if a client’s situation has changed, transactions might be executed that are inappropriate. Several items are more important • Address Changes: If client address change, it is important to note whether they now live in a different state. Because both the rep and firm must be registered in that state • Financial Background: It is important to verify that the information on file is accurate. Changes in patterns of purchases and sales might indicate a different financial situation. • Objectives: in the long run all clients will change or modify their investment objectives. This is especially true as client’s age. Death of the Account owner: If an individual account owner dies, any open orders for the account should be canceled and no other activity should take place until legal authority has been proven. The new account is usually set up “ The Estate of (deceased’s name)” Then the account is transferred by the executor or administrator of the estate to the name of the estate The documents required for this are: Death certificate Copy of the will or court appointment (letter testamentary) Affidavit of domicile State inheritance tax waiver If a person who has granted power of attorney dies, the power is automatically terminated Securities are generally valued for these purposes as of the date of death or an alternative date six months after the date of death. Approximately 2/3 of the states have adopted the Uniform Transfer on Death Registration Act- allowed account owners to designate beneficiaries, helps avoid probate but not estate taxes Transferring Accounts If a customer wants to transfer an account from one member firm to another member fir , the customer must give written instructions to the receiving firm. Both member firms are required to coordinate their activities in order to expedite the transfer. Receiving firm must submit the transfer request to carrying firm immediately upon receipt from the customer. Carrying firm must validate instructions or take exception within 3 business days. Nontransferables- the customer must be informed in writing on the transfer document or separate document. That the assets cannot be readily transferred. For all nontransferable assets the carrying firm must request customer instructions as to liquidate or retention. If the customer requests liquidation , the proceeds must be forwarded to the customer within 5 days of liquidation. If the account has credit or debt cards should be destroyed upon transfer Once a carrying firm receives transfer instruction, it must cancel all open order( except options which expire in 7 business days), freeze the account, and not accept new orders. Exceptions: • No record of account • Transfer instructions incomplete or improperly signed Not Exceptions • Dispute over security positions • Money balance in the account In such cases the carrying member must still transfer the securities position and money position reflected for the account. Upon validation of transfer instructions, the carrying member must return the transfer instructions to the reviving member. With attached • Records of Security positions • Any safe keeping positions • Money balance Within 3 business day following validation, the carrying member must complete the transfer of the account to the receiving member For any position not delivered or received, the carrying and receiving firms must establish fail-to-deliver and fail-to-receiver positions at CMV (current market value) Each firm must also debit/credit the related money account If both firms have ACATS (automated customer account transfer service) they must use such a system Order Tickets: Order ticket- (order memorandum), is a record of a customer’s instructions about the execution of a buy or sell order. Register rep will fill out the info on the ticket and pass it to the wire room, which transmits it to the appropriate market for execution. All orders that are entered by customers must be approved by a principal of the member firm on the day they are entered. At each step additional info is added to the ticket to compile a record of how the order was handled. Regardless of trade outcome the broker dealer must retain a copy of the order ticket or the information it contains Components of an order ticket: Entries on an order ticket include: Buy or Sell- Sell orders must be market Long or Short SEC Def: Short Sale: any sale of a security that the seller does not won or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller. A person owns a security if any of the following is true: • The customer or customer’s agent has the title to the security • The customer has purchased, or has entered into an unconditional contract, binding on both parties, to purchase, but as not received • The customer owns a security convertible into or exchangeable for it and ahs tendered the offer • The customer has an option to purchase or acquire it and has exercised such option • The customer has rights or warrants to subscribe to it and has exercised such rights and warrants Broker-dealer and customers are considered to own securities only to the extend they have a net long position in a security. Account Number/ Name: The name of the customer is not always sufficient. If the person entering the order is not the person whose name is on the account, that persons name should also be entered on the ticket. Time Stamps: order tickets must contain 2 time stamps, one that records the time the order is entered and one that records executions. Account Type: Identifying the type on the ticket can facilitate processing and review of the order. Security name or symbol: Care should be taken to identify the security correctly. It is important for instances where there maybe several issues or classes Terms and conditions: if no price or other terms are indicated, the order is a market order Other qualifications include: Price(limit) Stop Stop Limit GTC (other wise assumed a day order) At-the close/ At-the open Not Held All-or-none (not permitted for some types of order/market Fill-or-kill Immediate-or-cancel Do-not-reduce/ Do-not-increase Special settlement (cash, seller’s option) Discretionary order/ Discretion not exercised: If a client has issued discretionary authority it should be indicated on each order. Thus if the customer consented to the trade should be market “discretion not exercised Solicited/ Unsolicited: If a transaction was completely initiated by the customer, it should be marker ‘unsolicited’ Cancel Trade (CXL) Checking this box cancels an order previously entered on another ticket. The form usually required the identification of the previous ticket # and date. Some firms require the approval of a supervisor before a cancellation. When a customer cancels an agency order: must record § Date § Conditions § Extent feasible § Time of cancellation Special Instructions: When an account is client provides instructions on how to dispose of security’s. if the standing orders are to be overridden then the new instructions should be included on the ticket. Adjustment of Open Orders: NASD member holding open orders for customer or other broker-dealers must adjust those orders on any Ex-dividend date for that security in a manner similar to the adjustment made by exchange specialists. If the member is holding a buy limit, sell stop or sell stop- limit order, it must be reduced the order by subtracting the $ amount of the dividend from the price. If the dividend is declared in a fractional amount, the adjustment is rounded down to the next whole amount Fractional Stock split: would create and odd lot, would then be reduced to the next lowest round-lot Open orders are also adjusted proportionately for stock dividends or splits. Reverse split, all open orders are canceled on the Ex-date Broker dealer must contact its customers who placed orders affected by reverse splits. Does not apply for: Orders governed by exchange rules Orders market ‘do-not reduce’ or do-not-increase’ Sell limit, buy stop, or buy stop-limit orders Ch 9 8-10 Customer Limit Order Protection NASD considers it a violation of just and equitable business principles for member firms to trade ahead of customers. Manning rule Basic requirements: (manning rule) • Must protect a customer limit order. • This means the executing broker-dealer cannot complete the order in a propriety basis by virtue of its position within the market. • Simply: the market maker must execute the customer limit order immediately upon executing an order for its own account that would fill the customer order. • Immediately- means within 60 seconds of an execution for the firm’s account • It also applies to other firms that are accepted by market makers for execution • A member firm may not accept and hold customer limit orders in NASDAQ securities, whether those orders come from its own customers or customer from another firm, and trade those securities for its own account at prices that satisfy the limit orders • Orders that are sent away to another member or ECN must be protected as well Exception: • Orders from institutional accounts- defined as an account for 1) a bank, insurance company, S&L or registered Investment Company 2) a registered investment adviser 3) entity with total asset of $50million • Large orders, including those from retail customers: defined as orders over 10,000 shares, unless it is less than $100,000 in value For the exception to apply the terms and conditions must be clearly disclosed at the time the order is accepted Application of the Manning rule • The customer Limit Order Protection Rule applies only during the hours Nasdaq is open, normally 9:30 am to 6:30 pm • If a customer gives a broker-dealer a not-held or working order, the rule does not apply, since the firm is being given the authority to exercise its brokerage judgment. However the firm should clearly document that is has received such authority for the customer. • The interpretation does not apply to odd-lot orders • If the market-marking desk of a firm is holding a customer limit order, no other trading desk in that firm (such as risk-arbitrage desk) may knowing trade ahead of the customer’s order • If another desk executes an order for the firm’s account that would have filled the customer order, the market maker may owe the customer an immediate execution. • As long as information barriers are present it prevents the nonmarket-making desk from obtaining knowledge of customer limit orders • Executions through SuperMontage can trigger a manning obligation Partial Executions- If a firm triggers a Manning obligation, it is required to fill only as much of the customer orders as it has executed for its own account Price Improvement: If a market maker holds an undisplayed limit order priced better than its quote and subsequently receives a market order on the opposite side of the market, it is not appropriate for the firm to execute the market order at its published quote and the limit order at its limit price. The broker must price-improve the market order to the limit order price A market maker has the option of pricing-improving the market order in such a way that its Manning Obligation is not triggers. This could be done by executing the market order at a minimum increment above the order price. The Min price improvement required is $.01, the Min quote increment Market Order Protection- NASD RULE 2111 protects market orders received by a member firms. A member is prohibited from trading ahead of a customer market order in its won account without, immediately thereafter, executing the market order at the same price or better. Ch 9 14-17 Conformations and other Disclosures SEC rule 10b-10: requires that broker-dealer provide customers with a detailed confirmation of any purchase or sale. A broker-dealer must give or send a confirmation to the customer at or before the completion of the transaction. The following info is usually included • The identity, CUSIP, and price of the security bought or sold, along with the number of shares, units, or principal amount • The date of the transaction, as well as the time of execution or a statement that the time will be furnished upon written requests. • The capacity in which the broker-dealer acted, which could be as • Agent for the customer • Agent for some other person • Agent for some other person • Agent for both the customer and some other person (Cross) • Principal for its own account • The dollar price and yield information • Whether a debt security or common stock is callable (statement that further information will be provided upon request) • The settlement date Commission/ Markups: Commission- is the charge that a broker-dealer assesses for executing an agency trade for the customer. Markup- is the difference, in a principal transaction, between the price charged to the customer and the prevailing inter-dealer price. All Remuneration (commissions) must be disclosed on the confirmation and must be disclosed on the confirmations. Principal transactions- report only the net price (including the markup) Currently 2 situations were markups are disclosed: • Riskless principal transitions, in which the broker-dealer purchase the security for the resale to the customer only when the customer’s order is already in hand • Principal transactions in Nasdaq stock or in list stocks traded OTC. Markups on listed stocks and Nasdaq Global Market securities are required to be disclosed by Rule 10-10 because they are “Reported Securities’ under Sec rules. NASDAQ mark ups must be disclosed on confirmations A broker-dealer must disclose the amount of commission it charged on a transaction if it acted in an agency capacity. If a broker-dealer acted as both buy and seller in a single transaction, it must disclose this fact to both the buyer and seller. (Must also offer to disclose the time when transaction occurred and name of the other party to the transaction.) A broker-dealer CAN NOT act as a broker (agent) and dealer (principal) on the same transaction Payment for Order Flow: Many firms automatically route certain types of small retail customer trades to a specific broker-dealer for execution. Executing broker will pay a per-share fee to the originating broker for this arrangement Confirms under this must disclose this practice and offer to provide additional info on request. A broker-dealer must provide written info about its payment-for-order-flow practices when opening a new account and annually thereafter. Requests for Further Information A firm has 5 business days after the request to provide the additional data , unless the transaction occurred more than 30 days prior to the request, the firm may take 15 business days to supply the info Errors: should be brought to the attention of a supervisor Additional disclosure: The broker-dealer may have to make other disclosures to the customer on certain trades. Control Relationships- additional disclosure is needed for a customer, which the firm is “controlled by, controlling, or under common control with the issuer” Ex broker is owned by a publicly traded company This must be done prior to the trade for the customer Disclosure of interest in Distribution- A firm is obligated to disclose, in writing, its interest in the distribution at or before the completion of the transaction. Ex (a dealer participates in a distribution of securities and receives an investment advisory fee, this created conflict of interest) Completion of a Transaction- Sec rules say something needs to be done “at or before the completion of the transactions.” • In a purchase by a customer, completion normally occurs when the customer makes payment of any part of the purchase price to the broker-dealer, If the payment is made by a bookkeeping entry, completion occurs when the broker-dealer makes a bookkeeping entry for any part of the purchase price • However, in a purchase, if the customer pays prior to the time the payment is due, competition occurs when the security is transferred out of the customer’s account • However in a sale if the customer delivers the security prior to the time of delivery is due the completing occurs when the broker-dealer makes payment into the account of the customer Account Statement- should be sent at least quarterly, but usually its monthly Must include: • Description of any security position • Any money balances • Any account activity since the last statement Complaints- any written statement of a customer or any person acting on behalf of a customer alleging a grievance involving the activity of those persons under the control of the member in connection with the solicitation or execution of any transaction or the disposition of securities or fund of that customer Members are required to maintain a separate file of all written complaints Must include: • Description of action taken by the member • Any correspondence regarding the complaint • Principal must review the complaint • No mandatory deadline for resolution • If no complaints must still maintain file Quarterly reports- NASD members are required to provide NASD with statistical and summary information about customer complaints on a quarterly basis. Report is due 15th day of the month following the quarter. If no complaint no report needed CH 9 20-22 Anti- Money Laundering and USA PATRIOT ACT Money laundering generally takes place in 3 stages Placement- the money launderers place illegal cash into the flow of the broker –dealer business most often through the purchase of securities Layering – the launderers execute transactions in several layers in order to avoid detection or trigger reporting requirements. Ex. The purchase of several block securities in amounts less than $10,000 with checks drawn from different institutions. Or taking opposite positions on the same security and using different accounts for each purchase. Integration- putting the illegal money back in the stream of commerce, making them appears it is the legitimate source. Ex buying security then selling and depositing the money in bank account Required Reports- Broker-dealers are required to file Currency Transaction Reports or CTRs for all cash transactions by a single customer during one business day that exceeds $10,000. Including cash and coins. This includes the Aggregate total of all smaller transactions Reps should be alert for clients who execute a number of transactions in amount that’s are just below $10,000 reporting level or deposit instruments that are sequentially numbers Currency and Monetary Instrument Transportation Report (CMIR) must be filed when one send or receives, physically transports, cash, monetary instrument in amounts greater than $10,000 into or out of the US Broker-dealers who transfer or transmit funds must collect info over $3,000 including Names of transmitter and recipient. Must also verify identify if not customers. Suspicious Activity Reports (SARS) A firm must file an SAR whenever a transaction equals or exceeds $5,000 and the firm suspects The client is violating the federal criminal laws The transaction involves funds related to illegal activities The transaction is designed to evade the reporting requirements The transaction has no apparent business or other legitimate purpose and the broker-dealer cannot determine any reasonable explanation after examining all the available facts and circumstances The fact that a SAR has been filed is confidential, cannot inform the subject that the SAR has been reported Mandatory AML Compliance Programs: At minimum: § Policies and procedures that can be reasonably expected to detect and report suspicious transactions and deter money laundering § The designation of a compliance officer who is responsible for the firms AML programs § An ongoing employee training program § An independent audit function to test the effectiveness of the firm’s AML program § AML programs must be in writing and approved by senior management Customer Identification Procedures (CIP): broker-dealers need to create customer identification procedures and use reasonable measures to verify the person’s identity. It must also keep records of the information used as well as check the terrorist watch list. Must verify a customers identity with in a reasonable time. At minimum the following should be obtained: § Name § Date of birth § Address (individual must be residential or street address, other supply principal place § Identification number (tax ID Number, passport # for non-US and country of issuance, alien ID card Taxpayer ID Exception- A broker-dealer who receives an application to open an account may forgo obtaining taxpayer ID number if that person has applied fir but not yet received the number. However, in lieu of the number, dealer must retain a copy of the person’s application Customer Verification- broker/dealer can use documents or non-documentary methods in verifying customer identity. And must keep records of methods used to verify for 5 years following account closure. Individuals on Government watch lists: must make certain that they are not doing business with anyone on the list maintained by the Treasury Department Office or Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Which is a list of suspected terrorists and criminals. If a firm finds out one of its client is on the list it must block all transactions and inform authorities. Penalties: AML laws: A registered rep found guilty of facilitating money laundering can face up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $500,000 per transaction or twice the amount of the fund involved Reps do not have to know about activity and can be prosecuted for being willfully blind to the activity CH 10 1-4 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 grants the power to regulate credit purchases of securities to the Federal Reserve Board (FED). Regulation T, governs the extension of credit by broker-dealer Regulation U, govern extension of credit by lenders other than broker-dealers Regulation X , governs those who borrow to buy securities Regulation U pertains to lender making loans to investors who use securities as collateral for the loan and would apply to partners of member firms who are buying for their own account as well as customers. Limits that apply under U are not applicable if the transactions are by a market maker or underwriter. The ability of these dealers to use credit is only limited by the lender’s credit standards REG X: pertains to borrowers within or outside the United States who intend to purchase or transfer U.S. securities that are regulated under the Boards T and U. Borrowers who are subject to REG X must ensure the source is legitimate A borrow is subject to REG X IF • Is with the U.S. and causes credit to be granted unlawfully without adhering to REG T or U. • Is considered a U.S. person who is outside the U.S. and acquires credit or purchase or transfer U.S. Securities • Or a non-U.S. person who is directed by or acting on behalf of a U.S. person Regulation T: determines which securities may be purchased on credit (margin) through a broker-dealer, when payment must be made and the amount of credit that may be extended. Marginable Securities- include • Exchange Listed Securities • Nasdaq Securities Not Marginable- Stocks on OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) or in pink sheets Investment Company Securities- Open-end investment company securities, (mutual funds) and UIT (unit investment trust) are Marginable securities under REG T and may be used as collateral in margin account. SEA act of 1934 prevents the extension of credit on a new issue by a participant in distribution for 30 days. Thus a dealer cannot extend credit on initial purchases but once held for 30 days it can be used as collateral for a loan in a margin account a the dealer Payment Deadlines- Reg T requires payment for purchases in cash and margin accounts be made promptly. In cash account its 100% but in margin it is a lower %. If the payment is not received within 2 business days following settlement date (REG T payment date) broker-dealer is required to sell out of the securities, unless valid extension reason. Liquidation in both cash and margin accounts occur the day after the REG T payment date or the third business day following settlement. If an account is liquidated the account is on freeze for 90 days. Thus the customer must pay in advance for all purchases. After 90 days the customers credit is reestablished and can be extended normal credit terms Freeriding- customer makes a purchase and then meets the payment through liquidation. Meaning customer could not purchase a stock and then sell the same stock in order to pay the purchase price. For trading purposes: customers own the security as of the trade date. They may sell the securities at any time after the trade has been executed. Whether or not it has been paid for yet. If a customer sells the securities prior to settlement date but does not withdraw the proceeds and pays the original purchase by the Reg T payment date there is no REG T violation and member account is not put on freeze. Free-riding applies if the customer sells the security and does not pay for the purchase by the payment date. Broker-dealers are not required to collect funds by the REG T payment date if the amount is less than $1000 Extensions- In exceptional circumstances, a member firm may apply to the NASD or exchange for an extension of time for the payment amount due. For example if there was a delay in the mail. The extension is granted by the NASD or exchange and must apply for the REG T deadline. COD Transactions- Normal payment period does not apply. In a COD account, where securities are delivered to the customer’s custodian bank and a paid upon delivery, the broker has 35 calendar days in which to deliver and receive payment. If the unable to deliver in 35 must apply to NASD for an extension Opening a Margin Account- Margin department keeps records of all customer accounts and insures that payment is made in accordance with Reg T requirements When a new margin account is opened for a customer, the member firm must send the customer a statement of the amount of interest they will be charged and the method by which interest will be computed. A broker-dealer that extends credit to a customer must disclose: Condition under which interest charges will be imposed Percentage interest charge Method of computing interest Method of deterring the debit balance on which interest will be charged Written statement must be sent to all customers to whom credit is extended at least quarterly. Customer must sign a margin agreement Hypothecation Practices prohibited: § Commingling of securities for the account of a customer with those of another customer without obtaining the written consent of each customer § Commingling the securities of a customer with those of any person who is not a customer of the broker-dealer ,including securities owned by broker-dealer § Hypothecating customer securities for a sum that exceeds the total indebtedness of all customers With permission, broker-dealer are to use their customer’s securities as collateral for bank loans under a process can Rehypohecation. The dealer must obtain the consent of each customer in order to rehypothecate the stock of the customer at a bank in a single loan account. Amount that may be rehypothecated: The customer protection rule, permits broker-dealers to use stock with a value of 140% of the customers debit balance as collateral for a bank loan. They may borrow only the amount that it lent the customer, but may collateralize the borrowing with stock valued at 140% of the debit balance Check book example! Stock loans- in order for broker-dealers to loan a customers stock to another dealer it may do so only if a consent agreement is signed. • Loan consent agreement is an optional provision • Borrower has the right to recall borrowed stock at any time • Lender of the stock retains all rights except the right to vote CH 10 7-11 Initial Margin Reg T established the min amount of margin a customer must deposit when establishing a position. Initial margin is the % of the purchase price, including commission that the customer must deposit with the broker-dealer. The balance of the total purchase price is called the Loan Value: is the amount that the broker-dealer may finance. It is the complement of margin requirements EX. Margin requirement is 70% thus loan value is 30% Since 1974 initial margin requirements is set at 50%. Meeting a Call: Once the initial margin is deposited, Reg T does not require additional money if the price of stock declines NASD will require the deposit of additional margin (a maintenance margin call) if the account equity declines beyond certain levels A customer may deposit stock that is fully paid and borrow against the stock. But it must be a Marginable stock Excess Equity and SMA Excess equity- refers to equity in a margin account that is greater than REG T multiplied by the market value EX. MV $12,000 Debt balance - $5,000 thus Equity is $7,000 Reg T Req on $12,000 of stock is $6,000 (50% of $12,000). Thus $7,000 Equity - $6,000 (Reg T) thus there is $1,000 of excess equity SMA- Special Memorandum Account.- the amount of cash that may be withdrawn from a margin account. Excess equity is created by the appreciation of securities, cash dividends, the sale of securities, and voluntary deposits of cash or fully paid, Marginable securities by the account holder. When excess equity is created a SMA notation is created showing how much can be borrowed Usually closing prices of preceding day are used to indicate equity and SMA SMA increases with an increase in equity yet SMA does not decrease when excess equity declines. Restricted account: if the debt balance of an account is greater than the loan value the account is restricted. How ever additional purchases can be made as long as the customer deposits the amount required by REG T If an account is restricted, but it has SMA balance then as long as the min maintenance requirement is not violated. Since Reg T is an initial requirement, additional cash is not required to eliminate restriction. Sale in a Restricted Account: A customer who sells stock in restricted account may withdraw 50% of the amount sold. The balance of the amount sold must be maintained in the account as per the retention requirement. If 100% of amount sold is left in the account then that will be applied toward the debt balance Buying power: If a customer has SMA in a Margin Account it may be withdrawn as a loan or used to purchase additional securities on margin. Buying power is the ability to buy securities on credit and only applicable in margin accounts. LMV -DR = EQ $30,000 $10,000 = $20,000 SMA= 5000 Buying power thus is 5000/.5 = $10,000 Minimum Maintenance Requirement NASD requires that customer maintain a certain minimum equity in margin accounts after the initial requirements are met. Margin call or maintenance call- is when equity drops below the min equity, the member firm must call for additional margin Minimum Maintenance requirement for a long account is 25% Thus equity must be at least 25% of the CMV. LMV - DR = EQ $25,000 -$10,000 = $15,000 LMV * Min Equity $25,000 .25 = $6,250 (well under the $15,000 equity in the account) To determine the point at which the market value would have to decline before a long account is at the 25% minimum equity level, multiple the debit balance by 4/3 In-house maintenance margin requirement: a broker-dealer may have an in-house maintenance margin requirements that are greater than regulatory requirement, These requirement may be increased at any time without advanced notice. A broker –dealer is required to provide 30-days advance written notice of changes to be made to the terms and conditions under which credit charges will be made, excluding changes required by law Guarantees: The account of a customer may be guaranteed by another customer. This means that if a customer’s account balance is undermargined, the equity if anther account may be used as collateral Minimum Initial Equity Requirement There is a minimum dollar requirement on a purchase in a margin account. The minimum initial margin deposit must be $2,00 unless the amount of the purchase is less than $2,000, which calls for the customer to deposit the full purchase price. Once the initial equity requirement has been met, no maintenance call is required if the dollar amount of equity subsequently drops below $2,000. CH 10 14-15 Short Accounts: A short sale is a transaction completed by the delivery of stock the customer does not own. In order to effect delivery ,the broker-dealer handling the account will borrow stock. Credit Balance (CR)- The customer’s account will be credited with the sale proceeds plus the cash margin deposited required. (SMV) short market value - is what the customer owes the broker at the current market value CR- SMV = EQ (equity) Short sale initial deposit is 50% margin. The broker will borrow the stock and the customer, who must eventually replace the stock borrowed, owes the broker the value of the stock. Minimum Maintenance Requirement: usually it is around 30% of the market value. Ex. Short sell $25,000 the MMR would be $7,500 To determine how high the market value can go before a maintenance call multiple Credit Balance by 10/13 (.769) $2.50 per share or 100% of current market value, which ever is great if the short stock is less than $5.00 per share $5.00 per share or 30% of the current market value, whichever is greater, if the short stock is valued at $5.00 per share or above Day Trading Margin: Special rules apply to accounts of pattern day traders. A pattern day trader is any customer who day trades 4 or more times in 5 business day period. If a customer meets the definition of a pattern day trader, but the # of day trades is 6% or less of total trades for the five-business day period, the customer will not be considered a pattern day trader Day trading: the purchasing and selling or selling and purchasing of the same security on the same day in a margin account. Except- a long position held overnight and sold the next prior to any new purchase of the same security. A short position held overnight and purchased the next day prior to and new sale of the same security If the broker-deal has a reasonable basis that the customer opening an account or resuming day trading will engage in a pattern of day trading, the firm can impose special day trading margin requirements Minimum Equity requirement: Pattern day traders have a minimum equity requirement of $25,000 rather than the normal minimum requirement of $2,000. This must be deposited in the account before any day-trading can begin Margin Calls- Day trading buying power is limited to 4X the traders maintenance margin excess, determined at the close of the pervious day. If a day-trader exceeds buying power then must make a margin call within 5 business days. During restricted times: the buying power is only 2x the traders maintenance margin If the margin call is not met in 5 days, trading is restricted for 90 days or until call is met Funds deposited to meet min equity requirement or day-trading margin call must remain on deposit in the account for at least 2 business days Cross-Guarantees Prohibited: Pattern day trading are not permitted to meet day-trading margin requirements through the use of cross-guarantees. Each- day trading account much meet the requirements independently, based only on the resources in the account. This prohibits cross-guarantees not only between accounts of different customers, it also prohibits cross-guarantess between different account of the same customer Ch11 1-9 Trade Reporting ACT: NASD Rules require the reporting of most over-the-counter- equity transactions. Usually are covered through Nasdaq’s Automated Confirmation Transaction service (ACT) ACT’s: the system facilitates the reporting and clearing of Nasdaq and OTC transactions by allowing the order-entry and market-making firm to enter price trades. This info is used to report, match and clear transactions. ACTS is NOT an order-execution system ,trades entered have been executed in another system Market-Maker Obligations Report trades in Nasdaq National Market securities, Nasdaq Small Cap securities, CQS issues, OTC equity securities, Nasdaq-listed convertible bonds within 90 seconds (during normal hours), enter trade details for all clearable and internalized transactions using the Nasdaq workstation 2 Correct, decline, or cancel trades, when necessary Order-Entry Firm Obligations: Act rules require that order-entry side must do one of the following: • Enter a version of the trade within 20 mins of execution using the OE function on Nasdaq 2 • Accept the market-maker trade entry on ACT trade scan within 20 mins of executions • Decline an incorrect market-maker trade entry on ACT Trade Scan or cancel the trade entry Once a trade has been matched, either because the order-entry side accepted the trade on ACT. ACT matches the trade details entered by the market-maker and order-entry sides, the transaction is considered locked-in for clearing purpose. ACT Trade Scan: ACT Trade Scan can be used by both market-makers and order-entry firms • View trades entered into the system • Accept, decline, or cancel open trades (market makers can correct trades) • Break a matched or accepted trade (both sides must agree) • Change an entry from principal (P) to agent (A) or Riskless principal (R) or from A to P or R Reporting Transactions in Nasdaq Securities: • Nasdaq National Market securities and Nasdaq Small Cap securities are virtually the same. Except that NNM securities are reported because of SEC rules where as SmallCap are reported to the NASD Normal Trading Hours: (9:30 –4 eastern) Transactions in Nasdaq securities must be reported to ACT within 90 second of execution If the ACT is not available, trade must reported by phone to the Market Operations Department. Trades not reported within 90 seconds must be reported ASAP and will carry the ‘.SLD’ along with time of transaction Transactions Outside of Normal Market Hours • 12am- 8am : trades are reported through ACT on trade date between 8:00am and 9:30am. Should be identified “.T” and accompanied by execution • 8am-9:30 am: Trades are reported to ACT within 90 seconds of execution . If not in 90 seconds then should be “.T” • 9:30-4: Normal requirements Transactions in Nasdaq securities must be reported to ACT within 90 second of execution. Trades not reported within 90 seconds must be reported ASAP and will carry the ‘.SLD’ along with time of transaction • 4-6:30 pm : Trades are reported through ACT within 90 seconds of execution. Identifier “.T” • 6:30 pm to Midnight: Trades are to be reported through ACT on the next business day (T+1) between 8am –6:30 . Trades should be designated as “as/of” trades and the time of execution should be reported. Form T: Transactions were not reported to ACT according to the preceding rules must be reported to the Market Regulation Department weekly on form T. Should be used as a back up only if Trade data cannot be entered electronically. Excessive or unjustified use of this reporting procedure could lead to disciplinary action Who Reports: To avoid double counting, the transaction is reported by only one side of the trade • In a transaction between 2 registered market makers, only the seller reports • In a transaction between a market maker and a member firm who is not a market maker reports • In a transaction between 2 members, neither of whom are market makers, only the seller reports • In a transaction between a member firm and a customer, only the member firm reports. Riskless Principal Transactions- is defined as a trade in which a member firm • After having received an order to buy • After having received an order to sell a security, sells the security at the same price, as principal, in order to satisfy the order to sell This definition applies to firms that make a market in the security involved as well as non-market makers. When determining whether two trades are done at the same price, commission, markups, and markdowns are excluded EX: MM1 has customer order to sell 1000 shares of xyz. MM1 sells xyz 1000 shares to MM2 as principal @21 MM1 then fills customer order as principal 20.80 net (.20 mark down). Since the price of both trades is 21 when the markdown is excluded, this is considered a Riskless principal transaction. As the seller MM1 has the reporting obligation. Method 1: MM1 would report the transaction with MM2 to ACT and would mark the report “Riskless principal” Method 2: MM1 would report the transaction with MM2 to ACT and would mark the report “principal” MM! Would also submit one of the following two reports of the trade with the customer as a “Riskless principal” 1. Clearing-only report if necessary to clear the transaction with the customer. 2. Non-tape, non-clearing report (if a clearing entry is not necessary because for example, the trade is internalized) In some cases, a trade will be reported as part Riskless principal and part principal. What is reported? Nasdaq symbol Number of shares (round lots only) Price (usually does not include commission, markup, markdowns or services) Whether the trade is a buy, sell, or cross (a cross (or dual agency) is a transaction in which the broker-dealer is acting as agent for both the buyer and the seller. Time of execution, if the trade is being reported more than 90 seconds after execution ACT rules require additional information above and beyond the minimum NASDAQ requirements. For example a sort sale must be reported in ACT as sell short or Sell short exempt Aggregate Reports: Under certain conditions, traders may aggregate reports for Nasdaq securities rather than report each trade separately. In all cases, must be same price, security and side of the market (buy/sell) Openings- Orders received prior to the opening and executing at opening can be reported as one transaction. This also applies to orders received during a trading halt and executed together when trading resumes Simultaneous transactions- When a number of orders are executed at the same time, such as when several orders with the same limit price are all executed, one trade report can be given Block execution of several orders are handled in the same way Consecutive orders- If several individuals orders are executed in quick succession at the same price, making it impractical to report each separately, one report can be given. The orders must be executed within 60 sec on each other and reported within 90sec on the first execution in the group. Orders of 10,000 shares must be reported individually. But does not apply to trades effected on the first day of secondary market trading following and IPO Trade modifiers .SLD - Late Trade Report- trades not reported within 90 seconds of execution, actual time of the execution must be appended .T - After hours execution- time of execution must be included if not reported within 90 sec .O – Price Override- used when the inside market changes within the 90-second reporting .B – Bunched Trade- used for several trades aggregated into one report .SB – Late Bunched – used for a bunched trade not reported within 90 seconds .C – Cash Trade- trade settle the same day as the trade date .ND- Next Day Trade – trade will settle on T+1 .SNN – Extended Settlement- used for trades that will settle after regular way. The “NN” represents the extended settlement date, from 4 to 60 days later .W – Weighted Average – trades executed and reported on a weight average basis .PRP – Prior Reference Price – trade that should have been effected at an earlier time, but was not actually effected until now .PRP is last execution, while .SLD is late trade report Exceptions • Transactions reported automatically by another (CAES) • Transactions that are part of a primary or secondary distribution • Private placements • Transactions in which the buyer and seller have agreed to a price substantially unrelated to the current market for the security • Purchases or sales related to the exercise of an option or convertible at a preestablished price not related to the current market value OATS (Order Audit Trail System): Is a system that enables the NASD to effectively review market activity in regard to customer orders within a member firm, conduct surveillance, and enforce rules. OATS records the life of an order from receipt, to routing, to modification if applicable, and cancellation or execution. OATS also helps with time synchronization and is done on a daily basis being recorded on HH:MM:SS format. OATS must be reported the same day or when the info first becomes available, OATS must be reported daily. Info that must be reported to NASD from OATS: • From whom the order was received • Order identifier • Date and time of receipt • How the order was received (manually or electronic) • Terms of the order § Buy § Sell § Long § Short § Stock § Shares § Price § Order type § Time in force § Special handling requests § Account type • Where the order was routed for execution • How it was routed • Whether the order was modified § Cancelled § Changed § Date § Time • Execution § Price § Full or partial § Date § Time § Capacity § Exchange where trade reported • Whether there is a separate reporting agent for OATS Reporting Transactions in Non-Nasdaq Equity Securities: OTC Equity Securities- equity securities for which real-time reporting is not otherwise required. This is any security not listed on Nasdaq or a national exchange. The rule encompasses transactions in OTC bulletin Board issues as well as Pink Sheet stocks. However any transaction in an OTC Equity Security must be reported, regardless of it appearing in particular quotation mediums. Foreign OTC Equities- are reported through ACT similar to Nasdaq securities. OTC Market Maker- is a broker-dealer that holds itself out as a market maker by entering proprietary quotations or indications of interest for a particular OTC in any interdealer quotation medium, such as pink sheets or OTCBB Foreign OTC transactions equities outside of 8-6:30pm are reported on T+1 Exceptions- • Transactions that are part of a primary or secondary distribution Private placements • Transactions in which the buyer and seller have agreed to a price substantially unrelated to the current market for the security • Purchases or sales related to the exercise of an option or convertible at a preestablished price not related to the current market value Reporting Third-Market Transactions: NASD Members who execute OTC transactions in listed securities must report through ACT. Transactions Outside of Normal Market Hours: Third market • 12am- 8am : trades are reported through ACT on trade date between 8:00am and 9:30am. Should be identified “.T” and accompanied by execution • 8am-9:30 am: Trades are reported to ACT within 90 seconds of execution . If not in 90 seconds then should be “.T” • 9:30-4: Normal requirements Transactions in Nasdaq securities must be reported to ACT within 90 second of execution. Trades not reported within 90 seconds must be reported ASAP and will carry the ‘.SLD’ along with time of transaction • 4-6:30 pm : Trades are reported through ACT within 90 seconds of execution. Identifier “.T” • 6:30 pm to Midnight: Trades are to be reported through ACT on the next business day (T+1) between 8am –6:30 . Trades should be designated as “as/of” trades and the time of execution should be reported. Who Reports: • In a transaction between 2 registered market makers, only the seller reports • In a transaction between a market maker and a member firm who is not a market maker, only the market maker reports. • In a transaction between 2 members, neither of whom are market makers, only the seller reports • Transactions executed on an exchange are reported by the exchange, not the member firm What is Reported? • Stock symbol • # of Shares (round lot only) • Price (doesn’t include commission, markups or service charges • Whether the trade is a buy, sell or cross • Time of execution , if not in 90sec window Exceptions: • Transactions reported automatically by ITS/CAES • Transaction executed on an exchange • Transactions that are part of a primary or secondary distribution • Private placements • Odd-lot-transactions • Transactions in which the buyer and seller agreed to price substantially unrelated to the current market for the security • Purchases by a member as a principal in anticipation of making an immediate exchange distribution or exchange offering on the floor of an exchange. • Purchases of securities off the floor of an exchange pursuant to a tender offer • Purchase or sales related to the exercise of an option or convertible at a preestablished price not related to the current market value Ch11 15-17 Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) Fixed income-reporting system that provides a greater transparency in the corporate bond market. TRACE is an NASD created system that members must use to report transactions in eligible fixed- income securities and continuous bond sales info. Eligible fixed-income securities: • Depository-eligible U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities • Investment and non-investment grade securities • Split Rated- Securities considered investment grade by one national statistical rating organization (NSRO) and non-investment grade by another NSRO • Sec Register debt securities of corporations that are in the U.S. or foreign countries • Securities issued under the Securities Act of 1933 and purchased or sold according to rule 144A Securities that are not required to be reported: • Mortgage-back securities • Asset-backed securities • Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO’s) • Money market instruments • Sovereign (government) debt • Development band debt • Municipal securities • Debt securities in physical form • Repurchase agreements (REPOS) Reporting Requirements: Each NASD Member that is party in a TRACE-eligible security transaction must report its side of the transaction to the NASD. If it is just one NASD member then it must report the entire transaction TRACE reports must be submitted to the NASD within 15 mins Committee on Uniform Securities and Identification Procedures (CUSIP) number or NASD symbol • Number of Bonds • Price or contract amount and accrued interest • Buy, Sell, or cross transactions • Date of execution (for as of trades • Contra- party identifier • Agent or Principal • Time of execution • Give-up for executing broker (if any) • Give- up for introducing broker (if any) • Commission/ markup or markdown • Trade modifiers • Yield to call or yield to maturity Reporting Times Trade executed between: Report to TRACE 8:00- 6:29:59pm Within 15 mins 6:30-11:59:59pm Next business day within 15 mins after TRACE opens. Must indicate as of and transaction date 12:00 a.m - 7:59:59am Same business day within 15 min after TRACE opens Non-business day executions (TRACE system is closed) including Saturdays, Sunday and federal or religious holidays Next business day within 15 mins after TRACE opens. Must be reported as executed same day of the report. Execution time must be 12:01:00am modifier must be 'special price' allowing for time/date to be entered Bond Dissemination: Non-investment grade securities that are included in information dissemination are base on the following: • Volume • Price • Name recognition • Research • A minimum # of bonds outstanding • At least 2 dealers trading the security • A contribution to representing diverse groups in the entire group of securities designated for dissemination Non-investment-grade securities may be withdrawn or not designated for dissemination if: • It has matured • It has been called • It has been upgraded to investment grade • It has been downgraded to a state with which trading characteristics do not warrant designation for dissemination NASD disseminates from TRACE • The NASD symbol • A CUSIP • The transaction date and time • The price • The yield • The # of bonds Ch11 20-23 Uniform Practice Code- sets the standards for clearing and settlement procedures to be used by members when dealing with each other. These standards enhance the efficiency of the intermember dealings regarding such things as settlement of contracts, deliveries, ex-dividends, due bills and marks to the market. Settlement: Regular-Way Settlement: in a regular-way transaction, a trade settles in 3 business days Cash Contracts: Cash trades are transactions that settle on the same business day that the trade is executed. The seller must deliver the securities to the buyer on the trade date and the buyer must pay for the securities when it receives them. Same day settlement is complete when the customer is recorded as owner of the stock, not when confirmations is sent as often is the case. Seller’s Options: occurs when a seller does not wish to deliver the securities within three business days. Seller must specify the date on which the stock is delivered but cannot be less than 4 business days. The seller can deliver early if it notifies one day before it intends to deliver. National Securities Clearing Corporation- is used by NASD members involving OTC securities, if the security has been qualified and both member firms are qualified as clearing members by the NSCC. Each participant submits data at the end of the day. NSCC attempts to match buying and selling side of each trade. The next day, participants receive from the NSCC contract sheet, describing § The trades that compared correctly and are not ready to settlement § Uncompared trades which participants must reconcile Continuous Net Settlement (CNS): The process is possible when broker-dealers employ a clearing agency, EX NSCC and securities depository, EX. DTC )depository trust corporation to settle and clear trades For each security the member firm buys and sells, positions are netted out so that the firm owes or is credited with one securities or money balance each day for that issue. Fail to receive and deliver are taken into account in the netting process Confirmations: UPC code: requires written confirms from NASD members be sent on the first business day. (normal Way) and must contain adequate descriptions of the security and transactions. Cash transactions- confirms must be sent on the business day of the transaction. If the broker sends the Contra-broker (other side of the trade) a confirm but does not receive one in return. The broker must then send the contra-broker a DK (don’t know) notice, which questions the trade. The contra-broker should review its records and if its an error it may be canceled with notification and approval of the NASD Note: these are for physical confirms, not those compared electronically Delivery of Securities: purpose is to make sure that securities will be acceptable to the transfer agent. The transfer agent will make the final determination as to whether a security is a good delivery and may be transferred to the new owner. Endorsements and Assignments: 1) A customer who sells a security is required to sign the certificate. Usual method is to sign the stock certificate on the back and then mail the certificate to the broker. 2) Can send the certificate, unsigned, in one envelope and to send a signed stock power in a separate envelope 3) Enter a third party (broker) name on the back, then the broker-dealer would sign a power of substitution when it sends the stock to the transfer agent. Assignments on a security must be exactly as the name appears on the certificate. In addition the assignment must be guaranteed (a signature guarantee) by a member firm of the NYSE or commercial bank. The transfer agent will not accept a security for transfer without a proper assignment and guarantee. Ex. Certificate is made out to Ken s. Schmitz would need to sign the back Ken s. Schmitz- Ken C. Schmitz and have both guarantee by a NYSE member firm or bank. This is generally referred to as an erasure guarantee Additional Documentation: If an account is register in the name of an executor or guardian and the security is signed by the executor or guardian, the transfer agent will accept the stock without requiring additional documents. Will not accept a dead person signature, but will accept if it is signed by a duly designated executor and accompanied by the necessary legal documents. (death certificate , appointment of executor, state tax waivers, and affidavit of domicile.) Certificates made out in the name of a company must be signed exactly as the name appears, without alterations or enlargements of any kind. A NASD member cannot accept unless the person signing is assured that the properly designated by the board of directors. Corporations can submit a corporate resolution and have the broker keep a copy of their resolution with all the transfer agents in advance. Units of Delivery: Certificates must be in certain units. If not the buying broker does not need to accept the certificates. Stock Transactions: On stock transactions, deliveries may be for multiples of 100 shares. Cannot be in non round lots thus 300 share can be broken up by 200 shares and 100 shares but not 150 and 150. Were as smaller units can be used if they can total 1000 shares. Ex 25, 50, 25 Odd lots shares can be delivered in single certificates or multiple In partial stock delivery the remainder must be in a round lot Bond Transactions- Bonds are good delivery in $1,000 denominations, or denominations of $100 or multiples aggregating to $1,000 (registered cannot be more than $100,000) Drafts that accompany the shipment of securities must be accepted only if presented during normal business hours. The acceptance of a draft prior to the settlement date, or the acceptance of a draft with irregularities, is at the option of the broker0dealer to whom the draft is delivered Ch11 26-29 Dividends UPC- covers Ex-dividend, ex-right and ex-distribution procedures. To determine an Ex-dividend date, count back 2 business days before the record date. Any individual who purchased the stock are the Ex-dividend date would not receive the dividend. In the event that a trade occurs in time for a buyer to receive a dividend. (before the ex-date) but the sender fails to deliver the securities by the record date, a due bill will accompany the security when it is delivered. A due bill occurs when a dividend is due to the buyer, but is paid to the seller because delivery was not made in time to change the issuer’s records. Bond interest: UPC covers accrual of bond interest – On all bond transactions (other than for bonds trading flat- without accrued interest), the buyer of the bond will pay the seller the interest that has accrued from the last payment date to the day prior to the settlement date. Government bonds- computed on the basis of actual days elapsed for last payment Corporate and muni- each month is considered 30 days, the first day is counted is the last date that interest was paid. Reclamation- The right to return or the right to demand the return of a security that is previously delivered and accepted Requires the use of the Uniform Reclamation Form Reason: • Wrong security delivered • Required due bill not attached • Signature issues • Mutilated securities is delivered without authentication by the transfer agent • If the transfer agent refuses delivery Bonds- reclamation is permitted if the bearer bond is deliverered without all necessary coupons attached. If the bond has been called prior to delivery, unless the entire issue has been called for redemption or was traded as a called bond. Close-Outs: UPC deals with Close-out procedures for failed trades, or trades that were not completed as agreed. Buy-in: occurs when a selling broker has failed to make proper deliver to a buying broker. The broker will then purchase the securities in the open market, charging the difference to the selling broker. A buy in may not be done sooner than the third business day following settlement date. The broker whom delivery is due must send a buy-in notice to contra-broker no later than 12 noon two business day before execution of the proposed buyin Selling broker has right to notify that securities are in transit, the buyer must defer the close-out for 7 days Sell-out: if a selling broker makes good delivery to a buying broker. And the buying broker refuses the accept ,the selling broker has the right to sell securities immediately, with out notice, and charge the buying broker with the loss Notice of Close-out: NASD member that buys in or sells out another member must notify the other members of such action on the same day Marks to the Market: a mark to the market occurs when a member firm is partially unsecured on an open contract with another member firm. The mark to the market is sent when there is a difference between the contract prices. B lends A $50,000; stock goes to $60,000 then B can request A to send $10,000 because of stock rise B lends A $50,000; Stock goes to $30,000 then A can Request B to send $20,000 in collateral IF a member firm sends another member firm a mark to the market demanding the deposit of additional cash. When-Issued Securities: The UPC covers when, as and if issued and when, as and if distributed transactions These are transactions in securities, which are not yet available for delivery. One the securities are issued or distributed, then the NASD Operations committee will determine if the final form is essentially the same as original announcements. If they are then it will determine the settlement date, if not all transactions are canceled. If the NASD does not determine settlement date then it will be on the business day following the seller giving the buyer written notice of its intention to deliver. Clearing Agreements- It is an agreement between the introducing firm and the clearing firm. Where the clearing firm provides back office support for a fee. The clearing firms actually holds the funds and securities and receive statement and confirms. If the Clearing firm is responsible for all record keeping, the introducing firm will provide the clearing member with complete details about customer accounts. Known a fully disclosed basis. When entering into a Clearing agreement then the introducing member should provide a list or description to assist the supervising member to help with supervising activities, monitoring its customer accounts and carrying out its functions and responsibilities under the clearing agreement. The clearing firm must notify the introducing firm annually (no later than July 31) of the reports it offers to the introducing firm. Review of Agreements: When a clearing firm enters into a new agreement or revise an existing agreement. It must submit to the NASD for review and approval. Customer notice: Each customer must be notified in writing ,upon opening an account, of the existence of the clearing agreement Ch11 32-34 Clearly Erroneous Trades NASD rule 11890 was created as the result of a complaint from a member that a trade was executed 10 points away from the inside market but the counterparty refused to cancel the trade. Prior to this rule NASD did not have the authority to adjust such transactions Filing a Complaint: A member firm or member of UTP exchange that believes a transaction was in error and wants it reviewed must submit a written complaint. • For transactions occurring between 9:30 am and 10 am complaints must be filed by 10:30am • For transactions occurring before 9:30 am or after 10 am. Complaints must be submitted within 30 mins of the transaction. Once submitted the complainant has up to 30 additional mins to submit supporting documentation. Including: • Security symbol • Execution time • Share amount • Prices • Contra party • System used during trade execution • Reason for filing Inside market price Min threshold $0 - $.99 $.02+ (.10* Inside Price) $1.00 - $4.99 $.02+ (.07* Inside Price) $5- $14.99 $.02+ (.06* Inside Price) $15 or more $1.00 For a buy order, the inside market is the best off. For a sell order, inside market is the best bid If a Nasdaq officer finds that it meets the requirements for adjudication. The counterparty will be notified verbally by Market Watch and must be 30 mins to submit documents supporting its position Once all the info has been received the Nasdaq officer has the power to allow • The trade to stand • Void the trade • Modify one or more of its terms Both parties will receive a verbal report, followed by a written report Once a complaint has been filed it may not unilaterally be withdrawn. Both parties must agree to withdrawal. System Disruptions or Malfunctions: If Nasdaq becomes aware of such errors, it may correct them without waiting for a complaint to be filled. Nasdaq offer must make corrections within 30mins of detection, but in no event later than 3pm on the next trading day Review: A Nasdaq officer decision can be appealed to the Market Operations Review Committee (MORC) if the appeal is filed within 30mins of verbal notification Unless verbal notification is given after 4pm , then either party has until 9:30 am of the next trading day. The decision of the MORC does not affect the right to dispute to NASD arbitration. SEC rule 15c6-1 The Settlement Cycle: A broker-dealer cannot enter into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security that provides for the payment of funds and delivery of securities later than the third business day after the trade date unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the parties at the time of the transaction. This condition does not apply for exempt securities including • Government bonds • Muni bonds • Commercial paper • Bankers acceptances in exempt securities • Limited partnership interests (nonlisted) Prime Brokerage: is a service that has been developed for institutional and large retail customers who are active traders. Often using several broker-dealers, prior to prime brokerage they would need to open a separate account at each executing broker-dealer. Where as in Prime brokerage arrangement, the client chooses one firm as its prime broker. Client still uses multiple brokers but all trades are ultimately handled by the prime broker. Conditions that must be satisfied in order to establish a prime brokerage account: • Must maintain net equity of $500,000 unless the account is managed by a registered investment advisor, in which case the min equity is $100,000 • The customer must sign agreements between the prime broker and executing broker, which detail the responsibilities of each party as well as a contract • A broker-dealer cannot engage in activity with any broker-dealer that it knows or believes is in violation of SEC conditions regarding prime-brokerage Orders place with the executing broker are made through an account with the executing broker in the prime broker name, for the benefit of the customer. Transactions are recorded in the customers account at the prime broker To confirm the trades the Depository Trust company (DTC) Intuitional Delivery (ID) system is used. The prime broker will affirm the trade if the info on IDS is correct Benefits: • Enables clients to centralize their clearing and custodial services • Allows them to receive on set of comprehensive reports regarding their portfolios. • Helps with margin accounts to lower the cost of funds CH12 1-11 Supervisory Responsibilities: All broker-dealers are required to diligently supervise their business ,including the registered reps. Not just required by NASD but SEC Failure to Supervise- is a charge that can be raised against broker-dealers or supervisors who do not carry their responsibility to prevent violation of federal securities acts, SRO regulations, state securities laws, or the firm’s own written supervisory procedures. It is also enforced against supervisors who fail to detect or fail to take action after detecting, violations of these regulations by the employees they supervise. These charges can be brought not only by the SEC, NASD and other SRO’s Basic SEC requirements: The Securites Exchange Act of 1934: gives the SEC the power to sanction broker-dealer Failed reasonably to supervise, with a view to preventing violations (of federal securities laws) another person who commits such a violation, if such person is subject to his supervision. Not considered to be failure to supervise if: • There are established supervisory procedures and a system for applying those procedures which would be reasonable expected to prevent and detect violations of relevant rules • The supervisor has reasonably discharged those duties under the system and has no reason to believe that the system is not operating properly This protects supervisors whose employee’s hides wrongdoing, but does require due diligence. NASD Requirement for Supervision: A member organization of the NASD must establish and maintain supervisory procedures to ensure compliance by member organization personnel with securities laws and regulations and with NASD rules. One or more principals must be designated to review this policy and must notify the NASD as to this person identity Registered Options Principal (series 4) Municipal securities principal (series 53) Financial and Operations Principal (series 27 or 28) Written Supervisory Procedure: All broker-dealers must have written supervisory procedures manual and must cover the scope of the business activity. As well as procedures so that supervisors can implement the plan and be able to detect and prevent violations and must be kept at the office. Must explain and include: Methods by which supervisory reviews are documented Titles, registration status and location of the supervisory personnel. Record of the names of supervisory personnel must be maintained for 3 years, two of which must be easily located. NASD member firms must have a copy of the NASD manual in an accessible place Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ) NASD rules state that a member firm must appoint a principal to supervise any location and is defined as a office of supervisory jurisdiction OSJ includes any location where one or more occur: • Market-making and or order execution • Structuring of public offering or private placement • Maintaining custody of customers’ funds and or securities • Final acceptance (approval) of new accounts • Review approval of advertising or sales literature • Responsibility for supervising other branch offices OJS must have a general securities principal who is responsible for: • Approve and review of accounts • Transactions • Correspondence • Advertising • Sale literature • Response to customer complaints If principal has jurisdiction over satellite offices, he must approve accounts and order and make frequent visit of those sites A General Securities Principal may not approve options related communications nor options accounts and may not be responsible for financial reporting to regulators. A non-OSJ branch may be supervised either by a principal or a competent registered selling representative. Branch Office: is considered to be where one or more of the firm’s associated personnel regularly conduct the business of effecting transactions in, or attempting to in due the purchase or sale of any security, or any location represented as such. Locations not required to be registered as branch offices: A non-sales offices A location of convenience used occasionally and by appointment only The floor of an exchange A temporary location used in business continuity A location primarily used for non- securities business and from which less than 25 securities transactions are effected annually A Representative’s primary residence that is not used as an office for the public A temporary location used for securities business (excluding primary residence) for less than 30 business days in any calendar year A Location of convenience may be a situated in a bank. It is permitted to display only signs that comply with federal, state and SRO rules. Primary residence Limitations: the exemption for branch office registration for primary residence apply only if the following conditions are met: • Only one associated person or all associated persons who reside at the same place, who are members of the same family may conduct business at the residence. • The residence may not be represented as an office of the firm nor can customers meet at residence • Neither customer fund nor security may be handled at the residence • The associated person must be assigned to a branch office and the address for that branch must be listed on the persons business cards, stationary, advertisements and other public communications • Correspondence and communication with the public from the associated person must be subject to supervisions • Electronic communication, including email, must be made through the firm system • All orders must be entered through the branch of the associated persons or through an electronic system established and review able at the branch by the firm • Written procedures regarding the supervision of sales activities conducted at an associated person’s residence must be maintained by the firm • The firm must maintain a list of all residence locations Inspections: Member organization must review each office, which include periodic exams of customer accounts. Each OSJ must be inspected annually. Offices must be reviewed periodically and the cycle of inspection must be included in the firms written supervisory procedures and must keep record of when each inspection was conducted. Supervision of each business line A broker-dealer must appoint a supervisor to oversee each type of business. Ex • Retails sales • Investment banking • Trading departments, such as equity and fixed income • Research • Clearing Written Approvals: A sales supervisor’s responsibilities must include approving new accounts as well as reviewing correspondence, transactions and customer accounts. Each must be documented in writing. Some firms review each trade ticket where as others review the trade blotter Supervision of Registered Representatives: Each registered rep must be assigned a specific supervisor. Registration of Representatives: All person engaged in the investment banking or securities business of a member firm must be registered, except for those whose activities are solely clerical or ministerial. Member firms must investigate: Good character Business repute Qualifications Experience A U-4 from is used apply for registration, If a person was previously registered with the NASD the firm should review the latest U-5. If an applicant who receives a request for a copy of their U-5 must provide the copy within 2 business day. If held at pervious firm then firm has 2 business days to provide a copy. Form U-4: Each individual who is to be licensed under SRO rules must complete Form U-4. The form is filed with the Central Registration Depository (CRD) CRD- is a computerized information system maintained by the NASD, which provides registration information regarding broker-dealers and registered reps to state regulators other SRO’s and the SEC A broker-dealer must notify its customers annually that is its registered personnel’s disciplinary history is available Statutory disqualification can occur solely on past transgressions, including: • Being expelled or suspended for a self-regulatory organization • Having a registration denied, suspended, or revoked by the SEC or another regulatory agency • Violating or assisting in the violation of any securities or commodities law or the rules of the MSRB • Failing as a principal or supervisor, to reasonably supervise a subordinate who violates rules (unless) there was a supervisory system in place which would reasonably be expected to detect the violation and the supervisor reasonably discharges supervisory duties under the system • Being convicted ,within the last 10 years, of a felony of misdemeanor involving false reports, bribery, perjury, crimes related to funds or securities or any other felony By signing the U-4 registered reps also agree to file a timely amendment if any info changes Fingerprinting Requirements: any employee of a broker-dealer must be fingerprinted: • Is engaged in the sale of securities • Regularly comes in contact with money or securities • Has access to the keeping, handling, or processing of securities, or the records of original entry of the broker-dealer When a person is submitting a U-4 form , a finger print card is also required for identification purposes Form U-5: After a register rep resigns or is terminated from a NASD member firm, the firm must notify the NASD within 30 days on Form U-5. It must also provide the individual with a copy of the form Qualification Examinations: The inclusive registered rep license is the Series 7: it allows a rep to sell any security product Series 6: Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Representative: NASD license that permits a rep to sell open-end investment companies (mutual funds), closed –end funds during distribution period, variable annuities, and variable life insurance Series 11: Assistant Rep- Order Processing: an NASD license for sales assistants that permits the representative to accept unsolicited orders from customers. Persons with this license cannot: Solicit transactions New accounts Give investment advice Effect transactions for a firm Receive compensation based on the size or number of transaction Cannot hold any other NASD license at the same time Series 22: Direct Participation Programs Limited Representative: Am NASD license that permits a rep to sell direct participation program Series 42: Registered Option Limited Rep: An NASD license that permits the sale of options if the representative also has a series 62 license. Series 52: Municipal Securities Rep: An MSRB license that permits a rep to open accounts for and execute transaction in muni securities Series 55: Limited Rep- Equity trade: an NASD license that must be obtained by individuals who trade equity and or convertible securities on a principal or agency basis in the over-the counter market, as well as persons who supervise traders. This category of registration also requires a series 7 or series 62 Series 62- Corporate securities limited rep: an NASD license that permits reps to sell exchange-traded and OTC corporate securities but does not allow the sale of investment company securities , variable contracts, municipal securities, options or limited partnerships. Series 72- Government Securities Rep: permits a rep to conduct business in U.S. Tresury, government agency and mortgage backed securities. Also need a series 42 Series 86- Research analyst Part 1: Analysis module: NASD registration that permits an analyst to prepare analysis, modeling, and valuations for companies that are subject of research reports Series 87- Research analyst part 2: regulation module: NASD registration that permits an analyst to prepare research reports or supervise research analysts. EXAM confidentially: It is a violation of NASD rules to: Remove an exam of a portion of an exam Reproduce parts of the exam Disclose parts of the exam to anyone Receive parts of an exam from anyone Compromise the contents of a past or present exam in anyway State Registration: Most states require passing the series 63 exam. But a rep still needs to the proper application and fees must be submitted and registration must be granted by the state administrator The taping rule: a broker-dealer must use special written procedures and begin the taping of conversations between its registered personnel and customer for a period of 3 years. When a firm hires a personnel from a member firm that has been disciplined. They must meet the following criteria: • Employees at least 5, but fewer than 10 registered reps ,where 40% or more have been employed by one or more disciplined firms within the last 3 years. • Employs at least 10 but fewer than 20 reps where 4 or more have been with disciplined firms within the last 3 years • Employs at least 20 reps, where 20% or more have been employed by one or more disciplined firms within the last 3 years A broker that has been notified by the NASD is subject to the taping rule has 60 days to comply and begin taping. The broker then must create procedures fro reviewing, retaining, and classifying the recordings and send a report to the NASD every quarter. Except: The firm has a one time opportunity ti reduce its staff levels below the thresholds to avoid the taping rule. Employees fired cannot be rehired by the same firm for 180 days Activities of Nonregistered Persons: may: • Extend invitations to firm sponsored events • Inquire whether a prospective customer wishes to discuss investment with a registered rep • Inquire whether a prospective customer wishes to receive investment literature from the firm If it is an associated person of a foreign broker-dealer it is permitted to make sales calls in the U.S. if accompanies by a registered rep Annual Compliance Meeting or Interview: all registered person must be part of an annual compliance review. The emphasis of the meeting should be compliance issues and product knowledge. Continuing Education: CE requirement are divided into 2 parts • The regulatory element, which is created and administered by regulators • The firm element, which is the responsibility of each broker-dealer Regulatory element: RR are to participate in Regulatory Element training on the second anniversary of their initial securities registration and every 3 years for the remainder of the career. Regulatory element: Written by the Securities Industry/ Regulatory Council on Continuing Education is computer based and includes questions/ scenarios NASD will notify a RR 30 days in advance of the anniversary date. 120 days from anniversary date to complete the regulatory element training, if not complete RR become inactive. Firm Element: Covered person- is any registered person who has direct contact with customers in the conduct of a member firm’s securities sales, trading or investment banking activities and their immediate supervisor. Each firm must demonstrate that once a year they analyze the training needs of their covered personnel and develop a written training plan. Min requirement of firm element plan include: enhance broker’s securities knowledge, skill set, and professionalism. Such training must cover securities products, services and strategies offered by the firm emphasizing on: • General investment features and associated risks • Suitability and sales practice consideration • Applicable regulatory requirements CH12 16-20 Business Conduct of Members Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the firm and its registered reps comply with all relevant rules and regulation in the conduct of day-to-day business of the firm. Recommendations: must be made based upon the facts disclosed by the customers regarding other securities holdings and current financial situation. Should not be based on profit but on fair dealings. Recommendations can then be made without the advance approval of the firm (unless policy dictates differently) The following would violate fair dealing: • Recommending low-priced securities without obtaining information about the customer’s other securities holdings and financial situation. Thus making blanket recommendations of low priced securities is a violation because they are risky and not for everyone • Recommendation for purchases that are beyond the customers ability to pay. • Excessive activity in customer accounts (churning) • Trading in mutual fund shares which by their nature are not suitable trading vehicles or to buy hot issues • Use of discretion without authorization for the customer • Misuse of customer’ securities and funds • Unauthorized transactions by RR that are concealed from employer • Making guarantees as to future performance • The use of promissory language by member firms • Paying someone to make a favorable comment about the security Recommendations must have reasonable basis and must include: • The price at the time of the original recommendation • If the member firm makes the market of the member firm intended to buy or sell the security in its own account • If the member firm and its officers or partners own warrants, rights or options to acquire the security • Whether the member was the manger or comanager of any of the issuer’s securities offerings within the past 12 months • Information supporting the recommendation must be provided or offered • Reference to past recommendations for a particular type of security must include all the recommendations for that type for the past year. • Each recommendation must be shown with date and the price at time of recommendation, as well as price range to be acted upon. • Reference to past recommendations may not imply that they were profitable Seminars and presentations: Fall under the NASD Conduct rules. Examples of these activities include: • Seminar conducted by a RR or principal that is open to customers • Principal appearing on TV discussing investments Institutional customers: have at least $10 million invested in securities in its portfolio Suitability obligations to institutional customers: RR cannot ignore suitability issues just because the customer is an institutional investor. There are 2 primary considerations in determining the scope of a member’s suitability in making recommendations. 1) The customer’s ability to evaluate investment risk independently. Factors should be considered include: • Use of 1 or more consultants, investment advisers, or bank trust departments • General level of experience of the institutional customer in financial market and experience with instruments under consideration. • Customer’s ability to understand the economic features of the security • Customer’s ability to independently evaluate how market development would affect the security • The complexity of the security 2) The extent to which the customer is exercising independent judgment: Any written or oral understanding that exists between the member and the customer regarding the nature of the relationship The presence of absence of a pattern of acceptance of the member’s recommendations The use by the customer of ideas, suggestions, market views and information obtained from other member or market professions. The extent to which the member has received from the customer current comprehensive portfolio information in connection with discussing recommended transactions or the extent to which it has not been provided info regarding its portfolio or investment objectives Regulation FD- Fair Disclosure Concern that the selective disclosure of inside information to research analysts and large investors was unfair prompted the SEC to adopt Regulation FD. Regulation FD bars issuers from selectively disclosing nonpublic, material information to securities professionals, or it shareholder if it is ‘reasonably foreseeable” that they will trade on the information REG FD applies to: • Senior company officials • Those who regularly communicate with research analysts and investors • Company’s investment relations • Public relations If any of the preceding people disclose nonpublic, material information to analysts or investors it must be disclosed to the public at large Intentional disclosure- then the company must simultaneously disclose the info to the public Unintentional the company has 24 hours to publicly disseminate the information or until NYSE opening which ever is later. The company may file a Form 8-k with the SEC or by using some other method designed to reach a broad spectrum of the investing public REG FD does not apply to disclosures in normal course of business such as disclosure to company accountants, lawyers and investment bankers Best Execution: Failure of member firms to use reasonable diligence to enable customers to obtain the best price on purchases and sales is inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade. Factors that are considered: • Price, volatility, and relative liquidity of the security • General character of the market for the security • Size and type of the transaction • # of markets checked • Accessibility of the quotation • Terms to conditions of the order as communicated to the members Interpositioning (prohibited) – is the insertion of a third party between the customer and the best market price to the detriment of the customer. Prohibition would not apply is member firm could prove that interpositioning helped provide the best price. Lack of sufficient personnel to effectively execute an order would not be a reasonable basis for not obtaining the best price for a customer. Front – Running (prohibited) NASD member firms or associated persons cannot execute an order for which the firm has interest of discretionary authority with knowledge of material nonpublic info about an imminent block transaction in the security. The ban is lifted once the block transaction is made public. Unless it is a partial execution which the ban is still in effect until the entire block is traded Block is considered 10,000 or more shares Does not apply to: SuperMontage (automatic execution) Nasdaq, Consolidated tape, or options price reporting service Another example is a rep who holds a security and trys to build retail interest in the stock. Thus causing the price to rise Trading in Anticipation of a Research Report The NASD prohibits a member from establishing, increasing, decreasing or liquidating an inventory position in a particular security in anticipation of the firm’s issuance of a research report in that security. However unsolicited order flow from retail customer or other broker-dealer are not covered The restriction is also lifted for in-house use only research reports, not for external publication. Applies to NASD members in listed stocks in the third market and All Nasdaq stocks. As well as there derivatives. But does not address OTC securities although the NASD considers trading ahead as a violation of just and equitable principles of trade. Extended hours: NASDAQ permits but does not require, market makers to remain open during extended trading hours 4pm-6:30 p. Broker-dealers must disclose the risks of extended hours trading before permitting clients to engage. The risk include: Lower liquidity Higher volatility Changing prices Unlinked markets News announcements Wider spreads CH12 26-33 Communication with the public: Broker-dealers are responsible for the content of the communications between its registered reps and customers. Research Analysts and Research Reports An associated person(analyst) is an employee of a member firm who makes recommendations in research reports and public appearances as to whether a equity security should be bought, sold, or held. Including employees who report to analysts. Supervisory procedures should be revised accordingly as should general practices related to research reports preparation and approval and are required to affirm annually that the member’s written supervisory procedures comply with new and existing rules. Investment banking and Research Department control issues The information barriers separating research and investment banking must be reinforced through the supervision of these areas, including written supervisory procedures. A member’s investment banking department is restricted from exercising any control over its research department, particularly research reports. Supervisory analysts must supervise and approve reports. Can contact if for the reason of review of information contained in reports for accuracy or conflict of interest. Written communication must be routed through the member’s legal or compliance department or copied. Oral communication must be transmitted through legal or compliance personnel or conducted in the presence of a rep from one of these 2 departments Members May not submit research reports to the subject company except for the purpose of fact verification and then only the relevant section may be transmitted, but this must be okayed with legal or compliance departments prior to transmitting. A subject company must be notified of a change in rating the trading day before a public announcement. Communications not related to verification or conflict avoidance are prohibited Solicitation of investment banking business: Research analysts are prohibited from participating in the solicitation of investment banking business. As well as participate in road shows in connection with investment banking. A research analyst is prohibited from communicating with a customer regarding an investment banking services transaction. In the presence of issuing company or investment banking personal. Tree-way communications also aim to prevent customers, prospects from identifying a research analyst as a part of the investment banking department and their solicitation of business for investment banking service transactions. Investment banking department personnel is prohibited from, directly or indirectly , directing a research analyst to participate in the sales or marketing efforts for an investment banking service transaction or to communicate with a customer or prospective. A research analyst’s job is to provide accurate and unbiased information regarding an issuer and the issuer’s securities. Information must be fair, balanced and not misleading Analysts are prohibited- to invest in Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) transactions , which are private financing arrangements made for public companies where institutional investors purchase securities registered after the offering is complete. Exception: In smaller firms, personnel may act in a dual capacity as both investment adviser and research analyst. This exception is given to member firms that over the pervious 3 years “have participated in 10 or fewer investment banking transactions or underwriting as manager or comanager have generated $5 million or less in gross investment banking service revenue for those transactions.” Firms must keep records of any communication that would normally be subject to review and monitoring. This exception does not effect the relationship between issuer and analyst. They should always have a separation. Anti-Retaliation- prohibits a member firm from, directly or indirectly, retaliating or threatening to retaliate against an analyst who publishes a research report or makes a public appearance that may have negative affect on the member’s investment banking relationship. Terminations: The termination of an analyst may take place provided it is unrelated to issuing or distributing negative research findings or making an unfavorable public appearance. Restrictions on Issuing Research Reports: The quiet period for initial public offerings is 40 calendar days, for secondary offerings, the quiet period is 10 calendar days. The quiet period for secondary offering does not apply to issuers whose securities are actively traded as defined under REG M There is also a 25- day quiet period after the date oft eh offering for a broker-dealer (other than a manager or comanager) that has agreed to participate as an underwriter or dealer in an initial public offering. During this quiet period , the participant broker-dealers may not publish research reports for the subject security nor would its analysts be permitted to make public appearances regarding the issuer security. Booster Shot: research reports published shortly before or after the end of a lock –up agreement. Lock-ups prevent insiders from selling the stock of his company for a specified period. Booster shots are usually positive and reiterates a buy recommendation that stabilizes the security when the lock up agreement ends. Booster shot research reports are prohibited form being published by a manager or comanager of a securities offering for 15 days prior to and after the expiration of lock-up agreements. Booster shots prohibitions do not affect actively traded securities (average daily trading value (ADTV) of at least $1 million, where public float is at least $150 million Significant News Exception to Quiet Periods: Significant news or events allow for research reports to be published or public appearances to be made during quiet periods. Significant news or events are things that have a material impact or material change in a companies financial condition, operations, or earnings would require a 8-k. Research Reports- Research report disclosure must appear on the first page of the publication or must refer to the page on which they appear (cannot be in reduced typeface) If a member publishes a report that makes recommendations on 6 or more subject companies, the report must disclose where the disclosures can be found. Mandatory disclosures: • Whether the analyst has a financial interest in the securities of the subject company • Whether the firm has ownership of the subject security if such ownership is 1% or greater of the outstanding stock of the subject company • Disclosure of whether the firm makes a market in the subject security • Any material conflict of interest about which the analyst or member knows or has reason to know • Whether the member has received compensation for investment banking activity from the subject company during the twelve months preceding publication, or expects to receive or seek compensation in the 3 months following publication • Whether the analyst or any member of the analysts’ household is an officer, director or advisory board member of the subject company. Disclosure Specifics: Members must disclose the following: • The % of all securities the firm has rated in each category • The % of subject companies within each rating category that are investment banking clients of the firm or have been within the past 12 months • A price chart of actual performance for the last 3 years • Firm’s recommendation on the security including indication of instance where the member’s ratings or price target has changed for any subject security the member has rated for one year or longer • A clear and complete explanation of the rating system it uses, and what each particular rating means • A rational basis for the recommendation and supporting analytical data • The current market price of the subject security at the time of the recommendation • Possible risk that may impede the security achieving the target pricing Public Appearances: The disclosures required during public appearances, including television and radio interviews, during which predictions may be made include: • Whether the subject company is an investment banking client of the member • Whether the analyst has a financial interest in the security that is subject of the report • Whether the member firm has ownership of the subject security if such ownership is 1% or greater of the outstanding stock of the subject company • Any material conflict of interest about which the analyst or member firm knows or has reason to know • Whether the analyst or any member of the analyst’s household is an officer, director, or advisory board member of the subject company. Each member whose analyst engages in such public appearances must address eh disclosure requirements in its written supervisory procedures. Compensation and Personal Trading Analyst Compensation- Compensation based on specific investment banking deals is strictly prohibited. Compensation- should be based on an analyst’s overall contribution to the firm. Member and supervisory personnel should be able to document a “totality of performance’” based compensation schedule to avoid the appearance of impropriety or a charge or rule breaking. If an analyst’s compensation is in any way based on contributions to the member’s investment banking business, this fact must be disclosed in research reports authored by the analyst. Firm Compensation- A firm engaging in investment banking business with a subject company in the 12 months prior to publication of a research report must disclose this relationship and any compensation received from the subject company. Similarly, a firm must disclose any investment banking relationship with a subject company for which it intends to seek compensation in the 2 months following publication. Personal Trading: An analyst is not permitted to trade against her won recommendations or her member’s recommendations. Analysts are prohibited from purchasing or selling securities in a company regularly covered by the member’s analysts in the 30 days before or 5 days following the publication of a report. (unless shares were purchased prior to commencement of coverage) Cannot purchase shares in a company in the same sector covered by the analyst prior to its IPO Exceptions- Passive investor- the analysts is not making decisions or directing trades for particular securities. Unless the analysts owns more than 1% beneficial ownership or 20% of its assets in the analyst’s sector. Sales by an analysts would be permitted within 30 days of issuing a research report if the subject was not previously covered by the analyst. Research Analyst Supervisors: - Personnel of an NASD member firm that oversee the activities and approve the research reports of research analysts must also obtain approval for certain securities transactions These transactions are in equity securities of companies upon which the research analyst, who they oversee, writes the research reports. EX the director of research, members of the committee and supervisory analysts. CH12 36-45 Advertisements and Sales Literature: must be truthful and may not omit material facts. Dissemination of advertisements or sales literature that contain untruthful statements or that are otherwise misleading may bot be used. Advertisements- as any published material or material used in electronic or other public media such as websites, newspapers, magazine, radio, television, telephone recordings, and motion pictures ,among other sources. (doesn’t include independently prepared reprints Sales literature- includes marketing letters, notices, circulars, research reports, form letters and reprints of published articles (except independently prepared reprints) and seminar texts. All are subject to NASD requirements if it involves an offer or recommendation or any security analysis or investment advice. Excluding- Tombstone ad’s, Routing ad’s discussing member firm personnel changes, prospectus or reports interpreting changes in tax laws. Internal Review: Ad’s , Sale Lit and independent reprints must be approved in writing prior to use by a registered principal of the firm, either before its use or filing with the NASD. Firms must maintain a file containing all Ad’s , Sale Lit and independent reprints for 3 years after last date of use, (2 years readily acceptable). Must contain the name of approving principal and date approval was given. Also need to keep a file with all source material for any chart, table, graph or other illustration. NASD Review: Initial Advertisements: if firm has never filed ads with NASD or exchange, it must file with the NASD 10 days before use for a year. Other ads that need to be filed with the NASD: • Advertisements for collateralized mortgage obligations • Advertisement for securities futures • Ad’s and sale literature for registered investment companies that include or use performance ranking or comparison of investment companies that are not published or have been created by the investment company Bond Fund Volatility Ratings: Sales literature regarding bond mutual funds or sales literature that uses bond mutual fund volatility ratings must be filed with the NASD at least 10 business day before use and indicate date of intent for use. Cannot use until it has been approved. The NASD may require further information, this will not require a resubmission like you would need in a Denial by the NASD. Subsequent Advertisements and Sale Literature: after the 1 year period is over, firms may file certain items and include: • Ads and sales literature for registered investment companies that do not refer to bond mutual funs or bond mutual fund volatility ratings • Ads and sales literature for public direct participation programs • Ads for government securities • Any ads or sales literature that includes performance rankings or comparisons of investment companies and the ranking or comparison used. Television or video: can be filed as storyboards but the final must be filed with the NASD within 10 business days of first use or broadcast. Violation of Standards: If the NASD finds the a firm has not been following the standards for ads and sales literature, it may require that the firm file all ads and sales literature at least 10 business days before use. Exceptions- • Press releases for the media only • Ads and sale literature that only mentions the exchange symbol for a member firm or a security in which the member is registered market maker • Ads and sales literature that only mentions the member firm or states a security at a specific price • Documents that have been filed with the SEC • Ads and Sales literature regarding recruitment, member firm name changes, member postal and electronic address, offices, mergers or acquisitions or business structure • Ads and sales literature that has been previously field and not been changed General Standards: All communication with the public must be fair, balanced and based on principals of fair dealing. Specific standards: must contain • Name of member firm that is sponsoring the material • Any comparisons must have described the differences between them • Testimonials- must clearly indicate results achieved by the maker may not have been obtained by anyone else and past results are not indicative of future results • If the testimonial is paid for it must be disclosed. Advertising For CMO’s (collateralized mortgages obligations) All CMO ads must be filed with the NASD 10 business days in advance of use Communication : CMO’s must be described as (collateralized mortgages obligations) and may not compared to any other types of investment. Members must offer customers educational info about CMO’s and all claims about safety, guarantees, product simplicity and predictability must be accurate and not misleading The following disclosure must appear in the ad: The yield and average life shown above consider prepayment assumptions that may or may not be met. Changes in payments may significantly affect yield and average life. Please contact your REP for information on CMOs and how they react to different market conditions. NASD has prepared a standardized CMO print ad. Members that use the format must still submit to the NASD. All CMO ads must contain the standardized info. Radio and TV ads must meet the same standards as print ads. Accrual Tranche Bonds: is a deferred coupon Tranche of a CMO. Do not receive regular interest, nor amortized principal payments. Ads for Tranches must contain Accrued interest is calculated on a 360-day year The security may not be principal or interest of the CMO Your representative should be contacted for information on CMO’s and how they react to market conditions A CMO may consist of private, whole loan mortgages Exemptions: • Ads and sale literature solely related to changes in a member’s name ,personnel, location • Tombstone ads • Prospectus, offering circulars and similar documents • Material for internal use only Investment companies: Must disclose that there is a sales charge involved in the purchase of mutual fund shares. IF it does not list the charge must refer to the prospectus (which contains the charge) Time periods- Except for money-market funds, ranking employed in advertising or sales lit may not be based on a period less than 1 year. Current rankings must be for most recent calendar quarter. Switching: warning must be included that investors should weight the cost of switching investment companies. Must be in a separate paragraph in type-face as large as the rest of the literature. Institutional sales Material and Correspondence: Institutional sales material- is any communication which is provided to institutional investors Institutional investors: • A bank • A savings and loan association • An insurance company • Registered Investment Company • An investment advisor registered under SEC section 203 • Any other entity with total assets of at least $50 million • A 403b employee benefit plan • An NASD member or an associated person of that member, or a person acting on behalf of an institutional investor Institutional sale material is not filed with the NASD but is subject to spot check. Does not need approval by a principal. Rule 2211 member firm may not distribute communications to an institutional investor if it thinks that a non institutional investor might get it Correspondence: - is a written or electronic messages sent by a member to one or more of its existing retail customers and to fewer than 25 prospective retail customers within any 30 calendar day period. The member firm must establish written procedures for the review of correspondence regarding its securities business or investment banking business. A registered principal must review all electronic correspondence with the public. If a firm does not require all correspondence be reviewed it must educate and train its personnel regarding correspondence and must keep a record of the training. After it must maintain surveillance to make sure procedures have been implemented. Incoming Correspondence- the concern is with customer checks and complaints. The NASD requires that firms have adequate handling of complaints and funds Approval: Approval of most correspondence, and institutional sale material is not required. But a principal must review both prior. Firms must create a policy that allows principals to review institutional sale material. Procedure must be designed for supervision, education, and training of registered reps who work on institutional sales. Must keep records of training. If correspondence is sent to 25 or more existing clients within 30 calendar-days period and either promotes a product or service of the broker-dealer or makes a financial or investment recommendation then it must be approved by a principal. Record keeping- Institutional sales material and the name of the person who prepared it must be kept on file for 3 years after the last date of use, source material must also be maintained. Electronic Communications: Communication Category Chat room discussion Public Appearance WEBSITE Public Advertisement Password protected Sales literature E-Mail 25 or more prospective retail customers Sales literature <25 prospective retail customer within 30 days Correspondence To one (prospective or existing customer Correspondence Unlimited existing retail customers Correspondence Instant messaging 25 > Sales literature <25 prospective retail customer within 30 days Correspondence To one (prospective or existing customer Correspondence Unlimited existing retail customers Correspondence Chat Room Discussions: a chat room allows a group of people to converse or chat over the Internet about a given topic. NASD registered person, whether at the office of a broker-dealer or at home, is held accountable for what she says regarding securities or industry services in an electronic chat room. Web Sites: All web sites must be approved by a registered principal prior to use and adhere to the rules of Communications with the Public. E-mail and Instant Messaging: They are considered to be similar and are required to be supervised, reviewed, and maintained in books and records alike. Communications that are considered sales literature must be approved by a registered principal prior to use. All records of all electronic communications to be maintained for 3 years (2 years easily access) Instant messaging may only be used by a firm if it has the ability to monitor, archive, and retrieve message that have been sent. Telephone Solicitations: Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 protects consumers from cold calls. Main provisions: • Telephone solicitations may only be place between 8am-9pm local time, unless the person has given prior consent • When calling prospective, caller must provide their name, entity or person whose behalf the call is made., and telephone number or address where the entity or person can be reached. • Each broker-dealer is responsible for creating a do-not-call list. If a person asks not, to be called then the dealer must place him on the do not call list for 5 years. Dealers must also train its registered personnel to use the list properly. • Registered reps may not make calls that harass or abuse the person called. EX use of language that can be seen as a threat or intimidating, use of profanity. • The ACT bans the use of fax machine to send unsolicited ads. The time-of-day and disclosure requirements do not apply to existing customers if the purpose of the call is to maintain or service an existing account of the RR. An existing customer is someone for whom a broker-dealer carries an account and: • Within the past 18 months, the customer has effected a securities transaction, or made a deposit into, an account under the control of , or assigned to the rep • Within the past 18 months, the customer earned dividend of interest income in an account controlled by or assigned to the rep. Use of Stockholder information for Solicitation: NASD rules do not allow the use of stockholder information for the solicitation purposes by a trustee unless the member firm is directed to do so by the firm. Broker-Dealer Conduct on the Premises of Financial institutions If a NASD member conducts business on the premises of financial institution where retail deposits are take it must comply with special provisions to ensure customers can distinguish between the bank and the broker dealer Setting: the broker should be conducted in a location that is physically distinct from the area in which deposits are taken. The broker must clearly display its name in the area in which it conducts business. Agreement: any networking arrangement or affiliation between financial institution and the broker-dealer must be in writing. • Should arrange parties responsibilities and compensations • Also should state that supervisory personnel can be examined any location the broker-dealer conducts business by the SEC and NASD. Customer Disclosures: must disclose orally and in writing when opening a customer account on premises of a financial institution. 1. Not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) 2. Not deposits or other obligations of and are not guaranteed 3. Subject to investment risks , including loss of principal Should attempt to get customers written acknowledgment of disclosures. Communications: Confirmations and account statements sent by the broker-dealer must clearly indicate that it provides the brokerage services. Ads and sales literature that include the location of a financial institution or are distributed on its premises must include disclosures 1,2,3 above. Where this is not practical, such as radio spot the following may be used: • Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value Disclosures are not required in radio broadcasts 30 seconds or less, electronic billboard type signs. Terminations: the broker-dealer must promptly notify the financial institution if it terminates for cause an associated person who is also employed by the institution CH12 51-54 Regulation of Investment Advisers -wrap account is a brokerage account in which a client is charged a single fee for all services, including investment advice, execution services and administration. Usually based on a percentage of assets under management. Most broker-dealers who offer wrap account are considered investment advisors and thus are regulated under Investment Adviser Act 1940. What is an Investment Adviser? • Providing advice about securities • Being in the business of giving advice and • Being compensated for the advice Exclusions from the definition of an IA 1. Banks or bank holding companies: not including S&L’s or investment adviser subsidiary of the bank 2. Certain Professionals: Lawyers, Accountants, engineers and teachers 3. Broker-dealers: a broker-dealer is exempt if the investment advice is solely incidental to its normal business and receives no special compensations. The RR must provide advice within the control and knowledge of the broker-dealer. The exclusion is not available to any representative providing advice outside the scope of the broker-dealer’s business 4. Publishers of bona fide newspapers, magazines or financial publications of general and regular circulation. The publication cannot i. Contain promotional material ii. Be tailored to the specific needs of an individual iii. Be timed to specific events affecting the securities industry 5. Government securities advisers. 6. Any other person exempted by the SEC. To date no other persons have been excluded Registration: If a firm does meet the definition of an investment adviser, then it usually must register with t e SEC if it is a large adviser ($25 million or more under management) or an advisor to a registered investment company. Smaller firms register with the STATES and are called RIA’s Exempt advisors: • An investment advisor whose clients are all residents of the state in which the adviser maintains its principal office and who does not furnish advice about exchange traded securities. • An investment adviser whose only client are insurance companies • An adviser who qualifies for the private adviser exemption. Have fewer than 15 clients in 12 months , do not hold themselves out to the public as investment advisor and don’t advise Registered investment companies. Investment Advisory Contracts: Contracts between IA’s and their clients are subject to certain conditions under SEC rules. (contracts are not required by the SEC) • Contracts must contain a provision that prohibits the adviser from assigning the contract without the consent of the client • If the investment adviser is a partnership, the contract must provide that the adviser will notify the client within a reasonable period of time after any change in the partnership • Performance-based fees are generally not permitted. These are fees that are based on a share of the capital gains or capital appreciation in the account. Qualified Client: investment advisors may enter into performance-based fee relationships with qualified clients. (a person or company with at least $75,000 under management of an advisor or $1.5 million net worth The Brochure Rule: an investment adviser is required to provide clients with a written disclosure statement, or brochure, containing information about its background and business practices. Such as a copy of Part II of SEC from ADV Warp account clients receive a special brochure. Written disclosure must be delivered to clients and prospective no less than 48 hours prior to entering into a written or oral advisory contract. It may be delivered no later than the time of entering into the contract if the prospective client has the right to terminate the contract without penalty within 5 business days. IA’s must also annually deliverer or offer in writing to deliver its disclosure document to its clients. Except: the brochure rule does not apply to investment company clients or contracts for impersonal advisory services requiring payment of less than $200 Antifraud Provisions of the Investment Advisers ACT: An investment adviser is a fiduciary who owes clients good faith and full and fair disclosure of all material facts. Thus it is an IA’s duty to disclose all material facts to clients, where if failure to do so would defraud or deceive a client or prospective. Conflict of interest- must disclose all potential conflicts of interest, including all relevant facts so that the client can make an informed decision about the specific conflict involved. The investment Adviser who is an RR- An investment advisor who is also a registered representative of a broker-dealer and provides investment advisory services outside the scope of employment with the broker-dealer must disclose to his advisory clients that the advisory activities are independent from his employment with the broker-dealer. Broker-dealer is receiving or is going to receive a fee from a customer for investment advice, and wishes to sell that customer a security, which it is underwriting. The broker-dealer is required to disclose to the customer. Soft dollar Compensation: some IA’s receive research and other services from broker-dealer in return for executing transactions for their advisory clients through the broker-dealer. Advisers are not permitted to receive reimbursements for travel expenses, furniture or equipment, since it would benefit the IA not the client. Step-Outs – transactions to fulfill their soft-dollar commitments. EX: Advisor might with to use BD 1 for execution but wants research from BD 2 the adviser could send an order for execution by 1 but directs 1 to step put a portion of the commissions in favor of BD2, who provides the adviser with research Conflict of interest: the use of step-outs by mutual fund advisers to compensate broker-dealers for the sale of fund shares. If the adviser asked executing broker to step out of private client trades to compensate other broker-dealers for fund distribution. Confirmations: Both the executing broker-dealer and the broker dealer providing soft-dollar services to send a written confirmation containing all of the information required by the rule CH13 1-3 Fraudulent Devices No member shall effect any transaction in, or induce the purchase or sale of, any security by means of any manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent device or contrivance. Marking the close/ Marketing the opening: is a series of transactions, at or near the close of trading, which either up tick or downtick a security. This is a concern because it is not part of the normal forces of supply and demand. Motivation: for marking the close 1) Brokerage firms use a securities closing price in determining what their margin requirement s will be for their customers 2) A security’s closing price is the price shown in the newspapers as the final price for the security for that trading session Marking the open might occur when options expire, (contracts settle on opening prices) and certain trade strategies are executed as the market opens Fair prices and Commissions Members are not permitted to charge prices or commissions that are unfair or excessive. Thus developed the 5% markup policy 2 major questions: When is a markup of about 5% acceptable when may it be more, or when must it be less? How is the markup calculated when the prevailing inter dealer price is not obvious. Factors that influence the level of markups: • The type of security involved- Common stock is usually higher than bonds • The availability of the security in the market- if more effort is required to locate a particular security and execute a transaction , a higher mark up is justified • The price of the security- % markups increase as price decreases • The amount of money involved in a transaction- • Disclosure- disclosure to the customer that the circumstance may warrant a higher-than normal markup helps to make the dealers case • The pattern of markups- mark ups in each transaction must be justified on its own merit. Patterns of persistent markups are treated most severely by the NASD • The nature of the broker-dealer’s business- firms that offer services to customers, such as research. Calculating Markups- Difference between interdealer ask and sales prices to customers Mark down Difference between interdealer bid price and purchases from customers EX: MNOP inside market is 19.5-20. Dealer X sells the stock fro $21 per share markup is $1 or 5% This is acceptable only if the market for MNOP is active and competitive (it is not if one market maker dominates and controls the market. Policy Enforcement: When calculating markups, a broker-dealer must determine: • Whether it is acting as a market maker or not in the transaction • Whether the market for the stock is dominated and controlled rather than active and competitive • Whether actual transactions or validated quotes may be used as the best evidence of the prevailing price Prevailing Price- A quote is considered validated when: • A competitive market for the security exists. • Interdealer sales occur with some frequency, although not necessarily contemporaneously • On the days when interdealer sales occur, they are consistently affected at prices at or around the quoted offers. Suppose that a stock is being quoted at 24.50 –25 yet most interdealer trades are being negotiated through SuperMontage at 24.75. When calculation markups on sales, 24.75 should be used as the prevailing price, not 25 Proceeds Transactions: are those in which the customer directs the member firm to sell a security and use the proceeds of the sale to buy another security. The member firm should computer the markup in the same manner as if the customer had purchased for cash, for both the sale and purchase. Exemptions: • Securities sold under a prospectus or an offering circular at a fixed offer price. • Registered secondaries • Mutual funds • Transactions on an exchange • Government securities • Municipal bonds Charges for services: members are allowed to charge for services such as collection of dividends or safekeeping of securities, but the charges must be reasonable and may not unfairly discriminate between customers CH13 8-9 Information obtained as a fiduciary: Member firms acting as agents are prohibited from using information obtained about holders of the companies securities in order to solicit purchase, sales, or exchanges except at the request of and on behalf of the issuing company. Prohibited Activities Payments to Influence Market Prices: a member firm may not pay anything to an employee of a news media, investment service, or similar service for publishing anything designed to affect the market price of a security. This prohibition does not apply to bona fide advertisements paid for by the member firm, subject to the rules regarding ads Offering’ At the Market”: a Member firm that is part of a primary or secondary distribution of a security which is not approved on a national exchange may not be represented as being a “at the market” unless such there is a reasonable grounds to believe that an independent market for the security exists Sharing in Accounts- NASD members may not share in profits or losses in a customer’s account unless the employee has made a financial contribution into the account and shares in the profits and losses in direct proportion to the employee’s financial contribution. The written authorization of the employee’s member firm must be obtained prior to engaging in this activity. Gifts to Employees of others- Member firms personnel may not give a gift exceeding $100 per recipient per year to personnel employed by someone else, if the gift is in relation to the business of the recipient’s employer. Written records of all gifts and compensation must be retained by the member firm giving the gift or compensation. Guarantees- Employees of member firms may not guarantee against losses in customer accounts or transactions within customer accounts, nor reimburse a customer for losses. Outside Business Activities RR must provide written notice to their employing broker dealer before participating in any business activities outside the scope of that person’s. this is a guard against conflicts of interest. Even part-time employment by a registered rep must be reported. Need permission first before working at any outside employment. Private Securities transactions: Private securities transactions are transaction outside the regular scope of an associated person’s employment with a member firm. This practice is some times called selling away. Selling away may include the participation in private placements, traditional IPO and arranging loans. Associated persons engaging in the following transaction must provide written notice to the employing member. If the person is receiving commission for the transaction. The member must approve and keep record on the members books If the person will not be compensated for the transaction, the member may nevertheless require the associated person to adhere to specific conditions in order to participate in the transaction. Personal transactions in investment company and variable annuity securities are not covered by the rule CH13 12-15 Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) is a self- regulatory organization that governs broker-dealers and bank dealers that buy, sell, underwrite and provide advice about municipal securities; NASD acts as the enforcement agency for the MSRB for any NASD member that is also in the MSRB. Political Contributions (rule G-37) Pay-to-play: - the practice of municipal securities dealers making political contributions in order to curry favor with politicians who might in return steer municipal securities underwriting business their way. A municipal finance professional (MFP) is defined as: • Any associated person primarily engaged in the activities of a municipal securities representative. In a diversified broker-dealer where municipal securities are only part of its business, there might be many reps that are not MFPs since those activities are not primary aspect of their business • Any associated person who solicits Municipal securities business. (negotiated underwriting activities, negotiated remarketing services, providing financial or consultant services to or for an issuer. • Direct supervisors of these associated persons • Any member of the executive or management committee of a dealer or of a separate identifiable department of a dealer bank. A MFP is considered to be any gift , subscription ,loan, or deposit of money of anything of value for: • Influencing any election for federal, state, or local office • Payment of debt incurred in connection with any such election • Transition or inaugural expenses incurred by the successful candidate for state or local office. Violations : a violation occurs if the MFP is not entitled to vote for the official and the MFP makes a political contribution. Also would be a violation if contribution to exceed $250 per election. If a violation occurs, the muni dealer is prohibited from engaging in municipal securities business with the issuer for 2 years. MPF employed by a dealer is not allowed to solicit or coordinate contributions for an official of an issuer with which the dealer is or is intending to do business. Reported Related to Political Contributions Firms must report on contributions to officials of issuers and on payments to political parties of states and political subdivision. 2 copies of these reports must be sent to the Board on form G-37/G-38 by the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter and must include: • The name and title of each official of an issuer and political party receiving contributions or payments • The amount of the contribution or payment made and the contributor category of the persons and entities involved. • A list of issuers with which the dealer has engaged in municipal securities business, along with the type of municipal securities MFP or executive offices whom contribute is entitled to vote that do not exceed $250 do not need to be reported. Contributes made by executive officers that exceed $250 must be reported on Form G-37/G-38 although these contributions would not trigger the 2 year ban. Dealers are not required to list the names of municipal finance professionals and exec offices on form G-37/G-38 Solicitation of Municipal Securities Business A broker,dealer or municipal securities dealer may not agree to pay, either directly or indirectly any person who is no affiliated with the firm for soliciting municipal securities business on behalf of the firm What is solicitation? Any direct or indirect communication by any person with an issuer for the purpose of obtaining or maintaining muni securities business. Who is an affiliated person? Any person who is a partner, director, officer, employee, or registered person of the firm. Also considered are other companies that directly control, are controlled by or under common control of muni securities firm. What is municipal securities business? A Muni securities business includes: The purchase of a primary offering form an issuer on a negotiated basis. Competitive bid allocations are excluded from the def. The offer or sale of a primary offering of Muni securities on behalf of any issuer, including public offerings as well as private placements. If a municipal securities firm provides financial or advisory service to an issuer, or on behalf of the issuer, in a primary offering, the firm is engaged in municipal securities business. Muni securities firms are allowed to pay compensation to consultants under a transitional payment provision provided the solicitation occurred prior to the rule change of AUG 29,2005. The consulting agreement must have been written and include the name, company, role and compensation arrangements of the consultant CH13 18-23 Resolving Problems: Code of Procedure: describes the Association’s disciplinary process. These rules cover disciplinary actions by the NASD against member firms and their associated persons. Disciplinary actions may be taken by the NASD for violations of NASD rules, violations of SEC rules or failure to pay dues or assessments. Disciplinary Proceedings: If the NASD’s Department of Enforcement believes that a member firm or associated person has violated a rule or law under its jurisdiction, the department will request authorization from the office of disciplinary affairs to issue a complaint. The respondent ( the firm or person named in the complaint). The response to the complaint within 25 days of receiving it. If the respondent fails to respond within 25 days, a second notice will be sent. After 14 more day’s failure to answer will be treated as an admission by the respondent. The respondent may request a hearing. Hearing is held before a Hearing Panel consisting of a Hearing Officer and 2 panelists, who are appointed by the NASD Chief Hearing Officer (an attorney employed by the NASD). The hearing officer must provide 28 days notice of hearing to the respondent. The other members of the panel are persons associated with or retired from, member firms that have an expertise in the area in dispute and have server on local NASD committees. The Hearing officer may call a prehearing conference to prepare the parties for the hearing or to otherwise make the process more efficient. Documentary evidence is summated prior to the hearing. The hearing provides an opportunity for witness to testify under oath. Within 60 days after the Hearing Panel has stopped accepting evidence, it must render a written decision arrived at by majority vote. Anytime before hearing respondent can offer a settlement. If accepted, the respondent waives the right to appeal. If rejected, the hearing would proceed to a conclusion. Sanctions: hearing panel may impose the following penalties: • Censure a member firm or an associated person • Fine a member firm or associated person • Suspend the membership of a firm or suspend the registration of an associated person, either for a definite period or until specified conditions are met. • Expel a member firm or cancel its membership, revoke or cancel the registration of an associated person • Suspend or bar an associated person from association with any member firm • Impose any other fitting sanction Note: if the registration of an associated person is suspended, canceled, of revoked, that person may not be associated with a member firm in any capacity (including clerical or ministerial positions) Other than a bar expulsion, as sanction is effective 30 days after the respondent has received notice of a final disciplinary action. A bar or expulsion is effective as soon as soon as the decision is served on the respondent. If a broker-dealer is suspended must be treated as non-members. Appeals- Once a decision has been rendered by the Hearing Panel, the respondent has 25 days to file an appeal with the NASD National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) If the respondent wins the Department of Enforcement has the right to appeal to NAC. The process of appeal places the decision in limbo Appeals Hearing Panelà NACà SEC à Fed Courts Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent: (AWC) Letter of Acceptance- The respondent signs a letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions and waiving the right to appeal. Letter would describe the rules violated and the sanctions to be imposed. If the respondent rejects the letter, disciplinary process would proceed as normal. Minor Rule Violation: fine of $2,500 or less. Violations include: • Failure to have advertising approved by a principal • Failure to properly maintain advertising and or sales literature files • Failure to file advertisement on time with the NASD • Failure to file timely reports of short positions • Violations of SEC or NASD books and records rules • Failure to submit trading data as requested Release of Disciplinary Information: Info about the disciplinary history of a member firm or registered rep is available to the public through the NASD’s Public Disclosure Program (PDP). This information is on file at the Central Registration Depository (CRD) and can be accessed online or a toll free # Information provided about individuals includes the following: • Current employing firm, 10 years of employment history and all approved registration • Certain legal and regulatory charges and action brought against RR such as felonies, certain misdemeanors and civil proceedings and investment –related violations. • Pending customer initiated arbitrage and civil proceeding involving investment-related activities, any arbitration or civil proceedings that resulted in an award to a customer, and settlement of $10,000 or more in an arbitration, civil proceeding or complaint involving investment-related activities. • Written customer complaints alleging sales practice violations and compensatory damages of $5,000 or more that were filed within the last 24 months • Formal investigations involving criminal or regulatory matters • Terminations of employment after allegations involving violations of investment-related statues or rules, fraud, theft, or failure to supervise investment-related activities If an associated person is subject to action taken by a member and the fine is greater than $2,500, the member is obligated to promptly notify the appropriate SRO Investor Education: The NASD’s Investor Education and Protection Rules requires member firms, at least once every calendar year, to provide each customer, in writing, the following: • NASD Regulation public Disclosure Program Hotline # • NASD regulation Website Address • A statement as to the availability to the customer of an investor brochure that includes the info describing the public disclosure program Code of Arbitration: The NASD Code of Arbitration is concerned with the settlement of disputes through arbitration. It is not concerned with discipline for violation of rules and regulations (covered by the CODE OF PROCEDURE) Code of Arbitration: Requires disputes be settled by arbitration including associated persons Except in the case of statutory discrimination claims, including sexual harassment. When a Rep signs a U4 they are agreeing with this statement “ I agree to arbitrate any dispute, claim or controversy that may arise between me and my firm, or customer or any other person ,that is required to be arbitrated under the rules, constitutions or by-laws of the SRO indicated” A public customer can bring a claim against a member but a member cannot bring a claim against a customer, unless the customer agrees. A customer may initiate arbitration by filing a Submission Agreement of Claim, and paying the deposit fee. Respondents may file a counter claim against the person initiating the arbitration Does not apply to disputes between the NASD and member firms. The NAC will appoint a panel of 1-3 arbitrators, depending on the $ amount. If a customer is involved a majority of the arbitrators will be public arbitrators (not affiliated with the securities industry. Once notified of the composition of the panel, the customer has the right to reject the selection of an arbitrator on a peremptory basis and has the right to unlimited challenges for cause. Simplified arbitration is used if dispute does not exceed $25,000, a single arbitrator decides the case. Unless a public customer demands or consent to a hearing, or the arbitrator calls for a hearing. Any awards granted by the arbitrator must be paid within 30 days of determination or penalties may be assessed on late payments. Mediation: is an informal process in which 2 parties to a dispute attempt to reach a settlement without resorting to arbitration or litigation, as well as a 3rd party a mediator. The mediator is a neutral person, knowledgeable about the securities industry., who attempts to facilitate the discussions and help the parties reach an agreement Once 2 parties agree to mediation, they select a mediator (fee is split). NASD will suggest a mediator but it can be any mediator if the parties agree. Both parties then provide the mediator with information they think is necessary to understand the dispute. Then parties meet with mediator in a joint session. Each party presents its case then meet individually with the mediator in sessions called caucuses. Caucuses: is to help each party examine the strengths and weakness of the case, look at the risks involved, and consider possible settlements or resolutions. It is confidential The mediation process will continue until: • The parties resolve the dispute through a written settlement • The mediator declares an impasse in the belief that continuing would be futile • Either party or the mediator withdraws, in writing the process Partial Success Possible: Even if parties do not reach settlement, but often the 2 sides have a better understanding of the dispute. Sometime part of the issue will be settled leaving the rest for arbitration. The parties can be in mediation and arbitration at the same time. This way if mediation fails arbitration is ready to go. Mediation can even be started when arbitration has begun if the decision has not been rendered. Mediation vs. Arbitration Mediation Arbitration A negotiation process between the 2 parties A hearing process at which the 2 parties present their cases Mediator attempts to facilitate a resolution-does not impose a settlement Arbitrator imposes a binding settlement Either part can withdraw if it chooses Parties cannot unilaterally withdraw Informal discussion process- parties may consider feeling and look for creative solutions in addition to evidence More formal process- testimony under oath Settlement must be mutually agreeable- compromise may be possible Arbitrator decides the outcome- is more of a 'win or lose' decision Parties must be willing to see strengths of the other sides' position Useful where position of one or both parties is inflexible Can be less costly and quicker than arbitration Often more expensive and time consuming than mediation, but usually cheaper and quick than litigation Process is private and any settlement is confidential Hearing are private but the decision is public CH14 1-10 The Net Capital Rule: It prevents a broker-dealer from becoming over leveraged by requiring a specific type of a aggregate indebtedness (AI)/ Net capital (NC) ratio at or below a certain value. A broker-dealer may not continue in business if this ratio becomes too large. A broker-dealer’s AI/NC ratio is calculated from a trail balance. The trial balance is a listing of all accounts in affirms’s general ledger, divided into 2 groups: debit and credits. From the trail balance, the broker-dealer can construct an income statement, balance sheet as well as net capital. (trail balance must be prepared monthly) In calculating the AI/NC ratio, not all debts or liabilities are included, only those that fit the def of aggregate indebtedness. Not all broker-dealer’s equity or net worth is counted, only liquid net worth. Aggregate Indebtedness: AI- includes liabilities that are not secured by a specific asset of the broker-dealer. Other liabilities that would be included in aggregate indebtedness are: • Customer credit balances, which represent money owed to customers, available to them on demand • Accounts payable, such as bills owed to vendors. A broker-dealer may reduce its AI by the amount that is on deposit in the Special reserve Bank account. However if the firm has more deposited then required only the required amount may be subtracted Determining the NET Capital Requirement: A broker-dealer’s Net Capital (NC) msut in general be at least 1/15th the aggregate indebtedness. (AI/NC<15 to1). Ex AI= $1,200,000 it must have a net capital of at least $80,000 (1,200,00* 1/15= 80,000) First Year Requirement: Broker-dealers in first year of operations must meet more stringent requirements of 1/8th AI. Minimum Dollar Requirement- In addition to meeting AI to net capital test. Firms must also maintain a minimum dollar amount of net capital. Type of broker-dealer MIN $ amount of net capital Carries customer accounts and receives or hold funds and securities 250000 Performs centralized clearing and account maintenance functions for customers who execute transactions through several other broker-dealers (prime broker) 1500000 Carries accounts but does not hold customer funds or securities 100000 Acts as a dealer (firm that executes more than ten transactions per year for their own investment account) 100000 introduces accounts on a fully disclosed basis to another firm and does not receive customer funds or securities 5000 Introducing broker-dealer that receives customer securities for immediate delivery to a clearing firm 50000 Engages solely in the sale of redeemable shares of investment company securities (mutual funds) and operates on a subscription basis (does not accept customer funds- customer checks made out to the distributor) 5000 All other broker-dealers (including mergers and acquisitions firms and those doing business only in direct participation 5000 Which ever of the requirement is higher should be met. Limitations on Introducing Firms Introducing broker-dealer may engage in a best-efforts or all –or- none underwriting only. The broker-dealer may accept checks made payable to the issuer only, and must forward such checks to the issuer promptly. In order to participate in a firm- commitment underwriting, an introducing broker-dealers needs at least $100,000 of net capital, which would permit it to act as a dealer. Introducing broker-dealers may only do occasional trades for their own accounts (no more than 10 a year). They may not act as dealers or market makers. Market makers- is required to maintain a minimum dollar amount of net capital for each stock in which it makes a market. The amount required is $2,500 for each stock selling above $5 a share, and $1,000 for each stock selling for $5 per share or less not to exceed $1,000,000 Summary of Net Capital Requirements- must meet 3 basic requirements 1. Net capital of at least 1/15 of AI (1/8 of AI in the first year of operation) 2. The minimum dollar requirement, depending on the type of business 3. The market-maker requirement, depending on the # of stocks in which market are made Alternative Net Capital Requirement: Large broker-dealers may elect to be governed by an alternative net capital requirement. Under this approach a broker-dealer is required to maintain net capital of $250,000 of 2% of the aggregate debit items, which ever is greater Computation of Net Capital Net Capital is computed by starting with net worth (equity) and making certain deductions based on the liquidity of the broker-dealers assets Haircut: is the reduction of market value of securities is reduced because of possible liquidity should large amounts be sold at one time. A haircut is applied to the net long or short position in each category of security held The standard haircut for common stock held in a broker-dealer inventory is 15%. The standard 15% haircut can be considered an adjustment for average liquidity. If the broker-dealer owns securities that are more liquid than average, such as treasuries, the haircut is less than 15%. If securities are less liquid than normal, the haircut is larger than 15% If it is a limited market then the haircut is 40%. Open contractual commitments, such as underwriter commitments, require special deductions as well. Undue Concentration Deduction: If a broker-dealers inventory contains 1 security that accounts for a significant % of the market value of its total inventory. This puts the firm at undue risk if the security declines. If any long or short is more than 10% of the broker-dealers net capital before the application of haircuts. The undue concentration rule requires an additional deducting on the amount in excess of the 10% threshold If the securities falls under the general rule for haircuts, the percent applied is 15% Otherwise the amount is ½ the normal amount. Undue concentration applies to the portion of an equity position in excess of $10,000 or the market value of 500 shares. In the case of debt securities, it only applies to the value of the position in excess of $25,000 EX peak holding inc is a broker-dealer 20,000 shares of MXI at $15 a share = $300,000 value 5,000 share of PRV at $8 a share =$40,000 6,000 shares of COL at $20 a share = $120,000 Peak holdings inc has a tentative net capital of $2,500,000. 10% of 2,500,000 is $250,000. Which are valued at $300,000 create and undue concentration. Fail to Deliver: A fail to deliver occurs when a broker-dealer has sold stock to counter party, but has not delivered the stock by the settlement date. The fail to deliver is an asset (an account receivable) since the firm will be paid the contract price once delivery is made. At first a Fail to deliver is treated as a ‘Good’ receivable, that is, no deduction is required. After 4 business days (following the original settlement date) have passed, the fail to deliver is considered aged and a haircut is required. The broker-dealer is required to treat the aged fail to deliver like stock that is in its trading account, which usually means a 15% haircut. The haircut is applied to the current market value of the stock, and additional adjustment is made for any unrealized profit or loss on the stock. Securities Differences: is a discrepancy between the amount of the securities recorded on a broker-dealer’s books and the amount actually counted during periodic audits. If the amount is less than the amount on the books it is short securities difference. If the amount is greater than long securities difference. To Resolve: a broker-dealer would check the stock record, which would reflect the amount and location of stock, to make certain there are no errors in the entries. It would also check the receive and deliver blotter and delivery ticket. A short securities difference is subject to a deduction if it has not been resolved within 7 business days/ Long securities difference involves securities that have not been resold they do not have any effect on net capital. Subordination Agreement: Normally a loan does not increase a broker-dealers net capital, since liabilities (the loan) and assets (cash) increase by the same amount, leaving net worth and net capital unaffected. Under certain conditions (RULE 15c3-1) they are called Satisfactory Subordination Agreements 2 types: Subordinated loan agreement: (borrows cash only) Secured demand note: (some of the assets provided are securities) If the loan includes securities subject to special haircut (ex OTC stocks w/ less than 3 market makers) the securities will usually be subject to the same haircut that applies to securities owned by the broker dealer. Securities normally subject to a 15% haircut (such as common stock) are subject to a deduction of 30% when used to back a secured demand note. In order to be satisfactory for net capital, the subordination agreement must meet several conditions: The agreement must be in writing, must indicate the duration of the loan, must be for a specific amount, and must acknowledge that the proceeds of the loan will be used in the conduct of the broker-dealers business and are subject to the risks of the business. The lender must agree to subordinate its claim for repayment to the claims of all other creditors. The loan must have a minimum duration of 1 year The subordination agreement must be filed with the SEC 10 days prior to its effective date and with the broker-dealer’s examining authority (NYSE OR NASD) 30 days prior to its effective date. If a subordinated loan is made for a period longer than 1 year, a provision for prepayment may be written into agreement ,but no prepayments may be made during the 1st year of the loan. Prepayment is no permitted if it would cause the broker-dealers ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital to exceed 10 to 1 or the firm’s net capital to fall below 120% of the minimum dollar amount required. Temporary Subordination Agreement: a member firm may enter into a temporary subordination agreement. The broker-dealer is limited to no more than 3 such agreements in any 12 month period and the duration may not exceed 45 days. Usually permitted for underwriting purposes only Debt-Equity Requirement: A broker-dealers equity must be at least 30% of its debt-equity total. Debt to equity total is equal to its net worth plus the amount of its satisfactory subordination agreements. Preventing to much of its net capital for subordinated loans or secured demand notes. If the equity falls below 30% and remain below 30% for a period exceeding 90 days the dealer would be in violation of the net capital rule. In order for a subordinated loan to be treated as equity: The lender must be a partner or stockholder The loan must have had an initial term of at least 3 years and must have at least 12 months remaining before it is due The loan may not have any provisions for accelerated maturity (provisions that allow the lender to call in the loan early under certain conditions.) Customer Funds and Securities: The customer Protection Rule- Contains provisions to ensure the safekeeping of both customer securities and customer funds. The rule defines a customer as any person for whom the broker-dealer holds funds or securities, but does not include another broker-dealer, a partner, officer, or director of the broker-dealer, or a subordinated lender. Customer Securities: A broker-dealer is required to promptly obtain and thereafter maintain physical possession or control of all fully paid and excess margin securities that belong to its customers. Control of securities- means that the securities are under the direct control of the broker-dealer, good site locations include the office of the broker-dealer, in transit between offices and SEC approved depository. Excess Margin Securities: are defined as those securities whose value exceeds 140% of the debit balance of a customer. EX customer owns $10,000 and has a debit balance of $5,000 would have excess margin worth $3,000 {10,000- (140%*5000} A broker-dealer is required to computer daily as of the close of the preceding business day, the quantity of fully paid and excess margin securities that are in its possession or control and those that are not in possession or control. If a customer sells securities and fails to deliver the securities within 10 business days of settlement date, the broker-dealer must buy0in the customer. Customer Funds- Broker-dealers are required to maintain a Special Reserve Bank Account for the Exclusive benefit of Customers at a bank. The reserve bank account must contain cash or qualified securities (issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government) that are set aside for the benefit of customers. This account must be separate from other bank accounts of the broker-dealer and must be maintained solely as a reserve account for the protection of customers. The amounts on deposit in the Reserve Bank Account may not be used by the broker-dealer for any purpose. The amount that must be on deposit is the difference between customer-related credits and debits. Timing of the Deposit: Computations must be made weekly, as of the close of the last business day of the week, to determine the amount of cash or qualified securities that must be on deposit. The required deposit must be made no later than 1 hour after the open of banking business on the second business day following the determination. If a broker dealer fails to meet this: it must notify the SEC by telegram immediately and follow up the telegram by notification in writing. Notice must also be sent to the broker-dealer’s examining authority. Under certain condition can be computed monthly but the broker-dealer must maintain a deposit equal to at least 105% of the amount otherwise required (only available to brokers whose ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital does not exceed 8 to1 and do not carry customer free credits exceeding $1,000,000 NOTICE: The broker-dealer must obtain written notification from the bank that the reserve bank account is for the exclusive benefit of customers of the broker-dealer and that the cash and qualified securities may not be used as collateral for a loan to the broker-dealer and is not subject to any charge, lien, or claim of any kind by the bank or any other person Exception: • Broker-dealers that restrict their activities to the sale of mutual funds and that promptly transmit all funds and deliver all securities when received. • Broker-dealers that clear their trades through another firm on a fully disclosed basis are not covered by the rule. • Firms that carry no margin accounts, promptly transit all customer funds and deliver securities, do not hold funds or securities, or owe money or securities to, customers and effect all transaction for customers through one or more bank accounts maintained for that purpose. If a broker is exempt but wants to trade non-exempt it would need to obtain written approval of the NASD. The NASD will base its decision on • Experience • Qualifications • Firms, procedures for customer safeguarding • Financial condition of Firm Customer Free Credit Balance: Requires a broker-dealer to advise customers regarding their free credit balance quarterly. Customers must receive written notice of the amount due to them along with a statement that the funds are payable to them upon demand. The notice must also state that the funds are not segregated and can be used in the conduct of the broker-dealers business. If a broker-dealer sent statements more than quarterly, notification of the free credit balances must be sent with each statement. Exceptions: If the dealer segregates customer free credit balance so that the broker dealer cannot use the balance. Securities Investor Protection Act SIPA- establishes procedures for the protection of customer funds and securities in the event a broker-dealer becomes insolvent. Brokers that use the mail or other instruments of interstate commerce are required to be members of SIPC. SIPC provided coverage for each separate customer (retail and institutional) to a max of $500,000 of which no more than $100,000 may be in cash. If a customer has a cash and margin account the combined amount would be $500,000. Joint Accounts would have separate coverage. SIPC coverage applies to customer only. Does not apply if the customer hold the securities themselves. It does not cover commodities accounts SIPC Procedures: If a broker fails, a trustee will be appointed by a federal court to distribute funds and securities to customers. The trustee is required to notify the broker-dealer’s customers of the insolvency and handle the orderly liquidation of the broker-dealer Securities that can be specifically identified as belonging to a customer will be distributed to the customer without regard to the $ limits. If a customer has a claim for securities than cannot be specifically identified as being in the possession of the broker-dealer. The $ amount of the customer’s claim will be based upon the market value of the securities on the day a court is petitioned by SIPC to appoint a trustee. If there are insufficient securities in the possession of the failed broker-dealer , the securities on hand will be distributed to the claimants on a proportionate basis. Customers who have claims that exceed the maximum dollar limits of SIPC coverage will rank with other general creditors for the balance of their claim. What ever is left over after $500,000 protection would be a general claim. Ch15 1-9 Record-Keeping and Reporting Requirements Sec and SRO’s rely on broker-dealer records and reports to monitor compliance with industry rules. Books and Records Records may be divided into those that must be retained for the life of the firm, those that must be retained for 6 years and those that must be retained for 3 years. Note that all records must in an easily accessible place for the first 2 years of their existence. Lifetime Records: Partnership articles, (in the case of a broker-dealer organized as a partnership), articles of incorporation, minute books and stock certificate books. Posting Requirements: Each required record must be created (posted) within a certain time frame. 6 year Records and Posting requirements: • Blotters- reflects transactions as of trade date and prepared no later than the next business day • General Ledger- as frequently as necessary to determine compliance with Net Capital Rules, but not less than one a month • Customer account ledgers- No later than settlement date • Position Record- no later than the business day after settlement date or the date of securities movement • Cash and margin account records- Prepared before the execution of transaction 3 year Records and Posting Requirements- • Fail to receive : fail to deliver: no later than 2 business days after settlement • Long and short stock record differences- no later than 7 business days after discovery • Securities in transfer, dividends and interest received, securities borrowed and loaned, monies borrowed and loaned: No later than 2 business days after the date of the securities or money movement • Order tickets: Prepared before the execution of a transaction • Confirmations, comparisons: No later than the business days after the transactions • Option records: No later than the business day after the options is written • Trail Balance: Prepared no later than 10 business days after the end of an accounting period • Associated person’s application and fingerprint cards: Prepared at, or prior to commencement of employment • Termination notice: prepared after the conclusion of employment • Written supervisory procedures and manuals: must be current and following any change or update, the former procedure or manual must be keep for 3 years • Supervisory Personnel Designations: Prepared at time of designation until no longer effective Life time Records For BDS organized as partnerships: • Partnership articles: Created prior to inception For BDS organized as corporations: • Articles of Incorporation • Minutes Books • Stock Certificate Books: Created prior to inception Exceptions: A broker-dealer need not prepare the records if it clears its trades through a bank and the bank prepares the records required by Rule 17a-3. The bank must provide the broker-dealer with a written agreement that the records are the property of the broker-dealer. The bank must provide the SEC with a written notification that the records are available for inspection. If a broker-dealer clears its on a fully disclosed basis through another broker-dealer, the obligation to maintain records rests with the clearing firm. A fully disclosed account is one in which the introducing broker-dealer turns over full responsibility for the maintenance of the account to the clearing broker-dealer. The introducing broker-dealer will be open the account and solicit orders but will not be involved in maintaining the account records. Another type of clearing account is an OMNIBUS account, in which the clearing broker-dealer will transact the order and clear the trades, but the introducing broker-dealer will maintain the account in all other respects. In this case, the introducing broker-dealer will be responsible for record maintenance. IF a broker-dealer intends to use electronic storage for record keeping or retention, it must notify its DEA at least 90 days prior to use. Record Keeping Formats: If a firm decides to use electronic storage media, it must notify its DEA prior to beginning. If the firm chooses to use optical disk technology (CD-ROM) it must notify its DEA at least 90 days prior to using the other method: Electronic storage media must also have the following capabilities: • Maintain records in non-rewritable and non-erasable format • Automatically confirm the quality and accuracy of the media recording process • Maintain records in serial form with time and date information that documents the required retention period for the information stored. • Be able to download indexes and records maintained to any medium accepted by the Commission or other SRO of which the firm is a member. • Must place the files where the SEC and SRO can immediately review stored files and must have duplicates • All duplicates must be kept separate from the original records and must be organized and indexed. • The index must be duplicated and kept separate from originals and made available for review • Must have an auditing system in place that shows accountability for the input of records Reporting Requirements • Monthly SEC financial reports • Quarterly SEC (FOCUS) Reports • Annual Report • Oath or affirmation (made by a general partner or authorized officer) that Annual report is true and correct Focus Reports- Part 1- for broker-dealers that clear transactions and carry customer accounts, must be filed monthly within 1- business days of the end of the month Part 2- for broker-dealers that do not clear transactions or carry customer accounts, must be filed quarterly, within 17-business day of the quarter end. Annual Report: of financial conditions, and must be certified by an independent public accountant. Repost must be filed on the same, fixed or determinable date each year, unless approved by the designated examining authority (DEA) Notification must be sent to SEC as well if there is a change. If the accountant is retained the firm or if the accountant was terminated must file with the SEC. The SEC should also be notified of new auditors or disputes between member firm and auditors. Annual report must contain • Statement of financial condition • Statement of income or loss • Statement of changes in financial position • Statement of changes in stockholders equity or partners • Statement of change in liabilities subordinated to claims of general creditors • Must also include supporting schedules including (net capital and reserve requirement) • Supplemental statement report stating the opinion of the independent public account regarding SIPC membership status The annual report must be filed no later than 60 days after the date of the financial statements. The report must be filed with: • SEC in Washington • SEC regional office • Each national securities exchange • Each national securities association (if it is member) Statements to customers- Audited annual statements must be sent within 45 days after filed with SEC. Must contain a balance sheet which contains net capital and required net capital. If auditors commented on any material inadequacies during audit, a statement must indicate that the audited report is available for inspection at SEC in Washington or at the Regional office. Other Filings Net Capital Violation- If a broker-dealer’s net capital falls below the minimum requirements of Rule 15c3-1, The broker-dealer must file a notice on the day the violation occurs. The notice must state the broker-dealer’s net capital and net capital requirement. The same reporting requirement applies if the outstanding amount of subordinated debt exceeds 70% of the debt-equity total for period exceeding 90 days. The filling must be with SEC Washington, SEC regional office (where principle place of business) and with Brokers-dealer’s DEA A broker-dealer must also file a notice of net capital deficiency if it is informed by its DEA or SEC that its capital is below the amount required. It can include a basis for disagreement. Net Capital of $60,000 and AI of $960,000 ($960,000/$60,000)= 1/16 which is in excess of the 1/15 ratio. A broker-dealer may not continue to do business with less than the required amount of net capital. Early Warning Notice- If a broker-dealer has a ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital exceeding 12 to 1, or if the dollar amount of Net capital is less than 120% of its minimum net capital requirement. It must notify the SEC and DEA with in 24 hours Example: Net capital of $290,000 and AI of $2,500,000. The ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital is 8.6 to 1. Which is satisfactory. However, the broker dealer has a minimum net capital requirement of $250,000, since that dollar minimum is greater than 1/15 of its AI (1/15*$250,000)= $166,667). 120% times its minimum is $300,000. since the firm actually has only $290,000 of net capital, it would file an Early Warning notice with its DEA and the SEC within 24 hours. Noncurrent Books and Records- If a broker-dealer fails to maintain books and records as required by SEC rules, it must give notice to the SEC and its DEA that day. The broker-dealer must file a report within 48 hours detailing the steps being taken to correct the situation. The report must be transmitted by overnight delivery. Material Inadequacies- If a broker-dealer discovers, or is notified by an independent public account , of the existence of any material inadequacy in the broker-dealer’s accounting system, internal controls, or procedure for safeguarding securities, the CFO must send telegraphic of fax notice tot eh SEC within 24 hours and file a report within 48 hours stating what steps that are being taken to correct the situation. Must also notify the DEA Securities Information Center Deals with missing, lost, counterfeit, or stolen securities. The Securities Information Center (SIC) acts as a clearinghouse for information about these securities. Making Inquiries of SIC- Under the rule, a reporting institution (exchanges, self regulatory associations, and broker dealers) is required to make inquiry of the Securities Information Center with respect to every security which comes into possession unless the security: 1. Is received from the issuer or issuer’s agent 2. Is received from another report institution or Federal Reserve Bank 3. Is registered in the name of the existing customer or that person’s nominee 4. Was previously sold to the customer by the firm, as verified by the firm’s internal records 5. Is received as part of a transaction, which has an aggregate face value of $10,000 or less in the case of bonds, or market value of $10,000 or less in the case of stocks. If a stock delivered by a customer is registered in street name rather than the customer’s name, inquiry is required. If stock is delivered by a party who is not currently a customer of the broker-dealer, inquiry is required. Reporting to SIC- If securities are discovered to be missing and criminal activity is suspected, of if securities are suspected of being counterfeit, a report must be sent to the SIC. Also the transfer agent and the Federal Bureau of Investigation must be notified. It must be made within 1 business day of discovery. If securities are missing but no criminal activity is suspected, reports must be submitted to the SIC and the transfer agent if the broker-dealer is unable to resolve the loss within 2 business days of discovery If securities are missing, no criminal act, found as a result of an audit. A report must be filed no later than 10 business days after discovery or as soon after a count or verification of the certificate numbers can be determined If securities were reported lost or stolen are subsequently recovered, notice must be sent to the SIC, the transfer agent and, if applicable ,to the FBI within 1 business day of discovery Other Financial Responsibility Rules: Securities counts- Requires a broker-dealer to make a physical examination and count of all securities in its possession at least once in each calendar quarter. The broker dealer must account for: • All securities in transfer • Securities in transit • Securities pledged or loaned • Securities failed to receive • Failed to deliver • Or otherwise subject to the broker-dealers control but not its possession The broker-dealer must verify the status of all securities subject to its control but not in physical possession, where the situation has existed from more than 30 days. Exempt: brokers who deal in only redeemable shares or investment companies and promptly transmit all funds Broker-dealers must record on its books and records all security differences that are unresolved not later than 7 business days after the security count. The Security count must be made at intervals not less than 2 months but no more than 4 months apart. The examination must be done by or supervised by someone whose regular duty does not require then to have direct responsibility of the securities or related records. NASD Rules Members Experiencing Financial and or Operational Difficulties: the NASD must take action and it may be in the form of restrictions or a reduction in business. The following are considered reasons to take actions By the NASD: • There has been a reduction in excess net capital by 25% in the preceding 2 months or 30% or more in the preceding 3 months prior to a computation. • The broker-dealer cannot show or is not in compliance with Customer Protection rules • The broker-dealer is unable to clear and settle transactions in a timely manner • Books and records have not been maintained under SEC regulations • The broker-dealer cannot show or is not in compliance with Net Capital Requirement If a broker-dealer is found to be experiencing financial or operational difficulties, the NASD may require the broker-dealer perform one or more of the following actions: • Return all free-credit balances to customers promptly • Deliver all fully paid customer securities to account-holders • Decreased or change the holdings in its inventory • Close existing branch offices or delay the opening of new offices • Do not open new customer accounts • Restrict the payment of salaries to officers, partners, directors, shareholders, or other associated personnel • Arrange for an audit by an independent public accountant • Discontinue all unsecured loans and collect all where practical • Accept unsolicited customer orders only • Effect liquidating transaction only • File special financial operating reports The NASD may subject the firm to take any action that they deem applicable in order to protect the public or member firm Disclosure of Financial Condition: NASD requires member firms to send balance sheets to customer every 6 months and make available to customer upon request. Fidelity bonds: NASD members that are not member of an exchange are required to carry a blanket fidelity bond covering officers and employees that protects against Loss, misplacement, forgery, alteration, securities loss and fraudulent trading. Do not cover losses due to errors and omissions. The bond has a provision that carrier will notify the NASD if the bond is canceled, terminated, or substantially modified. Minimum coverage for each section of the bonds must be $25,000 The minimum coverage for fidelity, misplacement and forgery and alterations must be at least 120% of member firms required net capital for whose net capital requirement is less than $600,000 Net Capital Requirement Minimum Coverage Under Rule 15c3-1 $600,000-$1,000,000 $ 750,000.00 $1,000,000-$2,000,000 $1,000,000 $2,000,001-$3,000,000 $1,500,000 $3,000,001-$4,000,000 $2,000,000 $4,000,001-$6,000,000 $3,000,000 $6,000,001-$12,000,000 $4,000,000 $12,000,001 and above $5,000,000 Review of coverage: Member firms must review their fidelity bond coverage annually, as of the anniversary date of the issuance and must be made within 60 days. For firms in business for more than 1 year then amount of coverage is for the succeeding 12 months and must be based on the highest required net capital for the preceding 12 months. Notice of Cancellation: member firms must notify the NASD within 10 business days if any bond is canceled, terminated, or substantially modified. Securities failed to Receive and Failed to deliver: Member firms may not sell a security for their own account or purchase a security as broker for customers (except exempt securities) if the member firm has a fail to deliver that is 60 days or older in the case of domestic securities, Canadian securities and ADR or a fail to deliver that is 90 days older in the case of foreign securities. Ch16 1-8 Packaged Products and Retirement Plans: Packaged Product- is a security that allows customers to participate in various investments indirectly, usually thought a pool in which many investors participate. Investment Company Act 1940: The purpose of the act is to protect the interests of small investors who are pooling their resources through investment companies. It is also concerned with conflicts of interest that the managers and distributors of these companies might have. Investment Company: is a corporation or trust in which investors pool their funds to obtain diversification and professional management. Usually organized as corporations in the same manner as a business but some have been developed as trusts. Requires that all investment companies register with the SEC. Except: those that do not made a public offering and: • Issuer have no more than 100 shareholders • Issuers whose shareholders are all qualified purchasers (qualified- individuals with at least $5million in investments and institutions with at least $25 million in investments.) Form N-1A is used for registration. The registration statement and prospectus must clearly state the fundamental objective of the fund. The objective can only change with a majority of outstanding shares. Annual Reports must be sent to the SEC and semiannual to shareholders. Must include: • Balance sheet • Income statement • List of securities owned • Statement of recent changes in portfolio Classification of Investment Companies: Face-Amount Certificate Company- issue certificates of the installment type that pay a stated amount at the completion of the plan. Not an important product today. Unit Investment Trust (UIT) – is established under an indenture or similar instrument. UITs issue only redeemable securities ,each of which represents an undivided interest in a specific portfolio of securities. The portfolio remains fixed for the life of the fund. Has aboard of trustees. Management company- holds securities on behalf of investors. The portfolio is managed by a investment adviser that follows an investment strategy that is defined by the investment company. Two subclasses: closed-end investment companies and open-ended investment companies (mutual funds) (can’t purchase on margin) How mutual funds are organized: A mutual fund owns a portfolio of securities and in turn is owned by its shareholders. The fund represents a portfolio of securities that it holds for its owners, whose interest are protected by the funds directors or trustee Board of directors- supervises the overall operations of the fund Custodian- holds the cash and securities of the fund and may perform clerical functions, including acting as transfer agent, registrar, or dividend disbursing agent Distributors and Dealers- Manages the sales effort and recruits other broker-dealers to help sell fund shares (may receive a discount on customer orders). Also sets the public offering price Investment adviser or manager- manages the fund’s portfolio of securities. The contract between the investment company and the investment adviser must detail compensation paid to the adviser and approved bi-annually by either the BOD(board of director) or shareholders. Contract can be cancelled without penalty with 60 day notice. Affiliates-includes a corporation that owns 10% or more of the stock of the member firm, or a partnership in which any partner owns 10% or more of the stock of the member firm. REITS and an investment company register under the Investment company act of 1940 are specifically exempt fro the def of affiliate. Misleading Names- often have names that indicate their objective, frequently contains the name of the sponsor. The SEC sale names cannot be misleading. EX- Recommended, sponsored. Buying and Selling Mutual Fund Shares- mutual funds continuously issue new shares and will sell as many new shares as an investor wishes to purchase. Some mutual funds sell their shares directly to investors without using services of a broker-dealer. These funds do not need to assess a sales change and are called no load. The price charged when purchasing a mutual fund share is the public offering price (POP). It consists of the next net asset value )NAV) per share calculated after receipt of the order, plus in some cases a sales charge. Appropriate Recommendations: Sales Charges: The distributor and dealer for a mutual fund are its sales force. The sales charge is the way that they are compensated. Traditional Front-End Load: Mutual funds that levy a sales charge (also called a load) often add that charge onto the price paid by the investor at the time of purchase. Investors pay the next NAV calculated after their order is entered (forward pricing). Then the sales charge is added. EX NAV is $9.50 and Sales charge is .5 thus POP is $10.00 Percentage Sales Charge- the sales charge is described as a percentage of the total price. Reduced Sales Charge- most mutual funds offer breakpoints, where if the customer purchase a larger $ amount the sales charge is lowered Letter of Intent: enables an investor to qualify for the discount made available by breakpoints without depositing the entire amount up front. The letter states the investor intents to invest the money needed over the next 13months. The letter may be backdated 90 days and is not binding to the investor. A portion of the investors holdings will be held in escrow in the event that he does not meet the requirement of the letter of intent and this will be used to pay for the increased sales charge Dividend Reinvestment: Most mutual funds pay dividends and capital gains distributions to shareholders. Some mutual funds allow investors to reinvest dividends and distributions, without paying a sales charge (at NAV). Some funds, however do charge sales loads on reinvestment amounts. (New funds registered with Sec after April1,2000 are prohibited from assessing sales charges on reinvested dividends. Redeeming shares: Redemption- when an investor sells the shares back to the fund on any business day. Each share is redeemed at its NET Asset Value (NAV) NAV- to calculate NAV, the adviser adds up the value of all the securities in the portfolio (assets) and then subtracts any money owed by the fund (liabilities). That figure is then divided by the number of shares owned by investors at that time. Under the Investment company act of 1940 to pay proceeds of redemption within 7 days. A funds NAV must calculate its NAV at least daily, but may be priced more frequently. Redemption Fees: Most mutual funds redeem shares at NAV. However, some funds deduct a small redemption fee from this account. Such fees range from ½% to about 1% and is returned to the mutual fund portfolio. It is designed to discourage redemption to quickly. Some funds waive redemption fees after the shares have been held for a specific period. Deferred sales charges- Some mutual funds allow investors to buy shares at the NAV, they impose a sale charge when the investor redeems the shares, also called a back-end loaded fund. Often a contingent deferred sales charge is in effect when means that the longer you hold the fund the fee decreases 12b-1 Charges- deductions investors pay for distribution expense. (such as commissions and advertising) Must has a 12b-1 plan in place which permits the board to enter into contracts with the principal underwriter that involves payments to the underwriter. The plan must be approved by shareholders and the funds board, as well as by the directs who are not affiliated with the fund, the adviser, or underwriter. The board must make quarterly reviews of the expenditures made under the plan. 12b-1 charges are based on an annual rate, but the charges may be accrued and paid over shorter periods, such as monthly. Service Fees- Service fees are charges deducted under a 12b-1 plan that pay for personal service or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. EX trailing commissions: RR who have sold fund shares to customers, receive these payments in years following the original sale. Asset Based Sales Charges- charges deducted from the net asset of an investment company to pay distribution expenses other than service fees. Such expenses might include ads, printing and mailing sales literature and prospectuses to those who are not current shareholders. It also includes the compensation of the underwriter, dealers and sales personnel NASD Rules Regarding Investment Companies Selling Fund Shares: A written sales agreement must be in effect between an underwriter and an NASD member before the member may receive a discount on the sale of mutual fund shares. The selling agreement must set forth the amount of the discount and must include the condition that if the customer redeems shares within 7 business days after the purchase, the dealer must refund to the underwriter the full concession received on the original sale. The underwriter must then turn over to the fund both its share and dealer’s share of the sales charge. Nasd members may not purchase fund shares at a discount from an underwriter unless the underwriter is an NASD member. If a broker-dealer wishes to sell shares of open-end investment company, it must have a signed selling agreement. Then it can buy for its own investment account or filling a customer. The broker-dealer may not buy the shares for inventory with intention to resell later. Selling Dividends- Selling dividends refers to the practice of inducing an investor to purchase a mutual fund on the basis of an impending dividend. Breakpoint Sales- The Nasd also prohibits breakpoint sales- which occurs when a registered rep sells mutual funds shares for an amount just below the point at which a sales charge discount would be earned without informing the client about the client about the availability of a sales breakpoint. Also can occur if funds are spread between mutual funds so that the amount is below breakpoints. Sales Charges- NASD members may not sell mutual funds to customers if the sales charges are excessive. Funds without an Asset-Based Sales Charge: The maximum sales charge that may be assessed for the sale of shares of a fund that does not charge an asset-based sales charge is8.5% of the offering price. In order to charge the maximum, the fund must offer: 1) Quantity discounts (breakpoints) 2) Rights of accumulation For each of the preceding features that a fund omits, the maximum sales charge is reduced to a specified level. EX. If a fund does not offer dividend reinvestment at NAV, but does offer the other 2 features, the maximum sales charge is 7.25% Funds With an Asset-Based Sales Charge: The max sales charge that may be assessed by a fund with an asset based charge depends on whether the fund pays a service fee. • If a fund pays a service fee, the max front-end or deferred sales charge resulting from and transaction is 6.25% of the amount invested. • If the fund does not pay a service fee, the Maximum front-end or deferred sales charge resulting from any transaction is 7.25% of the amount invested. Limits on Asset-Based Charges: NASD members may not sell shares of investment companies that have asset-based sales charges in excess of .75% of average annual net asset value. Members are also prohibited from selling mutual funds that pay service fees of more than .25% Use of the Term No-load: RR may not refer to mutual fund as no-load or as having no sales charge if it has a front-end, deferred, of 12b-1 charge greater than .25% of average annual assets. Disclosure: Broker-dealers may not sell a mutual fund with an asset-based sales charge unless the prospectus discloses that long-term shareholders may pay more than the economic equivalent of a maximum front-end load permitted by NASD rules. This disclosure is not required in the case of money-market funds with asset-based charges of .25 of 1% or less. Execution of Investment Company Portfolio Transactions: Anti-Reciprocal Rule- NASD prohibits member firms from selling open-end investment company shares because of commissions received or to be received from the investment company. The member firm may not pay additional compensation for the sale of certain investment companies, or prepare a preferred or recommended list of certain investment companies, in order to generate additional sales for the purpose of benefiting commissions. This prohibition does not in any way limit member firms from preparing a list of recommended investment companies if the purpose is to provide their employees and customer with information that will enable them to make decisions regarding purchase based on investment merit. The prohibition does not apply to paying extra compensation for the sale of investment companies in general if the purpose is to generate additional sales through bona fide sales contest that do not favor one investment company over another. Member Compensation: Mutual fund underwriters may not pay dealers a discount or concession in the form of a security, such as a warrant or stock. RR’s are prohibited, with certain exceptions, from receiving any compensation for the sales of investment company or variable contract products, either in cash or otherwise from anyone other than the NASD member they are associated. Cash compensation- includes any discount, concession, commission, service or other fee, asset-based sales charge, loan, override, or cash employee benefit received in connection with the sale and distribution of investment company or variable contract securities. Noncash compensation- any compensation that is not cash compensation, including meals, gifts, prizes, lodging. De minimis Exception- RR may accept gifts up to $100 per person per year from someone affiliated with the issuer or distributor. Other gift are acceptable as long as not excessive, for instance gifts, sports tickets, occasional means Both assume that the gift is not based on selling or performance. Training and Education Exception: The NASD recognized that issuers and distributors (which it refers to as offerors) perform a valuable service when they provide training to member firms and their RR’s regarding the products and services they offer. Therefore, NASD rules permit offerors to pay or reimburse for meetings that serve and educational function. However, there are several conditions • RRs must have their broker-dealer’s permission to attend the meeting • Attendance may not be tied to the achievement of a sales target • The location of the meeting must be appropriate • Payments or reimbursements for guests of RR’s such as spouses are not permitted. In House Incentive Programs: a broker-dealer is free to create its own internal sales programs with noncash incentives such as merchandise and vacation trips. A firm may even accept contributions by offerors to its noncash. One restrictions requires that a noncash incentive program for variable contract or investment company securities must be based on RR’s total production for all variable contracts or investment company products distributed by the broker-dealer. The credit earned by an RR toward the incentives offered must be equally weighted among the products in the program. CH16 13-21 Retirement Plans: Qualified Plan Accounts: are those that receive favorable tax treatment. To be considered qualified, the plan must meet the provisions set forth in the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) ERISA Sets IRS standards on: • Percentage of employees covered • Method of distributing benefits • Amount of contributions for each employee • Vesting of benefits • How the plan is funded If established properly, a qualified plan will provide: • The employer will be allowed to deduct from income all contributions made into the plan • The fund established to provide the retirement benefits will be exempt from taxes Funding- A Qualified retirement plan may be established as either a defined contribution or defined benefit plan. Defined Contribution- requires that a specific annual percentage of contributions be made into the plan by the employer on behalf of each employee. Total Dollar contribution is based on the employee’s annual compensation. Defined benefit plan: promises to pay the employee a specific amount each year once the employee retires. The benefit payment is usually based upon age, years of service, and salary history. Actuarial calculations are used to determine the amount that an employer must deposit each year to provide fro the retirement benefit specified by the plan. Defined benefit plans allow for larger max contributions than defined contribution plans. Vesting: specific amount an employee is entitles to keep when withdrawing from a plan. The employer may choose one of the vesting schedules put forth by the IRS. One schedule provides for full vesting after five years of service, the other provides for full vesting after 7th years and at least 20% by the 3rd year. Participation- 21 years old and at least 1 year of service. Part-time worker (less than 1,000 hours). A plan may set a waiting period if there is 100% immediate vesting after 2 years Plan Administration- • All qualified plans must be in writing and communicated to employees. • Plan assets must be held in a trust or custodial account. • A trustee, who has exclusive authority and discretion to manage and control assets (must be named in writing) • General principles such as diversification, liquidity of investments, obtaining a reasonable return Tax Treatment of Employees- The contribution made on behalf of the employee is not included in the employee’s income. The employee will recognize these contributions as income when the money is distributed to the individual. Income earned while fund is accumulating the plan is tax-deferred until distributed to the employee. Corporate Pension Plans- may be established as defined benefit or defined contribution. For all employees who are 21 years old and have worked for at least 1 year. Contributions made into the plan are not contingent upon the employer’s profits. Pension plans are often noncontributory, meaning the employees may not make contributions into the plan. (those that do allow employee participation are normally after-tax dollars. Profit-sharing plans- Defined contribution plan, fund must be allocated to participants in a nondiscriminatory fashion based upon a predetermined formula. An employee is not required to contribute if they are not profitable 401(k) plans: an employee makes contributions to an employee trust. Contributions are not included in the income of the employee and accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. Employees may elect to contribute part of their salary into the plan on a pretax basis. As with all ERISA plans, early withdrawals from a 401(k) plan (before age 59 ½) are subject to a 10% penalty tax 403(b) Plan: are deferred retirement plans that may only be established by certain tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations covered under section 501(c) (3) ,such as churches and public school systems. They can also be referred to as Tax-deferred annuity (TDA) ,Tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) or qualified annuity. Employees may exclude contributions from their taxable income provided they do not exceed certain limits. Employers may match employee contributions. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) –Provides similar benefits similar to those of a profit-sharing plan except that employer contributions are invest in the stock of the employer. Advantages: • Employer is the ability to receive a tax deduction based on the FMV of the stock without making a cash outlay. • Can increase employee morale and motivation, but still has risk of decline in share value Keogh (HR-10) Plans: is restricted to self-employed. An individual who is employed by a corporation , but who has additional income from self-employment. Can set up a Keogh plan for the amount earned from self-employment. If a Keogh Plan is set up it must include employees in the plan that meet certain requirements. (1 year or longer of work, 21 years of age, if they work a total of 1,000 hours or more during the year. Contributions fro employees must be at the same rate as fro the employer. In order to claim a deduction for a contribution into a Keogh plan, the plan must be started prior to the end of the tax year (DEC 31) Contributions may be made up until the tax return is due. Contributions (including employees) may be claimed as a deduction on the self-employed individual’s tax return. The contribution, plus any investment gains, accumulate on a tax-deferred basis until the money is withdrawn from the account. Distributions are taxed as ordinary income An early withdrawal from a Keogh Plan would occur before the age of 59 ½. This would result in a penalty of 10% of the amount withdrawn, as well as ordinary income tax but are allowed for death and disability. The Keogh plan allows a max contribution of 100% of compensation or $45,000 which ever is less. The amount deductible is limited to the lessor of 20% of the compensation or $45,000. Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Anyone who receives compensation for working during any year (including wages, salaries, commissions, and professional fees) is eligible to establish an IRA. (DOESN’T include interest, dividends, or capital gains made from investments. An individual may establish an IRA even if covered under an employer’s retirement plan. A husband and wife, if both are employed, may each set up their own IRA. The Max individual contributions to and IRA is the less or 100% annual compensation: $4000 in 2005-2007 $5000 in 2008 and thereafter If an IRA is funded in excess, a 6% penalty is assessed on the contribution. (excess contribution is not tax-deductible and income earned on the excess contribution) Additional individuals over 50 years old, there is catch up provision that allows extra money to be contributed towards an IRA. $500 in 2004-2005 $1000 in 2006- thereafter For individuals covered by an employee’s qualified plan, limits are placed on the deductibility of contributions once income reaches a certain threshold. As income rises about this level ,the amount that may be deducted is reduced (phased out) until contributions cease to be deductible above a specified income level. IRAs for Married Couples- If a husband and wife are both employed, each may make contributions into each one’s own IRA according to the contribution limits previously discussed. Therefore, if they file a joint tax return, a MAX deduction of $8,000. If either spouse is cover by an employer’s plan, deductibility of the contribution may be limited or prohibited. If an individual has a nonworking spouse, the individual may contribute an additional $4,000 into plan on the spouse’s behalf. This would raise the max to $8,000 for a couple The contribution would have to be in separate accounts. The extra account is called a Spousal IRA. Maintaining and Liquidating an IRA- an individual may establish an IRA up until the time the person’s tax return is due (April 15th) for the given tax year. Contributions made into an IRA must be made in cash. Contribution may be invested in various instruments such as stocks, bonds, annuities, mutual funds, or U.S. gold coins. IRA’s cannot be invested in life insurance polices, collectibles such as art, antiques, stamps An IRA may be maintained at a brokerage firm or bank, which acts as a custodian for the account. The IRA decides how the funds will be invested. The brokerage firm or bank acts only as trustee Contributes and investment gain in an IRA accumulate on a tax-deferred basis until the money is withdrawn from the account. Distributions are allocated between pretax and after-tax monies and can be withdrawn in lump sums or periodically. The funds in an IRA maybe withdrawn without penalty once the owner of the account reaches the age of 59 ½. Prior to 59 ½ are Premature and subject to a 10% penalty in addition to the taxes on the income. • Circumstance for early withdrawal (no penalty) • Death • Disability or mental incompetence of account owner • Payment of certain medical expenses • Payment of first-time home buyers expenses It would still be considered for income taxes Withdrawal of funds from an IRA must begin by April 1st following the year the person attains the age of 70 ½. If not a penalty of 50% can be assessed if the person is not following an actuarial life expectancy table. Rollovers An individual is permitted to move an investment from 1 type of retirement plan to another without incurring any tax liability. Once a distribution check is reinvests but must be within 60 days. And can only be done once every 12 months. (applies to Ira and voluntary deductible contributions made to an employer If a roller is initiated by a distribution from a qualified plan, the distributing firm must withhold 20% for tax purposes. If it is from IRA to Ira withholding is not needed Direct rollover- is from one trustee to another, no 60 day time limit and rollover limit are not in effect. Or withholdings Roth Ira Contributions are not deductible- but certain withdrawals are tax free. Withdrawals are not included in an individuals gross income and are not subject to the 10% withdrawal penalty (both earning and contributions) Qualified Distributions: • After 59 ½ • To beneficiary of investors estate after death • Because the taxpayer is disabled • To purchase a principal residence as a first-time home buyer (subject to a $10,000 limit) However it is not qualified if the distribution is within 5 years of establishing the account. Contribution Limits : Same as traditional. But after and individual reaches age 70 1/2 , the minimum distribution requirement at 70 ½ does not apply Not Eligibility: Single: $99,00- $114,000 and greater Joint $156,000-$166,000 and greater Coverdell Education IRA’s: This is a way of saving money for a child’s college education. Anyone with a gross income is within certain limits, may contribute a maximum of $2,000 per years into an account established for the benefit of a child under the age of 18. Same income limits are those for a Roth IRA. Total of all contributions from various people to one child’s account may not exceed $2,000. • Contribution is not tax-deductible. • Grows tax-free if used to pay for child’s educational expenses. • If not used for education subject to a 10% tax penalty and ordinary income tax • If not used by beneficiary’s 30th b-day it must be distributed and is subject to penalty Section 529 Plans: Contributions are made with after-tax dollars Earnings are tax-deferred. Qualified withdrawals, however that are used for educational purposes are tax-free States determine the specific plan rules Nonqualified Plan Accounts: (do not have to meet ERISA requirements regarding employee coverage, contributions limits and vesting. Payroll Deduction plans: Most payroll deductions involve the purchase of life insurance through payroll deductions. These voluntary plans may also be funded thought purchase of mutual funds and variable annuities. (often are given a group discount on sale charges) Deferred Compensation: These are contractual arrangements under which select individuals agree to defer receipt of part of their compensation until retirement, disability, termination, and death. Deferred compensation is discriminatory and has been used to shift income from a high tax bracket to one where tax rate was lower. Do not require the approval of the IRA. The employer selects who is eligible for inclusion in the plan (not required to follow ERISA) BAD BOY clause is a provision in most deferred compensation agreements that restricts the rights of employee from receiving deferred monies. This is to protect the employer from paying employees who violate company policy or trust. Violations of such clauses result in the forfeiture of some or all benefits payable from that date on. Also if the firm fails chances are deferred compensation is lost because its is unsecured. Employer’s contribution is no tax-deductible during the deferred period, but can be claimed on payout. The employee has no right to the contributions and pays no tax during the deferral period. NASD Rules Regarding Variable Products: Variable products include: variable annuities and variable life insurance. These products are funded through separate accounts that are subject to many of the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Selling Agreements: NASD members that are principal underwriters may not sell variable contracts through another broker-dealer unless that firm is also an NASD member and has a sales agreement. The sales agreement must provide that commissions will be returned to issuing insurance company if a variable contract is tendered fro redemption within 7 business days after the acceptance of the contract application Redemptions: If an insurance company does not promptly make payments to contract owners who properly tender requests for partial or total redemptions, NASD members are not allowed to participate in the sale of variable contracts of that company. Other Important facts about variable Contracts: The percentage of the sales charge on variable contracts is computed on the amount deposited in the separate account, plus the sales charge. The issuer must be paid promptly and the NASD must be notified if payment is not received within 10 business days. Also NASD members may not sell the contract at a price that is lower than the price paid by customer. Communications With the Public about variable life insurance and variable annuities. Variable a products have special standard regarding advertising and sales literature. Identification: To prevent misunderstanding communications about variable annuities or variable life insurance must clearly identify the product. If a proprietary name is used, there must also be a general description of the product. Liquidity: Withdrawals from variable products can sometimes involve substantial charges or tax penalties. Therefore, communications about these products may not represent or imply that they are short-term, liquid investments. Any information presented about liquidity of access to investment values must be balanced by information about negative impact of early redemption. In case of variable life insurance, discussions of loans and withdrawals must include an explanation of their impact on cash values and death benefits. Guarantees: Some aspects of variable products are guaranteed while other aspects are not. When guarantees, their safety cannot be over-emphasized, sine they depend on the claim-paying ability of insurance. Communications may not represent or imply that a guarantee applies to the investment return or principal value of the separate account, or that the insurance company’s ratings apply to separate Hypothetical Illustrations for Variable Life Insurance: NASD rules regarding communications with customers strictly forbid any discussions of performance that might be interpreted as projections or predictions. The SEC and NASD allow the use of hypothetical illustrations in presentations concerning variable life insurance, but have established guidelines for their use. An illustration may use an combination of assumed investment returns up to and including a gross rate of 12%, provided that one of the return is a 0% gross rate. The 12% must be within a reasonable area given market conditions. The return in the illustration must reflect the maximum mortality and expense charges. The Illustration must include an explanation that it is hypothetical and does not project or predict actual results. Other Content Restrictions: Comparisons between variable products and other types of investments may be made as long as they are clear, fair, and balanced. Material for variable life insurance that discusses its investment features must balance that presentation with a discussion of its insurance features. However, communications for single premium variable life insurance may emphasize its investment features as long as it also includes an adequate explanation of its life insurance aspects.

i don't know

The Shoguns were warlords that ruled in what country?

Emperors, Courtiers, Shoguns, and Warlords of Japan What would you need to be a Japanese warlord? Click here.   There were 4 ways for you, were you living in Japan between 1185 and 1615, to be a warlord or 'daimyo': You could be a chief of some decent samurai band, which had been lending their arts to other people's causes, for which your band got rewards in the form of land. This would have made you the head of samurai clans such as Mori and Matsuura. You could have gotten the Emperor's own letter of assignment that said you were the rep of His Majesty in so-and-so area. This was how the warlord clans of Imagawa (Suruga), Takeda (Kai) and Otomo (Bungo) rose. You could have worked for other people who were appointed by the Imperial Decree as governors or reps in certain territories, and showed your boss his real place by taking up actual ruling of the said area. That's the way of the Oda , Asakura , Asai , and Uesugi . You could just be yourself, i.e. jobless samurai, who spent all your youth to wander around aimlessly until you could somehow kill a warlord and snatch his territory. This was what Saito Dosan did to get Mino, and Hojo to take Kamakura over. If a warlord was so dang powerful, and he came from the eligible clans (like, what clan? click here) , the Imperial decree might give him the title of 'Great General'. In Japanese, the term for 'Great General' was 'Shogun'. After 1185, such a person was the head of a militaristic government. Also after 1185, his only superior was the Emperor himself. Before 1185, a Shogun was the head of his own troops and not an inch more. And there were quite a lot of sedentary civilians who got the political power to order him and his bulky troops around (click here for details, and why 1185 mattered so) . But before or after 1185, the core of shogunness stayed the same: the man was the Emperor's vassal whose battling power was above all the rest of his kind, and to whom the Empire of Japan would instantly turn to when something threatened the entire realm (which meant as loosely as a threat to the Emperor in person, too). The Shogun had a duty to dig the sword for the sake of the Emperor, because there was where his authority over the country came from. Since he got the authority delegated by the Emperor, all warlords had to submit, for whosoever stood up against a Shogun while the mandate was still valid (that's something crucial) would be fighting against the Son of Heaven himself, and, to a samurai, there was no worse and lower disgrace than that -- the Shinto faith expects all warriors to revere the Emperor above all else. A Shogun had the right to make laws applicable to all Japanese territories whose former Lords he had subdued, but he couldn't do anything about the Lords who didn't have anything to do with him -- such as the ones ruling faraway isles and remote towns. Oh, yes, there were such places in the warring Japan of 16th century. Even Oda Nobunaga didn't touch the warlords of Kyushu islands. Christian warlords like Otomo Sorin, Lord of Bungo; Lord Omura Sumitada, Ito Yoshimatsu of Obi, and the Lord of Arima, were untouchable; they paid respect to the Emperor but in some kind of an unconsumed mutual coldness when it came to the Central Japanese warlords and Shoguns (click here for profiles, stories and pictures of Japanese Christian warlords and samurai) . Mind you, logistics must have been the greatest problem those days; places sliced from the main island of Japan, Honshu, were not worth the cost to conquer (see maps) . Or so Oda Nobunaga seemed to think, and most of his contemporaries shared this thought. Only Toyotomi Hideyoshi later subdued the remaining independent realms like those I have just mentioned, and peopled them with his own vassals ( Kato Kiyomasa and Konishi Yukinaga were given neighboring estates in Kyushu). There was an anomaly in the history of Japan in this. Toyotomi Hideyoshi had no single drop of Imperial DNA in him. His dad was a farmer, no matter what he said about having some samurai ancestors somewhere in time. As a teenager, Toyotomi was taken by Oda Nobunaga as his personal servant. From there, no way but up. He became the Oda clan's best General, administrator and negotiator when he was in his late thirties. He won fortresses and lands, too. He had his own army, bureau of intelligence (which in those days meant a pack of ninjas), and so forth. So, when he was around 40 years old, he was officially equal in rank with other Generals; the form of address was 'Lord Toyotomi' (referring to his civil stuff as ruler of a land), or 'General Toyotomi' (referring to his complete armed forces); just like the way others were called. By 1590 Toyotomi had virtually united Japan. A year later the Emperor gave him the title 'Taiko', an untranslatable thing that means more or less someone in charge of the empire's administration, both the military and the civil service, who had the right to make laws, whose only superior was the Emperor (a kind of a Chancellor). The job description might sound like a Shogun's, but Toyotomi Hideyoshi was not a Shogun. Like his late boss Oda, he, too, couldn't pass the DNA consideration. Even worse than Oda's 'wrong blood', he's nowhere around the stuff altogether. Even for the office of Chief Minister ('Kuampaku' in Japanese) he had difficulties to get blessed; tradition said he had to get adopted first by one of 'the right clans' for the job, the Fujiwara , because Tokugawa Ieyasu 's 'real clan', the Minamoto , refused to adopt him, therefore blocking his path to become a Shogun (click here for story and pictures of these 'right clans'). By the way, adopted sons in 16th century Japan had exactly the same rights and obligations as the adopting family's own kids; that's why the practice was rampant.   HISTORY, ANECDOTES & PICTURES OF TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI   MAPPING JAPANESE WARLORDS The map of Japan until 1615 kept on changing, borderlines kept on shifting; an area could just 'disappear' overnight when the Lord therein lost a war that nobody knew for sure when to happen or whether it would or at all. It was hellbound or alternately exciting, being Japanese in the 'Warring States' period -- like Alice in Wonderland for real. Click the picture above for detailed and comprehensive maps of Japan in this 'Warring States' period.   A very fitting rep, right? (That's a Japanese Warring States chess set, made in U.K. 2004)   Minamoto Yoritomo had won countless wars when finally the Emperor gave him the title of 'Great General', to be specific 'Barbarian-Subjugating-Great-General' ('Sei-i Tai Shogun' in Japanese). It happened in the year 1192, but Minamoto had been de facto Shogun since 1185. This title and post was, from then on, available until Emperor Meiji's Restoration of 1868. It was the Minamoto clan that laid the emphasis on the word 'Shogun' for the first time, although the clan was not the first to have it preceding the name of the head of the clan. Yoritomo fixed the term so that it means 'THE' Great General. Before him, although there had been Shoguns, all other Generals (namely victorious warlords in battles for the Emperor) were called 'Shoguns'. Sure, there were the Taira Shoguns, but at the time there were also other Shoguns all over the country. After Minamoto Yoritomo took this office, there was to be no other Shogun but THE Shogun (savvy? I'm a bit mystifiedly rambling here). So in Yoritomo's time, there were two centers of power in Japan. One was Kyoto (the Imperial House was there), the other was Kamakura (where Minamoto's HQ was). Kyoto was all about supreme authority and the peak of arts. Kamakura was the core of government based on military power. After Toyotomi Hideyori's demise in 1615, Tokugawa Ieyasu acquired everything Hideyori's dad used to have for his own son, got the title 'Shogun' cemented on the Japanese minds for eternity, and his clan's HQ made Edo (today's Tokyo) the new center of military rule, while Kyoto stayed the same. However, no matter how powerless an Emperor seemed, without his written blessing there would have been nothing going on among the Shogun's plans of action. Emperor Mutsuhito took over the country's administration back into the old hands in 1868 by relegating the last Tokugawa Shogun into average citizenship like all the rest of the feudal lords. The surely 'Western' Restoration discarded the gorgeous culotte (hakama) for shabby European suits, the distinct hairdo of the warrior class for copious cropped heads, the swords for soaring unemployment, the grants of land and titles for plain Mister Something, everything that used to be oh-so-Japan. The lords were put into the government's pension schedule, and were stripped off all authority. This painful and awkward transition that would lead to the World War (well, it did if you follow the chain of overhauls) is quite handsomely told in Tom Cruise's The Last Samurai ( click here to see movie scenes ). It didn't mean the spirit of the samurai had died, but people of the old regime didn't know it yet. So they fought hard to preserve what they were used to have (click here for stories and pictures of Japanese samurai and warlords who fought against Emperor Meiji) . Meanwhile, the lowest class of the warriors rose into prominence, naturally filling up posts based on merit rather than DNA. The courtiers , too, got resuscitated; they had been rendered politically effeminate all through the feudal millennium. Princes , i.e. the Emperor's brothers and cousins, could now assume the olden-days duties as diplomats and such, and if they happened to possess some real talent in governing people or leading armies, like Prince Arisugawa no Miya, they could get the jobs that formerly were dominated by the Shoguns' scions.   CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE JAPANESE POLITICAL STRUCTURE & ALL EMPERORS, EMPRESSES, SHOGUNS, AND RULERS OF JAPAN SINCE 660 B.C. UNTIL TODAY   CLICK HERE FOR THE STRUCTURE OF THE ODA CLAN AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE POWERGAME FROM THE LORDSHIP DOWN  

Japan

What is the name for the large canvas, or more recently plastic, tent under which a circus performs?

Buy custom Shogun's Japan, Ottoman Empire essay Contexts of Development → Buy custom Shogun's Japan, Ottoman Empire essay Begin from 1600 Japan became a very powerful state being under the authoritarian rule of Shogun. Warlords Daimyo and the Samurai warriors were those with help of whom Shogun managed to rule the Island. Since it was time of possible dealing with different countries and the European most of all, Shogun made Japan to develop trade, religion, entertainment and education isolated trying not to integrate with these countries, just few ports were allowed to work with Japan. “Shoguns closely controlled relations between Japan and the outside world.” (Bentley & Ziegler p. 586) This reform was done to a void “jeopardizing the security of the bakufu…” (Bentley & Ziegler p. 586) Such a ruling give Japan a chance to concentrate on its own way of education, society’s views and ideology, religion, art - culture as a whole. Kabuki was created as exceptionally Japanese type of theatre because Japan couldn’t contact with theatre of other country. Shoguns were afraid to admit Christianity on the territory of Japan so it was demanded to extirpate if there were any Japanese Christianity. Some were killed and some renounce their faith. This kind of living of the country can be treated as positive and negative somehow. Positive here is that Japan had a great chance to create own culture dissimilar with the rest of the world what made Japan unique by their nature but here is a negative side too. It creates a big barrier between Japan and the world and in a time of globalization, it leads to great difficulties. Nevertheless, Japan being under the rule of Shogun made a great success in developing. Ottoman Empire During own long and eventful history Ottoman Empire can swagger about its ethnic, political, military and religious prosperity. This Empire got its name from the Ottoman dynasty founded by Osman I in 13th century. The great success of a country can be explained by the strengthening of its own military forces what gave a way of both actions – to attack and invade new territories and to guard them from other invaders. “Formidable military machine” (Bentley, p. 597) were feature of Ottoman Empire through all the history of it. The government system was closely connected to military forces and was already mentioned above – it is invading new territories. Empire benefited from the taxes from such lands. Here should be mentioned and most about sultan Suleyman under ruling of whom Ottoman Empire widened its territory to what now is a history of Byzantine Empire. In 17th century Empire began to loss its strength because European Christianity undermined it in the inside. It lost economic, politician powers, some territories. Weakening of the Empire also was caused by the exporting metals from America; this trade earlier was only Ottoman’s one. Now it wasn’t so and finally Empire lost its authority. Buy custom Shogun's Japan, Ottoman Empire essay Related essays A wide range of services Native English speaking writers Direct contact with a writer Free extras on request Unlimited number of free revisions Free plagiarism report

i don't know

For a point each, name the 2 countries that share a physical border with Costa Rica.

Geography and History of Costa Rica Population: 4,253,877 (July 2009 estimate) Capital: San José Area: 19,730 square miles (51,100 sq km) Bordering Countries: Nicaragua and Panama Coastline: 802 miles (1,290 km) Highest Point: Cerro Chirripo at 12,500 feet (3,810 m) Costa Rica, officially called the Republic of Costa Rica, is located on the Central American isthmus between Nicaragua and Panama . Because it is on an isthmus, Costa Rica also has coastlines along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The country features numerous rainforests and a plethora of flora and fauna which make it a popular destination for tourism and ecotourism . History of Costa Rica Costa Rica was first explored by Europeans beginning in 1502 with Christopher Columbus . Columbus named the region Costa Rica, meaning "rich coast," as he and other explorers hoped to find gold and silver in the area. European settlement began in Costa Rica in 1522 and from the 1570s until the 1800s it was a Spanish colony. In 1821, Costa Rica then joined other Spanish colonies in the region and made a declaration of independence from Spain. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance Shortly thereafter, the newly independent Costa Rica and other former colonies formed a Central American Federation. However, cooperation between the countries was short-lived and border disputes frequently occurred in the mid-1800s. As a result of these conflicts, the Central American Federation eventually collapsed and in 1838, Costa Rica declared itself as a fully independent state. After declaring its independence, Costa Rica underwent a period of stable democracy beginning in 1899. In that year, the country experienced its first free elections which have continued until today despite two problems in the early 1900s and in 1948. From 1917-1918, Costa Rica was under the dictatorial rule of Federico Tinoco and in 1948, the presidential election was disputed and Jose Figueres led a civilian uprising which led to a 44-day civil war. Costa Rica's civil war caused the deaths of more than 2,000 people and was one of the most violent times in the country's history. Following the end of the civil war though, a constitution was written which declared that the country would have free elections and universal suffrage. Costa Rica's first election following the civil war was in 1953 and was won by Figueres. Today, Costa Rica is known as one of the most stable and economically successful Latin American countries. Government of Costa Rica Costa Rica is a republic with a single legislative body made up of its Legislative Assembly whose members are elected by popular vote. The judicial branch of government in Costa Rica is comprised only of a Supreme Court. Costa Rica's executive branch has a chief of state and head of government - both of which are filled by the president who is elected by popular vote. Costa Rica underwent its most recent election in February 2010. Laura Chinchilla won the election and became the country's first female president. Economics and Land Use in Costa Rica Costa Rica is considered one of the most economically prosperous countries in Central America and a major part of its economy comes from its agricultural exports. Costa Rica is a well-known coffee producing region and pineapples, bananas, sugar, beef and ornamental plants also contribute to its economy. The country is also growing industrially and produces goods such as medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products and high-value goods such as microprocessors. Ecotourism and the related service sector is also a significant part of Costa Rica's economy because the country is highly biodiverse. Geography, Climate and Biodiversity of Costa Rica Costa Rica has a varied topography with coastal plains that are separated by volcanic mountain ranges. There are three mountain ranges running throughout the country. The first of these is the Cordillera de Guanacaste and runs to the Cordillera Central from the northern border with Nicaragua. The Cordillera Central runs between the central part of the country and the southern Cordillera de Talamanca which bounds the Meseta Central (Central Valley) near San José. Most of Costa Rica's coffee is produced in this region. The climate of Costa Rica is tropical and has a wet season that lasts from May to November. San Jose, which is located in Costa Rica's Central Valley, has an average July high temperature of 82°F (28°C) and an average January low of 59°F (15°C). The coastal lowlands of Costa Rica are incredibly biodiverse and feature many different types of plants and wildlife. Both coasts feature mangrove swamps and the Gulf of Mexico side is heavily forested with tropical rainforests . Costa Rica also has several large national parks to protect its plethora of flora and fauna. Some of these parks include the Corcovado National Park (home to large cats such as jaguars and smaller animals like Costa Rican monkeys), Tortuguero National Park and Monteverdo Cloud Forest Reserve. More Facts about Costa Rica • Costa Rica's official languages are English and Creole • Life expectancy in Costa Rica is 76.8 years • Costa Rica's ethnic breakdown is 94% European and mixed native-European, 3% African, 1% native and 1% Chinese References Central Intelligence Agency . (2010, April 22). CIA - The World Factbook - Costa Rica. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.) Costa Rica: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107430.html United States Department of State. (2010, February). Costa Rica (02/10). Retrieved from: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm

nicaragua and panama

Something described as 'tactile' relates to which of the five senses?

Geography and History of Costa Rica Population: 4,253,877 (July 2009 estimate) Capital: San José Area: 19,730 square miles (51,100 sq km) Bordering Countries: Nicaragua and Panama Coastline: 802 miles (1,290 km) Highest Point: Cerro Chirripo at 12,500 feet (3,810 m) Costa Rica, officially called the Republic of Costa Rica, is located on the Central American isthmus between Nicaragua and Panama . Because it is on an isthmus, Costa Rica also has coastlines along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The country features numerous rainforests and a plethora of flora and fauna which make it a popular destination for tourism and ecotourism . History of Costa Rica Costa Rica was first explored by Europeans beginning in 1502 with Christopher Columbus . Columbus named the region Costa Rica, meaning "rich coast," as he and other explorers hoped to find gold and silver in the area. European settlement began in Costa Rica in 1522 and from the 1570s until the 1800s it was a Spanish colony. In 1821, Costa Rica then joined other Spanish colonies in the region and made a declaration of independence from Spain. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance Shortly thereafter, the newly independent Costa Rica and other former colonies formed a Central American Federation. However, cooperation between the countries was short-lived and border disputes frequently occurred in the mid-1800s. As a result of these conflicts, the Central American Federation eventually collapsed and in 1838, Costa Rica declared itself as a fully independent state. After declaring its independence, Costa Rica underwent a period of stable democracy beginning in 1899. In that year, the country experienced its first free elections which have continued until today despite two problems in the early 1900s and in 1948. From 1917-1918, Costa Rica was under the dictatorial rule of Federico Tinoco and in 1948, the presidential election was disputed and Jose Figueres led a civilian uprising which led to a 44-day civil war. Costa Rica's civil war caused the deaths of more than 2,000 people and was one of the most violent times in the country's history. Following the end of the civil war though, a constitution was written which declared that the country would have free elections and universal suffrage. Costa Rica's first election following the civil war was in 1953 and was won by Figueres. Today, Costa Rica is known as one of the most stable and economically successful Latin American countries. Government of Costa Rica Costa Rica is a republic with a single legislative body made up of its Legislative Assembly whose members are elected by popular vote. The judicial branch of government in Costa Rica is comprised only of a Supreme Court. Costa Rica's executive branch has a chief of state and head of government - both of which are filled by the president who is elected by popular vote. Costa Rica underwent its most recent election in February 2010. Laura Chinchilla won the election and became the country's first female president. Economics and Land Use in Costa Rica Costa Rica is considered one of the most economically prosperous countries in Central America and a major part of its economy comes from its agricultural exports. Costa Rica is a well-known coffee producing region and pineapples, bananas, sugar, beef and ornamental plants also contribute to its economy. The country is also growing industrially and produces goods such as medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products and high-value goods such as microprocessors. Ecotourism and the related service sector is also a significant part of Costa Rica's economy because the country is highly biodiverse. Geography, Climate and Biodiversity of Costa Rica Costa Rica has a varied topography with coastal plains that are separated by volcanic mountain ranges. There are three mountain ranges running throughout the country. The first of these is the Cordillera de Guanacaste and runs to the Cordillera Central from the northern border with Nicaragua. The Cordillera Central runs between the central part of the country and the southern Cordillera de Talamanca which bounds the Meseta Central (Central Valley) near San José. Most of Costa Rica's coffee is produced in this region. The climate of Costa Rica is tropical and has a wet season that lasts from May to November. San Jose, which is located in Costa Rica's Central Valley, has an average July high temperature of 82°F (28°C) and an average January low of 59°F (15°C). The coastal lowlands of Costa Rica are incredibly biodiverse and feature many different types of plants and wildlife. Both coasts feature mangrove swamps and the Gulf of Mexico side is heavily forested with tropical rainforests . Costa Rica also has several large national parks to protect its plethora of flora and fauna. Some of these parks include the Corcovado National Park (home to large cats such as jaguars and smaller animals like Costa Rican monkeys), Tortuguero National Park and Monteverdo Cloud Forest Reserve. More Facts about Costa Rica • Costa Rica's official languages are English and Creole • Life expectancy in Costa Rica is 76.8 years • Costa Rica's ethnic breakdown is 94% European and mixed native-European, 3% African, 1% native and 1% Chinese References Central Intelligence Agency . (2010, April 22). CIA - The World Factbook - Costa Rica. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.) Costa Rica: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107430.html United States Department of State. (2010, February). Costa Rica (02/10). Retrieved from: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm

i don't know

According to the western calendar, what is the birthstone for those born in the month of September?

December Birthstone - Blue Topaz - Birth Stones by Months You are here: Home Birthstones by Month December Birthstone – Blue Topaz December Birthstone – Blue Topaz December Birthstone - Blue Topaz Blue Topaz is the birthstone for those born in the month of December. Many people say that it is reminiscent of a clear blue lake on a summer’s afternoon. In Sanskrit the word for topaz is “tapas”, meaning fire. Contrary to its translation, this stone has been known to ancient civilizations to have cooling properties. For one giving the gift of topaz, it is symbolic of fidelity and love. It can be used to calm an individual’s hot temper, cure insanity, improve weakened vision, relieve asthma attacks, and bring sleep to those inflicted by insomnia. It is believed that the gemstones for each month aligns with the season, our spiritual and mental energy. Some might have been believed to emit almost religious magical or religious powers, and even the powers to aid in ailing health. Some offered protection Every month represents a change or shift within the year. All of these shifts are part of the greater cycle that occurs each year with birth and rebirth and death. Throughout history, specific gemstones have been designated to symbolize our birth-month granting those who wore them specific strengths needed within that month. In present time, according to the Gregorian or Western Calendar, there is a gemstone for each month. Topaz is comprised of silicate, one of the hardest of materials. Pure topaz is actually colorless, however with minor changes within the stone it has been found as a pale green, a truer blue, pink and yellow. The paler the topaz, the most expensive it will be. Most people recognize this precious stone for its beautiful aqua-turquoise shade. The three main shades of this range are called: London Blue, Sky, and Swiss. London Blue is the deepest of blue and for those who cannot afford a sapphire, this is a substitute. The alternative to the topaz for December is the Turquoise. It was dubbed this title as it was brought to Europe from Turkey, and according to recorded history, is one of the first gemstones to be placed in jewelry. Though originally discovered in Turkey, it is also mined in Mexico, Pakistan, China, the United States, Brazil and Nigeria. Turquoise was adorned by the ancients to ward of all evil spirits and stave away ill health. Bracelets worn on the arm of the Egyptian queen, Zer, were unearthed and found to be 7,500 years old. It represented the Egyptian gods Isis and Amum. To those who wear Turquoise, its color brings about feelings of happiness and good fortune. As for Christian and biblical symbols, it represents the cycle of birth, old age and death, as the stone itself has a life cycle, darkening with age. During Medieval times, physicians would ground the stone up, using it to treat skin inflammations. Other Symbols of December: December Birth Flower: The Narcissus and Holly. Narcissus is symbolic of self-love and vanity and its name originates from Greek mythology and the tale of handsome Narcissus. While he was admiring the reflection of himself in a pool, he happened to be ignoring the lovely nymph, Echo. For this, she punished him as he was falling in love with his appearance and died. Following his death a a flower appeared where he had sat. The holly sacred to Saturn and had been used during the Roman festival, Saturnalia to honor him. December Birth Tree: Fig Tree, Apple Tree. The apple is universally a symbol of joy, fertility, peace, youthfulness, and love. Famous People Born in December: Denzel Washington- December 28, 1954 Tyson Beckford- December 19, 1970 John Wayne- December 5, 1970 Jake Gyllenhaal- December 19, 1980 Tyra Banks- December 4, 1973 Katie Holmes- December 18, 1978 Christina Aguilera- December 18, 1980 Jim Morrison- December 8, 1943

Sapphire

Exxon, Mobil, Chevron, and Amoco were created from what company, broken up by the Sherman Antitrust act in 1911?

BIRTHSTONE    Birthstones In the Western world, the custom of wearing birthstone jewelry started in 18th century Poland and has spread all over the world. Check out the Gem of the Month Archive to read more about many of the species/varieties mentioned below. Find the month of your or your loved one's birthday and Search our Catalog for gemstones and jewelry pieces of that type. Traditional Birthstones for English Speaking Countries and Some Modern Alternates. January: Garnet Once available primarily as dark, reddish brown stones, the gem marketplace now offers beautiful garnets in every color, except blue. From bright green drusy Uvarovite, to neon orange mandarin Spessartites, to pure spectral green Tsavorites and raspberry pink rhodolites, garnets are available in a wide price range and many cutting styles. With hardnesses ranging from 6.5 to 7.5, depending on the species, garnets are reasonably durable gemstones for most jewelry uses. Main sources include India, Madagascar, Russia, Australia, Sri Lanka and the USA. As there no gem treatments commonly used on garnet to enhance its color or other properties, it generally is safe to assume the stones are natural. Spessartite // Uvarovite Rhodolite // Tsavorite February: Amethyst Long a favorite, purple quartz, or amethyst, is available in sizes from small to huge, and in colors from pale lilac "Rose d' France" to strongly saturated "Siberian" purple with glints of red and/or blue. As well as faceted stones, it is possible to find lovely amethyst cabochons, carvings and beads. It is a durable gem (hardness = 7) for most jewelry uses. Brazil, Uruguay and Zambia are major sources in today's market. Most amethyst is heated to enhance its color, unless stated otherwise, you should assume stones have been treated. The heat induced color change is stable. March: Aquamarine/ Traditional Alternate: (Bloodstone) Named for its resemblance to the color of sea water, beryl in hues of blue-green to blue in medium dark to pale tones is called aquamarine. It can be found in a variety of cutting styles and makes a brilliant and durable jewelry stone (hardness = 7.5). Virtually all aquamarine has been heated to reduce green tones and produce a purer blue, a change which is stable. Main sources are Brazil, Zambia, Madagascar and Nigeria. Bloodstone is an opaque dark green jasper with red spots. The main source is India. Like all jaspers, bloodstone is a durable, hardness = 7, gem for most jewelry uses. April: Diamond With hardness of 10 and the brightest luster of all tranparent gemstones, diamonds have a unique place in the gem marketplace. Diamonds occur in colorless and near colorless forms as well as rare fancy colors. Both color enhanced and synthetic diamonds are available as well as many diamond simulants, chief among them being cubic zirconia. Major sources include South Africa and Australia. ACS suggests any colorless natural gemstone as an alternate. Examples would be white sapphire, white topaz, Goshenite, petalite, phenakite, Danburite, white zircon or rock crytal quartz. Depending on the species, hardnesses vary, but most make reasonably durable jewelry stones. Danburite // Phenakite Rock // Crystal Quartz White Sapphire // White Topaz // White Zircon May: Emerald Beryl with medium to medium dark green color, contributed by chromium or vanadium content, is called emerald. Although frequently visibly included, traditional oiling treatments enhance the clarity of most pieces. With hardness of 7.5 they make reasonably durable gemstones, oiled stones, however, require gentle cleaning with no solvents, steam or ultrasonics. The world's highest quality gems come from Colombia but Brazil, Zambia and Russia also contribute stones to the marketplace. June: Pearl--Traditional Alternates: Alexandrite, Moonstone Pearls are one of the few gemstones of organic rather than mineral origin, and also one of the few identified almost exclusively with one sex (female). Today's pearls ("cultured") are joint products of mollusc and human cooperation and can be from fresh or salt water species. Another unique characteristic is that pearls are the only gem commonly worn unfashioned (not cut or polished). Pearls are delicate gems that must be worn and cleaned gently. Fresh and saltwater pearls in many shapes, sizes and colors are available. Many different treatments might be used to enhance a pearl's quality or change its color, so unless otherwise stated, you should assume pearls to have been treated. The majority of the pearls sold by ACS are unenhanced. Alexandrite is color-change chrysoberyl, and one of the world's most highly valued gem varieties. Few specimens of high quality are available, but the best of these show a color change from raspberry red to teal blue-green when the light source changes from incandescent to fluorescent or daylight. Cat'seye forms occur. Synthetics and imitations are available at more modest prices. Alexandrite is generally untreated and makes a very durable jewelry stone (hardness = 8.5). Although, historically associated with Russia, today's sources are Brazil, India and Sri Lanka. Daylight or Fluorescent Color // Incandescent Color Moonstone is a type of feldspar that displays an optical phenomenon called "adularescence", a floating light over the surface, often called "shiller. They range from transparent to opaque and occur in a variety of colors. They are generally cut as cabochons or used for carvings, but especially transparent pieces are sometimes faceted. The most valuable type is colorless with strong blue shiller. Some moonstones show a cat'seye or, rarely, a four rayed star. About as fragile as opal (hardness = 6), they should be treated somewhat gently. Most moonstones are unenhanced. July: Ruby Red corundum is known as ruby (while all other colors of that mineral are called sapphire). Chromium is the coloring agent. Large fine rubies are the most expensive gems sold in today's marketplace bringing prices considerably above that for diamonds of the same size and quality. The world's highest quality rubies come from Burma (Myanmar), although Kenya, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand and Madagascar are important sources as well. Ruby is a very durable jewelry gem (hardness = 9), that has generally been heat treated. Some specimens show a "star" effect (asterism). August: Peridot Peridot occurs in shades of limey to olivey yellowish green that are unique in the gem world. Major sources include the USA (Arizona), Pakistan, Burma and China. One of the minority of idiochromatic gem species, whose color is derived from its inherent chemical compostion rather than from impurities, (allochromatic) like most. It is a reasonably durable jewelry gem for most applications with a hardness of 6.5. There are no treatments commonly used to enhance peridot. September: Sapphire--Traditional Alternate: Lapis Lazuli Although commonly thought of as blue corundum, sapphire occurs in a wide color range, as well as in phenomenal form, as star sapphires. Currently sapphire is the world's most popular colored gemstone with the US leading in purchases. Sapphires, with a hardness of 9, are second only to diamonds in durability. Most sapphires have been heated to enhance color, but a large variety of more exotic treatments exist in the marketplace. ACS sells only natural stones or those treated with nothing more than simple heating. Lapis Lazuli is a blue rock made of several different minerals with an average hardness of about 5.5. One of the world's most historically important gems, it's royal blue color often with specks of golden pyrite is highly prized. An opaque stone, it is most often used for cabochons, beads and carvings. Sources include Afghanistan and Chile. Most true lapis is unenhanced, but synthetic lapis and various simulants do exist in the marketplace. October: Opal--Modern Alternate: Pink Tourmaline Opal is one of the world's most popular and variable gemstones. It ranges in form and color from the bright red and oranges of Mexican opal to precious white, crystal and black opals through matrix and boulder types and to the transparent crystal opals. Somewhat fragile, with hardness of 6, many precious opals are offered in the marketplace as doublets or triplets. Precious opal is distinquised by a phenomenon called "color play". This is caused by diffraction and interference of light rays as they pass through opal's ultramicroscopic structure of tiny stacked silica spheres. Australia, Mexico, Brazil and the USA are major sources. Treaments to darken color and stabilize pieces are fairly common. ACS sells only untreated opals. Pink tourmaline has gained popularity recently, and is available from many sources world-wide and in many shades from pale baby pink to darker pinks tinged with reddish, brownish and orangey hues. Tourmaline makes a durable jewelry gem (hardness = 7.5). Most tourmaline is heat treated and a few types are irradiated, but the colors obtained are stable. November: Yellow Topaz--Modern Alternate: Citrine Since the advent in the market place, in recent decades, of heated and irradiated blue topaz, many don't realize that, historically, the color associated with this gem was yellow. To distinquish this color, the term "precious topaz" is used, with "Imperial" being reserved for specimens of precious topaz that show a particularly intense orangey to reddish color. It is a brilliant and durable jewelry gem (hardness = 8). The major source of yellow topaz in world commerce is Brazil. Yellow topaz is commonly heat treated. Citrine is yellow quartz, and although it does occur in Nature, the majority of the richly colored pieces in today's marketplace have been heated. Large, clean pieces are available, so this stone is popular with custom cutters and carvers and is often available in spectacular cuts. At hardness 7 it is a durable gem for most jewelry applications. The major source is Brazil. December: Turquoise--Traditional Alternate: Blue Zircon. Modern Alternates: Blue Topaz/Tanzanite December presents the widest range of alternates for birthstone choices: Turquoise is an opaque blue to blue green gem often with black or tan matrix. Although once associated in the US almost exclusively with Native American silver jewelry, there has been a recent surge in interest in this gem by modern designers working in gold. Sources include USA, Mexico and Iran. Somewhat fragile (hardness = 6) and sensitive to exposure to chemicals, it should be treated with care. In the gem marketplace you will find stones that have been enhanced by various treatments that seal the surface, fill cracks, or change color. A great variety of synthetic and simulant gems are offered as well. ACS sells turquoise that is unenhanced, or at most, has had a simple paraffin wax surface sealing treatment. Blue zircon has been heated to that attractive color from the natural orangey brown rough. Its saturated greenish blue color and top-notch luster and brilliance have led to recent increases in popularity and familiarity. It is a relatively durable gem with hardness of 7.5. The main source is Cambodia. Within recent years blue topaz (irradiated and heated white topaz) and Tanzanite (blue-violet heated zoisite) have been promoted as alternatives to the traditional choices. Topaz is a durable jewelry gem (hardness = 8), but Tanzanite is rather fragile (hardness = 6.5) and requires gentler care. Most blue topaz originates from Brazil, and all Tanzanite comes from Tanzania. Blue Topaz Tanzanite **If you don't especially care for the stone(s) assigned on this list to your birth month -- never fear. By doing some internet searching on "Mystical Birthstones" [Tibetan], "Ayurvedic Birthstones [Indian] "or those below you have many, many additional choices. With a little seaching anyone can find a gem that has special meaning for them! Here are some links for alternates courtesy of www.gemologyonline.com: Historical/Birth and Zodiac Stones: http://www.gemologyonline.com/birthstones.html

i don't know

The Mushroom Kingdom is the setting for what Nintendo video game series, first introduced on Sept 13, 1985

Happy 30th, 'Super Mario'! Five big Mario moments - CNN.com Happy 30th, 'Super Mario'! Five big Mario moments By Henry Hanks , CNN Updated 3:56 PM ET, Sun September 13, 2015 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Super Mario through the years The lovable Nintendo gaming character Mario has existed since he appeared as the hero of "Donkey Kong" in 1981, but he reached video game immortality with 1985's "Super Mario Bros.," a game that would have countless sequels and spinoffs over 30 years. Players thrilled at guiding Mario through the strange Mushroom Kingdom, in hopes of defeating King Koopa and rescuing the princess. Click through for more big Mario moments. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Super Mario through the years 1988's "Super Mario Bros. 2" bore little resemblance to the gameplay of the original, because Nintendo of America found the Japanese sequel to be too similar to the first game. So they took another Japanese game, " Yume Kojo Doki Doki Panic ," and replaced the characters with "Super Mario" characters. It was a challenging game, but didn't feel like "Super Mario." Hide Caption Photos: Super Mario through the years Nintendo launched their black-and-white handheld Game Boy with "Super Mario Land" in 1989. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Super Mario through the years "Super Mario Bros. 3," which allowed Mario and friends to fly with a raccoon tail (don't ask) remains wildly popular 25 years later. It's probably aged the best of the early Mario games. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Super Mario through the years Nintendo moved into 16-bit graphics with "Super Mario World," which launched the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Hide Caption Photos: Super Mario through the years "Super Mario Land 2" allowed players to take Mario's further adventures with them. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Super Mario through the years "Super Mario 64" quite literally brought a new dimension to the games, and is regarded as one of the best video games ever made by Empire magazine and others. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Super Mario through the years Nintendo upgraded its handheld gaming with the DS in 2006, and gave us "New Super Mario Bros.," which was both a throwback to the original and a brand-new experience. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Super Mario through the years "Super Mario Galaxy" took "Super Mario 64's" 3-D gameplay even further on the Wii in 2007. Hide Caption Photos: Super Mario through the years When the DS went 3-D, "New Super Mario Bros. 2" went with it in 2012. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Super Mario through the years Once again at the forefront of gaming technology, 2015's "Super Mario Maker" allows gamers to create their own classic "Super Mario" levels. Hide Caption "Super Mario Bros." turned 30 this week Super Mario remains an icon of gaming (CNN) Hard to believe it has been 30 years since we were first told "our princess is in another castle." For those of you not familiar with the reference, "Super Mario Bros.," one of the most popular video games of all time, turned 30 on Sunday. It was first released in Japan on September 13, 1985, by Nintendo, putting that video game company on the map. It was a sequel to the one-screen game "Mario Bros." (which introduced Mario's brother Luigi), which was itself a sequel to the smash hit of the early 1980s game "Donkey Kong" (in which Mario attempted to defeat the angry gorilla). Mario is the closest thing to Mickey Mouse in the world of video games, an instantly recognizable symbol of gaming and a mascot for Nintendo. Read More Here are five big moments in the history of the high-jumping, pipe-traveling plumber: 1. "Super Mario" launches the Nintendo Entertainment System The importance of the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, cannot be understated. The gaming system was released in the U.S. in late 1985 -- after "Mario's" introduction -- and was a monster hit. It was literally a "game changer," in that the games one could play on the 8-bit system brought the graphics and fun of an arcade to your home. Many previous systems like Atari's were low-quality versions of some arcade games with blocky graphics. It also gave us the "side-scroller" game allowing players to move through various lands and worlds, instead of being in one stationary setting. Everyone who got an NES received "Super Mario Bros.," creating a legion of fans. It didn't hurt that it was a lot of fun to play, as Mario and his brother jumped, squished and warped their way through a strange world of "koopas" and "goombas" called Mushroom Kingdom, on the lookout for Princess Peach, held captive by the evil Bowser (or King Koopa). Future Nintendo game systems would almost always include a new "Super Mario" sequel or spinoff, including the Super Nintendo, Game Boy and multiple versions of the hand-held DS. JUST WATCHED Check out real-life 'Mario Brothers' 01:15 2. Mario gets animated In 1989, Nintendo tossed its controller into the children's TV ring with "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show," a half live-action, half animated expansion of the "Mario" brand to other platforms (though "Legend of Zelda" stepped in on Friday afternoons). Captain Lou Albano of wrestling fame portrayed Mario in the live-action portions, which were a bit of a callback to Sid and Marty Krofft series of the 1970s. The show was successful enough to get spun off to Saturday mornings on NBC for a few more seasons. 3. Mario takes to the road "Mario Kart" translated the "Super Mario" characters to the racetrack in 1992, and this game and its many, many sequels are some of the most popular racing games of all time. It was followed by another of the many spinoffs, 1998's "Mario Party" (not to mention the earlier 1991 spinoff "Dr. Mario"). 4. Super Mario hits the big screen (it does not go well) The bright and happy world of "Super Mario Bros." was inevitably translated into a feature film in 1993, a movie that had more in common with "Blade Runner" than anything on a gaming console. Bob Hoskins, a few years after "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," starred as Mario Mario, with up-and-coming John Leguizamo as Luigi Mario. Dennis Hopper chewed the scenery as the reptilian King Koopa. Directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton went from creating "Max Headroom" to turning Mushroom Kingdom into a dystopian hellscape with evolved dinosaurs. The movie got abysmal reviews, but it's not like no one warned us. In 1992, the Los Angeles Times went to the set and came back with quotes like this: "The directors won't give interviews? That's the smartest thing I've heard from them. That's the only intelligent thing I've heard that they've really actually done." That was from Hopper, one of the stars. In 2007, Hoskins called the film a "nightmare" and "the worst thing I've ever done." The (slightly) better Mario-related film might have been "The Wizard," a feature length ad for Nintendo, where the purpose of the heroes is to win a "Super Mario Bros. 3" tournament. 5. Mario goes 3-D Back in the video game world, Super Mario continued to make strides. In 1996, Nintendo 64 was released along with "Super Mario 64," which created a three-dimensional world for Mario and friends to explore. It's considered one of the most challenging and best games of all time. Today, following the even more expansive "Super Mario Galaxy" games, Nintendo has just released a DIY version, "Super Mario Maker," in which fans can create their own Mario levels. So here's to 30 more years of gaming fun with the lovable Mario. Perhaps one day we'll be playing with a life-size holographic Mario and Luigi.

Super Mario Bros.

Sept 14, 1901 saw the death of the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley. Which total badass was sworn in as his successor?

‘Super Mario Bros.’ turns 30 | WPMT FOX43 ‘Super Mario Bros.’ turns 30 Posted 12:30 PM, September 14, 2015, by CNN Wire Email This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Hard to believe it has been 30 years since we were first told “our princess is in another castle.” For those of you not familiar with the reference, “Super Mario Bros.,” one of the most popular video games of all time, turned 30 on Sunday. It was first released in Japan on September 13, 1985, by Nintendo, putting that video game company on the map. It was a sequel to the one-screen game “Mario Bros.” (which introduced Mario’s brother Luigi), which was itself a sequel to the smash hit of the early 1980s game “Donkey Kong” (in which Mario attempted to defeat the angry gorilla). Mario is the closest thing to Mickey Mouse in the world of video games, an instantly recognizable symbol of gaming and a mascot for Nintendo. Here are five big moments in the history of the high-jumping, pipe-traveling plumber: 1. “Super Mario” launches the Nintendo Entertainment System The importance of the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, cannot be understated. The gaming system was released in the U.S. in late 1985 — after “Mario’s” introduction — and was a monster hit. It was literally a “game changer,” in that the games one could play on the 8-bit system brought the graphics and fun of an arcade to your home. Many previous systems like Atari’s were low-quality versions of some arcade games with blocky graphics. It also gave us the “side-scroller” game allowing players to move through various lands and worlds, instead of being in one stationary setting. Everyone who got an NES received “Super Mario Bros.,” creating a legion of fans. It didn’t hurt that it was a lot of fun to play, as Mario and his brother jumped, squished and warped their way through a strange world of “koopas” and “goombas” called Mushroom Kingdom, on the lookout for Princess Peach, held captive by the evil Bowser (or King Koopa). Future Nintendo game systems would almost always include a new “Super Mario” sequel or spinoff, including the Super Nintendo, Game Boy and multiple versions of the hand-held DS. 2. Mario gets animated In 1989, Nintendo tossed its controller into the children’s TV ring with “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show,” a half live-action, half animated expansion of the “Mario” brand to other platforms (though “Legend of Zelda” stepped in on Friday afternoons). Captain Lou Albano of wrestling fame portrayed Mario in the live-action portions, which were a bit of a callback to Sid and Marty Krofft series of the 1970s. The show was successful enough to get spun off to Saturday mornings on NBC for a few more seasons. 3. Mario takes to the road “Mario Kart” translated the “Super Mario” characters to the racetrack in 1992, and this game and its many, many sequels are some of the most popular racing games of all time. It was followed by another of the many spinoffs, 1998’s “Mario Party” (not to mention the earlier 1991 spinoff “Dr. Mario”). 4. Super Mario hits the big screen (it does not go well) The bright and happy world of “Super Mario Bros.” was inevitably translated into a feature film in 1993, a movie that had more in common with “Blade Runner” than anything on a gaming console. Bob Hoskins, a few years after “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” starred as Mario Mario, with up-and-coming John Leguizamo as Luigi Mario. Dennis Hopper chewed the scenery as the reptilian King Koopa. Directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton went from creating “Max Headroom” to turning Mushroom Kingdom into a dystopian hellscape with evolved dinosaurs. The movie got abysmal reviews, but it’s not like no one warned us. In 1992, the Los Angeles Times went to the set and came back with quotes like this: “The directors won’t give interviews? That’s the smartest thing I’ve heard from them. That’s the only intelligent thing I’ve heard that they’ve really actually done.” That was from Hopper, one of the stars. In 2007, Hoskins called the film a “nightmare” and “the worst thing I’ve ever done.” The (slightly) better Mario-related film might have been “The Wizard,” a feature length ad for Nintendo, where the purpose of the heroes is to win a “Super Mario Bros. 3” tournament. 5. Mario goes 3-D Back in the video game world, Super Mario continued to make strides. In 1996, Nintendo 64 was released along with “Super Mario 64,” which created a three-dimensional world for Mario and friends to explore. It’s considered one of the most challenging and best games of all time. Today, following the even more expansive “Super Mario Galaxy” games, Nintendo has just released a DIY version, “Super Mario Maker,” in which fans can create their own Mario levels. So here’s to 30 more years of gaming fun with the lovable Mario. Perhaps one day we’ll be playing with a life-size holographic Mario and Luigi.

i don't know

What noted magician, escapologist, stunt performer, actor, film producer and noted skeptic, died of peritonitis, secondary to a ruptured appendix, in 1926?

Erik Houdini (Weisz) (1874 - 1926) - Genealogy half brother About Harry Houdini (Erik Weisz) Harry Houdini (1874 - 1926), considered one of the greatest illusionists in history, was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor, and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts. He was also a skeptic who set out to expose frauds purporting to be supernatural phenomena. Biographical Summary Harry Houdini was born into a Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary. According to his birth certificate he was born on 24 March 1874 as Erich Weisz. Houdini himself spelled his name Ehrich Weiss. From 1900 onwards, Houdini claimed to have been born in Appleton, Wisconsin on 6 April 1874. Houdini's father, Mayer Samuel Weisz (1829-1892), was a rabbi; his mother was Cecilia Steiner (1841-1913). He had six siblings. Houdini arrived in the United States on 3 July 1878, aboard the SS Fresia with his mother (who was pregnant) and his four brothers. Houdini's name was listed as Ehrich Weiss. Friends called him "Ehrie" or "Harry". At first, they lived in Appleton, where his father served as rabbi of the Zion Reform Jewish Congregation. In 1880, the family was living on Appleton Street. On 6 June 1882, Rabbi Weiss became an American citizen. After losing his tenure, he moved to New York City with Ehrich in 1887. They lived in a boarding house on East 79th Street. Rabbi Weiss later was joined by the rest of the family once he found more permanent housing. As a child, Ehrich took several jobs, then became a champion cross country runner. He made his public debut as a 10-year-old trapeze artist, calling himself, "Ehrich, the prince of the air." Houdini's Rabbi Rabbi Drachman knew Harry Houdini as Ehrich Weiss when he was a pupil in the Talmud Torah of his synagogue, Congregation Zichron Ephraim. “Despite the nature of his vocation, he (Houdini) had a profound reverence for the Jewish faith and deep-seated filial affection for his parents and reverence for their memory.” Dr. Drachman relates that in 1890 the Weiss family was in dire financial straits, and Rabbi Weiss came to him for aid. Rabbi Drachman volunteered either to give or lend money to Rabbi Weiss. Instead, Rabbi Weiss suggested that Dr. Drachman buy some of his seforim. Dr. Drachman recalled that “He had a large and excellent Hebrew library, and I selected a fine set of the Codes of Maimonides, for which I paid the price he asked.” Years later, after Houdini’s father had passed away and Houdini was a world-renowned and wealthy man, Rabbi Drachman approached him to ask for a donation to help pay off his synagogue’s mortgage. Houdini agreed to donate the then-substantial sum of $500 on one condition - he wanted his father's set of Maimonides back. Dr. Drachman agreed and within 24 hours of the return of the seforim he received Houdini’s check for $500. Rabbi Drachman officiated at Houdini's funeral in 1926. Books by Houdini Houdini published numerous books during his career (some of which were written by his good friend Walter Brown Gibson, the creator of The Shadow): The Right Way to Do Wrong (1906) Handcuff Secrets (1907) A Magician Among the Spirits (1924) Under the Pyramids (1924) with H.P. Lovecraft. Biographies The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini by Ruth Brandon, Seeker & Warburg, Ltd. GB, 1993 Houdini: The Man Who Walked Through Walls by William Lindsay Gresham, Henry Holt & Co, NY, 1959 Houdini: His Legend and His Magic by Doug Henning with Charles Reynolds, Times Books, NY, 1978 The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman, 2006 ISBN 0743272072 Houdini: His Life-Story by Harold Kellock, from the recollections and documents of Beatrice Houdini, Harcourt, Brace Co., June, 1928 Houdini: Master of Escape by Lance Kendall, Macrae Smith & Co., NY, 1960 * Houdini: The Untold Story by Milbourne Christopher, Thomas Y. Crowell Co, 1969 Houdini: A Mind in Chains by Bernard C. Meyer, M.D., E.P. Dutton & Co. NY, 1976 Houdini: His Life and Art by James Randi & Bert Randolph Sugar, Grosset & Dunlap, NY, 1977 Houdini!!!: The Career of Ehrich Weiss by Kenneth Silverman, 1996 ISBN 006092862X The Great Houdini: Magician Extraordinary by Beryl Williams & Samuel Epstein, Julian Messner, Inc., NY, 1950 Links NPR: "Houdini Relative Unlocks Some Family Secrets" Houdini Rabbi Drachman knew Harry Houdini (Ehrich Weiss) when Houdini was a pupil in the Talmud Torah of his synagogue, Congregation Zichron Ephraim. Houdini’s father, Dr. Mayer S. Weiss, was a Hungarian born rabbi. “Despite the nature of his vocation, he (Houdini) had a profound reverence for the Jewish faith and deep-seated filial affection for his parents and reverence for their memory.”24 Dr. Drachman relates that in 1890 the Weiss family was in dire financial straits, and Rabbi Weiss came to him for aid. Rabbi Drachman volunteered either to give or lend money to Rabbi Weiss. Instead, Rabbi Weiss suggested that Dr. Drachman buy some of his seforim. Dr. Drachman recalled that “He had a large and excellent Hebrew library, and I selected a fine set of the Codes of Maimonides, for which I paid the price he asked.”25 Years later, after Houdini’s father had passed away and Houdini was a world-renowned and wealthy man, Rabbi Drachman approached him to ask for a donation to help pay off his synagogue’s mortgage. Houdini agreed to donate the then substantial sum of $500 on one condition. He wanted the set of Maimonides back to keep in memory of his father! Dr. Drachman agreed and within 24 hours of the return of the seforim he received Houdini’s check for the $500. Interestingly enough, Rabbi Drachman officiated at the funeral of Houdini when he died in 1926. Source Further reading Houdini's Escapes and Magic by Walter B. Gibson. Blue Ribbon Books, Inc., 1930. Reveals some of Houdini's magic and escape methods (also released in two separate volumes: Houdini's Magic and Houdini's Escapes). The Secrets of Houdini by J.C. Cannell, Hutchinson & Co., London, 1931. Reveals some of Houdini's escape methods. Houdini and Conan Doyle: The Story of a Strange Friendship by Bernard M. L. Ernst, Albert & Charles Boni, Inc., NY, 1932. Sixty Years of Psychical Research by Joseph F. Rinn, Truth Seeker Co., 1950, Rinn was a long time close friend of Houdini. Contains detailed information about the last Houdini message (there are 3) and its disclosure. Houdini's Fabulous Magic by Walter B. Gibson and Morris N. Young Chilton, NY, 1960. Excellent reference for Houdini’s escapes and some methods (includes the Water Torture Cell). The Houdini Birth Research Committee’s Report, Magico Magazine (reprint of report by The Society of American Magicians), 1972. Concludes Houdini was born March 24, 1874 in Budapest. Mediums, Mystics and the Occult by Milbourne Christopher, Thomas T. Crowell Co., 1975, pp 122-145, Arthur Ford-Messages from the Dead, contains detailed information about the Houdini messages and their disclosure. Arthur Ford: The Man Who Talked with the Dead by Allen Spraggett with William V. Rauscher, 1973, pp 152-165, Chapter 7, The Houdini Affair contains detailed information about the Houdini messages and their disclosure. Houdini: Escape into Legend, The Early Years: 1862-1900 by Manny Weltman, Finders/Seekers Enterprises, Los Angeles, 1993. Examination of Houdini’s childhood and early career. Houdini Comes To America by Ronald J. Hilgert, The Houdini Historical Center, 1996. Documents the Weiss family’s immigration to the United States on July 3, 1878 (when Ehrich was 4). Houdini Unlocked by Patrick Culliton, Two volume box set: The Tao of Houdini and The Secret Confessions of Houdini, Kieran Press, 1997. The Houdini Code Mystery: A Spirit Secret Solved by William V. Rauscher, Magic Words, 2000. The Man Who Killed Houdini by Don Bell, Vehicule Press, 2004. Investigates J. Gordon Whitehead and the events surrounding Houdini's death. Harry Houdini (Erik Weisz)'s Timeline 1874

Harry Houdini

The morning of September 14, 1814 saw what Baltimore lawyer pen a poem he title “The Defence of Fort McHenry”?

1000+ images about Magic on Pinterest | Love notes, Straitjacket and Poster Learn more at flickr.com Houdini adored his wife and enjoyed leaving her love notes and poems around their Harlem brownstone at 278 West 113th Street. He affectionately called her his “Precious Lump of Sweetness,” “Sweetie Wifie, Mine,” and “Darling One and Only.” Houdini signed these notes with various pet names including “your popsy” and “Houdinsky.” More

i don't know

If you were afflicted with hypotension, what are you suffering from?

Low Blood Pressure - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis - Canoe.com Low Blood Pressure Health Column The Facts Given that people with high blood pressure (hypertension) are far more likely than others to die prematurely of heart disease and stroke, you might think that low blood pressure would be a good thing. However, abnormally low blood pressure, also called hypotension, can cause problems as well. At the most basic level, hypotension can cause dizziness or blurry vision, which may increase the risk of falling or contribute to accidents. In more serious cases, it reduces the blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. This decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrients being delivered to these organs and impairs their ability to carry out normal functions. Hypotension may also indicate a more serious underlying health condition. As blood travels throughout your body, it presses against the walls of your blood vessels, just like water in a hose or air in a tire. This is called blood pressure. When your heart beats (contracts), squeezing blood out and pumping it into your arteries, blood pressure peaks. This is called your systolic pressure. Between heartbeats, when your heart relaxes and blood flows back into it, your blood pressure is lower. This is your diastolic pressure. A blood pressure reading measures these two pressures and expresses them as two numbers, your systolic pressure over your diastolic pressure. Normal blood pressure for adults is lower than 120/80 mm Hg (mm Hg means "millimetres of mercury," referring to a pressure-measuring device similar to a thermometer). Blood pressure changes throughout the day and varies from person to person. Various factors affect blood pressure, including your body position, breathing rhythm, stress level, physical activity, medications, what you eat or drink, and the time of the day (blood pressure is usually lowest at night when you sleep and rises when you wake up). In healthy individuals, your body responds and adapts to these changes to keep your blood pressure within a normal range. This ensures that vital organs, such as your brain and kidneys, receive a constant blood flow and nutrient supply. When the systolic pressure drops below 90 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure falls below 60 mm Hg, this is categorized as low blood pressure. Some people may have low pressure all the time and this may be normal for them. If they do not experience any other signs or symptoms, medical treatment may not be necessary for them. Low blood pressure becomes a concern when it is accompanied by noticeable symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting and, in severe cases, shock. When this occurs, people should seek medical attention to determine if an underlying condition may be responsible for their hypotension. Causes Hypotension occurs when the body is unable to maintain blood pressure within a healthy range. Hypotension can be caused by a variety of factors and can affect people of all ages. However, there are certain types of hypotension that are more likely to affect certain age groups than others. Orthostatic hypotension occurs when there is a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from a sitting or lying down position. This more commonly affects older adults. Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) results when a person has been standing for a long period of time or after having an unpleasant or upsetting experience. This is commonly referred to as fainting. Young children are more likely than adults to experience this form of hypotension, and will often outgrow NMH or a tendency to faint easily. Low blood pressure can occur for some people after eating. This is called postprandial hypotension. Other factors may cause low blood pressure: dehydration: When the body fluids are being lost at a rate faster than they can be replaced, a person's blood pressure may fall. Dehydration may be caused by vomiting, fever, severe diarrhea, or strenuous exercise. certain medical conditions: hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) heart problems (e.g., heart attack, heart failure, valvular heart disease, a very low heart rate) nervous system disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease) – may affect the communication between your brain and the rhythmic pumping of your heart medications: Certain medications used to treat high blood pressure, angina, Parkinson's disease, or depression increase the risk of developing hypotension. pregnancy: A woman's circulatory system changes while she is pregnant. Blood vessels expand slightly, decreasing blood pressure. These changes usually go away after delivery. shock: The most severe form of hypotension is shock. This occurs when blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels, seriously impairing adequate blood flow to vital organs, such as the brain and kidneys. Shock can be caused by major blood loss (e.g., caused by external or internal bleeding), severe infections, burns, or allergic reactions. Symptoms and Complications In certain instances, people may experience low blood pressure but otherwise feel fine. Hypotension becomes a concern when it is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms: blurry vision sleepiness weakness In the case of shock, a person may at first experience any of the above signs or symptoms. Over time, without immediate medical attention, a person may become unconscious. Making the Diagnosis Low blood pressure is diagnosed by a doctor when they check your blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer. For people who experience low blood pressure without other symptoms, it may only require regular monitoring by a doctor during routine exams, and medical treatment may not be necessary. If certain signs suggest an underlying condition, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to diagnose a cause for your hypotension: blood tests – will provide information about a person's overall health electrocardiogram (ECG) – measures the heart's electrical activity and helps to identify potential problems affecting blood supply and oxygen delivery to the heart echocardiogram – provides information about the size, shape, and functioning of the heart stress test – examines your heart's ability to function when it is stressed by physical exercise or with medication that simulates the effect of exercise on the heart Valsalva manoeuvre – tests the autonomic component of your nervous system that is responsible for controlling your heart rate and blood pressure (It involves forceful exhaling from the lungs without letting the air escape through your mouth or nose.) tilt table test – usually recommended if your doctor suspects you might have orthostatic hypotension or NMH (During this diagnostic test, a person lies on a table and then the table is tilted to raise the upper part of their body. This simulates the change in position from sitting or lying down to standing up. People with orthostatic hypotension or NMH may feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even faint when their position changes.) Treatment and Prevention Depending on the cause(s) for your low blood pressure, certain lifestyle modifications or medications might help prevent and reduce your symptoms. If there is an underlying medical condition, managing the medical condition will resolve the low blood pressure. There are a few lifestyle changes that can help with low blood pressure: Drink more fluids, like water, to help with dehydration. Limit your alcohol intake. Even in moderation, alcohol can cause dehydration. Wear compression stockings to prevent blood from pooling in your lower limbs and help improve blood flow throughout your body. Change body positions slowly. Take your time when standing up. Increasing your salt intake can help with low blood pressure. But excessive salt intake can lead to an unhealthy increase in blood pressure. These dietary changes should only be made if recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may recommend changes to your medications if they are the cause for your hypotension. Fludrocortisone* and midodrine are two medications that your doctor may prescribe in special circumstances to help control low blood pressure. In the case of shock, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Shock is life-threatening and needs to be treated by medical personnel. *All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. More on CHealth

Hypotension

Famous for their little blue boxes, what NY based jewelry and silverware company first opened their doors on Sept 17, 1837?

Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension) Symptoms - Mayo Clinic Orthostatic hypotension. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular_disorders/symptoms_of_cardiovascular_disorders/orthostatic_hypotension.html?qt=orthostatic%20hypotension&alt=sh. Accessed Feb. 17, 2014. What is hypotension? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hyp/. Accessed Feb. 17, 2014. Kaufmann H, et al. Mechanisms, causes, and evaluation of orthostatic hypotension. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Feb. 17, 2014. Low blood pressure. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPressure/Low-Blood-Pressure_UCM_301785_Article.jsp. Accessed Feb. 17, 2014. Low PA, et al. Management of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: An update. Lancet Neurology. 2008;7:451. What is an electrocardiogram? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ekg/. Accessed Feb. 24, 2014. What is echocardiography? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/echo/. Accessed Feb. 24, 2014. Kaufmann H, et al. Treatment of orthostatic and postprandial hypotension. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Feb. 17, 2014. Figueroa JJ, et al. Preventing and treating orthostatic hypotension: As easy as A, B, C. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2010;77:298. FDA approves Northera to treat neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm386311.htm. Accessed Feb. 24, 2014. Products and Services

i don't know

Novels in which genre are eligible for the Hugo award, with Robert J Sawyer's Wake having won this years award?

Robert J. Sawyer Robert J. Sawyer Library Journal on Wake: "Sawyer's erudition, eclecticism, and masterly storytelling make this a choice selection." Sunday, April 4, 2010 Canadians Sawyer and Wilson face off for Hugo Award for Best Novel Toronto area-authors Robert J. Sawyer and Robert Charles Wilson are facing off once again for science-fiction's top international honour, the Hugo Award for Best Novel of the Year. Sawyer's Wake (published by Viking Canada / Ace USA / Gollancz UK) and Wilson's Julian Comstock: A Novel of 22nd Century America (Tor Books) are two of the six finalists for the Hugo, which will be awarded Sunday, September 5, 2010, at a gala ceremony as the highlight of the 68th annual World Science Fiction Convention , which is being held this year in Melbourne, Australia. Wake tells the story of Caitlin Decter, a blind 15-year-old math genius in Waterloo, Ontario, who discovers a nascent intelligence lurking on the World Wide Web. Julian Comstock is a satiric Victorian-style novel set in a post-apocalyptic Christian-fundamentalist United States. The full list of Best Novel nominees, announced April 4, 2010, in Melbourne, Australia: The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi The City & The City by China Mieville Boneshaker by Cherie Priest Wake by Robert J. Sawyer Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente Julian Comstock: A Novel of 22nd Century America by Robert Charles Wilson (Bacigalupi, Priest, and Valente are Americans; Mieville is British.) Sawyer shares an additional Hugo nomination this year in the category of Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) for "No More Good Days," the pilot episode of the ABC TV series FlashForward , scripted by Brannon Braga and David S. Goyer and based on Sawyer's novel of the same name . The Hugos also honour short fiction, and in the novelette category "The Island" by Toronto's Peter Watts is a finalist. In addition, the Hugos honour work in fan categories, and three Canadians are competing there: Lloyd Penney of Toronto and James Nicoll of Kitchener for Best Fan Writer, and Taral Wayne of Toronto for Best Fan Artist. All nominees in all categories are listed here . Sawyer's Wake is also currently one of five finalists for the Aurora Award , Canada's top honour in science-fiction, for Best English Novel of the Year. Wilson's Julian Comstock is expanded from his earlier novella "Julian: A Christmas Story," which was a previous Hugo finalist. Both Sawyer and Wilson are previous winners of the Best Novel Hugo: Sawyer took the prize in 2003 for Hominids , and Wilson won in 2006 for Spin. Sawyer and Wilson — known as "Rob and Bob" in science-fiction circles — have faced each other on the best-novel Hugo ballot twice before: both were nominees for the award in 1999 and in 2004. This is Wilson's 6th Hugo nomination, and Sawyer now has 13. Previous Hugo Award-winning novels include Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein, Dune by Frank Herbert, The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller, and Neuromancer by William Gibson. Watch , the sequel to Sawyer's current-finalist Wake , is being launched this Tuesday, April 6, at 7:00 p.m., at Dominion on Queen pub, 500 Queen Street West, in Toronto; the event, which kicks off Sawyer's 14-city cross-Canada book tour for Watch, is free and open to the public. Robert J. Sawyer, 49, was born in Ottawa and lives in Mississauga, Ontario. Robert Charles Wilson, 56, was born in Whittier, California, and lives in Concord, Ontario; he became a Canadian citizen last year. LINKS: Monday, March 15, 2010 Another Kuroda I revealed in this blog post that the character of Kuroda, the information theorist from my WWW trilogy consisting of Wake , Watch , and Wonder, is named for the PROBE Control telemetry specialist Kuroda from the 1972 TV series Search, which had a big influence on me. But I should note that there's another Kuroda in science fiction: the man known as "The Last Kamikaze" from the episode of that title from The Six Million Dollar Man. The Kuroda on Search was played by Byron Chung; the Kuroda on SMDM was played, absolutely brilliantly, by John Fujioka. For those who thought SMDM nothing but mindless action adventure, I commend "The Last Kamikaze" to your attention: I can't watch it without getting tears in my eyes. You can read all about the SMDM character in the Bionic Wiki here . Judy Burns wrote "The Last Kamikaze" (and its sequel, "The Wolf Boy"), and co-wrote the original Star Trek episode "The Tholian Web." Robert J. Sawyer online: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Wake review roundup Since we're in the thick of Hugo, Nebula, and Aurora Award-nominating season, forgive me for this roundup of reviews of my 2009 novel Wake (published in the US by Ace as WWW: Wake). "The thought-provoking first installment of Sawyer's WWW trilogy explores the origins and emergence of consciousness. The thematic diversity — and profundity — makes this one of Sawyer's strongest works to date." —Publishers Weekly (starred review, denoting a book of exceptional merit) "Extremely well written and complex making Tron look like pre-school, this is a terrific first tale in what looks like will be a great trilogy." —Alternative-Worlds.com "Wake was serialized in Analog recently; those who read it in these pages don't need me to tell them what a good book it is. "For many years now, Robert J. Sawyer has been turning out imaginative, thought-provoking science fiction novels set in the present day and dealing with the impact of science and technology upon relatively ordinary people. A typical Sawyer tale brings together multiple diverse elements from popular culture, psychology, physics, and philosophy; stirs together plausible advances in science with appealing characters; adds some realistic depictions of actual scientists at work and a generous helping of old-fashioned sense-of-wonder; and filters the whole mix through a distinctly Canadian filter. Wake is no exception. "Caitlin is an appealing enough character, and the premise is fascinating: a girl, blind from birth, gains the ability to see the structure of the Internet from within. A lesser writer would go with this story, following Caitlin as she learns to deal with this new, expanded world. But this is Sawyer, and there's much, much more going on. "Along the way, Sawyer raises fascinating, complex questions about the nature of consciousness and self-awareness, of communication between disparate intelligences, and compassion across huge gulfs. This is a book that you'll still be thinking about for weeks after you finish reading it." —Analog Science Fiction and Fact "Wake provides a refreshing intersect of science and real life, of consciousness and perception, of imagination and potential. Sawyer puts the science back in science fiction and does it with panache." —Bitten by Books "Sawyer's take on theories about the origin of consciousness, generated within the framework of an engaging story, is fascinating, and his approach to machine consciousness and the Internet is surprisingly fresh." —Booklist "A very entertaining read. Sawyer has written a pretty fast paced novel with Wake. Deceptively so in fact. Although it does not slow the story down he has packed the text with references to developments in information technology, mathematics, physics, linguistics and a number of other fields. Parts of the novel read like Oliver Sacks writing science fiction." —Bookspot Central "While this is clearly a novel of big ideas, the author never neglects the individual characters. Caitlin, her parents, Dr. Kuroda, and even the kids at school all seem very realistic. Allowing us to follow Caitlin's story from her point of view works perfectly. She's a teenager, so she's moody and very human; but she's a very smart girl, applying knowledge to new situations and grasping abstract concepts with relative ease. She's a great character, with flaws and a sense of humor." —CA Reviews "I shouldn't be shocked that Sawyer has done has homework and is able to predict things that could happen in the near future. He's had a long, distinguished career of doing just that and his new novels are always those I look forward to reading next. Wake is no exception. "While the book is full of big ideas, those ideas are grounded in identifiable characters. The main focus of the story is Catlin and her journey from lack of sight to her new ability to see. Sawyer ably puts the reader inside the mind and experience of Catlin, making us see how she works within the world while being blind and how she must learn to adapt to a world where she can see. Catlin's story will have you feeling her joy, her frustration and her curious nature in how she relates to the world." —The Dragon Page "I love the fact that Robert J. Sawyer is smarter than me. There is a breadth to his concepts and ideas in his latest novel, Wake, that is exhilarating, if not exhausting. In the hands of a less skilled and less focused author, it would be like tab-surfing Wikipedia. Wake, however, is an engrossing, fascinating and, yes, challenging novel to read. Wake has more great and intriguing ideas, philosophies and concepts interwoven throughout the plot than should be allowed in a single novel. "Wake is founded on theories that communication, in any form, is not just a way of sharing information, but is the central construct for all education, for true emancipation as well as the vehicle of all empathy and understanding. This is why Sawyer's Wake succeeds; his unabashed optimism and hope for a shared future that is no longer bound and tethered by tyranny, petty opportunism and fear." —FFWD, aka Fast Forward Weekly (Calgary, Alberta) "Wake by Robert J. Sawyer is another delight from the pen of an author who knows how to romp through the kind of speculation which makes science fiction most fun. Definitely give this one a try." —Fort Morgan Times (Colorado) "Robert J. Sawyer's books are for me among a select group. When there's a new Robert J. Sawyer book available, all other leisure activities go on hold until it's read. Robert J. Sawyer writes science fiction that makes you think. His books often tackle the philosophical questions of our time, and the philosophical questions we may need to confront at a future time. "The main human character in [Wake] is Caitlin Decter. She's 15, a mathematics wizard, a frequent blogger on her LiveJournal — and a blind user of JAWS. It's rare to find novels where the main character is blind, let alone when where the research has clearly been so meticulous." — Jonathan Mosen, Vice-President of Blindness Hardware Product Management, Freedom Scientific [makers of JAWS] "Wake often feels like a counterargument, both in style and content, to Neuromancer. One hopes that the next two volumes will step out of Gibson's long, dark shadow and build on the solid foundation laid in the first book. If Sawyer succeeds in this, the final nail will be hammered into Cyberpunk's coffin and the world will have a new way to write about the Internet. ... Wake is a major work by one of SF's heavyweights. "Reading this book feels like watching a magic trick. Sawyer starts with a few pieces of string, shows you what's up his sleeves — nothing — and then starts tying them together. He steps back, gives the ropes a good yank and — Ta-Da — you have a tidy knot in the shape of a brain. "The literati could very well be, to a person, too bloody stupid to see any of this. They seem to think that a tight plot construction and a clear prose style are inartistic. Sawyer gets a lot of well-deserved respect as a storyteller and as a science pundit but not enough as a prose stylist. It should not be overlooked that he is a science fiction writer. Sawyer attacks the novel from different points of view, using different styles and narrative tools; creates suspense while never employing an antagonist, tells history through a symbolic representation of consciousness and creates a character out of nothing. He does all of this so well and layers in so much page-turning, forward thrust, that the extent of his style is invisible." —The Grumpy Owl "Robert J. Sawyer is widely considered one of the most inventive and popular writers in the science fiction genre, and here's why: he imagines things that are wildly fanciful, and he makes them seem not only plausible, but downright inevitable. Sawyer has a knack for taking realistic characters and plunking them down in stories that might seem far-fetched, if they weren't so vividly imagined and elegantly told. He's an excellent storyteller, and you catch him here at his very best." —Halifax Chronicle-Herald "Sawyer continues to push the boundaries with his stories of the future made credible. His erudition, eclecticism, and masterly storytelling make this trilogy opener a choice selection." —Library Journal "Wake is a marvelous story [with] a convincing narrative from the AI perspective. What I like best about this novel is Sawyer's casual dropping in of various bits of history that I know, and other bits of current fact that I haven't paid attention to. Eye openers on Chinese politics and insights into research into communicating with chimpanzees make this novel an eclectic reading SF fan's delight. "Sawyer's SF story of an Artificial Intelligence dawning in the World Wide Web has the emotional impact of Buffy fighting demons from another dimension." —Jacqueline Lichtenberg in The Monthly Aspectarian "Wake is about as good as it gets when it comes to science fiction. In Caitlin, Sawyer has created a likable and sympathetic hero. She's smart, sure, but also full of sass, which lends itself to some wildly entertaining reading. Sawyer's combination of writing skill and computing background come together marvelously in this book. The characters are rich and realistic, while the ideas are fresh and fascinating." —The Maine Edge, Bangor, Maine "Unforgettable. Impossible to put down." —Nebula Award-winner Jack McDevitt "When I am asked what my favourite science fiction novel is, invariably the answer is: `The last one by Robert Sawyer.' With the publication of Wake, Rollback must sadly make way for the new title holder. Wake is, in the words of its heroine, made out of awesome." —McNally Robinson, Canada's second-largest bookstore chain "Sawyer's treatment of the awakening of a consciousness from a man-made construct (in this case the web) coupled with the awe and wonder of a blind person's journey to sight is brilliant. "Without revealing the ending, I have to say it had one. So many authors of multi-volume works don't bother tying up enough of the loose ends to keep the reader satisfied at the end of any but the last volume. When we have to wait at least a year for the next installment, I think the author owes us one. Sawyer came through with a most satisfying ending -- not even rushed. Wake also ends with a perfect last line. But no peeking!" —MostlyFiction Book Reviews "Sawyer is one of the most successful Canadian writers ever. He has won himself an international readership by reinvigorating the traditions of hard science fiction, following the path of such writers as Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein in his bold speculations from pure science. Clashes between personalities and ideologies fuel [Wake's] plot, but they're not what the book is about. It's about how cool science is. "Sawyer has marshalled a daunting quantity of fact and theory from across scientific disciplines and applied them to a contemporary landscape — with due regard to cultural and political differences, pop culture, history, economics, adolescent yearnings, personal ambition and human frailty." —National Post "Sawyer paints a complete portrait of a blind teenage girl, and imagines in detail — from scratch — the inside of a new being. Almost alone among Canadian writers, he tackles the most fundamental questions of who we are and where we might be going — while illuminating where we are now." —The Ottawa Citizen "A superb work of day-after-tomorrow science fiction; I enjoyed every page." —Hugo Award-winner Allen Steele "From an author who has written many books and has won just about every award a science fiction author can comes one of the most original and fascinating novels to be published in a long time. It's one of those books that has just as much right to be on a fiction shelf with other literature classics. "Sawyer has done a fantastic job of researching the science, but also throws in lots of references that any savvy Internet user will recognize, appreciate, and be amused about; as well as putting the readers in the mind of a blind person and how they do the amazing things they do each day." —Sacramento Book Review "Sawyer's fascination with the birth of consciousness and the relationship of consciousness to humanity makes this more than your typical `the machine is alive' story. Likewise, his compassionate writing lets us avoid the trap of assuming monstrosity in difference. As Caitlin and the consciousness of the Web learn to communicate, readers can easily begin to question what it is that makes us human — and whether or not that is enough to make us special, or just one variation among all consciousness, artificial or natural. Like all great science fiction, Sawyer's work ultimately stirs up philosophical questions, and Wake is no exception." —Sacramento News & Review "A fast-paced and suspenseful story full of surprises and humour." —The Saskatoon StarPhoenix "Wake is a gripping story with a novel premise and almost flawless execution." —Science Fiction and Fantasy Insider [Night Owl Reviews] "Emotionally satisfying and intellectually stimulating. Along with William Gibson's Neuromancer and Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, Robert J. Sawyer's Wake presents a unique perspective on information technology. I eagerly await its sequels." —SFFaudio "Sawyer is a brand name in the genre and rightfully so. The book [Wake] was very enjoyable; I highly recommend it!" —SFFWorld "A brilliant look at interspecies communication with some remarkable insights into the future of artificial intelligence; one of Robert Sawyer's best efforts and one that will open your eyes to new possibilities. He's likely to score a hit with everyone from Gibson and Stephenson's crowd to science oriented YA readers of both genders looking for a summer read." —SFRevu "I'm impressed. Sawyer's story-telling style is almost invisible to the reader; he doesn't get in the way of his own story, and writes short, punchy chapters that keep the reader saying `just one more.' (It's the type of book I love when I've finished, but hate while I'm reading, because I can't put it down.) His characters are fully realized, and I always finish his books wanting more." —SFScope "Once again, Robert J. Sawyer explores the intersection between big ideas and real people. Here the subject is consciousness and perception — who we are and how we see one another, both literally and figuratively. Thoughtful and engaging, and a great beginning to a fascinating trilogy." —Hugo Award-winner Robert Charles Wilson "Now, the idea of a digital intelligence forming online is not a new one, by any means. But I daresay most of the people tackling such a concept automatically assumed, as I always did, that such a being would not only have access to the shared data of the Internet, but the conceptual groundings needed to understand it. And that's where Robert J. Sawyer turns this into such a fascinating, satisfying piece. In a deliberate parallel to the story of Helen Keller, he tackles the need for building a common base of understanding, before unleashing an education creation upon the Web's vast storehouse of knowledge. "More than that, Sawyer is an author who's not afraid to make his readers think. The topics invoked in this book cover a wide range, from math to theories of intelligence, from what it's like to be blind, to cutting edge technology. He incorporates the myriad resources available online, including Livejournal, Wikipedia, Google, Project Gutenberg, WordNet, and perhaps the most interesting site of all, Cyc, a real site aimed at codifying knowledge so that anyone, including emerging artificial intelligences, might understand. He ties in Internet topography and offbeat musicians, primate signing and Chinese hackers, and creates a wholly believable set of circumstances spinning out of a world we can as good as reach out to touch. There's quite a lot to consider, and Sawyer's good at making it accessible to the average reader. "Sawyer has delivered another excellent tale." —SF Site "It's refreshing to read a book so deliberately Canadian in a genre dominated by Americans, and it's easy to see why Sawyer now routinely wins not only Canadian science fiction prizes but also international accolades. His fans won't be disappointed, and readers picking up his work for the first time will get a good introduction to a writer with a remarkable backlist." —Winnipeg Free Press Sunday, January 10, 2010 Wake is #2 on BookBanter's 2009 Best-of-the-Year List W00t! Wake by Robert J. Sawyer is #2 on BookBanter 's list of the best books of 2009. #1 is Drood by Dan Simmons #2 is Wake by Robert J. Sawyer #3 is Under the Dome by Stephen King The full list is is here , and BookBanter's review of Wake (originally published in the Sacramento Book Review) is here , and BookBanter's podcast interview with me is here . "From an author who has written a number of books and has won just about every award a science fiction author can comes one of the most original and fascinating novels to be published in a long time. It’s one of those books that has just as much right to be on a fiction shelf with other literature classics." --Alexander Tealander, BookBanter Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Wake is a 2009 book My novel Wake , which was published in the US by Ace and Canada by Viking and the UK by Gollancz, all in 2009, actually had its first appearance as a serial in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, the world's bestselling English-language SF magazine. It was serialized in four parts, with installments in the November 2008, December 2008, the combined January-February 2009, and March 2009 issues. But, just so there's no ambiguity, it is a 2009 book. Under both the Hugo and the Nebula rules, a serial is considered published in the year in which its final installment appeared, so Wake is eligible for the Hugo to be given in Melbourne later this year Anyone who had a membership in last year's Worldcon in Montreal, or this year's in Australia, may cast a nominating ballot . Wednesday, December 23, 2009 Sawyer to present keynote at Julian Jaynes conference Those of you who have read my novel Wake , about the World Wide Web gaining consciousness, know how prominently Julian Jaynes's famous book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind figures in the book. In fact, my main character, Caitlin Decter, even posts a review of the book (under her online name of Calculass) on Amazon.com, as part of the story: 18 of 22 people found the following review helpful: ***** A fascinating theory By Calculass (Waterloo, ON Canada) - See all my reviews Jaynes makes an intriguing case that our sense of self emerged only after the left and right sides of the brain became integrated into a single thinking machine. Me, I think being self-aware emerges when you realize that there's someone other than you. For most of us, that happens at birth (but for an exception, see The World I Live In by one H. Keller, also a five-star read). Anyway, Jaynes's theory is fascinating, but I can't think of a way to test it empirically, so I guess we'll never know if he was right ... So, I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I will be giving the keynote address at the 2010 Julian Jaynes Conference on Consciousness . The conference, held every two years by the Department of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island, attracts scholars of Jaynes and consciousness from all over the world. It will take place July 29-31, 2010, in Charlottetown. Monday, November 30, 2009 British edition of Wake now available! My UK publisher, Gollancz (an imprint of Orion), has just released the British edition of Wake , the first volume of my WWW trilogy. It's in paperback over there (the North American paperbacks come out at the end of March 2010). Woohoo! "Sawyer's take on theories about the origin of consciousness, generated within the framework of an engaging story, is fascinating, and his approach to machine consciousness and the Internet is surprisingly fresh." —Booklist "Sawyer continues to push the boundaries with his stories of the future made credible. His erudition, eclecticism, and masterly storytelling make this trilogy opener a choice selection." —Library Journal "Unforgettable. Impossible to put down." —Nebula Award-winner Jack McDevitt "Wake is about as good as it gets when it comes to science fiction. In Caitlin, Sawyer has created a likable and sympathetic hero. She's smart, sure, but also full of sass, which lends itself to some wildly entertaining reading. Sawyer's combination of writing skill and computing background come together marvelously in this book. The characters are rich and realistic, while the ideas are fresh and fascinating." —The Maine Edge, Bangor, Maine "Sawyer is one of the most successful Canadian writers ever. He has won himself an international readership by reinvigorating the traditions of hard science fiction, following the path of such writers as Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein in his bold speculations from pure science. Clashes between personalities and ideologies fuel [Wake's] plot, but they're not what the book is about. It's about how cool science is. Sawyer has marshalled a daunting quantity of fact and theory from across scientific disciplines and applied them to a contemporary landscape — with due regard to cultural and political differences, pop culture, history, economics, adolescent yearnings, personal ambition and human frailty. —National Post "Sawyer paints a complete portrait of a blind teenage girl, and imagines in detail — from scratch — the inside of a new being. Almost alone among Canadian writers, he tackles the most fundamental questions of who we are and where we might be going — while illuminating where we are now." —The Ottawa Citizen "The wildly thought-provoking first installment of Sawyer's WWW trilogy explores the origins and emergence of consciousness. The thematic diversity — and profundity — makes this one of Sawyer's strongest works to date." —Publishers Weekly (starred review, denoting a book of exceptional merit) "Emotionally satisfying and intellectually stimulating. Along with William Gibson's Neuromancer and Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, Robert J. Sawyer's Wake presents a unique perspective on information technology. I eagerly await its sequels." —SFFaudio "A superb work of day-after-tomorrow science fiction; I enjoyed every page." —Hugo Award-winner Allen Steele "Once again, Robert J. Sawyer explores the intersection between big ideas and real people. Here the subject is consciousness and perception — who we are and how we see one another, both literally and figuratively. Thoughtful and engaging, and a great beginning to a fascinating trilogy." —Hugo Award-winner Robert Charles Wilson "It's refreshing to read a book so deliberately Canadian in a genre dominated by Americans, and it's easy to see why Sawyer now routinely wins not only Canadian science fiction prizes but also international accolades. His fans won't be disappointed, and readers picking up his work for the first time will get a good introduction to a writer with a remarkable backlist." —Winnipeg Free Press Friday, September 18, 2009 The end of an era Received today, via FedEx, the actual production manuscript for my novel Wake , returned from Ace Science Fiction, my New York publisher. This manuscript is the one that was marked up (in various colors of pen and pencil) by the copyeditor and the book designer and me (and Carolyn, too). I now have 18 such master manuscripts in my files, one for each of my novels to date. But this will be the last one. Ace is switching over entirely to electronic production (they've come a long way since 1991, when, after much pushing by me and my Ace editor back then, Peter Heck, my Far-Seer , was the very first novel they ever typeset from an author's computer disk). I now submit my manuscripts by email, and starting with Watch, the second WWW novel, they're being copyedited electronically, too. It's more efficient, yes, but it does signal the end of an era, and, of course, the kind of single, master marked-up manuscript that will no longer be produced was of considerable academic interest (I'm getting close to being ready to donate my papers to an institution). The times, they do change ... Saturday, September 12, 2009 Holy cow! Wake on Locus bestsellers list for third month! My new novel Wake is on the Locus bestsellers' list for a third consecutive month. It debuted at #2 (and was the highest-ranked SF, as opposed to fantasy, title) in the April 2009 data period, and was #5 in May (and the second-highest-ranked SF title), and now is tied for #10 in June (as reported in the September 2009 issue). The only book with a longer run on the hardcover list currently is Stephenie Meyer's The Host. The full list is here . My previous three-consecutive-month runs were for Rollback in paperback (data periods February, March, and April 2008) and for Hominids in hardcover (before it had won the Hugo; data periods May, June, and July 2002). Monday, August 17, 2009 Wake on the Locus bestsellers list for a second month! W00t! Woohoo! My Wake , first of my WWW trilogy, is on the Locus hardcover bestsellers list for a second consecutive month. It was #2 last month (and the highest-ranked SF, rather than fantasy book); this month it holds on at #5 (and is the second-highest-ranked SF book). This is my 28th appearance on the Locus bestsellers list. Also of note is that the beautiful new trade paperback of Calculating God is the new "runner-up" (that is, 6th place) title on the trade-paperback bestsellers list (it hit #1 on the Locus list when it first came out in mass-market paperback in 2000). Go me! :) [Yes, I've been writing too much Caitlin of late ... ;) ] The full list is here (data period May 2009, reported in the August 2009 issue). Friday, July 17, 2009 Wake #2 Locus Bestseller W00t! My novel Wake is #2 on the Locus Hardcover Bestsellers' List. And #1 is a fantasy novel, which makes mine the top-selling SF novel in the stores Locus surveys. Locus is the trade journal of the science-fiction field. Here's the list, published in the July 2009 issue (for the data period April 2009); the numbers at the end of each line are "months on list" and "position last month." 1) Turn Coat, Jim Butcher (Roc) [1,-] 2) WWW: Wake , Robert J. Sawyer (Ace) [1,-] 3) Rides a Dread Legion, Raymond E. Feist (Eos) [1,-] 4) The Host, Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown) [12,3] 5) The Mystery of Grace, Charles de Lint (Tor) [2,7] *) The Revolution Business, Charles Stross (Tor) [1,-] 7) The Temporal Void, Peter F. Hamilton (Ballantine Del Rey) [1,-] 8) Bone Crossed, Patricia Briggs (Ace) [3,5] 9) Imager, L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Tor) [2,8] *) Storm from the Shadows, David Weber (Baen) [2,1] Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Edward Willett on the science of Wake You gotta love Edward Willett . Here it is, in the thick of Aurora Award voting , where his absolutely first-rate Marseguro is competing against Hayden Trenholm's wonderful Defining Diana and my own Identity Theft and Other Stories , and what does Ed do? Why, he writes a glowing review of Hayden's book, and then follows that up by devoting his latest science column to issues in my new novel Wake . Ed's column ("Willett's World of Science") is available both as text and with Ed himself reading it aloud (and Ed has an amazing voice). Check it out! And -- thanks, Ed! Tuesday, June 30, 2009 Freedom Scientific podcast features RJS and Wake Freedom Scientific makes JAWS , the screen-reading software that Caitlin Decter uses in my novel Wake . JAWS is the world's most popular screen-reading program for the blind. A quite lengthy and detailed interview between Robert J. Sawyer and Jonathan Mosen, Freedom Scientific's Vice-President of Blindness Hardware Product Management, begins a couple of minutes into the podcast (but the preamble is fascinating, full of interesting stuff about products for the blind). The interview deals with how I researched blindness, my own experience with blindness, the reaction to Wake from the blind community, plus my residency at the Canadian Light Source, machine consciousness, the role of science fiction, and a bunch of other cool topics. The MP3 of the podcast is here , and the Podcast XML link is here . I've done a lot of audio interviews related to Wake , but this one is a particularly in-depth and interesting one, I must say. Incidentally, the interview was recorded via Skype with me in Saskatoon, and Jonathan in New Zealand. From Jonathan's introductory comments: Robert J. Sawyer's books are for me among a select group. When there's a new Robert J. Sawyer book available, all other leisure activities go on hold until it's read. Robert J. Sawyer writes science fiction that makes you think. His books often tackle the philosophical questions of our time, and the philosophical questions we may need to confront at a future time. The main human character in [ Wake ] is Caitlin Decter. She's 15, a mathematics wizard, a frequent blogger on her LiveJournal — and a blind user of JAWS. It's rare to find novels where the main character is blind, let alone when where the research has clearly been so meticulous. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Geek! Geek Monthly , that is. And the June 2009 edition of this glossy American newsstand magazine features a wonderful two-page spread on Robert J. Sawyer and his new novel Wake . The text isn't available online (hence the greeked Geek you're seeing here), so get thee to a newsstandary! But it sure is a cool-looking layout: The article, by Jeff Renaud, is entitled The World Wide Web Wakes Up in 2009 ... And Robert Sawyer Set the Alarm, and it begins: Wake, the first book in Robert Sawyer's highly anticipated WWW trilogy, boasts a leading man that will be tough to cast if Hollywood ever wants to make it into a movie. How the heck do you screen test for a series of tubes? So, go grab a copy! Tuesday, June 23, 2009 RJS on WordStar cited in paper about accessibility for the blind Stumbled on this quite by accident, and found it an interesting coincidence, given that my current novel, Wake , deals with a blind teenager trying to deal with computers: a January 2006 technical paper entitled "A Personal Information Management Approach for People With Low Vision or Blindness" by Silas S. Brown and Peter Robinson of University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory -- which quotes at length my 1990 essay entitled "WordStar: A Writer's Wordprocessor." The paper appeared in the newsletter of the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Accessible Computing -- and, in another coincidence, the last page of the current Communications of the ACM is a piece by me about the science behind Wake . Sunday, June 21, 2009 Wake is Halfax's top beach-reading pick No, not Don Halifax -- the main character in my novel Rollback -- but the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, the major daily newspaper in the capital city of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, which starts its list entitled "Beach Reading: Fiction Picks for Summer," compiled by David Pitt, with my Wake , published in Canada under Penguin's Viking imprint. The write-up on Wake concludes: Sawyer has a knack for taking realistic characters and plunking them down in stories that might seem far-fetched, if they weren’t so vividly imagined and elegantly told. He’s an excellent storyteller, and you catch him here at his very best. You can read the whole review -- and the rest of the Chronicle Herald's summer picks -- here .

Science fiction

Sept 17, 1976 saw the unveiling of which NASA space shuttle, which while it was not destined to boldly go where no man had gone before, was a valuable test bed?

Late Hugo Notes – Whatever August 25, 2011 at 11:13 am I would love to see a YA award in the sense of being voted on only by YA readers. I suspect that the logistics of accomplishing such a thing (verification, get-out-the-vote, etc) could be prohibitive, but I think that it would be a meaningful addition to the lineup. Hopefully those young readers, having voted for that award, would then go on to have a peek at the nominees in other categories, too. critter42 says: August 25, 2011 at 11:13 am I’m in the meh category myself. It’s always seemed to me that really well-written YA is virtually indistinguishable from “adult” genre literature. (Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother is one that comes to mind – strip the YA designation and I guarantee you wouldn’t know the difference. JoelZ says: August 25, 2011 at 11:23 am Scalzi wrote “so maybe, if there is to be a YA-only award at Worldcon, the solution is having a not-a-Hugo YA award which can develop its own personality.” Though not part of the Hugo ceremony, The Hal Clement Award for Young Adult for Young Adult Science Fiction is presented at the Worldcon each year. August 25, 2011 at 11:27 am Thoughts! Topics! On kvetching: the main kvetching I hear is either (1) about the Connie Willis book(s), various flavors of kvetching but specific to that book, or (2) looking at the 1-2-3 Dr Who short form sweep and wondering, “really, were three Dr Who episodes the 3 best short form dramatic presentations last year, or are people going ‘I LOVE DR WHO!’ and voting them 1-2-3”. I don’t *really* have a huge cosmic problem with either, but hey I feel that I earn my right to kvetch by reigstering for WorldCon, nominating, and voting. :) So I’ll kvetch a little. What I see is “Connie deserved a Hugo” and not “Black Out/All Clear deserved a Hugo” though, really, three of the five finalists didn’t wow the crap out of me to begin with, and I can see why a more sf-focused fandom didn’t pick an epic fantasy novel and/or a near future mosaic/character novel. On the short dramatic presenation thing I … really don’t care. Though calling it “The Dr Who Fandom Award” isn’t too far off the mark. On YA: A not a Hugo for YA if on the same nomination process as the “real” Hugos … seems like that would disadvantage the YA novels from being considered for best novel. “OK, I get to fill out this nomination form, let’s look at the categories… best novel, best ya novel, ok, I’ll fill the right things in the right places.” And having the same book conceivably win both awards … not sure I like the idea. I do however join you in the “YA and YR literature are important and can be awesome even for us grumpy grown up types” camp and would love to see maybe a judged award presented by WorldCon — though with the “not a Nebula” Norton Award already serving pretty much that purpose, I don’t know how *necessary* it is. WorldCon isn’t widely overrun with or focused on 15-18 year old guests — and maybe that’s not a great thing, but it is what it is — so I don’t know that it *needs* a YA novel award for any real reason other than, hey, let’s celebrate some of the great YA sf/f novels of this year. Which can be done quite nicely by having a Norton Award reception or recognition or whatever. That said, John P. Murphy’s idea of a YA award voted on only by YA fandom — THAT is interesting. That might engage these readers in the whole Hugo/WorldCon world, and that is something very close to a good reason to do a thing like this. August 25, 2011 at 11:27 am I vote no on the misadventures of lil’ Hugo–unless the award given involves a statue of a little space kid with a slingshot sticking out of his back pocket. I rather like the idea of an independent not-a-Hugo YA award, though, with its own legacy of recognizing and celebrating the year’s paragon of YA Sci-Fi. But subordinating a YA award under Hugo dilutes both. August 25, 2011 at 11:27 am I’m all for the Post-Hugo Kvetching, myself. Half of the reason for an award is to get people talking about the reward and it’s results. If we didn’t want people to do that, we wouldn’t publicize who won, after all. Look at all the media and commentary that pops up when the Oscars are coming up and going past, and all the attention and conversation that provokes! (Heck, part of that is Mr. Scalzi’s job, when it’s reflected in his weekly column.) Besides, as Cory Doctorow has pointed out, the modern writer’s main problem is publicity. Every person posting about the Hugo results, either positive or negative, is listing out the winners and the person they wanted to have win, and discussing them, and bringing them to more people’s attention, so that the next time someone’s looking to pick up a book, they’ll recognize a title, or an author, and pick it up to see if it really was “that good” or “that bad” as they heard. Kvetching about the results is what the Hugos are for… and for giving people shiny metal rocketship trophies, which all the Kvetching isn’t going to change anyway. August 25, 2011 at 11:30 am Oh! And JoelZ, thanks for mentioning the Hal Clement Award. This is part of the Golden Duck Awards lineup and, along with a few other awards which go on during WorldCon (The Sidewise Award for alternative history for example) don’t get nearly enough credit and/or mention. I thought I tuned into the entire Hugo ceremony online, but I didn’t see/hear any presentation about either of these awards, which might be a nice little thing, I dunno. Michael says: August 25, 2011 at 11:31 am I get the post-Hugo Kvetching as I have done it myself…For instance, I feel there is no way in the world than anything but “Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury” should have won short form dramatic. It was funny, clever, and enlightening. But the majority of voters foolishly wasted their votes disagreed with me.On the other hand, I haven’t read all the novels or shorts this year, so I have no opinion there. SFWA already named an award after Norton…maybe WorldCon could name an award after Heinlein (hey, I loved the Heinleiin Juveniles) or maybe Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams (publishing juvenile fiction over 30 years has to have had some impact, didn’t it?). Michael says: Oh…or maybe the Hal Clement award could just be moved into the main Hugo ceremony? Meg Spencer says: August 25, 2011 at 11:51 am I love YA, and I love the idea of having another place to pad my to-read list, but there are a lot of reasons why I’d have to agree with our host’s “meh” at this point. Functionally removing YA from the best novel award is a big one, splitting the awards too thin is another. I also kind of wonder what would be accomplished. Recognizing great books is one thing, but again, functionally removing them from consideration for best novel seems to de-value the new award. Getting more awareness for YA is great, but I’m not sure that a separate award would really do that. It seems like adults are going to make up their mind about reading YA on their own, and do kids really pay attention to awards? August 25, 2011 at 12:14 pm I have been getting a tad cynical about Dr Who… It probably is the TV series that is getting the best combination of writing and acting of anything in the SF genre, of late. So it’s not very surprising that it is winning prizes. Unfortunately, the stories have been getting awfully over-self-indulgent. Oh, we haven’t seen Daleks for 3 episodes; time for them to come back and get “revised” somehow so as to appear a bit more threatening, but still not actually succeed at anything other than quailing at the Doctor’s appearance. Oh, it’s a “last episode” for the season; gotta bring back all the remaining living companions because if having one companion is good, surely having 4 along for the ride makes things even more awesome! In contrast, when Blink won its numerous awards, it was worth noting that it underplayed the involvement of Doctor and companions; they were secondary characters in the tale, and that’s part of what made it really good. B. Durbin says: August 25, 2011 at 12:19 pm My question is the voting tables that they published without explanation. I know that everybody who voted had the opportunity to rank their votes; my question is how they were counted. Am I correct in assuming that they counted first place votes, threw out the smallest category, then went on with second-place votes and so on until the final winners received higher votes than all the works they beat? That’s… a bad way of phrasing it. But I haven’t seen how they do the “runoff” voting, and I know that for at least one category, the second-place finalist received more first-place votes than the winner, so I’m curious how they do this. jen says: August 25, 2011 at 12:25 pm This being my first year voting and reading all the nominees and not having any other reference point, I am really hoping that this was a weak year for the Hugos. None of the books or stories really blew me away so I’m not surprised that most of the winners did not match my selections. I guess prior to going through this year’s nominees I had been reading books from various “top 10 lists of all time” so maybe my baseline expectations were too high? August 25, 2011 at 12:38 pm Kvetching – one of those yiddish words that’s become part of the fannish lexicon. Leads to tsuris. I see two distinct groups among the kibitzers: those who care about the award and fandom Soooooo much that anything less than perfection is cause for complaint, engendered from a genuine sense of wanting to see improvement towards impossible perfection. The second, those who want to diminish the award for some reason or other, be it the belief that their tastes should be shared by everyone (which you identified) or perhaps because they believe that some other award is more worthy. They also seem to believe that attacking one award is going to elevate some other award, which, if nothing else, does seem to go along with the rest of the (a) logical process. On the YA. There’s a strong core of Worldcon related fans/SMOFs/etcs that have been expressing a ‘no more awards’/’let’s chop some we have now’ sentiment over the past several years. There’s another group that seems to revel in proposing new awards every year. Personally, I’d like to separate the written word awards from everything else and don’t think there’s a need for a YA award. I think that SF fandom at-large, has long had the proper relationship to the written word, which its’ demonstrated by awarding YA works in the past (over non-YA), which is that – if it is a good piece of work, the label doesn’t matter. (Which statement puts me into the shoes of those who believe that my tastes ought to be shared by everyone since I don’t believe that a relatively recent YA Hugo winning novel should have been on the ballot, much less won. I have remained sane enough to recognize that view won’t be held by everyone. Just folks who are as intelligent, erudite and cultured as myself, and we, unfortunately, are not in the majority.) Anyway, my bottom line is that plenty of YA works are read and enjoyed by ‘adults’ and, at least in the fantasy and SF realms, there’s little distinction made between YA and not-YA (marketing labels & hype notwithstanding). And I actually think it empowers younger readers to some extent to find out that a novel ‘written for them’ could be nominated for or even win and “adult” award. Xopher says: August 25, 2011 at 12:50 pm B. Durbin, the nominee with the fewest first-place votes is cast out, and the second-place votes from those ballots become first place ones, third become second, etc. This process continues until one nominee has a majority of (original or promoted) first-place votes. A separate YA Hugo sounds like a good idea at first, but I have to say I find the arguments against it in this thread pretty convincing. Of course, it wouldn’t be a junior AWARD (all Hugos are the same; you get a rocket, end of story), so it would split the field, and lead to arguments about what is and is not YA. I need to think about this some more, but currently my sense is that it’s a bad idea. So thanks to John and commenters for giving me food for thought! Aurora Celeste says: August 25, 2011 at 1:03 pm I would like to see a YA award in hopes that it will expose more voters to good YA Literature. Perhaps it is the people I meet in fandom, but I have very few people to talk to about YA sci-fi even at Lit-heavy cons, and the ones I do only take two or three sentences to say “But I thought the Heinlein Juveniles were good . . .” I do have the hesitancy that if you haven’t ready YA since Heinlein then maybe you shouldn’t be voting for such an award, but I also think that too many only read YA by past adult-literature Hugo nominees and ignore all the good writers that stay there permanently. Also, on the selfish front, giving a YA award might get more YA writers to attend so I could meet them. Right now it’s hard for me to justify attending WorldCon next year, who everyone tells me *should* be full of “my people”, when DragonCon and Sirens both cost the same for me to attend and have more fans, authors, and programming of the literature I like even though WorldCon is supposed to be the pinnacle of sci-fi literature. August 25, 2011 at 1:12 pm I was just having a YA discussion on G+. I think I’m really undecided here. When I was a child, I don’t remember there even being a thing called YA. Books were either for children of a variety of ages and you read them in grade school or they are adult. A lot of the titles I see now falling into the YA category, I read them or my children read them, or would have read them if they were published at the time, in grade school (K-7). I think YA is a clever marketing ploy. There have been very few books that I’ve seen recently published in that category that my boys (12 and 16) have not already outgrown. The ones that they do enjoy (Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children) is a book adults really enjoy as well. I would put that books in the ‘adult’ category with a caveat that you must be young at heart. The Harry Potter series, I classify as children’s books, not YA. I think part of my issue is that in grade 7, The Lord of the Flies is required reading here. Lord of the Rings was read in grade school. The Anne Shirley series was read in grade school. The Little House series, again grade school. These are titles that I see many people either put in the YA or Adult (Lords) categories. Fuzzy Nation is a book that I would have read as a young teen, even so I read it and loved it, as an adult. But it would have been something had you written it when I was my boys’ ages, I’d have loved it then and not found it too adult. My youngest is reading it and loving it and nothing is ‘over his head’. And then there is the whole moving books that were once adult into the YA category (Enders). Just solidifies for me that YA is a great marketing and money making tool. I suppose this is my long way to say I don’t even understand YA to begin with. To me, it appears to be a clever marketing ploy and not its own category, but rather one invented to make more money. And I can’t understand how a YA is possible when one cannot even really define what YA is, outside of a way to brand a book and make more money. August 25, 2011 at 1:26 pm Aurora Celeste: “I would like to see a YA award in hopes that it will expose more voters to good YA Literature.” Which is a positive for them, but it should be noted that YA Literature is doing just fine without science fiction fans, if one goes by overall sales numbers. YA doesn’t need SF fandom to recognize its existence: it’s already got millions upon millions of teens and tweens to do that. Shrike58 says: This time around I gather that there are a lot of folks across the pond who aren’t impressed with Ms. Willis’ grasp of British history; and they have blogs. Josh Jasper says: August 25, 2011 at 1:46 pm here’s always post-Hugo kvetching, for the same reason there’s pre-Hugo kvetching, which is, people like to kvetch, and/or they have a hard time internalizing that their own tastes are not in fact an objective standard of quality. I do think there’s a core of commenters whose problem internalizing that other people have other tastes is overlaid with a more-than-mild contempt for fandom, i.e., “Oh, fandom. You’ve shown again why you can’t be trusted to pick awards, you smelly, chunky people of common tastes, you.” Fandom does what fandom does with folks like that: it ignores them, which I think is generally the correct response to such wholly unwarranted condescension. But if people want to gripe, however they want to gripe, it’s their call. Pretty meta of you, John, engaging in criticism of criticism. But I think your criticism is lacking in that it’s not actually pointing to anything specific, and it’s more of a broad brush than I’d care to use. This sort of critique paints any criticism of the Hugo choices with the brush that it’s not worth listening to. Perhaps I’m misreading you, though. Or perhaps you’re just putting this out as a silly one-off, and that’s fine, because then I can just chalk it up to John being funny. But if it’s not, I think it’s actually worth looking at the Hugo choices, and talking about them in a critical manner. YMMV, or I might have misread you. Either way, it was great seeing you there. You missed the closing out of the after-party, which was epic. michael says: Something not worth kvetching about is a thing not worth doing! -m August 25, 2011 at 1:55 pm Jules, you make a good point about there not being a good definition of YA. So if there is no definition, then how could there be a separate YA Hugo award? Personally, I don’t think we need another Hugo for YA. Also Jules, although it may be a “marketing ploy” to brand a book as YA, and therefore make more money, what is wrong with that? Writing and publishing is a business, and it is a good thing to sell more books and make more money. JoelZ says: August 25, 2011 at 1:56 pm Even though I am friends with the individuals who proposed the Hugo for Children’s/Young Adult book, I do not think I would have supported it. While Xopher (#18) notes that “it wouldn’t be a junior AWARD (all Hugos are the same; you get a rocket, end of story),” I think that the exact wording of the amendment [“An author (or authors) whose book is nominated in this category and the Best Novel category may not be nominated in both categories simultaneously.”] might well have resulted in the YA award being looked upon as a secondary award, especially given the long history of the Best Novel award. http://www.renovationsf.org/downloads/wsfs-resolution-children.pdf I also had trouble with the lack of any definition as to what constitutes young adult fiction, and would hate to leave that determination to marketing executives. It should be noted that, to the best of my knowledge, “Enders Game” was marketed as both Adult and YA literature and that “Starship Troopers” was initially submitted to “Boy’s Life” for serialization (though they passed on it and it was subsequently serialized in “F & SF”). Finally, while I generally agree that there are too many Hugo categories now, I did spend almost six hours at the Worldcon Business Meeting in Reno (the first business meetings I’ve attended in over 15 years), supporting the creation of a new Hugo category (Best Fancast) since that appeared to be the easiest and most popular way the separate Podcasts from traditional, written, fanzines. Aurora Celeste says: August 25, 2011 at 2:07 pm “Which is a positive for them, but it should be noted that YA Literature is doing just fine without science fiction fans, if one goes by overall sales numbers.” Which, while true, isn’t really the direction I’m going with that. You’re right that YA doesn’t need help selling books, but marketing books isn’t the goal of the Hugos (which I have been reminded of again and again during this debate). WorldCon *needs* YA Lit readers. They keep talking about the greying of fandom and how they aren’t involving young people, but they aren’t reading or recognizing the literature that the people I know under 35 are reading and talking about. Getting current fandom to read more YA would give them something more to discuss with younger readers (and not just YA, I am over 30 but I’m part of a significant slice of fandom, especially female, that reads a lot of older YA) and get them into the fold of fandom. If they don’t I think they will keep dwindling and die out to favor the conventions that do allow for YA literature fandom because that’s where the younger fans are. Sharat B. says: August 25, 2011 at 2:10 pm I like the kind of post-Hugo kvetching that Dan Wells engaged in on his blog, which was an in-depth analysis of the voting data. The kind of information that #15 is asking for. Here’s a link to it . However the kind of discourse you are talking about does more harm than good. Referring to #23’s comment: This sort of critique paints any criticism of the Hugo choices with the brush that it’s not worth listening to. Perhaps I’m misreading you, though. I do think, that you, Josh, are misreading John because what he specifically seems to be referencing in his critique on critique is precisely the type of commentary that bashes fandom for not picking winners according to their taste, rather than providing any sort of intellectually objective commentary on the nominated works. Of course it’s ok to have dissenting opinions, I think what John is saying is that to differentiate yourself from the crowd of post-Hugo kvetchers, you need to invest your criticism with clear evidence that you’re not solely speaking out of personal taste. August 25, 2011 at 2:11 pm @ #25 Phil Royce There is nothing wrong with it being a marketing ploy alone. I think it would be a much better marketing ploy if there was some type of focus and, as a result, there was some type of benefit for the consumer, not just the publisher. I know what is meant by “Science Fiction”, “Fantasy”, “Mystery”, etc. I am completely lost and have no idea what to expect from a book when it is labeled YA. I think maybe part of this is cultural. I wouldn’t think twice about having my pre-teen read Lord of the Flies (to use that as an example again). When I talk to my American friends about books we read in grade school and books my children read in grade school, the reactions range from envious – shocked that a book that is considered more late teen – adult is even be read by children. From a publishing view-point, I understand the marketing behind it. Marketing to teens is quite the money maker. From a consumer’s point of view, it does nothing but confuse me, and therefor the marketing is not effective, or at least isn’t having the desired effect, on this consumer. rickg says: August 25, 2011 at 2:21 pm Thoughts in no real order: Kvetching: I think people take the Best term a bit too literally. The award is also about how well liked an author is, how well known that novel is and how popular the novel was. Since the winner HAS to come from the nominees it doesn’t matter if a given voter feels that there are other novels that were far better – she can only vote for one of the nominees. Of course, it’s also rather silly to pretend that it’s even possible to objectively stack rank novels. At the end of the day, even though the voting scheme looks rigourous and scientific it’s still just the opinions of a bunch of people. Heck, there’s not even a way to verify people have read all 5 of the nominees in a category and how can anyone defend their vote as meaning “this work is the best of the five nominees” if they haven’t read all five? At best, they could say “I feel the one I voted for is Hugo worthy.” On YA: Aside from the definitional issues and the issue inherent in splitting awards, does a separate award really solve the issue? Is it that YA needs more exposure (um… really?) or is it that five slots are not enough to encompass all of the worthy novels and that YA is either being bumped off the top five or is bumping other works? If that’s the case it should be relatively simple for people to come up with a list of the next 5 or so novels that are just as worthy as the actual nominees. August 25, 2011 at 2:51 pm Aurora Celeste has come in and said quite a bit of what I was planning to, but I’m a YA author and reviewer whose focus is sci-fi and I agree that there is a significant adult population (mostly female) reading and enjoying YA science fiction who have not successfully been embraced by the adult SF community. They’re very much separate, and the books I hear frequently celebrated by the YA community are not often mentioned by the wider SF community, despite the fact that many are of very high quality, both speculatively and in terms of other writing STUFF. And it’s not really that YA needs older SF fans to acknowledge or validate it, but that this is good science fiction that is being ignored due to marketing–and the continual denial of the quality of these books marginalizes the readers (again, many of whom are adults, and if they’re not, they will be, shortly) from the wider SF community. I suppose this is my long way to say I don’t even understand YA to begin with. If it helps, YA is mostly very much like adult lit and some of it is indistinguishable from adult literature and, yes, labeled that way for marketing reasons. But mostly you can expect YA novels to be plot driven, faster paced, and to have teenage protagonists. Only the last is really requisite. I think a lot of classic SF (Anne McCaffrey comes to mind) would have been marketed as YA had it been published first today. August 25, 2011 at 3:00 pm Josh Jasper: “This sort of critique paints any criticism of the Hugo choices with the brush that it’s not worth listening to.” I don’t think that’s true, although I do think it’s true that if a core component of your criticism boils down to “people didn’t vote the way they should have, which is the way I think they should have,” the criticism is fundamentally shallow. I also think there’s a difference between saying “This is not how I would have voted,” and “this is not how you should have voted.” The first I find perfectly unobjectionable; the second presents philosophical issues for me. August 25, 2011 at 3:16 pm @ #31 Phoebe North Thank you for your definition of YA. For my tastes, and this is just that, as a teen I wouldn’t have enjoyed YA. Having teen characters has never been important to me. “Human” stories and stories that explore humanity and the nature of it, both the good and the downright dark (I’ve always preferred stories that explore the really dark side of humanity over the lighter side), stories that explore culture, etc., is what grabs me. I don’t care about the age or sex of the characters, as long as it makes me contemplate something about my existence. My boys are the same way. That being said, I do understand that there are people who need characters that are the same sex and around the same age, and if YA stuck to age of characters as being the only criteria and not include style, etc., (I read a lot of adult books that have a faster pace and that is my preference. I really dislike when an writer paints every thing for me and doesn’t allow me to add my own colours to a story. That bores me to tears and I end up not finishing the book.), then things would be less confusing. At least, for me they would be. I do worry though that it may alienate people, who are like me, who don’t care about age and sex of the characters but are very much about the story itself. But if it does actually help more readers than not make a purchasing decision, then great! I think I may fall under a very different and peculiar demographic. When I read reviews, if all the reviewer does is summarise the plot and give me the age and sex of the characters, I find that review useless. But if they tell me what they experienced while reading the story, the personal journey the story took them on, that I find it useful and I can make a more informed decision whether or not there is something in the story for me. Or maybe I’m not as alone here as I think I am. Stevie says: August 25, 2011 at 3:27 pm I’d argue that the best response to people post-Hugo kvetching is to remind them that they have the opportunity, or possibly even a moral obligation, to sign up for next year’s Worldcon so their precious votes will result in the triumph of truth, justice and whatever… August 25, 2011 at 3:39 pm Stevie: Yeah, although to be fair people gripe about the Oscars, too, and every few of those actually are able to vote for them. I think it’s fine to gripe about the results without participating, but I think it’s also reasonable to say that if you could have participated but didn’t, tut-tutting those who did participate for making what you consider bad choices falls a bit flat. Andrew Trembley says: I see no problem with basic criticism of the results. I do see a lot of bitterness over the results on the part of people who are not, or refuse to be, involved in the process. Tom Frankenberger says: August 25, 2011 at 4:02 pm A lot of snootiness abounds around YA lately, for some reason, and I think giving it its own category would be end up marginalizing the work rather than recognizing it. It seems akin to saying, “Well, here’s the real Hugo award, and here’s one for those books that are, you know, for kids.” I think the quality of the writing and storytelling can be judged by the same yardstick whether it’s YA or not. Just because the subject matter is for younger people doesn’t mean the writing is somehow less, and I feel like differentiating the award implies that very thing. Josh Jasper says: August 25, 2011 at 4:14 pm John – I don’t think that’s true, although I do think it’s true that if a core component of your criticism boils down to “people didn’t vote the way they should have, which is the way I think they should have,” the criticism is fundamentally shallow. OK, then it’s likely I misread you. On a personal level, if I see a criticism of criticism that dosen’t actually *point* to said criticism of the hugos you mention above, I really have no idea if it’s at all valid. I don’t know who you’re talking about. It could be anyone. I’ve got some criticism myself, but it’s more along the lines of – as a reviewer and sometimes critic, I think X entry was a much stronger, better written and more important book than Y entry, which I think was not as strong, but done by a more popular producer of Z media. Hugos being what they are, we’re getting a “most popular among Hugo voters” vote, which is a granted, but I think there’s some value to talking about “was this a good, important thing, or a popular, but not as good thing when compared to other nominations?” And also in asking general questions about what gets nominated, what wins, and why. August 25, 2011 at 4:27 pm Josh Jasper: “On a personal level, if I see a criticism of criticism that dosen’t actually *point* to said criticism of the hugos you mention above, I really have no idea if it’s at all valid.” And that is of course entirely fair. I chose not to point to specific examples, so I accept that I lay myself vulnerable to the “you’re making a ‘some people’ argument” criticism. August 25, 2011 at 5:14 pm I do think there is legitimate discussion to be had– perhaps not so much over how people voted (that’s a matter of personal taste), but over the nuances of the voting system itself. How many voters understand that their fourth-place vote may turn into a first-place vote? When I voted, I didn’t, which I admit is no one’s fault by my own. But that extra knowledge will probably impact how I vote next year. Now that I do understand the math, I can see how the system strongly favors things with wide name recognition (for example, Doctor Who). And established authors and franchises will tend to win over things that are newer but very popular in that particular year. I’m not saying ZOMG THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN; I’m not even saying it’s necessarily a bad thing, but it does seem to be an interesting quirk of the system worth mulling over. August 25, 2011 at 5:28 pm B.Durbin: Dan Wells’ explanation of the voting, pointed to by Sharat above, is very good. There is also a detailed explanation of how the system works at the official Hugo website: http://www.thehugoawards.org/the-voting-system/ The Other Keith says: August 25, 2011 at 5:34 pm I’d add to Phoebe North’s good description of YA above that they also generally steer clear of explicit sex or drug use. I’ve never seen this specifically proscribed anywhere, just my observation, but it seems like a guideline that a publisher would encourage in order to avoid controversy with parents and/or school boards. I find myself irrationally offended that adult YA readers are being identified here as ‘primarily female.’ :) Aurora Celeste says: August 25, 2011 at 5:50 pm The Other Keith: While it can be hard to trust the New York Times with YA information they have the best study I’ve seen on the subject: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/books/review/Paul-t.html According to surveys by the Codex Group, a consultant to the publishing industry, 47 percent of 18- to 24-year-old women and 24 percent of same-aged men say most of the books they buy are classified as young adult. The percentage of female Y.A. fans between the ages of 25 and 44 has nearly doubled in the past four years. Today, nearly one in five 35- to 44-year-olds say they most frequently buy Y.A. books. For themselves. If we use the rough 50% of the US population being male and 50% being female then there’s almost 2 female YA readers aged 18-to-24 for every 1 male. I guess it depends on your definition of “primarily”, but 2/3 fits mine. Ally says: August 25, 2011 at 6:12 pm I’m torn – as a librarian (even if I’m an academic one) – I think yes, we should have a separate award for YA… But as some one who reads mostly YA fantasy and scifi as my personal reading of choice – I just don’t get where they’re different enough if they’re done right… OTHER than some of the obvious things (they’re “cleaner,” they’re shorter, etc) which are actually some of the reasons I’ve read more YA fantasy and scifi than I have “regular” but to me that’s not really characteristics that make them YA – they could just be cleaner, shorter, regular novels, right? Bill says: August 25, 2011 at 6:41 pm I don’t think Blackout/All Clear should have won the Hugo. The two books could easily have 50% of the material cut from them, as the only plot revolved around if they’d changed the timeline, and then finding out that, no, wait, they didn’t. Good historical information in it, but it was a very badly written *novel*. Bill says: August 25, 2011 at 6:42 pm To clarify, not only was that the only plot, but Connie Willis used the threat of changing the future as a cliffhanger in nearly every chapter. There was so much redundancy in the plotlines that the two books could easily have been pared down and put into one truly excellent novel. Jacob says: Jon Chait had a great article on why awards always seem go to the wrong person: “Nearly every field of human endeavor has a regular prize. And nearly every prize seems to regularly go to a clearly undeserving winner. Woody Allen’s character complained in Annie Hall, “They’re always giving out awards. Best Fascist Dictator: Adolf Hitler.” If an award like that really did exist, though, they’d probably end up giving it to Mussolini.” Juli says: August 25, 2011 at 6:56 pm John: “YA doesn’t need SF fandom to recognize its existence: it’s already got millions upon millions of teens and tweens to do that.” I agree and it has the Hugos to celebrate the best of the best – as voted on by the Worldcon attendants. Having attended this years Worldcon/Hugo awards and Golden Duck presentation, let me say I challenge every single Worldcon attendee to name, off the top of their head, the Golden Duck Award winning author. Come on now he is quite popular at the moment. You remember you saw him accept his award. Wait, no you didn’t the Golden Duck awards were presented to an attendance of 8 adults. As much as i applaud the Golden Duck s for their valiant efforts in showcasing YA fiction to say the awards are on par with the Hugos is a misconception. The kids reading today’s SF/F are our future authors and fans. YA is their gateway drug, lets give them the good stuff, the pure stuff. The first taste is always free BTW the answer is Robert J Sawyers “Watch” For disclosure purposes, Yes I am the Juli Hanslip on the initial YA proposal. Xopher says: August 25, 2011 at 7:06 pm I disagree. There’s plenty of plot in both books. The constant fear that one of them will be killed in the Blitz, as well as the terror one of them has of coming up on her deadline (which will kill her but not disrupt the timeline); the constant fear of the contemps they’ve become attached to getting killed also plays a role throughout. I found it wholly engrossing and suspenseful. Yes, there are mistakes in it. But I liked it anyway. I’ll freely own up to kvetching about some of the Hugo winners, but only as an expression of personal taste. Although I did not much like Blackout/All Clear , I can understand why people did. In general I had a difficult time voting for that category because, aside from my first pick, The Dervish House , I either didn’t like the other nominees or did not regard them as particularly “Hugo-worthy” even though I enjoyed the hell out of them. Several commenters have pointed out that a YA Hugo would be difficult because of the difficulty assigning a definition to YA, and I wouldn’t like to see a YA Hugo for that reason. I don’t have a fundamental problem classifying certain books as YA if that’s what publishers want to do (it obviously seems to be working). But I don’t agree with the line of reasoning that says a YA Hugo would attract more young readers to the Hugo Awards or to reading “adult” science fiction in general. Firstly, I suspect that those readers, if they are reading YA science fiction, are going to read adult science fiction anyway. Secondly, although I don’t condemn it, I’m wary of the “Young Adult” title, because it feels so very prescriptive to me. It seems to be saying, “Here kids, you can read these books. Those other books? No, those are for adults.” Anyway, some of my friends and I were discussing potential new Hugo categories, and one of them came up with the idea of a Hugo Award for Best Series. I’m not sure how it could fit in with the Hugos, since they are given to newly-published works, so maybe the award wouldn’t be appropriate as a Hugo itself. However, it would be nice to celebrate certain series overall. (The friend in question mentioned that she didn’t consider Cryoburn August 25, 2011 at 7:57 pm I wouldn’t be interested in a YA Hugo as much as I’d be interested in seeing them institute a Lifetime Achievement Hugo. Because if Stan Schmidt retires or dies without at least one Hugo, it tells me that something is very wrong and/or missing in the Hugo selection process, that an editor of his long tenure and stature can pass through the genre without getting his proper due. The Academy Awards have one , so the WSFS ought to have one too. I was, frankly, quite shocked that Sheila Williams hadn’t won a Hugo before Renovation. She’s younger than Stan, but not immortal. Had she left without a Hugo it would seem to me to be a great shame. There are many people — authors, editors, artists, and so forth — who might not ever come close to a Hugo in any given year. But a cumulative body of work over a lifetime? I think that’s worth honoring — and not only after someone dies. Sean Eric Fagan says: August 25, 2011 at 8:04 pm YA doesn’t need SF fandom to recognize its existence: it’s already got millions upon millions of teens and tweens to do that. YA may not need it, but the authors can probably use it — anything that can be used to have their books stand out from the dozens or hundreds of others on the shelf is a good thing for them. (While reading the post and comments, I had a vision of Worldcon being filled with teens and tweens. I don’t know who I was more horrified for.) christy says: August 25, 2011 at 8:06 pm As others have already noted, the best of YA doesn’t announce itself as YA. I’ve thought for years, and continue to think, that some of the best writing is done for readers of younger ages. I have a lot of thoughts about why this might be (which aren’t relevant to the current thread, and I fear the mallet, so I won’t elaborate) but I keep coming back to the idea that good writing, like murder, will out. If that’s true, then no particular Hugo for YA is needed. What Norton might miss, Newberry might pick up (“A Wrinkle In Time” comes to mind). Since YAs have managed to fare pretty well, I wonder how much of the kveching for a new award is due to people wanting to reduce the field of competition for “grown up” novels… Pam Adams says: August 25, 2011 at 9:01 pm My own personal Hugo kvetch has to do with the dramatic presentation. We didn’t get samples of text from the written nominees- first paragraphs perhaps?- so why should we get it for dramatic presentation? Especially since this is the field that could, in most years, win a special Hugo for not giving a damn about the Hugos. The Tor.com site has had an ongoing discussion about the Hugos led by Jo Walton. Excellent reading, and it won’t last much longer- she’s stopping at 2000. Scorpius says: “I don’t think YA books really need a separate Hugo, inasmuch as there have been two recent Hugo winners that were YA books” “Old Man’s War” springs to mind. ;) August 25, 2011 at 9:13 pm Snark aside, OMW is explicitly patterned after Starship Troopers, which was originally written as a juvie. So this is not terribly far off. Although it didn’t win its year; Spin did. And of course, “Zoe’s Tale” is written for younger readers in mind, along with the regular crowd, and was nominated for the Norton. Xopher says: August 25, 2011 at 10:01 pm But John…well, I guess you could read Zoe’s Tale by itself, but I think it would be confusing if you hadn’t read OMW and GB. LC would be a pretty good idea to read, too. Since you’ve brought up Zoe’s Tale, I’d just like to say that at first I thought “Wait, the same story from a different point of view,” but quickly realized that in fact it’s an entirely different story set against the same historical background. It sounds like an odd thing to do at first, but you made it work. The problem I have is in recommending it to people; I can’t make it sound as good as it really is (a microcosm of the problem with The Android’s Dream, which I can never make sound 5% as fun as it really is). I guess these are good problems to have, come to think of it. Stephen says: August 25, 2011 at 10:12 pm What I particularly like about the kvetching is how varied it is. When I searched online for the Hugo winners list I found a couple of places that had it (there’s a lot more now), but I had to laugh about the comments. At the first place, the first comment was a screed about how the best literature was ignored and people had just voted for what was popular. The second place I looked had a commentator who complained about how the awards had been hijacked by the snobby literature lot and was ignoring the popular (but I assume somehow not literate?) works. huh says: So, why no posts as to who won and all that? Christopher Davis says: August 26, 2011 at 12:01 am It seems to me that the Seiun Awards really don’t need to be reiterated as part of the Hugo ceremony. The John W. Campbell Not A Hugo Award, sure. The Big Heart? Yeah, that fits too. Why does the Seiun gets a special place that the Prix Aurora doesn’t? Dropping that would leave room for the presentation of a YA award (the Golden Duck, presumably) without adding any real length to the ceremony. lysana says: August 26, 2011 at 3:25 am As someone who worked on the committee to split the Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo in two, thus cementing my place as someone who once appealed to the “let’s add an award” crowd, I agree with those who argue against a YA Hugo. How to determine short vs long-form media was a much easier decision to reach, and I say this knowing what it took to get to the figures we did. And yep, post-Hugo kvetching is as predictable as the fact the Hugos take place at Worldcon. Helen Montgomery says: August 26, 2011 at 8:10 am Josh Jasper at #23 – As one of the organizers, glad you enjoyed the after party! Hope to see you next year! Pam Adams at #55 – In fact, members of the Worldcon for the last few years have had the opportunity to download the “Hugo Packet” – a collection of all of the written works that are nominated (thanks to our Mr. Scalzi himself, who started the idea a few years back!). This year’s Packet even included samples of artwork from the Fan and Pro Artist Nominees. The idea being that then the Worldcon members (Hugo voters) get to make more informed choices in their voting. The only things *not* included in the Packet are BDP samples. The BDPs generally are shown in their entirety during the convention, with a brief clip at the ceremony, but unfortunately due to licencing and whatnot, cannot be included ahead of time in the Packet. Christopher Davis at #61 – As a member of the Chairman’s Staff this year, and Deputy Area Head for the Hugo Ceremony, I can say that there is a lot of debate about which “non-Hugo” awards are in the Ceremony, which is *the* event of the Worldcon. One of the things that we did this year was incorporate the Seiuns into a video that Japanese fans made regarding the earthquake / tsunami earlier this year and how Japanese fandom is recovering. Unlike other years, we didn’t have an actual presentation of them live at the Ceremony. There has also been discussion periodically over whether or not the Big Heart should be presented at the Ceremony. Thus far I haven’t heard much kvetching about the Campbell, but I am sure that debate over which awards belong in the Hugo Ceremony will continue and someday that one will end up debated as well. :) The issue, of course, is that we can’t present *every* award at the Hugo Ceremony, as much as we wish we could, or we would never leave… Helen Montgomery Flying Monkee (Vice Chair), Chicon 7 Chairman’s Staff, Renovation August 26, 2011 at 8:50 am Re: #15 by B. Durbin: Rather than post a long note on the Hugo voting progress (I was Hugo Administrator in 2000 and 2003), I’ll paste the first paragraph from the Wikipedia article on Instant-runoff voting and recommend you visit Wikipedia to read the rest: Instant-runoff voting (IRV), also known as preferential voting, the alternative vote and ranked choice voting, is a voting system used to elect one winner. Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and their ballots are counted as one vote for their first choice candidate. If a candidate secures a majority of votes cast, that candidate wins. Otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. A new round of counting takes place, with each ballot counted as one vote for the advancing candidate who is ranked highest on that ballot. This process continues until the winning candidate receives a majority of the vote against the remaining candidates. Michael August 26, 2011 at 9:13 am @#49 – Sawyer winning a YA award gets to the heart of the definition question. I’ve read most of what he’s written, including Wake and Watch, and would not characterize the WWW series as particularly “Young Adult.” I may be biased, as my class did The Hobbit in elementary school. August 26, 2011 at 9:58 am Pete @65: I believe that Robert J. Sawyer’s Wake and Watch, as well as the concluding volume,Wonder are considered by some to be YA because one of the main characters, Caitlin Decter, is a sixteen year-old girl.The same reasoning, I think, goes for Our Gracious Host’s Zoe’s Tale. I am a long-time Sawyer fan, so I am of course happy to see him receive any awards people are willing to give him, but I do agree that in the case of Watch, it does highlight the fact that in a Venn diagram of one circle “Adult SFF books” and the other “YA SF/F books,” there is considerable overlap. As for kvetching, hey, I paid my membership. ;-) The right to engage in this pastime is part of what I paid for, so I will kvetch that I believe that the Best Dramatic Presentation — Short Form should have a rule that says you can have no more than one episode of a series on the Final ballot. And while I loved Blackout/All Clear, I think allowing a novel that was published as two novels to appear on the ballot as one sets a bad precedent. August 26, 2011 at 10:51 am @The Other Kieth, I don’t know if I agree about the sex and drug use. Explicit sex, sure, but content-wise plenty of YA includes both sex and drugs, from Beth Revis’s Across the Universe, which had a near-gang rape scene, to Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies books, where teens abuse appetite suppressants and cut themselves to stay sharp. As for the men/women split, no offense intended! Most YA writers are, of course, happy to have male readers, but the fact of the matter is that most readers in that age category are female. The Other Keith says: August 26, 2011 at 11:37 am Aurora @44, thanks for the cite. I wasn’t actually disputing the assertion, just irrationally offended! Reading through these comments I’ve gone back and forth on the value of a YA Hugo (or Hugo-level Not-a-Hugo) and I think I’ve come down against it, and here’s why: ultimately, ‘Young Adult’ is a marketing term created by the publishing industry. Unless you can quantify exactly what is or isn’t a YA novel (very difficult at best, likely impossible) then you’re giving publishers the power to decide which novels are voted in each category. I’d guess that most publishers have better things to do than try to game the Hugos, but I’m not willing to bet on it. Also: “The Golden Duck” is a stupid name for a literary prize unless your intention is to not be taken at all seriously. The Other Keith says: Also also: A couple of comments upthread pertaining to Connie Willis’ Blackout/All Clear veer dangerously close to spoiler territory for those of us who haven’t read it yet. Please be mindful! Daveon says: August 26, 2011 at 12:21 pm Well, obviously one human’s kvetch is another’s valid concern :) That said. My problems were largely with Best Novel. Now I get that Connie Willis is a nice person and a great asset to fandom and conventions in general, but a book with THAT many basic errors of research in it – especially one which is meant to be abut history (ignoring the AH Oxford it starts in) doesn’t deserve to win against, say, picking randomly, The Dervish House. Then again, Ian McDonald shouldn’t have lost out to Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrel either. Short Dramatic… heh… They were, in my opinion, three quite week Doctor Who stories and as the Lost thing didn’t really do it for me, I only had one option. I was impressed to see that Rachel Bloom came to the con. YA: I’m with our esteemed host. A good novel is a good novel whether its for Young Adults or not. There doesn’t need to be a separate award. But, as I’ve remarked elsewhere, while I’m still able to be upright, beer in hand at 5am while we decide if we’re going to do something juvenile to James Bacon’s sleeping form, I’m unlikely to be in the Business Meeting at 10am to do something about it. This is probably, on the whole, a good thing for Fandom. ULTRAGOTHA says: I read three of the five Hugo novel nominees this year, since I couldn’t vote (in which case I would have read all of them). I really LOVE the Vorkosigan books and Connie Willis is one of my very favorite authors. That said, I would have voted for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. I’d rather vote for a good book by a new author than a good book by two authors with a demonstrable capacity to write a great book. Memory, Paladin of Souls and Doomsday Book are great books, IMO. Cryoburn and Blackout/All Clear were disappointing to this fervent fan. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was very good and I look forward to seeing how Jemisin develops as an author. I was similarly floored when The Graveyard Book won over Anathem (as was Mr. Gaiman, if his acceptance speech is to be believed). But that is much more attributable to differences in likes and dislikes as The Graveyard Book is a great book in a completely different vein than Anatham is a great book (less likely to give one a concussion for one thing!) And to choose between those and Little Brother actually caused me pain. What a choice! But I personally don’t view Blackout/All Clear as a great book and wonder if it would have won if written by a relatively unknown author instead of a very popular and favorite author who is a fantastic person. That’s one of the criteria I try to use when voting. Would I vote for this book if written by someone I’d never heard of? And I also would like WSFS to revisit the idea of including two books as one work on the ballot. I’m not comfortable with that. But no need in my mind to revisit the idea of allowing multiple episodes from the same TV show. Short form is short form and each episode ought to be judged independently of any other episode on the same show. Not that I’d cry if Dramatic Presentation disappeared from the ballot entirely. I wouldn’t want to see YA split as a category. I think the nomination of Zoe’s Tale, The Graveyard Book and Little Brother, all strong contenders for Best Novel and one that won, shows that YA is well on its way to holding it’s own in the Best Novel category. But giving space to the Golden Duck at or before the Hugos might be nice. Or better yet, allowing the Golden Duck to ballot with the Hugos (if they want to). August 26, 2011 at 1:41 pm Lots of people appear to be complaining about the fact that the two volumes of Connie’s book were considered together, and there seems to be some feeling that this gave her an unfair advantage. But stop and think a minute about what would have happened if the books had been considered separately. Most of Connie’s fans would have used two of their nominations on Connie books instead of one. Both Blackout and All Clear would have appeared on the ballot (probably at the expense of Cryoburn). This would not have “split the vote” in the final ballot, because the voting system doesn’t work like that. (Look at what happened with the three Doctor Who episodes in BDP: Short if you don’t believe me.) And one of Connie’s two books would still have won the Hugo. Considering the two books together (which I note only happens when the books are nominated together by the voting public – its isn’t something that Hugo Administrators force upon us) primarily had the effect of giving one other writer the job of being a nominee, and adding one more book to the Voter Packet. It didn’t help Connie at all. Aurora Celeste says: August 26, 2011 at 1:58 pm The Other Keith: I didn’t think you were disputing, but sometimes facts can help my feelings level out, so I was trying to help you :D It is something that seems very odd and like it *shouldn’t* be true but is. I’ve got theories on why, but no hard facts so I’ll restrain from starting off-topic rumors and fights. I also agree with Phoebe about sex and drug use. I’ve not seen a lot, but I’ve seen it about on par with adult novels, percentage-wise. You hear more about the few in YA, though, because of efforts to ban them. This has happened for decades, so it’s not a new trend in YA either. I think I’ve come down against it, and here’s why: ultimately, ‘Young Adult’ is a marketing term created by the publishing industry. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t “Science Fiction” a marketing term created by publishers as well? August 26, 2011 at 2:40 pm Cheryl Morgan @72: Your point about how the voting system works and what likely would have resulted had Blackout and All Clear been listed separately is well taken. I think what pissed off many people (even many of her fans) was that this book was split in two in the first place, with effort to edit it into one (admittedly) large book, then chopping in half cliffhanger style, and then making us wait nine months fro the ending. And while this was supposedly one novel, we the readers were charged for two. This certainly made it feel like Connie and her publisher were trying to have it both ways. While it may not have given her an advantage in the Hugo voting, I think that this is where a lot of the kvetching comes from. For my part, I’m not as angry with Connie about all this as I am with her editor and her publisher. Aurora Celeste @73: Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t “Science Fiction” a marketing term created by publishers as well? Perhaps, but “Science Fiction” at least attempts to describe the book itself, rather than its readers and their ages. Aarrgh! Should be: “with no effort to edit it into one (admittedly) large book” ULTRAGOTHA says: August 26, 2011 at 3:43 pm Cheryl @72, I’m not saying it helped Ms. Willis. You’re right the voting doesn’t work like that. I’m saying that a book is a book. I agree with your analysis of probable voting patterns. Yet I am still troubled about considering two books as one work. Just as I am concerned about considering multiple episodes as “one work” in BDP: Short, which some people also seem to be arguing for. An episode is an episode and a book is a book. Hugh57 @74: IMNSHO, All Clear could have been one reasonably sized book with suitable editing and not affected the story at all. So yes, that’s probably the origin of some of my dudgeon. I felt like deja vu all over again several times whilst reading them. (Since I read both books via the Library and probably won’t purchase them in the forseeable future the money aspect is not so significant for me. Except as a taxpayer into the Library system. Hurrah for Libraries!!) Hugh57: “This certainly made it feel like Connie and her publisher were trying to have it both ways.” Her publisher, yes. Ms. Willis, probably not so much. It’s doubtful she had much say in the decision to cut the book in two. This sort of thing happens more frequently than you may imagine; after a novel gets past a certain length publishers start looking into the feasibility of chopping it into two separate books. It’s happened to several authors I know. Daveon says: August 26, 2011 at 4:18 pm Re: book length… I did hear an amusing story from another author at Renovation that expanding a book significantly is now known as doing a “Hamiliton” – Peter F, was said to be amused. August 26, 2011 at 4:25 pm ULTRAGOTHA: I’m sure you feel that it is obvious that “a book is a book”, but not everyone agrees. The Hugos have a long tradition of treating a work published in multiple installments as a single item, dating all of the way back to the days when novels were first published in installments in magazines (as indeed used to happen to Dickens when he first started). Had you been around in 1953 when the Hugos first started, would you have insisted that The Demolished Man be voted on as four separate short stories rather than a serialized novel? (Not that they had a short story category for the first year, but you get the point, I hope.) Of course you may have done. You are free to disagree. What’s why Hugo Administrators try not to make rulings on such things. If more people had nominated Blackout and All Clear as separate works than as a single work they would have appeared on the ballot as such. As our host notes, this sort of book splitting happens quite a lot, often against the wishes of the author. If you see it happen again with a likely nominee, you are free to lead a campaign to have the two books considered separately. August 26, 2011 at 4:30 pm ULTRAGOTHA @76: I tend to agree that some editing could have brought Blackout/All Clear down to a single volume, though one’s mileage (particularly a publisher’s) may vary as to what is “reasonably” sized. Blackout was 491 pp., All Clear was 641 pp., so combined, without any editing, it would have been 1,132 pp., or about the size of George R.R. Martin’s A Storm of Swords. A bit of judicious editing could have brought that down to 992 pp. (or less), which is where I believe Neal Stephenson’s Anathem checked in. And I think Stephenson has proved that SF readers will buy doorstop books, not just epic fantasy readers. But as John points out, it’s the publisher’s call, so I can’t fault Connie Willis too much. MaryL says: August 26, 2011 at 7:49 pm I’m a veteran reader of huge novels (Infinite Jest — twice! — A Suitable Boy, and more Neal Stephenson than you can shake a stick at), so mere length does not dissuade me. But I think that Wllis’ novel/novels could have and should have been cut down to much fewer than 992 pages because there just wasn’t enough happening to justify the length. I’m saying this after slogging through the first volume and dropping the second after 100 or so pages. I posted a question at AskMetafilter asking for some insight and a plot summary, and I will be giving the second volume another try (having heard from other frustrated readers that it does get better), but a well-researched book by one of my favourite authors shouldn’t be such a slog. As much as I love her work and look forward to her next novel, this one was nearly unreadable because it was so repetitive and so frustrating. On the one hand, I’m happy she got a Hugo for it, because she is Awesome, but on the other hand, I hope this doesn’t encourage her to do this again. August 27, 2011 at 1:22 am For what it’s worth, when I saw Connie Willis do a reading when Blackout came out she said something to the effect of, and I’m really paraphrasing here, it wasn’t her idea to break up the book in two and she really didn’t like that it that the cover gave no indication this was the first of a two parter that ended on a cliff hanger and added if anyone who had already bought the book thought they were mislead she would buy the books back. She didn’t get any takers. Kendall says: August 27, 2011 at 6:08 am Kvetching: The kvetching is annoying, so thanks for pointing out the good side effects of it, John. Interesting to read other folks’ takes here — and their kvetching! ;-) A lot of kvetching just makes me roll my eyes, for various reasons depending on the kvetch. YA Hugo: Some people believe everything needs a Hugo, or everything needs its own award. I completely disagree, and YA novel (along with a couple of existing Hugo categories) fall into the “doesn’t need its own Hugo” IMHO. Other Awards at Hugos: At recent Worldcon’s I’ve attended, and I forget when this trend started, the Hugo Awards Ceremony has been streamlined to mostly be just the Hugos, the Campbell (voted on the same way), and the Big Heart. I believe there are a few reasons, and I think it makes sense to keep it like this (with perhaps the occasional exception). Anyway, I’m skeptical other awards will be added on an ongoing basis. Other awards can generally get their own programming items. Yes, it’s not the same. But that’s a feature, not a bug, IMHO. @19 (Aurora Celeste): Categories exist to award works, not to expose voters to works. I feel like you’re putting the cart before the horse by looking to a YA Hugo to expose voters to works. The voting pool needs to be at least somewhat familiar with the category and potential works for it to be viable. WSFS members from two (soon, three) Worldcons nominate works. If nominations are slim, or folks haven’t/don’t read the nominees, because they aren’t interested in that type of work, then it’s a poor category. August 27, 2011 at 7:59 pm I’m coming in way at the end of this discussion, but just wanted to note that I disagree with those who think the definition of YA is, well, indefinable. I think that perspective really comes from readers who don’t read widely in YA. To my mind (I am a YA author; my first novel, Ash, was nominated for a Norton), YA is very clearly definable. It has specific publishers, specific themes, specific styles, specific trends, specific voices. Some books cross over from YA to adult, and I think it’s those titles that have won the Hugo for best novel. Incidentally, those winning titles were also written by authors who also write adult novels, and are thus known to adult readers of SF. Because most Hugo voters, I think, don’t read that much YA, I’m actually against adding a Hugo for Best YA. It’s sort of like asking Hugo voters to nominate books for a mystery or romance award. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. I do agree with Phoebe North and Aurora Celeste who say that adult mainstream SFF hasn’t always been the most inclusive of YA SFF, but I think the solution to that is to feature more YA novels/authors at major cons, perhaps in panels or in talks. And for YA SFF authors to just get out there and mingle with everyone else. Because yes, I think many readers of adult SFF would love YA SFF, too. (I’m not even talking about marketing to teens — that’s done much more effectively by librarians/booksellers/publishers, not by SFF cons.) Tom Galloway says: August 27, 2011 at 11:23 pm Re: Other awards at the Hugos. I was disappointed in both the reintroduction of the Seiuns and how the Big Heart Award was presented. Pre-2007, somehow the Seiuns managed to become a “tradition”, despite no other single country’s awards being recognized. Worse, the way the Seiuns were usually presented were for around 7 people to go up on stage, all be introduced (at a level of “Next is Jane Doe, who has [insert history of their involvement in Japanese fandom, taking 1-2 minutes], and is holding the tea set symbolizing this year’s Seiun. Now, let us give you a history of this particular tea set….”) such that one year I clocked the Seiuns alone at just short of 20 minutes. And the linking of it to the Japan earthquake/tsunami/meltdown disasters also bothered me, in that as far as I recall, no Japanese sf-associated people were said to have been killed or significantly injured, nor was their fandom significantly affected. Points for keeping things going, but again, how was this more significant/relevant to the Hugos than a natural disaster anywhere else? Personally, if I’d included the video, I would’ve run it before the ceremony, swapping it with the In Memorium slides which have much more right to be in the main ceremony. As for the Big Heart, while I respect Dave Kyle and his position in historic fandom, the purpose of the Big Heart is not to let him give a 7 minute or so rant, such that about the only thing he actually said about Gay Haldeman (a most deserving winner) was that she’s Joe’s wife. Part of the problem with the non-Hugo awards is when you let their organizers present them, well, that award is very important and significant to the organizer. And darn it, they’re going to make sure we all know why it’s important and significant. My preference for such awards is that the organizer gets to go on stage holding the physical award. The MC gives a short introduction of the award and organizer. The organizer then gets to say “The Foobar Award goes to Isaac Heinlein”. For the Big Heart, they can also say up to one minute of things *about the award winner and nothing else*. This must be submitted to the Ceremony Organizer in advance to check for length. Why is this annoying to me/a problem? Because this year, as in past years when the Seiun and Big Heart both go into overtime, it 1) brings the ceremony to a dead halt, 2) keeps the first Hugo from being presented until more than a half hour (sometimes over 50 minutes) into, y’know, the *Hugo* Ceremony, 3) effectively diminishes the Hugos, as any of them presented by anyone other than SilverWillis, take a much shorter time (I should note I personally enjoy Bob and Connie’s presentations, although I know there are those who don’t. At the very least, they’re a *lot* more entertaining and interesting than the Seiun/Big Heart marathons). When I presented Best Fan Writer in 2007*, I asked a number of past nominees, presenters, and winners, and almost always got back that my presentation should take at most a minute. And when I was writing it, I tried to keep in mind that it wasn’t about me, it was about the category and the award. I don’t see why the Seiuns, Big Heart, or any other non-Hugo should take longer than that to present (note that I’m not saying anything about how long folk should get to accept an award; as far as I recall, we’ve not had anyone go to ridiculous lengths when accepting, at least without being sincere and/or entertaining (i.e. Chris Garcia for Best Dramatic Presentation-Short Form next year : -)). *No, it still doesn’t make much sense to me why I was asked to present a Hugo, let alone that particular category. I did consider it a considerable honor and made an effort to do as good a job as I could, and was very grateful that several folk spontaneously told me they’d enjoyed my presentation August 28, 2011 at 11:44 pm Hugos are the book equivalent of a People’s Choice award. They’re not the opinion of authors (that’s what the Nebulas are for), and they’re not industry-oriented (we have the Locus awards for that). Hugos are a popularity contest. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a great barometer of what other fans enjoy, which tells a reader what he or she might like, as well. No one should confuse this with, say, the literary canon, which is proven over time and not always popular. For a more academic perspective, we have the John W. Campbell Memorial or perhaps the Arthur C. Clark Awards. So many awards exist because they all give different perspectives of what is worth reading. If you you don’t like Hugo award populism, then follow the awards that best match your taste. The Campbell Memorial is my personal favorite, but I like many Hugo nominated books, as well. I might also add: If you disagree with the Hugo selections, then nominate and vote for next year’s awards! Pam Adams says: August 29, 2011 at 12:05 pm Helen Montgomery@63, Yes, I know about and highly appreciate the Hugo Voter’s packet. My objection is to the clips ‘cluttering up’ the presentations. October 1, 2011 at 8:40 pm I concur with the critiques of “Blackout/All Clear.” Although I find Spectra’s decision to “double the money” despicable, I know Connie Willis was uncomfortable with that decision. She is a very nice person (I’ve interviewed her and spoken to her many times). But this book just … sucked. Easily 40 percent too long, repetitive, too much “runaround” driving the plot, tedious “funny” bits, a silly future scenario, and more. By far her worst novel, IMO, and I’ve very much enjoyed some of her other work. What happened to the edgy Willis who wrote “All My Darling Daughters?” I’m glad others see it this way; makes me feel less guilty about disliking this bloated novel.

i don't know

The only US Vice President in US history to have to resign because of criminal charges, the void created by what former governor of Maryland started Gerald Ford down the path to the presidency?

Richard Milhous Nixon, 37th President of United States (1913 - 1994) - Genealogy Richard Milhous Nixon, 37th President of United States Also Known As: Yorba Linda, Orange, California, United States Death: in New York, New York, New York, United States Place of Burial: Yorba Linda, Orange, California, United States Immediate Family: President of the United States, 1969-74 Managed by: Circa 1914 - California, United States Residence: 1920 - Placentia Township Yorba Linda Precinct Yorba Linda Village, Orange, California, USA Parents: Francis A Nixon, Hannah M Nixon Siblings: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: ... expected to take a quarter- back until former signal-caller Richard Nixon died In his honor they broke into his li- brary out in shuffle... Date: Jan 9 1913 - Yorba Linda, Orange, California, United States Death: Apr 22 1994 - Bronxville, Westchester, New York, United States of America Parents: Francis Anthony Nixon, Hannah Nixon Wife: First Lady Thelma Catherine Nixon Siblings: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...in class. Associated Press__________________________ If Richard Nixon's profession was his passion was sports. More than any other wh... Date: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...-caller Richard Nixon died. In his honor they broke into his li- brary out in shuffled some papers and decided to take the best Repub... Date: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...-caller Richard Nixon died. In his honor they broke into his li- brary out in shuffled some papers and decided to take the best Repub... Date: Australian Newspapers Text: ... and the fear . 1 e / Spies who run rings around us PAGE 20 Nixon honoured in death Richard Nixon NEW YORK: Americans are mourning the de... Publication: Apr 24 1994 - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: ... Tuesday. (US markets were closed on Wednesday for former President Richard Nixon's funeral.) Citibank chief economist Grant Bailey said ... Publication: Apr 30 1994 - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: ... current heads of state also are expected to be present when Nixon, who died on Saturday night, is laid to rest on the grounds of the Ric... Publication: Apr 25 1994 - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: ... funeral played out like a historic drama against the backdrop of Richard Milhous Nixon ... Advertising FAX 280 4884 40 pages All the Pre... Publication: Apr 29 1994 - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Page: brother About Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th president of the United States (1969-1974). During his administration the United States withdrew its military forces from Vietnam and informally recognized the government of the People's Republic of China. The Watergate scandal that occurred at the beginning of his second term brought Nixon to the verge of impeachment by the House of Representatives and led to his resignation, the first ever by a U.S. president. Early Career Born in Yorba Linda, Calif., on Jan. 9, 1913, Nixon was the second of Hannah and Francis Nixon's five children, all of whom were boys. Despite the economic difficulties and emotional tensions of the Nixon household, young Richard excelled in school, graduating second in his class from Whittier College (1934) and third in his class from Duke University law school (1937). From 1937 to 1942 he practiced law in Whittier, Calif. When the United States entered World War II, he worked briefly for the tire-rationing section of the Office of Price Administration in Washington, D.C., and then served in the navy as a supply officer in the South Pacific. Upon his return to Whittier after the war he entered politics, becoming the Republican candidate for Congress in California's 12th district. His first political campaign, in 1946, set the tone for many that would follow. Running against the liberal Democratic incumbent, Jerry Voorhis, Nixon suggested that Voorhis had dangerous left-wing tendencies. Nixon won easily and thereafter made anti-Communism one of his main political themes. As a new congressman he was assigned to the then relatively unimportant House Committee on Un-American Activities. He quickly attained national prominence by playing a central role in the committee's investigation of Alger Hiss, a former high State Department official accused of carrying on espionage for the USSR during the 1930s. Nixon was reelected to the House in 1948. In 1950 he ran for the Senate, defeating the Democratic candidate, Congresswoman Helen Gahagan Douglas, against whom he leveled charges not unlike those he had used to unseat Voorhis 4 years earlier. When he entered the Senate, he was regarded as one of the brightest young stars of the Republican party. His youth, his oratorical skills, and his indefatigable speechmaking at Republican fund-raising dinners around the country won him favor among local party organizers. In 1952, at the age of 39, he was nominated by the party to be Dwight D. Eisenhower's vice-presidential running mate. Vice-Presidency During the 1952 presidential campaign, Eisenhower adopted a statesmanlike pose, whereas Nixon once again employed the blistering anti-Communist language that had helped him gain national prominence. Midway in the campaign, however, he was nearly dropped from the ticket. Stories appeared in the press of an $18,000 fund that had been raised for Nixon by California businessmen. On September 23, Nixon defended himself in a nationwide radio and television speech, denying that there was anything improper in his use of the money. His wife did not wear mink, he pointed out, but only "a respectable Republican cloth coat." The only gift that he had kept for himself was a cocker spaniel named Checkers. The "Checkers speech" brought an overwhelmingly favorable response from Republicans across the nation. Eisenhower kept him on the ticket, and the two were swept into office by a margin of more than 6 million votes over the Democratic ticket headed by Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois. As vice-president, Nixon was never personally very close to Eisenhower, although he frequently represented the president at home and abroad. In 1955, when Eisenhower suffered a heart attack, Nixon filled in effectively for him until the president could resume his duties. The Eisenhower-Nixon ticket was reelected by another landslide in 1956. In the next few years Nixon traveled widely; in one trip to the USSR in 1959 he opened the American National Exhibition. There, in a model kitchen, he engaged in a debate with Nikita Khrushchev. This widely publicized "kitchen debate" enhanced Nixon's political stature. His yeoman service to the party made Nixon the logical Republican choice to run for president in 1960. Campaigning against the Democratic nominee, John F. Kennedy, Nixon seemed to come off second best in a series of television debates with his lesser-known opponent. He lost the election by a little more than 100,000 votes. Two years later, when he was defeated for the governorship of California by the Democratic incumbent, Pat Brown, many observers thought Nixon's political career had ended. He himself told reporters the next day, "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference." In the next few years he worked as a partner in a New York law firm and traveled the country and the world. The nomination and overwhelming defeat of Sen. Barry Goldwater as the Republican presidential candidate in 1964 encouraged Nixon to try again for the presidency in 1968. He obtained the nomination on the first ballot after winning a series of presidential primaries. This time, partly because the Democratic party was bitterly divided over the Vietnam War, Nixon won the election, despite an 11th-hour surge by the Democratic nominee, Hubert H. Humphrey, that narrowed Nixon's final margin to less than 1% of the popular vote. Presidency In the White House, the contradictions in Nixon were most obvious. He could be bold yet also cautious, effective yet often inept. Working closely with his national security advisor (later secretary of state), Henry Kissinger, he forsook the anti-Communist policies that he had supported throughout most of his career in favor of détente with the USSR and rapprochement with the Communist government of China. In 1969 he began the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union. In February 1972 he made a historic trip to Beijing (Peking) - where he was received by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung) - thus reversing the U.S. policy of not recognizing the Communist government. In 1973, after four years of waging war in Vietnam - including heavy bombing raids on North Vietnam (1972) and the invasion (1970) of Cambodia - the administration managed to arrange a cease-fire that would last long enough to permit U.S. withdrawal from the Indochinese war zone. After the Arab-Israeli War in 1973, the efforts of Kissinger led to a cease-fire. Domestically, under the banner of "a New Federalism," Nixon attempted to shift important elements of governmental power and responsibility back to state and local governments. He cut back and opposed federal welfare services, proposed antibusing legislation, and used wage-and-price controls to fight inflation. A combination of domestic and international developments, notably the quintupling of oil prices by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1973, led to the economic recession of 1974 - 1975. In 1972, Nixon swept to an overwhelming victory in the presidential election against his Democratic challenger Sen. George S. McGovern - but, ironically, the seeds of political collapse had already been sown. During the campaign a group of burglars working for the Committee to Re-elect the President broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office-apartment complex in Washington, D.C., apparently in search of political intelligence. Attempts by the White House to stop or frustrate the ensuing investigations ultimately failed when Nixon's own White House tape recordings revealed that the president and his assistants had engaged in an obstruction of justice. In the meantime he had been forced to drop Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew, who resigned in October 1973 after he was charged with corruption that began during his tenure as county executive of Baltimore, Md. As the revelations of wrongdoing piled up, Nixon became preoccupied with preserving his presidency. He jettisoned top assistants in the White House and fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. After the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, required that he supply Cox's successor, Leon Jaworski, with tape recordings of conversations with his advisors, the House Judiciary Committee voted to recommend (July 27 - 30, 1974) approval by the full House of three articles of impeachment against the president. On Aug. 9, 1974, Nixon resigned his office and was succeeded by Vice-President Gerald R. Ford, whom he had selected to replace Agnew. A month after Nixon's resignation, Ford pardoned him for any crimes he might have committed as president. Nixon accepted the pardon, but sought thereafter, with some success, to portray himself as an elder statesman. He died in New York City on Apr. 22, 1994, and was buried at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. Nixon's writings include three autobiographical works, Six Crises (1962), RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon (1978), and In the Arena (1990), and books on U.S. foreign policy - The Real War (1980), Real Peace (1983), No More Vietnams (1985), 1999: Victory without War (1988), Seize the Moment (1992), and Beyond Peace (1994). Biography from The Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Richard Nixon is a descendant of Richard Lippincott, founder of New Jersey Richard Nixon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Spouse(s) Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Children Tricia Nixon Cox Julie Nixon Eisenhower Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States from 1969–1974 and was also the 36th Vice President of the United States (1953–1961). Nixon was the only President to resign the office and also the only person to be elected twice to both the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. After completing his undergraduate work at Whittier College, he graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937 and returned to California to practice law in La Habra. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the United States Navy, serving in the Pacific theater, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during World War II. He was elected in 1946 as a Republican to the House of Representatives representing California's 12th Congressional district, and in 1950 to the United States Senate. He was selected to be the running mate of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Republican Party nominee, in the 1952 Presidential election, becoming one of the youngest Vice Presidents in history. He waged an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1960, narrowly losing to John F. Kennedy, and an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of California in 1962; following these losses, Nixon announced his withdrawal from political life. In 1968, however, he ran again for president of the United States and was elected. The most immediate task facing President Nixon was a resolution of the Vietnam War. He initially escalated the conflict, overseeing incursions into neighboring countries, though American military personnel were gradually withdrawn and he successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam in 1973, effectively ending American involvement in the war. His foreign policy initiatives were largely successful: his groundbreaking visit to the People's Republic of China in 1972 opened diplomatic relations between the two nations, and he initiated détente and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union. On the domestic front, he implemented new economic policies which called for wage and price control and the abolition of the gold standard. He was reelected by a landslide in 1972. In his second term, the nation was afflicted with economic difficulties. In the face of likely impeachment for his role in the Watergate scandal,[1] Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. He was later pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, for any federal crimes he may have committed while in office. In his retirement, Nixon became a prolific author and undertook many foreign trips. His work as an elder statesman helped to rehabilitate his public image. He suffered a debilitating stroke on April 18, 1994, and died four days later at the age of 81. Early life Richard Nixon was born on January 9, 1913, to Francis A. Nixon and Hannah Milhous Nixon in a house his father had built in Yorba Linda, California.[2][3][4][5] His mother was a Quaker, and his upbringing was marked by conservative Quaker observances of the time, such as refraining from drinking, dancing, and swearing. His father converted from Methodism to Quakerism after his marriage.[4] Nixon had four brothers: Harold (1909–1933), Donald (1914–1987), Arthur (1918–1925), and Ed (born 1930).[6] Nixon's early life was marked by hardships. Two of his brothers died before he was 21 and his family's ranch failed in 1922. The Nixons then moved to Whittier, California, the home of his mother's relatives, where his father opened a grocery store.[6] Nixon initially attended Fullerton High School in Fullerton, but later transferred to Whittier High School, where he graduated second in his class in 1930.[7] Financial concerns forced him to decline scholarships to Harvard[8] and Yale universities;[9] he instead enrolled at Whittier College,[10] a local Quaker school, where he co-founded a fraternity known as The Orthogonian Society. Nixon was a formidable debater, standout in collegiate drama productions, student body president, player on the football and basketball teams, and track runner.[10][11] While at Whittier, he lived at home and worked at his family's store;[10] he also taught Sunday school at East Whittier Friends Church, where he remained a member all his life. In 1934, he graduated second in his class from Whittier and received a full scholarship to Duke University School of Law.[10] His future plans at this time focused solely on law; he was elected president of the Duke Bar Association[12] and graduated third in his class in June 1937.[10] Nixon later spoke about the influence of his alma-mater, saying, "I always remember that whatever I have done in the past or may do in the future, Duke University is responsible in one way or another."[13] Law practice Although Nixon's first choice was to get a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he returned to California and was admitted to the bar in 1937. He began practicing with Wingert and Bewley,[10] where he worked on commercial litigation for local petroleum companies and other corporate matters as well as on wills. By his own admission, Nixon would not work on divorce because he was "severely embarrassed by women's confessions of sexual misconduct." Nixon found the practice of law unexciting, but thought that it would gain him experience that would be beneficial in a future political career.[14] In 1938, he opened up his own branch of Wingert and Bewley in La Habra, California,[15] becoming a full partner in the firm the following year.[16] Marriage In January 1938, Nixon was cast in the Whittier Community Players production of The Dark Tower. There he played opposite a high school teacher named Thelma "Pat" Ryan.[10][17] Nixon pursued her, but initially Ryan was not interested in a relationship. He began making unannounced visits to her home and would take her on Sunday drives to the Quaker Sunday School where he was a teacher.[18] After several proposals, Ryan eventually agreed to marry the future president and they wed at a small ceremony on June 21, 1940.[10] After a honeymoon in Mexico, the Nixons moved to Long Beach, then settled into an apartment in East Whittier a few months later.[19] In January 1942, they moved to Washington, D.C., where Richard Nixon took a job at the Office of Price Administration.[10] World War II Nixon was eligible for an exemption from military service, both as a Quaker and through his job working for the OPA, but he did not seek one and was commissioned into the United States Navy in August 1942.[10] He was trained at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island and was assigned to Ottumwa Naval Air Station, Iowa, for seven months. He was subsequently reassigned as the naval passenger control officer for the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command, supporting the logistics of operations in the South West Pacific theater.[20][21] After requesting more challenging duties, he was given command of cargo handling units.[22] Nixon returned to the United States with two service stars (although he saw no actual combat) and a citation of commendation, and became the administrative officer of the Alameda Naval Air Station.[23] In January, 1945, he was transferred to Philadelphia's Bureau of Aeronautics office to help negotiate the termination of war contracts. There he received another letter of commendation, this time from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal. In October 1945, he was promoted to lieutenant commander.[23] He resigned his commission on New Year's Day 1946.[24] Congressional career House of Representatives Soon after World War II ended, a group of Whittier Republicans approached Nixon about running for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.[25] Nixon accepted their offer, and waged a campaign which ended in a victory over the five-term Democratic incumbent Jerry Voorhis in November 1946. Nixon represented southern California's 12th Congressional district for the next four years.[25] He helped finance the campaign with his World War II poker winnings.[26][27] In Congress, Nixon supported the Taft-Hartley Act of 1948, and served on the Education and Labor Committee.[25] He was part of the Herter Committee, which went to Europe to prepare a preliminary report on the newly enacted Marshall Plan.[25] Nixon first gained national attention in 1948 when his investigation on the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) broke the impasse of the Alger Hiss spy case. While many doubted Whittaker Chambers' allegations that Hiss, a high State Department official, was a Soviet spy, Nixon believed the allegations to be true. He discovered that Chambers saved microfilm reproductions of incriminating documents by hiding the film in a pumpkin.[28] They were alleged to be accessible only to Hiss and to have been typed on his personal typewriter. Hiss was convicted of perjury in 1950 for statements he made to the HUAC. The discovery that Hiss committed perjury and thus may well have been a Soviet spy thrust Nixon into the public eye. This case turned the young Congressman into a national, and controversial, figure.[25] He was easily reelected in 1948.[25] Senate In the 1950 mid-term elections, Nixon ran against Democratic Representative Helen Gahagan Douglas for a seat in the U.S. Senate, representing California.[29] The campaign is best remembered as one of the most contentious of the times. Nixon felt the former actress was a left-wing sympathizer, labeling her "pink right down to her underwear."[29] Conversely, Douglas referred to Nixon as "Tricky Dick."[29] In the November election, Nixon defeated Douglas. In the Senate, Nixon took a prominent position in opposing the spread of global communism, traveling frequently and speaking out against "the threat."[29] He also criticized what he perceived to be President Harry S. Truman's mishandling of the Korean War.[29] He supported statehood for Alaska and Hawaii, voted in favor of civil rights for minorities, and supported federal disaster relief for India and Yugoslavia.[30] He voted against price controls and other monetary controls, benefits for illegal immigrants, and public power.[30] Vice Presidency (1953-1961) Main article: Eisenhower Administration In part because of his reputation as an ardent anti-communist, 39-year-old Nixon was selected by Republican party nominee General Dwight D. Eisenhower to be the Vice Presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in July 1952.[31] In September, the New York Post published an article claiming that campaign donors were buying influence with Nixon by providing him with a secret cash fund for his personal expenses.[31] Nixon responded that the fund was not secret, and the campaign commissioned an independent review which showed that it was used only for political purposes.[32] Republicans, including some within Eisenhower's campaign, pressured Eisenhower to remove Nixon from the ticket, but Eisenhower realized that he was unlikely to win without Nixon.[33] Nixon appeared on television on September 23, 1952, to defend himself against the allegations. He detailed his personal finances and mentioned the independent third-party review of the fund's accounting.[31] While it was the first time that a national politician released his tax returns, the speech became better known for its rhetoric, such as when he remarked that his wife Pat did not wear mink, but rather "a respectable Republican cloth coat," and that, although he had been given an American Cocker Spaniel named Checkers in addition to his other campaign contributions, he was not going to give the dog back because his daughters loved it.[31] Now known as the "Checkers speech," it resulted in much support from the base of the Republican Party and from the general public,[34] and greatly aided Nixon in remaining on the ticket.[31] In the 1952 presidential elections, Eisenhower and Nixon defeated Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson and Alabama Senator John Sparkman by seven million votes.[31] As Vice President, Nixon expanded the office into an important and prominent post.[31][35] Nixon would conduct National Security meetings in the president's absence.[31] As President of the Senate, he intervened to make procedural rulings on filibusters to assure the passage of Eisenhower's 1957 civil rights bill, which created the United States Commission on Civil Rights and protected voting rights.[36] Although he had little formal power, Nixon had the attention of the media and the Republican Party. Using these, he and his wife undertook many foreign trips of goodwill to garner support for American policies during the Cold War.[31] On one such trip to Caracas, Venezuela, anti-American protesters disrupted and assaulted Nixon's motorcade, pelting his limousine with rocks, shattering windows, and injuring Venezuela's foreign minister.[31] Nixon was lauded and attracted international media attention for his calm and coolness during the incidents.[31] In March 1957, he visited Libya for a program of economic and military aid.[37] Nixon was, and is still, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the African nation. In July 1959, President Eisenhower sent Nixon to the Soviet Union for Moscow's opening of the American National Exhibition.[31] On July 24, while touring the exhibits with Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, the two stopped at a model of an American kitchen and engaged in the impromptu "Kitchen Debate" about the merits of capitalism versus communism.[31] As Vice President, he officially opened the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California.[38] 1960 presidential election Main article: United States presidential election, 1960 In 1960, Nixon launched his campaign for President of the United States. He faced little opposition in the Republican primaries, and chose former Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. as his running mate.[31] His Democratic opponent was John F. Kennedy, and the race remained close for the duration.[39] Nixon campaigned on his experience, but Kennedy called for new blood and claimed the Eisenhower-Nixon administration allowed the Soviet Union to overtake the U.S. in ballistic missiles (the "missile gap"). Kennedy told voters it was time to "get the country moving again."[40] In the midst of the campaign, Nixon advocated stimulative tax cuts in what would become one of the core tenets of the supply-side theory of economics.[41] He also presented a plan for economic growth and deficit reduction, which appealed to many.[41] A new medium was brought to the campaign: televised presidential debates. In the first of four such debates, Nixon was recovering from illness and, wearing little makeup, looked wan and uncomfortable, in contrast to the composed Kennedy.[31] Nixon's performance in the debate was perceived to be mediocre in the visual medium of television, though many people listening on the radio thought that Nixon had won.[42] Nixon lost the election narrowly, with Kennedy ahead by only 120,000 votes (0.2%) in the popular vote.[31] There were charges of vote fraud in Texas and Illinois; Nixon supporters unsuccessfully challenged results in both states as well as nine others.[43] After all the court battles and recounts were done, Kennedy had a greater number of electoral votes than he held after Election Day.[43] Nixon halted further investigations to avoid a Constitutional crisis.[43] Nixon and Kennedy later met in Key Biscayne, Florida, where Kennedy offered Nixon a job in his administration, an offer which Nixon declined.[44] Wilderness years Following his loss to Kennedy, Nixon and his family returned to California, where he practiced law and wrote a bestselling book, Six Crises.[31] It recorded his political involvement as a congressman, senator and vice president and used six different crises Nixon had experienced throughout his political career to illustrate his political memoirs. The work won praise from many policy experts and critics. It also found a favorable critic in Mao Zedong, who referred to the book during Nixon's visit in 1972.[45] Local and national Republican leaders encouraged Nixon to challenge incumbent Pat Brown for Governor of California in the 1962 election.[31] Despite initial reluctance, Nixon entered the race.[31] The campaign was clouded by public suspicion that Nixon viewed the governorship as a political "stepping-stone" to a higher office, some opposition from the far-right of the party, and his own lack of interest in being California's governor.[31] He lost to Brown by nearly 300,000 votes.[31] This loss was widely believed to be the end of his career;[31] in an impromptu concession speech the morning after the election, Nixon famously blamed the media for favoring his opponent, saying, "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference."[31] The California defeat was highlighted in the November 11, 1962, episode of ABC's Howard K. Smith: News and Comment entitled "The Political Obituary of Richard M. Nixon."[46] The Nixon family traveled to Europe in 1963; Nixon gave press conferences and met with leaders of the countries he visited.[47] The family soon moved to New York City, where Nixon became a senior partner in the leading law firm Nixon, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie & Alexander.[31] Though largely out of the public eye, he was still supported by much of the Republican base who respected his knowledge of politics and international affairs.[31] This reputation was enhanced when Nixon wrote an article in Foreign Affairs entitled "Asia After Vietnam",[31] in which he proposed a new relationship with China.[48] He campaigned for Republican candidates in the 1966 Congressional elections[31] and took an extended trip to South America and parts of the Middle East in 1967.[49] Toward the end of 1967, Nixon was experiencing a crisis of indecision about whether to run for president the following year. He consulted with longtime friend the Reverend Billy Graham, who urged him to run.[50] He later held a dinner at his home with friends and all except his wife supported a presidential bid.[50] He formally announced his candidacy for president of the United States on February 1, 1968.[50] 1968 presidential election Main article: Richard Nixon presidential campaign, 1968 Throughout the campaign, Nixon portrayed himself as a figure of stability during a period of national unrest and upheaval.[51] He appealed to what he called the "silent majority" of socially conservative Americans who disliked the hippie counterculture and the anti-war demonstrators, and secured the nomination in August. His running mate, Maryland governor Spiro Agnew, became an increasingly vocal critic of these groups, solidifying Nixon's position with the right.[52] Nixon waged a prominent television campaign, meeting with supporters in front of cameras and advertising on the television medium.[53] He stressed that the crime rate was too high, and attacked what he perceived as a surrender by the Democrats of the United States' nuclear superiority.[54] His campaign was aided by turmoil within the Democratic Party:[51] President Lyndon B. Johnson, consumed with the Vietnam War, announced that he would not seek reelection. After a contentious Democratic primary campaign, Vice President Hubert Humphrey held a moderate but not decisive lead over Senator Robert F. Kennedy; however, Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles following the final, California primary. Humphrey was nominated at a convention marked by mass protests.[51] Nixon appeared to represent a calmer society.[51] With regard to the Vietnam War, he promised peace with honor, and campaigned on the notion that "new leadership will end the war and win the peace in the Pacific." He did not give specific plans on how to end the war, resulting in media intimations that he must have a "secret plan."[55] His slogan of "Nixon's the One" proved to be effective.[53] In a three-way race between Nixon, Humphrey, and independent candidate George Wallace, Nixon defeated Humphrey by nearly 500,000 votes to become the 37th President of the United States on November 5, 1968.[51] Presidency (1969–1974) First term Nixon was inaugurated on January 20, 1969. Pat Nixon held the family Bibles open to Isaiah 2:4, reading, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks."[56] In his inaugural address, which received almost uniformly positive reviews, Nixon remarked that "the greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker."[56] He spoke about turning partisan politics into a new age of unity: In these difficult years, America has suffered from a fever of words; from inflated rhetoric that promises more than it can deliver; from angry rhetoric that fans discontents into hatreds; from bombastic rhetoric that postures instead of persuading. We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another, until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices.”[57] Nixon set out to reconstruct the Western Alliance, develop a relationship with China, pursue arms control agreements with the Soviet Union, activate a peace process in the Middle East, restrain inflation, implement anti-crime measures, accelerate desegregation, and reform welfare.[56] The most immediate task, however, was the Vietnam War.[56] Vietnam War Main articles: Vietnam War and Role of United States in the Vietnam War When Nixon took office, 300 American soldiers were dying per week in Vietnam. The Johnson administration had negotiated a deal in which the U.S. would suspend bombing in North Vietnam in exchange for unconditional negotiations, but this faltered. Nixon faced the choice of devising a new policy to chance securing South Vietnam as a non-communist state, or withdrawing American forces completely.[58] Nixon approved a secret bombing campaign of North Vietnamese positions in Cambodia in March 1969[59] (code-named Operation Menu) to destroy what was believed to be the headquarters of the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam. The Air Force considered the bombings a success.[59] He then proposed simultaneous substantial withdrawals of North Vietnamese and American forces from South Vietnam one year after reaching a mutual agreement.[60] In June 1969, in a campaign fulfillment, Nixon reduced troop strength in Vietnam by 25,000 soldiers, who returned home to the United States. From 1969 to 1972 troop reduction in Vietnam was estimated to be 405,000 soldiers.[61] In July 1969, the Nixons visited South Vietnam, where President Nixon met with his U.S. military commanders and President Nguyen Van Thieu. Amid protests at home, he implemented what became known as the Nixon Doctrine, a strategy of replacing American troops with Vietnamese troops, also called "Vietnamization."[51] He soon enacted phased U.S. troop withdrawals[62] but authorized incursions into Laos, in part to interrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail that passed through Laos and Cambodia. Nixon's 1968 campaign promise to curb the war and his subsequent Laos bombing raised questions in the press about a "credibility gap," similar to that encountered earlier in the war by Lyndon B. Johnson.[62] In a televised speech on April 30, 1970, Nixon announced the incursion of U.S. troops into Cambodia to disrupt so-called North Vietnamese sanctuaries. This led to protest and student strikes that temporarily closed 536 universities, colleges, and high schools.[63] Nixon formed the Gates Commission to look into ending the military service draft,[64] implemented under President Johnson. The Gates Commission issued its report in February 1970, describing how adequate military strength could be maintained without conscription.[65] The draft was extended to June 1973,[66] and then ended. Military pay was increased as an incentive to attract volunteers, and television advertising for the United States Army began for the first time.[67] In December 1972, though concerned about the level of civilian casualties, Nixon approved Linebacker II, the codename for aerial bombings of military and industrial targets in North Vietnam.[68] After years of fighting, the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973.[69] The treaty, however, made no provision that 145,000-160,000 North Vietnam Army regulars located in the Central Highlands and other areas of S. Vietnam had to withdraw.[61] Under President Nixon, American involvement in the war steadily declined from a troop strength of 543,000 to zero in 1973.[51] Once American support was diminished, in 1975, North Vietnam was able to conquer South Vietnam and formed one country. Economy Under Nixon, direct payments from the federal government to individual American citizens in government benefits (including Social Security and Medicare) rose from 6.3% of the Gross National Product (GNP) to 8.9%. Food aid and public assistance also rose, beginning at $6.6 billion and escalating to $9.1 billion. Defense spending decreased from 9.1% to 5.8% of the GNP. The revenue sharing program pioneered by Nixon delivered $80 billion to individual states and municipalities.[70] In 1970, the Democratic Congress passed the Economic Stabilization Act, giving Nixon power to set wages and prices; Congress did not believe the president would use the new controls and felt this would make him appear to be indecisive.[71] While opposed to permanent wage and price controls,[72] Nixon imposed the controls on a temporary basis[73] in a 90 day wage and price freeze.[74] The controls (enforced for large corporations, voluntary for others) were the largest since World War II; they were relaxed after the initial 90 days.[75] Nixon then spoke to the American public, saying that by "Working together, we will break the back of inflation."[76] A Pay Board set wage controls limiting increases to 5.5% per year, and the Price Commission set a 2.5% annual limit on price increases.[77] The limits did help to control wages, but not inflation.[78] Overall, however, the controls were viewed as successful in the short term[79] and were popular with the public, who felt Nixon was rescuing them from price-gougers and from a foreign-caused exchange crisis.[75][80] Nixon was worried about the effects of increasing inflation and accelerating unemployment,[75] so he indexed Social Security for inflation, and created Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In 1969, he had presented the only balanced budget between 1961 and 1998.[81] However, despite speeches declaring an opposition to the idea, he decided to offer Congress a budget with deficit spending to reduce unemployment and declared, "Now I am a Keynesian."[75] Another large part of Nixon's plan was the detachment of the dollar from the gold standard.[74] By the time Nixon took office, U.S. gold reserves had declined from $25 billion to $10.5 billion. Gold was an underpriced commodity, as the dollar was overpriced as a currency. The United States was on the verge of running its first trade deficit in over 75 years.[82] The price of gold had been set at $35 an ounce since the days of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency; foreign countries acquired more dollar reserves, outnumbering the entire amount of gold the United States possessed. Nixon completely eradicated the gold standard, preventing other countries from being able to claim gold in exchange for their dollar reserves, but also weakening the exchange rate of the dollar against other currencies and increasing inflation by driving up the cost of imports.[75] Nixon felt that the dollar should float freely like other currencies.[83] Said Nixon in his speech: "The American dollar must never again be a hostage in the hands of international speculators.... Government... does not hold the key to the success of a people. That key... is in your hands. Every action I have taken tonight is designed to nurture and stimulate that competitive spirit to help us snap out of self-doubt, the self-disparagement that saps our energy and erodes our confidence in ourselves... Whether the nation stays Number One depends on your competitive spirit, your sense of personal destiny, your pride in your country and yourself."[84] Other parts of the Nixon plan included the reimposition of a 10% investment tax credit, assistance to the automobile industry in the form of removal of excise taxes (provided the savings were passed directly to the consumer),[83] an end to fixed exchange rates, devaluation of the dollar on the free market, and a 10% tax on all imports into the U.S.[74] Income per family rose, and unionization declined.[74] Nixon wanted to lift the spirits of the country as polls showed increasing concern about the economy. His program was viewed by nearly everyone as exceptionally bold, and astounded the Democrats.[84] Nixon soon experienced a bounce in the polls.[85] His economic program was determined to be a clear success by December 1971.[86] One of Nixon's economic advisers, Herbert Stein, wrote: "Probably more new regulation was imposed on the economy during the Nixon administration than in any other presidency since the New Deal."[75] Initiatives within the federal government Nixon believed in using government wisely to benefit all and supported the idea of practical liberalism.[87] During the Nixon administration, the United States established many government agencies, among them the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[88] Nixon authorized the Clean Air Act of 1970, which was noted as one of the most significant pieces of environmental legislation ever signed.[89] He established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)[75] In 1971, Nixon proposed the creation of four new government departments superseding the current structure: departments organized for the goal of efficient and effective public service as opposed to the thematic bases of Commerce, Labor, Transportation, Agriculture, et al. Departments including the State, Treasury, Defense, and Justice would remain under this proposal.[90] He reorganized the Post Office Department from a cabinet department to a government-owned corporation: the U.S. Postal Service. Nixon cut billions of dollars in federal spending and expanded the power of the Office of Management and Budget.[91] He established the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1972[88] and supported the Legacy of parks program, which transferred ownership of federally owned land to the states, resulting in the establishment of state parks and beaches, recreational areas, and environmental education centers. Civil rights The Nixon years witnessed the first large-scale integration of public schools in the South.[92] Strategically, Nixon sought a middle way between the segregationist George C. Wallace and liberal Democrats, whose support of integration was alienating some Southern white Democrats.[93] He was determined to implement exactly what the courts had ordered— desegregation — but did not favor busing children, in the words of author Conrad Black, "all over the country to satisfy the capricious meddling of judges."[94] Nixon, a Quaker, felt that racism was the greatest moral failure of the United States[95] and concentrated on the principle that the law must be color-blind: "I am convinced that while legal segregation is totally wrong, forced integration of housing or education is just as wrong."[96] Nixon tied desegregation to improving the quality of education[95] and enforced the law after the Supreme Court, in Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education (1969), prohibited further delays. By the fall of 1970, two million southern black children had enrolled in newly created unitary fully integrated school districts; only 18% of Southern black children were still attending all-black schools, a decrease from 70% when Nixon came to office.[89] Nixon's Cabinet Committee on Education, under the leadership of Labor Secretary George P. Shultz, quietly set up local biracial committees to assure smooth compliance without violence or political grandstanding.[97] "In this sense, Nixon was the greatest school desegregator in American history," historian Dean Kotlowski concluded.[98] Author Conrad Black concurred: "In his singular, unsung way, Richard Nixon defanged and healed one of the potentially greatest controversies of the time."[99] Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Nixon's presidential counselor, commented in 1970 “There has been more change in the structure of American public school education in the last month than in the past 100 years.”[100] In addition to desegregating public schools, Nixon implemented the Philadelphia Plan, the first significant federal affirmative action program in 1970.[101] Nixon also endorsed the Equal Rights Amendment after it passed both houses of Congress in 1972 and went to the states for ratification as a Constitutional amendment.[102] Nixon had campaigned as an ERA supporter in 1968, though feminists criticized him for doing little to help the ERA or their cause after his election, which led to a much stronger women's rights agenda. Nixon increased the number of female appointees to administration positions.[103] Nixon signed the landmark laws Title IX in 1972, prohibiting gender discrimination in all federally funded schools and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. In 1970 Nixon had vetoed the Comprehensive Child Development Act, denouncing the universal child-care bill, but signed into law Title X, which was a step forward for family planning and contraceptives. It was during the Nixon Presidency that the Supreme Court issued its Roe v. Wade ruling, legalizing abortion. First Lady Pat Nixon had been outspoken about her support for legalized abortion, a goal for many feminists (though there was a significant pro-life minority faction of the Women's Liberation Movement as well). Nixon himself did not speak out publicly on the abortion issue, but was personally pro-choice, and believed that, in certain cases such as rape, or an interracial child, abortion was an option.[104] U.S. space program In 1969, Nixon's first year in office, the United States sent three men to the moon, becoming the first nation in the world to do so. On July 20, Nixon addressed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, two of the astronauts, live over radio during their historic Apollo 11 moonwalk. Nixon also placed a telephone call to Armstrong on the moon, the longest distance phone call ever,[105] and called it "the most historic phone call ever made from the White House."[106] He observed their landing in the ocean from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet.[106] All U.S. Project Apollo moon landings, and the attempted moon landing of Apollo 13, took place during Nixon's first term. On January 5, 1972, Nixon approved the development of NASA's Space Shuttle program,[107] a decision that profoundly influenced American efforts to explore and develop space for several decades thereafter. Under the Nixon administration, however, NASA's budget declined.[108] NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine was drawing up ambitious plans for the establishment of a permanent base on the Moon by the end of the 1970s and the launch of a manned expedition to Mars as early as 1981. Nixon, however, rejected this proposal.[109] On May 24, 1972, Nixon approved a five-year cooperative program between NASA and the Soviet space program, culminating in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, a joint-mission of an American Apollo and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1975.[110] Indo-Pakistani War Main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 A conflict broke out in Pakistan in 1971 following independence demonstrations in East Pakistan; President Yahya Khan instructed the Pakistani Army to quell the riots, resulting in widespread human rights abuses. President Nixon liked Yahya personally, and credited him for helping to open a channel to China; accordingly, he felt obligated to support him in the struggle.[111] There were limits to how far the U.S. could associate itself with Pakistan, however.[111] American public opinion was concerned with the atrocities[112] and the emigration of over 10 million people into India.[111] Nixon relayed messages to Yahya, urging him to restrain Pakistani forces.[113] His objective was to prevent a war and safeguard Pakistan's interests, though he feared an Indian invasion of West Pakistan that would lead to Indian domination of the sub-continent and strengthen the position of the Soviet Union,[114] which had recently signed a cooperation treaty with India. Nixon felt that the Soviet Union was inciting the country.[113] Nixon met with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and did not believe her assertion that she would not invade Pakistan;[115] he did not trust her and once referred to her as an "old witch".[116] On December 3, Yahya attacked the Indian Air Force and Gandhi retaliated, pushing into East Pakistan.[117] Nixon issued a statement blaming Pakistan for starting the conflict and blaming India for escalating it[117] because he favored a cease-fire.[118] The United States was secretly encouraging the shipment of military equipment from Iran, Turkey, and Jordan to Pakistan, reimbursing those countries[119] despite Congressional objections.[120] A cease fire was reached on December 16 and Bangladesh was created.[121] China Main article: 1972 Nixon visit to China Relations between the Western powers and Eastern Bloc changed dramatically in the early 1970s. In 1960, the People's Republic of China publicly split from its main ally, the Soviet Union, in the Sino-Soviet Split. As tension along the border between the two communist nations reached its peak in 1969 and 1970, Nixon decided to use their conflict to shift the balance of power towards the West in the Cold War.[122] Nixon had begun entreating China a mere month into office by sending covert messages of rapprochement through Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania[123] and Yahya Khan of Pakistan[124] in December 1970. He reduced many trade restrictions between the two countries, and silenced anti-China voices within the White House. In April 1971, the Chinese table tennis team invited the American table tennis team to attend a demonstration competition for a week in China.[125] The invitation came upon the order of Mao Zedong himself, who had taken note of Nixon's "subtle overtures" to improve U.S.-Chinese relations, including the conflict in Pakistan.[125] This was significant in that the fifteen-member table tennis team were allowed to enter mainland China after a period of over twenty years in which Americans, except on very rare occasions, had been denied visas[126] (the term "ping pong diplomacy" arose from this encounter).[127] Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, through Pakistani intermediaries, had relayed a message to Nixon reading: "The Chinese government reaffirms its willingness to receive publicly in Peking a special envoy of the president of the United States, or the U.S. secretary of state, or even the president himself."[128] Nixon sent then-National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger on a secret mission to China in July, 1971, to arrange a visit by the president and first lady.[128] Soon, the world was stunned to learn that Nixon intended to visit Communist China the following year.[129] In February 1972, President and Mrs. Nixon traveled to China, where the president was to engage in direct talks with Mao and Chou. Kissinger briefed Nixon for over forty hours in preparation.[130] Upon touching down, the President and First Lady emerged from Air Force One and greeted Chou. According to Nixon biographer Stephen Ambrose: "[Nixon] knew that when his old friend John Foster Dulles had refused to shake the hand of Chou En-lai in Geneva in 1954, Chou had felt insulted. He knew too that American television cameras would be at the Beijing airport to film his arrival. A dozen times on the way to Peking, Nixon told Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers that they were to stay on the plane until he had descended the gangway and shaken Zhou Enlai's hand. As added insurance, a Secret Service agent blocked the aisle of Air Force One to make sure the president emerged alone."[131] Over one hundred television journalists accompanied the president. On Nixon's orders, television was strongly favored over printed publications, as it would capture the trip's visuals much better while snubbing the print journalists Nixon despised.[131] Nixon and Kissinger were soon summoned to an hour-long meeting with Mao and Zhou at Mao's official private residence, where they discussed a range of issues.[132] Mao later told his doctor that he had been impressed by Nixon, who was forthright, unlike the leftists and the Soviets.[132] He also said he was suspicious of Kissinger,[132] though the National Security Advisor referred to their meeting as his "encounter with history."[131] A formal banquet welcoming the presidential party was conducted that evening in the Great Hall of the People. The following day, Nixon met with Chou; during this meeting he stated that he believed “there is one China, and Taiwan is a part of China.”[133][134][135] When not in meetings, Nixon toured architectural wonders including the Forbidden City, Ming Tombs, and the Great Wall.[131] Americans received their first glance into China via Pat Nixon, who toured the city of Beijing and visited communes, schools, factories, and hospitals accompanied by the American media.[131] The visit ushered in a new era of Sino-American relations.[51] Fearing the possibility of a Sino-American alliance, the Soviet Union yielded to American pressure for détente.[136] Soviet Union Nixon used the improving international environment to address the topic of nuclear peace. Following his successful visit to China, the Nixon administration drew up plans for the president to visit the Soviet Union. The President and First Lady arrived in Moscow on May 22, 1972.[137] Nixon met with Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev, and engaged in intense negotiations regarding international issues[137] with his Soviet counterpart.[51] Out of this "summit meeting" came agreements for increased trade and two landmark arms control treaties: SALT I, the first comprehensive limitation pact signed by the two superpowers,[51] and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which banned the development of systems designed to intercept incoming missiles. Nixon and Brezhnev proclaimed a new era of "peaceful coexistence" and established groundbreaking new policy of détente (or cooperation) between the two superpowers. Détente would replace the hostility of the Cold War and the two countries would enjoy peaceful relations. A banquet was held that evening at the Kremlin.[137] Nixon extended the Nixon Doctrine from Vietnam to his policy toward the Soviet Union, believing that helping Iran become stronger would check the Soviets' power.[138] To win American friendship, both China and the Soviet Union cut back on their diplomatic support for North Vietnam and advised Hanoi to come to terms.[139][140][141] Nixon laid out his strategy: "I had long believed that an indispensable element of any successful peace initiative in Vietnam was to enlist, if possible, the help of the Soviets and the Chinese. Though rapprochement with China and détente with the Soviet Union were ends in themselves, I also considered them possible means to hasten the end of the war. At worst, Hanoi was bound to feel less confident if Washington was dealing with Moscow and Beijing. At best, if the two major Communist powers decided that they had bigger fish to fry, Hanoi would be pressured into negotiating a settlement we could accept."[142] Having made great progress over the last two years in U.S.-Soviet relations, Nixon planned a second trip to the Soviet Union in 1974.[143] He arrived in Moscow on June 27 to a welcome ceremony, cheering crowds, and a state dinner at the Grand Kremlin Palace that evening.[143] Nixon and Brezhnev met in Yalta, where they discussed a proposed mutual defense pact, détente, and MIRVs. While he considered proposing a comprehensive test-ban treaty, Nixon felt that it would take far too long to accomplish.[143] There were not any significant breakthroughs in these negotiations.[143] 1972 presidential campaign Main article: United States presidential election, 1972 Nixon entered his name on the New Hampshire primary ballot on January 5, 1972, effectively announcing his candidacy for reelection.[144] Largely assured the Republican nomination,[145] the President had expected his Democratic opponent to be Senator Ted Kennedy,[146] but Senator Edmund Muskie instead became the front runner, with Senator George McGovern in a close second place.[144] Though Muskie defeated McGovern in the New Hampshire primary, his showings were poorer in Florida and he soon ended his campaign.[145] Alabama Governor George Wallace entered the race as an Independent; popular in Florida, he would create havoc among the Democrats and boost Nixon's campaign.[147] Prominent issues of the early campaign included school busing and heated relations between the three branches of the government. Nixon addressed the nation on March 16 about the school busing issue, reiterating that it was wrong to force a child onto a school bus and that busing lowered the quality of education.[145] He announced the Equal Education Opportunities bill that would seek a moratorium on local school busing;[148] the bill later passed. Vietnam was still ongoing, though Nixon had reduced troop levels dramatically. On June 10, McGovern won the California primary and secured the Democratic nomination.[149] The following month, Nixon was renominated at the 1972 Republican National Convention. He dismissed the Democratic platform as cowardly and divisive.[150] Nixon was ahead in most polls for the entire election cycle, and was reelected that November in one of the largest landslide election victories in U.S. political history. He defeated McGovern with over 60% of the popular vote, losing only in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.[151] Nixon's victory made him the first former Vice President since Thomas Jefferson to win two terms as President. Nixon and Franklin Roosevelt are the only candidates in U.S. history to appear on five presidential tickets for a major party.[citation needed] Second term On October 10, 1973, Vice President Agnew resigned, amid charges of bribery, tax evasion and money laundering from his tenure as Maryland's governor. Nixon chose Representative Gerald Ford, Republican Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, to replace Agnew.[152] Continuation of economic changes After he won reelection, Nixon found that inflation was increasing, and the legislation authorizing price controls expired April 30, 1973. The Senate Democratic Caucus recommended a 90-day freeze on all profits, interest rates, and prices.[79] Nixon re-imposed price controls in June 1973, echoing his 1971 plan, as food prices rose; this time, he focused on agricultural exports and limited the freeze to 60 days.[79] The price controls became unpopular with the public and businesspeople, who saw powerful labor unions as preferable to the price board bureaucracy.[79] Business owners, however, now saw the controls as permanent rather than temporary, and voluntary compliance decreased.[79] The controls produced food shortages, as meat disappeared from grocery stores and farmers drowned chickens rather than sell them at a loss.[79] The controls were slowly ended, and by April 30, 1974, the control authority from Congress had lapsed.[79] However, the controls on oil and natural gas prices persisted for several years.[75] Nixon also dramatically increased spending on federal employees' salaries while the economy was plagued by the 1973–1974 stock market crash.[153] In his 1974 State of the Union address, Nixon called for comprehensive health insurance.[154] On February 6, 1974, he introduced the Comprehensive Health Insurance Act. Nixon's plan would have mandated employers to purchase health insurance for their employees, and in addition provided a federal health plan, similar to Medicaid, that any American could join by paying on a sliding scale based on income.[154][155][156] Yom Kippur War and 1973 oil crisis The Nixon administration supported Israel, a powerful American ally in the Middle East, during the Yom Kippur War. When an Arab coalition led by Egypt and Syria attacked in October 1973, Israel suffered initial losses and pressed European powers for help, but (with the exception of the Netherlands) the Europeans responded with inaction. Nixon cut through inter-departmental squabbles and bureaucracy to initiate an airlift of American arms. By the time the U.S. and the Soviet Union negotiated a truce, Israel had penetrated deep into enemy territory. A long-term effect was the movement of Egypt away from the Soviets toward the U.S. But Israel's victory came at the cost to the U.S. of the 1973 oil crisis; the members of OPEC decided to raise oil prices in response to the American support of Israel.[157] After Nixon chose to go off the gold standard, foreign countries increased their currency reserves in anticipation of currency fluctuation, which caused deflation of the dollar and other world currencies. Since oil was paid for in dollars, OPEC was receiving less value for their product. They cut production and announced price hikes as well as an embargo targeted against the United States and the Netherlands, specifically blaming U.S. support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War for the actions.[158] On January 2, 1974, Nixon signed a bill that lowered the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 miles per hour (90 km/h) to conserve gasoline during the crisis.[159] This law was repealed in 1995, though states had been allowed to raise the limit to 65 miles per hour in rural areas since 1987.[160][161] Watergate Main article: Watergate scandal The term Watergate has come to encompass an array of illegal and secret activities undertaken by the Nixon administration. The activities became known in the aftermath of five men being caught breaking into Democratic party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972.[162] The Washington Post picked up on the story, while reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward relied on an FBI informant known as "Deep Throat" to link the men to the Nixon White House.[162] This became one of a series of scandalous acts involving the Committee to Re-Elect the President.[162] Nixon downplayed the scandal as mere politics, and his White House denounced the story as biased and misleading.[162] As the FBI eventually confirmed that Nixon aides had attempted to sabotage the Democrats, many began resigning and senior aides faced prosecution.[162] Nixon's alleged role in ordering a cover-up came to light after the testimony of John Dean.[163] In July 1973, White House aide Alexander Butterfield testified that Nixon had a secret taping system that recorded his conversations and phone calls in the Oval Office.[163] Unlike the tape recordings by earlier Presidents, Nixon's were subpoenaed. The White House refused to release them, citing executive privilege.[163] A tentative deal was reached in which the White House would provide written summaries of the tapes, but this was rejected by Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, a former member of the Kennedy administration.[163] Cox was fired at the White House's request and was replaced by Leon Jaworski, a former member of the Johnson administration.[163] Jaworski revealed an audio tape of conversations held in the White House on June 20, 1972, which featured an unexplained 18½ minute gap.[163] The first deleted section, of about five minutes, has been attributed to human error by Rose Mary Woods, the President's personal secretary, who admitted accidentally wiping the section while transcribing the tape. The gap, while not conclusive proof of wrong-doing by the President, cast doubt on Nixon's claim that he was unaware of the cover-up.[164] Though Nixon lost much popular support, including from some in his own party, he rejected accusations of wrongdoing and vowed to stay in office.[163] He insisted that he had made mistakes, but had no prior knowledge of the burglary, did not break any laws, and did not learn of the coverup until early 1973.[165] On November 17, 1973, during a televised question and answer session with the press,[164] Nixon said, “ People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.[166]" In April 1974, Nixon announced the release of 1200 pages of transcripts of White House conversations between him and his aides.[165] Despite this, the House Judiciary Committee, controlled by Democrats, opened impeachment hearings against the President on May 9, 1974.[165] On July 24, the Supreme Court then ruled that the tapes must be released to Jaworski; one of the secret recordings, known as the Smoking Gun tape, was released on August 5, 1974, and revealed that Nixon knew of the cover-up from its inception and had administration officials try to stop the FBI's investigation.[164] In light of his loss of political support and the near certainty of impeachment, Nixon resigned the office of the presidency on August 9, 1974, after addressing the nation on television the previous evening.[165] Nixon's resignation letter, addressed to Secretary of State Kissinger, consisted of one terse sentence: "I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States." The resignation speech was delivered on August 8, 1974, at 9:01 p.m. Eastern time from the Oval Office of the White House and was carried live on radio and television. The core of the speech was Nixon's announcement that Gerald Ford, as Vice President, would succeed to the presidency, effective at noon Eastern time the next day. Around this announcement, he discussed his feelings about his presidential work and general political issues that would need attention once he left. He never admitted to criminal wrongdoing, although he conceded errors of judgment. During the Watergate scandal, Nixon's approval rating fell to 23%.[167] On May 28, 2009, speaking to Republicans in Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, Ed Nixon said that his brother did not resign "in disgrace" but "resigned in honor. It was a disappointment to him because his missions were cut short." He also said that his brother "held the office of president in high regard."[168] Judicial appointments Nixon appointed the following justices to the Supreme Court of the United States: Warren E. Burger as Chief Justice in 1969, Harry Andrew Blackmun in 1970, Lewis Franklin Powell, Jr. in 1972, and William Rehnquist later that year. Along with his four Supreme Court appointments, Nixon appointed 46 judges to the United States Courts of Appeals, and 181 judges to the United States district courts. Nixon formally nominated one person, Charles A. Bane, for a federal appellate judgeship, who was never confirmed. Pardons Further information: List of people pardoned or granted clemency by a United States president Nixon issued 926 pardons or commutations.[169] Among notable cases were labor leader Jimmy Hoffa (sentence commuted on condition)[170] and mobster Angelo DeCarlo (convicted of extortion; served one and a half years; pardoned because of poor health). DeCarlo's pardon was later investigated, but no evidence was found of corruption. During his presidency, Nixon decided to grant clemency in over 20 percent of requests.[171] Later life Pardon and illness Following his resignation, the Nixons returned to their home La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente, California.[172] Nixon was said to be in seclusion for a number of days in his home, first experiencing shock and later persistent sadness.[173] On September 8, 1974, Ford granted him a "full, free, and absolute pardon". This ended any possibility of an indictment. Nixon then released a statement: “ I was wrong in not acting more decisively and forthrightly in dealing with Watergate.... No words can describe the depths of my regret and pain at the anguish of my mistakes over Watergate have caused the nation and presidency, a nation I so deeply love and an institution I so greatly respect.[174] ” Within one month, Ford's approval rating dropped from 71% to 49%.[175] Nixon later told a former aide that he felt he was chased out of office by "the establishment" in Washington and leftist elements in the media, as they considered him a mortal threat to their domination of national affairs.[176] As a result of Watergate, Nixon was disbarred by the state of New York. He had attempted to resign his license, but the state refused to let him do so unless he admitted wrongdoing in Watergate.[177] He later resigned his other law licenses, including one in California.[178] The evening of the pardon, Nixon experienced great pain in his lower left abdomen and his left leg had swollen to three times its normal size.[179] It was determined that phlebitis, a condition which had afflicted Nixon the previous June, had recurred.[180] Told that he would surely die if he did not go to a hospital, Nixon was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital.[181] It was discovered that a clot from his leg had broken off and traveled to his lung; to treat this, he was placed on an anti-coagulant intravenous machine.[181] While Nixon was hospitalized, Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski subpoenaed him to testify before a trial regarding Watergate.[182] Nixon's doctor, John Lungren, said that Nixon could not sustain a flight to Washington because of his condition, because he needed to avoid being seated for prolonged periods.[183] Nixon was released from the hospital on October 4 and soon filed a motion requesting the judge to revoke the subpoena,[183] which was rejected.[184] Dr Lungren filed an affidavit, arguing that the well-being of the former president might be compromised by forcing him to appear at the trial.[185] On October 23, Nixon was taken back to the hospital after a recurrence of swelling. Doctors found serious vascular blockages and a danger of gangrene;[186] it was feared that blood clots might break loose and travel to his heart or brain with lethal consequences.[186] An eighteen-inch blood clot was found in a vein leading to Nixon's heart.[186] Surgery was deemed necessary for his survival; he underwent a ninety-minute operation on October 29.[186] While recuperating, Nixon fainted, fell out of bed, and fell into a coma.[187] He underwent four blood transfusions in three hours and suffered severe internal bleeding, along with hypotension.[187] His family stayed by his side, while he was visited by Ford and telephoned by Mao Zedong.[187] He returned home on November 14. Three leading doctors sent by the judge in the Watergate trial evaluated Nixon's condition, and concluded that he was not able to testify.[188] The judge ruled that his testimony would not be necessary.[188] By early 1975, Nixon's mental and physical health was improving.[189] He maintained an office in a Coast Guard station 300 yards from his home, first taking a golf cart and later walking the route each day; he mainly worked on his memoirs.[189] Nixon traveled extensively, both domestically and internationally. He was a frequent CB Radio user, which Nixon was not allowed to use while in the White House for security reasons. He took trips to Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Africa, and Asia.[172] At the invitation of Mao Zedong, Nixon traveled to China in February 1976.[190] His trip was initially criticized, including by some within his own party, who argued that citizen-Nixon was conducting U.S. foreign policy.[190] The well-publicized trip was deemed a success, however; upon his return, Nixon prepared a lengthy memorandum on his experiences that was sent to the White House.[190] He would visit China four more times. Rehabilitation By 1977, Nixon began forming a public-relations comeback effort. In August of that year, he met with British commentator David Frost, who paid him $600,000 for a series of sit-down interviews.[191] They began on the topic of foreign policy, recounting the leaders he had known, but the most remembered section of the interviews was that on Watergate. Nixon admitted that he had "let down the country" and that "I brought myself down. I gave them a sword and they stuck it in. And they twisted it with relish. And, I guess, if I'd been in their position, I'd have done the same thing."[192] Nixon did not admit to criminal wrongdoing, denied criminal intent,[193] and denied authorizing payment to the burglars as an incentive for them not to reveal information.[193] He was criticized at the time by some[who?] who opined that he should not be giving information to Frost that he had declined to give to federal courts.[194] Nonetheless, the interviews became well known and were viewed widely across the world,[192] garnering between 45 and 50 million viewers and making them the most watched interviews in the history of television.[195] The encounters were the subject of the 2006 play Frost/Nixon, which later became a 2008 film. He soon published his memoirs, RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon and a second book, The Real War. These were the first of ten books he was to author in his retirement,[172] and their respective releases enabled Nixon to further his comeback effort by partaking in book tours. The Nixons moved to New York City in February 1980 to be closer to their family. When the former Shah of Iran died in Egypt in July 1980, Nixon defied President Jimmy Carter's State Department by attending the funeral.[196] He supported Ronald Reagan for president in 1980, making numerous television appearances portraying himself as, in biographer Steven Ambrose's words, "the senior statesman above the fray."[197] He wrote guest articles for numerous publications and participated in many television interviews.[198] After 18 months in the New York City townhouse, Nixon and his wife moved to Saddle River, New Jersey in 1981.[172] Throughout the 1980s, Nixon maintained a routine schedule of speaking engagements and writing,[172] traveled, and met with many foreign leaders, especially those of Third World countries. He joined former Presidents Ford and Carter as representatives of the United States at the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat.[172] On a trip to the Middle East, Nixon made his views known regarding Saudi Arabia and Libya, which attracted significant U.S. media attention; The Washington Post ran stories on Nixon's "rehabilitation."[199] He later embarked on journeys to Japan, China, and the Soviet Union.[172] On his return from the Soviet Union, Nixon sent President Ronald Reagan a lengthy memorandum that contained foreign policy suggestions and his personal impressions of Mikhail Gorbachev.[172] Following this trip, Nixon was ranked by Gallup as one of the ten most admired men in the world.[200] Elder statesman In 1986, Nixon gave an address to a convention of newspaper publishers, impressing his audience with his tour d'horizon of the world.[201] Author Elizabeth Drew wrote that "even when he was wrong, Nixon still showed that he knew a great deal and had a capacious memory as well as the capacity to speak with apparent authority, enough to impress people who had little regard for him in earlier times."[201] Newsweek, among other publications,[200] ran a story on "Nixon's comeback" with the headline "He's back."[201] He gained respect as an elder statesman[172] in the area of foreign affairs, being consulted by both Republican and Democratic successors to the presidency; Reagan sought Nixon's advice in dealing with Gorbachev.[202] On July 19, 1990, the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda, California opened as a private institution, with Nixon and Pat in attendance. They were joined by a throng of people, including Gerald Ford, Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, and their spouses Betty, Nancy, and Barbara, respectively.[203] The property was owned and operated by a private foundation and was not part of the National Archives' presidential libraries system until July 11, 2007, when the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum was officially welcomed into the federal presidential library system. In January 1991, the former president founded the Nixon Center, a policy think tank and conference center.[204] Pat Nixon died on June 22, 1993 of health problems, including emphysema and lung cancer. Her funeral services were held on the grounds of the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace during the week leading up to her burial on June 26. Richard Nixon was deeply distraught, and broke down in convulsive sobs for the only time in his adult life.[205] Inside the building, he delivered a tribute to her.[205] Nixon was comforted by his family while former presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan and their wives attended the ceremony.[206][207] Some commented that without Pat, Nixon would not "last a year."[205] Death and funeral Main article: Death and funeral of Richard Nixon Nixon suffered a severe stroke at 5:45 p.m. EDT on April 18, 1994, while preparing to eat dinner in his Park Ridge, New Jersey home.[208] It was determined that a blood clot resulting from his heart condition had formed in his upper heart, then broken off and traveled to his brain. He was taken to New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, initially alert, but unable to speak or to move his right arm or leg.[208] Damage to the brain caused swelling (cerebral edema) and Nixon slipped into a deep coma. On April 22, 1994, he died at 9:08 p.m., with his daughters at his bedside; he was 81.[208] Nixon's funeral took place on April 27, 1994, the first for an American president since that of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973, which Nixon had presided over as president. Held at the Nixon Library, eulogists included then-President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, California Governor Pete Wilson, and the Reverend Billy Graham.[209] Also in attendance were former Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush and their respective first ladies.[210] Nixon was buried beside Pat on the grounds of the Nixon Library. He was survived by his two daughters, Tricia and Julie, and four grandchildren.[208] In keeping with his wishes, his funeral was not a state funeral, though his body did lie in repose in the Nixon Library lobby from April 26 to the morning of the funeral services.[211] Despite heavy rain, police estimated that roughly 50,000 people waited in lines up to 18 hours to file past the casket and pay their respects.[212] Legacy No other American has held office in the executive branch of the federal government as long as Richard Nixon did.[213] He is the only person in American history to appear on the Republican Party's presidential ticket five times, to secure the Republican nomination for president three times, and to have been elected twice to both the vice presidency and the presidency. With Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Richard Nixon was the chief builder of the modern Republican party. From 1952 to 1992, at least one of these three men appeared on the Republican ticket for nine of the eleven presidential elections in those 40 years.Throughout his career, he was instrumental in moving the party away from the control of isolationists and as a Congressman was a persuasive advocate of containing Soviet Communism.[213] Although he did not achieve all that he had wished for in the Middle East, Nixon virtually expelled the Soviet Union from the region and initiated a long peace process.[214] He began formal relations with China and improved relations with the Soviet Union. Domestically, he decentralized government by revenue sharing, greatly reduced segregation in schools, reduced inflation (until it rose again as a result of the oil cartels), ended the gold standard, reduced the crime rate, and pioneered positive environmental measures.[214] As a result of the Watergate scandal, however, the mood of the nation was severely affected and the office of the presidency was demeaned.[214] Though often referred to as a "conservative" in politics because of his "Southern strategy" and his victory in numerous southern states in 1968, Nixon had a considerable share of detractors on the right of the political spectrum. Columnist George Will questioned Nixon's conservatism, citing the wage-and-price controls as "the largest peacetime instrusion of government in the economy in American history, surpassing even the dreams of the New Dealers." Personality and public image Nixon's career was frequently dogged by his persona, and the public perception of it. Editorial cartoonists and comedians often exaggerated Nixon's appearance and mannerisms, to the point where the line between the human and the caricature version of him became increasingly blurred. He was often portrayed with unshaven jowls, slumped shoulders, and a furrowed, sweaty brow.[215] Nixon had a complex personality, both very secretive and awkward yet strikingly reflective about himself.[216] He was inclined to distance himself from people and was formal in all aspects, always wearing a coat and tie even when home alone.[216] He advised people not to care about what others thought of them. Some experts have described him as having a narcissistic and paranoid personality.[217] Conrad Black described him as being "driven" though also "uneasy with himself in some ways."[218] According to Black, Nixon "thought that he was doomed to be traduced, double-crossed, unjustly harassed, misunderstood, underappreciated, and subjected to the trials of Job, but that by the application of his mighty will, tenacity, and diligence he would ultimately prevail."[219] Biographer Elizabeth Drew summarized Nixon as a "smart, talented man, but most peculiar and haunted of presidents."[220] In his account of the Nixon presidency, author Richard Reeves described Nixon as "a strange man of uncomfortable shyness, who functioned best alone with his thoughts".[221] Nixon's presidency was doomed by his personality, Reeves argues: "He assumed the worst in people, and he brought out the worst in them. [...] He clung to the idea of being 'tough'. He thought that was what had brought him to the edge of greatness. But that was what betrayed him. He could not open himself to other men and he could not open himself to greatness".[222] Nixon frequently brandished the two-finger V sign (alternately viewed as the "Victory sign" or "peace sign") using both hands, an act that became one of his best-known trademarks.[223] James MacGregor Burns observed of Nixon, "How can one evaluate such an idiosyncratic President, so brilliant and so morally lacking?"[224] George McGovern, Nixon's former opponent, commented in 1983, "President Nixon probably had a more practical approach to the two superpowers, China and the Soviet Union, than any other president since World War II....I think, with the exception of his inexcusable continuation of the war in Vietnam, Nixon really will get high marks in history."[225] Historian Kaitlyn Ferren argues that Nixon was "one of the greatest Presidents of the Twentieth century. When he took office the Nation was painfully divided. Despite the pressure put on him throughout his presidency, his foreign policy tactics were brilliant and he ultimately brought about the end of the Vietnam War".[226] Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the thirty-seventh President of the United States (1969–1974) and the only American president to resign from that office. He was also Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. Reference from: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/1998-02/0887466394 The 37th President of the United States (1969–1974) and the only president to resign the office. He was also the 36th Vice President of the United States (1953–1961). Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. After completing undergraduate work at Whittier College, he graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937 and returned to California to practice law in La Mirada. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the United States Navy and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during World War II. He was elected in 1946 as a Republican to the House of Representatives representing California's 12th Congressional district, and in 1950 to the United States Senate. He was selected to be the running mate of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the Republican Party nominee in the 1952 presidential election, and Nixon was vice president until 1961. Nixon announced his withdrawal from politics after losing the presidential election in 1960 and the California gubernatorial election in 1962. However, in 1968, Nixon was elected president of the United States. The most immediate task facing President Nixon was the Vietnam War. He initially escalated the conflict, overseeing secret bombing campaigns, but soon withdrew American troops and successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam, effectively ending American involvement in the war. His foreign policy was largely successful; he opened relations with the People's Republic of China and initiated détente with the Soviet Union. Domestically, he implemented new economic policies which called for wage and price control and the abolition of the gold standard. He was reelected by a landslide in 1972. In his second term, the nation was afflicted with economic difficulties. In the face of likely impeachment for his role in the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. Nixon was later pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, for any federal crimes he may have committed while in office. In his retirement, Nixon became a prolific author and undertook many foreign trips. He suffered a debilitating stroke on April 18, 1994, and died four days later at the age of 81. Face like a foot? Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the thirty-seventh President of the United States (1969–1974) and the only American president to resign from that office. He was also the thirty-sixth Vice President of the United States (1953-1961). Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. In 1937 he passed the bar exam and practiced law in La Mirada. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the United States Navy and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946 he was elected to the House of Representatives, first representing California's 12th Congressional district, and in 1950 served as Senator. He was chosen by party nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower to be his running mate for vice president in 1952, a position he was elected to and served from 1953 until 1961. After an unsuccessful presidential run in 1960 and a failed run for Governor of California in 1962, Nixon was elected to the presidency in 1968, and reelected four years later. Under President Nixon, the United States followed a foreign policy marked by détente with the Soviet Union and by the opening of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Nixon successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam, effectively ending American involvement in the war. Domestically, his administration faced resistance to the Vietnam War. In the face of likely impeachment and conviction for his role in the Watergate scandal,[1] Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. His successor, Gerald Ford, issued a pardon for any federal crimes Nixon may have committed while in office. Nixon is the only person in American history to be elected twice to both the vice presidency and the presidency. Nixon suffered a stroke on April 18, 1994 and died four days later at the age of 81. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States (1969–74), having formerly been the 36th Vice President of the United States (1953–61). A member of the Republican Party, he was the only President to resign the office as well as the only person to be elected twice to both the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. After completing his undergraduate work at Whittier College, he graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937 and returned to California to practice law in La Habra. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the United States Navy, serving in the Pacific theater, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during World War II. He was elected in 1946 as a Republican to the House of Representatives representing California's 12th Congressional district, and in 1950 to the United States Senate. He was selected to be the running mate of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Republican Party nominee, in the 1952 Presidential election, becoming one of the youngest Vice Presidents in history. He waged an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1960, narrowly losing to John F. Kennedy, and an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of California in 1962; following these losses, Nixon announced his withdrawal from political life. In 1968, however, he ran again for president of the United States and was elected. The most immediate task facing President Nixon was a resolution of the Vietnam War. He initially escalated the conflict, overseeing incursions into neighboring countries, though American military personnel were gradually withdrawn and he successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam in 1973, effectively ending American involvement in the war. His foreign policy initiatives were largely successful: his groundbreaking visit to the People's Republic of China in 1972 opened diplomatic relations between the two nations, and he initiated détente and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union. The revelations that the Nixon administration ignored reports it received of the genocidal activities of the Pakistani Army in East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, most notably through the Blood telegram, prompted widespread criticism and condemnation both by Congress and in the international press.[1][2][3] On the domestic front, he implemented the concept of New Federalism, transferring power from the federal government to the states; new economic policies which called for wage and price control and the abolition of the gold standard; sweeping environmental reforms, including the Clean Air Act and creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; the launch of the War on Cancer and War on Drugs; reforms empowering women, including Title IX; and the desegregation of schools in the deep South. He was reelected by a landslide in 1972. He continued many reforms in his second term, though the nation was afflicted with an energy crisis. In the face of likely impeachment for his role in the Watergate scandal,[4] Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. He was later pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, for any federal crimes he may have committed while in office. In his retirement, Nixon became a prolific author and undertook many foreign trips. His work as an elder statesman helped to rehabilitate his public image. He suffered a debilitating stroke on April 18, 1994, and died four days later at the age of 81. Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States from 1969–1974 and was also the 36th Vice President of the United States (1953–1961). Nixon has been the only President to resign the office and also the only person to be elected twice in both the offices of the Presidency and Vice presidency. Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. After completing undergraduate work at Whittier College, he graduated from Duke University School of Law i Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States's Timeline 1913

Spiro Agnew

According to Arthurian legend what did the lady of the lake give to Arthur?

APUSH Vocab 2 Flashcards - Course Hero she organized a birth-control movement which openly championed the use of contraceptives in the 1920's Sigmund Freud The Viennese physician that believed sexual repression was responsible for a variety of nervous and emotional diseases. He argued that health demanded sexual gratification and liberation. His writings seemed to justify the new sexual frankness of the 1920s. H.L. Mencken was a patron to many young writers in the 1920's. He criticized many subjects like the middle class, democracy, marriage and patriotism in his monthly AMERICAN MERCURY. F. Scott Fitzgerald He belonged to the Lost Generation of Writers. He wrote the famous novel "The Great Gatsby" which explored the glamour and cruelty of an achievement-oriented society. Ernest Hemingway fought in Italy in 1917. He later became a famous author who wrote "The Sun Also Rises" (about American expatriates in Europe) and "A Farewell to Arms." In the 1920's he became upset with the idealism of America versus the realism he saw in World War I. He was very distraught, and in 1961 he shot himself in the head. Sinclair Lewis Lewis was the chief chronicler of Midwestern life. He was a master of satire and wrote” Main Street" in 1920. Then he wrote "Babbit" which describe a materialistic middle-class American businessman. William Faulkner He was a writer. In 1926 he wrote a bitter war novel called "Soldier's Pay". He also wrote many other powerful books about the lives of Southerners during the Civil War. Buying on Margin This kind of buying stocks was usually only used by poor and middle class people. They would buy the stock, but only pay for part of it and borrow money from the stockbrokers to pay the rest. Then when they sold the stock for a higher price, they would pay the broker off and keep the rest of the profit. This practice led to the great depression, because the banks couldn't get their money back when the stock market crashed. Red Scare The Red Scare erupted in the early 1920's. The American public was scared that communism would come into the US. Left-winged supporters were suspected. This fear of communism helped businessman who used it to stop labor strikes. Sacco and Vanzetti Case Nicola Sacco was a shoe-factory worker and Bartholomew Vanzetti was a fish peddler. They were both convicted of murdering a Massachusetts paymaster and his guard in 1921. They were supported by Liberals and Radicals. The case lasted 6 years and resulted in execution based on weak evidence. Mainly because Americans were xenophobic (afraid of foreigners). Ku Klux Klan In the 1920s this group was very anti-foreign. It was against all groups which did not have a protestant background. They were most prevalent in the Midwest and the south. They eventually became less popular when Klan officials were caught embezzling money. Emergency Quota Act 1921 This law restricted immigration to 3% of each nationality that was in the United States in 1910. Immigration Quota Act 1924 was passed in 1924--cut quotas for foreigners from 3 % to 2% of the total number of immigrants in 1890--purpose was to freeze America's existing racial composition (which was largely Northern European) --prevented Japanese from immigrating, causing outrage in Japan. Volstead Act The Volstead Act implemented the 18th Amendment. It established illegal alcohol at above .5%. Fundamentalism A movement that pushed that the teachings of Darwin were destroying faith in God and the Bible. It consisted of the old-time religionists who didn’t want to conform to modern science. Modernists believed that God was a "good guy" and the universe a pretty chummy place; these were the people who believed in God but were also able to except evolution and modern science Flappers The dynamic 1920's revealed women notorious for their risky attire and dance styles. Referred to as "wild abandons," these girls exemplified the new sexually frank generation. Warren G. Harding one of the best liked men of the generation, he was spineless and a bad judge of character. He is compared to Grant because his term in office was scandalous. Many corporations could expand, antitrust laws were ignored, and he achieved disarmament with the Open Door in China. The tariff increased also. He died on August 2, 1923 of pneumonia and thrombosis while making speeches. Charles Evan Hughes He was the Republican governor of New York who ran for the presidency in 1916. He lost to Wilson. He was a strong reformer who gained his national fame as an investigator of malpractices in gas and insurance companies. In 1921 he became Harding's Secretary of State. He called together the major powers to the Washington Disarmament Conference in 1921. Andrew Mellon He was the Secretary of the Treasury during the 1920s and under Harding that had the theory that high taxes forced the rich to invest in tax-exempt securities rather than in factories that provided prosperous payrolls. He had followers in his theory called Mellonites. He helped engineer a series of tax reductions and reduced national debt by $10 billion. He was accused of indirectly encouraging the bull market and starting the descent into the stock market crash. Some people, however, believed he was the "greatest secretary of treasury since Hamilton." He used "trickle-down" economics. Herbert Hoover The president of the United States from 1929 to 1932 He was a republican who ran on a campaign of prohibition and prosperity. The early years of his presidency brought about a great deal of prosperity for the United States. Many people blamed him for the stock market crash. Albert B. Fall He was Secretary of the Interior during Harding's administration, and was a scheming anticonservationist. He was convicted of leasing naval oil reserves and collecting bribes, which was called the Tea Pot Dome scandal. Harry M. Daugherty Attorney General during the 1922 strike against the Railroad Labor Board. The strike ended when Daugherty stopped the strikers in one of the most sweeping injunctions in American history. He was a member of Harding's Ohio Gang. He was accused of the illegal sale of pardons and liquor permits. He was forced to resign. He was tried but a jury failed to convict him. Charles R. Forbes In 1923 he resigned as head of the Veteran's Bureau. He swindled $200 million from the government in building Veteran's hospitals. He was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. This was part of the Harding scandal and the "Ohio gang" Calvin Coolidge became president when Harding died of pneumonia. He was known for practicing a rigid economy in money and words, and acquired the name "Silent Cal" for being so soft-spoken. He was a true republican and industrialist. Believed in the government supporting big business. John W. Davis Democratic convention nominee in 1924 against Coolidge. He was a wealthy lawyer connected with J.P. Morgan and Company. Coolidge easily defeated Davis. Robert La Follette A senator from Wisconsin who ran for the presidency of 1924 on the Progressive party's ticket. Their platform called for government ownership of the railroads and relief for farmers and it lashed out at monopolies. He lost however to Coolidge. Alfred E. Smith He ran for president in the 1928 election for the Democrat Party. He was known for his drinking and he lost the election to Herbert Hoover. Prohibition was one of the issues of the campaign. He was the first Roman Catholic to run for president, and it was during a time many people were prejudice toward Catholics. Ohio Gang A group of poker-playing, men that were friends of President Warren Harding. Harding appointed them to offices and they used their power to gain money for themselves. They were involved in scandals that ruined Harding's reputation even though he wasn't involved. Washington conference The Washington Conference 1921-1922 was a meeting between most major world powers. This conference was for the disarmament of these countries. This meeting also prevented the U. S. and Britain from fortifying their Far East possessions and established the Four Power treaty. The major powers promised to preserve the status-quo in the Pacific. Reduced the number of large battleships for the major powers. Kellogg-Briand Pact (1929) created by Frank B. Kellogg and Aristide Briand, this pact promised to never make war again and settle all disputes peacefully. Sixty-two nations signed this pact. The treaty was hard to enforce and had no provisions for the use of economic or military force against a nation that may break the treaty. Fordney-McCumber Tariff Law In 1922, Congress passed the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Law. As a result, foreign tariffs became as high as 38.5%. This was designed to equalize the price of American and Foreign products Teapot Dome Scandal One of many scandals under Harding. Involved priceless naval oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming. Albert B. Fall got Secretary of Navy, Denby to transfer valuable goods to Interior Department secretly. Harry Sinclair and Edward L Dohney were released the lands after paying a large bribe. Scandal polluted governments prestige and made public wonder about the sufficiency of government and undermined faith in courts McNary -Haugen Bill This bill was favored by agricultural states. It was pushed to keep high prices on agricultural products by authorizing the government to purchase agricultural surpluses and selling them. The losses of the government could be repaid by a special tax on the farmers. It was passed twice by Congress and vetoes twice by Coolidge. Dawes Plan Calvin Coolidge's running mate, Charles Dawes is largely responsible for the Dawes plan of 1924; an attempt to pay off the damages from WWI. This intricate monetary "merry-go-round", as it was often called, gave money to Germany who then paid France and Britain for debts of the war. Former allies then paid the U.S. When the Depression hit, the "merry-go-round" stopped. Finland was the only nation to pay off their debts to the very last penny in 1976. The U.S. never received the money it was owed. Hawley-Smoot Tariff Began as a protective measure to assist farmers, but turned out to be the highest protective tariff in the nation's peace time history. It raised the duty on goods from 38.5 percent to 60 percent in 1930. Black Tuesday It occurred on October 29, 1929, when 16,410,030 shares of stocks were sold in a save-who-may scramble. It marked the beginning of the Great Depression. Reconstruction Finance Corporation (1932) This corporation became a government lending bank. It was designed to provide indirect assistance to insurance companies, banks, agricultural organizations, railroads, and even hard-pressed state and local governments. Under this plan, to preserve individualism, no loans were made to individuals. In the election of 1932, Hoover ran against FDR and this was part of Hoover's plan. Bonus Army A group of almost 20,000 World War I veterans who were hard-hit victims of the depression, who wanted what the government owed them for their services and "saving" democracy. They marched to Washington and set up public camps and erected shacks on vacant lots. They tried to intimidate Congress into paying them, but Hoover had them removed by the army, which shed a negative light on Hoover. Hoover-Stimson doctrine This said that the United States would not recognize any territorial acquisitions that were taken over by force. (This doctrine is related to Japanese aggression in Manchuria in 1931) Federal Housing Authority Established by FDR during the depression in order to provide low-cost housing coupled with sanitary condition for the poor Herbert Hoover He was the head of the Food Administration during World War I. He became the Secretary of Commerce and encouraged businesses to regulate themselves. Hoover was a Republican known for his integrity who won the election of 1928. He had to deal with the Great Crash of 1929, which caused the Great Depression. He signed the Norris-La Guardia Anti-Injunction Act. His belief in "rugged individualism" kept him from giving people direct relief during the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt governor of NY -- 5th cousin to Theodore Roosevelt --- wealthy family -- went to Harvard -- served as secretary of the navy -- was suave and conciliatory -- handicapped --came up with New Deal --- elected as a democrat President in 1932 --elected 4 times (only one to do so) --dealt with Great Depression and WWI Eleanor Roosevelt Wife of Franklin Roosevelt; she travelled everywhere with him on behalf of all his campaigns; she became the most active First Lady in history. She fought for the rights of all Americans Harry Hopkins The head of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). A friend and advisor to President FDR. He was very involved in reforms in the Great Depression and in the 30's and 40's in such issues as unemployment and mortgages. Frances Perkins First woman appointed to a cabinet position. Appointed by FDR, she became Secretary of Labor. She received a lot of undeserved criticism from male politicians and businessmen. Father Coughlin Anti-New Deal Catholic Priest; began broadcasting in 1930; called the "microphone messiah"; slogan was "Social Justice"; silenced in 1942 when his broadcasts became too radical. Huey Long Nickname "Kingfish"; Senator of Louisiana. He pushed his "Share Our Wealth" program, which would make "Every Man a King". Long planned to run against FDR in the 1936 elections, but he was assassinated. Francis Townshend was a retired physician who developed a plan in which the government would give monetary resources to senior citizens ages sixty and over. This plan was a type of pension for older Americans. He had a lot of followers. This people thought FDR wasn't doing enough. Harold Ickes "Honest Harold"; Secretary of the interior; became head of the Public Works Administration (PWA); dealt with industrial recovery and unemployment relief by creating jobs (over thirty-four thousand project jobs for workers). His determination to prevent waste prevented maximum relief. George W. Norris He was a Senator from Nebraska, whose steadfast vision and zeal helped an act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority to be passed in 1933. John L. Lewis was the leader of the United Mine Workers. He also formed the CIO (Committee for Industrial Organization). He led a "sit-down" strike on General Motors at Flint, Michigan in 1936. Unionists from the Republic Steel Co. wanted to join the CIO, and a fight broke out in 1937 called the Memorial Day Massacre Lewis is responsible for the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Acts (Wages and Hour Bill) which set minimum wage overtime pay for work over 40 hours in one week, and kids under age 16 could not work. Alfred M. Landon was the republican candidate in 1936. This honest and wealthy man from Kansas lost greatly to the Democrat Franklin Roosevelt. He had stressed balancing the budget. Parity A plan to help farmers injured from low prices and over-production. From 1909-1914, farms had enjoyed a period of prosperity. Parity was the price placed on a product that gave it the same value, in buying power, that it had from 1909-1914. The AAA paid farmers to reduce production. The payment for this came from taxes gotten from the makers of expensive farm equipment. New Deal After Franklin Roosevelt was inaugurated in 1933, he decided the U.S. must improve economically to recover from the Great Depression. His policy, the New Deal, focused on relief, recovery, and reform. Short term goals were relief and immediate recovery. Permanent recovery and reform were done by long-range goals. Programs were established to improve unemployment, regulate minimum wage, and reform many other social issues. Brain Trust(s) Small group of reform minded intellectuals, mainly young college professors. Considered much of the New Deal legislation and worked as a kitchen cabinet for Franklin Roosevelt. The three R's Roosevelt's New Deal programs aimed at the three R's- relief, recovery, and reform. Roosevelt's plan was announced on March 4, 1933 to lift the burden of the Great Depression. Glass-Steagall Act In 1933, this act allowed the banks to reopen and it gave the president the power to regulate banking transactions and foreign exchange. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) The CCC was created by the Unemployment Relief Act of 1933. It provided employment in government camps for 3 million uniformed single, young men during the Great Depression. The work they were involved in included reforestation, fire fighting, flood control, and swamp drainage. Works Progress Administration Congress created this in 1935 as an agency that gave jobs to people who needed them. They worked on bridges, roads, and buildings. They spent 11 billion dollars and gave almost 9 million people jobs. It was one of the New Deal Agencies. National Recovery Act During the Great Depression, this act was created in 1933 as a helping hand for industry, labor, and the unemployed. It granted labor additional benefits and guaranteed the right to organize through representatives of their own choosing. It was a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's new plan, but was later declared unconstitutional. Symbol was the "Blue Eagle" Tennessee Valley Authority First Government owned corporation. Started to create jobs and build dams in the Tennessee River Valley to supply electricity to poorer areas after the depression. Social Security Act of 1935 It created a federal insurance program based on the automatic collection of taxes from employees and employers throughout people's working careers. They would receive this money in a monthly pension when they reached the age of 65. The unemployed, disabled, and mothers with dependent children would also receive this money. Wagner Act Same as the National Labor Relations Act (1935) and set up the National Labor Relations Board and reasserted the right of labor to engage in self-organization and to bargain collectively. National Labor Relation Board Created by the National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act it was created in the 1930's by congressman Wagner who was sympathetic to labor unions. The National Labor Relation Board was an administrative board that gave laborers the rights of self- organization and collective bargaining. Congress of Industrial Organizations Also known as the CIO, this labor union formed in the ranks of the AFL. It consisted of unskilled workers. The AFL got scared of their influence on workers and suspended all members of the CIO. In 1938 it broke with the AF of L. By 1940 it had 4 million members Liberty League The Liberty League consisted of the conservatives that opposed the New Deal introduced by FDR. Their common opinion was that FDR was pushing the United States too close to socialism. They saw the New Deal as being more apt to hurt United States economics than to help it. (Herbert Hoover and General Motors) Twentieth and Twenty-first Amendments The Twentieth Amendment changed the calendar of Congressional sessions and the date of the presidential inauguration (January 20th). In short, it shortened the length of lame duck periods for the presidency. The Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution ended prohibition and allowed the distribution and drinking of alcoholic beverages to commence once again. Court-packing scheme Roosevelt tried to put an extra justice on the Supreme Court for every justice over 70 years old who wouldn't retire. These justices would be supporters of Roosevelt and there would be a maximum of 15 judges. The plan failed. Congress would not accept. Adolf Hitler A very crude leader that took advantage of a disillusioned and depression-stricken nation. After the Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for WWI, Hitler led the nation into WWII under the "big lie." He was a manipulative and feared dictator that vented his anger on the Jewish Nation. Nuremburg Trials After WWII, the Allied forces agreed that Nazism had to be cut out of Germany. They tried twenty-two Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, Germany in 1945-1946. Twelve of the tried were hung, and seven sent to jail. Cordell Hull Secretary of State during FDR's presidency; believed in reciprocal trade policy of the New Dealers, as well as a low tariff; led to passage of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934; also believed in Good Neighborism. Joseph Stalin Harsh and strict Communist dictator of Russia. One of the three big powers during WWII along with Roosevelt from the US and Churchill from Great Britain. Constantly asked for a western front to be established to relieve USSR during WWII. Benito Mussolini The Fascist dictator of Italy. He sought to create a new empire, much like the Roman one. He became an ally with Adolf Hitler in the Rome-Berlin Axis, and led his forces against the Allied powers in WWII. He was overthrown and beheaded in 1943, after the fall of Sicily during the war. Francisco Franco With the help of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, Franco overthrew the Loyalist regime and became the dictator of Spain in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. Winston Churchill He was the prime minister of England during World War II. He was known as the bull-dog jawed orator who gave his people the nerve to fight off the air bombings occurring in their cities. He was in favor of the Eight-point Atlantic Charter and he was involved in the first conference. He was also one of the Big Three. Charles Lindbergh In 1927, he was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in his plane, the Spirit of Saint Louis. He later became an ambassador of goodwill for the United States. Wendell Willkie Republican presidential candidate versus Roosevelt in the election of 1940. He lost, but put up a good "race." Reciprocity recognition of two countries or institutions of the validity of licenses or privileges granted by the other. Part of the New Deal trade policy was to reduce tariffs to encourage trade. Idea was that if we reduce tariffs other countries will reduce tariffs on us. Totalitarianism Type of government where the government has complete control and the people are powerless. Isolationism The opposition of the involvement of a country in international alliances, agreements, etc. The U.S. remained isolated in the 1920's because of the disillusionment in WWI. This isolationist sentiment was prevalent during WWII. Good Neighbor Policy This was established by Herbert Hoover to create good relations with Latin America. It took much of the American military out of these countries. It also nullified the Roosevelt Corollary. Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act (1934) The Act was designed to raise American exports and was aimed at both relief and recovery. Led by Cordell Hull, it helped reverse the high-tariff policy. Nazi Party The Nazi Party was established in Germany with much of the same beliefs as the Fascists. Nazis believed that the state is more important than the individual and that there should be a strong central government with absolute power. Adolph Hitler is known for leading the Nazi Party. Hitler is also credited with taking the Fascist beliefs a step further and adding the racism into the beliefs. Nazis believed that white people with blonde hair and blue eyes made up a superior race of humans that would one day rule the world. Nazis supported the execution of so called "inferior" races such as Jews, Slavs, and other non-white ethnic groups. The Nazi Party was supported by mainly conservative business leaders and consisted of two armies which were the Sturmableiling and the Schutzstable. Rome-Berlin Axis In 1936 Hitler and Mussolini allied together in the Rome-Berlin Axis. They were both allied with Japan. They fought against the Allies in World War II. Nye Committee The Nye Committee investigated arms manufacturers and bankers of World War I. Claimed they had caused America's entry into WWI. Public opinion pushed Congress to pass the Neutrality Acts to keep us out of WWII. Neutrality Acts Congress made an effort to legislate the nation out of war. The Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937 stipulated that when the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war certain restrictions would automatically go into effect. No American could legally sail on a belligerent ship, or sell or transport munitions to a belligerent nation, or make loans to a belligerent. Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact This pact was signed by Hitler and Stalin on August 23, 1939. It allowed Hitler to attack Poland without fear of an attack from Russia. This pact helped spur the start of World War II. "cash and carry" Only way that Europe could buy American war materials in World War II. They would have to transport the munitions in their own ships and they could only purchase the munitions with cash. "Phony war" During World War II Hitler removed his forces from Poland to focus his efforts in France and Britain. All of Europe fell rather silent at the shock of Hitler's move. This silence and period of inactivity in Europe came to an end when Hitler again moved his forces, and attacked the weaker Norway and Denmark. The period of silence in Europe was known as the phony war. America First Committee A committee organized by isolationists before WWII, who wished to spare American lives. They wanted to protect America before we went to war in another country. Charles A. Lindbergh (the aviator) was its most effective speaker. Lend-Lease A law passed in March of 1941 by sweeping majorities in both houses of Congress. This law said that the U.S. would lend or lease weapons to overseas countries and victims of aggression who would in turn finish the job of the fighting, and keep the war overseas from the U.S. Atlantic Charter This was created by Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a secret conference. It outlined the hopes of the democracies and their intentions for improvements after World War II. Dust bowl A region in south-central US that had a harsh changing climate for farmers during the Great Depression. (Successive years of drought destroyed farms.) A. Philip Randolph He was the black leader of The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He demanded equal opportunities in war jobs and armed forces during WWII. Chester Nimitz Nimitz served as an Admiral in the Battle of Midway in 1942. He commanded the American fleet in the Pacific Ocean and learned the Japanese plans through "magic" decoding of their radio messages. With this intercepted information, Nimitz headed the Japanese off and defeated them. Dwight D. Eisenhower He was the U. S. general who led the attack in North Africa in Nov. of 1942.He was the master organizer of the D-Day invasion in Europe (June 6, 1944). He ran for the Republican ticket in the 1952 and the1956 elections and won. He was very well liked by the public. Stalin Soviet Dictator during WWII and the beginning of the Cold War. In 1943 regained two-thirds of Soviet motherland taken from him by Hitler. Leader of Soviet Union against Halter, allied with United States. Met with Churchill and Roosevelt at Teheran from November 28 - December 1, 1943 and agreed to attack Germany from all sides. George S. Patton “Blood 'n' Guts"; commanded lunges across France by American armored tank division; commander during WWII Thomas E. Dewey The Republican presidential nominee in 1944, Dewey was the popular governor of New York. Roosevelt won a sweeping victory in this election of 1944. Dewey also ran against Harry Truman in the 1948 presidential election. Dewey, arrogant and wooden, seemed certain to win the election, and the newspapers even printed, "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN" on election night. However, the morning results showed that Truman swept the election, much to Dewey's embarrassment. Harry S. Truman He took over the presidency during World War II with the death of Roosevelt. He was called by many the "average man's average man" for his appearance and personality, and he was one of the only presidents without a college education. He was an artillery officer in World War One. He was responsible for the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan to end World War II. Albert Einstein A German-born scientist who encouraged Roosevelt and America to build the first atomic bomb. War Production Board (WWII) This board halted the manufacture of nonessential items such as passenger cars. It assigned priorities for transportation and access to raw materials. It imposed a national speed limit and gasoline rationing because, due to the Dutch East Indies ending their exports of natural rubber to the U.S., they wanted to conserve rubber. They also built fifty-one synthetic rubber plants. Office of Price Administration FDR created this in order to prevent inflation in the economy during WWII. Fair Employment Practice Commission Roosevelt established this initially to give fair employment to blacks. Eventually, and to this day, its purpose is to protect and serve all races, sexes, ages, and ethicnicities involving employment. Second Front The second Front was the invasion of western Europe by the U.S, British, and French in 1944. This invasion was to take pressure off the Russians and divide the Germans. It was established by the D-Day Invasion. D-Day was the first day of the Normandy landings which started the invasion of western Europe and liberated France from the Germans. V-E Day Victory in Europe Day. The German government surrendered unconditionally during WWII on May 7, 1945 Potsdam Conference Held near Berlin in 1945 with Truman, Stalin and Clement Atlee who issued an ultimatum to Japan to surrender or be destroyed. This is where Truman learned about the Atomic Bomb. V-J Day "Victory in Japan" Day was celebrated on August 15, 1945 after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. The celebrations continued through the official end of World War II on September 2, 1945 when Japan officially surrendered Harry S. Truman He was called the "accidental president" and "the average man's average man." He was the first president in many years without a college education; he had farmed, served as an artillery officer in France during WWI, and failed as a haberdasher. Then he rose from precinct-level politics in Missouri to a judgeship to the U.S. Senate. Though a protégé of the political machine in Kansas City, he had kept his own hands clean. Truman was left with many decisions to make and one of the most out-standing is that he decided to drop the first atomic bomb on Japan to end World War II. He won a close election in 1948 under his "Fair Deal" platform which expanded FDR's New Deal. George F. Kennan A brilliant young diplomat, and a Soviet specialist, who crafted the "containment doctrine." Douglas MacArthur He was the supreme allied commander during the Cold War in 1945. After World War II, MacArthur was put in charge of putting Japan back together. In the Korean War, he commanded the United Nations troops. He was later fired by Harry Truman for insubordination. Joseph McCarthy A Republican Senator from Wisconsin who was strongly against communism. McCarthy claimed there were many communists in the State Department. He did not have much evidence to support his accusations, and his search for communists was considered a type of "witch-hunt." When his lack of evidence was discovered, he was censored by Congress and lost his seat in Congress. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg They were convicted in 1951 of giving atomic bomb data found by American scientists to the Soviet Union. They are the only Americans ever executed during peacetime for espionage. J. Strom Thurmond He was nominated for president on a States' Rights Party (Dixiecrats) in the 1948 election. Split southern Democrats from the party due to Truman's stand in favor of Civil Rights for African American. He only got 39 electoral votes. Thomas Dewey He worked for a well known New York City law firm. He was Governor of New York State and was elected District Attorney in 1937. He was Governor 3 different times and ran for president twice although he was defeated both times. 1948 the newspapers had him defeating Truman but Truman won. Adlai Stevenson The Democratic candidate who ran against Eisenhower in 1952. His intellectual speeches earned him and his supporters the term "eggheads". Lost to Eisenhower. Dwight Eisenhower Called "The Republican's Choice" along with his vice president Richard Nixon. He was the commander of the allied forces in Europe, the army chief-of-staff after the war, and the director of NATO for two years. Dwight displayed "grandfatherly good will". The night before the 1952 presidential elections, he declared that he would personally go to Korea and end the war. This helped to win the majority in 41 of the lower 48 states. Eisenhower reigned over a period of unstable peace and prosperity. He was elected to another term in 1956. The 1950's are remembered as an idealic time; this is due largely to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Richard Nixon He was a committee member of the House of Representatives, Committee on Un-American Activities (to investigate "subversion"). He tried to catch Alger Hiss who was accused of being a communist agent in the 1930's. This brought Nixon to the attention of the American public. In 1956 he was Eisenhower's Vice-President. Yalta Conference A conference between Stalin and FDR in an attempt to get Russian support in the highly anticipated invasion of Japan. Russia, in return, received the southern part of Sakilin Island that it had lost to Japan and joint control of Manchuria's railroads. The Allies also reluctantly allowed Poland to become communist. Many Americans saw this deal as a failure. Cold War The Cold War began in 1945 after WWII. It was a global ideological conflict between democracy and communism. (United States versus Soviet Union) United Nations conference took place on April 25, 1945 --FDR died on April 12, but had chosen Republican and Democratic representatives to meet at the San Fransisco War Memorial Opera House with representatives from 50 nations, fashioning a United Nations' charter similar to the old League of Nations covenant --- featured a Security Council dominated by the US, Britain, USSR, France, and China (the big 5 powers) who could veto, and an Assembly that could be controlled by smaller countries --the UN's permanent home was in NY city. Iron Curtain The "iron curtain" refers to the secrecy and isolation of the Soviet Union and its satellite states, East Germany, Hungary, and Poland, after World War II. The phrase was first used by Winston Churchill while he was giving a speech in the United States. Berlin airlift The USSR had embargoed all supplies that would go into the Allied Germany. In response, America used many planes to take and drop food and supplies into Berlin. They did this to show the USSR that they were determined to maintain control of Berlin. It worked, the Soviets lifted the blockade. Containment US foreign policy after WWII designed to stop the spread of communism. (Truman Doctrine) Truman Doctrine Truman wanted to prevent the spread of communism. He wanted it "contained". The first implementation of the Truman Doctrine was $400 million given to aid Greece and Turkey to prevent a communist takeover. Marshall Plan Issued in response to the struggling European countries, the Marshall Plan would allow the U.S. to give financial assistance to certain countries. This was done to prevent communism from rising in countries like France and Italy, whose economies where suffering after WWII. It was agreed in July 1947 that the U.S. would spend $12.5 billion, over four years, in sixteen different nations. In order to receive financial assistance you had to have a democratic government. National Security Act Passed by Congress in 1947 and it created the Department of Defense. It also established a National Security Council (NSC) to advise the president on security matters and a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to coordinate the government foreign fact-gathering. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military alliance between the US, Canada and 10 European nations signed on April 4, 1949. It was committed to building military defense of Europe against Communist Russia. Dwight D. Eisenhower became the Supreme Commander of NATO. Taft-Hartley Act (1947) It outlawed the "closed" shop, made unions liable for damages that resulted from jurisdictional disputes among themselves, and required union leaders to take a non-Communist oath. Fair Deal Made by Truman in his 1949 message to Congress. It was a program that called for improved housing, full employment, higher minimum wage, better farm price supports, new TVA's, and the extension of social security. Its only successes: raised the minimum wage, better public housing, extended old-age insurance to more people. Thirty-eighth parallel The line dividing Korea into two sections, north of the parallel the communist Soviet Union was in charge and south of the parallel was democratic America was in charge. This line would become the demilitarized zone after the Korean conflict. NSC-68 First drawn up in 1950, NSC-68, or National Security Council Memorandum Number 68, was buried until the Korean crisis later that year. This document suggested that the U.S. could afford to spend upward of 50% of its gross national product for security. Inchon landing The landing of UN troops, by General Douglas MacArthur, behind enemy lines at Inchon in Korea. In order to push back the North Korean troops Dwight Eisenhower when elected President, he was the most popular American; "I like Ike!" button; elected to two consecutive terms in 1952 and 1956. President during the prosperous 1950's. Modern Republicanism---didn't undo the New Deal of the Democrats. Earl Warren Chief Justice and former governor of California; brought originally taboo social issues, such as civil rights to African Americans, to the attention of Congress and the country. Known for the "Brown v. Board of Education" case of 1954. Rosa Parks a seamstress and a secretary for the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP was known as the "mother of the civil rights movement." In December of 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white rider. She was jailed and fined $14 for the offense. This led to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Montgomery Bus Boycott. Ho Chi Minh The Vietnamese leader who believed in Asian nationalism and anti-colonialism in his country. He was trying to get rid of the French colonial rule in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh's beliefs were discouraged by the Cold War and he became increasingly communist. He led the North Vietnamese against the U.S. and the south Vietnamese. He was the enemy in Vietnam. Ngo Dinh Diem a strong anti-communist, proclaimed South Vietnam a republic on Oct. 26, 1956 and became its first president. He was formerly the Premier of Vietnam. He was assassinated by a military coup d’état. Gamal Abdel Nasser The hard-nosed Arab-nationalist president of Egypt during the Suez Canal crisis in 1956. He seized the Suez Canal from the English and French. England and France were willing to use force to get it back. Soviets try to interfere. Eisenhower made them back down when he put the Strategic Air Command on alert. Nikita Khrushnev The premier of Russia during the race to get satellites into space between Russia and the United States. He used many propaganda techniques to try to fool the world of Russia's intentions. President's Eisenhower and Kennedy dealt with his communist attitudes. Fidel Castro He engineered a revolution in Cuba in 1959. He denounced the imperialists and took valuable American property for a land-distribution program. When the U.S. cut off U.S. imports of Cuban sugar, Castro took more U.S. land and resulting from that his dictatorship became similar to Stalin's in Russia. (Communism in the Western Hemisphere) John F. Kennedy Kennedy He was the youngest president ever elected, as well as the only Catholic to take office. He represented the democratic party with his "New Frontier" platform in the 1960 election. He was a major contributor to the space program and to the civil rights movement. He was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963. McCarthyism was the communist witch hunts of the 1950's. This fear of Communism ruined many lives and families. The Senate hearings on communism were run by Senator Joseph McCarthy Desegregation the elimination of laws, customs, or practices under which different races, groups, etc., are restricted to specific or separate public facilities, neighborhoods, schools, organizations, or the like Military-Industrial Complex During the Cold War military funding increased tremendously and at the end of Eisenhower's administration he warned about forming a "military-industrial complex" in which industry received huge government contracts to build for the military. Brown v. Board of Education The case brought before the Supreme Court in May 1954 in which the Court ruled that segregation of races in public schools was unconstitutional. Geneva Conference The Geneva conference split the nation of Vietnam roughly in half along the seventeenth parallel. and established a shaky peace in the nation of Laos. South East Asia Treaty Organization SEATO was introduced by secretary Dulles as a prop for his shaky policy in Vietnam. (Similar to NATO) Hungarian Revolt When the Hungarians tried to win their freedom from the Communist regime in 1956, they were crushed down by Soviet tanks. There was killing and slaughtering of the rebels going on by military forces. Suez Crisis when President Nasser of Egypt announced his intention to build a damn in the Suez to provide power and irrigation to Egypt, the United States offered its financial support, withdrawing it when Nasser spoke with the Communists on the subject. Nasser responded by nationalizing the Suez canal, which was previously owned by British and French stockholders. This hurt Europe by crippling their oil supply, most of which came from the Persian Gulf. The French and British retaliated by striking Egypt, confident that the United States would supply them with the oil they needed while they fought with the Middle East. President Eisenhower refused to do so, forcing the allies to withdraw their troops. As a result, U.N. troops acted for the first time to maintain peace and order in the world. Soviets tried to interfere. Eisenhower put the Strategic Air Command on alert. Eisenhower Doctrine 1957 - Congress and US President pledged US military and economic aid to Middle Eastern nations threatened by communist aggression. Under the Doctrine the US was able to openly land several thousand troops and help restore order without taking a single life. Landrum-Griffith Act America was in desperate need of labor reform. Union leaders and big industries were involved in many scandals. In 1959 Congress passed the Landrum-Griffith Act. It would prevent bullying tactics and would make labor leaders keep accurate financial records. Sputnik The first satellite ever launched into space was launched by the Russians; began the "race for space" where Americans competed with the Russians to get farther into space. Was launched on Oct. 4, 1957 (Sputnik I). Missile Gap The United States and the Soviet Union were involved in a race to discover who had more missiles and war equipment. The missile gap was the difference in how much the United States had compared to how much the Soviet Union had. National Defense and Education Act (NDEA) After the Russian satellite "Sputnik" was successfully launched; there was a critical comparison of the Russian to the American education system. The American education system was already seen as too easygoing. So in 1958 Congress made the NDEA, authorizing $887 million in loans to needy college students and in grants for the purpose of improving the teaching of the sciences and languages. U-2 Incident Under Eisenhower administration just before the "summit conference" in Paris scheduled for May 1960, the American U-2 spy plane was shot down over Russia. Eisenhower was forced to step up and assume personal responsibility for the incident. Francis Gary Powers was the pilot that was captured by the Russians but returned. Incident kept Khrushchev from meeting with Eisenhower John F. Kennedy He was the youngest most glamorous president ever elected. He won the 1960 presidential election against Nixon. He was the first Catholic president. During his presidency, he sent the Green Beret (Marines) to Vietnam. He helped develop the Peace Corps. His foreign policy was Flexible Response. His domestic program was the New Frontier. He appointed his brother, Robert Kennedy as Attorney General. Robert Kennedy dealt with the Civil Rights issue as well. John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov.22, 1963. Robert F. Kennedy He ran for President in 1968; stirred a response from workers, African Americans, Hispanics, and younger Americans; would have captured Democratic nomination but was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan after victory speech during the California primary in June 1968. Robert S. McNamara was the secretary of defense under Kennedy. He helped develop the flexible response policy. He was against the war in Vietnam and was removed from office because of this Charles de Gaulle President of France, he was suspicious of American plans for Europe, and wanted to recapture the feeling of the Napoleonic era. He constantly vetoed actions by or in the interest of the U.S. that would increase their control in European affairs. Martin Luther King, Jr. A leader in the civil rights movement in the 1950's and 1960's. Preached non-violent forms of revolting such as sit-ins and friendly protests. He was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Lee Harvey Oswald On November 22, 1963, he assassinated President Kennedy who was riding downtown Dallas, Texas. Oswald was later shot in front of television cameras by Jack Ruby. Lyndon B. Johnson A democratic egotist. He was Kennedy's vice president, and became president when Kennedy was assassinated. He escalated the war in Vietnam and the failure to win the war was blamed on him. Johnson had a great domestic policy called “The Great Society" and helped push for the passing of the civil rights act to end discrimination. He also issued all federal contractors to take "affirmative action" against discrimination. Barry Goldwater Republican senator from Arizona nominated on the Republican ticket for the Presidency in the election of 1964. He ran against Lyndon B. Johnson and lost the election. Malcolm X a black Muslim preacher who favored black separation and condemned the "blue-eyed white devils". He was shot by a black gunmen while giving a speech in New York City. Stokely Carmichael was a black civil rights activist in the 1960's. Leader of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee. He did a lot of work with Martin Luther King Jr. but later changed his attitude. Carmichael urged giving up peaceful demonstrations and pursuing black power. He was known for saying, “black power will smash everything Western civilization has created." Eugene McCarthy a little known Democratic Senator from Minnesota, he represented the Democratic party in the 1968 presidential election. He was a devout Catholic and a soft-spoken, sometimes poet. He used a group of antiwar college students as his campaign workers. He, with the help of his "Children’s Crusade", got 42% of the democratic votes and 20 out of 24 convention delegates. Hubert H. Humphrey The democratic nominee for the presidency in the election of 1968. He was LBJ's vice president, and was supportive of his Vietnam policies. This support split the Democratic party, allowing Nixon to win the election for the Republicans. Richard M. Nixon elected President in 1968 and 1972 representing the Republican party. He was responsible for getting the United States out of the Vietnam War by using "Vietnamization", which was the withdrawal of 540,000 troops from South Vietnam for an extended period. He was responsible for the Nixon Doctrine also. He was involved in Détente, which was a way to create peaceful relations between the United States and the communist countries of Moscow and Beijing. One of the most distinct factors relating to Nixon was that he was the first President to ever resign due to the Watergate scandal. He resigned on August 8, 1974. George Wallace A third party ticket candidate for the American Independent party in 1968 that lost against Nixon. He was a former governor of Alabama and had stood in the doorway to prevent black students from entering the University of Alabama. Flexible response Kennedy's plan to deal with foreign powers by not always resorting to nuclear weapons but using specialist like the Green Beret Credibility Gap This was the gap between the people and the government that grew as the people became disillusioned with the Vietnam war and Watergate. New Frontier The New Frontier was the new programs introduced by President Kennedy in the early 1960's. These programs included the space program to the moon and the peace corp. Peace Corps Kennedy proposed this which was an army of idealistic and mostly youthful volunteers to bring American skills to underdeveloped countries. Alliance of Progress this was a Marshall Plan for Latin America that was suggested by President Kennedy to help the Good Neighbors close the gap between the rich and the poor and to help quiet the communist agitation. It was unsuccessful because there was little alliance and no progress. Bay of Pigs Kennedy was told that there were enough people in Cuba that would support an uprising, so he sent American troops along with Cuban exiles to the Bay of Pigs. When no one was there to support the raid, Kennedy withdrew air support. Therefore, Castro was able to defeat the uprising. This was Kennedy's big failure in his foreign policy. Cuban Missile Crisis Crisis In Oct. of 1962, U.S. intelligence confirmed reports that the U.S.S.R. was constructing missile launching sites in Cuba. President Kennedy rejected a full-scale attack and, instead, delivered a public ultimatum to the U.S.S.R. The U.S.S.R. backed down and the U.S. promised not to overthrow the Cuban government. nuclear-test ban treaty (1963) Kennedy and the Russians signed a pact prohibiting trial nuclear explosions in the atmosphere. This was signed following the Cuban missile crisis. March on Washington In August of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. organized a massive protest on Washington, D.C. where he gave his "I have a dream" speech. The march was organized to protest racial discrimination and to demonstrate support for major civil-rights legislation that was pending in Congress War on Poverty The name President Lyndon Johnson gave to his crusade to improve the lifestyle of America's poor, especially those in Appalachia. It included economic and welfare measures aimed at helping the large percentage of Americans who lived in poverty. Great Society The Great Society was President Johnson's policy. It was a continuation of the democratic ideals of FDR's New Deal and Truman's Fair Deal. It was a war on poverty in which such issues as health care, education, and welfare were covered and increased in importance. (Medicare and Medicaid) Tonkin Gulf Resolution In August 1964 shots were allegedly fired at American navy ships by the North Vietnamese. LBJ quickly ordered an air raid on North Vietnamese bases, and pushed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution through Congress. This gave the president a blank check to uses for further force in Southeast Asia. Because of this, LBJ had total control, and did not need the approval of Congress to enter the war Civil Right Act of 1964 Passed by Congress in 1964 in honor of the late President Kennedy. This act banned racial discrimination in places such as hospitals and restaurants. This act also gave the government the power to desegregate schools. It led to the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) abolished the poll tax in federal elections. This joined the blacks with the whites during the civil rights movement Voting Rights Act This act, passed in 1965, outlawed literacy tests and sent federal voter registrars into several Southern states. This act did not end discrimination and oppression overnight, but it helped blacks get a foothold on change. Operation Rolling Thunder President Johnson launched Operation Rolling Thunder, a massive air bombardment of North Vietnam, in April of 1965. The targets were directly chosen by the president. These were regular full scale bombing attacks against Vietnam. Pueblo Incident In January 1968 during the Vietnam War the North Koreans seized the "Pueblo", a U.S. intelligence ship, evidently in international waters. They imprisoned the crew of some eighty men for eleven months. This episode stirred American anger, but provoked no military response. Tet Offensive The name given to a campaign in January 1968 by the Viet Cong to attack twenty-seven South Vietnamese cities, including Saigon. It ended in a military defeat for the Viet Cong, but at the same time, proved that Johnson’s "gradual escalation" strategy was not working, shocking an American public that believed the Vietnam conflict was a sure victory. Spiro Agnew Governor of Maryland who ran as Vice President with Richard Nixon in 1968. He was known for his tough stands against dissidents and black militants. He strongly supported Nixon's desire to stay in Vietnam. He was forced to resign in October 1973 after having been accused of accepting bribes or "kickbacks" from Maryland contractors while governor and Vice President. Daniel Ellsberg He was a former employee of the Defense Department and gave the New York Times the "Pentagon Paper" which was information on how the US government got involved in Vietnam. Very embarrassing to the government. Daniel Ellsberg He was a former employee of the Defense Department and gave the New York Times the "Pentagon Paper" which was information on how the US government got involved in Vietnam. Very embarrassing to the government. Henry Kissinger Nixon's national security adviser. He and his family escaped Hitler's anti-Jewish persecutions. Former Harvard professor. In 1969, he had begun meeting secretly on Nixon's behalf with North Vietnamese officials in Paris to negotiate an end to the war in Vietnam. He was also preparing the president's path to Beijing and Moscow. Earl Warren He was the Chief Justice who discussed taboo issues like black civil rights. He made the Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, which said that segregation in public schools was not equal. He conducted the investigation into Kennedy's assassination. Accepted the ruling of the lone gunman. Warren Burger Burger was the Supreme Court justice during the Nixon administration. He was chosen by Nixon because of his strict interpretation of the Constitution. He presided over the extremely controversial case of abortion in Roe vs. Wade George McGovern A Senator from South Dakota who ran for President in 1972 on the Democrat ticket. His promise was to pull the remaining American troops out of Vietnam in ninety days which earned him the support of the Anti-war party, and the working-class supported him, also. He lost however to Nixon Sam Ervin was a North Carolinian who headed a Senate committee that investigated the Watergate incident. The hearings, which were held in 1973-1974, were widely televised in order to inform the nation of the White House dealings in the crime. Ervin subsequently became rather well-known across the country for his involvement. John Dean He testified against Nixon as well as other cabinet members in the Watergate hearings. His testimony helped led to the removal of several White House officials and the resignation of Nixon. Before his testimony he had been a White House lawyer Gerald Ford was the first president to be solely elected by a vote from Congress. He entered the office in August of 1974 when Nixon resigned. He pardoned Nixon of all crimes that he may have committed. The Vietnam War ended in 1975, in which Ford evacuated nearly 500,000 Americans and South Vietnamese from Vietnam. He closed the war. Jimmy Carter He was Georgia's governor for four years before he was elected the dark-horse president of 1976, promising to never lie to the people. He was politically successful at first, but was accused of being isolated with Georgians after a while. His greatest foreign policy achievement was when he peacefully resolved Egypt and Israel relations in 1978. Shah of Iran Pahlavi became Shah in 1941, when the allies of WWII forced the abdication of his father. Communist and Nationalist movements created unrest and tension during the early years of his reign. The Shah distributed royal lands to poverty-stricken farmers. He is known for both social and economic reform in Iran. With the abundance of oil-drinking machines, Pahlavi became a powerful world leader, and the main military power in the Middle East. Muslims and the Ayatollah forced the Shah and his family into exile in 1979, where he died in Cairo on July 27, 1980. Ayatollah Khomeini He was a Muslim holy man who sparked opposition toward the United States in the Middle East. Détente A period of relaxed tension between the communist powers of the Soviet Union and China and the U.S. set up by Richard Nixon that established better relations between these countries to ease the Cold War. During this time the Anti-ballistic Missile treaty as well as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks were set up to prevent nuclear war Executive Privilege This policy came into effect during the Nixon administration when members of the executive branch were being questioned by authorities. The policy stated that Congress could not question any of the past or present employees about any topic without the presidents’ approval. Vietnamization President Nixon's policy to withdraw the 540,000 U.S. troops in South Vietnam over an extended period. It would bring and end to the war in 1973. Nixon Doctrine During the Vietnam War, the Nixon Doctrine was created. It stated that the United States would honor its existing defense commitments, but in the future other countries would have to fight their own wars without support of American troops. My Lai massacre In 1968 American troops massacred women and children in the Vietnamese village of My Lai; this deepened American people's disgust for the Vietnam War. Kent State Killings In April of 1970, police fired into an angry crowd of college students at Kent State University. Four students were killed and many others were wounded. The students were protesting against Nixon ordering US troops to seize Cambodia without consulting Congress. Twenty-Sixth Amendment This lowered the voting age to 18 years old. It was a result of the Vietnam war, in which young men felt that if they could fight, they should be able to vote. Pentagon Papers that "leaked" to "The New York Times" about the blunders and deceptions of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations in Vietnam, especially the provoking of the 1964 N. Vietnamese attack in the Gulf of Tonkin. This is linked to Watergate. SALT Strategic Arms Limitation Talks- A pact that served to freeze the numbers of long-range nuclear missiles for five years in 1972. This treaty between Nixon (U.S.), China, and the Soviet Union served to slow the arms race that had been going on between these nations since World War II. MIRVS (Multiple Independently-targeted Reentry Vehicles) MIRVS were designed to overcome any defense by "saturating" it with large numbers of nuclear warheads, similar to a rocket The Watergate Scandal was a problem in Washington during the presidency of Richard Nixon. The members of an association working to have Nixon re-elected, CREEP, were involved in a burglary, and it was then linked to Nixon. The CREEP group had also gotten lots of money from unidentifiable places. Suspicion set in and Nixon was accused of getting illegal help in being re-elected. Nixon tried to use government to cover-up his involvement. Impeachment proceedings were started but Nixon resigned from his office in August of 1974. CREEP Richard Nixon's committee for re-electing the president. Found to have been engaged in a "dirty tricks" campaign against the democrats in 1972. They raised tens of millions of dollars in campaign funds using unethical means. They were involved in the infamous Watergate cover-up. War Powers Act Passed during the Vietnam War, Congress passed this act to restrict Presidential powers dealing with war. It was passed over Nixon's veto, and required the President to report to Congress within 48 hours after committing troops to a foreign conflict or enlarging units in a foreign country. OPEC "Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries." -this oil cartel doubled their petroleum charges in 1979, helping American inflation rise well above 13%. Iranian Hostage Crisis called Carter's and America's bed of nails; captured Americans languished in cruel captivity; American nightly television news cast showed scenes of Iranians burning the American flag; Carter tried to apply economic sanctions and the pressure of world opinion against Iranians. Carter then called for rescue mission; rescue attempt failed; The stalemate with Iran went on through the rest of Carter's term hurting his bid for reelection. Martin Luther King Jr. He was an African American minister who was instrumental in starting the Black Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. He formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of 1957. Led a peaceful "March on Washington" King fought for, and won, the outlaw of literacy tests in the voting booth. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Viet Cong South Vietnamese Communists. Jimmy Carter He was a Democratic, dark-horse candidate who won the 1976 presidential election. Carter was a humanitarian and got Israel and Egypt to sign a peace treaty in 1978 at Camp David. Edward Kennedy He is a Senator from Massachusetts and the last of the Kennedy brothers. In 1979, he said that he was going to challenge Carter for the Presidency, but an incident back in '69 with a car crash, handicapped his decision. Ronald Reagan was first elected president in 1980 and elected again in 1984. He ran on a campaign based on the common man and "populist" ideas. He served as governor of California from 1966-1974, and he participated in the McCarthy Communist scare. Iran released hostages on his Inauguration Day in 1980. While president, he developed Reagannomics, the trickle down effect of government incentives. He cut out many welfare and public works programs. He used the Strategic Defense Initiative to avoid conflict. His meetings with Gorbachev were the first steps to ending the Cold War. He was also responsible for the Iran-contra Affair which bought hostages with guns. John Anderson Ran against Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter on the independent ticket, tallying 7 percent of the popular vote and not a single electoral vote. Anwar Sadat President of Egypt; Carter invited Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin to a conference at Camp David; the two signed an agreement that served as a step toward peace between Egypt and Israel. Walter Mondale He was the vice president of Carter and when he won the democratic nomination he was defeated by a landslide by Reagan. He was the first presidential candidate to have a woman vice president, Geraldine Ferraro. Jesse Jackson A black candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 1988 election who attempted to appeal to minorities, but eventually lost the nomination to Michael Dukakis Geraldine Ferraro In 1984 she was the first woman to appear on a major-party presidential ticket. She was a congresswoman running for Vice President with Walter Mondale. Sandra Day O'Conner She was appointed by Reagan as a Supreme Court justice. She is a brilliant Stanford Law School graduate. She was sworn in on Sept.25, 1981. She was the first woman to ascend to the high bench in the Court's nearly 200 yr. History. "supply-side economics" The nickname given to the type of economy that Ronald Reagan brought before Congress. It involved, among other things, a 25% tax cut that encouraged budgetary discipline and would hopefully spur investments. However, the plan was not a success and the economy was sent into its deepest recession since the 1930's. Moral Majority An evangelical Christian group that was created to fight against the liberal ideas and politics that developed in the 60's and after. It is a "right-wing," conservative group. Chappaquiddick Senator Edward Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy, was at a Bachelor party on an island. There were some young women there and there was some drinking and Kennedy ended up taking one of the young ladies off the island. But when they were crossing a bridge Kennedy's car went off the bridge. The young woman was killed. Kennedy's story was that he swam across a bay to get help but it was too late. There was much controversy over this incident about Kennedy's motives, such as if he was trying to kill the lady because she knew something and that Kennedy was already married. This controversy cost Kennedy the Presidency but his family wealth covered up everything and Kennedy was not charged for the death of the young lady. Grenada Invasion Ronald Reagan dispatched a heavy- fire- power invasion force to the island of Grenada, where a military coup had killed the prime minister and brought Marxists to power ----Americans captured the island quickly demonstrating Reagan's determination to assert the dominance of the US in the Caribbean Yuppies young, urban professionals who wore ostentatious gear such Rolex watches or BMW cars. They came to symbolize the increased pursuit of wealth and materialism of Americans in the 1980s. Strategic Defense Initiative This was Regan's proposed high-tech, anti-nuclear missile, defense system. It was said to be scientifically impossible. It was nicknamed "Star Wars." Betty Friedan She was a leader in the modern feminist movement in the 1960s. She wrote "The Feminist Mystique." Reverse Discrimination During the 1970's, white workers and students felt that they were being discriminated against by employers and admission offices because too much weight was put on race and ethnic background. In the court case, Bakke vs. California, the Supreme Court declared that preference in admissions to a college could not be given to a certain race, but racial factors could be taken into account in a school's overall admissions policy. Affirmative Action programs designed to encourage employers and colleges to hire or accept more minorities and women to even out the workforce, eliminate racism in the hiring process, and improve the lives of impoverished minorities in America. The programs were opposed by many as reverse discrimination against those who were not hired in an effort to keep the workplace ethnically diverse. Neo-conservatism was a small influential group of thinkers who were supporters of Ronald Regan. They were acting against the 1960's liberalism. They took tough anti-Soviet positions in foreign policy. They championed free-market capitalism liberated from gov't restraints. They questioned liberal forms of welfare programs and affirmative action policies. They encouraged traditional values, individualism, and the centrality of the family. Sunbelt 15 state area from Virginia to Florida and west to California. It included Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Everyone was moving into these areas because they had a great and strong economy. ROE V. WADE was decided by the Supreme Court in 1973. It prohibited state legislatures from interfering with a woman's right to abortion. Norma McCarvey, a.k.a. Jane Roe, said in 1995 that she no longer believed in abortion rights. Cesar Chavez Leader of the United Farmworkers Organizing Committee who improved working conditions for Chicano workers. IBM International Business Machines, was part of the historic shift to a mass consumer economy after World War II, and symbolized another momentous transformation to the fast-paced "Information Age." Microsoft This computer company sent the U.S. down an information superhighway. The internet and computer discs allowed for more information to be available to anyone at the click of a button OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) Through the OPEC Middle Eastern Sheiks quadrupled the price for crude oil in 1974, disrupting the balance of international trade for the U.S. This helped show the U.S. government that they could never have economic isolation. New Immigration The New Immigrates in the 1980's and 1990's came from Asia, Latin America and mostly from Mexico. These new immigrates came for many of the same reasons that the old immigrates came such as growth in population, and to look for jobs. They mostly settled in the Southwest. During this time nearly a million people came to America each year. gated communities These were suburban housing communities with gates and guards that started to gain popularity in the later half of this century OJ Simpson Trial This case gained world wide exposure because OJ was a star football player and was accused of murdering his wife. The main issue in this case that may have caused turmoil was the allowing cameras in the courtroom. Comparable Worth The principle that states the people should receive equal pay for work that is different form, but just as demanding as, other types of work. This idea has been applied to many discrimination cases including race, age, and gender discrimination. Immigration and Nationality Act (1965) This law made it easier for entire families to migrate and established "special categories" for political refugees. This act increased the amount of immigration. United Farmworkers Organizing Committee Headed by Cesar Chavez, it succeeded in helping to improve working conditions. It was organized to help mainly the Chicago population. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 Passed to decrease the number of illegal aliens in US; penalized employers of aliens and granted amnesty to aliens already in US Information superhighway A phrase associated with the new computer age. It refers to the communication revolution that occurred in the 1990's that involved the Internet. "classrooms without walls" The idea that supports having classrooms in which students are able to use a computer to do their studies without a teacher giving a lecture but there to be more of a mediator. biological engineering A modern scientific question in America is about whether or not the human gene pool should be engineered and conformed to how scientists want it to be. The question may never be answered, but biological engineering is the manipulation of human genes to produce the desired outcome. Family Leave Bill In 1993, Congress passed this to mandate job protection for working fathers as well as mothers who needed to take time off work for family-related reasons. Electronic Revolution The electronic revolution was in the 1970's. The information economy brought the large use of computers to America. The silicon chip, made in 1959, is a small one quarter of an inch square that can hold incredible amounts of information. This is called a microchip, and it helped to cause the electronic revolution. Underclass The underclass in America is made up of mostly blacks and minorities living in the ghettoes of old industrial cities. This is due to all the minority groups that settled in the old industrial cities while most whites and upper class blacks moved away from the big cities at the end of the twentieth century. Without a middle class in the cities, the underclass suffered. They had poor schooling, unemployment, drug addiction, and a lack of hope. Stagflation

i don't know

The world's largest hot desert, what is the name of the barren expanse that covers most of North Africa?

The Sahara Desert, North Africa - The Largest Deserts in the World The Sahara Desert, North Africa is the largest desert in the world . Its area is more than 9 million square kilometers. It covers almost the whole of North Africa: Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, etc. In fact, the Sahara Desert is 30% of the entire African continent. This is the hottest hot spot in the world with summer temperatures often exceeding 57 degrees Celsius. In summer the temperature is above 33 ° C, in winter, it is usually kept within 15-28 ° C, especially hot in the daytime is in Libya were reported temperature rises to 58 ° C. This area is characterized by strong winds, they are able to move the sandy dust even in the Atlantic and on the European continent.   , the greatest desert on the Earth has 7 million square km 2. The Sahara desert was already in prehistoric times. However, in the history of the Sahara encountered times when it was covered with grassland or forest. At the last glacial period the climate was wetter in Sahara, than now. It is assumed that it was over heated, covered with gravel, rushing storms, throwing in the face of quartz sand, fifty or a hundred thousand years ago there were extensive shallow muddy lakes, which were surrounded by reeds and water lilies. Fish splashing in the warm water, and in the coastal thickets of mimosa hid various animals resembling wild animals in tropical Africa today.  But when the heat and the lack of water became unbearable, the man and the animal left the desert. Throughout the desert were found a variety of tools used by the old man in the Paleolithic era. The most difficult challenge when traveling across the Sahara could be the sand or the dust storm, in which the scorching wind powerfully lifts a heap of dust and sand to heaven. There is no secret that there can be more than 150 thousand mirages to watch in the desert. There are some maps for the caravans, which represent the most likely locations of a mirage, and even specify what kind of mirage can be seen in a particular place - an oasis, a well or a palm tree. Today you can get quite simple to the Sahara or in any city on the North Coast of Africa. For example, from Algeria to the south. There is a decent highway, which will take about a day's journey. The Sahara is a constantly changing desert under the influence of perpetual winds, the wind carries hundreds of billions of grains of sand from one place to another, in some cases, the sand can be found in almost every region of the Earth.   Tourists may happen to see beautiful landscapes here, which are low pieces of rock, oddly changed over the time under the influence of the sand and the wind. In general, the surface of the desert comprises sand dunes (ergs or), as well as clay and rocky areas. Archaeological excavations indicate that earlier the Sahara desert was a more humid terrain with magnificent savannas, which nowadays can be found only in the Tibesti and Darfur. The rest of the desert is contented with occasional rainfall, the size of which is barely a year, 250 mm in the northern territory. In the south their number is much lower, about 25 mm. There are dry periods, lasting up to three years, during which there is no precipitation at all. The only surface of water source in the Sahara is the Nile river, which crosses it on the east. Due to the presence of groundwater in an arid desert, it is possible to use deep wells to provide moisture and oases of cultivation in these dates, olives and grapes. The most memorable experience for guests of the Sahara will be the setting of the sun in a quiet, sunny weather! The amazing range of colors magically shimmer, shine, cover the entire sky and slowly begins to fade. At the same time over the desert suddenly comes complete darkness, coming to replace the indescribable riot of the colors of the sunset! Sponsored Links By Romanelli Ana Sponsored Links map Algeria Others from The Largest Deserts in the World A desert is the most barren and unfriendly terrain, which is a vast space, where rainfall is rarely less than 25 cm per year. Under such dry conditions it is hard for the plants to live and the soils to form. There is anything that protects the earth from overheating in these areas. The hottest  place on the Earth is the tropical desert, but there are coldest , even icy deserts, for instance,  Antarctica. Deserts cover approximately 20% of the Earth's land surface and 80% in Australia , therefore, a fifth of the Earth's land area belongs to the deserts. Many of the major deserts are located near the tropics, such as the Sahara desert which is the largest desert in the world, as well as the Kalahari, the Namib Desert and the Grand Victoria in Australia.   Droughts   During the grazing of cattle during droughts disorders of vegetation occur. They are so significant that are likely unrecovered. The sun's rays quickly dry the soil and turn to dust, which happens to desertification, a continuous transformation of the land in the desert. A desert with a change in climatic conditions can always shrink and expand. The long-term global climate change or contraction of the continents can garden the desert or turn it into a magnificent forest. Short-lived changes in weather conditions influence the expansion of its borders, turning occasionally green areas in arid deserts. The hottest places on the Earth are the tropical desert, where the daytime temperatures often reach +50 ° C. This heat can destroy the stones and give the landscape an unusual character. The underground water evaporates so quickly that minerals are dissolved from the crust. Deserts are constantly dry, but in other natural areas prolonged dry periods can occur - the droughts. Their presence in any place depends on what kind of rainfall is there. There was a drought in Sahel, Africa, that lasted many months without rain. However, droughts are regular and in some places they are with a typical moisture content, such as the North American grasslands which dry up every 22 years. Water plays a significant role in shaping the dry landscape, despite of its low quantity in the desert . Water alters the chemical composition of rocks, now and then it is dumped in the desert from the sky, at times becoming the cause of short, but strong flash floods, which are harmful to the soil.   Do all the deserts have very high temperatures and a lot of sand?   We call a desert an area where not more than 25 inches of rain falls per year. As a rule, deserts are formed in the hot desert climates, but there are exceptions. Most deserts have a lot of rocks and stones and sand.   What is the biggest desert?   The most extensive deserts are located in areas of high atmospheric pressures. All the winds blow in areas of their inner regions, but the moist winds from the sea reach them very rarely. There are those deserts, which are near the sea, and yet the sea winds will reach them, they lose most of moisture on the way. Certain deserts are formed on the internal continental slopes of mountain ranges, well sheltered from the sea winds. Almost all of Antarctica is a huge frozen desert, which is located in an area of high pressure, so that its interior is extremely small drops of fresh snow.   The driest desert in the world.   In many deserts there is no rain for several years in a row, then a short downpour happens and everything starts all over again. The most arid desert is the Atacama Desert in South America . Until 1971, there were 400 years without spilling a drop. It is known that in several places in the desert, there are artesian waters, but the high boron content makes them unsuitable for irrigation.   What is an oasis?   An oasis is a plot of land in the desert, which is covered with vegetation. It feeds from underground springs or natural wells.   The largest desert in the world   The largest desert in the world is the Sahara Desert in North Africa. Its area is of approximately 8400 sq. km. However, only ten percent of its territory is covered with sand, and everything else is taken by bare rocks and stones. After Sahara, we have the Arabian desert, the Gobi, the Patagonian,the  Rub’ al Khali, the Great Victoria, the Kalahari, the Great Basin, the Chihuahuan and the Thar. Images of The Sahara Desert, North Africa, icons, photos, figures, visions, appearances, illustrations, snapshots, captures, canvas and pictures of The Sahara Desert, North Africa - The Largest Deserts in the World The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Magnificent place The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Arabian camel The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Fantastic view The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Long caravan The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Beautiful landscape The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Indescribable sunset The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Wonderful dunes The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Enigmatic place The Sahara Desert, North Africa - Amazing view Sponsored Links

Sahara

Originally a separate town before being annexed by Seattle in 1891, what neighborhood refers to itself as "The Center of the Universe"?

List of Top 10 Largest/ Biggest Deserts in the World - CountryDetail List of Top 10 Largest/ Biggest Deserts in the World Posted on April 14, 2016 Desert are the barren patches of land, loaded with sand dunes and are marked extreme dry weather climate. Such places face extreme conditions of hot climate, and life forms are usually deprived of water. But they still play a significant role in maintaining our ecosystem. Though they look barren from the outside, beneath this hard surface is a land rich in minerals and hydrocarbons. Years and even centuries pass by that accounts for the transformation of a land into a deserts. Deforestation, destruction of natural habitats and other environmental factor causes such change. Now there are plenty of deserts that have surfaced on the face of the earth but of these, few are enormous ones which cover the wide span of the area stretching from one end to another. List of Top Ten Largest/ Biggest Deserts in the World by Area Following are the top ten largest deserts present in the world. The article provides you full depth analysis over their area, location, climatic conditions and life forms inhabiting them. 10. Chihuahuan Desert: 175,000 square miles (282,000 square km) Larger than the entire state of California, Chihuahuan Desert is located at the US-Mexico border touching the areas of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. The annual rainfall is as low as 9 inches a year. It is ranked at tenth position in the list of top ten world biggest deserts. It covers the area of 282000 square kilometers. There are as many as 300 caves underneath this humongous deserts and the mountain ranges of New Mexico Guadalupe; these caves are the rich source of Sulphur and limestone. 9. Great Basin Desert: 190,000 square miles (492,000 square km) The Great Basin desert of America is highly distinctive and unique, unlike many other deserts it is Cold Desert, and here there is minimal rainfall whereas the it also experiences snowfall at times. It is ranked at ninth position in the list of top ten world largest deserts. It stretches across the state of Nevada, part of Utah and other surrounding states. The average rainfall a year ranges from 6 inches to 12 inches. 8. Syrian Desert: 200,000 square miles (518,000 sq km) The Syrian Desert is also termed as the “arid wasteland” It covers the huge area of Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the larger part of Syria. It is ranked at eight number in the list of top ten world biggest deserts. This region faces lava eruption and flows hence it was impenetrable until recent years. New Highways and oil pipelines are constructed in this area. It receives almost 5 inches of rain each year. The excavation of this desert back in 2009 revealed that it was inhabited by the people of Syria’s Stonehenge. 7. The Great Victoria Desert: 250,000 square miles (647,000 sq km) Covering a huge part of Australia, the Great Victoria Desert consist of multiple sand dunes running parallel to one another. It is ranked at seventh position in the list of top ten world biggest deserts. It is famous for its red sand which came from the parts of Western Australian Shield. Whereas the color of sand changes to white if you move towards the south. It has shown great variation in rainfall patterns over the years. But by an average of last few decades, the average rainfall turned out to be 6.4 inches per year. 6. Patagonian Desert: 260,000 square miles (673,000 square km) The desert of Patagonia is located across the land of Argentina. It is ranked at sxth position in the list of top ten world biggest deserts. It starts from the coasts of Atlantic Ocean and reaches to The Andes. This desert lies in the “rain shadow” of mountain ranges of Patagonia. Some part of the desert annually receives about 6 to 8 inches of rainfall. The environment is extremely arid as the rate of evaporation is much faster than the precipitation. 5. Kalahari Desert: 360,000 square miles (930,000 square km) Situated in the midst of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana is the Kalahari Desert. It is considered to be the the fifth world most largest deserts in the world. It tends to receive even less than 500mm of rainfall a year, which is approximately around 20 inches. About 12 thousand years ago the desert was formed by the accumulation of layers of sand sheers. And since then these layers stayed the same. Excavation at Kalahari proved that it was once inhabited by human civilization. 4. Gobi Desert: 800,000 square miles (1.3 million square km) Gobi desert is ranked at fourth position in the list of top ten world largest deserts. covers he huge portions of China and Mongolia. It experiences arid climate in most of its regions whereas it has the monsoon-like season. The average rainfall ranges from 2 to 8 inches which differ from region to region. During summer, it receives more rainfall in some parts. Gobi deserts seems like the great place for dinosaur hunting and excavation of their old fossils. Back in 2012, a rare Tyrannosaurus skeleton was found buried under its dunes. 3. Arabian Desert: 900,000 square miles (2.3 million square km) The desert experiences the scorching high temperature of 129F. It is located in Saudi Arabia, parts of Oman, Iraq, and surrounding countries. It is placed at 3rd number in the list of top ten world largest deserts. The central region of this desert faces extreme high temperature whereas the regions near the coastlines and highlands experiences comparatively moderate temperatures. The annual rainfall on average is about 4 inches, but it varies from area to area, it can vary from 0 inches to even up to 20 inches a year. 2. Sahara: 3.3 million square miles (8.6 million sq km) Perhaps the most famous desert by its size and harsh climate is the Sahara desert. It is placed at 2nd position in the list of top ten world largest deserts. It is located in the midst of Africa, touching the high volcano of Emi Koussi located in Chad. It receives about .9 inches of rainfall annually which could get as low as 0.2 inches. Nights are comparatively cold, and little precipitation can be seen. 1. Antarctica: 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million sq km) Located around the South Pole, the icy Antarctica world largest desert which is cold. The average precipitation fall is about 2 inches per year. Vast glaciers of ice cover the entire desert. No vegetation and live forms can be seen in most of its barren regions. The highest temperature remains around 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit. List of Top Ten World Largest Deserts by Area & Size: o.

i don't know

What's missing: Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Troposphere?

Atmosphere | Troposphere | Stratosphere | Mesosphere | Thermosphere Navigate Atmospheric Layers Although air is well mixed throughout the atmosphere, the atmosphere itself is not physically uniform but has significant variations in temperature and pressure with altitude, which define a number of atmospheric layers. These include the troposphere (0 to 16 km), stratosphere (16 to 50 km), mesosphere (50 to 80km) and thermosphere (80 to 640km). The boundaries between these four layers are defined by abrupt changes in temperature, and include respectively the tropopause, stratopause and mesopause. In the troposphere and mesosphere, temperature generally falls with increasing altitude, whilst in the stratosphere and thermosphere, temperature rises with increasing altitude. In addition to temperature, other criteria can be used to define different layers in the atmosphere. The ionosphere, for example, which occupies the same region of the atmosphere as the thermosphere, is defined by the presence of ions, a physico-chemical criterion. The region beyond the ionosphere is known as the exosphere. The ionosphere and the exosphere together make up the upper atmosphere (or thermosphere). The magnetosphere is the region above the Earth's surface in which charged particles are affected by the Earth's magnetic field. Another well-known layer of the atmosphere is the ozone layer, occupying much of the stratosphere. This layer is defined by its chemical composition - where ozone is especially abundant. Layers of the Atmosphere Troposphere The lowest layer of the atmosphere is called the troposphere. It ranges in thickness from 8km at the poles to 16km over the equator. The troposphere is bounded above by the tropopause, a boundary marked by stable temperatures. Above the troposphere is the stratosphere. Although variations do occur, temperature usually declines with increasing altitude in the troposphere. Hill walkers know that it will be several degrees cooler on the top of a mountain than in the valley below. The troposphere is denser than the layers of the atmosphere above it (because of the weight compressing it), and it contains up to 75% of the mass of the atmosphere. It is primarily composed of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) with only small concentrations of other trace gases. Nearly all atmospheric water vapour or moisture is found in the troposphere. The troposphere is the layer where most of the world's weather takes place. Since temperature decreases with altitude in the troposphere, warm air near the surface of the Earth can readily rise, being less dense than the colder air above it. In fact air molecules can travel to the top of the troposphere and back down again in a just a few days. Such vertical movement or convection of air generates clouds and ultimately rain from the moisture within the air, and gives rise to much of the weather which we experience. The troposphere is capped by the tropopause, a region of stable temperature. Air temperature then begins to rise in the stratosphere. Such a temperature increase prevents much air convection beyond the tropopause, and consequently most weather phenomena, including towering cumulonimbus thunderclouds, are confined to the troposphere. Sometimes the temperature does not decrease with height in the troposphere, but increases. Such a situation is known as a temperature inversion. Temperature inversions limit or prevent the vertical mixing of air. Such atmospheric stability can lead to air pollution episodes with air pollutants emitted at ground level becoming trapped underneath the temperature inversion. Stratosphere The stratosphere is the second major layer of the atmosphere. It lies above the troposphere and is separated from it by the tropopause. It occupies the region of atmosphere from about 12 to 50 km, although its lower boundary tends to be higher nearer the equator and lower nearer the poles. The stratosphere defines a layer in which temperatures rises with increasing altitude. At the top of the stratosphere the thin air may attain temperatures close to 0�C. This rise in temperature is caused by the absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun by the ozone layer. Such a temperature profile creates very stable atmospheric conditions, and the stratosphere lacks the air turbulence that is so prevalent in the troposphere. Consequently, the stratosphere is almost completely free of clouds or other forms of weather. The stratosphere provides some advantages for long-distant flight because it is above stormy weather and has strong, steady, horizontal winds. The stratosphere is separated from the mesosphere above by the stratopause. Mesosphere The mesosphere (literally middle sphere) is the third highest layer in our atmosphere, occupying the region 50 km to 80 km above the surface of the Earth, above the troposphere and stratosphere, and below the thermosphere. It is separated from the stratosphere by the stratopause and from the thermosphere by the mesopause. Temperatures in the mesosphere drop with increasing altitude to about -100�C. The mesosphere is the coldest of the atmospheric layers. In fact it is colder then Antarctica's lowest recorded temperature. It is cold enough to freeze water vapor into ice clouds. You can see these clouds if sunlight hits them after sunset. They are called Noctilucent Clouds (NLC). NLCs are most readily visible when the Sun is from 4 to 16 degrees below the horizon. The mesosphere is also the layer in which a lot of meteors burn up while entering the Earth's atmosphere. From the Earth they are seen as shooting stars. The dark blue layer next to the blackness of space in the image below is the mesosphere. In fact the upper atmosphere extends much further out, into the thermosphere. Thermosphere The thermosphere (literally "heat sphere") is the outer layer of the atmosphere, separated from the mesosphere by the mesopause. Within the thermosphere temperatures rise continually to well beyond 1000�C. The few molecules that are present in the thermosphere receive extraordinary amounts of energy from the Sun, causing the layer to warm to such high temperatures. Air temperature, however, is a measure of the kinetic energy of air molecules, not of the total energy stored by the air. Therefore, since the air is so thin within the thermosphere, such temperature values are not comparable to those of the troposphere or stratosphere. Although the measured temperature is very hot, the thermosphere would actually feel very cold to us because the total energy of only a few air molecules residing there would not be enough to transfer any appreciable heat to our skin. The lower part of the thermosphere, from 80 to 550 km above the Earth's surface, contains the ionosphere. Beyond the ionosphere extending out to perhaps 10,000 km is the exosphere or outer thermosphere, which gradually merges into space. Ionosphere The ionosphere is a layer of ionized air in the atmosphere extending from almost 80 km above the Earth's surface altitudes of 600 km and more. Technically, the ionosphere is not another atmospheric layer. It occupies the same region of the upper atmosphere as the thermosphere. In this region of the atmosphere the Sun's energy is so strong that it breaks apart molecules and atoms of air, leaving ions (atoms with missing electrons) and free-floating electrons. The ionosphere is the region of the atmosphere where the aurorae occur. Ionisation of air molecules in the ionosphere is produced by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, and to a lesser extent by high-energy particles from the Sun and from cosmic rays. Aurora On certain nights at high latitudes shifting patterns of light may been seen in the sky. These are the aurorae. The bright lights are caused by high-energy particles streaming out from the Sun - the solar wind - striking the Earth's upper atmosphere or ionosphere. Energy from these electrically charged particles is converted into light, forming visible glows, rays, arcs, bands and veils. This light is usually greenish, but is sometimes red as well. The charged particles are attracted by the Earth's magnetic field. Near the magnetic poles, the Earth's magnetic field becomes much stronger. Consequently, it is nearer the magnetic poles that the aurorae are most frequently witnessed. The power of aurorae depends mostly on the strength of the solar wind. During an intense solar storm, the wind can intensify very strongly, and aurorae may be seen at lower latitudes further from the magnetic poles. Every 11 years, at the peak of the sunspot cycle there is an increase in intensity of the solar wind, and with it, an increase in frequency and intensity of auroral displays. Aurorae occur in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In the Northern Hemisphere, the display is known as the aurora borealis, or northern lights. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is called the aurora australis, or southern lights. The term aurora polaris, polar lights, is a general name for both. Aurorae are usually visible from within the Arctic or Antarctic circles - Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland and Northern regions of Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia and Russia. During times of more intense activity on the Sun, auroral storms can be viewed at lower latitudes such as northern Scotland and most of Norway, Sweden and Finland. Very rarely displays can be seen from northerly parts of Europe and the United States. The large number of free electrons in the ionosphere allows the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Radio signals - a form of electromagnetic radiation - can be "bounced" off the ionosphere allowing radio communication over long distances. Exosphere The exosphere is the highest layer of the atmosphere. Together with the ionosphere, it makes up the thermosphere. The exosphere extends to 10,000 km above the Earth's surface. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. The atmosphere here merges into space in the extremely thin air. Air atoms and molecules are constantly escaping to space from the exosphere. In this region of the atmosphere, hydrogen and helium are the prime components and are only present at extremely low densities. This is the area where many satellites orbit the Earth.

Stratosphere

What folk tale character is a young Chinese lad who is tricked into trying to retrieve a magic lamp from a booby trapped cave?

NWS JetStream - Layers of the Atmosphere NWS JetStream myForecast  Layers of the Atmosphere The envelope of gas surrounding the Earth changes from the ground up. Five distinct layers have been identified using... thermal characteristics (temperature changes), movement, and density. Each of the layers are bounded by "pauses" where the greatest changes in thermal characteristics, chemical composition, movement, and density occur. The five basic layers of the atmosphere Exosphere This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere. It extends from the top of the thermosphere to 6,200 miles (10,000 km ) above the earth. In this layer, atoms and molecules escape into space and satellites orbit the earth. At the bottom of the exosphere is the thermopause located around 375 miles (600 km) above the earth. Thermosphere Between about 53 miles (85 km) and 375 miles (600 km) lies the thermosphere. This layer is known as the upper atmosphere. While still extremely thin, the gases of the thermosphere become increasingly more dense as one descends toward the earth. As such, incoming high energy ultraviolet and x-ray radiation from the sun begins to be absorbed by the molecules in this layer and causes a large temperature increase. Because of this absorption, the temperature increases with height. From as low as -184 °F (-120 °C ) at the bottom of this layer, temperatures can reach as high as 3,600°F (2,000°C) near the top. However, despite the high temperature, this layer of the atmosphere would still feel very cold to our skin due to the very thin atmosphere. The high temperature indicates the amount of the energy absorbed by the molecules but with so few in this layer, the total number of molecules is not enough to heat our skin. Take it to the MAX! The Ionosphere Mesosphere This layer extends from around 31 miles (50 km) above the Earth's surface to 53 miles (85 km). The gases, including the oxygen molecules, continue to become more dense as one descends. As such, temperatures increase as one descends rising to about 5°F (-15°C) near the bottom of this layer. The gases in the mesosphere are now thick enough to slow down meteors hurtling into the atmosphere, where they burn up, leaving fiery trails in the night sky. Both the stratosphere (next layer down) and the mesosphere are considered the middle atmosphere. The transition boundary which separates the mesosphere from the stratosphere is called the stratopause. Stratosphere The Stratosphere extends around 31 miles (50 km) down to anywhere from 4 to 12 miles (6 to 20 km) above the Earth's surface. This layer holds 19 percent of the atmosphere's gases but very little water vapor. In this region the temperature increases with height. Heat is produced in the process of the formation of Ozone and this heat is responsible for temperature increases from an average -60°F (-51°C) at tropopause to a maximum of about 5°F (-15°C) at the top of the stratosphere. This increase in temperature with height means warmer air is located above cooler air. This prevents "convection" as there is no upward vertical movement of the gases. As such the location of the bottom of this layer is readily seen by the 'anvil-shaped' tops of cumulonimbus clouds. Troposphere Known as the lower atmosphere almost all weather occurs in this region. The troposphere begins at the Earth's surface and extends from 4 to 12 miles (6 to 20 km) high. The height of the troposphere varies from the equator to the poles. At the equator it is around 11-12 miles (18-20 km) high, at 50 °N and 50 °S , 5½ miles and at the poles just under four miles high. As the density of the gases in this layer decrease with height, the air becomes thinner. Therefore, the temperature in the troposphere also decreases with height in response. As one climbs higher, the temperature drops from an average around 62°F (17°C) to -60°F (-51°C) at the tropopause. Average temperature profile for the lower layers of the atmosphere

i don't know

Often thought of as a desert phenomenon, what optical illusion happens when light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of a distant object?

Weather Elements: Mirages: A Primer Home | Welcome | What's New | Site Map | Glossary | Weather Doctor Amazon Store | Book Store | Accolades | Email Us Mirages: A Primer Parched faces look out across the desert sand as two men stagger and crawl toward what they believed to be a thirst-relieving pool of water. As they near, however, the waters disappear; the vision merely a mirage. How many times have such scenes been played out in early motion pictures? The characters may have varied -- cowboys in Death Valley of the US Southwest desert or French Legionnaires in North Africa's Sahara Desert -- but the symbolism was the same: men dying of thirst chasing an image that only existed in their minds. My standard English dictionary defines mirage as: "an optical illusion due to atmospheric conditions by which reflected images of distant objects are seen." The word finds its origins in the French verb se mirer: to be reflected. I'll excuse the lexicographers on the use of the word reflected in the definition because it does seem more appropriate, given the word's roots, even if incorrect. Actually they were only two letters off, the proper technical term should be refracted. (I checked two other English dictionaries, and they both used the term reflected in their definition. And be careful, a number of popular books on weather have fallen into the same trap when describing mirages.) A correct definition can be found in the American Meteorological Society's Glossary of Weather and Climate. It states: "Mirage: A refraction phenomenon wherein an image of some distant object is made to appear displaced from its true position because of large vertical density variations near the surface; the image may appear distorted, inverted, or wavering. The effects of these distortions, displacements, etc. of the image create many of the optical illusions we see in a mirage. Although the mind may misinterpret the mirage image it receives from our eyes, the image is no figure of the imagination -- it can be photographed. But because of the strong illusional nature of mirages, they have gained an air of magic about them, dwelling in story and legend along with gods and demons, fairies and magicians. Highway Mirage lies across roadway. The desert mirage of adventure stories and movies and song (for example, the country/western classic Cool Water) is more commonly seen today as a highway mirage, those apparent pools of water lying across the pavement, which always disappear before we can reach them. Both of these forms are technically known as the inferior mirage, a form most often seen over a land surface. The other main type of mirage is the superior mirage, most often viewed around or over large bodies of water or snow/ice fields. The terms inferior and superior are not commentaries on their quality of the mirage's appearance but refer to the perceived position of the image relative to the actual location of the object. Inferior mirages appear below the actual object's true location. Superior mirages are seen above the actual location. Mirages form when light rays emitted from a source or reflected off an object are bent as the path of the light ray crosses air layers of different densities. The technical term for this bending is refraction. You can perform a simple experiment to illustrate refraction. Place a long pencil or straw in a clear glass filled with water, then look at the pencil in the glass from the side. It will appear to have a bend or kink where it enters the water. The degree of bend defines the medium's index of refractivity and depends on the medium's density. (Refraction also differs for the various colours (wavelengths) of the visible spectrum and is part of the process causing many atmospheric optical phenomena including rainbows.) The index of refraction for air varies with the density of the air. Air density is strongly dependent on its pressure, temperature and water vapour content. Air density is proportional to its pressure (density increases as pressure increases) and inversely proportional to its temperature (density decreases as temperature increases) and to moisture content (decreasing as water vapour content increases). One form of superior mirage is so common that most scientists do not even recognize it as a mirage. Have you ever seen the sun lying right on the horizon? And what was the actual position of the sun at that time? Yes, this is a trick question. The fact is, when you see the full solar disk directly on the horizon, all or part of it is below the horizon, but the bending (refracting) of the solar rays by the atmosphere gives us the optical illusion that the sun is actually on the horizon. This happens at both sunrise and sunset each day and adds over 4 extra minutes of daylight to each day. As a result, daylight is a little longer than the night period on the date of the Equinox by about 4 minutes. [see Equal Night and Day? ] This effect on the setting/rising sun's position is mostly due to the increase in air density due to increasing atmospheric pressure as the solar rays come from the near vacuum of outer space toward the Earth's surface. (Similar effects also alter the observed position of the moon, planets and stars.) When the sun or moon are within a few degrees of the horizon, they can also lose their circular shape and appear flattened because of atmospheric refraction. There are several other refractive effects that are also of interest to sky watcher but we must leave them for a later date. In this piece I want to focus on refractive phenomena seen in the lower atmosphere under conditions of varying temperature with height which produce mirages. The two main mirage types, superior and inferior, are caused by opposite patterns of temperature change with height -- what meteorologists call the vertical temperature gradient. They express this gradient by the number of degrees of temperature change per height increment (usually Celsius degrees per metre or per 100 metres, but in older books you will sometimes see it still expressed as either Fahrenheit degrees per foot or per 100 feet). Lapse Temperature Profile: Temperature decreases with height. Meteorologists consider temperature decreasing with height a "normal" state of the atmosphere -- often using the term lapse rate for the condition. When temperature increases with height, the condition is termed a temperature inversion (or just inversion). Inversion Temperature Profile: Temperature increases with height. Inferior mirages occur under strong lapse rate conditions, and superior mirages under inversion conditions. While the atmosphere tries to establish a uniform lapse rate of 0.98 C° per 100m (0.54 F° per 100 ft) throughout the lower atmosphere, this situation rarely occurs for long as heating and cooling establishes differing temperature gradients from the surface upward. At times there may be several layers with distinct temperature gradients including inversion layers below or between layers with lapse conditions. Such complex temperature layer can cause some rather interesting optical situations such as the Novaya Zemlya mirage which can "carry" light rays hundreds of kilometres over the horizon. We will delve more deeply into the variations possible with mirages in separate articles on this website. For the remainder of this piece, we will focus on describing the general conditions that form the inferior and superior mirages. In the lower layers of the atmosphere where most mirages are seen, the air refractivity is only weakly dependent upon changes in air pressure but strongly on temperature gradient changes. Light reaching our eye, after traveling through a region of the atmosphere where the temperature gradient is constant, follows a curved (parabolic) path. (See diagrams below. In them, the dark lines indicate the actual light ray path and the white dashed lines the path our mind thinks it sees.) The degree of curvature is proportional to the temperature gradient along that path -- the stronger the temperature gradient through which the light passes, the greater the bend. When the temperature gradient is not constant but changes with height, the curvature of the light path can increase more rapidly at some heights than others, thus producing interesting effects such as object distortions and multiple images. The light ray always bends toward the colder (and thus denser) air, so that the colder air is on the inside of the curvature. The image we see is always displaced in the direction of the warmer air. Therefore, if we have a temperature gradient with warmer air nearest the surface, the image will be displaced downward toward the surface -- forming an inferior mirage. When the air is colder near the surface (an inversion condition), the image wis displaced upward, forming a superior mirage. Mirages are confined to small viewing angles even when they appear large, about half a degree in width -- the size of the solar disk -- and most portray objects located from half a kilometre to about five kilometres (about a quarter mile to three miles). Under strong inversion conditions, however, objects hundreds of kilometres away can be seen, including those located beyond the normal viewing horizon. (For more details on seeing beyond the horizon, see The Arctic Mirage: Aid to Discovery .) The illusion part of the mirage generally come from our mind's interpretation of what the eye sees. When our eye sees a light ray coming from an object, our mind interprets the ray path as a perfectly straight line from the object to our eye. Only when we recognize that we are seeing an illusion can we make some mental corrections to the scene. For example, we know the pencil in the glass is not bent even if our eyes try to tell us so. But recall what happens initially when we are surprised by such a scene. We must process more information to make true sense of the scene before our eyes. Thus when we see the inferior mirage's pool of water on the ground, we expect that the "water" will actually be on the ground. Inferior Mirage: scale is greatly exaggerated. When we view an inferior-mirage "water pool" on a road or desert or other hot surface, what we are actually seeing is the image of the bluish sky being strongly refracted by the hot air near the surface so that it appears to our mind to be water lying on the surface. The appearance of the inferior mirage always indicates that the surface air is much warmer than the air above it due to the strong heating of the surface by the sun or some other heat source. This temperature structure -- very hot below and cool above -- causes light rays passing through it to be bent upward. Superior Mirage: Scale is greatly exaggerated. The superior mirage occurs under reverse atmospheric conditions from the inferior mirage. For it to be seen, the air close to the surface must be much colder than the air above it. This condition is common over snow, ice and cold water surfaces. When very cold air lies below warm air, light rays are bent downward toward the surface, thus tricking our eyes into thinking an object is located higher or is taller in appearance than it actually is. Superior Mirage allows sight beyond the horizon: scale is greatly exaggerated. The superior mirage can also make objects appear to be floating in the air or cause objects actually located below the horizon to appear above it (remember the setting-sun example), a condition called looming. The superior mirage can also cause objects appear to be taller than they actually are, called towering, or shorter, a condition termed stooping. Occasionally, we can see a variation on the inferior mirage on a smaller scale over a vertical surface. In this situation, the strong heating of a vertical surface by the sun or an internal heat source (such as a motor cover) can develop a strong temperature gradient extending laterally outward from the surface. This condition can form a lateral mirage. A lateral mirage will appear as an apparent reflection of a nearby image and form just over the wall or rock face. This "inferior" lateral mirage results from a strong temperature gradient next to the wall similar to the condition of an inferior mirage turned sideways. David K. Lynch and William Livingston in their book Color and Light in Nature suggest that there is no reason a "superior" lateral mirage could not form over a cold wall surrounded by warm air, but they had never seen one. Interestingly, only one of the Weather Field Guides that I am familiar with ( National Audubon Society First Field Guide: Weather ) has any discussion of mirages. Therefore, I refer you to three books which can be used as guides on the subject of mirages (and a lot of other atmospheric optics topics as well) and another related volume. 1. Color and Light in Nature by David K. Lynch and William Livingston, 1995, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-46836-1. Except for its large format which makes it awkward to carry into the field, this book could be called a Field Guide to Color and Light in Nature. The best, in my opinion, for identifying optical phenomena in the atmosphere. It really opened my weather eyes to the topic. 2. Rainbows, Halos and Glories by Robert Greenler, 1980, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-38865-1. More in-depth scientific explanation of atmospheric optical topics, mostly involving reflection and refraction, including the author's computer simulations of some optical phenomenon. 3. The Nature of Light and Colour in the Open Air by M. Minnaert, 1948, Dover Publications; ISBN: 0486201961. A classic with few photographs using line drawings to discuss a wide variety of visual phenomena, giving the author's (a physicist) explanation for their causes. 4. Sunsets, Twilights and Evening Skies by Aden and Marjorie Meinel, 1983, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-40647-1. Similar in aspects to Greenler's book but focusing mostly on sky colour phenomena. Little on the inferior or superior mirages but does discuss the setting sun distortions and has a few words on the Novaya Zemlya. For details on mirages, their causes and properties, see

Mirage

From the French for "some more", what name is given to the additional pieces played at the end of a concert to satisfy audience demand?

May 2009 ~ ideaminefield 1 comment In our everyday myriad insignificant living day in and day out, maybe we have stopped asking some basic questions we use to intrigue ourselves regularly “when we were young”. It is often reflected when I go for my fortnightly visit to my barber – I ask him incessantly “am I going bald” – he normally reverts back asking “is your father bald” – my answer is a blank stare and rhetoric pause and the emphatic NO soon follows suit. If I am so obsessed with asking if I were going bald, why not excite myself with the most common desert view I see regularly and try to pique myself to find out why it happens. My uncle use to give me money for buying books – the first instalment of money put together and I bought a series called “TELL ME WHY” – and later argue endlessly with my childhood and still friends Bedanta lovingly called “bedu” on various unnatural phenomenon and common unscientific Harry Houdini stuff. It took Ani while swinging in the back seats of my frowning Mitshubishi Lancer to look out the window and ask all of us “What is that phenomenon called”, we instantly chorus voiced “it’s a MIRAGE”, on being prodded why – I simply answered back “it’s an optical illusion” and then came the million dollar question “WHY DOES IT HAPPEN” I simply couldn’t reach out to my “TELL ME WHY” collection in the old dusted library lying near my low lying bed in my bedroom few oceans and mighty rivers away in India (Assam – Duliajan). They have been long forgotten and married to fine dust. Shubha and her father too tried with similar results. So, here I am going back to finding out WHAT IS AN MIRAGE? And here’s what I found out – this time googling away to glory. Wiki says: “A mirage is a naturally occurring optical phenomenon in which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. In contrast to a hallucination, a mirage is a real optical phenomenon which can be captured on camera, since light rays actually are refracted to form the false image at the observer's location” You see it not only in desert but also hot summer days in your lane as well, false impression of water reflecting from the surface – as scientist and ignorant observers say, it is also seen in Polar Regions albeit with different effect. We will come into that later, but first a little primer in physics you ignorant adult communion!! “Mirage occurs due to total internal reflection of light. When the sun is high in the sky, the sand gets heated first and then the layers of air above it. The rays from the trees travel from an optically denser air layer to a rarer layer and hence bend away from the normal. This bending continues and a stage is reached where the angle of incidence becomes greater than the critical angle and total internal reflection takes place” Need any illustrated diagrams we used to draw with a scale and pencil rubbing our running noses: Wiki adds: “The model given above explains the cause of the inferior mirage, called "inferior" because the image seen is under the real object. The real object is the (blue) sky or any distant object in that direction, meaning we see a bright bluish patch on the ground in the distance. For exhausted travelers in the desert it appears as a lake of water. On tarmac roads it may seem that water or even oil has been spilled. This is called a "desert mirage" or "highway mirage". Now since you know why it happens in desert and the whole funda about warm air and cold air – what really happens in roads while we drive something which Ani noticed!! How come water appears in the distant highway? A highway mirage is an inferior mirage which can be seen very commonly on roadways by day or by night. The hot-road mirage is usually most noticeable on hot sunny days. Warm air is less dense than cool air, and the variation between the hot air at the surface of the road and the denser cool air above it creates a gradient in the refractive index of the air. Light from the sky at a shallow angle to the road is refracted by the index gradient, making it appear as if the sky is reflected by the road's surface. The result looks to the human mind like a pool of water on the road, since water also reflects the sky Now let’s talk about the other phenomenon – also called superior mirage often seen in polar “chill” regions. Going back to wiki: “Superior mirages are most common in polar regions, especially over large sheets of ice with a uniform low temperature. They also occur at more moderate latitudes, however, although in that case they are weaker and not so smooth. For example a distant shoreline may be made towering, looking higher (and thus perhaps closer) than it is in reality, but because of the turbulences there seem to be dancing spikes, towers and so forth. This type of mirage is also called the Fata Morgana or, in Icelandic, halgerndingar.” Now you know why MIRAGE happens – Ani this goes for you for bringing back the TELL ME WHY avatar in me long known to be dead!! No comments Role of a Documentary DirectorThe role of a documentary director varies considerably from project to project, and from filmmaker to filmmaker. Great documentaries have had origins in the dark depths of a research centre; others haves been born out of curiosity in street graffiti, and still others are out of decades-old home movie video-diaries. There is very little that is similar in how two directors approach the same topic, or even how they’d define legitimate, film-worthy subject matter. Despite varied approaches, the relationship a director forms with a film’s subject is critical. As cinema verite director Chris Hegedus describes it - “I think you can’t help but want to protect your characters in the film, especially in situations where you become friends with them, which we were in Startup.com. There were so many different aspects during the process of making that film were difficult for me as a filmmaker. One was that in filming the dissolving of a relationship I was party to certain information that I felt like I wanted to pass on to the other persons, and tell them. But I couldn’t quite do it, because even as filmmakers we didn’t really know the whole story. So you just have to let what happens. In front of you! And then when you’re editing it, you also want to be protective of them. You don’t want to make somebody seem like they’re jerky, or being villainous, or being a victim, because everybody in their lives is all those things at one point. There’s a time that you’re a victim, there’s a time that you’re a villain. As a filmmaker, its very complicated. The hardest thing is when you show the film to the people in it, and they see themselves” Director Erol Morris – whose work in many ways stands a critique of cinema verite filmmaking – sees himself as an investigator exploring subjectivity, exploring “how people see the world, their mental landscape, their own private ways of seeing themselves and the world around them” Rather than follow his subjects throughout their days, capturing their mundane activities and waiting for a moment of natural drama, Morris brings his characters into a studio where he controls the scope of the conversation. Peering at them, the director with his image projected in front of them through the Interrotron, a dual TelePrompTer contraption he invented, Morris uses an assertive interview style to encourage his participants to tell their story in what he calls “true first persona” cinema. His stylized editing reveals exceptional aspects of the subject’s story, but his aspects of the subject’s story, his documentaries are heavily directed. Morris's films possess a controlled editorial voice, draped in dramatic musical scores and lavish cinematography. Through fictional re-enactments, moviegoers are given Morris’s interpretation of what the interviewee’s stories might look like. A note on objectivity In the first day of film class everybody ought to just completely forget about objectivity. God is objective, and she is not telling us. So each form of film is an attempt to organise the chaos that is life, the universe. I think we come to a kind of shorthand that fiction is narrative and untrue, and that documentaries are true and objective. And that’s not true. We know from literature that some of the greatest truths emerge from fiction, and that it is possible for a fiction film to carry incredible amount of truths. I work in a medium – documentary – that’s interested in fact-based dramas, fact based narrative, and that’s a huge difference. I think what makes the documentary a kind of lesser animal, in the scale of things, is that for too long it was a didactic, essayistic thing, an expression of someone else’s already-arrived-at ends, and not interested in the narrative.

i don't know

Notable for frequently standing on one leg, what bird, usually born grey, obtains its distinctive pink hue from the beta carotene in their food supply?

The Greater Flamingo .pdf | Birds | Conservation Biology The Greater Flamingo .pdf  ALAN JOHNSON AND FRANK CÉZILLY  T & A D POYSER London   To Luc Hoffmann, who has dedicated his life to conservation worldwide, and in memory of our close friend and colleague Heinz Hafner, whose enthusiasm for wetlands and waterfowl in the Camargue and elsewhere inspired all whoknew him. Published 2007 by T & AD Poyser, an imprint of A&C Black Publishers Ltd.,38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HBwww.acblack.comCopyright © 2007 text by Alan Johnson and Frank Cézilly Copyright © 2007 photographs by Alan Johnson, except where other photographers are specified.Copyright © 2007 illustrations by Cyril GirardThe right of Alan Johnson and Frank Cézilly to be identified as the authors of this work has beenasserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.ISBN 978-0-7136-6562-8 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—photographic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping orinformation storage or retrieval systems—without permission of the publishers. The book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in managed sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The logging and manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.Commissioning Editor: Nigel RedmanProject Editor: Jim MartinDesign: J&L Composition, Filey, North YorkshirePrinted and bound in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 About

Flamingo

The Sabin vaccine, developed by Albert Sabin, was created to combat what viral infectious disease?

The Greater Flamingo .pdf | Birds | Conservation Biology The Greater Flamingo .pdf  ALAN JOHNSON AND FRANK CÉZILLY  T & A D POYSER London   To Luc Hoffmann, who has dedicated his life to conservation worldwide, and in memory of our close friend and colleague Heinz Hafner, whose enthusiasm for wetlands and waterfowl in the Camargue and elsewhere inspired all whoknew him. Published 2007 by T & AD Poyser, an imprint of A&C Black Publishers Ltd.,38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HBwww.acblack.comCopyright © 2007 text by Alan Johnson and Frank Cézilly Copyright © 2007 photographs by Alan Johnson, except where other photographers are specified.Copyright © 2007 illustrations by Cyril GirardThe right of Alan Johnson and Frank Cézilly to be identified as the authors of this work has beenasserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.ISBN 978-0-7136-6562-8 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—photographic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping orinformation storage or retrieval systems—without permission of the publishers. The book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in managed sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The logging and manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.Commissioning Editor: Nigel RedmanProject Editor: Jim MartinDesign: J&L Composition, Filey, North YorkshirePrinted and bound in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 About

i don't know

Which crooner, a favorite of Judge Harry Stone on Night Court, was known as The Velvet Fog?

Mel Tormé - Biography - IMDb Mel Tormé Biography Showing all 30 items Jump to: Overview  (4) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (4) | Trade Mark  (2) | Trivia  (17) | Personal Quotes  (2) Overview (4) The Kid With the Gauze In His Jaws The Velvet Fog The Blue Fox Mini Bio (1) A professional singer at the age of three, Mel Torme was a genuine musical prodigy. As a teenager, he played the drums in Chico Marx 's band and earned the nickname "The Velvet Fog" because of his smooth, mellow tenor voice. In the 1940s, he formed his own group, the Mel-Tones, one of the first jazz-influenced vocal groups. As a solo musician, he had a number one hit in 1949 called "Careless Hands" and several lesser hits. He also acted in films and wrote several books, including biographies of Judy Garland and Buddy Rich . Torme's career included some songwriting, too. One of his most well-known compositions, "The Christmas Song", was written in midsummer as Torme relaxed by the pool. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Sujit R. Varma Spouse (4) Suffered a stroke on August 8, 1996. Jazz singer Nicknamed The Velvet Fog, a nickname he was not particularly fond of. Composed the music and words to "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire") with songwriting partner Robert Wells (Bob Wells). Singer of "Lili Marlene" in USA. Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for "scatting" during a song. He was drafted into the army in 1944, but soon after when he went on bivouac, cuts were discovered in the soles of his feet and it was determined that he was so flat-footed he should never have been drafted in the first place. He was sent home from the army in 1945. Interred in a grave close to Heather O'Rourke and Truman Capote . He won Best Jazz Vocalist Grammy Awards in 1982 and 1983. Frustrated by his experiences as the music director of Judy Garland 's short-lived CBS variety series, he wrote a vicious tell-all book about his talented but challenging former boss. "The Other Side of the Rainbow: With Judy Garland on the Dawn Patrol" portrayed Garland as hopelessly drug-addicted, unprofessional and a horror to work with. At age eight he was a snare drummer in the Shakespeare Grammar School drum and bugle corps on Chicago's south side. Is often referred to by Harry Anderson 's character "Judge Harry Stone" in the NBC TV series Night Court (1984). Anderson--both as "Judge Stone' and in real life--is a big fan of Torme.

Mel Tormé

Which U.S. president had a sign on his desk that stated "The buck stops here"?

Night Court Boned the Fish When... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums Night Court Boned the Fish When... User Name Mark Forums Read Welcome to the Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, search, view attachments, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today ! View Poll Results: Boned When... Never Boned The Phil Foundation - Ruined an excellent character. 9 Lisette the court stenographer - New character, not funny 0 Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll Page 1 of 2 Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 20,222 http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?2787 Quote: Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 1984 until May 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan court, presided over by the young, unorthodox Judge Harold T. "Harry" Stone (played by Harry Anderson).   Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,073 The Phil Foundation. It felt forced and unnatural. If they wanted to make Dan Fielding a good guy it should have been in the final episode. Had no interest in seeing him become a guy who does good deeds   Join Date: Jul 29, 2011 Location: Land of Pop Tarts Posts: 139 Dan's emotional breakdown. I think Dan should have been shipped to rehab for a few episodes until he got better instead of pushing him into hallucinating Phil, becoming quasi-missionary and recreating the courthouse in the basement. Through most of the series sexuality and mental health are portrayed positively but I was really disappointed in Night Court for the way it handled Dan Fielding's stress break with reality.   Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 607 Well, anybody who was still watching the series at that point deserves everything they get.   Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 20,222 http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....3#entry1141593 Quote: Loved this show until Reinhold Weege left and the quality went down the crapper. (You can spot the post-Weege episodes because Christine has shorter hair, Harry wears glasses, and they don't have the closing logo with Weege's dad's laugh.) http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....3#entry1149651 Quote: I was reading jumptheshark.com and reminded of what really made Night Court suck. It wasn�t Dan�s nervous break down after Phil died. That story was actually okay because the acting was superb. And it wasn�t Harry/Christine because thankfully it didn�t really go anywhere. What was so bad that I had blocked it out until tonight was Christine and her baby. That whole arc sucked. I hated that guy she was involved with. I hated the pregnancy. And because it can�t be said enough, I love Dan. �I want to be your love slave.� http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....3#entry1151624 Quote: I actually liked the show through that arc. It was the season after that where I started disliking the show. When Christine returned after the summer with her super-short haircut finally grown back out. From there on, it was a mudslide. http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....3#entry1226204 Quote: I loved Night Court but the last two or three seasons sucked major ass. When Christine got knocked up by that cop, Harry dated that reporter and Phil died and it turned out he was really a millionaire. I have never seen such a funny show quickly become so unfunny. http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....#entry11060287 Quote: I hated the last season or two of the show. Just hated it. So when it ended I did watch the finale, and I just remember being generally bummed by the endings. I was mostly pissed off by what they had done to Dan Fielding's character by then, and the ending mostly made me happy that I didn't feel bad about not watching it any more. If that makes sense.   Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 20,222 When they switched female bailiffs WHEN ELLEN FOLEY (SHE OF MEATLOAF FAME) WAS REPLACED BY MARKIE POST Did every baliff on this show die in real life? Except that bald guy who was brain dead anyway. The first time Harry worked one of his used stand-up-comic-magic-tricks into an episode; probably day one. In the episode where Harry Anderson starts thinking about God and life and death due to some storm or case or something which enraptures the courtroom. He returns to the courtroom and makes this soliloquy about life and then screams "..and Larry Bird!" while shooting a basketball into a hoop on a crucifix. Couldn't enjoy it anymore. When Selma Diamond died. However, I kept watching it anyway, because it never failed to make me dissolve into tears of laughter at least once per show. The repeated appearances of Yakov Smirnov and John Astin ruined the show. "In America you can always find party, in Russia party always find you." Just 4 words special guest star Gilbert Gottfried I could never watch the show again. Ellen Foley was da man!!! What a set of vocal chords. Why isn't she still recording?? I don't know if this came out while the show was still on the air, but I remember seeing in one of my mom's magazines about how Markie Post has bad PMS. Gross. I'd say around '88-89. In my opinion, it was around this time that Dan Fielding became less of the money grubbing womanizer that we all knew and loved. He became kinda sensitive and caring, yuck! He lost his edge. Than, so did the show. Also, they started to shift the focus away from the courtroom. Change of scenery always kills a show. One episode had a chase scene that ended in Judge Stone's office. Two official-looking men come face to face, one asks "Bert?" To which the other replies "Ernie?" After over a decade, I finally stopped laughing from that scene just a few days ago! What was up with that one guy in the studio audience who had the most annoying laughter week in and week out? Night Court jumped the shark when Christine (Markie Post) became pregnant. After that EVERY character seemed to change. The show jumped the shark when Christine became pregnant. After that, EVERY character changed and the show fell apart. Why did Harry have to adopt that annoying little kid? That's the moment when his heartfelt advice became an annoying ploy to play with kids. That's sick, Harry, sick! Have to agree that the kinder gentler Dan did the show in. (Though Yakov Smirnov did not help either.) On an unrelated note, one night a friend and (being somewhat bored) decided to sketch out the floor plan of the courthouse. Ever notice Harry's office was next to the broom closet, but had a window which should have been looking out over mops and Drano? Or the elevators were right next to the courtroom doors, putting the shafts inside the jury box? Or that you could go out either side of the cafeteria and end up in the courtroom? Or the door beside the elevators? You could go through the door and come out either (1) beside the jury box (only the baliff could use the door in this way) or (2) come out beside the clerk's desk on the other side of the bench (everyone else seemed to get this result when they passed through that same door)? Lastly, the door in the back of Harry's office (often ignored) seemed to lead to exactly the same hall as the door in the front of his office, unless they were hiding someone, then the door led to the right hand side of the cafeteria, which otherwise seemed to be located on the other side of the courtroom. Just some observations from someone with too much free time. To the above poster - I'm not sure, but I believe Mike Brady designed the floor plan of the courthouse. :-) From 1984 to 1989, this show was an absolute riot, especially the episodes with Florence Halop as the elderly bailiff. However, once Reinhold Weege stepped down as executive producer, the show became too contrived for me. I didn't mind the Christine-being-pregnant plotline from 1989-1990 so much, as the show still had all the elements which made it funny. But in Fall, 1990, everything changed. John Astin was gone ( I guess some people disliked him, but I thought he was great). The wacky courtroom cases were gone (the Trekkies, the candidates running for God, etc.). Christine was no longer naive. Harry was no longer goofy. The Phil Foundation. Lisette the court steno. And the final episode was one of the worst I've ever seen. The last two years (starting in 1990) were the worst of the series. I didn't mind the Christine-being-pregnant plotline from 1989-1990 so much, as the show still had all the elements which made it funny. But in Fall, 1990, everything changed. John Astin was gone ( I guess some people disliked him, but I thought he was great). The wacky courtroom cases were gone (the Trekkies, the candidates running for God, etc.). Christine was no longer naive. Harry was no longer goofy. The Phil Foundation. Lisette the court steno. And the final episode was one of the worst I've ever seen. The last two years (starting in 1990) were the worst of the series. When Phil the bum died. the few episodes following were great but after that it just went downhill. When the show premiered, I thought it was intriguing that Dan Fielding was portrayed as this by-the-book, proper, tough-as-nails DA who it was *implied* had an after hours sex life with prostitutes- showing that sometimes even the most 'respectable' people can be capable of things the average person would NEVER have imagined them being. Unfortunately, I guess the writers and producers thought this was WAY over the heads of their mass audience so they turned him into this one-dimensional cartoon that BLATANTLY was a self-absorbed pervert who only seemed capable of panting after and making tasteless comments to women and whining to everyone! I liked the show better when he was the 'straight man' foil to Harry's manic zaniness. Another Shark Jump was when they had these annoying hillbilly characters from West Virginia became semi-regulars. .and the Real Life West Virginia PC Police decided that these were offensive stereotypes (when in actuality, by that point, the whole SHOW was offensive) so the writers cowardly had this annoying hick family explain that they were REALLY from Yugoslavia ( or some other Eastern Block country where the show wasn't being aired) but they had *pretended* they had been West Virginians in order to *impress* Americans! They were STOOPID, one-note characters who did NOTHING for the show as it was so why did the writers BOTHER to have them on in ANY case- much less LAMELY attempt to cover their collective acropolii against the West Virginian PC Police with that SUCKY 'explanation'?! I'd say the show didn't really jump until the final episode, which was incredibly lame and nearly devoid of humor. Harry "seriously considers" teaching law school, Christine decides to practice law in New Orleans(wha?) Dan decides to follow her (Huh?) Harry decides not to take the job(whatever), and Bull is beamed up by two Statler and Waldorf wannabes. Too bad they couldn't come up with anything worth watching. Possibly the worst series finale ever. However, as bad as the last show was, the series as a whole was one of the best comedies ever! Right up there with "Barney Miller", which is hardly a surprise because of Rheinhold Weege's involvement with both shows. BTW, to the guy who asked about the one really annoying laugh in the studio audience, I think that was Weege. He had a very distinctive chortle. I loved the multiple appearences of Mel Torme, Yakov Smirnov, that hillbilly Jim Wheeler(Data on "Star Trek: TNG"), Quon Le, Phil the bum, Art the handyman, etc. The "Phil Foundation" episodes were great, along with Dan's "Phantom of the Opera" impersonation. However, they wrapped that plotline up too soon, and sort of ran out of ideas. Still, even the characters they introduced in the last season were funny: Gilbert Gottfried, that bimbo who married Bull, and the blind guy who ran the newsstand. But it was really John Larroquette who carried that show for years. "I salute you, Dan Dan Fielding!" well, first i'd have to say the whole plot line with phil the bum, and then phil's rich twin brother thing was a little stupid to me. sort of a same character/different actor thing in reverse or something. also, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE ELSE HAS MENTIONED THIS, what about when every other episode feature the gang trying to hear hundreds of cases before midnight? wasn't there seriously like 10 episodes like that? all in all a good show. Simplest one. Reinhold Weege leaves as Executive Producer. There was a certain wackiness to the show that was blatantly obvious. Once Weege left, that edge was taken away, and that's when many of the events that are currently on the list, occured. The "kindler, gentler Dan", the elevation of Phil to almost a main character, Bull's fiance, the introduction of the court stenographer, Gilber Godfried... all of these were occurances AFTER Weege left, and they were just not funny. Anyone who says Night Court went downhill after Selma Diamond passed away is nuts, because most of the truly great shows occured when Dan became the full letch, and Mac was brought in. That didn't happen until Season 2, and Selma died during the summer break between 1 and 2. And I also think that Markie Post was a heck of a better character than Ellen Foley ever was, because she was the best antithesis to Dan. You had the Angel in Christine on one side, defending all the scum, and you had the Devil in Dan on the other, trying to send the people up the river. It was that dichotomy between good and evil that made their interaction with Harry so much fun. Harry was the Everyman, with the Devil on one shoulder and the Angel on the other, as played by John and Markie. The show was on it's stride when it was Harry, Dan, Christine, Mac, Roz, and Bull (basically Seasons 3 through 6), and finally jumped the shark when Weege left. Marsha Warfield was obnoxious. and her talk show sucked too. I totally blame her because she definitely fed this show to the shark Some of the semi-regulars were funny, phil as a bum and nothing else, the hicks from west virginia or wherever were very funny and i thought always on just enough, the janitor ray?, mel torme, however christine's boyfriend was pretty lame, i liked selma and florence better than roz but i was glad when they brought in a different kind of character instead of another old woman. Here's a show that's the opposite of jump. It sucked in its first season. From the moment Markie Post joined the cast until the moment it ended it was great! When Phil died, and Dan became a humanitarian. Night Court is a show that has some good gags but this constant smaltz about how Harry is heading up one big happy family that loves and supports one another is not funny and sucks. It also sucks that Court spends a ton of time having Harry feel sorry for himself because he feels he is the world's greatest dork and not cool like Dan. I have barely watched Seinfeld but that is one thing that I can already tell separates it from Court. I have seen later 'felds that are suppose to not be as good- plus they have too many plotlines in an obvious attempt to make more than one writer a lot of cash. But at least 'feld never ever turned into bad smaltz. Plus it punishes characters for whinning badly instead of acting cool like Kramer. Too bad Court took the same touchy feely feel sorry for Herb path as W.K.R.P.C. when based on some of the ideas it should have known better. But then that's why it will probably never achieve first tier status. I have to agree with the post that said seasons 3 thru 6 were the peek years. That's when you had Harry, Dan, Christine, Mac, Bull and Roz. They had pretty good chemistry. I loved this show, it was one of those shows that you knew would be guaranteed entertainment from start to finish. It was cool because it was sort of like a half-hour comedy version of the Twilight zone. Of course, it didn't last long, after about 89 or 90, it just started to lose steam. I blame the Dan change from pervert with a heart to a guy with a heart who was sometimes a pervert. You understand? I can actually point to the moment where in my opinion, Dan's character changed a bit. I think it was maybe late 88 or early 89, I can't remember but it was the episode or series of episodes where Dan was in a plane crash and they all thought he was dead but he was trapped in Alaska or wherever. He seemed to become softer after that. All in all it was still a good show, and I think it was one of the top three sit-coms of the 80's. I think my favorite line of all-time was the line that Harry said to Christine when he thought he was being let go as a judge "Miss. Sullivan, it's not like I'm on Dallas and it turns out I'm dreaming all this, this is real" I'd say around 89 or maybe 90. That's when Dan started going soft. All the other characters sorta changed too. I could handle the other changes, but Harry and Dan made the show. The last few years however, Dan went from being a pervert who occasionally showed that he had a heart to a guy with a heart who was occasionally a pervert, you know? Also, Harry went from being a whacky magician judge to a stick in the ass judge. He wasn't very funny at all towards the end. It was a great show nonetheless, every show has to jump eventually and this one held-up pretty well for about five or six years. Once they settled on a cast (around '86 or so) the show blossomed and it was in it's prime between 86-89. Also, anyone who says that Marsha Warfield was bad for the show was obviously watching a different program. Her straight-shooting, tough ass nails character was a perfect compliment to the rest of the whacky cast and she played off of Bull and Dan Fielding very well. I think the best way to sum up Night Court is to say it was sorta like a comedy version of the Twilight Zone. This show had already started the long, slow slide to sharkdom by this point, but when Phil the bum died and Dan became the executor of his millions -- SHARK BAIT! In other death news, replacing the great Selma Diamond with a phoney look-alike was a really stupid idea. I'm glad when they wised up the second time and brought in Roz, who fit in perfectly with the rest of the cast. Geez, did they have an endless supply of obnoxious characters or what? Night Court Never Jumped!!!!!! It is so cool!!!!!!! The show did not jump when the female bailiff died. If anything, the show was better when Roz joined. The show jumped when two things happened: one, when Dan was no longer the ******* who was such an ******* you just had to admire him, which was really when that bum died, and two, when I grew up. Looking back on the show, the jokes weren't that funny, and Dan wasn't that much of a god. I guess it was a show meant for little kids. When creator Reinhold Weege left the show after the sixth season, "Night Court" definitely jumped. The seventh season tried to carry on Weege's trademark combination of wackiness and sentiment, but the writing quality just wasn't there; the actors acted like zombie versions of their old selves, and desperate new twists were added like Christine getting married and pregnant. The two subsequent seasons tried to make the show more "verbal" and "witty," which basically meant making everybody boring, even the once-manic Harry. It's too bad, because under Weege's regime this was a wonderful show; despite all the cast changes, despite the early loss of the wonderful Selma Diamond, it was always incredibly funny and fast-paced, the underrated crown jewel of NBC's first and best "must-see" Thursday lineup. Incidentally, I don't really understand the previous poster's beef against shows where you actually CARE about the characters. "Seinfeld" was great but its heartlessness is not something I'd want to see repeated. I don't believe that Night Court ever jumped the shark. Selma Diamond and Florence Hallop were both great characters, but after they died the show did have to move on. I found Roz to be a hilarious character, so the switch in characters was hardly jumping the shark. The storylines near the end, such as Dan becoming a humanitarian, were probably done to give some variety to the characters after they had remained the same for so many years. The last couple of seasons weren't that great, but they weren't terrible by any stretch of the imagination. Seasons 3 -6 were the peak, but with the exception of the first season, I loved this show the whole way through. The aliens visiting for Bull. Of course, the show was zany and unbelievable before that, but it simply got to downright weird and unwatchable at that point. When Roz got diabetes. I don't know why it was that particular episode, it just wasn't as good after that: more "issues," and conversely also more one-dimensionality. It also sucked for me that after ALL the teasing, Harry NEVER slept with Christine OR Billie OR LANA! (Clerk from season 1.) A reverse "they did it" vote for that. I know this show went a long time (1984-92). But, I never grew tired of it. I still record the show in reruns and watch it now. The physical comedy of John Larroquette was hilarious. I think of Night Court and I think of scenes like Dan Fielding running down the hall being chased by a giant 8-ball. Or yelling "he's alive" and falling from a balcony at an opera. I liked the show with the early cast of the first season or two but I definitely think the cast from the mid to late 80s until the final season had the best chemistry. Obviously this show lasted a long time and probably ended when it should have, but I would have continued to watch as long as they continued to make them. It jumped when Phil the bum died and Dan changed. Until then, it was hilarious. Easily one of the most bizarre, surreal shows ever to air. The hillbillies were a riot, Bull was like a missing link, Markie Post was hot, and whole show had an off-kilter sense of humor that was distinctive and different. But when Phil died and Dan changed, the show seemed to change for the worse. The "Dan-as-a-humanitarian" story arc just didn't work. And the writing seemed to go south at the same time. It just wasn't funny anymore. By the way, I believe I read in an old TV Guide that the loud laugh from the studio audience was actually Reinhold Weege's father. This was one of the funniest shows in the history of television. Especially that four-part cliffhanger, remember? Where we finally find out Harry was going to place the gigantic glasses/mustache on the Statue of Liberty? I'm still laughing over that one. However, I must admit, the final season did begin to drag. But, my gosh, what a great show overall! Markie Post was the cutest thing going, back then. This show jumped with all the above postings but was still the greatest musical opening theme ever. When Reinhold Weege left as exec producer, the goofiness left too, and the show simply stopped being funny. Dan got soft, the storylines got schmaltzy, stupid extra characters (the stenographer, Gilbert Gottfried, et al.) came in, the show tipped from anarchic to heartwarming, and I hate heartwarming. Episode: "Hurricane, Part One." Special Guest Stars: Pam Grier and Dick Butkus. This episode may be a tad early in the Night Court tenure to claim it jumped the shark, but come on! Pam Grier and Dick Butkus for Christ's sake! Ever see Michael J. Fox's appearance as a tough punk and Harry wins him over with a strong, forceful hug? yeeeEEEeeesh!! the changing ladies who were removed not by death was always a bit much for me, but I have to give Night Court credit for putting two black characters on the same show who are NOT related, NOT dating, in fact, hardly ever spoke to one another. This show has to be one of the most overrated in TV history. The reasons in no particular order: 1. Richard Moll/Bull Shannon. NEVER FUNNY! There's a reason you hardly ever saw this guy before or after NC. It's because he is a no talent one gimmick (bald tall people are funny) actor, and his character was a one-note (he's big and strong and tough as nails, but he's soft and tender and sensitive with a big heart on the inside) waste of space. 2. The black guy who was the clerk (Mac?). Can't remember one funny thing this guy did. You could hear his punch lines coming a mile away if you had ever watched TV before. And don't even start with the Oriental wife bit. Not funny! 3. Harry Anderson as super sensitive and wise guru to the courtroom family. If I had a dollar for every time he cast a sad expression at someone acting selfishly or someone who needed a "little understanding", I wouldn't have time to waste on reviewing crappy shows like NC. 4. The constant beating over the head with the point that Dan Fielding might be amusing, but his actions and thoughts don't fit in with our PC world (see above Harry Anderson rant). 5. All of the female bailiffs. Not a funny one in the bunch. Just a group of one-note yawners. Marsha Warfield headlined this collection of irritating actresses. 6. Messages, messages, messages, and more messages. Week after week of preaching and teaching. Warm fuzzy moments piled up for the enlightenment of the masses. 7. John Astin. Enough said. In conclusion, this bomb would have never made it without extremely strong lead-ins from NBC mega-hits like Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Cheers. Test patterns would have held about as much of those shows' audiences as NC did. And once it attracted those viewers, they just blindly watched, the thinking being, "this is NBC Thursday night, so it must be a good show". I know, because as a 14-year-old, I fell for it and didn't get off that crack pipe for about four years. I figure that NC took about 50 hours of my life away from me, and I want them back dammit! The show reversed the shark when Markie Post joined the cast. Ellen Foley was cute, but she didn't have much sex appeal. With Markie on the cast as the sexually repressed sexpot with the incredible body, the show jumped the ratings with everyone lusting after her and obsessing on her figure. Example from when Christine got pregnant: "Just how much bigger can those puppies get !?!" Selma Diamond and her would-be clone, Florence Halop, were funny, but Marsha Warfield as the temperamental Roz was an hysterical addition to an improving season with Markie Post. The show did jump the shark at the start of the seventh season when the writers ran out of ideas, Buddy stayed on,Phil the bum died,Christine married,divorced and had a kid in one show and the show then started taking ideas from "Barney Miller," the show that launched the career of series creator,Reinhold Weege. After then, the really good shows were just too few and far apart. Night Court to me was always NBC's comedy that got no respect from NBC.The show stayed on TV for close to 9 years but didn't get that huge "CHEERS" like sendoff! Yes the last episode sucked because for a show grounded In reality It didn't help It!In the end Night Court will be one of the greatest Comedy's ever. Weege may have left the show but Court went on a few more seasons.And It wasn't low ratings that ended the shows run,It was the actors who had grown tired of doing the show.I really miss Night Court. When Harry almost adopted that punk, Leon. Thank God he ran away. Leon was played by perennial shark bait Bumper Robinson. (Remember "Grown Ups" and that "Generation X" TV movie? UGH!!!) After Harry decided *not* to kill himself in the process of putting a giant Groucho mask on the Statue of Liberty, the show was never the same. My two favorite characters were the "Bull Dummy" the ventriloquist dummy of Bull. Markie Post....oh yeah, Selma Diamond was a hoot. I really liked Night Court when it first came out. I really liked the characters. Even though they had sitcom-type personalities, they seemed to have a little bit of depth to them. However, at some point, the characters lost all depth and became caricatures. In the later years, the characters were all written and acted like "Oh Bull, you're so dumb." (laugh track) "Oh Dan, you just think about sex all the time." (laugh track) "Oh Harry, you're so wacky." (laugh track) I recently saw an SNL rerun with Mike Myers as a television network executive introducing the "Nude House of Wacky People." I wouldn't be surprised if the inspiration for that skit came from the complete and utter lack of life this sitcom displayed in later years. When Brandon Tartikoff came on pimping the show as well as Cosby Show and Misfits of Science. What the Hell? It was one of those "We have to do X amount of cases by midnight" episodes and this couple that were a neilsen family got bailed out by Brandon. There's no denying all of the bite that the show lost once Dan became a "born again." The variety and cast of characters began to diminish and the interplay was hurt all around. The producers tried to imply that his edge might return in some of the final episodes but it was really too late to go back. As wacky comedies go, this was one of the best, it was a shame that its finale went largely unheralded while "Cheers" finale was viewed en masse. This show was never funny. The jokes were lame, and all the problems were resolved too easily. Every show had to teach some stupid lesson. I HATED the black lady who played the cop. I think her name was Roz. She tried to be tough, but it just came off as being stupid. To the above post, Marsha Warfield did not make this show chum (Incidentally, in a later episode when Bull's mother comes to visit, Lisette informs Harry about chum being bloody pulp fed to sharks). True, Roz wasn't as funny as Selma or Florence but she did have her moments. One was the diabetes episode in which the viewer gains a bit more insight into who Roz is when during insulin shock, she reminisces about her father making her an ice cream cone. Also, Marsha Warfield was great in the episode in which the gang drag her to an anger management course, only to be held up by a young armed robber portrayed by none other than Don Cheadle who was most recently in Traffic and Swordfish. I don't know what everybody's complaining about, this show never jumped! When I saw the earlier episodes, I thought this isn't cool. I always thought Selma Diamond was some old hag, but she still rocked! It's was the 1986-92 cast that laughed my ass off, Long Live Harry, John, Charles, Richard, Marsha, and the one with the sexy ass, Markie Post!!!! THIS SHOW IS WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE STUPIDEST, MOST IDIOTIC, LAME-BRAINED PIECE OF CRAP TO EVERY REACH THE AIRWAVES!! EVERY ACTOR WHO EVER APPEARED ON THIS PIECE OF **** SHOULD RECEIVE THE GILLIGAN CURSE!! i have to comment on this show cause i know harry anderson. he bought some real estate here in new orleans and i renovated a small theater space for him. after he got to know me a bit he gave me a key to the place so i could get in early as he usually showed up at odd hours. when i would go in around ten the place was empty and the tv, which was on in his office eternally, would be tuned to bravo and i would sit there and hear night court while i worked cause it was on when i got there and came on again shortly before i went home.he would actually have it on while he was in his office on the phone! weird. Not a shark jump at all, but one little scene seems to be stuck forever in my brain - when Phil the bum is pan-handling for money to buy food, and Dan takes out a piece of dental floss, cleans his teeth, and offers Phil the "meat". There have been worse things on TV, sure enough, but for some reason I still remember that one scene after all these years. Funny and sicko, all at the same time. Anybody else remember it? This show jumped the day it was conceived in some writers mind! This show didn't just jump the shark - it jumped down the shark's throat and was ****ted out before it ever hit celluloid! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Oh, have I said it was stupid yet?!? When the "Dan Fielding" character was (foolishly) allowed to metamorphose from Smug, Shallow, Self-Serving Cad and Bounder to Sensitive New Age Guy -- *literally*, overnight! -- the show lost a good deal of its nastily incisive "bite," 'tis true, 'tis true; and the relentlessly annoying (and UNFUNNY) Yakov Smirnoff didn't much help matters, either. However: the show still remained an eminently watchable, entertaining and (occasionally) borderline *brilliant* one, all the way up to the unfortunate Final Episode -- what in God's name was *that* all about, anyway? -- and I'd be perfectly willing to make some nice, helpful individual with a complete run of taped episodes a significant and remunerative offer, yes *indeedy*. (Plus: Markie Post almost single-handedly got me through *puberty*, all right...?) It's very simple. NIGHT COURT was a show that went on too long. It's embarrassing to see the last 2 seasons' episodes. It's not that the stories are that different from the previous years, or that Dan Fielding is less of an un-P.C. pig (it bothered me much more when he went insane at the start of Season 9). The show just has a palpable lack of energy in its last few years. One post said the show went downhill when Reinhold Weege left after Season 6. I thought Season 7 was OK, but after that this show didn't jump the shark--it's energy got eaten by it! Night Court started their jump when Christine got pregnant, then really jumped after Phil died and Dan's character completely changed. How stupid!! Thank goodness they got rid of Lana who did Mac's Job (can't remember her real name-Karen something) and then dumped Ellen Foley eventually, too. Adding Lisette was no bonus towards the end of the series. John Astin was a riot as Harry's father!! Night Court had one of the stupidest series finales ever, with Bull going in a UFO. Dumb!! This show jumped right around 89-90. Christine's Pregnancy? Like that has never killed a show before. But, did anyone notice how the first 15 of this show was fun and kooky and the last 15 minutes were based on some angst, medical problem or some such requiring a sermon? I agree...this show jumped at the beginning of the 1990-91 season , when Chris Cluess and Stuart Kriesmann became exec producers. The season before, with Christine pregnant et al, at least had the zany elements of what made the show great, even though you could tell the actors were getting tired and they had a minimum of 3 subplots running in each ep. But when Cluess and Kriesman added that reporter girlfriend for Judge Stone and the Stenographer and newsstand guy (did either one ever get more than one line per ep)...Chirstine's divorce...THAN the whole Phil death thing....yikes. Pretty embarassing to watch. Jump for Kwan Lee (ugh!). Jump for Yakov Smirnov. Jump for preachiness. Reverse Jump for Giant 8-Ball. Reverse Jump for Markie Post (YOW!). Reverse Jump for Art the Janitor. Reverse Jump for mentioning cast members who died, instead of pretending they never existed (remember Bull's mourning for Selma?). Reverse Jump for every single weird offender who appeared before the court. Reverse Jump for Marion Ross' metafictional cameo appearance. Reverse Jump for Dan Fielding (period). Final tally: 3 Jumps, 7 Reverse Jumps, which puts Night Court 4 Reverse Jumps ahead of anything before or since. In short, Jumped, but not enough to count. Why did the show change so many cast members??? We get like 4 defense attorneys: Shields, Liz Smith, Billie, and finally Christine. There are two court clerks, Lana Wagoner and Mac while three bailiffs! I don't know about you, but I liked the cast with Lana and Liz. Liz Smith wore cool 80s clothes and Lana was so cute and you could tell she had a crush on Judge Stone. In place of Lana we get boring Mac. Of course we know why the female bailiffs went through so many cast changes! Night Court took the route of so many other sitcoms and started taking itself way too seriously in its later years. Was a good show, but eventually became a baseline for how many clip shows is too many for one series. How many clowns with guns locked themselves up in Harry's office and were forced to listen to old story lines? I don't know about anyone else, but for me Night Court jumped the shark when Bob and June Wheeler (the very strange, possibly Southern couple, with incredibly bad luck) left the show. Sure, they were only occasional characters, but they were still the funniest folks on the show. My favorite episode with the Wheelers had them trying their hands at raising chickens. Unfortunately, they ended up buying an incubator with a faulty regulator. Bob (Brent Spiner--YAY!) mentioned the "blood curdling peeping and the god-awful smell of meringue." It was a great show in the beginning...like Cheers the first season or so had a low key feel...often there was a "message" but not blatant hit you over the head stuff...both shows got more gag oriented after the first season or so...but Night Court tanked towards the last few seasons...the writing just wasn't funny anymore...but it was a great show for five or six years...used to watch it and Cheers back to back from Seven to Eight every night When Ellen Foley left. No one could say "I've been deloused." like her. This show jumped on day 1. How this show ended up on A&E is truly mind boggling. It is neither Art or Entertaining. Enough about Mel Torme, OK? It was funny the first couple of times. Harry's obsession with "the Velvet Fog" just got to be too much. I agree about the last two seasons not being good. Suffered from toomanyseasonitis. Does NO ONE remember Elayne Boosler being the blind smart ass woman? Always insulting everyone.I forget what she did. And I loved that show where the old couple was arrested for fighting? Harry asked them why didn't they get divorced? The old woman says "we're waiting for the children to die. the baby is 56 and a divorce would kill him". God that was funny. Great show...probably my third favorite all time sitcom behind The Simpsons and Married With Children. The cast of Harry, Bull, Roz, Dan, Christine, and Mac was one of the best sitcom casts of all time. Also, it had one of the best final episodes eve... In addition to the previous comments about the court's strange layout, ever notice that in some (usually the early) episodes, the cafeteria was on the ground floor, and, in other, on the same floor as the courtroom? Night Court never jumped..the show was screaming out loud drop dead funny to the end but..it is so sad to say but every sitcom I've watched since the last new episode of Night Court was broadcast is NOT FUNNY! Primetime T-V network comedy jumped the shark with the demise of NIGHT COURT! The last of the funny primetime sitcoms! This was one funny show. The scene where Dan gets the court illustrator to draw naked pics of Markie Post is hilarious, especially when the visiting judge finds them. Classic What a run! Eight or nine seasons and they didn't jump the shark til the very last episode. I loved all the guest stars and all the twists and turns the series took over the years. And really, the only thing that bothered me about the last episode was the aliens. They needed Bull to come with them to Jupiter(?) to reach the top shelves? Let me ask you this: who built the top shelves in the first place? Other than that the character arcs made total sense and they all ended up where I thought they should Oh Night Court definitely jumped the shark in the season cliffhanger where Dan was presumed dead because, as the telegram stated, his "plane went down north of Hudson Bay." The show should've died right there. As soon as the next season started, all the jokes were lame and repetitious to the point of self-plagiarism on the part of the writers. Plus all the actors started doing stupid things to their hair! John Larroquette's got all bushy, practically a pompadour, Harry Anderson lost his perfectly dweeby short haircut, Markie Post got rid of the hairstyle she'd had since The Fall Guy... plus all the characters got lazy and old. All of the scenes played like long drawn-out setups for stupid one-liners. The writing got so stupid - maybe this was during that writers strike that happened back in the 80's? Now that I think about it, just about every sitcom got retarded around that time and never recovered. Damn unions. Ronald Reagan was right... I will put this show in the "never" category, as I remember watching it and having many side-splitting moments. However, I think a lot of the bashers have only watched in reruns, and I can understand this, because when I have tried to watch the reruns, I can't. It was on in a different era. And to the people who mention the eight-ball, I totally agree. That whole episode was a prank-war between Harry and some younger judge (with Fielding always ending up the victim), and was funny from beginning to end. "Do the words 'innocent bystander' ring a bell, sir"? I used to LOVE this show!!! IMO, Harry, Christine, Mac, Bull, & Roz were the funniest cast of their era. I also loved Phil, Buddy, the Wheelers, Art...the cast was awesome! What ruined it for me was the addition of vacuous, pointless characters like Lisette the stenographer, Bull's annoying blind girlfriend, played by Elayne Boosler, & Margaret, Harry's tough as nails reporter girlfriend played by the marginally talented Mary Cadorette. It was an awesome show in it's time, but they let this show go on way too long. This was one of the best shows with the DUMBEST endings ever possible. John Larroquete was the man, he was so shallow, perverted, slutty characters ever. He was cruel, mean and cutting to the people he was prosecuting. Bull, Roz, Selma, Mac, etc were also extremely funny. And man did I, and still want to be locked in a hotel room with Markie Post for a week. That good girl portrayal was enough to make me burst my jeans. I would even love to bang Ellen Foley, but she was outshined by Markie... This show was always kind of preachy but Dan's character broke it up. Toward the end, with the Phil foundation, Dan lost his comic touch. How many times can a group of people be stuck in a courthouse? naaa this show never jumped you could find a little or a lot of humor in every episode, my favorite scene, Christine comes to a party wearing this REALLY low cut dress revealing lots of boob then sits across the table from Dan and heaves her umm elbows on the table, immediately Dan looks at her and says 'those are new' This is a show that practically defines its own moment when it JTS'd. It was created and produced by Reinhold Weege (writer for the great Barney Miller). At the end of the Weege-produced episodes of Night Court, you can hear his deep laugh on the closing production credit. Weege quit the show a couple of years before it ended, and his laughing production credit was deleted. When the show began, it was a nice vehicle for the mildly eccentric comedian Harry Anderson. After Weege left, it went all over the place. There was one episode where Judge Harry imposed a sentence on an *animated* Wile E. Coyote. Give me a break! And Markie Post's virginal character becomes an unwed mom for no reason, finally falls in love with Harry (long after anyone cared), left him, and then made John Larroquette's character go crawling for her in the final episode. Man, what a mess! "Harry, I just wanted to let you know I no longer take drugs or drink alcohol. I have completed rehab, and am now a kinder, gentler person. I hope that my complete emasculation and sucking away of all comic qualities from my personality won't be a problem." "Sure, John, that's fine, I'll just wow the studio audience with my zany card tricks. Wait 'til I pull a live rabbit out of Mel Torme's rotten anal sphincter! That'll kill 'em!" "Hello, please allow me to introduce myself. I'll be playing Roz, a stereotypical tough black large female, but with a twist: I like to start licking before my face hits the floor! Represent! Christine, slide your Mormon-wannabe twat dis way!" "Hello, I'm Brent Spiner, and I'm a acting whore. Please **** me, put me in a horrible role playing a deviant, and then toss me aside when you're done. You may keep the condom if you wish." "If anyone doesn't mind, I'm done playing the pre-eighties Marie Osmond, and I'd like to start spreading my legs and bouncing my watery tits on-screen at every opportunity, while my bastard child mugs shamefully and proves there is no God." "Hey Christine, would you like to sit on my...oh wait, no drugs, no drugs now, can't violate parole. That's swell Christine, golly gee." "Hey Harry, as the ineffectual and pointless character who is so underwritten that I stand out as cardboard in a ****ing South Park pilot, please allow me to do nothing else but be tall and get coffee for everyone. And I'm Mac, not every other bailiff on the show." "Harry, me soil myself. Please come change me poopie white and brown ass. Harry! Me need you. It not easy being tall. Me am clever, and have a big heart. Me take it from chicken." "Hi, I'm John Astin! Please kill me!" Markie Post did one Halloween episode dressed as Elvira, Mistress of the Night. Her cleavage stood proudly as a testament to all that's good and right about cheesecake TV. The minute the cleavage was covered again by her tight, white, flimsy dress blouse, the shark jumped. Or, at least, something jumped (in my pants!). Beginning of 1990 season. The producers knew their days were numbered, so they did a deliberate parody. That season was supposed to end with Harry and Christine marrying, Dan entering a seminary, etc. and the show ending. (Knowing that explains why that season started the way it did.) HOWEVER, after the season started NBC decided to keep the show around, so they abandoned that trajectory in mid-stream. They should have known to quit while they were ahead. I believe "Night Court" jumped the shark when the writers tried to write Markie Post's pregnancy into the show. Yes, I will concede that doing something like writing the pregancy of a main cast member into any show is difficult, but the "Night Court" writers failed miserably. It just didn't work. Dan Fielding (John Laroquette) testified in a trial of a criminal. His testimony was key to the criminal's conviction. The criminal escapes and swears vengance on Fielding. An undercover detective is assigned to protect Fielding and recapture the vengeful criminal. In the process of doing of doing both of the aforementioned things, he falls in love with Christine Sullivan (Markie Post's character) after knowing her for about an hour. They later go on a date and the next thing you know, the detective has to go to South America (!) to go catch a drug lord and Christine is pregnant with his baby! If this isn't absurd enough, the detective comes back from the assignment the day Christine gives birth (!) That's supposed to be coincidence. Yeah, right. After the birth of their son, Christine and the detective get married and divorced in about a week. It was ashamed to see such a great show like "Night Court" go from being very funny to absolutely implausible. Nevertheless, I watched it until the day it went off in 1992. When Harry and Christine did it. That was it. Dan had flipped out and the whole show just went over the top from there. The finale was one of the biggest disappointments ever. In regard to the poster who said "Harry, I just wanted to let you know I no longer take drugs or drink alcohol...." LMFAO!!! That's great! You should have been a writer for this show before it fell flat on it's ass! The dynamics and inconsistencies are nailed PERFECTLY! Too bad the retards they had for writers during the last few years didn't understand this -- if they had, I might still watch it on reruns. Did anyone notice that in the opening credits everyone seems to be reacting to something Harry said. Y'know, Mac nods approvingly, Dan kisses up, Christine smiles, Roz smiles, and of course Bull is in Harry's office talking to no one. I never saw the last episode but some disparaging remarks made here clued me in to the ending. I can't remember the episode, but I was married a few years, I was incredibly sick, my apartment (NYC) had been ripped off,we lost everything worth anything. I was watching on a 13 in B&W television with rabbit ears,(borrowed).I had been on antihistamines for 5 days while in school. I was sick depressed badly and I laughed so hard I rolled off the couch and nearly collapsed a lung, smashing my shoulder but good. My wife thought I was having a heart attack. I never really had a problem with aliens visiting Bull and taking him away to their home planet. Night Court was (for the most part) a goofy show, and IMHO having Bull being taken away by aliens seemed a fitting an end to the character on the show. (I forget the reason for taking him away, BTW. I really hope it's not because they needed him to reach the top shelf.) However, what always bothered me was the fact that Bull got MARRIED a few months before. I've always wondered what happened to his wife; how long did she wait for her husband to come home? Did she search for him? Did she kill herself when he never returned? Because the producers (unwittingly) ended the series on a sour note, I'm going to have to say the series jumped when the aliens took him away. I think Christine getting married made it jump. Actually a few tidbits here and there. Ellen Foley did not technically get replaced. Her career had just taken off. She had a minor hit single (hit the lower 30s of the Hot 100) and wanted to scale back to concentrate on her singing. The producers said either this or singing. She chose singing. The Sally Rogers character on Dick Van Dyke was based on Selma Diamond. Also Marcia Warfield while not especially funny here was a riot, if you have ever seen her night club act. Also little known. Originally NBC had four failing comedies. (this was in the early 80s when Gary Coleman was the only thing keeping NBC alive.) Night Court, Duck Factory, Love Sydney and Family Ties. They put all four comedies on at 8:30pm (Central Time) Family Ties on Monday, Love Sydney on Tuesday, Duck Factory on Wednesday, and Night Court on Thursday. The strongest TWO were to survive. And the reason we have Night Court and Family Ties is that Monday and Thursday were stronger nights for NBC. Remember this was right around when Cheers Started and before then only Diff'rent Strokes, Facts of Life and Gimme A Break were keeping NBC afloat. Night Court never jumped. It was a bit slow the first two years, and a little "odd" the last two years. However, the years in between were some of the funniest TV I've ever seen. Dan Fielding is perhaps the greatest character in the history of television. No wonder John Larroquette won all those Emmys. And has there ever been a hotter woman on TV than Markie Post? I can't wait for the DVDs to come out, I may never leave the house again. They jumped the shark when the started doing shows again. There are 2 episodes that have exactly the same premise, Dan must read all the charges against someone before midnight or they will have to let him go. Both episodes have a timer in the corner & Dan reads as fast as he can. Night Flight was the centerpiece of the weekends of my teenage years. Out half the night raising hell then mellowing out to NF and its weirdness. Most of the stuff I would say has already been mentioned by others, so I will just say that I echo their sentiments that this was the greatest piece of television ever. The best memory I have of NF was that one night I saw the video for the Police's "So Lonely". I stayed up for the repeat cycle to see it again. I have never seen it since, but I can still vividly see Sting, Stewart and Andy in the London Underground walking through train cars with army-type radios. Someone above posted this (to which I must respond): "Man oh man, this was the absolute best show on TV -- if it can even really be called a regular "show." From the weird and eclectic movies ("J-Men Forever," "Trip to the Moon," and that weird rock/stoner comedy with Malcolm Macdowell, Lou Reed, and a pusher space robot named 'Electric Eddie' or something like that) to cutting edge videos, to real trippy animation and filler pieces, Night Flight had it all." =====> The name of the Movie you speak of is "Get Crazy". It is one of my favorite flicks. It had a ton of cameos in it. Ed Begley, Jr. was a rectum of a record exec (Serpent Records); Lou Reed was a rock star who came out of retirement because "Max Wolf at the Starlight Theatre" was dying; Malcolm McDowell was Reggie Wanker, a rock balladeer with a monster in his spandex; Lee Ving (the lead singer/yeller of Fear) joined an all-girl group of punkers (NADA) on stage and acted like their two-footed dog; The drug dealer was "Electric Larry" -- when he opened his case full of pills, some chick asked him, "Are you married?"; John Densmore (of the Doors) was Reggie Wanker's drummer; the best was Captain Cloud and his freaks, all of whom arrived for "New Years' Eve 1967" in 1982. What a great flick. When they made Harry's character sad and mournful instead of fun and wacky. You can tell by the longer hair and the glasses. The show actually became depressing. This show was your "genesis" jump...."in the beginning." The constant moralizing made me lose my breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nobody is more overrated than Harry Anderson as a comic. This show falls into the same pitiful category as Mash. Compare it to Barney Miller if you want to see how an ensemble cast should work. One of the cleverest and most under-rated shows of all times. Should have ended a season sooner. I used to watch this show religiously. I'll have to agree with the above posters that Selma Diamond was brilliant, and her death left a huge hole that they patched, but, never fully filled. However, I remember this one episode where Harry freaks out and thinks he is a super hero and leaves the bench. They have a substitute judge, and the episode deals with Harry hulled up in his apartment ordering weird items and trying to build some sort of weapon, or spaceship, or something (it's been a while). I just thought that this episode in particular interrupted the flow of the series. When Dan Fielding embarked on his Self-Improvement Spree after Phil the Bum died: Dan ran the Phil Foundation, which was bilked by Phil's lookalike brother Will, who became the new bum after Dan went hiding in public parked dressed like the Phantom of the Opera. When Christine got pregnant and then had the child, the show started a fast slide down. All the tension between her and Harry and Dan went away, and diaper jokes just aren't that funny. I absolutely loved Night Court. I always thought it was one of the funniest shows ever on TV. I used to cry I laughed so hard! There's never been a show that has come close to the hilarity of Night Court. I will say though, that when Christine got married and had a baby, it started on its downhill slide. But all the years prior to that were pure gold. Dan Fielding RULES!!!! My gut reaction wanted me to vote for a NEVER JUMPED, simply because it was the most underrated, and BEST show on the NBC's original Must See TV Lineup. Better than Cosby, Family Ties, Cheers and LA Law. Like I said, I WANTED to vote NEVER JUMPED, but then I recalled the terrible last season or so where Dan lost his charm. I won't go as far as to say that Dan's womanizing was the entire reason for the show's greatness, but it WAS a very big part of it. What were they thinking changing that? It is like the Red Sox giving up Babe Ruth. Sire, they COULD have still done well with what they had left, as they were still a decent team. But WHY do it? Remember when Dan Fielding had a "little person" for a boss? After insulting during his first appearance, Dan would just be so groveling it was pathetic! My favorite episode with them was the one in which Dan had to care for his daughter. Predictably, Dan didn't want to do it since he thought she would his boss' height, THEN she turned out to be this gorgeous woman who wanted to jump Dan's bones! Of course, the "little person" threatens to do Dan harm if he lays a finger on HIS daughter! The ending after it is over and she says, "All dressed up and no where to go!" while opening her bathrobe and revealing nothing making Dan go to the fire hose is one of the sexiest and funniest scenes I've seen on a network sitcom! Two of the funniest scenes on "Night Court" are 1. When the two feuding sisters can't decide what to do with the ashes of their father, Herb. Harry takes the urn until they work things out. In the meantime, the coffee maker is broken. Art the janitor plugs in a new one and uses the "Herb tea" to test it out. Next scenes shows Dan drinking a cup of coffee. 2. The defendant who gets punched out because he can anticipate what's going to be said. After his verdict, Harry, Dan, and Christine all say the same thing to him in unison. A great comedy bit!! But the best scene in the entire series was Kelly Hu in towel!! Well I personally never liked Selma Diamond, I loved Florence Hallop--she took no **** from anyone. So I think it jumped twice. First when they added Roz--she was ok, but lacked the talent of Florence. Then slowly the characters made their peace and it was funny --then oh ****, Weegee left, and it got ok, but was never the same--then when Phil the Bum died--so did the show!! But I do not care what anyone said John Astin was awesome. Hell, he did Gomez so well, and he was a weird character, so was Harry's father! The shark swam around a bit each time one of the main characters changed. It took me a bit to get used to Markie Post, but she grew on me. But when Christine got married, the whole whacky dynamic changed permanently, and it never came back. They should have hidden Markie Post behind the desk until she was too big, then given her a temporary leave and replaced her with a series of quirky public defenders until she was ready to come back. NIGHT COURT jumped when Marsha Warfield joined the cast. This woman was NOT FUNNY. Yes. I watched this show on a regular basis. Let's face it, it is a WEIRD show. Harry Anderson always seemed strange to me. I always thought it was sort of a bad ripoff of WKRP IN CINCINNATI. I AGREE WITH A PREVIOUS POSTER THAT SAID THAT IT DID NOT BELONG ON A&E. NIGHT COURT IS NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL CLASSIC ENTERTAINMENT. Did anyone else ever notice that part of the add-on laugh track was some moron who sounded like he was going to have a heart attack because he was laughing so hard? And that he did it after EVERY joke? And it happened during EVERY show? Obviously, the producers had no respect for the audience to think the viewers would believe that some fool enjoyed Night Court so much that he managed to attend every taping. NIGHT COURT was one of the better NBC comedies from the 1980's with some smart writing and a mostly talented ensemble cast headed by charming Harry Anderson as Judge Harry Stone. This show stayed consistently funny for most of its run and never really jumped the shark, though it did have a hiccup or two along the way. The first hiccup was the tragic death of Selma Diamond. Diamond was irreplaceable and I have nothing against Marsha Warfield, I just missed Selma. The other hiccup for me was when John Larroquette started winning all those Emmys and the show became all about Dan. Once again, this was an ensemble show that found a breakout character and decided to shift the focus to him. This was an ensemble show and if they liked Dan Fielding that much, they should have spun him off instead of making NIGHT COURT about Dan. Even with this shift in focus, this show was still always watchable and never jumped the shark. I enjoyed this immensely growing up. Strangely, the twisted humor and sexual innuendos were a good mix that stuck with me well after puberty (or maybe I'M just strange). The show was sort of surreal too, just like a real night court. Unfortunately, Harry Anderson tended to be cornball, and was responsible for one of the more annoying trends of the 80's, the "Baby on Board" bumper sticker (it wasn't really a bumper sticker, but a goddamn diamond-shaped window decal that actually enlarged the driver's blind spot. What a way to keep junior safe from severe cranial injuries!). Bottom line, it was Dan Fielding and Bull (good) vs. Harry and Christine (semi-evil). The other bailiffs were hit or miss, and the fact that they kept dying off was kind of funny as well (fit in well with the show's overall theme). In my opinion this show never JTS, BUT it did have its not-so-good moments... As previous posters have said the unfortunate deaths of some cast members and others leaving left holes that were hard to adjust to. But the show always had a edgy sense of humor that you could count on. Funniest moments that I remember were: When Dan had to go undercover to try and sting a corrupt judge who was trying to sting him and him trying to 'point' the microphone hidden in his shorts at the judge and then when Harry found out what Dan had said, right at the end of the show when he was being 'debriefed' by Harry. Another was when they had Mel Torme on and he got shackled by Dan in Harrys not-trick shackles while Harry was trying to save his dad from being institutionalized. Another poster brought up the one about the fire hose, and then there was the old couple that was brought in for making too much noise 'she says she likes your bat!'. And lastly the 100(?) cases by midnight to save Christine. Funny show... bring on the reruns! I just wanted to clarify something I have not seen (or think I haven't seen) the explanation of John Astin's character as Buddy Ryan on Night Court. You see, he was NOT Harry's father from what I remembered. He was married to his mother. You see, Harry's mother left him when he was 5 and then, unbeknownst to him, went to a mental institution. That is where she met Buddy and they fell in love, got married, she got her head on straight, and had a job helping children who were abused. She thought it would be better if her ex kept and raised Harry since, when she left them, she was just 21 and came from an unhappy family-thus, therefore having a nervous breakdown. Harry nor his father knew that. Buddy was told before she passed away after 22or 23 yrs. of marriage that she wanted her son to know what happened, give him a gift from her to him and a picture of how she looked. If you already have this info., ignore it, but if not, I'm glad I can help. When Christine Sullivan married Tony--who always called her Sullivan. This show never jumped the shark, ever. The departure of Reinhold Weege doesn't count. I've been watching the show since it has been showing repeats on A&E. Ever since, I've been hooked, but when it stopped airing on A&E, I had to wait 'til this year for TV Land to acquire the show & now, I'm going to watch it part-time due to me starting 12th grade, but I will watch it full-time on the year I graduate & on snow days. I still laugh my head off & I found Markie Post to be a little sexy. I've always loved Night Court! Just like Barney Miller, this show had a jazzy ass theme song! Gotta also love the hilarity! True, the first season, it had to find itself! Even with the deaths of Selma Diamond and Florence Halop in Seasons 2 & 3, this show still had the hilarity and mishaps between Harry, Dan, Bull, Mac, Roz (who joined in S4) and Christine. But when Reinhold Weege left production in 1989, this show still had a little left in the tank, but by 1990, I couldn't really watch the show as much. 1). Dan went from this sex perv and prosecutor w/ no heart to a guy who we once knew as a sex perv, as a nice guy w/ a conscience. 2). I tuned in also to see the closing credits and Starry Night Productions, but when Weege left, that too was gone. 3). There was love tension almost going on b'tween Harry and Christine. 4). The series finale ranks right up there w/ ALF as worst series finale ending. Why in the hell did they have Bull go to Jupiter w/ those two moronic nerdling idiots? Anyway, from the opening dialogue and kick ass slap bass sax theme to the closing credits and Starry Night Productions, Night Court is one of my best and most favorite '80s sitcom out there! Night Court is one of my all-time favorite comedies, but it's a complicated show to evaluate. It was obviously heavily inspired by Barney Miller (similar producers, many re-occurring guest stars, etc.), but NC eventually developed its own personality. The one thing I can say for certain is that NC is the only program ever that perfectly balanced sophisticated humor with wild slapstick. The first season was somewhat lethargic, but that's because it was trying to find a style. Most of the comedy was driven by two characters, Bull and Dan; these two are the heart and soul of the show. Dan is one of the most interesting sitcom characters ever, and one of the funniest. Yes, he was greedy, sex-obsessed, snobbish and cowardly... but John Laroquette played him so well that he was loveable in a goofy way. Christine and Tony get married in an Italian restaurant. I think most of the audience would have rather seen her and Harry get together. It's surprising that nobody in all of Night Court's commentary thought to bring up Sheila the Wonder Slut. She was that sexy, red-haired vixen who was in four or five episodes between the 86-88 seasons. Her entrance on the show was always marked by one sultry word from her: "Dan". Dan responded to her like an 12 year old boy with the latest Victoria's Secret catalog dangled in front of him. In one of Sheila's episodes, Dan was in a motorized wheelchair, dark sunglasses, and a neck brace. As always Sheila promised him a night of pleasure, but in the end, Dan's chair wound up getting stuck doing doughnuts in the middle of the courtroom and he never hooked up with her. Sheila's character was a constant promise of sex for Dan and laughs for us. She was responsible for putting Dan into a coma after having sex with him in a hospital bed, curing his unfortunate case of impotency (the South shall rise again!), and giving him a well-needed five minutes in the broom closet in one of Night Court's "marathon case" episodes. Sheila was like a guardian angel looking out for Dan and making sure he was always thinking with the wrong head. When Sheila was ditched and Dan stopped identifying in court those industrial-strength sex toys that she'd probably picked up for him at the Home Depot, that's when Night Court rendered the verdict guilty: the shark had been jumped. "Night Court" is one of those shows that required a certain amount of experimentation before perfecting its core cast. For instance, the second try at court clerk gave us Charles Robinson's Mack, whose quick wit bounced perfectly off Harry Anderson's quirky Judge Stone. Same thing with the public defender. After a couple of tries, producers lured Markie Post away from "The Fall Guy" to go head to head with John Laroquette. Christine was very self-confident, never backing down from Dan Fielding. Certainly, the deaths of Selma Diamond and Florence Halop created holes incredibly difficult to fill. That's when producers went the opposite direction. Rather than give Bull a third crusty, pint-sized pal, in came Marsha Warfield's Roz, whose presence couldn't be ignored. While she and Bull became fast friends, she hardly needed his protection. With that, the identity of the entire show was firmly in place. Through experimentation, "Night Court" got its bumps and jolts out of the way quickly, forcing the shark into a U-turn. The aliens taking Bull to another planet in the series finale was a bit of a stretch, but by that time, it wouldn't have made a difference any way! This hilarious never jumped the shark because this is one is the funniest show I've ever watched. I love Harry Anderson, he is hilariously funny and I love it how he plays tricks on some of the court staff and he makes me laugh everytime I watch the show. Harry is someone you'd want to hang out with because he's warm and caring and just plain funny ! I know I would never get tired of being around him. John Larroquette is funny and witty in the series, it may look like his this big tough guy, but deep down, he's a warm and caring guy too. Richard Moll is amazing ! He and Harry are the two funniest characters in the whole series. I loved this show and honestly don't believed it jumped the shark until the final episode, which was perhaps the worst send-off of any show in history. Harry turns down several plum jobs, including a teaching post at Koch Community College, to stay at night court? And Bull gets taken away by aliens? Come on. But until then, it was one of the funniest shows on television. The episode where they had to get the whole docket done by midnight and the last case is this incredibly slow-talking guy? Hysterical. And after Phil the bum dies, the executor tells Dan "he gave a lot of money to the New York Harmonic." "You mean the Philharmonic." "Yeah, NOW." In the original seasons, court was in session. Most of the jokes revolved around Harry's rulings, Dan's defense, and the Zany courtroom cast. Later it revolved more around on their personal lives and quit trying cases all together. To the person who complained about the "laugh track" having containing a "moron who sounded like he was going to have a heart attack because he was laughing so hard?....Obviously, the producers had no respect for the audience to think the viewers would believe that some fool enjoyed Night Court so much that he managed to attend every taping." Actually that 'laugh track moron' WAS THE PRODUCER Reinhold Weege. And yes he was at every taping (until the final seasons). Sounds like he enjoyed his job. To quote: "Weege loved working in front of a live audience (an annoying laugh, heard from the audience in every episode, is either Weege or his father), and told his writers to keep adding new jokes all the time right up until the moment the audience went home." First of all, I have to say that 'Night Court' is one of those many shows, that I watched back in the day, and now watch religiously on TVLand, or any other channel I can find it on, because I LOATHE reality TV. I don't watch TV, to see crap that I could be subjected to in real life. Having said that, I personally don't feel that 'Night Court' ever jumped the shark. Yes, there were some plots I didn't especially like, but I at no time ever stopped watching it. And that was for a couple of reasons. The main one being the forever talented John Larroquette. I know this is so politically incorrect, but I loved it when he hit on Christine! And I think that was because, after that one episode, where Dan tried to guilt Christine into sleeping with him, you kind of knew where he was coming from, when he hit on her. I did not especially like Christine's pregnancy, or her haircut during that time. But I was quite relieved when that whole story ended, including her relationship with Tony, the father of her child. I didn't care for any of the lady bailiffs, including Roz. They were all a bit too perpetually surly for my tastes. I didn't mind Mac or Kwan Lee, because they were supporting characters, and there were not a whole lot of episodes based on them anyway. And I could take or leave Harry Anderson. I found one thing about the ending confusing though. Bull did get married, did he not? It seemed as if he got married, then his new wife was forgotten about. And I thought it was quite fitting, that Dan Fielding, after being confronted by the mother of yet another woman, he was about to mistreat, would reflect on his life and how he treated women. I would have loved to have seen the look on Christine Sullivan's face, when she opened up the door to Dan Fielding, and listened to him declare his love for her! Night Court is a show I really wanted to say never jumped. It's one of my all-time favorites, and it kills me that it's constantly overlooked in favor of other 80's NBC sitcom fare such as Cosby and Cheers (though I do like Cheers, and the earlier Cosby's are okay). The first season was a little slow, but that's expected of any new series. Season two kicked things into high gear (or at least, a higher gear), and when the cast finally came together fully in 1986 (with the arrival of Roz), it was one of the best sitcoms ever. But, I have to admit, Night Court jumped the shark. When? You could say it was the softer Dan Fielding, but he eventually turned back into a snake, causing a minor reverse jump. The show really jumped at the beginning of the 1990 season. As others have said, the last two seasons (1990-1992) were a waste. The show wasn't immediately bad after Reinhold Weege left (though by far the show was at it's best during his tenure), when the 1990 season began, it just wasn't as 'sharp'. That's not to say it was awful, relatively speaking it was never an 'awful' show, but considering the high standards NC had set, it was impossible to not be disappointed. And that last episode, geez, THAT was pretty bad. I can't decide which was more disappointing, the Seinfeld finale, or NC's. It's hard to sustain a series, not to mention a sitcom, for 9 seasons. Even Seinfeld couldn't do it, so it's understandable, and if you can overlook the last two seasons, the show really is fantastic. NC is currently running on TV Land, and since we still haven't gotten a season two DVD set (though we are promised a 'Best of' set), that's the place to head for an NC fix. The show REALLY jumped during that really long story arc that started with Phil dying and then Christine broke it off with Tony and all of a sudden became "Harry's Woman". Dan gets rid of his fabulous expensive suits, becomes the phantom, goes delusional from a long lack of sleep, ect. These episodes are why I hate Harry/Christine 'shippers. The episodes were horrible and somehow they are a majority of the hardcore fans' favorite episodes. Actually, any episode that includes Harry and Christine kissing or as an item is the hardcore fans' favorite episode. I can't stand to watch my favorite character getting tortured at the expense of a romantic subplot. I hated the arc most because Dan went through that mental breakdown and became a creepy way-too-nice- guy. He became a shell of all he used to be. These episodes are really painful to watch, but you just know that the shippers loved it because there's so much loving between Harry and Christine. Forget that Dan Fielding is having a damn nervous breakdown and suffering, 'cause Harry and Christine are kissy faced!!! I didn't like that all of a sudden at the last second, the writers decided to pair Dan with Christine, creating some twisted love triangle with Our Favorite Defence Team in the final episode. I loved "Night Court" for the longest time. However, like most shows, the shark was indeed jumped. What did it? Yes, the dreaded addition of a cute kid (ie Leon). UGGHH! One would think the idiot suits at the networks could get it through their heads that a cute kid doesn't necessarily get you ratings, especially with an established show. Just the opposite occurs quite often. Well, "Night Court" was good while it lasted. RIP Selma Diamond and her replacement. BTW does anyone remember seeing at the end of Diamond's season of "Night Court" a picture of her during the credits with Harry Anderson's voice saying in a weird tone, "We're...gonna...miss...you...Selma"? That's bugged me for 20 years about whether that was NBC's cheap attempt at a RIP piece or if it was some kind of premonition about Diamond's death. To reply to the person asking about the Selma picture at the end of the first episode after her death. This was done after an entire episode centered around Bull's reaction to Selma's death. It was actually a very solid episode that gave Florence her intro and helped fans accept her more. At the end of the episode they showed a picture of Selma and you hear an old clip of Harry saying "Quite a story isn't it?" and Selma replies, "I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me!" Then silence as the credits rolled into commercial. I always thought that was a very good tribute but in retrospect it looks VERY eerie now. Night Court, in my opinion, was probably the best thing about prime time television in the 1980's. It existed around a time where TV was fun to watch. I remember when they had the Thursday night power house lineup. It was so amazing. It was The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, and Night Court. Four fantastic sitcoms back to back. What more could you ask for? This was way before the reality tv show grip started enslaving our airwaves(ironically enough, started by MTV in 1992). I"d have to say that Night Court is probably one of my top favorite shows to watch these days, next to other shows I like such as Cheers, All In The Family, Beavis and Butthead, and Headbangers Ball. Night Court certainly didn't jump the shark, but towards the end, I could tell that it was starting to lose a lot of steam. I thought that Lisette was a little too weird for my tastes and Jack the blind man who ran the newsstand was a little weird. However, if I had to choose some interesting moments of Night Court, it would be where Harry was trying to ask the court reporter Margaret out and ends up taking advice from Dan on asking her out. The end of the episode was both touching and funny at the same time where Harry and Margaret kiss and Dan watches from the door, only to be ordered out by Harry. Margaret then asks, "Who was that?" and Harry replys by saying, "That was the man you went out with last night". I thought that line was extremely funny and to me, it proved that Harry still had it in him. The funniest moments in my opinion would have to be the episodes with Selma and Florence. Selma had such sarcastic lines and definitely had some episodes where she showed her funny side. On the first episode of the third season, I felt sorry for Bull. He was having a very hard time dealing with Selmas death and he dealt with it by going on a drinking binge. I thought it was interesting right then and there when Florence showed up and sharpy criticized Bull for getting too drunk, saying that it served him right. Of course, when Roz came on to the cast, I think thats when the show got extremely popular. I definitely like the episodes where she had the spotlight. The episode where she was dating that ex-con whom Christine was pen pals with was amazing. It turns out that he had escaped from prison and wanted a taste of freedom or something like that. So technically, the show never jumped the shark but it had its moments where it almost did. Nevertheless though, it will certainly rank up high as one of the funniest shows of the 1980's. Many Night Court fans think when Christine had her baby that the show jumped the shark. The real shark jumping point was when she got a divorce after a two week marriage. The whole Phil/Will thing was the defining shark jump point for me. The show had been slipping, then they went and killed off the funniest side-character (Phil the bum). I really don't consider that to be the shark jump, but rather when the writers, I guess realizing the mistake they made, brought back the same actor to play Phil's twin brother who was rich, but somehow Dan cons into being a bum like Phil. Do you get that? I didn't and the show was never the same again. The show jumped when Dan's character changed. I remember an early episode when someone commented on something disgusting that he'd done, and his reply was "You say that as if it were a bad thing". He also presented a 2 sided character, exhibiting a personal life that most people would find utterly reprehensible and without any redeeming qualities, and at the same time maintaining a successful career as a prosecutor. Remember the Halloween episode where he got a conviction against the ghost haunting the courtroom? Dan as a nice guy could never compete with Dan the creep. I agree that the show jumped around 1990. As a loyal fan at the time, I remember my anticipation of the "Potty-Man" episode that lampooned Andrew "Dice" Clay, and my subsequent disappointment with how weak the show turned out to be. In the show, the Potty-Man character ends up in court for some reason, and Dan is, of course, a big fan. In the end however, everyone gangs up on the Potty-Man for his non-PC humor, and Dan "realizes" that the Potty-Man's humor is "wrong." While Andrew "Dice" Clay and Night Court's pre-1990 humor are quite different, they are both irreverent. Old school Night Court was not at all Politically Correct, but in this episode, the show went on record as being completely P.C. If Reinhold Weege had still been there, I doubt he would have gone out of his way to diss the Dice-Man. It's a shame that a once irreverent show had become so lame. Naturally, it wouldn't be long before the once-great show was put out of its misery.   Join Date: Mar 10, 2011 Location: hiding in Miles Silverberg's closet. I wish! Posts: 576 For me it never jumped. Yes, the last 2 seasons weren't as great. And, I agree (and have said this before myself too) that in the last season. Harry was kind of a douche at times (I think that was because him being jaded during the previous season after Margaret dumped him). But, still...I loved the whole series. __________________ Despite my username. I am a chick. I go chirp. But, what does the fox say? Night Court, The Simpsons, Pre-Cartini General Hospital, Step By Step, Murphy Brown, Three's Company and Perfect Strangers fan forever! "You can't put a porcupine in a barn, set it on fire, and expect to make licorice" -Dana Carvey You robbed an international house of pancakes. How waffle-Harry T. Stone. <3   Join Date: Mar 10, 2011 Location: hiding in Miles Silverberg's closet. I wish! Posts: 576 ^Yeah. I hated the finale too. But, by that time. You couldn't really qualify it as a JTS moment since that was the ending. My biggest pet peeve in the finale was the fact that Dan instead of Harry took off after Christine. *bangs heads against wall* Harry/Christine were meant for each other. The finale was BS just because of the fact that they didn't end up together. I do have some favorite episodes from season 9 though. Like "Looking For Mr. Shannon" and then the episode (can't think of the title) where Dan hires an artist to drawn nude sketches of Christine.   Posts: 38 Yay, another Harry/Christine fan! I was 14 when the finale aired and even back then I was like "HUH??" when they had Dan go after Christine. Though of course I loved Harry's "MY Christine???" I know there are fans who love the Christine/Tony relationship but I really didn't like them together. It just seemed (and still does) so cliched to have the good girl and the bad boy fall for one another. I loved the show from seasons 1-7 (with the exception of the Tony stuff, lol). I still enjoyed it in season 8 and was kind of "meh" on season 9, though like you there were some eps that season that I kind of liked as well. LOL @ the aliens taking Bull away. In school the day after it aired, a friend of mine and I were talking about that and laughing at how silly it was.   Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 20,222 I just saw the "Potty Man" episode on Encore Classic today. Incidentally, Murphy Brown (which airs alongside Night Court on Encore Classic) also had an episode in which they took on an Andrew Dice Clay expy/parody/stand-in played by Michael Chiklis. The whole episode seemed to be the new producers' self-serving and sanctimonious (and may I add, too on the nose) way of telling somebody like Andrew Dice Clay that "you're a bad representation of comedy". I think stuff like this was just confirmation that Night Court had seriously lost its edge or bite. Last edited by TMC : 07-29-2014 at 03:54 AM.  

i don't know

Which rap star, who died on Sept 13, 1996 in a hail of gunfire on a Las Vegas street, was named for a Peruvian warrior king who fought against the Spanish?

Is Tupac Shakur Alive? Is Tupac Shakur Alive? Is it possible with all the specualtion and all the posthumous albums that he could still be alive? With all the biblical clues in the songs and the name change right before his death it has left many to wonder what is up with all the suspscious activity? June 16th 1971 ~ September 13th, 1996 (Friday tha 13th) Exit Tupac ~ Enter Makaveli Saturday, December 08, 2007 2 new Best of 2Pac CDs Part 1: THUG: 3. California Love - ORIGINAL MIX 4. How Do U Want It 5. I Ain't Mad At Cha 6. 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted 7. Hail Mary 10. Resist The Temptation - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 11. Dear Mama featuring Anthony Hamilton - NEW MIXPart 2: Part 2 LIFE: 1. Definition of a Thug Nigga 2. Brenda's Got A Baby 3. Keep Ya Head Up 4. When I Get Free 5. Until The End Of Time - RP REMIX 6. Never Call You Bitch Again 7. They Don't Give A F*** About Us 8. Still Ballin - NITTY REMIX 9. Ghetto Gospel 10. Dopefiend's Diner - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 11. Thugz Mansion ACOUSTIC REMIX - NEW REMIX Check out Dopefiends Dinner & Resist the Temptation Nice Tracks by Pac. posted by mooch at 10:12 AM 1 Comments Thursday, October 25, 2007 2-Pac Assassination DVD : My Thoughts I watched the DVD last night and have so many unresolved questions concerning this DVD. The entire theory of the movie wants us to believe that Pac was murdered and the entire Las Vegas Tyson fight was a set up from the start. 2 parties were implicated here Suge Knight of Death Row and Reggie Wright head of security.I have a very hard time believing that all of this could unfold perfectly on one night. Could the shooter really have been that "GOOD"and hit PAC only and have missed Suge Knight the driver entirely? If the shooter was Orlando Anderson like they think was he that good of a shot to unload his gun into the side of the BMW in such a pressure situation and only hit PAC? I'm sorry but this DVD is full of here say. I am not saying Death Row wasn't involved but I cannot sit here and believe that this one evening went down so perfectly without a hitch. You've also got the "new" story about Kadafi now telling the police he couldn't identify the shooter but only the driver? Cathy Scott who also is on the DVD wrote a book called "The Killing of Tupac Shakur" and in her book she reported that Kadafi was the only eye witness of the shooter and he told the police he could maybe identify the shooter. Why now are they changing this story. We can't ask Kadafi because he is dead a victim of a "random" shooting which was done execution style by the way. I wish one of the outlaws would step up and tell the truth here. Where are you guys? Don't you have Pac's back still and what about Kadafi he was a member of the outlaws why you gonna let him go out like this? Frank Alexander is the only one on this DVD I believe. I think he really had PAC's back and was good friends with PAC and really went to do the job but Wright security took the ball out of his hands and basically set "big" Frank up. I still think this video was done to cover up the truth and really what is happening. I cannot hide from the facts that the people needed to uncover this are dead but Kadafi and even Orlando Anderson "who is also dead now" know what happened that night. Suge Knight also knows what went down yet he sits quietly and doesn't cooperate. If you are a true PAC fan like me the video is a must but it really doesn't answer the questions I wanted answered. It doesn't even show much PAC footage. Its basically all interviews with the bodyguards and Cathy Scott and a expert in the field of "Assassinations" which is what the dvd's theory is based on. I can't pump this up like its the greatest DVD but it does shed some interesting things all based on peoples opinions of course. posted by mooch at 6:37 PM 0 Comments Monday, October 15, 2007 'Tupac: Assassination' DVD In Stores Tuesday, Oct. 23; Includes New Info About His Murder? M U R D E R ? W T F is going on people? Tupac: Assassination unfolds as a compelling whodunit that reveals what actually happened the night Tupac was shot and most importantly, why this happened as well as the events leading up to that fateful night and the ensuing investigation. Two perspectives are explored in the film. First, how the shooting happened, what may have led to it and the disconnect between those facts and what the public has been told, and secondly, the testimony of Tupac bodyguards, whose provocative comments provide the answer to why Tupac was shot and killed. These men were never questioned by the police. This film allows them to finally go on the record with what they know. This eye-opening documentary points out all of the failures of law enforcement officials to fully investigate, follow up on leads and interview key parties involved. By the time this DVD ends, the smoke and confusion caused by unsubstantiated rumors, myopic myths and urban legends will dissipate and a clear picture will appear. Alexander and Bond have done something that the Hip Hop community has long awaited. They have provided the facts that may finally bring justice for Tupac and his mother Afeni Shakur - 11 years later. Is there enough evidence in this DVD to spark a Grand Jury inquiry? You will be the judge after you see this powerful film. "Tupac: Revelation was the working title of this film and although the trailer received over 100,000 views on You Tube in just three weeks, Tupac: Assassination is a better fit because it definitely drives attention to the point of our movie. This is not a movie about Tupac's art, this is not a movie about Tupac's life, this is a movie about Tupac's death and what happened to cause it," says the film's director RJ Bond. It becomes clear that there has been so much mis-information put out by “official agencies”, that the truth of what was going on during that time of Tupac’s life is really not known, and much of what people think they know is just ‘hood myth’. Tupac: Revelation is exactly that- a look at both old and new information regarding the murder of 2Pac. New information gives meaning and clarity to old information; in many cases it gives the old information something it was lacking- context. And that changes everything”. The DVD not only points out some of the false impressions, but it also brings up the “bigger picture.” It actually forces the viewer to step back and look again at what has been in front of everyone all this time. Not only are new things brought to light but when you think you have a question about what they are raising, all you have to do is wait a minute and it is answered thru many of the other interesting participants in the DVD. Along with the witnesses, there is also commentary and professional explanation from others like a former Prosecutors and Judges, Former Las Vegas Police Detectives, investigate criminal journalists and others- who lend their expertise to help viewers fully understand this mosaic. Even now -retired from rap music- ex-Outlawz member Napoleon speaks of what was going on during the days just before the murder of Tupac. This is the first time Napoleon has done a video interview since Pac was killed. Tupac: Revelation lays out the entire ‘plot’ and shows how events actually happened versus how it was portrayed to the public. It points out failures of police officials to fully investigate and to follow up on leads and to even interview all the important parties involved. Everyone believes they know the reasons the murder of Tupac has remained unsolved; this DVD backs it up; it doesn’t just assert police mismanagement- it proves it. Everyone believes there has been a level of deception by certain individuals; this DVD documents it. It shows the levels of success certain parties have had in planting rumors to make everyone look in the wrong direction. By the time this DVD ends, the “smoke” of hood rumors is dissipated and a clear picture appears. Alexander and Bond have done something that the hip hop community has been waiting over 10 years for; they are providing facts that could finally bring justice for Tupac (2Pac) , his mother Afeni Shakur, and for the family and all the ‘extended family’ of Tupac Shakur. Once a person views this DVD and things are looked at as a whole, then the picture is so clear, as Former Prosecutor and Judge Mike Allen says “It is clear given what is put forth that grand jury indictments should be brought in this case.” It should also become clear that the Justice Department should look into this case for possible police misconduct. This is truly an amazing ‘Revelation’ on what was going on at that time of Tupac’s (2Pac) life and who orchestrated the events that followed – not only the murder but the events that took place before and after the shooting. This is truly a DVD that not only speaks to Tupac fans, but it also points out that what happened to Tupac happens all the time in all parts of the world- something everyone should see and care about. Did certain people get away with murder? Well it seems maybe they did, at least until Sept. 2007 when ‘Tupac Revelation' is released and becomes part of hip hop history. October 2007: On that date the ‘mosaic’ will be exposed and the big picture will be revealed. Then it is up to law enforcement to do their job. And if we care, it will be up to the hip hop community to demand action is taken and that this is looked at as a whole - not just look at bit and pieces. posted by mooch at 5:53 PM 0 Comments Saturday, August 04, 2007 Nu-Mixx Klazzics - Volume 2 ~ August 14th Nu-Mixx Klazzics set to release August 14th. Here is the track listing: 1. Picture Me Rollin - Outlawz 2. Got My Mind Made Up - Outlawz & Kurupt 3. Pain - Styles P & Butch Cassidy 4. Intitiated - Boot Camp 6. Starin Thru My Rearview - Dwelle 7. Whats Ya Phone # - Candy Hill 8. All Eyez On Me - Daz 9. Smile 12. How Do You Want It 13. Bonus Track: Lost Souls - M1 14. Bonus Track: Picture Me Rollin - Kurupt & Butch Cassidy Nothing new here but a MUST for all PAC fans. Hail Mary rock remix is nice as well as the Pain remix featuring Styles P & Butch Cassidy. posted by mooch at 10:25 AM 0 Comments Thursday, July 12, 2007 posted by mooch at 6:59 PM 0 Comments Saturday, July 07, 2007 Yafeu "YAK" Fula ~ aka ~ Kadafi The only witness Yafeu "YAK" Fula also known as Kadafi one if Pacs outlawz said he could possibly identify 2-Pacs killer. Fula was riding in the car behind Suge's on the night 2-Pac was hit. The police let him go home to New Jersey without interviewing him in depth about what he saw. Also in the backseat with him was E.D.I another outlaw member who who sat on the curb several hours waiting to be questioned then finally when he was he told the police he didn't see anything. But the key witness "Kadafi" told them he could help and they let him go. On Sunday November 10th 1996 2 months after Pac's shooting "Kadafi" was visiting his girlfriend in Orange, New Jersey at a housing project when gun shots erupted in the hallway. Kadafi was wearing a vest but it didnt save him he had been shot in the face between the eyes at point blank range "Execution style". Here was the witness the police say they were looking for over the past 2 months. The day after his murder Kevin Manning stated "I dont even know how to pronounce his name, let alone spell it, we had a hard time finding him and we didnt know where he was till he showed up dead." I can't believe the police couldn't locate him for 2 months its not like he was on the run for something, they just didnt care. Critics of both Los Angeles and Las Vegas police have stated that if Tupac and Biggie would have been white both cases would have gotten more attention from the investigators. Here are 2 huge mega stars in their field of work, each with double platinum albums and yet both murders are still to this day UNSOLVED? All the detectives can say is that the witnesses were uncooperative. posted by mooch at 10:41 AM 0 Comments Thursday, July 05, 2007 More Orlando Anderson Theory Orlando Anderson testified under oath that Suge Knight was the only one in the 2-Pac entourage that night that tried to come to his rescue. It was assumed that Knight purchased a sport utility vehicle for Anderson in exchange for positive testimony to try to beat his parole violation. When Anderson was later shot and killed he was in a later model sport utility vehicle registered in his name no one could ever link the vehicle to Knight. Plus, the testimony didn't even keep him out of jail. WHY WAS ORLANDO ANDERSON IN LAS VEGAS THAT NIGHT? 1. At one point he told the police he purchased the ticket the day of the fight which anyone knows the Tyson/Seldon fight would have been sold out so he would have had to have scalped it if he even got it the day of. 2. Then he said he was there with his girlfriend gambling and stayed for free at the excaliber hotel/casino, next to the Lexour where 2-Pac was staying. Where would he have gotten his money to even go gamble when he was unemployed? 3. Was Orlando Anderson just bait to get Pac? if so it sure did the trick because the entire 2-Pac entourage went for it. Knowing Weeks earlier that Andereson was involved in the incident where a Gold Death Row chain was snatch did he know Pac and his crew would come after him? Anderson even lied at the parole hearing for Knight, his story changed significantly on why he was in Vegas. His plea to help Knight was lost when the video was shown and you could see Knight kicking and punching Anderson as he lay on the ground. When he told the story about getting the room because he was a big gambler he contradicted himself once again by stating he had no income for the past 5 years and filed no income tax returns for that period and had spent less than $100.00 gambling and paid cash for the room. The lies kept mounting up. Afeni Shakur had a civil case agaisnt Orlando Anderson which was to go to court on September of 1998 but Orlando Anderson was murdered in May of 1998 so he never made it to court. This is an interview Orlando Anderson and his lawyer Renee L. Campbell did with Sanyika Shakur for VIBEs December 1997 Issue. Why did the Death Row crew zero in on you that night at the MGM? I really don't know why. I don't even know them Who pushed you first? Actually, I think it was Tupac What did he say when he first stepped to you? I don't really think he said anything. It happened so fast. All I felt was a swarm You didn't recognize nobody else? Did you recoginze Suge? I seen him on the videotape later Where we from in Compton, our first instinct - after beeing assaulted, insulted, shoe stepped on - is to respond. Did you feel calling your peeps? Me and my brother ain't like that. I was just scared because I done heard so much about these guys. It was, like, Damn, what did I do? So you are not a Southside Crip? No. Are you affiliated with the Southside Crips? No. I ain't no gang member. I know a lot of people; I grew up with a lot of people; I went to school with a lot of people. So, nobody in your immediate family bangs? My brothers? Naw. Besides your brothers? Well, y'knowhamsayin', there's my uncle and them. The police said that they raided a Southside hangout, and there were guns there and a diploma on the wall with your name on it. Yet you said you lived next door. [Anderson's lawyer writes on a yellow notepad and pushes it toward him] I'm not gonna answer that. Cambell: The affidavit is full of fiction. There is nothing in there that's independently corroborated. We don't know why that particular Compton police officer wrote it, but it's full of lies. It was reported that you were bragging about whacking Makaveli. You might as well don't even pay attention to the affidavit. That wasn't just the affidavit. People on the street in Compton told VIBE you were bragging about it. [Shakes his head; no response] Do they call you Baby Lane? Some People call me that. When I was in jail with Suge Knight, he said, "Baby Lane did it." How do you respond to this guy's saying you were the shooter? I really don't know why Suge would say something like that. I don't even know Suge. Campbell: As far as we're concerned, whatever Suge Knight is saying, he's saying for gis own gain. We've also named him in the lawsuit. There is no evidence against Orlando. If they would do a proper investigation, they would very likely find out who killed Tupac. On the stand, you said Suge was not involved in your beating, that he tried to stop it. Now you're naming him in the lawsuit for participating in your beating. At the time, I was fearing for my life. You were fearing Suge's camp? Death Row People? Campbell: we don't want to comment on whom he was fearing. Aren't you worried about perjury charges? Campbell: Even at the time [Orlando] testified, the judge was very skeptical. People say what they need to say if their safety is threatened. Why change the story now? Are you less scared? Campbell: No, it's not that. Orlando was advised by his lawyers that if he was going to bring this lawsuit, then he would need to bring it now. He suffered injuries; he has damages that he wants to collect on. Anderson: I was kicked in my head, and I was bleeding out of my ear. My hands right here were swollen. How do you feel about Tupac's mother filing this countersuit against you? That's nonsense to me. Campbell: That was done solely in response to the lawsuit we filed. Her lawsuit has absolutely no basis. You were on "America's Most Wanted". Have you had any troubles because you were named as a suspect in Tupac's killing? I've been threatened a lot. How has this altered your life? I just stay in the house all the time. Why don't you just get vested and heated and continue to do your things? Life goes on. Even 'Pac himself said it. I ain't that type of person. I'll just put it in the Lord's hands. Did anybody ever tell you that you were very much resamble Tupac? Yeah, a couple of people have told me that. Do you feel any resentment toward Tupac's spirit, like, Look at what the hell you done got me into? I think like that all the time, wondering why. Not only put me through a lot of stuff but put my family through a lot of stuff too. So, you have lost passion for Tupac's music? Do you still listen to him? Yeah, I still listen to his music. Because you feel him? Yeah. To me he was like the Marvin Gaye of rap. If he was to comeout with some new music, I'm still about his music. Do you have a favorite 'Pac song? "All Eyez on Me." Especially now, huh? What do you wish at this particular juncture in your life? I wish they would find who did it so I can prove my innocence. posted by mooch at 6:23 PM 0 Comments Wednesday, July 04, 2007 A Connection? Orlando Anderson? I read the murder of Tupac Shakur also by Cathy Scott which was pretty insightful to say the least so I assumed that this book would also have some valuable information in it as well pertaining to 2-Pac. I didn't get this book just to read about Christopher Wallace but to see what else she had to say about my boy Pac. I also learned through this book which I thought was very odd that Orlando Anderson was also at the music industry party hosted by vibe that Biggie was attending the night he was killed. For any of you "newbies" Orlando Anderson was a reputed Crips gang member who had been roughed up by 2-pac and Suge Knight the night of the Tyson / Seldon Fight in 1996 just hours before 2-Pac was gunned down in Las Vegas. Anderson was also the reason Knight went back to prison for parole violation. Here was Orlando Anderson partying it up at a party with Biggie and not to mention also attending was Kidada Jones, 2-Pac's girlfriend, when he was killed in vegas, since her dad Quincy was hosting the party. I'm sure she felt uneasy about him even being there and why was he there? Gang affiliations? The outcome was the same as 2-Pac's Biggie left the party got into the passenger set of a SUV drove away and was gunned down by an unknown driver. Murder still unsolved. Was Orlando Anderson the set up guy "again" ? Orlando Andereson can't even defend his own story since he was shot and killed in an altercation. posted by mooch at 5:50 PM 0 Comments Wednesday, January 31, 2007 HIT EM UP I ain't got no motherfuckin friends That's why I fucked yo'bitch, you fat motherfucker (take money) West side!!BadBoy killers(take money) You know the realest is niggaz(take money) We bring it to you(takemoney) First off, fuck your bitch inthe clit you claim West side when we ride come equipped with gameYou claim to be a player but I fucked your wife We bust on Bad Boy niggaz fucked for life Plus Puffy tryin ta see me weak hearts I rip Biggie Smallz and Junior M.A.F.I.A.some mark ass bitches We keep on comin' while we runnin for ya jewels steady gunnin, keep on bustin at the fools,you know the rules Little Ceaser, go ask ya homie how I leave ya cut your young ass up, leave you in pieces, now be deceased Lil Kim, don't fuck around with real G's Quick to snatch yo' ugly ass off tha street,so fuck peace I let them niggas know it's on for life So let the West side ride tonight hahahahBad Boy murdered on wax, and killed Fuck wit' me and get ya caps peeled, you know Grab ya glocks, when you see Tupac Call the cops, when you see Tupac, uhh Who shot me, but ya punks didn't finish Now ya bout to feel the wrath of a menace NIGGA,I hit em' up... Check this out, you mutha fuckas know what time it isI don't evenknow why I'm on this track ya'll nigguz ain't even on my level I'm a let my little homies ride on you bitch made-ass bad boy bitches -- deal withit!!Get out the way yo, get out the way yoBiggie Smallz just got dropped Little Moo, pass theMac, and let me hit him in his back Frank White need to get spanked right, for settin tracks little accident murderer,and I ain't never heard-a ya Poisinous gats attack whenI'm servin ya Spank the shank ya whole style when I dank Guard your rank, cause I'm a slam you in the pavement Puffy weaker that a fuckin rock a wanna do,nigga and, I'll smoke ya junior mafia in front of you,nigga With the ready power tuckin my Guess under my EddieBauer ya clout, pretty sour I get packages every hour and hit em up:Peep how we do it, keep it real, it's penitentiary steel this aint no free style battle, all you niggaz gettin killed with ya mouths open tryin to come up off a me, you in the clouds hoping smokin dope it's like a sherm high Niggaz think they learned to fly Butt hey burned muthafucka, you deserve to die Talkin bout you gettin money, but its funny to me All you niggaz living bummy, while you fuckin' wit me I'm a self made milionare Thug Livin out a prison, pistols in the air,hahaha Biggie, remember when I used to let you sleep on my couch and beg the bitch to let you sleep in the house,ahh Now its all about Versacci, you copied my style Five shots couldn't drop me, I took it, and smiled NowI'm bout to set the record straight, with my AKI'm still the thug you love to hate Motherfucker, I hit em up I'm from N-E-W Jerz, where plenty murders occur No points to be calmer, we bringin drama to all you heards Knuckle check the scenario, Little CeaseI bring you fake G's to your knees Coppin pleas cuz this ain't your area Lil Kim, is you coked up, or doped up?Get ya lil Junior Whopper click smoked up, what the fuck is you STUPID?!?! I take money, crash and mash through Brooklyn with my click lootin, shootin and pollutin ya block with 15 shots cock glock to your knot Outlaw mafia click movin up another notch And you bast stops squaws get mopped and dropped All your fake-ass east coast props brainstormed and locked Youse a, beat biter,a Pac style taker I'll tell you to ya face you aint shit but a faker Softer than Alize with a chaser Bout to get murdered for the paper Idi Amin approach the sceneWrite a caper, like a loc, with little ceaser in achoke hold Totin smoke, we aint no muthafuckin jokeThugLife, niggaz betta be knowin, we approchin in the wide open,guns smokin no need for hopin its a battle lost, I got across Soon as the funk was poppin off Nigga I hit em up Now you tell me who wonI see them, they run They don't wanna see us Whole Junior M.A.F.I.A. click dressin up tryin ta be us How the fuck they gonna be the mob when we always on our jobWe millionaires,killin ain't fair but somebody gotta do it Oh yeah,Mobb Deep, you wanna fuck with us?You little young assmother fuckers Don't one of you niggaz got sickle cell or somethin?You fuckin with me nigga you fuckaround and have a seizure or a heart-attack You better back the fuck up, fore you get smacked the fuckup That's how we do it on our side Any of you niggaz from New York that wanna bring it bring it But we ain't singin, we bringing drama Fuck you and your motherfuckin mama We gonna kill all you motherfuckers Now when I came out I told you it was just about Biggie Then everybody had to open their mouth with amother fuckin opinion Well this how we gonna do this FuckMobb Deep Fuck Biggie Fuck Bad Boy as a staff recordlabel and as a motherfuckin crew And if you wanna be down with Bad Boy Then fuck you too Chino XL, fuck you tooAll you motherfuckers, fuck you too(takemoney)(take money)Alla y'all motherfuckers,fuck you die slow motherfucker My fo'-fo' make sure all y'all kids don't grow You motherfuckers can't be us or see us We the motherfuckin Thug Life ridahs West side till we die!Out here in California we warn ya we'll bomb on you motherfuckers We do our jobYou think you mob, nigga we the motherfuckin mob Ain't nuttin but killers and the real niggaz All you motherfuckers feel us Our shit'sgoing triple and four-quadruple(takemoney)You niggaz blast as our staff got guns at they motherfuckers back, you know how it is When we drop records they feel it You niggaz can't feel it We the realest, FUCK EM, we Bad Boy killers posted by mooch at 7:09 PM 0 Comments Monday, October 23, 2006 Pac's Life Set To Release on November 21st 2-Pac’s legendary work ethic and constant drive often found him laying down vocals in two or three rooms of a recording studio simultaneously, and then heading straight to a film set, video shoot, or concert, only to begin again the next morning, sleeping during travel from one location to the next. Since his tragic death, his spirit has been kept alive thanks to the extraordinary legacy of unfinished recordings he left behind, and the commitment his mother Afeni Shakur has made to continue to get his complete body of work released; work considered even more astonishing given that his first album came out in 1991 and he was murdered in September 1996 at age 25. Now some of the recordings from this tremendously prolific period are brought to light for the first time on Pac’s Life (Amaru/Interscope Records), released November 21, 2006. Other than one verse fans will recognize from an earlier album, all of the recordings on the album are previously unheard. Contributing to Pac’s Life are Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Keyshia Cole, T.I., Ashanti, Young Buck, Lil Scrappy, Carl Thomas, Outlawz, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Big Syke, Papoose, with productions from LT Hutton, Sha Money XL, Swizz Beatz and more. The artists and producers involved range from his close friends and colleagues to those who grew up on his music and were inspired and motivated by it. The passion and the fire inside him makes it possible, 10 years and 11 posthumous albums later to create yet another album of unreleased material. “I say it every time, that Tupac left us the blueprints to follow, and without the amazing contributions made by everyone of these artists, producers, musicians, everyone, I do not know how I would get this great task accomplished,” says Afeni Shakur, his mother, the album’s executive producer (along with Tom Whalley) and founder of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, “ I believe whole-heartedly that Tupac sends the people he wants to these projects.” 2Pac’s relevance is attested to by the success of his post-1996 albums. His most recent studio album, 2004’s Loyal To The Game, charted #1 Pop and #1 R&B/Hip-Hop and was certified platinum. The soundtrack to Tupac: Resurrection that same year hit #2 Pop and #3 R&B/Hip-Hop and was also platinum. 2002’s Better Dayz, #5 Pop and #1 R&B/Hip-Hop, earned double platinum while the previous year’s Until The End Of Time, #1 Pop and #1 R&B/Hip-Hop, reached the triple platinum plateau. In 2000, Still I Rise scored #6 Pop and #1 R&B/Hip-Hop positions while racking up a platinum award. 1998’s Greatest Hits, #3 Pop and #1 R&B/Hip-Hop, is currently nine times platinum. Pac's Life CD Track Listing Untouchable (Feat. Krayzie Bone) Dumpin (Feat. Hussein Fatal, Papoose & Carl Thomas) Playa Cardz Right (Female Version) (Feat. Keyshia Cole) Whatz Next (Feat. A3 & Jay Rock) Sleep (Feat. Young Buck & Chamillionaire) International (Feat. Nipsey Hussle & Young Dre) Don't Sleep (Feat. Lil Scrappy, Nutso & Yaki Kadafi) Soon As I Get Home (Feat. Yaki Kadafi) Playa Cardz Right (Male Version) (Feat. Ludacris & Keon Bryce) Don't Stop (Feat. Big Syke, Yaki Kadafi, Hussein Fatal, E.D.I., Young Noble & Stormy) Pac's Life (Remix) (Feat. Snoop Dogg) Untouchable (Feat. Yaki Kadafi, Hussein Fatal & Kastro) Best songs off CD: Soon as I get home Whats Next Dumpin Sleep featuring Chamillionaire Playa cards right the male version and the female version could and should have been left off. Pac's life featuring Ashanti should have been in the garbage at least the remix of the song featuring snoop dogg does justice. posted by mooch at 7:49 AM 0 Comments Could Pac really of had Biggie killed? there are 6 gunshots(6 months after Tupacs death, Biggie died.) on Bomb First, and you don't hear him diss Biggie no more in the rest of DK7. This would be good on the side of Pac if he wanted to unite the Hip Hop Nation. All that would be standing in his way, would be Puffy, and without Biggie, Puffy won't have the respect of the East Coast rappers. This makes it easier for Pac to unite everyone. Remember its not about East or West. Which side are you on? but as Machiavelli explains, you can't just defeat your enemies, you must destroy them, give them no chance for retaliation. Biggie was caught up in a life that wasn't pleasent, he sold crack as a teenager, got pimped by Puffy, Tupac slept with his wife, and now in death still can't avoid the bullshit. It's a shame either one of these talented people had to die, (if they are both dead) posted by mooch at 7:30 AM 0 Comments Thursday, September 28, 2006 Staring At The World Thru My Rearview "Starin' Through My Rear View" Staring at the world through my rearview Just looking back at the world, from another level ya know whatImean?Starin...Multiple gunshots fill the block, the fun stopsNiggaz is callin cops, people shot, nobody stopI wonder when the world stopped caring last nightTwo kids shot while the whole block staringI will never understand this society, first they tryto murder me, then they lie to me, product of a dying breedAll my homies trying weed, now the little baby'scrazed raised off Hennesey, tell me will my enemiesflee when they see me, believe meEven Thugs gotta learn to take it easy, listenThrough the intermissions search your heart for a planand we turnin Bad Boys to grown men, it's on againI give a holla to my niggaz in the darkest cornersRoll a perfect blunt, and let me spark it for yaOne love from a thug nigga rollin with a possefull of paranoid drug dealers, to the end my friendI'm seein nuttin but my dreams comin trueWhile I'm starin at the world through my rearview They got me Starin at the world through my rearview Go on baby scream to God, he can't hear youI can feel your heart beatin fast cause it's time to die Gettin high, watchin time fly, and all my motherfuckers E.D.I.]Now you see him, now you don't, some niggazbe here for the moment, and then they gone, what happened to em?Well let's see, it seems to be a mysteryBut all I know I never let the money get to meStay down like the, truestThug Life until I check out this bitch, I thought you knew thisWho is, gonna catch me when I fall or even care toWhile you thinkin I see you lost up in my rearviewHalf you, is down with them OutlawzOutcast, left far, I'm through like southpawsBut still we keep mashin til our dreams come throughStarin at the world through my rearview [Tupac]Now I was raised as a young black maleIn order to get paid, forced to make crack salesCaught a nigga so they send me to these overpacked jailsIn the cell, countin days in this livin black Hell, do you feel me?Keys to ignition, use at your discretionRoll with a twelve gauge pump for protectionNiggaz hate me in the section from years of chin checkinTurn to Smith and Wesson war weaponsHeavenly Father I'm a soldier, I'm gettin hottercause the world's gettin colder, baby let me hold yaTalk to my guns like they fly bitchesAll you bustas best to run look at my bitchesNow I know the answers to the question, do dreams come trueStill starin at the world through my rearview They got me starin at the world through my rearview Go on baby scream to God, he can't hear youI can feel your heart beatin fast cause it's time to dieGettin high, watchin time fly -and all my motherfuckers/nigga can die Khadafi]Back in the days we hustled for sneakers and beepersNine-six for glocks cause fiends hittin up blocks with street sweepersBless myself when knowin rules to these streets, somethin I learnedin school, on some Million Man March shit for the piece/peaceTrue that, only one life to lead, a fast life of greedCriminally addicted, infested since a seedWe all die, breed bleed like humans, towns runby young guns, Outlawz and truants, shit's deepTurn eighteen, burn my will when I goBurnt my body with my shotty, or chosin my doughSo while you reminiscin all nights out with the crewSmoke a blunt for me too, I'm starin through your rearview[Tupac]Hahahaha, you ain't knowin what we mean by starin through the rearviewSo since you ain't knowin what we mean let me break down understandinThe world, the world is behind usOnce a motherfucker get an understanding on the gameand what the levels and the rules of the game isThen the world ain't no trick no moreThe world is a game to be playedSo now we lookin at the world, from like, behind usNiggaz know what we gotta do, just gotta put our mind to it and do itIt's all about the papers, money rule the worldBitches make the world go roundReal niggaz do they wanna do, bitch niggaz do what they can'tStarin at the world through my rearview Go on baby scream to God, he can't hear youI can feel your heart beatin fast cause it's time to dieGettin high, watchin time fly, ya know posted by mooch at 6:30 PM 0 Comments Wednesday, September 13, 2006 10 years later, Tupac's legacy lives on Ten years after his death, Tupac Shakur remains unforgettable Taken from Yahoo Music 09/13/2006 8:00 AM, AP Nekesa Mumbi Moody In the years since hip-hop lost its most dynamic figure, several superstars have embodied the qualities that made Tupac Shakur such a legend. 50 Cent's vicious raps and bullet-scarred body recall Shakur's reckless, dangerous side. Eminem's tortured lyrics remind us of Shakur's dark and depressing images of life. Jay-Z's many hits are reminiscent of Shakur's prolific output. But 10 years after Shakur died on Sept. 13, 1996, the victim of a drive-by shooting, no rapper is as complex, as multifaceted, as challenging. A handsome and charismatic actor, a violent felon, a brilliant songwriter, a reckless celebrity, a misogynist and a visionary — Shakur still fascinates from the grave. "I want to be in the future known as somebody," Shakur once said. "I want people to be talking about me, like, 'Remember when he was real bad?'" They're still talking. Unlike so many other rap stars, Shakur represented an actual character, instead of a caricature. "His messages were really strong and heartfelt, and he was a real person. He could go from saying 'Keep your head' up to using the word b---- in the next song," Kanye West told The Associated Press. "There was no box that he was put in, and he lived and died by what he said." Though just 25 when an assailant sprayed his car with bullets as he rode shotgun down a Las Vegas street, Shakur has been the subject of numerous books, film and stage productions have explored his colorful life, and college courses have dissected his songs ranging from the player anthem "I Get Around" to the prophetic "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" But why? Though some have anointed Shakur as the greatest rapper ever, largely due to his passion that could stir even casual listeners, the assessment is hardly universal. Others would give that title to The Notorious B.I.G., Shakur's foil who was killed months after Shakur. Others say Jay-Z reigns supreme. As an actor in films like "Juice" and "Poetic Justice," it was clear Shakur was an explosive, raw talent — but one that needed refinement. And his personal life exposed perhaps his most troubling personal traits: In 1994 he was convicted of sexual assault, and though he espoused black empowerment, he spent the last months of his life inciting a rap war through hateful rhymes. Yet Shakur's fallibility may ultimately explain why he remains so beloved. "Nothing that I can answer is really going to get at it, or it's going to sound emotional and corny, but the fact of the matter is he was just a very special human being," said Vibe magazine editor in chief Danyel Smith, who knew Shakur before he became a superstar. "He was the kind of heroic figure — very flawed, very passionate, very handsome, very outspoken, very talented — who comes along once in a lifetime," she said. "He stood for something and he really talked about life — it wasn't just street life," OutKast's Big Boi told The AP. "He was an intelligent guy." Tupac Amaru Shakur was born to former Black Panther Afeni Shakur in 1971 — his father wasn't around. Afeni was pregnant and incarcerated while she and other Panthers faced conspiracy charges that were later dismissed. His mother's revolutionary qualities infused many of Shakur's raps, like the angry "Souljah's Revenge" or "Words of Wisdom." But Shakur's lyrics also reflect his unstable childhood — his mother battled drug addiction and he and his sister lived in poverty. That pain, frustration, anger and bewilderment became the inspiration for some of his most poignant, searing songs. "He had a view that I think extended to what we would think of various kinds of sociological arguments, humanistic arguments, arguments around morality," said Marcyliena Morgan, a Stanford University associate professor and director of the school's Hiphop Archive. Though he attended a school for talented teens while living in Baltimore, by the time he reached the California Bay Area, he was dabbling in street life. Soon his rap talent would lead him into another world that would prove just as turbulent. As Shakur said after one arrest — "(I didn't have) no police record until I made a record." With each platinum album, trouble found him anew. He was criticized by national figures like C. Dolores Tucker and former Vice President Dan Quayle and involved in a gunfight with off-duty police officers in Atlanta. While his pro-woman anthem "Keep Ya Head Up" scaled the charts, he was accused of leading a group in sexually assaulting a young woman in a hotel. While on trial for those charges, he survived a shooting at a recording studio where Biggie Smalls and Sean "Diddy" Combs were present. Shakur was convicted of some charges at his sexual assault trial, and spent several months in a maximum security prison before the fearsome Suge Knight got him out on bail pending an appeal and signed Shakur to his Death Row label. In the last year of his life, Shakur was at his most popular and sensational — and his most reckless. He ignited the so-called East Coast-West Coast war, claiming that Biggie and Diddy were responsible for his shooting (which they denied). On the last night of his life, Shakur, Knight and their entourage delivered a violent beatdown to a rival gang member in a Las Vegas casino. Hours later, while riding in the passenger seat of Knight's BMW, Shakur was riddled with bullets. Police arrested and questioned the gang member who was stomped in the casino, but no charges have ever been filed. While other dead celebrities are celebrated as nostalgia acts for what they once represented, Shakur remains a vital presence in today's rap world. Perhaps that's due to the volume of material he left behind. So many albums of previously unreleased songs have been issued since his death, a few people are convinced that he's still alive. However, it may be the words of Shakur — often overshadowed by the controversy that dogged him — where his brilliance is most notable. Rather than becoming dated, songs like "So Many Tears" and "Changes" still speak to the despair and pain that remain very real in urban America. "He was one of a kind," said Smith, "and I think whenever you want to ask yourself who Tupac is, as much as I'm a journalist and I live by headlines, don't go to the headlines to find out who Tupac was, go to the music. You will not be disappointed posted by mooch at 6:25 PM 0 Comments Sunday, August 20, 2006 XXL COVER The Definitive PAC Guide 1996-2006 In the last 10 years, ’Pac has become more famous and popular than when he was alive. Records, books, movies, collabos, murals and eBay auctions intensify the love for Afeni’s son. Now, XXL has created the definitive posthumous ’Pac guide.When is it about honoring 2Pac and when is it beating his legacy to death? YN explores the afterlife of Tupac Shakur and declares that enough is enough. We know the question y’all asking yourselves: Why did XXL put Tupac on the cover again? Well, it’s the 10th year of the anniversary of his death, stupid. And our ’Pac covers have always done their numbers. I even sold one with his mom, Afeni, on the front a few years back. My bosses said it couldn’t be done, but y’all proved me right. You got to give the people what they want. Truth be told, there’s just not enough true rap stars around these days—artists who have touched the world the way ’Pac has. I was shocked when my staff was so overwhelmingly supportive of doing this issue. They seemed to feel it would be almost disrespectful not to acknowledge the man who remains the most influential person in hip-hop culture a full decade after he left us. Plus, the past 10 years of his career achievements needed to be documented. Now that you’ve enjoyed our tantalizing time line, it’s time for da boss man to face the music. So I’ll address 10 topics that have come up in discussions around the XXL offices while we’ve been slaving away trying to finish this thing. Thank God for granting me this moment of clarity. How long will YN mourn him? Until y’all tell me to stop. 1. HOW EXACTLY DID ’PAC BECOME THE HIP-HOP NATION’S CHOICE FOR G.O.A.T.? Well, it starts with Makaveli. Though it was body-slammed by critics when it dropped two months after ’Pac’s death, the album is a classic that captures hip-hop’s most controversial star at his most volatile and engaging. From the fiery venom of “Bomb First (My Second Reply)” and “Against All Odds” to the playful bravado of “Toss It Up” and “Just Like Daddy” to the riveting religious overtones of “Hail Mary” and “Blasphemy,” ’Pac’s most potent platter is the album your favorite MC can’t live without. It’s the record that rapper is playing in the background while he’s chillin’ at the crib. The one he cops over and over and over again. This album is even beloved by two artists who get dissed on it: Nas and Jay-Z. In fairness to the New York giants, it must be noted that ’Pac’s death (and that of his arch rival, the Notorious B.I.G., six months later) was a determining factor in allowing them to embrace the memory of their former antagonist—all is forgiven in death, and it should be. Ironically, five years later, it would be Nas and Jay-Z engaging in rap’s biggest battle since ’Pac and Big and all the East-West nonsense—complete with claims of swagger-jacking and sleeping with the enemy’s woman. And how twisted was it in 2002 when Jay-Z remade a song from an album that targeted him to announce his then-budding relationship with his real-life squeeze, Beyoncé Knowles? ’Pac’s original “Me and My Girlfriend” was just a metaphor for a gun—a concept that Nas himself mastered earlier in 1996’s “I Gave You Power.” Speaking of power, it’s the rappers that emerged in the late ’90s and the new millennium that put ’Pac in the top position. His peers anointed him king, and the fans cosigned. Example: Go see Jay-Z live and watch the dope boys and girls go crazy when Jigga Man lets his DJ drop the needle on a ’Pac classic. That gets more cheers than the main attraction. 2. WITH ’PAC DEAD AND GONE, ARE WE ALLOWED TO QUESTION THE MOTIVES AND MOVES OF HIS DEAR MAMA? It’s a fact proven in rap: Mothers become celebrities when their sons pass away. After a legal tussle with Suge Knight, Afeni is the official boss lady. Simply put, she’s in charge of the legacy. What projects will come out and which won’t? Who gets permission to use which vocals on what song? She’s got the answers, the one and only master of the masters. Kinda ironic, since ’Pac and ma dukes didn’t always have the best relationship. She wasn’t always there for him as a mother, but now she reaps the benefits of her son’s recording career—something that, before he died, she seemingly had little to do with. Where was she when her baby boy was signing his life away to Death Row Records? An ass-whuppin’ by the one who gave him that life in the first place might have been needed back then. To give credit where it’s due, Afeni has put together a couple of quality projects and created a respectable foundation and arts center, all in her son’s name. Like all parents’, her intentions seem to be in the right place. Still, the decision to have Eminem produce an entire album of her son’s material? That’s a never-forgive action. 3. ISN’T THERE JUST WAY TOO MUCH POSTHUMOUS ’PAC MATERIAL? Yup. And bet your bottom dollar, most of it ain’t worth your hard-earned cash. Only the most bored of rap fans or the most fanatical of ’Pac fanatics would really take the time to listen to double-disc debacles like 1997’s R U Still Down? (Remember Me) or ’01’s Until the End of Time in their entirety. And honestly, couldn’t someone have talked some sense into Afeni before she decided to drop a spoken-word album based on ’Pac’s poetry? Oy vay! 4. ARE THERE ANY POSTHUMOUS ’PAC SONGS WORTH LISTENING TO? You gotta have a hole in your soul if the “The Realist Killaz” doesn’t get you amped. Producer Red Spyda’s sinister pairing of ’Pac and a then-emerging 50 Cent was a vicious volley in 50’s beef with Ja Rule—and packed an extra punch since so many rap fans felt that Ja had been biting ’Pac’s style for years. You know the late star would have been laughing watching Shady rumble with Murder Inc. throughout 2003, arguing over who would get to break bread with ’Pac if he were here on God’s green earth. (The real answer? The Boot Camp Clik. They actually knew the nigga.) Then there’s Trick Daddy. While they never met (to the best of my knowledge), ’Pac’s “Still Ballin” (from 2002’s Better Dayz) featuring the Miami mack has enough sonic chemistry to make it feel like it could have been a real collaboration. Trick loves the kids. ’Pac loved the thugs. So it’s not hard to imagine these two raising hell down in the Sunshine State. The after party at Club Rolexx would have been off the chain. Still, ’Pac’s most poignant cry from the grave might just be “Changes” (from 1998’s Greatest Hits). Despite the cheesy Bruce Hornsby sample, this previously unreleased gem proves that no amount of overproduced studio magic can match the quality of material that ’Pac actually saw to completion. That’s just the way it is. 5. IS IT WRONG FOR ’PAC’S FORMER ENEMIES TO RECORD SONGS WITH HIS VOCALS? Yeah. But actually, Nas is the only culprit here. Don’t get me wrong, “Thugz Mansion” is a good song. But it’s hard to justify making amends (by way of making music that will surely make money) when the other person isn’t around. I know Nas insists that things between the two were copacetic in ’Pac’s last days, and I’m sure Afeni asked him really nicely to get down. But come on, Esco, just say no Read YN’s answers to the final 5 questions and the rest of our tribute to the 10th anniversary of ’Pac’s death in the October 2006 issue (#85) . Words: Elliott Wilson Images: Reisig & Taylor from XXL magazine posted by mooch at 7:17 AM 0 Comments Friday, July 14, 2006 Unsolved Mysteries on March 14, 1997 What Unsolved Mysteries Had to Say TUPAC SHAKUR As seen on Unsolved Mysteries on March 14, 1997 If you have any information about the death of Tupac Shakur, please call the Unsolved Mysteries phone center at 1-800-876-5353. SYNOPSIS: On September 7, 1996 gunfire erupted along the famous Las Vegas strip, leaving rap music star Tupac Shakur mortally wounded. Today disturbing questions haunt the investigation. Why were Tupac's trusted bodyguards unarmed? Why did the killer seem to target only Shakur? Why was no one willing to talk? On that fateful night, Las Vegas was operating at full capacity. Thousands had gathered for the Heavyweight Boxing match between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon, held at the world famous MGM Grand Hotel. Tupac Shakur was one of many celebrities who attended the fight. He was accompanied by Marion "Suge" Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, Shakur's recording company. At approximately 10:55 p.m., Tupac and Suge were in the car headed for Suge's dance club, followed by an entourage of musicians and bodyguards. Tupac, who normally was known to carry a weapon, as was Suge, was unarmed. According to reports, everyone felt safe. At 11:10 p.m. Tupac and Suge pulled up to an intersection and spoke to two unidentified women. Moments later, a car pulled up next to Tupac, who was sitting on the passenger side, and opened fire. As the attackers sped away, Suge Knight took off in the opposite direction. He finally stopped in front of a casino a mile away. Tupac Shakur was in critical condition, shot in the chest, in the hip, and in the hand. Suge Knight had escaped with a slight bullet graze in the temple. Despite the presence of thousands of potential witnesses, police say only one person offered a glimmer of hope. Yafeu Fula, one of Tupac's backup singers was riding in the car directly behind Suge and Tupac. Yafeu reportedly told police that night that he could do a photo line-up and possibly identify the gunman. Authorities questioned him briefly, and then he went on his way. For six long days, fans gathered outside the Las Vegas hospital where Tupac clung to life. It was a losing battle. On the afternoon of September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur died. Initially, conventional wisdom had it that Tupac fell victim to a spontaneous burst of gang violence. Supporting that scenario was a videotape, recorded by a security camera at the MGM Grand, just three hours before the shooting. Members of Tupac's entourage can be seen in the lobby, engaged in a brutal scuffle. Both Suge Knight and Tupac were present. Moments later, Tupac, followed by Suge, can be seen hurrying through the casino. The target of the assault was 22 year-old Orlando Anderson, an alleged member of a Los Angeles street gang called the Southside Crips. It long had been rumored that Suge Knight is affiliated with a rival gang, the Compton Bloods. Was this confrontation the spark that led to Tupac's murder? Some say one of Tupac's music videos offers a clue to a much different scenario. In the months preceding his death, Tupac was at the center of a heated dispute between east coast and west coast rap music factions. In a dramatized portion of the video, Tupac publicly blamed east coast artists Puffy Combs and Biggie Smalls for the 1994 attack outside a New York recording studio that nearly killed him. No one has ever been arrested in that shooting. Just weeks before his death, Tupac appeared on radio station KMEL in San Francisco, and candidly discussed his feelings towards his east coast rivals. Just last weekend, Biggie Smalls, AKA Notorious B.I.G. was himself gunned down, shortly after leaving a party in Los Angeles. At this time there is no known connection between his murder and Shakur's. In addition, there is no proof that the east coast/west coast rivalry had anything to do with Tupac's death, leading to intense speculation about a third possibility. Perhaps the murder was an "inside" job, orchestrated by someone close to Tupac Shakur. This scenario is populated by unanswered questions. In the midst of the jam packed Las Vegas strip, how did the gunman know where Tupac would be? Why did he seem to target only Tupac? Why weren't Tupac's bodyguards armed at the time of the shooting, when they had been armed earlier in the evening? Why was no one, including the two unidentified women just a few feet from the shooting, willing to cooperate with the police? The only person who apparently did see something, Yafeu Fula, never had the opportunity to view a photo line-up of possible suspects. Within a week of the shooting, he returned to his home in New Jersey. Two months later, Fula was gunned down in the stairwell of a housing project. Was it a random act of violence? Or a premeditated murder to keep Fula from talking to authorities? Authorities have always maintained that Fula was the only eyewitness willing to talk. However, in late February, two other members of Tupac's entourage claimed they told police from the beginning that they had a clear view of the shooter. They say police never asked them to view a photo line-up. The police say the men initially denied seeing the shooter, but plan to re-interview them as soon as possible. Ironically, in one of Tupac's final videos, he seemed to foretell his own violent demise. Cut down in a hail of gunfire by a shadowy, unknown assassin. Since his death, Tupac Shakur's popularity has skyrocketed. Six months after his murder, a movie soundtrack and an album, both posthumously released, were #1 and #2 on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues Chart. Despite the impressive sales, Tupac's family has alleged that they have yet to receive a dime in royalties from Death Row Records. That company is currently the target of a Federal racketeering investigation. It's CEO, "Suge" Knight was recently found guilty of parole violation and ordered to serve nine years in prison. If you have any information about the death of Tupac Shakur, please call the Unsolved Mysteries phone center at 1-800-876-5353. posted by mooch at 6:23 PM 0 Comments Thursday, July 13, 2006 New 2 Pac Album in Fall of 2006 The final 2pac album of unreleased material is looking very promising. It looks as though Afeni was listening when the reaction to Loyal To The Game was not good........ here is the latest news from an Amaru insider! Exclusive news from Insiders from Amaru Entertainment about Tupac' s Projects: As you all Know Tupac will never Die Coming out with More Projects , Movies, Soundtracks, and Collabarations Sources from Amaru Say. "As the fans already heard that a new Double CD from the late rapper is slated for a fall 2006 release is in its work stages," Celina Nixon, a represenative at Amaru Records Said. They went back to bases on this Project and will add a couple of new spotlights as well. Those who will produce the project are the following Celina Dixon said: Johnny J, qd3, D. J. Quik, Easy Mo Bee, Deon Evans, and Shock G, we just had to go back to the original Tupac producers Jamala Lesane added also in the album will have two tracks produced by Dr. Dre, one being an unreleased track that was recorded during the All Eyez on Me sessions that was not released the other is a new remixed Dr. Dre flavor track. She added also the Neptunes, and Kanye West will contribute to the LP. I mean Kanye is a great producer that will fit the Tupac flavor as soon as he is done working with his project he said he will bless the new Tupac album quoted From Jamal Lesane. People who will guest on the LP are of Course the Outlawz, Snoop Dogg, Natedog, T. Q., she also named R. Kelly. Afeni caught up with R. Kelly in Atlanta while R. Kelly was doing recordings for the Charlie Wison Project, and just asked Afeni could he do a track he said that he got the perfect idea, and stated that Tupac is one person that he wished he would work with. So she blessed him with the idea. Im telling the track is on fire. Also making vocals appearances is Usher Raymond, and Mariah Carey. Mariah just love the death out of Tupac when talking to her. She said that she wished that she could have dated him; I mean she stated the love she had for Pac, so it was good fo her to want to do a track with him. She repeatedly said thanks when she was rewarded said Celina Dixon, but the biggest surprise that will make the LP is a 2PAC/Janet Jackson track that they say they can't talk to much about, but it will be a hot one. Wow, this album looks promising.. Can't wait until it comes out. They also stated that they are also working on a Tupac spoken word album that will feature his message but not his voice and that producers like Easy Mo Bee, and D.J. Quik will make the album also... This release is said to be released the fall of this year. Also in the making according to Celina, and Jamala is a new Tupac movie played by an actor this movie will be in theatres the movie will be a bout Tupac's life on up to when he first started to Rap, They said they have been talking about this movie for along time, but wanted to go with the Rssurection Documentary to let the world know Tupac, From his own voice This will also Be An Amaru, MTV films prodution as was "Tupac Ressurection". And it will also feature a soundtrack... The Title will be called "2pac In the Beginning". ] Source: ThugzNetwork.com posted by mooch at 7:49 PM 0 Comments Wednesday, July 12, 2006 The 3 day theory ? Many people had hopes that Tupac would return in 7 years. And that time has come and gone, and people still think he is alive. The explanations these days are that 2Pac will come out of hiding after 10 years (Makaveli was originally called the 3 day theory, later renamed to the 7 day theory and 3+7=10) or that he has already indicated he is alive but will not publicly return. posted by mooch at 7:35 PM 0 Comments Tuesday, July 11, 2006 Happy 35th Birthday Tupac June 16th, in 1971 Tupac Shakur was born. Tupac seemed to be growing. He was not only beating the odds, he was doing it in front of millions of people who were pulling for him — pulling so hard that some still see Tupac Shakur alive and well. Black people, especially those who are young and live in cities, saw Tupac struggling in public with the baggage of being young and black in America. They embraced his attempt to "be his own man" and carve out a future of his own design — against the odds which see one in four black men under the control of the justice system and many others die before they reach middle age. Everyone is interested in Tupac's rise because they saw themselves in his struggle, his dream. Its hard to let go of Tupac and the fact that he had survived so much — not only routine racism, but a life of petty crime, even being shot five times in ambush — and survived. posted by mooch at 7:42 PM 0 Comments Sunday, July 09, 2006 The Take Down of Tupac Shakur Reprinted from The New Yorker, 7 July 1997. A REPORTER AT LARGE THE TAKEDOWN OF TUPAC. Tupac Shakur was one of gangsta rap's biggest stars. But he got caught in a collision of cultures when inner-city gangs met up with the multibillion-dollar record industry. BY CONNIE BRUCK WHEN twenty-five-year-old Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas last fall, he was riding in the passenger seat of B.M.W. 750 sedan driven by Marion (Suge) Knight, the head of Death Row Records. Death Row, the leading purveyor of West Coast "gangsta rap," is a music-business phenomenon. The company earned seventy-five million dollars in revenues last year. The first album Tupac made for Death Row, "All Eyez on Me," which was released in early 1996, sold over five million units. Tupac had made three earlier albums, but they had never reached the stratosphere of "quintuple platinm." Still, the days preceding his murder were anything but halcyon for him. It had become increasingly clear that there was a steep penalty to pay for having thrown in with Suge Knight. Even for the rough-edged music industry, which has historically been prone to excess and to connections with criminal elements, Death Row was a remarkable place. It was nothing for Knight to hand over a stack of hundred-dollar bills to Tupac for a weekend's expenses. Knight's office in Los Angeles was decorated in red, the color of the Bloods, one of the city's principal gangs. A guard holding a metal detector stood at the front door of the Death Row studio. "I have not been to one other studio to this day where you have to be searched before you get in," a veteran of the L.A. music business who worked with Tupac told me. "The have a checlist of people who can go in with guns. So you have to figure, These guys have guns, and it's a long run to the front door, and there's security at the front door that may try to stop you, even if you get there....Some of these security guys....were gangsters just out of the penitentiary. They would look at you, staring right through you. No words would have to be said." Intimidation was Suge Knight's stock-in-trade. It is said that he forced a black music executive at a rival company to strip in the men's room and then made him walk naked through the company's offices. A mammoth, three-hundred-and-fifteen-pound man, Knight has a substantial criminal record, replete with violent acts. Even when he was on his best behavior--say, dealing with a white executive at one of the major entertainment companies--menace hung heavy in the air. One man told me about a negotiation he had in the apparent safety of his own office. Knight was attended by a bodyguard, and when they reached a difficult point in the deal, the bodyguard ostentatiously leaned forward and let his gun, which was worn in a holster under his jacket, slip into full view. For a time, the aura of violence served Knight well. It granted him enormous license in small things (like keeping other executives waiting for hours, without a murmur of objection) and in larger ones. Music and video producers who claimed that Death Row owed them money were too frightened to demand it, or to sue. The potential for violence was also a powerful disincentive to anyone who might have considered talking to law-enforcement authorities about questionable practices. Moreover, it did not keep him from doing business with two of the entertainment industry's corporate giants. Death Row has been funded since its inception by its distributor, Interscope, which for years was partially owned by Time Warner, and which Universal has had a fifty-per-cent interest in since early last year. After Tupac's murder, however, things began to unravel for Knight. In the summer of 1992, he had pulled a gun on two rappers, George and Stanley Lynwood, for using a phone at the studio. After beating one of them with the gun, he ordered them both down on their knees, threatened to kill them, and forced them to take off their pants. He was convicted on assault charges and put on probation. But four years later, just before Tupac was killed, Knight took part in the beating of a man in Las Vegas, and this put him in violation of his probation. In February of this year he began serving a nine-year sentence and is now in San Luis Obispo state prison. In addition, hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of suits have now been filed against Death Row (the largest being that of Tupac's estate, charging that he was defrauded of over fifty million dollars, and seeking damages of a hundred and fifty million). And there may be more to come. A team of agencies, including the F.B.I., the D.E.A., and the I.R.S., are investigating allegations of money laundering, links to street gangs, drug trafficking, and organized crime at Death Row. "I think, Tupac, you brought down one of the most evil empires of my time," one of his friends, who grew up in the music business, says. He did not intend to romanticize Tupac; this friend, like many others, acknowledges that Tupac was famously split between what he himself referred to as his "good" and his "evil" sides, and that it was his darker side that seemed to have gained dominion during much of his tenure at Death Row. Nonetheless, these friends insist, that was not the real Tupac. The real Tupac was gifted, sympathetic, intent on articulating the pain of young blacks in the inner cities. And the real Tupac was to leave Death Row when he was killed. UNFAIRLY or not, Tupac Shakur's name has become synonymous with violent rap lyrics and "thug life" (a phrase Tupac had tattooed across his midriff). While he was alive, he was censured by politicians and, like other rappers, was kept from performing in some concert arenas because promoters could not insure the events against the threat of mayhem from the fans. At the same time, however, he was suspected by many in his core ghetto audience of not being cold-blooded enough to measure up to his status as the archetypal gangsta rapper. These conflicting views of Tupac reflect, to a degree, racial and social chasms. Rap fans insist that performers be authentic representatives of ghetto life: that they live the life they rap about; that life conform to art, so to speak. Rap's critics, on the other hand, are terrified that life will conform to art, that the behavior--the drug dealing and the violence--described by rappers will seep into the mainstream culture. The majority of ardent fans and consumers of rap are, in fact, middle-class white youths. (Seventy per cent of those who buy rap records are white.) It is the fear of a violent, marginalized culture's influence on susceptible young people that fuels much of the political debate, and this fear is exacerbated by the widespread adoption of hip-hop style. Controversy, of course, has never hurt sales. To the contrary. Tupac understood this very well, as did the record-company executives who stood to profit from his talents, and his notoriety. The more trouble Tupac got into with the law, the more credibility he gained on the street--and the more viable a rap star he became. The huge commercial success of gangsta rap created a peculiarly volatile nexus between the worlds of inner-city gangs and the multibillion-dollar record industry. Tupac sometimes said that he thought of his songs as parables, and now it is his own life--his journey into those two worlds, and his immolation at the point at which they converged--that seems almost allegorical. THE world of Suge Knight and South Central Los Angeles is at a far remove from the one in which Tupac Shakur grew up, though each, in its own way, romanticized violence. Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, was a member of the Black Panther Party. Early in 1971, while she was pregnant with Tupac, she was on trial for conspiring to blow up several New York department stores. She and her codefendants--the Panther 21--were acquitted just a month before Tupac was born. He was named for "the last Inca chief to be tortured, brutalized, and murdered by Spanish conquistadores...a warrior," Afeni says. His surname, Shakur, is a kind of clan name taken by a loose group of black nationalists in New York. The phrase "Black Power" had been "like a lullaby when I was a kid," Tupac recalled in a deposition he gave in 1995 (in a civil suit in which it was charged that some of Tupac's lyrics had influenced a young man who murdered a Texas state trooper). He remembered that when he was a teen-ager, living in Baltimore, "we didn't have any lights. I used to sit outside by the street lights and read the autobiography of Malcom X. And it made it so real to me, that I didn't have any lights on at home and I was sitting outside on the benches reading this book. And it changed me, it moved me. And then of course my mother had books by people like...Patrice Lumumba and Stokely Carmichael, 'Sieze the Time' by Bobby Seale and 'Soledad Brother' by George Jackson. And she would tell these stories of things that she did or she saw or she was involved with and it made me feel a part of something. She always raised me to think I was the Black Prince of the revolution." Tupac had indeed become a Black Prince by the time he was killed, but not along the lines laid out by the political activists of the sixties. Afeni and here friends were involved in what they perceived as revolutionary activity for the good of their community. Tupac and his fellow gangsta rappers sported diamond-encrusted gold jewelry, drove Rolls-Royce Corniches, and vied with one another in displays of gargantuan excess. Nevertheless, Tupac did not forget who his forebears were. "In my familar every black male with the last name of Shakur that ever passed the age of fifteen has either been killed or put in jail," Tupac said in his deposition. "There are no Shakurs, black male Shakurs, out right now, free, breathing, without bullet holes in them or cuffs on his hands. None." The leaders of the black nationalist movement to which the other Shakurs belonged had been virtually eliminated, largely through the efforts of the F.B.I. In 1988, Tupac's stepfather, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, who had received a degree in acupuncture in Canada and used his skills to develop drug-abuse-treatment programs, was sentenced to sixty years in prison for conspiring to commit armed robbery and murder. The crimes he was accused of included the attempted robbery of a Brink's armored car in 1981, in which two police officers and a guard were killed (and for which the Weather Underground leader Kathy Boudin was also convicted). Mutulu was also found guilty of conspiring to break Tupac's "aunt," Assata Shakur (Joanne Chesimar), out of prison. She had been convicted in 1977 of murdering a New Jersey state trooper, but escaped two years later and fled to Cuba. Tupac's godfather, Elmer (Geronimo) Pratt, is a former Black Panther Party leader who was convicted of killing a schoolteacher during a robbery in Santa Monica in 1968. He was imprisoned for twenty-seven years. His conviction was reversed a few weeks ago on the ground that the government suppressed evidence favorable to him at his trial (most significantly that the principal witness against him was a paid police informant). It was a haunting lineage, and Tupac would frequently invoke the names of Mutulu, Geronimo, and other "political prisoners" in his lyrics. "It was like their words with my voice," he said. "I just coninued where they left off. I tried to add spark to it, I tried to be the new breed, the new generation. I tried to make them proud of me." But, at the same time, he did not want to be them. Their revolution, and in most cases their lives, too, were ashes. IN the Panther 21 trial, Tupac's mother defended herself with a withering cross-examination of a key prosecution witness, who turned out to be an undercover government agent; after her acquittal, this unschooled but intellectually powerful woman was lionized in liberal circles, invited to speak at Harvard and Yale, and subsidized in an apartment on New York's Riverside Drive. Tupac and his sister Sekyiwa, who was born in 1975, became small Panther celebrities on the radical-chic circuit. "Then everything changed, the political tide changed over," Tupac said in his deposition. "We went on welfare, we lived in the ghettoes of the Bronx, Harlem, Manhattan." He estimated that he'd lived in "like eighteen different places" when he started junior high school. In his deposition, Tupac says that by the time he was twelve or thirteen years old Afeni had developed serious drug and alcohol problems. (Afeni disagrees. She says he was seventeen.) Tupac did not know who his father was, but he was close to Mutulu, who was the father of Sekyiwa and lived with them for a number of years. Then Mutulu, too, left him, going underground when Tupac was ten, after the Brink's holdup. While their contact was not altogether broken ("When I would feel he needed me, I'd do whatever I had to to get there, even if it was just so that he could see me--and he'd wave, so happy," Mutulu recalled), the connections came at some cost to Tupac. F.B.I. agents would approach Tupac at school to ask if he had seen his stepfather. (Mutulu was on the F.B.I.'s "Ten Most Wanted" list until he was captured, in 1986.) The family moved to Baltimore, and when Tupac was fourteen he was admitted to a performing-arts school there. "For a kid from the ghetto, the Baltimor School for the Arts is heaven," Tupac said in his deposition. "I learned ballet, poetry, jazz, music, everything, Shakespeare, acting, everything as well as academics." Asked by his attorney whether he'd been in any gangs at the time, Tupac responded, "Shakespeare gangs. I was the mouse king in the Nutcracker....There was no gangs. I was an artist." He had started writing poetry when he was in grammar school in New York, and it was only a short step from writing poetry to rapping. He wrote his lyrics with great speed and ease, and was soon performing at benefits for Geronimo Pratt and other prisoners. Tupac spent two years at the Baltimore School for the Arts. When he first came in, Donald Hicken, a former teacher, recalls, "he was a truly gifted actor, with a wonderful mimetic instinct and an ability to transform a character....His work was always original, never imitative, never off the rack. Even in this talented group of kids, he stood out." One of his schoolmates, Avra Warsofsky, told me that there was no suggestion of the belligerent, confrontational side of Tupac that would later come to dominate his public image. "He was a dear, sweet person," Warsofsky said. "There were inner-city kids at the school who were tough, who stole--but he was not that, not one bit." This idyll ended when Tupac's life at home became intolerable. As he described it in his deposition, he had no money for food or clothes; for a time he stayed at the home of a wealthy classmate and wore his clothes. That didn't last, though. "So I had to go back home....But my mother was pregnant, on dope, dope crack. She had a boyfriend who was violent toward her. We weren't staying in our own spot, we were staying in someone else's spot. We never could pay the rent. She always had to sweet-talk this old white man that was the landlord into letting us [stay] for another month. And he was making passes at my mom. So I didn't want to be there anymore. So I sacrificed my future at the School for the Arts to get on a bus to go cross-country to California with no money." He was not quite seventeen. Tupac stayed for a time with Linda Pratt, the wife of the incarcerated Geronimo Pratt, in Marin City, a poor community north of San Francisco, and then with his mother, who also moved to California. But school in California did not provide a haven for him. "I didn't fit in. I was the outsider....I dressed like a hippie, they teased me all the time. I couldn't play basketball, I didn't know who basketball players were....I was the target for....the street gangs. They used to jump me, things like that....I thought I was weird because I was writing the poetry and I hated myself, I used to keep it a secret....I was really a nerd." TUPAC'S mother was at once a mythic figure to him and fallen, and his identification with his radical heritage was profoundly ambivalent. "At times he resented being the nineties' voice of the Black Panther Party," Karen Lee, one of his publicists, told me, "and at times, he wanted to be." Lee said that he was furious that his mother's former comrades made no move to try to rescue her and her children when she became addicted to drugs. Indeed, when he was living in Marin City--destitute, with no place to stay (his mother and he had fought bitterly, and he accused her of lying to him about her drug use)--it was mainly street people who tried to help him. Man Man (Charles Fuller), a friend who would later become his road manager, provided him with a bed, and kept him from becoming a full-fledged drug dealer. His fortunes began to brighten slightly in 1990 when he got a job with the rap group Digital Underground, as a road manager and dancer. But his real break came the following year, when he was picked up by Interscope--a small company that had just been founded by the record producer Jimmy Iovine and the entertainment magnate Ted Field (an heir to the Marshal Field fortune) as a joint venture with Time Warner. Tom Whalley, who signed Tupac at Interscope, had brought in a demo tape Tupac had made, and Ted Field gave it to his teen-age daughter. She told her father how much she liked it. Whalley recalls being struck as much by Tupac's looks and by his "presence" as by his talent. He remembers saying to his assistant, "Have you ever seen eyes like that?" Interscope had positioned itself as something of a maverick in the music business, producing mostly "alternative" rock and gangsta rap, which drew on the culture of the gangs of South Central Los Angeles for its material. Rap was originally an East Coast phenomenon, an element of the hip-hop culture of the nineteen-seventies, which also included graffiti and break dancing. Although hip-hop music broke into the mainstream in 1979 with the international hit "Rapper's Delight," it was not until the late eighties, with the emergence of gangsta rap, that it showed signs of becoming hugely commercial--especially when it gained a wide audience of white youths, much as blues, jazz, and early rock and roll had. In 1991, Interscope released Tupac's first album, "2pacalypse Now," which was replete with militant lyrics depicting violence between young black men and the police. This was the album that Vice-President Dan Quayle said had "no place in our society." IN the deposition Tupac gave in 1995, when he was asked to interpret several of the songs on "2pacalypse Now," he explained that it was his practice to introduce a central character through whom he could develop a narrative, because he believe that "before you can understand what I mean, you have to know how I lived or how the people I'm talking to live....You don't have to agree with me, but just to understand what I'm talking about. Compassion, to show compassion." He also said that he was not advocating violence against the police but was simply telling stories that described reality for young black men--and cautionary stories at that, in which violence against the police often leads to death or imprisonemnt. On one track he says, "They claim that I'm violent just cuz I refuse to be silent." The song on the album that proved to be the most popular was entitled, "Brenda's Got a Baby." Tupac said he had written the song after reading a newspaper story about a twelve-year-old girl who became impregnated by her cousin and threw her newborn baby down an incinerator. Asked by his lawyer whether he considered the song a poliical statement, Tupac said, "Yes....When this song came out, no male rappers at all anywhere were talking about problems that females were having, number one. Number two, it talked about child molestation, it talked about families taking advantages of families, it talked about the effects of poverty, it talked about how one person's problems can affect a whole community of people. It talked about how the innocent are the ones that get hurt. It talked about drugs, the abuse of drugs, broken families...how she couldn't leave the baby, you know, the bond that a mother has with her baby and how...women need to be able to make a choice." Rap music is notorious for having lyrics that are degrading to women, and--much as Tupac would appear to be an advocate for women in "Brenda's Got a Baby," and also, even more, in a later song, "Keep Ya Head Up"--he wrote lyrics that were misogynistic as well. In "Tha' Lunatic," another song on "2pacalypse Now," he boasted, "This is the life, new bitch every night." In the deposition, when asked how he could reconcile the conflicting sentiments, he says, "I wrote this when I was seventeen....It's about a character, somewhat like myself, who just got into the rap business, went from having no girls to now there's girls all the time and he's just getting so much sexual attention and he's in his mind, a synamo. He's Rudolph Valentino and Frank Sinatra, he's everybody....He can get anybody he wanted....I'm an actor and I was a poet. So I felt like...I have to tell the multifaceted nature of a human being....A man can be sexist and compassionate at the same time. I was. Look at 'Tha' Lunatic' and look at 'Brenda's Got a Baby.'" TUPAC moved to Los Angeles early in 1992, and the stories he told in his music began to reflect more specifically his fascination with gang life. "Each gang element wanted to claim him," his stepbrother, Maurice Harding, a rapper known as Mopreme, says. "The cover of 'Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.'"--Tupac's second solo album--"was red, so everybody thought at first he was a Blood." But though he hung out with Bloods and, more often, their rival Crips, Tupac did not join either gang. He was at bottom an observer and chronicler, profoundly utilitarian in his approach to experience and, some thought, people as well. And South Central L.A.--which is almost like a foreign country within a city, so singular and baroque are the gang customs, culture, and laws that govern it--was the richest territory he'd ever seen. "He coult be with this poet, this pimp, this thug--he could suck everything from each of them and that would be part of him," said Man Man, the friend who moved with him from Northern California to L.A., and became his road manager. "He started hanging around thugs. He would suck it up out of them and then use that, in his music and his acting. People would be saying, 'Fred just got killed'...next thing you know, it's in his song....He was saying, 'If you don't know what's going on in the ghetto, this is what's going on.'" Tupac was particularly vulnerable, however, to the charge that he had not paid his dues, that he not a "real" gangster. For all the swaggering machismo that would come to dominate his public image as a gangsta rapper, he was considered within that world to be a novitiate. When he moved to L.A., Tupac said in his deposition, he "didn't have a slingshot, I didn't have a knife, I didn't even have sharp nails." But soon he had bought a gun and was practicing shooting it on firing ranges. He muscled his slight, lithe dancer's body with weight training and began to cover his torso with tattoos. Even so, his countenance, when caught in repose--delicate, fey, androgynous, a face with long-lashed, limpid eyes--tended to betray him. But he was adamantly tough. "It irked him when they said, 'Fake gangsta rapper,'" Mopreme told me. "He was saying, 'I'm from the dirt! Y'all should be applauding me! I made it through the ghetto. I made it through school with no lights. I'm real. We the same person!'" By 1993, Tupac seemed to have become obsessed with gang life. He was spinning from one altercation and arrest to the next. He got involved in a fight with a limo driver in Hollywood, tried to his a local rapper with a baseball bat during a concert in Michigan, and collected criminal charges and civil suits. According to Man Man and others, many of these incidents were a consequence of someone challenging Tupac's right to rap hard lyrics. "People would test him," Man Man explains. "And Pac felt, I have to prove that I'm hard. I would say to him, 'Most gangsters are people who wish they didn't have to be hard.'" At Tupac's instigation, he, Man Man, and another friend all got "50 NIGGAZ" tattoo (symbolizing a black confederation among the fifty states). "Nigga," in Tupac's lexicon, stood for "Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished." In "Words of Risdom," he raps, "Niggas, what are we going to do? Walk blind into a lie or fight. Fight and die if we must. Die like niggas." "I never could have had that word tattooed on me before," Man Man told me. "But Pac said, 'We're going to take that word that they used and turn it around on them...to make it positive.'" When Tupac got his "thug life" tattoo, his manager, Watani Tyehimba, a former Black Panther who had been close to Tupac since he was a small boy, was apoplectic. "I said, 'What have you done?'" Tyehimba recalled. "We talked about it, and it became clear that he did it to make sure he never forgot the dispossessed, never forgot where he came from. He was straddling two worlds. And he saw that we never make it as black people unless we sell out. He was saying he never would." Tupac collaborated with four other rappers on the album "Thug Life, Vol. 1" (which grew out of an earlier project called "Underground Railroad"). The idea was that the album would enable gang members to escape street life by becoming musicians. There were to be subsequent volumes of "Thug Life," with a new group of gang-member rappers each time. Some of the songs that Tupac and his fellow-artists wanted to include were rejected by Interscope. Tupac acknowledged that he "wouldn't play 'Thug Life' to kids. Not that it's anything that would make them go crazy or anything, but I wouldn't." Still, he knew that it was the harder lyrics that sold the best, and were perceived by the audience to most closely mirror life in the ghetto. "Pac became the spokesperson for the ghetto. He rapped out pain," Syke (Tyruss Himes), a West Coast rapper who appeared on the "Thug Life" album, told me. "In the L.A. ghetto, four or five people get killed every week. You don't hear about it. Only their families know." Through Syke and others, Tupac was now experiencing that life directly. In several of his songs, Tupac says, "Remember Kato." "Big Kato was like my brother," Syke said. "He got killed for my car. It had Dayton rims--they cost twenty-five hundred dollars. They killed him for it." Mental Illness, another rapper with whom Tupac became friendly through Syke, was also killed; and Syke's brother killed himself. ("I guess from the stress," Syke said.) "If you're rapping this hard stuff, you have to live it," Syke declared. "Otherwise people check your résumé and say, 'You don't look like you're hard from your résumé, let's see if you are.' Pac always felt he had to prove something to his homeboys." He points to the "rags," or bandannas, Tupac wore. "He started wearing red around Crips, and blue around Bloods--so that when he was around Crips, Bloods wouldn't think he was a Crip, and blue around Bloods, so Crips wouldn't think he was a Blood. His behavior was not right; he was on the edge. But they just figured he was Tupac the Rapper." Mopreme recalled an incident that was emblematic. "There was a fight at the Comedy Store, and some gang members were after him. So he put on his [bullet-proof] vest and all his guns, and he went to their place. He said, 'Y'all looking for me? Here I am!'" After that, Mopreme added, the gang, duly impressed, didn't bother him. Legendary as such an exploit became, the reality was rather more complicated. Watani Tyehimba told me that it was the "Rolling Sixties" set of the Crips that Tupac had gotten in trouble with and that he and Mutulu Shakur each contacted their leadership. "I did it from the street, Mutulu did it from prison, and together we got it under control. Then he went to the Crips' place. After that they were under orders not to harm him." Regarding Tupac's dramatic gesture, Tyehimba said, "It was machismo." OF all Tupac's much publicized, violent confrontations in the tempestuous year 1993, none better illustrated the degree to which he had become the exemplar of the gangsta-rap mandate than his arrest for shooting two off-duty police officers in Atlanta. The officers, he would later say, had been harassing a black motorist. The charges were dropped when it emerged that the policemen had been drinking and had initiated the incident, and when the prosecution's own witness testified that the gun one of the officers threatened Tupac with had been seized in a drug bust and then stolen from an evidence locker. The shooting in Atlanta made Tupac a hero to some, a demon to others. "They were acting as bullies, and they drew their guns first," Mutulu Shakur says of the officers. Tupac's response "sealed him as not only a rapper but a person who was true to the game. That made him, to the people who were his audience, real--and if not liked, respected." However, to the law-enforcement community and the political conservatives who were rap's most vocal critics Tupac was not only propagating insurrectionist rhetoric in his lyrics but acting it out as well. Gangsta rap had been provoking concern among law-enforcement authorities in this country since at least 1989, when an F.B.I. public-affairs officer wrote a letter to Ruthless/Priority Records, which distributed records by the group N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude). The F.B.I. was concerned, specifically, with the song, "Fuck tha Police." "Advocating violence and assault is wrong, and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action," the F.B.I. officer wrote. In 1992, police groups and their allies--most visibly Vice-President Quayle--denounced Time Warner for having put out the song "Cop Killer," by Ice-T. The following year, Time Warner released Ice-T from his contract, citing creative differences. Officer Gregory White, of the L.A.P.D., who works in a special gang unit, explains that gangsta rap is a legitimate concern of law-enforcement agencies because it often involves criminal activity. "Rap is a way to launder dirty drug money," he says. Accordting to White, some record companies provide fronts for the gangs. But he adds that it is rap music's virulently antipolice rhetoric that is considered particularly pernicious. Charles Ogletree, Jr., a black attorney who is a professor at Harvard Law School and who represented Tupac on a number of cases in the last year of his life, notes that "people in law enforcement not only disliked Tupac but despised him. This wasn't just a person talking, but someone who had generated a following among those who had problems with the police, and who spoke to them. He was saying, 'I understand your pain, I know the source of it, and I can tell you what to do about it.' Police officers knew him by name, Bob Dole mentioned him by name." Mutulu Shakur believes that his own relationship to Tupac was a source of continuing concern to law-enforcement authorities. Mutulu, who wears long dreadlocks and is revered within the black-nationalist community, had been a target of the F.B.I. and other police agencies for years before the Brink's robbery. During his trial, the federal district court judge confirmed that "the rights of Dr. Shakur...were violated by the COINTELPRO program." (COINTELPRO was initiated by the F.B.I. to neutralize black-activist leaders as well as certain right-wing extremists.) Recently, in a development not unlike that in the case of Geronimo Pratt, Mutulu was granted permission to file a motion for a new trial on the ground that evidence was discovered indicating that the government withheld information that would have been favorable to his defense. In the spring of 1994, about six months after Tupac shot the police officers in Atlanta, Mutulu was moved from the penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, to the super-maximum-security federal prison in Marion, Illinois, and from there to the country's most maximum-security institution, in Florence, Colorado. In a memorandum written in February, 1994, the warden of Lewsiburg argued that Mutulu needed "the controls of Marion," in part because of his "outside contacts and influence over the younger black element." Mutulu is convinced that Tupac became a lightning rod after he shot the policemen in Atlanta. "These disenfranchised--the young blacks who are poor and hopeless--have no leader," Mutulu said. "Their heroes are cultural and sports heroes. No one--not Jesse Jackson, not Ben Chavis, not Louis Farrakhan--has as much influence with this segment as rappers. So when Tupac stands up to a white cop, shoots it out, wins the battle, gets cut free, and continues to say the things he's been saying--the decision to destroy his credibility is clear." WHETHER by happenstance or not, about two weeks after the Atlanta shooting something occurred that could not have been better designed to remove Tupac from circulation--and that would ultimately lead to his undoing. While in New York for the filming of the movie "Above the Rim," Tupac had been socializing with a Haitian-born music promoter, Jacques Agnant. Tupac was playing the part of a gangster named Birdie in the movie, and he told friends that spending time with Agnant helped him in his portrayal of Birdie--much as hanging out with the gangs in South Central provided him with material for his lyrics. "He said that he was studying Jacques--that Jacques was Birdie," Watani Tyehimba recalls. But Tyehimba was alarmed by the relationship, and wanted Tupac to keep his distance. "I told Tupac the first time I met him, Charles Fuller told Tupac, everyone told him he should stay away from Jacques." Tupac ignored the warnings. "Jacques had all this gold and diamond jewelry," Man Man says. "He had money. He had a nice B.M.W. He could get you in any club. Pac was just starting to be known then, and he couldn't get in all the clubs. Jacques spent about four or five thousand dollars on Tupac in the beginning--he just overwhelmed him." According to someone else who knew Agnant, Madonna (with whom Tupac would become close) was one of Agnant's celebrity friends. On November 14, 1993, Jacques Agnant and Tupac went to Nell's, the downtown New York club. A friend of Agnant's, identified only as "Tim," introduced Tupac to a nineteen-year-old woman named Ayanna Jackson. She expressed her interest in him; they danced together; and she performed oral sex in a corner of the dance floor. They went to his hotel, where they had intercourse. The next day, she called and left many messages on his voice mail, saying, among other things, how much she'd enjoyed his prowess. Four days later, on November 18th, she returned to his hotel suite. There, she found Tupac, Man Man, Agnant, and an unidentified friend of Agnant's. They all watched television in the living room, and then she and Tupac went into the bedroom together. What ensued is disputed; Jackson claims that she was forced to perform oral sex on Tupac while Agnant partly undressed her and grabbed her from behind, and that they then made her perform oral sex on Agnant's friend while Tupac held her. (Man Man, she acknowledged, did not touch her.) Tupac claimed that he left the room when the other men entered and did not witness whatever happened. In any case, Jackson testified that she left the suite in tears and that Agnant told her to calm down, saying that he "would hate to see what happened to Mike [Tyson] happen to Tupac": that is, a woman charging him with sexual assault, which is what Jackson promptly did. She summoned the hotel's security officers, who called the police. Tupac, Man Man, and Agnant were arrested. (Agnant's friend left.) Indictments were handed down on sex-abuse, sodomy, and also weapons charges (two guns were found in the hotel room), and Agnant's lawyer, Paul Brenner, who had represented the Patrolmen's Benevolent Assocation for many years, moved that his client's case be severed from the two codefendants', on the ground that only Tupac and Man Man had been charged with the weapons offenses, and that therefore the indictment was improperly joined. The prosecutor did not oppose the motion--something that Tupac's lawyers say is highly unusual--and the judge granted it. It was apparently after Agnant's case was severed that Tupac became convinced that Agnant was a government informer and had set him up. Tupac's suspicions were, inevitably, shaped by the experience of his extended family; "Jacques didn't smell right to me," says Watani Tyehimba, who considers himself particularly attuned to the presence of undercover agents because of his long history with the Panthers and what he learned from COINTELPRO files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. One night in November 1994, during the trial of Tupac and Man Man, Tupac was at a club with the actor Mickey Rourke and a friend of Rourke's, A.J. Benza, a reporter for the Daily News. Tupac told Benza that he believed that Agnant had set him up. A couple days later Benza wrote an account of the conversation, recalling that Tupac had told him that Mike Tyson had called him up from prison to warn him that Agnant was "bad news." On the night of November 30th, while the jury was deliberating, Tupac went to a Times Square music studio to rap for an artist, Little Shawn, who, according to Man Man, had ties to Agnant. When Tupac and his entourage entered the lobby of the studio, three black men followed them, drew guns, and ordered them to lie down. Tupac reached for his own gun, which he usually wore in his waistband, cocked. The men then shot Tupac five times, grabbed his gold jewelry, and fled. Convinced that the shooting had also been a setup, and that the shooters would return to finish the job, Tupac checked himself out of the hospital a few hours after surgery, and moved secretly to the house of the actress Jasmine Guy to recuperate. When he returned to the courtroom, bandaged and in a wheelchair, he was acquitted of the three sodomy counts and the weapons charge, but in an apparent compromise verdict, convicted of two counts of sexual abuse--specifically, forcibly touching Ayanna Jackson's buttocks. Bail was set at three million dollars, and Tupac turned himself in and was incarcerated. On February 7, 1995, he was sentenced to not less than one and a half to not more than four and a half years in prison. A few months after Tupac was sentenced, Jacques Agnant's indictment was dismissed, and he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors. When I asked Melissa Mourges, the assistant district attorney who had tried the case against Tupac, why Agnant had been dealt with in such a favorable way, she said that Ayanna Jackson was "reluctant to go through the case again." Jackson had, however, brought a civil suit against Tupac following the trial. (The suit was subsequently settled.) Agnant's lawyer, Paul Brenner, believes that Tupac should never have been convicted. "It was a very weak case," ge says. "A lot went on" at Nell's. Brenner suspects that the police planted the gun they found in the hotel room. "I worked for the P.B.A. for ten years, I know the police....The police are firneds of mine," he says. "But Tupac had no friends in the police. I couldn't find a policeman who had a good word to say about Tupac." Tupac's conviction that Agnant had set him up seemed only to deepen with time. He went public with it on his last album, "The Don Killuminati": I hope my true mutha-fuckas knowThis be the realest shit I ever wrote....Listen while I take you backand lay this rapA real live taleAbout a snitch named Haitian JackKnew he was working for the feds....Set me upWet me upNigga stuck me up.Agnant has files a suit for libel against Tupac's estate, Death Row, Interscope, the producer and the engineer of the song, and the publishing company. Ayanna Jackson has always maintained that she was not involved in any setup. What role Agnant, the police, or any other governmental entity may have played in the sexual-assault case against Tupac is conjectural. But this much is plain: once the gears of the criminal-justice system were set in motion, Tupac was penalized more for who he was--a charismatic gangsta rapper with a political background--than for what he had done. Melissa Mourges seemed to share the animus many police officers felt for Tupac; Charles Ogletree argued in his appeal that her conduct was so prejudicial (she railed against Tupac as a "thug," among other things) that a new trial was warranted on that ground alone. The setting of bail at three million dollars, Ogletree commented, was "inhumane," and the sentence was "out of line with the conviction." Tupac was sent to the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, a maximum-security prison. "The entire case," Ogletree said, "reeked of impropriety." IN the very beginning, prison granted Tupac a sort of grace, extricating him from the manic, overcharged existence he had created for himself. Outside, he drank heavily and smoked marijuana constantly. Now his mind was clear. And in Dannemora he was liberated from the demands of his music. His gangsta-rapping had been a pose, he said. He had been required to maintain the post and he did not regret doing so, but it was a pose nonetheless, and one he was abdicating. He had laid down the tracks of a new album, "Me Against the World," before he was incarcerated and, having finished that, he told Vibe magazine, "I can be free. When you do rap albums, you got to train yourself. You got to constantly be in character. You used to see rappers talking all that hard shit, and then you see them in suits and shit at the American Music Awards. I didn't want to be that type of nigga. I wanted to keep it real, and that's what I thought I was doing. But...let somebody else represent it. I represented it too much. I was thug life." With the opportunity to reflect, sober, on the events that led to his incarceration, he said he realized that, "even though I'm innocent of the charge they gave me, I'm not innocent in terms of the way I was acting....I'm just as guilty for not doing nothing as I am for doing things." He accepted blame for not having intervened on behalf of Ayanna Jackson. "I know I feel ashamed--because I wanted to be accepted and because I didn't want no harm done to me, I didn't say nothing." In April of 1995, while he was still in prison, he married Keisha Morris, whom he'd been dating for about six months before he was put in jail. Eminently responsible and levelheaded, she was going to school and holding down a job; she didn't smoke marijuana; and she didn't immediately have sex with him. Morris told me that on their first date they saw a movie, and then Tupac prevailed on her to stay in his hotel room. When she insisted on going to bed fully dressed, he protested only that "you could take off your sneakers." In the deposition he gave in the civil case brought against him by the family of the young man who had murdered the Texas state trooper, Tupac described his new wife: "She's twenty-two, she's a Scorpio, she...just graduated from John Jay College with a degree in criminal science, and she's taken a year off, she's going to go to law school...she's nice, she's quiet, she's a square, she's a good girl. She's my first and only girlfriend I ever had in my entire life and now she's my wife." Tupac and Morris talked about moving to Arizona, and what they would name their kids. He started to organize his finances, and attempted to settle the numerous lawsuits pending against him across the country. But in the forbidding, almost feudal backdrop of the Clinton Correctional Facility, his efforts seemed increasingly irrelevant. His lawyers were filing appeals in his case, and under those circumstances he could have been allowed to post bail, but the district attorney's office was fighting his right to do so, and the proceedings dragged on, month after month. What he had spoken of initially when he was at Rikers Island as prison's "gift"--of respite and introspection--now had been overshadowed by the nightmare of incarceration. "Dannemora was a hellhole--he had a one-to-four year sentence, and they put him in a maximum-security prison!" one of his lawyers, Stewart Levy, says. Levy recalls that while he was visiting Tupac one day, "Tupac had a rectal search when he came in"--to the visiting area. "Then we spent six hours there in full view of the guards. Then the guards started saying 'Tupac! Tupac!' in this falsetto voice, putting up their fingers with these plastic gloves, waving them--'It's time! It's time!' Why a second rectal search, when he'd been sitting there in plain view with his lawyer, why, except to humiliate him?" Yaasmyn Fula, who had known him since he was a baby, and who visited him often in prison, recalls, "It was a terrible experience for him--to be captive, in a horrific situation, with guards threatening to kill him, inmates threatening to kill him....He said, 'I have never had people demean me and disgrace me as they have in this jail.'" Other factors weighing on Tupac contributed to his anxiety about being in prison. He was the breadwinner for a large extended family--his mother, his sister, her baby, his aunt and her family, and more. Iris Crews, one of his attorneys in the sex-abuse case--who had been leery of representing Tupac but became beguiled and devoted ("Had he been this foulmouthed, woman-hating kid, I wouldn't have done it")--recalled that one day as he sat in court with a bunch of young children climbing all over him during a recess he had remarked to her, "If I don't work, these kids don't eat." "He'd been deprived of his childhood, and then, at twenty, he had twenty people to support," she said. Beyond that, he had enormous legal fees for cases all over the country. After nearly six months in prison, despite the money being advanced by Interscope, Tupac's funds were depleted. DEATH ROW RECORDS offered to solve all of Tupac's financial problems. Death Row had been started by Suge Knight and the rap producer Dr. Dre in 1992. Knight was a former University of Nevada football star who had grown up in Comption in South Central L.A. In the late eighties, he had worked as a bodyguard in the burgeoning L.A. rap scene, eventually developing a friendship with Dre, who was then a member of the group N.W.A. Knight persuaded Dre that he was getting cheated by his record company and that he should leave. Knight is alleged to have threatened Dre's producer with baseball bats and pipes in order to break his contract. The release of Dre's album "The Chronic" shortly after Death Row was formed helped establish the company as a major force. By the summer of 1995, it was one of the top record companies in the rap-music world. "Suge and Dre really were a magical combination," a black entertainment executive who was then at one of the big music companies told me. They were trusted on the streets. "White or black executives, no matter what their thinking, were not going to be trusted. We were square to them." And Knight was a formidable manager. "He never really seemed to sleep. He had an instinct with people about what he thought their marketability could be. He could motivate Dre to finish what he started. And he didn't take no for an answer. Dre had essentially all the ideas, and Suge had the management musicle to get it done." Death Row owed its start to Interscope. Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field had decided to fund Death Row and distribute its products in 1992, when other companies shied away. One executive at a major studio who had turned down the prospective Death Row venture told me that he and his colleagues felt that "life is too short" to assume the risk that they believe an association with Knight might pose. "Jimmy is comfortable with gangsters, he can deal with them, it doesn't bother him," the executive said. "He's a street guy himself." Iovine--the son of a Brooklyn longshoreman, who, many say, aspired to be the next David Geffen--wanted to make his mark fast, and he was impatient with the progress of his new business at first. So he gambled, and reaped the payoff: gangsta rap turned out to be a gold mine. But the disadvantage of being involved with Death Row was continuing repraoches from social critics and incensed shareholders. Time Warner had succumbed to pressure of that nature when it disengaged itself from Ice-T in 1993. By early 1995, however, the profitibility of gangsta rap seemed to be tipping the scales of greed and fear. When Time Earner was discussing raising its stake in Interscope from twenty-five per cent to fifty per cent, they sought assurances that the relationship with Death Row would continue. Then, in the late spring of 1995, Time Earner again came under attack for its involvement in gangsta rap, this time by the joined forces of William Bennett and C. DeLores Tucker, the chairwoman on the National Political Congress of Black Women. Tucker, pointing to Tupac, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Dr. Dre (the latter two at Death Row), all of whom had problems with the law, declared that "Interscope is a company Time Warner needs to get out of business with immediately." Tupac was too promising an artist for Interscope to consider jettisoning; but there was a compromise solution that might make it appear that Interscope was insulated from him, and the solution apparently made sense to everyone involved--except Tupac. Suge Knight had wanted Tupac at Death Row for some time, although he had not been a Tupac supporter at first. "He was not into the Tupac-artist thing," a producer who knows Suge says. "But then came his thug notoriety--being called a rapist, getting in brawls....With his problems, he became more attractive to Suge." Knight had been making overtures to Tupac with Interscope's blessing. A music executive who worked with Interscope recalls Iovine saying to Knight, "Take this kid, take him please. He's out of control. You can control him. Take him." Watani Tyehimba remembers a meeting a meeting in 1993 attended by Tupac, Knight, Iovine, and himself, at which Iovine, saying it made sense for Tupac to work with Dr. Dre, argued strongly that he should sign with Death Row. Tyehimba was surprised, but Iovine explained that Interscope and Death Row had a "unique relationship"--suggesting that Death Row's gain of Tupac would not mean Interscope's significant loss. The exact nature of that "unique relationship" may be of more than academic interest to federal authorities investigating possible criminal activities at Death Row. Suge Knight has always been at pains to portray himself as an independent operator. For example, he boasted that Death Row, unlike other small companies, owns its master (the original recordings of the albums). Since the long-term value of rap recordings is only speculative at this point, the ownership of the masters is a matter of ego more than economics, a music executive explained to me, and in the case of Death Row "it was important for the image to say they were black-owned." But in fact Death Row's masters are heavily mortgaged, and have been used as security against loans and advances from Interscope. Indeed, Death Row has been financially dependent on Interscope from the beginning. While Knight clearly had a great deal of autonomy, he and Iovine worked together closely. "It was Jimmy and Suge, Jimmy and Suge," someone who knew them both well told me. Since no one wanted to tell Knight anything that "set his fuse," he said, it was Iovine who dealt with Knight. The relationship was very hands-on. Promotions and marketing for Death Row were handled by an Interscope employee. If a production company was making a video for Death Row, its contract might well be with Interscope. The closeness between the two companies was underscored by their physical proximity. Until last year they were located just across the hall from each other in an office building in Westwood. ON a business flowchart, it may have meant just shifting Tupac from one box to another, but for Tupac to go from Interscope to Death Row, only a hallway apart, was to enter a different, and far more sinister, world. It was widely believed that one of the major investors in Death Row was a drug dealer named Michael (Harry-O) Harris, who was serving time for attempted murder as well as drug convictions. He was said to have provided the seed money for Death Row. Knight, and Harris's lawyer, David Kenner, who had also become the lawyer for Death Row, were supposed to be guarding Harris's interests. There were even rumors that the company was being used to launder drug money on a continuing basis. Moreover, it was said that there were contracts out on Knight, and that Harris was unhappy with Knight's business practices. How many of these stories had reached Iovine is not clear. He did, of course, know of Knight's criminal record and propensity for brutality when he first made the deal with Death Row, and as time went on he became aware of the continuing climate of violence that enveloped the company. A lawsuit against Death Row and Interscope was filed on behalf of a man stomped to death at a Death Row party in early 1995. As for Michael Harris's bankrolling of Death Row, Iovine told federal investigators that he heard a rumor about it in 1994 or 1995, but it was not until December, 1995, when Harris threatened to sue the company, claiming that he owned half of it, that Iovine took the rumor seriously. If this was true, then Iovine was strangely insulated, for in L.A. music circles Harris's role was widely gossiped about. Indeed, in the summer of 1995, months before Harris wrote to Iovine about his intentions to sue, the head of the Time Warner music division, Michael Fuchs, made an overture to arrange a prison meeting with Harris. He was trying to decide whether the company should yield to the political pressure about gangsta rap and sell its interest in Interscope, and he believed that it might well be Harris, not Knight, who could speak with authority to Time Warner about the future direction of Death Row. The meeting never took place, because Time Warner executives and the board of directors quickly decided that the company should shed its troublesome investment by selling its fifty-per-cent stake back to Interscope. Interscope was able to exploit that rebuff by turning around and selling the fifty-per-cent stake to MCA Music Entertainment (now known as Universal), for a profit of roughly a hundred million dollars. TEMPTING as Knight's offers were (Death Row was the premier rap label, putting out one multi-platinum record after another), Tupac had consistently declined to leave Interscope. But in the summer of 1995, when it seemed as though his incarceration might continue indefinitely--for years even, if he was not allowed to post bail--he was more desperate than he'd ever been. It was in this bleak moment that Knight--and, apparently, Iovine as well--saw the oppotunity to arrange things the way they wanted to. It had become not only attractive but vital to Death Row that Tupac join the label. One of the company's biggest stars, Snoop Doggy Dogg, was facing a murder trial, and it was rumored on the street that Dr. Dre was leaving. (Dre would indeed leave by early 1996.) Death Row could not afford to lose both artists. And Knight surely knew that Tupac would be more popular than ever after his prison term, more "real" to his audience than he had been before. Even though Interscope advanced Tupac six hundred thousand dollars during the nine months he was in prison, he was broke and frustrated. To Tyehimba, there seemed to be an unmistakable synchrony at work. Interscope would not or could not provide enough funds for Tupac. And as Knight became a more and more importunate suitor, Interscope "was squeezing us to get us to go to Death Row," Tyehimba says. Knight--accompanied by Death Row's lawyer, David Kenner, who had come to play a major role in the company, far exceeding specific legal tasks--made repeated trips to Dannemora to visit Tupac. Knight promised to solve Tupac's most intractable problems. According to several people close to Tupac, Knight claimed that Kenner could cure the legal logjam and win permission to post bail. Knight further promised that he would put up some portion of the bail and, more important, make Death Row the corporate guarantor for the entirety. Knight swore he would make Tupac a superstar, much bigger than he'd been with Interscope. And he would solve Tupac's financial worries. He would even buy Afeni a house. It was a dazzling hand. What was probably Knight's trump card, however, was the thing that he, and he alone, could offer Tupac--the aura of gangster power. Even though Tupac had claimed that he had outgrown the gangster pose, his stay in Dannemora had made him feel more vulnerable than ever before. "He wanted to get out of jail, and he needed a label that could back him," a friend who visited him in prison that summer says. "The street shit had to be dealt with, and Suge had the power on the street." Tupac brooded about being shot in the Times Square studio and about what he believed was the setup by Jacques Agnant. He also suspected people who were there in the studio that night: Andre Harrell, now the head of Motown; Bad Boy Entertainment C.E.O. Sean (Puffy) Combs; the rapper Christopher Wallace, known both as Biggie Smalls and as the Notorious B.I.G.; and others. (They all denied any involvement.) At first, Man Man said, Tupac did not believe that Biggie, who had been a good friend of his, and who had come to visit him when he was recuperating from his wounds, had been involved in any way. "But when Tupac was in jail he was getting letters from people saying Biggie had something to do with it, he started thinking about it, it got so out of hand, it grew--and once it got that big, publicly, you had to go with it." Watani Tyehimba, Stewart Levy, and Charles Ogletree all say they argued vigorously with Tupac about his decision to go to Death Row. "Tupac told us, 'The trouble with all of you is, you're too nice,'" Levy recalls. Tyehimba told me that at his last meeting with Tupac at the prison, Tupac hugged him, wept, and said, "I know I'm selling my soul to the devil." Kenner drafted a handwritten, three-page agreement for Tupac to sign. Within a week, in a stunning coincidence, the New York Court of Appeals granted him leave to post bail. (The money was provided by Interscope and a division of Time Warner, althought Tupac always gave Suge full credit.) Knight and Kenner arrived in a private plan and white stretch limousine to pick Tupac up. Underscoring the degree of porousness between Interscope and Death Row, Tupac was, according to someone familiar with the negotiation, given a "verbal release" from his Interscope contract. As for Kenner's handwritten document, Ogletree, who not see it until much later, says, "It wasn't a legal contract....It was absurd that anyone with an opportunity to reflect would agree to those terms. It was only because he was in prison that he signed it. Tupac was saying, 'My freedom is everything. If you can get me my freedom, you can have access to my artistic product.'" IN ways large and small, in both art and life, Tupac Shakur instinctively pushed past customary boundaries, and when he came out of prison and joined Death Row that impulse was heightened. He would work the longest hours (nineteen-hour stretches, despite the consumption of enormous amounts of alcohol and marijuana), he would become the biggest star, he would become a "superpower" within the Death Row-dominated world of gangsta rap. Just nine months earlier, he had said, "Thug life to me is dead." Now he embraced it. "Pac was like a chameleon," Syke says, echoing a common view among Tupac's friends. "Whatever he was around, that's what he turned into. And when he got around Death Row, he tried to be that." While Tupac had transgressed many social limits, he had also drawn to him people who tried, with varying degrees of success, to moderate his behavior. But when he set out for the province of Death Row, he left behind virtually all of these putative guardians--among them, Watani Tyehimba, Karen Lee, Man Man, even his wife, Keisha. (Their marriage was later annulled.) Yaasmyn Fula, who was one of the few old friends who remained close to Tupac, says that he was "out of his element. It was a completely different soldier mentality. He was fascinated by it because of the absence of a male figure who could say, 'Leave it alone.'" "He was always looking for a father," Watani Tyehimba says, "in me some, in Mutulu some. But what he missed was one father with the good and the bad, not a composite." By the time Tupac met the man who said he was his father (a former Black Panther named Billy Garland, who materialized at Tupac's hospital bedside in New York after Tupac was shot in the Times Square lobby), the encounter failed to satisfy him. It was in Suge Knight, many thought, especially when they saw the two together--the slender, lithe youth shadowed by the other's massive bulk, the one all animation, the other exuding authority--that he found that connection. Tupac and Knight seemed almost inseperable in the months after Tupac's release from prison; they worked together long hours in the studio, and socialized when they were through. One of Tupac's friends remembers watching them sing a song from the soundtrack of "Gridlock'd": "You Ain't Never Had a Friend Like Me." The combination of Tupac and Knight seems to have been combustible, with each activating the most explosive elements in the other. Someone who has known Knight well for years points out that it was after Tupac arrived at Death Row that its signature excess became even more pronounced--fancy clothes, gold and diamond jewelry (especially heavy medallions, laden with diamonds and rubies, bearing the Death Row symbol of a hooded figure in an electric chair), Rolls-Royces (four were purchased to celebrate Snoop Doggy Dogg's acquittal on murder charges), and lots of women. Before Tupac, a knowledgeable insider pointed out, "Death Row had not had a real star. They had Snoop and Dre--they're entertainers. Snoop could be sitting quietly over there in a corner"--he gestured to one end of the restaurant we were sitting in--"but if Tupac were here he would create such a ruckus. People would be saying, 'That's Tupac!' He had star aura. Suge saw that, and he liked that. All of a sudden, there were all these pictures of Suge, together with Tupac, feeding off each other." ONCE Tupac came out of prison and joined Death Row, he probably did more to stoke the flames of a much publicized feud between East and West Coast rappers than anyone. For all the posturing and the displays of bravado and the aspersions cast on everyone's integrity, this was primarily a feud about money. Rap had originated in the East, but, starting in the late eighties, the gangsta rappers from Los Angeles were more successful. Then Puffy Combs's Bad Boy Records, which was based in New York, began putting out its own version of gangsta rap--which the West insisted was merely derivative. Watani Tyehimba told me that much of Tupac's anger at Biggie Smalls, Puffy's most successful rapper, was based on professional jealousy: Tupac was in jail, and Biggie's single "One More Chance" was No. 1 on the charts. In an interview in The Source in March, 1996, Tupac claimed he'd been sleeping with Biggie's wife, the singer Faith Evans, and he went so far as to taunt Biggie about it in a song: "I fucked your bitch, you fat motherfucker." Some of those close to Tupac were appalled at the Faith Evans imbroglio. (She denies that such an encounter with Tupac ever took place.) "The trouble with what Pac was doing, with this East Coast-West Coast thing, was that it was just something got out of hand, a publicity thing, but brothers in the street think something is really going on, and they're gonna die for it," Syke contended. "Pac was like a person starting a fire, and it got out of control." When the East Coast-West Coast war was simply verbal, it was useful for its marketing possibilities. But it may also have played into a real, not hyped, desire for vengeance on Knight's part, since he is said to have blamed Puffy for a close friend's murder. The feud moved to a new plane at a Christmas bash in 1995, hosted by Death Row at the Château Le Blanc mansion, in Hollywood Hills. A record promoter from New York, Mark Anthony Bell, who is an associate of Puffy Combs, is said to have been lured upstairs to a room where Knight, Tupac, and their entourage had been drinking. Bell was allegedly tied to a chair, interrogated about the killing of Suge's friend, and hounded for the address of Puffy and Puffy's mother. He is said to have been beaten with broken champagne bottles, and Knight is said to have urinated into a jar and told Bell to drink from it. Bell received an estimated six-hundred-thousand-dollar settlement from Death Row, and he declined to press charges. But a friend of Bell's told me that he had reached him in Jamaica about a month after the incident, and Bell had said to him, "I'm here till I heal. They busted me up bad!" People who were with Tupac the last year of his life are not surprised that he would be involved in something like this. "When Tupac was with Suge," one friend says, "Suge would get him all stirred up, and he'd try to behave like a gangster." He recalled another incident, in the spring of 1996, when a producer said that he wanted to leave Death Row with Dr. Dre. "He came out all bloodied up," Tupac's friend said. "And Tupac was a part of that. He had to show Suge what he was made of." " TUPAC always wanted to be a leader, not a follower," Preston Holmes, the president of Def Pictures, who had worked with Tupac in the movies "Juice" and "Gridlock'd," says. "And in order to be on top in that world, he had to act a certain way--screwing the most women, stomping the most guys, talking the most shit. But I had conversations with him in this period, when he would say, 'Gangsta rap is dead.' I think he was trying to extricate himself." In February, Tupac had decided to start his own production company, called Euphanasia, and he asked his old friend Yaasmyn Fula to come to L.A. to run it. Fula began trying to organize Tupac's business affairs. "We weren't getting copies of the financial accountings," she said. "We'd ask for them, and they'd send a present"--like a car. "I felt like there was this dark cloud over us. I knew so much was wrong--but Pac would say, 'Yas, you can't keep telling me things, I know what I am doing.'" Fula felt that Afeni, from whom she was becoming estranged, had been influenced by Knight's attentions and largesse. Tupac's signing with Death Row had transformed the lived of his extended family, even more than his contract with Interscope had. "They had lived lives of scarcity, worrying about the next meal, worrying about how to pay the rent," Fula says, but now they stayed at the elegant Westwood Marquis hotel for several months, racking up and "astronomical" bill. "Pac felt he was cursed with this dysfunctional family," Fula says, "although he loved them. And as his success grew, especially in the last year, this presence grew. They were always there." Afeni Shakur says that "Death Row in the beginning treated us much better than Interscope had." But she suggests that she was not oblivious of the dark side of Knight and Death Row. She told me that Tupac had not allowed either Syke or Tupac's young cousins--the Outlawz, who travelled with him and whome he supported (and one of whom, Yafeu Fula, Yaasmyn's son, was shot and killed two months after Tupac's murder)--to sign with Death Row, because he "didn't want any of them to live in bondage." She also told me that when Tupac encouraged her to go out socially with Knight's mother, she believed that he was doing that in order to protect her. "Suge's mother was very nice," Afeni said, "but I never gave her my phone number. We both understood it was the rules of war." The document that Kenner had drafted and Tupac had signed in prison stipulated not only that he would become an artist for Death Row but also that Knight would become his manager and Kenner his lawyer. For Kennery, Death Row's lawyer, also to represent Tupac was at best bad judgement and at worst a clear case of conflict of interest. And if Kenner possessed an ownership interest in Death Row as well, something which has long been rumored in Los Angeles music-industry circles but which Kenner has consistently denied, the conflict would be even more patent. It also might explain how he--a white criminal-defense lawyer who in the eighties handled some of L.A.'s most high-profile drug, racketeering, and murder cases but had virtually no experience in entertainment law--could have emerged at the top of one of the hottest black-music record labels. Kenner's entrée, it now seems plain, came through Michael Harris. Paul Palladino, a private investigator who has worked closely with Kenner for years, told me that back in 1991 or so "David was representing Michael Harris on his appeal, and Harris introduced him to Suge." In his unfiled complaint against Death Row and Interscope, Harris alleged that he had had a prison meeting in September, 1991, with Kenner and Knight, to discuss the terms of his investment in what would become Death Row. Harris and Knight were to be equal partners, he alleged, and Kenner was to set up the corporation and help Knight manage it. (Knight and Kenner deny this.) In its first couple of years, other lawyers who were retained by Death Row told me, Kenner was doing its criminal-defense work, and he did not appear to have a broader role. But by 1995 he was, some thought, the proverbial power behind the throne. To many of Tupac's friends, the relationship between Knight and Kenner fit a familiar pattern: a black gangster who has access to the streets works in consort with a white player who is connected to levers of power in the world at large. Knight might wear a ring with the initials "M.O.B."--"Member of Bloods"--but in their eyes Kenner was the real thing. DAVID KENNER began to represent Tupac as his entertainment lawyer for civil and criminal cases in California, but Tupac asked Charles Ogletree to continue to represent him as well. Ogletree told me that he repeatedly wrote letters to Death Row, asking to see the contract Tupac had signed with Death Row in prison and to negotiate a formal contract under more conscionable circumstances; but all his efforts, he said, were "met with silence, diversions, and outright misrepresentations." Ogletree was also handicapped in his efforts to carry out Tupac's instructions to settle some of his numerous civil lawsuits. "Tupac came out of jail with no money. He would say, 'I want to take care of this case.' I would negotiate a settlement; he would say, 'Good, Death Row has my money, tell them to send the check.'" When the check didn't come, Ogletree continued, "I would call Kenner. He would say, 'It's in the mail.' Then, when it never arrived, he would say he was sending it FedEx. Then, when it didn't arrive, he would say he'd wire it." Ogletree added, "We should have been able to close the deal, but it was never possible. We had to go through the record company. It was as thought he had no life except that given to him by Death Row." By the late spring, Ogletree says, Tupac was carefully plotting his escape. "He had Euphanasia, he had the Outlawz, he had his movie deals--he was building something that was all to be part of one entity....He had a strategy--the idea was to maintain a friendly relationship with Suge but to separate his business." The precedent of Dr. Dre's departure from Death Row did not seem particularly encouraging. A music-business executive who was friendly with Dre says that Dre left because he was uncomfortable with Knight's "business practices." Dre abandoned his interest in the company in return for a relatively modest financial settlement, and Interscope facilitated the divorce by giving him a lucrative new contract. "Look at Dre," Ogletree says. "Such a brilliant, creative musician. He started Death Row, and in order to get out he had to give up almost everything....Now, what would it take for Tupac, the hottest star around, whose success was only growing?" From a legal standpoint, Ogletree said, it was not so difficult; the contract signed in prison could be challenged. "But you have to live after that....It was a question of how to walk away with your limbs attached and bodily functions operating. "I remember seeing him just before his twenty-fifth birthday," Ogletree continued. "He felt it was a glorious day. He never imagined he'd live to be twenty-five--but there was a sadness in his eyes, because he still had these chains binding him. This was not where he wanted to be. I said, 'You can be anything you want to be.' He said, 'Can I be a lawyer?' I said, 'You'd be a damn good lawyer!' I sent him a Harvard Law School sweatshirt." Through most of the summer, Tupac was on the set of "Gang Related," a film in which he was costarring with Jim Belushi. The night it wrapped, Tupac celebrated by taking one of his lawyers, Shawn Chapman, to dinner at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. He had been seeing a lot of Kidada Jones, Quincy Jones's daughter, but that didn't deter him from flirting with Chapman. She remembers him driving away from the Peninsula in his midnight-blue Rolls-Royce with the top down, playing Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon." It was a romantic and lighthearted interlude--and a stark contract to the grave business Tupac was transacting. Just a few days earlier, on August 27th, Tupac had severed a critical tie to Death Row. "He had been on the set all day, and in the studio all night," Fula recalls. "He sent us to the studio to get cassettes of what he'd done the night before--he wanted to listen to it. They said no, that Kenner wouldn't allow it. Pac went crazy! He fired Kenner...I typed the letter...and he gave me permission to hire another lawyer. "Tupac waited far longer than I wanted him to," Ogletree says. But, to Tupac's more streetwise friends, firing Kenner seems impossibly rash. Syke didn't know that had happened until I told him, and when I did he looked at me for a long moment, as if he was having difficulty processing what I had said. Then he murmured--repeatedly--"He fired Kenner?" Tupac was brilliant, but he wasn't smart," another friend says. "He didn't realize, or refused to accept, what anyone from the street would have known--that you can't fire Kenner, you don't leave Death Row." Suge Knight is said now to maintain that Tupac's differences were with Kenner, not with him. KNIGHT had planned a big party at his Las Vegas club, 662 (on a phone pad the numbers spell "M.O.B."), on September 7th, following the beavyweight-boxing-title fight between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon. Tupac was supposed to attend with the Death Row contingent. He had just got back to L.A. from New York that morning, and he decided he was not going to Las Vegas; he told Fula he was going to Atlanta to settle problems with some relatives there, instead. But just a few hours later she learned that he had changed his plans; Knight had persuaded him to go to Las Vegas after all. After the almost nonexistent fight--Tyson knocked Seldon out in less than two minutes--Knight, Tupac, and their entourage were on the way out of the M.G.M. Grand when they came upon Orlando Anderson, a reputed member of the Southside Crips, the Bloods' longstanding enemies. According to an affidavit that would later be filed by a detective with the Compton Police Department, some Crips had robbed a member of Death Row of his company medallion a month or so earlier; now, in the hotel, the victim is said to have whispered to Tupac that Anderson was the thief. Tupac, predictably, took off after Anderson, followed by Knight and the rest of the Death Row entourage; they set upon him, beating and kicking him, until hotel security guards arrived and broke up the melee. Tupac went to his hotel briefly, then rejoined the others; about two hours after the fight, they were on their way to Knight's club, in a long convoy of cars. Afeni Shakur says that Kidada Jones, who was in Las Vegas that night, told her that Tupac had wanted to drive his Hummer, which is akin to a combat vehicle; but Knight, insisting that they had things to discuss, had prevailed upon Tupac to ride with him. Knight drove his black B.M.W., and Tupac rode in the front passenger seat, with his window down. A former Death Row bodyguard told me that the situation was aberrant; ordinarily an armed bodyguard would have been riding with them, and additional armed bodyguards would follow in the car behind. This night, however, Knight and Tupac rode alone. The Outlawz were in the car behind them, with a bodyguard who was unarmed. A white Cadillac pulled up alongside Knight's B.M.W. and a black man who was riding in it fired about thirteen shots from a .40-calibre Glock pistol into the passenger side, hitting Tupac, who struggled to get into the back seat. Knight (by his own account in a subsequent police interview) pulled him down. Tupac was hit four time; Knight's forehead was grazed. (He would later maintain he had a bullet lodged in his head.) At the hospital, Tupac went into emergency surgery, where doctors removed one shattered lung, and he was listed in critical condition. According to his mother and others who saw him over the next several days, he was first unconscious and then, because he was so agitated, he was heavily sedated. Knight, interviewed several weeks later by Time magazine, claimed that when he was sitting on Tupac's bed, Tupac "called out to me and said he loved me." Tupac died on the afternoon of September 13th. Afeni says that doctors tried to resuscitate him several times, and that she then told them not to try again. She later told me that when he was thrashing about she surmised that he was trying to tell one of his cousins that he wanted him to "pull the plug." She also said repeatedly that "Tupac would not have wanted to live as an invalid." ON March 9th, six months after Tupac was murdured in Las Vegas, Biggie Smalls, who had been singled out by Tupac as a traitor and mortal enemy, was shot in his car as he left a music-industry party in Los Angeles. No arrests have been made in either Tupac's or Biggie's murder. While the Las Vegas police would appear to have been almost lackadaisical in their approach to Tupac's murder (they made only a perfunctory attempt to question Tupac's cousins, who were riding in the car behind Knight's, for example), it is also true that in that group of witnesses--and among their peers--giving information to the police is taboo. When Knight was interviewed on "Primetime Live," he said that even if he knew who had shot Tupac, he would not say. "I don't get paid to solve homicides," he declared. There have been many theories about who killed Tupac; one of the most prevalent rumors, which began to circulate shortly after Tupac was shot and has persisted to this day, is that Knight himself had something to do with Tupac's murder. In mid-March he gave an interview from jail to "America's Most Wanted" and said that he had not been involved. But many of those who were close to Tupac continue to suspect--based only on circumstantial evidence and their understanding of the street--that it was his attempt to leave Death Row that led to his death. Dre had managed to do it, but only by relinquishing any claim on Death Row. A music-business veteran who is close to Dre told me that "if Tupac had left Death Row...it would have been worse than devastating--it's an insult. It's a public slap in the face. It is not tolerable. 'I've made you and you're going to leave me? And six months after Dre did it?' In another culture," he concluded, "people sue you." In the last few months, Knight has been buffeted by one damaging revelation after another. The Los Angeles Times reported in October that he had given a recording contract to the daughter of the deputy district attorney Lawrence Longo, who had helped strike his probation deal in the assault case, and also that David Kenner had rented a nineteen-thousand-dollar-a-month Malibu Colony house from the Longo family and that Knight had stayed in it. (Longo denies any wrongdoing.) Then, in December, the Los Angeles Times reported that Steve Cantrock, Death Row's accountant and a principal in the L.A. office of Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman, a division of Coopers & Lybrand, had signed a document saying that he stole four and a half million dollars from Death Row. Cantrock was said to have told federal investigators that he had been invited to a San Fernando Valley house where Knight, Kenner, and others were gathered, that he had been forced to his knees and, fearing for his life, signed the handwritten confession that Kenner had drafted on the spot. (Knight says that no force was involved. Cantrock denies stealing the money.) Cantrock, who is in hiding, has since been forced out by his firm. He has also been reported to have been an intermediary between Knight and alleged organized-crime figures; federal investigators have reportedly been examining possible links between Death Row and organized-crime families in New York and Chicago. When federal grand jury subpoenas were sent out last February, they focussed not only Knight's role but on Kenner's as well. In mid-April, Afeni Shakur filed a racketeering suit against Death Row, Suge Knight, and David Kenner, alleging that they were engaged in a conspiracy to steal from Tupac. The suit included a claim against Kenner for malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty, charging that his "purported representation of Tupac was in hoeless conflict" with his own interests--inasmuch as Kenner, the suit alleges, was both an attorney for Death Row and an owner of it. Several people close to the situation say that the suit is on the verge of being settled, and that Interscope has helped to make that possible. Since Tupac's death, Interscope has repeatedly sought to mollify Afeni. In Octover, when she found Knight and Kenner unresponsive and she was threatening to block the release of Tupac's last album unless she got an accounting of the money due to him, it was Jimmy Iovine who met with Afeni and her lawyer, Richard Fischbein, and agreed that Interscoep would pay her an immediate three million dollars with more to come. And it was Interscope, not Death Row, that underwrote a memorial service for Tupac in Atlanta in November. Interscope has, in a way, been a model of corporate responsibility. Indeed, in a strictly corporate sense it has done more than was required. Tupac was not officially Interscope's artist, after all. But Interscope executives may feel a level of responsibility for having pushed Tupac into Suge's arms. And there is also a compelling business rationale for Interscope to do everything possible to quell the skirmishing between Tupac's estate and Death Row. As one lawyer close to the situation points out, if Afeni didn't get what she wanted from Death Row she would surely sue not only Death Row but Interscope as well, on the theory that the companies were so closely related as to have shared exposure. Being subject to a legal process of discovery on this issue could hardly have been an attractive prospect for Interscope--particularly in light of the ongoing criminal probe of Death Row. IF Interscope escapes unscathed in the federal probe, Suge Knight's undoing could well prove a boon. "Joint ventures are only as successful as the operations are frugal," an executive close to Interscope points out, and at Death Row the spending was "obscene." "If they can shift the Death Row assets within Interscope, they'll come out smelling like roses--and not have the wild card of Suge and Kenner." A couple of months ago, it was reported that Seagram, the parent of Universal, is considering buying, for three hundred and fifty million dollars, the half of Interscope that Universal does not already own. This would mean a colossal profit for Iovine and Field. To many blacks in the music business, the lack of congruency in this particular morality tale is bitterly familiar. Suge Knight has retained Milton Grimes, who defended Rodney King, to represent him in the federal investigation. Grimes argues that Death Row did not operate in a vacuum. "Their money came from Interscope, and from MCA, and they"--Interscope--"were hands-on. So if there are going to be indictments, let them take on the industry--not just this one black business." That Interscope is widely regarded as the most successful new label since Geffen Records cannot be attributed solely to its affiliation with Death Row. Interscope has hugely successful rock groups, including Nine Inch Nails, Bush, and the Wallflowers, and the pop groups No Doubt and God's Property. But it was Death Row that rescued them from their early doldrums and that delivered one multi-platinum album after another. And the legacy of Death Row to Interscope is a rich one. "Death Row served an amazing purpose for Interscope," an entertainment executive told me. "It helped put them in the black-music business. Today, no matter what happens, they have that. People in that community feel that they gave a black man power. They gave a black man autonomy. They gave a black man money." Iovine and Field did bet on Suge Knight and Dre when other companies would not. They have justified what they did by alluding to the First Amendment, and to their belief in giving a chance to black artists and entrepreneurs from the street. But Death Row was no enterprise zone. And anyone who got near it could have predicted that there would be a price to pay for its cultivation of gangsterism--in lyrics, in social conduct, and perhaps in business practices as well. Tupac, of course, paid the heaviest price of all.

Tupac Shakur

Which English children's author, who would have celebrated his 94th birthday on Monday, wrote such classics as The BFG, The Twits, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, among dozens of others?

The Coalition of the Swilling: Politics Archives The Coalition of the Swilling Just what I want to happen right by my house TRENTON — President Barack Obama will appear at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel … not New Brunswick … when he comes to New Jersey for a campaign rally for Gov. Jon Corzine next week. The Corzine campaign announced on its Web site Thursday that the rally would be moved from Rutgers University in New Brunswick to accommodate a larger crowd. Corzine campaign manager Maggie Moran says in a Web video the move was made to accommodate the anticipated crowd. More than 50,000 people have signed up through the governor's Web site hoping to go. About 17,500 will be allowed to attend the July 16 rally. The Garden State Parkway will be completely shut down for hours on a Thursday in the height of the Summer Shore season. What could possibly go wrong? $20 says this costs Corzine more votes than it gains him. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:28 AM | Comments (4) July 09, 2009 Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:31 PM | Comments (1) July 06, 2009 ...when somebody lays numbers out that way /people can SEE what's going to happen? Obama's Budget: Almost $1 Trillion in New Taxes Over Next 10 yrs, Starting 2011 President Obama's budget proposes $989 billion in new taxes over the course of the next 10 years, starting fiscal year 2011, most of which are tax increases on individuals. Man, I **HEART** me some Tapper. But I'd steer clear of buses if I were him... Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:16 AM | Comments (5) July 05, 2009 U.S. misread scale of Honduran rift Zelaya's ties to Venezuela's Chávez was source of concern for opponents TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Although the U.S. government knew for months that Honduras was on the brink of political chaos, officials say they underestimated how fearful the Honduran elite and the military were of ousted President Manuel Zelaya and his ally President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. Biden: ‘We misread how bad the economy was’ He stands by stimulus package, says jobs will be created in months ahead WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden said the Obama administration "misread how bad the economy was" but stands by its stimulus package and believes the plan will create more jobs as the pace of its spending picks up. Schmaybe we need to have czar created to insure Barack and Co. revisit the basics before they blow anything else for lack of cognizance and comprehension. We'll call it: "No Chider Left Behind" Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:57 PM | Comments (4) July 02, 2009 Get Ready For Some Serious Spinning Let's see how The One and his worshipful followers in the Media spin this WASHINGTON (AP) - Out-of-work with no place to land, the legions of America's unemployed are growing. The Labor Department is scheduled to release a report Thursday expected to show the nation's unemployment rate edging closer to double digits. Wall Street economists predict the jobless rate will rise to 9.6 percent in June from 9.4 percent in May. That would mark a 26-year high. The rising rate comes as recession-weary companies continue to cut workers. Economists expect a loss of 363,000 jobs in June, up from 345,000 job cuts in May. Mind you you, this is during the promised "accelerated" stimulus spending that has "created or saved" some 30 million jobs since January as the unemployment rate continues to, er, climb to 26 year highs. Damn you Chimpy! Oh, and there's this Even if companies slow the pace of layoffs, they will be reluctant to hire until they feel certain the economy is back on its feet. That's why economists are forecasting a continued rise in the unemployment rate over the next year. It's expected to hit 10 percent this year. Many think it could rise as high as 10.7 percent by the second quarter of next year before it starts to make a slow descent. Some think the rate will top out at 11 percent. Others think the peak will lower — around 10.5 percent — by the spring of 2010. Yep, there's going to be some serious spinning coming out of DC over the next few days. My guess is, much like they do when their education or welfare polices fail, they will respond that the problem is not the policy but the scope, so we need to spend even more. Gulp. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:03 AM | Comments (5) June 30, 2009 This Guy Is Just Pathetic You know the old saying about what to do when you're in a hole? "This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story," Sanford said. "A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day." During an emotional interview at his Statehouse office with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford said Chapur is his soul mate but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife. ... In early 2009, after Jenny Sanford discovered the affair, the couple went into counseling. She has told The Associated Press that he asked her several times to visit the mistress and she refused. But the governor claims he wanted to end the affair in person and, with his wife's permission, went to New York with a "trusted spiritual adviser" serving as chaperone. The three went to church and dinner together and parted ways the same night. Oh what a circus. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:23 PM | Comments (9) The New Jersey "Budget" Lawhawk has a good summary on this bit of delusional insanity and fiscal disaster. Corzine and every single Legislator who voted for this should be pounded in the polls and thrown from office. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:59 AM | Comments (7) June 23, 2009 As Dear Dave E. Notes in My Previous Post ...( on the subject ) our Precedent will, indeed, be on the telly YET AGAIN , at 12:30 EST. It seems he's "scheduled" a news conference vice his EVERY FREAKIN' DAY telly sneak attacks, ergo committing an error of epic proportion: advance warning. And I have planned accordingly. At 11:30CST, I'll be watching the bullriding on Versus instead of the bullshitting on the networks! (Cowboys wear brain buckets now...? Is NOTHING sacred?) Take that, Precedent Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:55 AM | Comments (9) June 18, 2009 I sh*t you not. By unanimous consent, the Senate passed a resolution a short time ago apologizing for slavery and racial segregation. Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, one of the sponsors, said the measure was no “panacea,” but could help trigger “reconciliation.” “I am pleased that Congress has officially offered an apology for slavery and it’s long overdue,” he said. “The formation of my home state of Kansas was centered around slavery and came to be known as ‘Bleeding Kansas.’ I believe that this official apology will enable our nation to begin healing our racial wounds rooted in the institution of slavery.” Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, was the other sponsor. The passage coincides with Juneteenth, a celebration which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. I'm wondering how Robert Byrd voted on that particular resolution, or is he still in the hospital? They probably shot it through while he was gone. Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:36 PM | Comments (12) What A Pompous Twit Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:19 AM | Comments (14) June 17, 2009 Our Dear Precedent ...is on the TV YET again ~ for the fifteenth frickin' time today. Announcing YET another agency to take-over whatever use to pass as free markets, which has ruined the American dream and caused him YET more sleepless nights. Only 3 1/2 more years. Thank God I remember most of those Lamaze breathing techniques for the pain caused when his mug appears YET again on the tenatively free airwaves. Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:10 PM Quote of the Day Incoming!!! ..."It appears to suggest that I was removed because I was disabled -- based on one occasion out of hundreds," he said. "I would never say President Obama doesn't have the capacity to continue to serve because of his (statement) that there are 56 states," Walpin said, adding that the same holds for Vice President Biden and his "many express confusions that have been highlighted by the media." Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:51 AM | Comments (2) All Your Biz Are Belong To Us Well, actually, not "us" but "him" Reporting from Washington -- The Obama administration this week will propose the most significant new regulation of the financial industry since the Great Depression, including a new watchdog agency to look out for consumers' interests. Under the plan, expected to be released Wednesday, the government would have new powers to seize key companies -- such as insurance giant American International Group Inc. -- whose failure jeopardizes the financial system. Currently, the government's authority to seize companies is mostly limited to banks. Look, I think there needs to be clear regulation of a lot of the financial industry, and I think that limits need to be in place so that no one company's demise could wreck the entire economy. But there's no way in hell the government should have the power to go around seizing companies. On Monday, Obama administration officials sketched the outlines of the plan the president is to unveil Wednesday. They said it would seek to reduce gaps in regulatory oversight, rein in the use of mortgage-backed securities and other complex derivatives, reduce incentives for companies to take excessive risk and give the government new power to quickly intervene during any future crises. The government should regulate the derivatives market in a simple way: amend the rules of incorporation so that the traders who initiate these trades, and the executives who sign off on them, are personally liable for any losses that occur. These huge losses occurred in part because the people who came up with and approved these trades didn't understand them, and no one had the stones to say :you know, I don't think we've thought this through all the way" and put the kibosh on the trades. If, however, these folks faced the threat of personal financial ruin if these things tanked then maybe they'd take a closer look at the risks involved. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:12 AM | Comments (1) They Are Simply Insane It's beyond Monopoly money WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate sources say the latest cost estimates for health care legislation are around $1.6 trillion over 10 years. Two Senate staffers, one Democratic and one Republican, said Congressional Budget Office estimates put the cost of the Finance Committee version of the bill at around $1.6 trillion. In-freakin-sane. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:10 AM June 15, 2009 Gosh, I Really Love This New "Smart Diplomacy" ...that's undoing all the damage that Chimpy McHitler did to our relationships with key allies. Key allies like, say, Britain Senior aides to President Barack Obama accompanied four Uighur prisoners as they were flown from Guantanamo Bay to the British colony of Bermuda, without the UK being informed, it was revealed yesterday. In an escalating diplomatic row over the transfer of the former terrorist suspects, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed the transfer with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in what was said to be an uneasy conversation. Privately Whitehall officials accused America of treating Britain, with whom it is supposed to have a "special relationship", with barely disguised contempt. One senior official said: "The Americans were fully aware of the foreign-policy understanding we have with Bermuda and they deliberately chose to ignore it. This is not the kind of behaviour one expects from an ally." Feel the love. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:41 PM | Comments (4) What's This "Guessed" Crap? I thought noted tax cheat Geithner was the smartest fellow in the world, the only one who could lead Treasury and follow the divine wisdom of the One and his faithful sidekick Wile E. Biden? Now Biden's telling us the Most Competent Administration Evuh was just... guessing? "No one realized how bad the economy was. The projections, in fact, turned out to be worse. But we took the mainstream model as to what we thought -- and everyone else thought -- the unemployment rate would be." "Everyone guessed wrong at the time the estimate was made about what the state of the economy was at the moment this was passed." So for $1 trillion we've gotten, what, 4 new government jobs and a pack of Juicy Fruit. Change you can believe in. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:30 AM | Comments (3) June 12, 2009 ...just got a little tougher Olympic Airporter, an airport shuttle service that has carried thousands of Shore travelers to Newark and JFK airports for more than 30 years, will close on June 19 because of rising expenses and slowing demand, company officials said Thursday. Advertisement Its decision devastated customers, who viewed the service as an inexpensive alternative to a taxi or parking at the airport. "It's going to be a tragedy for me, I'll tell you that much," said Kathy Brown, 63, of Red Bank, who uses the service four times a year. "The price is right, and it's convenient." Wall-based Olympic Airporter operates 19 trips a day, with stops in Toms River, Wall, Middletown, Keyport and Newark Liberty International Airport. It also shuttles passengers to John F. Kennedy International Airport. ...It started the airport shuttle service in 1987. It purchased the Princeton Airporter in 2006, adding service from Princeton to Newark Liberty and changing its name to the Olympic Airporter. Today, it has 128 full- and part-time employees and a fleet of 90 vehicles. And next week it has zero. I'd love for the article to delve into the burden that Washington's and especially Trenton's regulatory mania has placed on the company. But I ain't gonna get that from the APP. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:40 AM | Comments (9) June 09, 2009 Every Evening I Go to Bed, Thinking There's NOTHING Left Our Precedent Can Do to Shock Me And EVERY freakin' morning, the SOB proves me wrong, bless his little pointy head. File this new jaw dropper under "You GOT to be shittin' me?!?!?!" WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged Congress to pay for new increases in federal benefit programs as it goes rather than sink the nation deeper into a debt, calling it a matter of public responsibility. Republicans lashed back that Obama is no voice of fiscal restraint as the deficit soars. The president's plan would require Congress to pay for new entitlement spending, such as health care, by raising taxes or coming up with budget cuts — a "pay-as-you-go" system that would have the force of law. Under the proposal, if new spending or tax reductions are not offset, there would be automatic cuts in so-called mandatory programs — although Social Security payments and some other programs would be exempt. Ohohohohoh, wait. I see. ..."It is no coincidence that this rule was in place when we moved from record deficits to record surpluses in the 1990s — and that when this rule was abandoned, we returned to record deficits that doubled the national debt," Obama said, flanked at the White House by supportive Democratic lawmakers. Bush did all this to us. I am at the point where I barely have any molars left in my head from the teeth gnashing that occurs every frickin' time I see his smug, pretentious mug on the telly. Which, of course, seems like it's fifty times Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:00 PM | Comments (4) Oh Yeah? Well My Plan... ...will save or create (in my mind) at least one trillion jobs (CNN) -- As the nation's unemployment rate inches toward double-digit territory, the White House insists that job creation is on the way. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday is presenting to President Obama the "Roadmap to Recovery," a plan to accelerate the implementation of the $787 billion stimulus plan in its second 100 days. Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February, vowing the program would create or save 3.5 million jobs. So far, 150,000 jobs have been saved or created by the plan -- fewer than that 345,000 jobs lost in May alone. The White House says as a result of the expedited pace, the recovery plan will create or save more than 600,000 jobs in the second 100 days. So there. Notice how they say with a straight face that "So far, 150,000 jobs have been saved or created by the plan" even though there's absolutely no data to support this, and one might *think* that their very next line, "fewer than that(sic) 345,000 jobs lost in May alone", might make them maybe kind of sorta perhaps question the One's math. But really, trust me on this: I will create or save, my option, One Trillion Jobs. Or not. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:25 AM | Comments (4) Why Is It A "Coup"... ...when Republicans in the NY Senate do it COUP IN ALBANY: GOP Takes Over NY State Senate Malcolm Smith Ousted As Senate Majority Leader; Dems Turn Off Lights, Cut Internet Power In Attempt To Stop Coup Paterson Goes Ballistic: I'm Here To Stand Up For Democracy Reporting Marcia Kramer ALBANY (CBS) ― Who's in charge of New York? That was the big question Monday night following a political standoff in Albany. The Republicans said they pulled off a coup, snatching power away from the Senate majority, but the Democrats said it was illegal and that they're still in control of the Legislature. And the whole thing has Gov. David Paterson lashing out at lawmakers. It was a carefully crafted coup -- five weeks in the making, with independent Tom Golisano in on the plotting. And when it was over Republican Sen. Dean Skelos of Rockville Center was back in power as Senate Majority Leader. Dumped was former Democratic leader Malcolm Smith. but when Democrats in the US Senate do it it's a "courageous and wonderful display of our democracy in action"? Just wonderin'. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:18 AM June 08, 2009 Dear President Sarkozy As an American citizen I am dreadfully embarrassed by my President's snub of you and your nation, one of our longest-standing allies. While it may be of little consolation, please be aware that any time you and your Bride are in New York you have an open invitation to dine at our house. It's the least I can do. best regards, Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:08 AM | Comments (19) Good News From Europe Labour takes it on the chin Labour has suffered its worst post-war election result as it was beaten into third place by UKIP and saw the BNP gain its first seats at Brussels. Labour's share of the vote at the European elections was just 15.3% - worse than party bosses had feared. The Tories won with 28.6%, beating Labour in Wales but failing to increase their total share significantly. The results have sent shockwaves through UK politics and led to renewed calls for Gordon Brown to quit as PM. tick-tick-tick You hear that Gordon? It's time to go. (mind you, the BNP is not a party that I support) Elsewhere June 7 (Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy led pro-business parties in defeating socialists in European Parliament elections, lessening the pressure for more stimulus measures to fight the deepest recession since World War II. Amid signs the economic slump is bottoming out, the continent’s top two leaders escaped the drubbing in European Union-wide elections that was handed to U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and socialists in smaller countries including Spain, Austria, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovenia. Boy Obama really has some wide coat-tails in Europe, doesn't he? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:20 AM | Comments (2) June 05, 2009 ...One dinner snub at a time The Obamas turn up in Paris this evening, but have declined a dinner invitation from the couple next door: the Sarkozys. President Obama’s reluctance to spend more than minimum time with the French leader on his visit for the D-Day anniversary has come as an embarrassment to the Elysée Palace. America’s First Family will not be dining with President Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, even though they are staying at the residence of the US Ambassador, yards from the Elysée apartments where the Sarkozys spend their weekends. Mr Sarkozy’s staff were trying yesterday to arrange another private moment between the couples. Mr Obama is due to fly back to Washington tomorrow night or on Sunday. Good gawd almighty, this guy is the most arrogant SOB we've ever had. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:14 PM | Comments (12) Barack O Borg? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:44 AM June 04, 2009 ...please turn off the lights? In a move that left the Prime Minister fighting for his political future, rebels claimed that as many as 50 Labour MPs were prepared to put their names to an email demanding that he step down. Details of what party insiders described as an attempted “cyber coup” emerged after his authority was dealt a potentially critical blow by the resignation of Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary. It's been frankly mind-boggling watching the disintegration of Parliament brought on by this expensing scandal; if only such a thing could happen here and we could clean house in DC! Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:53 AM June 03, 2009 Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:20 PM | Comments (1) If the Precedent Wasn't So Preoccupied With Posing in the Mirror and Our Being a "Muslim" Nation ...he might just have time to be pissed about these puny efforts to thwart his masterful plans. The federal circuit court granted a request by a group of Indiana pension funds that hold a small portion of Chrysler's secured debt to "stay" the sale order to allow the circuit court to hear the expedited appeal. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:05 AM Obama Won't Release Memos Showing What We Learned From Terrorists... ...but he will release the secret list of all our nuclear sites and facilities potentially to terrorists The federal government mistakenly made public a 266-page report, its pages marked “highly confidential,” that gives detailed information about hundreds of the nation’s civilian nuclear sites and programs, including maps showing the precise locations of stockpiles of fuel for nuclear weapons. The publication of the document was revealed Monday in an online newsletter devoted to issues of federal secrecy. That set off a debate among nuclear experts about what dangers, if any, the disclosures posed. It also prompted a flurry of investigations in Washington into why the document had been made public. ...David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security, a private group in Washington that tracks nuclear proliferation, said information that shows where nuclear fuels are stored “can provide thieves or terrorists inside information that can help them seize the material, which is why that kind of data is not given out.” The information, considered confidential but not classified, was assembled for transmission later this year to the International Atomic Energy Agency as part of a process by which the United States is opening itself up to stricter inspections in hopes that foreign countries, especially Iran and others believed to be clandestinely developing nuclear arms, will do likewise. "...in hopes that foreign countries...will do likewise." Yes, pointing out where you store your jewels and valuables in your house has long been known to be a deterrent to thieves. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:53 AM | Comments (2) June 02, 2009 The "New" Math ...Spokesman Robert Gibbs, keeping the White House press corps in stiches, as he always does, said the Obamas would have preferred using a commercial airline shuttle to New York and back, but the Secret Service would not allow such unprotected travel (ba da bing). And that was that. No further probing; asked and answered; time to move on. ..."You can't get corporate jets. You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas, or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime." Yes, we CAN!! Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:19 AM | Comments (3) May 29, 2009 One based on, say, calling their press a bunch of lying bastards Politico has an extraordinary report on Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, launching a furious broadside against the British press. Here are Gibbs' sneering and condescending remarks: "I want to speak generally about some reports I've witnessed over the past few years in the British media," Gibbs said. "In some ways, I'm surprised it filtered down." "Let's just say if I wanted to look up, if I wanted to read a write-up of how Manchester United fared last night in the Champions League Cup, I'd might open up a British newspaper," he continued. "If I was looking for something that bordered on truthful news, I'm not entirely sure it'd be the first pack of clips I'd pick up." Barack's gonna have to send over a few more dvds and iPods... Seriously, have you ever seen a more arrogant bunch than those controlling Washington these days? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:39 PM | Comments (11) May 22, 2009 Or for reals... ? Governor plans to completely eliminate welfare for families ... The proposals would completely reshape the state’s social service network, transforming California from one of the country’s most generous states to one of the most tightfisted. The proposals are intended to help close a budget deficit estimated at $21.3 billion. If 'for reals', I would offer some will be saying "it's about effin' time", but they won't be heard over the screams. Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:35 AM | Comments (3) May 21, 2009 The Force is strong in this one ...Our government prevented attacks and saved lives through the Terrorist Surveillance Program, which let us intercept calls and track contacts between al-Qaeda operatives and persons inside the United States. The program was top secret, and for good reason, until the editors of the New York Times got it and put it on the front page. After 9/11, the Times had spent months publishing the pictures and the stories of everyone killed by al-Qaeda on 9/11. Now here was that same newspaper publishing secrets in a way that could only help al-Qaeda. It impressed the Pulitzer committee, but it damn sure didn’t serve the interests of our country, or the safety of our people. That's some serious smack-downage. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:47 PM | Comments (18) It Does NOTHING For My Sense of Well-Being Nor My Confidence in the Future ...when I watch our president yet AGAIN on the telly, and ~ for all his prosing, posing and posturing ~ the ONLY descriptive word that springs immediately to mind? "Pissy". Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:53 PM | Comments (2) May 19, 2009 Sadly, it's the House Of Commons' Speaker Michael Martin is set to announce he will stand down as Commons Speaker in a statement to MPs at 1430 BST. Mr Martin has been criticised over his handling of the furore over MPs' expenses and a motion of no confidence in him has been backed by 23 MPs. He also faced open challenges to his authority in the Commons on Monday. It is understood he plans to step down "soon" rather than immediately. It is the first time in 300 years a Speaker has been effectively forced out. Well, it's a start. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:36 AM | Comments (6) May 15, 2009 TARP: Taxpaying Americans Rear-ended Purposely In times like these, it's good to know who's on your side. We can eliminate a couple agencies, Congress and the President right off the bat, thanks to articles like this . And recent testimony from bail-out-ees like AIG's Liddy, which tells us more about the AIG machinations than we EVER wanted to know. Basically "The Fed made me do it!" Do what, you ask? Overpay to close out AIG's credit default swaps, perhaps? ..Counterparties received 100 cents on the dollar for the CDOs, even though the prices paid by the Federal Reserve suggest that the bonds were actually worth 47 cents on the dollar. “The latest admission from the (defunct yet living) company [AIG] is that well over $100 billion in taxpayer monies has gone to counter-parties at 100 cents on the dollar - no haircut, no penalty, no cost to those who made bad bets or chose their counter parties poorly,” notes Barry Ritholz, one of the sharpest minds on Wall Street who runs the must-read website the Big Picture Typepad. I watched David Faber from CNBC go after this yesterday morning. He notes $180B of taxpayer moneyto AIG and asks how much went "NOT to bail out AIG, but it's counterparties?...When the Fed went in and AIG took the money and closed out these credit default positions, why did it do so at par, when many of them were trading at steep discounts and could therefore have been unwound at numbers that would have been a lot less cost" to AIG and, ergo, the American taxpayer. Faber was listening when AIG's Liddy testified before Congress Wednesday and was asked that exact question...and the answer to that is just horrific. Liddy: "The FEDERAL RESERVE decided that we should pay a hundred cents on the dollar...that a hundred cents on the dollar should be paid in the settlement.." Congressman Issa (R-CA): "But these were credit default swaps that I could have bought for a fraction of that on the open market, to the extent that somebody was floating them at the time, right? So we paid more than their current value at the time we paid them off." Liddy: "I believe that's what the FEDERAL RESERVE decided was in THE BEST INTEREST OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM." Note to self: Geithner was the NY Fed president during all this. Another interesting footnote: Goldman Sachs was one of the beneficiaries of the Fed's generous repayment policies in our name. For starters, 'interesting' because... ..Even more intriguing is Geithner’s informal brain trust, loaded with Wall Street luminaries. Since coming to the Fed in November 2003-recruited by then-New York Fed chairman Pete Peterson, co-founder of the Blackstone Group-Geithner has learned the ways of the financial industry at the feet of some of its biggest legends. He was almost immediately taken under the wing of Gerald Corrigan, a gregarious former New York Fed chief who is now a managing director of Goldman Sachs. ...especially when you consider ... ...Digging deeper, it was likely Paulson who orchestrated the entire show and made the decision to pay claims at par, knowing that it would be a simple yet effectively hidden manner of further re-capitalizing Wall Street (and Goldman) without pesky questions from Congress. We have been told there were 4 attendees at the meeting to decide AIG's fate: Paulson, Lloyd Blankfein (CEO of Goldman Sachs), B-52 and Geithner. That is Paulson's crew, and any decisions emanating from this meeting are ultimately his responsibility, no matter how it is spun to Congress months later. If I thought money in the mattress would do any good, I'd say go for it. But the way things are now, it won't be even be worth the effort to stuff it. Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:36 AM | Comments (3) Spending Is Bad, M'Kay? ...says the man who's spent more than anyone, ever May 14 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama, calling current deficit spending “unsustainable,” warned of skyrocketing interest rates for consumers if the U.S. continues to finance government by borrowing from other countries. “We can’t keep on just borrowing from China,” Obama said at a town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, outside Albuquerque. “We have to pay interest on that debt, and that means we are mortgaging our children’s future with more and more debt.” Holders of U.S. debt will eventually “get tired” of buying it, causing interest rates on everything from auto loans to home mortgages to increase, Obama said. “It will have a dampening effect on our economy.” This is the guy who is currently spending $150 for every $100 of projected revenue. With all due respect...what an ass. “Most of what is driving us into debt is health care, so we have to drive down costs,” he said. No, it's rampant, out-of-control-drunken-sailor spending by the bastards in government, on both sides of the aisle. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:42 AM | Comments (4) May 14, 2009 Hoyer Declines to Back Up Pelosi's Claim That CIA Misled Congress House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer does not vouch for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's accusation against the CIA. Speaker Nancy Pelosi's deputy in the House declined to back her up on her stunning claim Thursday that the CIA misled Congress about its use of enhanced interrogation techniques. Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House majority leader, panned the recent criticism of Pelosi as a "distraction" during a verbal tangle with Republican Whip Eric Cantor on the House floor. But when asked directly whether he shares Pelosi's belief that the CIA misled Congress, he backed off. "I have no idea of that. I don't have a belief of that nature because I have no basis on which to base such a belief," Hoyer said. "And I certainly hope that's not the case. And I don't draw that conclusion." Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:31 PM | Comments (8) Your Tax Dollars At Work Bailing out the Chinese DETROIT (AP) - As thousands of General Motors workers await word on more U.S. plant closures, reports that the company plans to import Chinese-made vehicles to the U.S. have created a political problem for the automaker and the White House. The reports, which GM will neither confirm nor deny, could mean trouble because GM is supported by $15.4 billion in U.S. government loans, largely due to the Obama administration's desire to preserve the company's 90,000 U.S. jobs. The United Auto Workers charged last week that the Detroit automaker intends to almost double over the next five years the number of vehicles it imports to the U.S. from Mexico, South Korea, China and Japan. "GM should not be taking taxpayers' money simply to finance the outsourcing of jobs to other countries," Alan Reuther, the union's Washington lobbyist, wrote in a letter to U.S. lawmakers. Pinch me hard sweet baby jeebus, because I find myself agreeing with the UAW. I also feel like barfing. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:54 AM | Comments (10) May 12, 2009 WHERE Do They GET This? The Obama administration is defending its claim that the $787 billion economic stimulus plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs before 2011... Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:25 AM | Comments (5) So, While We All Know ..."Blaming George" still makes a tingle run up the legs of all the hymn-singing true believers, but outside the embrace of the cult, that tingle is beginning to sting instead. This is Mr. Obama's government now. ...the bet's on when they finally admit it. I say they try to take the... ...Anticipating D-Day, Peter Orszag, the president's budget director, said Monday that the scarier than expected economic news - the deficit out of control, tax receipts down and costs of bailouts and "stimulus" plans up - is all the fault of George W. Bush: "It's an economic crisis President Obama inherited." ...line clean through at least 2010, especially if things go as south as they're looking to right now. Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:24 AM | Comments (3) May 05, 2009 Hard ball . Nevada turned blue for Barack Obama and Joe Biden last November, but there hasn’t been much love since the election. First, Obama was criticized for telling companies not to schedule junkets in Las Vegas and now the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is taking a swipe at Biden’s retracted statement that people should avoid flying because of the swine flu. The full-page USA Today ad reads... “Mister Vice President, if you had said it here no one would have known,” ...a reference to the famous “What Happens Here, Stays Here” slogan. Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:58 AM | Comments (1) May 01, 2009 Not That I Would Ever Even Consider That The MSM Might Have An Agenda I mean, goodness! Perish The Thought. But I do find it...shall we say somewhat curious that there is something lacking from their diligent and impartial reporting now BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Three U.S. troops were killed in Iraq on Thursday, making April the deadliest month for U.S. servicemembers this year. Two Marines and a sailor were killed during operations against militants, according to a U.S. military news release. The military did not release the names of the troops. In April, 18 U.S. troops died in Iraq, according to a CNN count of reported troop fatalities. Sixteen of those troops died in combat. March's nine fatalities was the lowest death toll for U.S. troops in Iraq since 2003. April was also the deadliest month this year for Iraqi civilians. At least 290 Iraqi civilians died in April, compared to 185 in March, according to an Interior Ministry official. Nearly 80 Iranian pilgrims were killed in suicide bombings last week. April has seen a rise in attacks, most of them targeting Shiites. A series of suicide bombings last week killed almost 160 people and left almost 300 wounded. Six car bombings struck Shiite areas of Baghdad in the span of four hours on Wednesday, killing dozens of people and wounding more than 100 people. Notice what's missing? What has been included in every, and I do mean every, single story from Iraq by the MSM from moment one until, oh, say early November last year? The Grim Milestone-O-Meter, that running tally of US deaths. Gee, what could have possibly changed that the Fourth Estate feels it can move on to its next project? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:21 AM | Comments (1) April 30, 2009 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah ~ The Reaction's Understandable When Elizabeth Edwards learned of her husband's affair, she went into a bathroom and "threw up," she writes in her new memoir to be published in May. "I cried and screamed, I went to the bathroom and threw up," Edwards writes in her book "Resilience." Edwards said her husband, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, admitted to the betrayal just days after declaring his run for president in 2006... What's NOT is that you didn't give your fellow Americans a chance to feel the same about the this-close-to-president-silky-lyin'-sack-o'-shit. That pretty much pegs my sympathy meter. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:04 AM | Comments (5) April 29, 2009 Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:09 PM | Comments (14) April 28, 2009 "Updating A File Photo" Goddamned sorry Most Competent idiots evuh WASHINGTON – An administration official says a presidential Boeing 747 and a fighter jet flew low near ground zero in New York City Monday because the White House Military Office wanted to update its file photo of the president's plane near the Statue of Liberty. How much did they (and by "they" I of course me "we") spend on this? As my Bride asked last night, how many kevlar vests would that have bought for the soldiers overseas? The New York Mercantile Exchange shut down because they evacuated everyone; how much money was lost on that? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:17 AM | Comments (13) April 27, 2009 From The Dept of "WTF Were You Thinking?" Really, guys, we appreciated this this morning: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL April 27, 2009, 10:27 AM EST By WSJ Staff A plane circling Lower Manhattan escorted by two fighter jets is part of a "photo op," said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters. The event caused some evacuations of office buildings in Lower Manhattan and Jersey City, N.J., on Monday morning. Mr. Peters said the Defense Department is conducting a photo op that involves deploying two F-16s and escorting a Boeing 747 in the vicinity of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. He said the maneuver is not an emergency and was coordinated in advance with the FAA and state and local officials. "They'll do two or three spins... and be done by 10:30," Mr. Peters said. Who would have thought that maybe it might have been a good idea to let people know this was going to happen. I didn't have to evacuate, but I know several people whose buildings were emptied. As Insta says, the country's in the very best of hands... Update: From WCBS David Frank of Jersey City wrote: "I work in 30 Hudson, which is the largest building in NJ and is right on the water facing the Statue of Liberty. I ran out of the building after a stampede of people began running out of the building as they saw the jumbo jet being followed by two fighter planes veer sharply towards our building and climb right over it. By the time I got outside, it was coming around for its THIRD pass, and I watched it level off below building height over the water and then once again veer sharply towards the building. Several hundred of us began to run away fearing for our lives before it climbed steeply and flew over our building. Whoever thought that this 'photo op' was a good idea should be removed from command...why couldn't this simply be done with Photo Shop? Hollywood can create an entire armageddon on film but the US military can't photo shop a plane by the Statue of Liberty?" Damn right. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:17 AM | Comments (6) Swine Flu Drudge is in full porn mode. And CNN , while saying "there's no reason to panic," devoted essentially their entire broadcast to it last night. MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNN) -- Health officials around the world worked to contain what appears to be a spreading swine flu outbreak early Monday, while one out of every five residents of Mexico's most populous city wore masks to protect themselves against the virus. ...The United States stepped up preparations for a possible epidemic of the virus after 20 cases were confirmed, and Canada announced its first cases of the virus Sunday -- six mild cases. But for me, I ain't worried, because I know there's no way that anyone who is infected could possibly get past our secure border. You know, the one that the Government promised us we'd have. On a related note, I made some kick-ass pulled pork yesterday, smoked over cherry for 12 hours or so. Yum yum yum. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:47 AM | Comments (4) April 23, 2009 Way to mend our relationships with other nations there, Janet The U.S. Homeland Security chief has clarified earlier remarks that suggested the 9-11 terrorists entered the U.S. through Canada. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano made the comments during a media interview earlier this week, much to the chagrin of Canadians on both sides of the border. In a release Tuesday night following the interview, she called Canada a "close ally and an important partner" and said she was simply misunderstood. See, it's your fault, you right-wing terrorist, you simple minded veteran you! But what was "misunderstood", you ask? Well...this The furor began when Napolitano was asked to clarify statements she had made about equal treatment for the Mexican and Canadian borders, despite the fact that a flood of illegal immigrants and a massive drug war are two serious issues on the southern border. "Yes, Canada is not Mexico, it doesn't have a drug war going on, it didn't have 6,000 homicides that were drug-related last year," she said. "Nonetheless, to the extent that terrorists have come into our country or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across a border, it's been across the Canadian border. There are real issues there." When asked if she was referring to the 9-11 terrorists, Napolitano added: "Not just those but others as well." Clearly, when specifically asked if she was referring to the 9-11 terrorists and she said "not just those" she was, er, um, uh ...misunderstood. Yeah, that's it. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:10 AM | Comments (9) April 15, 2009 So, I Made the Smaller of P-cola's Two Tea Parties It was a GORGEOUS day and this turned out to be a great little crowd considering the weekday/workday time frame. Three or four hundred folks together in this humble burg is nothing to sneer at. Our narrow old downtown streets were slammed with traffic. The signs were a' waving and everyone seemed to be in a convivial mood, in spite of the theme of the day. Or maybe because of it. They really started coming in around 3 and the flow picked up steadily until well after 4. Then everyone marched down to the waterfront and back to the park: more speechifying and the grand finale. Up at University Mall ~ the site of the rally whose organizing missteps caused much consternation this week ~ thankfully, there were about a thousand folks, give or take a couple hundred, and everyone was completely charged! (Well, everyone NOT sitting in the massive traffic jam it caused.) All in all, a damn fine, amiable turnout for a working class county. Made our point? Schmaybe. Made us feel better? Oh, yeah. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:41 PM | Comments (4) "What's That Smell in This Room?" "Didn't you notice the powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?" Apparently young Ronulan Mr. A* turned "Can you watch my mail?" into a Paul-nut manifesto/organizing drive and now there's no time to even partially undo the damage. That stinks. Hello, I am back and discovered what has happened. A* is no longer with the Pensacola Tea Party. He was asked to simply acknowledge receipt of emails inquiring about the Tea Party. I did not know him that well but met him on my first and only visit to a Republican Club meeting. I was desperate for someone to answer the emails as they were coming in around 75 to 100 per day. I was incapacitated for two days and wanted everyone to receive answers. Please accept my sincere apology for allowing him access to our incoming information. Thank you, J* Tea Party Pensacola What a damn shame. UPDATE: Never one to leave well enough alone, A* has seen fit to grace our comments in another post. I'll share them here, with no further narration. You did not stand guard for the past few years, you allowed a "conservative" to pass "socialist" laws (PD-51) and you did not hold the feet of our elected officials to the fire. You are a Johnny-come-lately, so do not claim to be active, do not claim that our country was fine until late January, Wake up and become an active part of the solution, or continue being part of the partisan problem. You are on the path of blind partisan ignorance... A pervert with a [R] behind his name is OK in your book, and a Statesman with a [D] is still classified as "the problem". Return the Republican Party to its foundation of limited spending, pro-life(not pro-war), the Constitutional Rule of Law, and truly Free markets, not regulated for Corporate profits. BTW, I challenge you to find 1 factual error on the http://MeetTheTruth.com website, if you have the fortitude to look at the truth. -A* Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:38 AM | Comments (10) April 14, 2009 Since I'm the SLANDER Panda Du Jour ...lemme just toss some more greasy bad peanuts on the fire. The Ronulans sliding in off of Facebook in the comments have kindly (See? I can be polite!) confirmed something my sneaky, slanderous cerebrum had been stewing on. The aforementioned young organizer Mr. A*, while directing us Tea Party types to the decrepit mall the previous organizer had designated as the site, STILL had the Federal Courthouse on the corners of Palafox and Garden on HIS "Pensacola Campaign for Liberty" webpage. (And a pre-protest meeting with local John Birchers scheduled for tonight.) Curious. Perhaps he hadn't changed the venue, since we're all being sent to the mall. I found that unlikely because his RSVP'S were quite recent ( up to yesterday, in fact). Could it be that they would shunt all us average types off to the back of beyond, so the young, how'd he put it...~ "If you are afraid to take a stand for what you believe, because I am involved then you have surrendered already." ~ NOT afraid guy gets the primo location and press for his "ganster banker" rally? Naw. NO ONE would be so underhanded, so duplicitous...especially someone who was so HURT by the questions concerning his MeettheTruth background...would he? Here's where our Facebook friends come in: Oh and, for the record, the original organizer is the one responsible for the meeting change, not the current one. There will be 2 events; one at the mall and a march downtown. Yup. He would. Somehow that news hasn't made it to the Pensacola Tea Party email list. Hijacked like a big dog. UPDATE: A redux from comments just added to the original post: There is posting on the taxdayteaparty site and also under florida groups in the We Surround Them for the change of location. They have been there for a week and a half. Posted by: clementine at April 14, 2009 09:46 AM Really? How interesting considering Mr. A*'s email that started this whole brouhaha, saying "I am thankful to J B for getting the location organized and getting notice to the TV and newspapers..." went 'round to the list only FOUR days ago. And, since I'm sure a majority of the group is depending on email updates, there have been no corrections emailed to the contrary in that time. Puh-LEEZ. MORE: I just got off the phone with Rep. Jeff Miller's office. (I wouldn't have that girl's job for anything.) I guess it's been pretty blistering since the email war broke out and people ~ in light of Mr. A*'s claim that Miller would be there and inference that Miller is a Paul fan "You should know Rep. Miller is a co-sponsors to HR 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 as authored and introduced by Dr. Ron Paul." ~ calling to let them know exactly WHO Mr. A* represented and things like their meeting with the Birchers scheduled for tonight. She was lovely and polite and non-committal. Bascially "Mr. Miller's a busy guy and I can't say what he's doing tommorrow..." Since I got queried in the comments concerning Miller's plans (I did say I would call his office.), I thought I'd clarify that. MORE REDUX: In regards to this claim in the comments: The people we're working with in the Republican Executive Committee appreciate us as well. They have access to the MeetTheTruth site and know we're "Ron-Paulers". It's not a big deal. All of us are working together because this goes far beyond petty party talking points and personal disagreements. ...I spoke with the (quite delightful, mind you) ECREC Chairman and she said, "The ECREC is not sponsoring or affiliated with either local Tea Party." That clears that up. Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:55 AM | Comments (3) April 13, 2009 ... it MUST be true! ...[Mexican Ambassador] Sarukhan has claimed that Mexico seizes 2,000 guns a day from the United States, or 730,000 a year. But the official statistic from the Mexico attorney general's office says Mexico seized 29,000 weapons in all of 2007 and 2008. Facts?!? We don't need no steakin' facts!! And that pinche abogado generale? Hasta la vista... Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:08 AM | Comments (3) April 10, 2009 Ronulans Attack! So, me and Leigh bond in snarling last night over our mutual Tea Party hijacking outrage . Apparently, the Ronulan operative A*-hole (snicker) doesn't realize who he's dealing with. He sent a disingenuous, smarmy slap directly at her this morning... Unlike the nameless hcquilts I will address your concerns individually. "NOBODY has any business telling demonstrators what to say or why they're participating. This is the sort of "message control" leftist gangs like ACORN engage in. I agree, which is why I did not tell anyone what their sign should say. And you are right, it was shamefully "leftist" of me to share sign making tips. "Unlike Mr. F A*-hole I am NOT "protesting private banking institutions." I am demonstrating against *our elected representatives*.... I am demonstrating in favor of free markets and individual responsibility." My letter very clearly stated we are protesting the Legislative branch... our elected officials, and if you are not protesting banks, you are not paying attention. My personal view is that a regulated market is not free, and until we return to the intent of our forefathers we will not we truly have free markets. "Most disturbing: ... antiglobalist, antiwar conspiracy-theory group. Among its tamer claims is that the 9/11 attack was an inside job done by "Zionists."" I do not make any claims about Zionism or 911, but I must ask you, how can you not be opposed to globalism? For the sake of our kids we must stand against one world global courts, taxes, and laws. "It's hard enough being a conservative without this kind of baggage." Being conservative is nothing to be ashamed of, nor is it difficult. When a "conservative" is in office it does not negate our responsibilities of holding their feet to the fire. We must be conservative with the life of others, the money of others, and also the words of others. So please next time you would like to mis-quote me, be more conservative with your outgoing group emails. -A*hole Sweet baby Jesus, then she pwned him SO exquisitely. And in a group email no less (which included the above F A*-hole chiding for reference), takes him apart: F A*-hole is either a bad reader or a libeler. Either way, his latest email unfortunately demands a response. He calls me "nameless". This is false. My name, Leigh Fumpteephrats, appears automatically right next to my email address (which he had no trouble finding). He accuses me of calling "sign making tips" "leftist". This is false. My actual words: "It is perfectly appropriate to suggest that signs be legible and coherent and their messages peaceful." He says he "very clearly stated we are protesting the Legislative branch... our elected officials". This is false. His actual words: "...please refrain from attacking political personalities....We will be protesting the private banking institutions such as the Federal Reserve and its "Inflation Tax" and the bankster gangsters and their unconstitutional bailout as allowed by the Legislative Branch." (1) Private banks. (2) The Fed. (3) The "bankster gangsters" (what is this, junior high?). (4) "Their" bailout. And like an afterthought, waayy down there at the end of his sentence, the "Legislative Branch" - whose members he's already warned us not to mention by name. Seems that in F A*-hole's world, an anonymous Congress merely "allowed" the bailout. They didn't write the law that created it, impose the taxes that fund it, or bully banks into accepting it with threats the economy would crash if they didn't. Just sat there and passively "allowed" failing businesses to impose a nefarious plan to Rule! The! World!!! Good grief. If F A*-hole loaded, aimed, and fired a gun, would he say he "allowed" it to go off, then accuse the target of stealing the bullets to monopolize the world's lead supply? But set all that aside. Let's say I'm "not paying attention." Here's the real point: F A*-hole HAS NO BUSINESS TELLING ANYBODY WHAT THE'RE PROTESTING. As Tonto said to the Lone Ranger: "What do you mean, 'we'"? He says he did "not make any claims about Zionism or 911." I never said he did. In fact, I noted how coy he's been about the nature of his "activism." Only his email address reveals his association with a crackpot blame-America-and-the-Jews website. Either he espouses that site's beliefs, or he's not very selective about his friends. If Fannin hoped to discourage suspicions that an organized fringe group is trying to co-opt this grassroots demonstration, he's doing a lousy job. But he has achieved one thing. By letting his mask slip, he's spared me the shame of unwittingly associating with his crowd. If I hold a sign on the 15th it'll be on the other side of town. From my emails, it looks like I would not be alone. So schmaybe there'll be at least 2 of us peacefully holding signs down by the Courthouse? PLUS, she's a Rachel Lucas fan AND a SWILLER!!!! WHAT'S not to love?! Can't WAIT to meet her in person! UPDATE: Argh. Another email, more of the same; ...To everyone on the list, do not let your participation be based on one mans personal political views. This event is about taking a collective stand to say we are not happy with the spending. Please do not mass email the group with dis-info, or unsolicited content. To Leigh, If I have said anything to offend you let me know, and stop putting words in my mouth. ...but I answered this time: I notice "your good name" no longer includes your affiliation email address. Curious thing, that ~ considering a simple Google search shows your Ron Paul affiliations (and a very nice picture of you with "the man" himself ) which, in turn, leads one to "Meet Up" and all the whackjob pages their website provides. You yourself may be a saint, but your choice of movements (where you conveniently ignore whence Leigh's objections sprung) to align yourself with leaves doubt about your motives, considering the well publicized and controversial stances of "Meet" and Ronulans in general. Leigh Fumpteephrats is hardly being divisive. I prefer to think of her as "Paul Revere-ish". And supporting YOUR cause by appearing at ANY gathering YOU are "organizing" would betray my personal convictions and, indeed, the entire spirit of the "Tea Party". Is Rep. Miller aware of your connections and still planning to attend? I'm curious. (And he's got all these links to Glenn Beck forums. I wonder if Beck would be thrilled with that, were HE aware.) I imagine he'll be along shortly. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:13 AM | Comments (18) April 09, 2009 What we got here is a failure to communicate Obama was asked to comment on the situation several times by reporters at a White House event on refinancing for homeowners. Obama, however, stuck closely to the script and replied that he wanted to remain focused on housing. I'm willing to bet that Capt. Phillips wanted to remain focused on piloting his ship, too. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:02 PM | Comments (8) How's This For A Negotiating Stance: "Release the Captain or you die. Harm the Captain and you die " (CNN) -- A U.S. warship arrived before dawn Thursday near a 28-foot lifeboat holding four pirates and the kidnapped captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, officials said. Also nearby was the Maersk Alabama -- which had been seized early Wednesday off the Horn of Africa. All 20 of its remaining crew members were in good physical shape, said Ken Quinn, second officer of the ship, in a satellite call placed by CNN. "There's four Somali pirates, and they've got our captain," Quinn said. Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers said the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge was near the Maersk Alabama and that its crew was talking to the Navy. Maybe I'm missing something, but four pirate bastards in a 28-foot lifeboat should not be in a "stand-off" with a 508-foot destroyer. They should be in little pink pieces surrounded by splinters if they don't do what they are told. But certainly these strong words will shiver the timbers of these sea-scoundrels: Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, said while Washington was focused on the latest incident, “more generally, we think the world must come together to end the scourge of piracy”. I'm sure every sailor in the US Merchant Marine fleet is sleeping easier after hearing that. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:23 AM | Comments (9) April 08, 2009 Not surprisingly, the government feels it hasn't spent enough money that it, er, doesn't have Though some economic measures are improving, the financial crisis "is far from over" and "appears to be taking root in the larger economy." This, despite the government's commitment to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars on a massive bailout of the financial system. These were the findings released in a report today by the Congressional Oversight Panel, the body charged with overseeing the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program, the $700 billion plan aimed at bailing out the country's financial sector. ...The panel reported that the government has spent, lent or set aside more than $4 trillion through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. ...The panel criticized the Treasury Department for failing to identify what measurements it will use to determine whether its rescue programs are working. "If you don't articulate what the metrics are going out ... you can't know if anything succeeded or failed," Warren said. Gee, ya think? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:15 AM | Comments (2) April 07, 2009 This Tells You All You Need To Know Emergency humanitarian aid for Hamas: $300,000,000 Emergency humanitarian aid for Italy: $50,000 ...and an iPod thoughtfully loaded with some essentials and a gift card for 4 from the Olive Garden. Hamas gets $300 million from Obama for scum like this. Italy gets $50,000 from Obama for men like this. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:11 AM | Comments (4) April 06, 2009 Admittedly a Handsome Offer. Thanks [Senator] Bill [Nelson] ...but, no. Follow Me on Twitter and YouTube Bad enough Barack's yammering at me from the tube 24effin7. I don't need you tweeting in the background. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:27 AM April 02, 2009 He should've stayed home . President Obama is holding a solo press conference Thursday afternoon in London to shape the message coming out of the G20 summit, as he appears to be losing ground on economic policy among traditional allies. ...[world] Obama appears to be struggling to hold the gavel and drive the policy debate. White House aides told FOX News the president is holding a solo press conference to drive his own message and give foreign reporters access -- which keeps Obama and his global policy platform visible around the world. The rest of the G20 nations are holding a separate news conference prior to the president's. It's lonely for a newbie out there... Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:11 AM | Comments (10) We Support The Military... ...as long as they remember they exist to move our entourage Air Obama President Obama's European visit this week has strained Air Force heavy-airlift capabilities and obliged the military to hire more foreign contractors to help resupply U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, according to military sources. The large delegation traveling with the president in Europe required moving several transports, including jumbo C-5s and C-17s, from sorties ferrying supplies to Afghanistan to European bases for the presidential visit, said two military officials familiar with the issue. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid any misunderstanding with White House officials. The Air Mobility Command, part of the U.S. Transportation Command, was ordered to provide airlift for the president's entourage of nearly 500 people, including senior officials, staff, support personnel, news reporters and some 200 Secret Service agents for the European visit, and an iPod, which began Tuesday in London. Airlift for the traveling entourage also was used to move the president's new heavy-armored limousine and several presidential helicopters used for short transits. To make up for the shortfall, the Air Force had to increase the number of Eastern European air transport contractors hired to fly Il-76 and An-124 transport jets into Afghanistan loaded with troop supplies, the two officials said. What a shock! His Magical Mystery iPod Tour is adding millions to the deficit. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:02 AM | Comments (4) Well, Thank Goodness When I first heard about the amazingly thoughtful and appropriate gift that President Obama gave to the Queen of England I was somewhat afraid they would leave out some timeless and vital examples of towering American thought and expression that would inspire Her Majesty even in her darkest hours, but thanks to The Most Professional And Experienced Administration Evuh my fears were, of course, groundless Uploaded onto the iPod: * Photos from President Obama’s Inauguration * Audio of then-state senator Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and * Audio of President Obama 2009 Inauguration Address If only she had this during the Blitz to provide her with Hope! Instead she had to muddle through with that boor Churchill. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:15 AM | Comments (9) April 01, 2009 This Guy is Really Pissing Me Off If he's not clogging up the TV, he's on the road . Obama accepts invitations to visit China, Russia President Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to visit China later this year. ...The White House also announced that Obama was accepting an invitation to visit Moscow this summer. I've got a novel idea! Stay home and get some work done instead, why doncha? Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:46 AM | Comments (9) Unlike Bingley's "Box", They Tinker With the Drinker ...in an attempt to sink 'er . State legislator wants to scuttle 'floating box' that serves alcohol ..."It's not a boat," Roberts said Monday. "It looks just like a floating box. People sit on stools and they're served liquor." Roberts owns a condo right next door to the marina, and he's an evangelical Christian, but he said both of those factors are unrelated to his problems with the Fish House. "I know that people want to make this about me, but although I have first-hand knowledge, it's nothing personal," he said. Right. It never is with these people. ("Footloose" syndrome detection feelers are twitching..."CLOSE it for the CHILDREN!!!!") Fortunately, the owner is poetic in his dismissal of concerns related to "alcohol from a box". ...When the Fish House launches, it floats out into a congested area where the east and west lakes come together, Roberts said. Whenever he sees it operate, it looks very unsafe, he said. "It's just that, goodness, you look at this and what do you do, just ignore this?" Roberts said. "He's totally full of crap." "...It's one of the safest boats that's on the lake," responded ["box" owner] Parks, who added that the Fish House has railings and life jackets. Raise one for the box guy. Looks like a fun place to me. Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:18 AM | Comments (3) March 30, 2009 ... is no longer just for expressing gratitude. GM CEO forced out; stocks likely to plunge Since January 20th, it's more of a "result". Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:12 AM | Comments (2) While We Carpool And Take The Bus To Work To save money and such, our Dear Leader is going to London... with Five Hundred People Britain will get its first chance to see Barack Obama this week when a White House cavalcade - complete with armoured limousines, helicopters, 200 US secret service staff and a six-doctor medical team - sweeps into the UK. Obama will fly into London for his first visit to the UK as president of the United States on Tuesday to take part in the G20 summit in the capital's Docklands area. He will not be travelling light. More than 500 officials and staff will accompany the president on his tour this week - along with a mass of high-tech security equipment, including the $300,000 presidential limousine, known as The Beast. Fitted with night-vision camera, reinforced steel plating, tear- gas cannon and oxygen tanks, the vehicle is the ultimate in heavy armoured transport. In addition, a team from the White House kitchen will travel with the president to prepare his food. As one official put it: "When the president travels, the White House travels with him, right down to the car he drives, the water he drinks, the gasoline he uses, the food he eats. America is still the sole superpower and the president must have the ability to handle any crisis, anywhere, any time." That's one hell of a carbon footprint; hell, it's a full-fledged carbon body slam. Look, I know he's the President and all that and needs to be protected yadayadayada...but 500 friggin' people? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:30 AM | Comments (11) March 29, 2009 While I Wish He Had Thought to Ask ...for UAW President Ron Gettelfinger's resignation while he was cleaning house, I really don't think Wagoner was the problem. Has this ever happened? GM CEO resigns at Obama's behest ...The White House confirmed Wagoner was leaving at the government's behest after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason. My first response would have been "bite me". But then Barney Frank would be after whatever pittance I'd received as compensation and, considering Wagoner was only making $1 salary in 2009 , he probably DID say something. Like, "Blow me. Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:37 PM | Comments (6) March 25, 2009 Hey, they've always been there to bail out certain politicians WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With many U.S. newspapers struggling to survive, a Democratic senator on Tuesday introduced a bill to help them by allowing newspaper companies to restructure as nonprofits with a variety of tax breaks. "This may not be the optimal choice for some major newspapers or corporate media chains but it should be an option for many newspapers that are struggling to stay afloat," said Senator Benjamin Cardin. It seems to me the reason they are "struggling" is because they have already in fact become "non-profits." We have an old joke in my office: "we're a non-profit corporation; we didn't intend to be..." If you are losing money because people aren't buying your product, well, either you change or go under; don't expect to be transformed into some quasi-governmental agency. This is crap. A Cardin spokesman said the bill had yet to attract any co-sponsors, but had sparked plenty of interest within the media, which has seen plunging revenues and many journalist layoffs. Ooh, there's a shocker. Expect lots of investigative stories about government corruption now. Not. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:21 AM | Comments (4) March 24, 2009 I'd tell Congress to get stuffed NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Executives at American International Group have started giving back their bonus cash in full, according to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. On a conference call with reporters Monday, Cuomo said that of the top 20 executives who received the biggest bonuses, 15 have given them back in full. The amount returned so far is about $50 million. Of the top 10 highest earners, 9 have returned their bonuses. According to Cuomo, the investigation into the distribution of the bonus cash continues. "I am trying to get the money back because I believe that is what the American people deserve," said Cuomo. "I am hopeful that more AIG employees will heed the example set by their colleagues and pay the money back," said Cuomo. To those bonus earners who have returned the bonus cash, the attorney general said they have "done the right thing." ...Cuomo said that the Attorney General was going through the executives and calling them one by one, in collaboration with AIG. Cuomo also said that for those AIG executives who returned the bonus cash, there was no "public interest" in making his or her name public. This is mob rule and Darkness At Noon-esque legal intimidation and thuggery is disgusting. Whatever the faults in business acumen these folks have displayed, and clearly these are legion, they have a contract and it was created before any of these bailouts were ever even thought of. Noted tax cheat Geithner and his crack staff of 2 geriatric hamsters and an arthritic python were fully aware that these contracts existed, or they should have been, had they exercised anything approaching due diligence in the discharge of their duties. This is after-the-fact ass covering and a political ruse to distract the Public's attention from the mind bogglingly insane amount of money The One, Congress and noted tax cheat Geithner are flushing away here. Here's an idea. If "getting the (taxpayer's) money back is what the American People deserve" when it is paid as salary who performed very poorly in their jobs, an idea which sounds all stirry and patriotic and lump-in-the-throat inducing I freely admit, I hereby demand that every Member of Congress be required/shamed/humiliated a la the AIG folks to give back every penny they've been paid for the past 20+ years. Let's hold them to the same standard. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:00 AM | Comments (15) March 23, 2009 Yep, you keep yucking it up as you're mucking it up President Barack Obama said he believes the global financial system remains at risk of implosion with the failure of Citigroup or AIG, which could touch off “an even more destructive recession and potentially depression.” His remarks came in a“60 Minutes” interview in which he was pressed by Steve Kroft for laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the world’s economy. “You're sitting here. And you're— you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, ‘I mean, he's sitting there just making jokes about money—’ How do you deal with— I mean: explain. . .” Kroft asked at one point. “Are you punch-drunk?” Kroft said. “No, no. There's gotta be a little gallows humor to get you through the day,” Obama said, with a laugh. Can this guy go one frickin' day, just one, with out appearing on some talk show? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:42 AM | Comments (10) March 20, 2009 You Have to Ask Yourself With all the success we've had lately utilizing native languages to impress our allies, do we REALLY want Hillary's Babelfishers at State attempting Farsi captions to impress the Iranians ? President Barack Obama told Iran's people and leaders that the United States wants to engage with their country and end decades of strained relationship, but not unless their officials stop making threats. Obama on Friday released a video message with Farsi subtitles that urged the two countries to resolve their long-standing differences. His video was timed to the festival of Nowruz, which means "new day." It marks the arrival of spring and is a major holiday in Iran. What Obama thinks he said: What the Farsi translates to: Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:22 AM | Comments (5) Most Gifted Orator Ever He just continues to impress, doesn't he? Sigh. One almost gets tired of saying it, but one must say it, still: Can you IMAGINE what the press and the Dems would do with that, had Bush said it. Can you IMAGINE what the press and the Dems would have done with the Irish PM Teleprompter gaffe (the press has helpfully embargoed the video, so Obama doesn’t have to see it playing 24/7, as Bush would have - had Bush so gaffed). Can you IMAGINE what the press and the Dems would have done if Bush had given the Prime Minister of Great Britain a lousy pack of 50 “Classic” DVD’s that didn’t work in the UK? Go read the Anchoress for the current (but ever growing, it seems) list of horrorsgaffs examples of this Administrations sheer intellectual and cultural brilliance. As I think someone at Ace's said first: "Boy, we really dodged a bullet with that Palin chick, didn't we?" Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:22 AM | Comments (2) March 19, 2009 Holder: Antitrust Aid OK For Newspapers My, this is brilliant WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Wednesday preserving a healthy newspaper industry was important and he was open to adjusting antitrust policy if it could help. "I'd like to think 20, 30, 40 years from now people will still be reading the newspaper," Holder told reporters. He was responding to a call by House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging the Justice Department to give newspapers more leeway to merge or combine operations. The industry is reeling from declining circulation, economic recession and a shift in advertising and reader attention to online media. Venerable newspapers have closed or -- such as the Hearst Corp's Seattle Post-Intelligencer this week -- gone to Internet-only editions with reduced staff. It seems to me the problem that has led to the newspaper's decline is indeed anti-trust: people don't trust the papers. So they don't buy their product. And Holder's suggestion that the government let them get even bigger is foolish. Yes, let's allow and encourage money-losing operations to get even bigger and lose even more money, maybe to the point where they're "too big to fail." That worked so well for Fannie Mae and AIG. That's one way for the Left to get it's "Fairness Doctrine": nationalize the media. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:46 AM | Comments (9) "Honestly? I Lied" This Dodd is some piece of work. I love how he's twisting in the wind. And give CNN some credit for nailing his ass (CNN) -- Senate Banking committee Chairman Christopher Dodd told CNN Wednesday that he was responsible for language added to the federal stimulus bill to make sure that already-existing contracts for bonuses at companies receiving federal bailout money were honored. Dodd acknowledged his role in the change after a Treasury Department official told CNN the administration pushed for the language. Both Dodd and the official, who asked not to be named, said it was because administration officials were afraid the government would face numerous lawsuits without the new language. Dodd, a Democrat, told CNN's Dana Bash and Wolf Blitzer that Obama administration officials pushed for the language to an amendment designed to limit bonuses and "golden parachutes" at those companies. "The administration had expressed reservations," Dodd said. "They asked for modifications. The alternative was losing the amendment entirely." On Tuesday, Dodd denied to CNN that he had anything to do with adding the language, which has been used by officials at bailed-out insurance giant AIG to justify paying millions of dollars in bonuses to executives after receiving federal money. So he goes from saying "I did not do it" to saying "They made me do it!" in one day. And now he's using the Flip Wilson Defense: "Obama made me do it!" Oh yes, Obama, the One who promised us to hit the ground running, to be the most readiest, most smartiest, most teleprompterist evuh, well right after Dodd issues his Obama-culpa President Obama says (CNN) -- President Obama said Wednesday he'll "take responsibility" for AIG executives receiving controversial bonuses while the company took $173 billion in government bailouts. "We didn't draft these contracts. We've got a lot on our plate. But it is appropriate when you're in charge to make sure stuff doesn't happen like this," Obama told a town hall meeting in Costa Mesa, California. Yes, yes, who could have possibly predicted that someone who had never held any sort of executive position might be somewhat overwhelmed by the Presidency? Yes, you do have a lot on your plate, Mr. President. Poor bubsie. Like choosing an appropriate gift for visiting heads of state. Like filling out your NCAA bracket. Like attending a town hall meeting in Costa Mesa. Like choosing someone to help out noted tax cheat Geithner with all that hard math at Treasury. Here's a bold suggestion. How about requiring Members of Congress to actually read all legislation before they are allowed to vote on it? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:00 AM | Comments (4) March 18, 2009 Out Of Thin Air As feared, this is how Obama and noted tax cheat Geithner will "solve" the budget mess WASHINGTON: Saying that the recession continues to deepen, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it would pump an extra $1 trillion into the economy by buying mortgage-backed securities and long-term Treasury issues. "Job losses, declining equity and housing wealth, and tight credit conditions have weighed on consumer sentiment and spending," the Fed said, adding that it would "employ all available tools to promote economic recovery and to preserve price stability." As expected, the Fed kept its benchmark interest rate virtually at zero. But in a surprise, it drastically increased the amount of money it will create out of thin air to thaw out the still-frozen credit markets that have cramped lending to consumers and businesses alike. Just print more money. That worked so well in Weimar Germany and Argentina. The dollar goes totally in the toilet. We get screwed. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:45 PM | Comments (3) Oh, Yeah. He Needs to Be on Leno ...like AIG needs bonus cash . I do take issue with this line of thinking... ...Critics accused him of dumbing down the presidency and of blurring the line between politics and entertainment. That's already a done deal. Try staying home and reading a bill, or all those sticky notes you get from Geithner, yo. Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:19 PM | Comments (6) If We Lose CNN... Remember just a few short months ago how all the media were agog about the wonders of "The First 100 Days" of the Age of Obama? CNN had a big splashy fawning banner "Obama: The First 100 Days" with the benevolently smiling photo of The One prominently displayed on their main page. But here we are barely 60 days into our National Renaissance and that's down the memory hole, squirreled as a smallish button on their "Politics" page. Curious, no? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:32 PM | Comments (3) The AP Should Read The Swilling If they did they could have published this yesterday WASHINGTON – If not distancing itself from Treasury Secretary and noted tax cheat Timothy Geithner, the White House is placing firmly on his shoulders responsibility for how the government handled the $165 million in bonuses paid to about 400 executives and traders at American International Group Inc. ...Then he volunteered the answer to a question being asked all over Washington: Did noted tax cheat Geithner still enjoy President Barack Obama's confidence, given the whopping bonuses the failed insurance giant paid Friday after receiving taxpayer bailout money? "The president has complete confidence" in noted tax cheat Geithner, Gibbs said. Is Obama satisfied that noted tax cheat Geithner informed him of the impending bonus payments in a timely fashion? "Yes, the president is satisfied," Gibbs replied. Those, of course, are statements that wouldn't need to be made if noted tax cheat Geithner's status were clear. Not just a president's confidence, but his "complete confidence" can be a well-worn political signal that the person allegedly enjoying it should start circulating a resume. Update: Maybe this is how the AP found us. Hehehe. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:40 AM | Comments (2) It's Called "Class" Something that is sorely lacking in the new inhabitants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue CALGARY, Alberta (AP) - Former President George W. Bush says he won't criticize President Barack Obama because Obama "deserves my silence," and says he plans to write a book about the 12 toughest decisions he made in office. Bush's speech Tuesday at a luncheon in Calgary, Alberta was his first since leaving office. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:47 AM | Comments (2) March 17, 2009 The man can ask some questions ... ...TAPPER: Well, I guess, just the question I have is, if you said that you have confidence -- the president has confidence in Secretary Geithner. Are you confident that the oversight process is working, if these bonuses had been -- the Treasury Department had known about these bonuses since September -- Secretary Geithner didn't act on it until last week? GIBBS: Well, again, I don't -- let me make sure -- I mean, obviously, you and I understand this, but let's make sure everybody understands that there was a change in administration between September of 2008 and what we're talking about even at some point last week. TAPPER: OK, right. That's what I'm saying. But clearly somebody dropped the ball. Somebody didn't tell Secretary Geithner about this or Secretary... Oh, man ~ reading it? He eats Gibbs for a fatty snack. There IS a video attached to Jake's post, but I couldn't watch. It's like knowing the crocodile's gonna bite the wildebeest at the water's edge when he stops to take a sip. I always turn away. Tapper's been doing a whale of a job for a long time. Normally I would wonder how long before ABC's "1000%" behind him, but World News has been a place for mostly honest news as well. (Witness their series on the changes in Iraq all this week .) There's hope. How refreshing. Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:39 PM | Comments (2) Noted Tax Cheat Geithner... ...is toast President Barack Obama has "complete confidence" in Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and any suggestion he bungled over the AIG bonuses storm is "unfair" the White House said Tuesday. He's gone in a week. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:07 PM | Comments (7) I Was For Bonuses Before I Was Against Them ...or, at least until folks found out about it Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) on Monday night floated the idea of taxing American International Group (AIG: 0.9629, 0.1828, 23.43%) bonus recipients so the government could recoup the $450 million the company is paying to employees in its financial products unit. Within hours, the idea spread to both houses of Congress, with lawmakers proposing an AIG bonus tax. While the Senate constructed the $787 billion stimulus last month, Dodd unexpectedly added an executive-compensation restriction to the bill. That amendment provides an “exception for contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009,” which exempts the very AIG bonuses Dodd and others are seeking to tax. The amendment is in the final version and is law. Oh, and did I mention Also, Sen. Dodd was AIG’s largest single recipient of campaign donations during the 2008 election cycle with $103,100, according to opensecrets.org. You can't make this stuff up. But they can make you pay for it. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:17 PM | Comments (4) Finally, A Senate Plan I Can Agree With Here's some legislation that should be 'fast tracked' In an interview with Cedar Rapids, Iowa, radio station WMT-AM today, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said executives of AIG should consider following what he described of the Japanese model of shamed corporate executives: apology or suicide. ..."I suggest, you know, obviously maybe they ought to be removed, but I would suggest that the first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them [is] if they would follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say I'm sorry and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide." Grassley added, "In the case of the Japanese, they usually commit suicide before they make any apology." Of course, I would also not mind if many of our Congressional Members followed this example. But that would require they have honor. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:58 AM | Comments (2) However Much I Try to Stay Optimistic ...the Obama team seems hell bent to remind me that it's really amateur hour , with the most self absorbed, self indulgent, pissiest little monsters in the neighborhood on stage. The smirky beasts whose mere appearance makes your palm itch, because you just want to smack the crap out of them. White House Ridicules Cheney After Criticism ..."Well, I guess Rush Limbaugh was busy," Gibbs said to laughter during his daily briefing with reporters. "So they trotted out the next most popular member of the Republican cabal." The Bush White House was unfailingly...mum in deference to former Presidents/Vice-Presidents running their jibs ( For example ...) ~ a combination of respect for the office (which shouldn't be part of a new administration's learning curve) and natural class (which, obviously, can't be learned). The Obama Administration's response to anything seems entirely built on... "I know you are, but what am I?" ...rather than a solid course of action coupled with a "sticks and stones may break my bones...etc." attitude. You know. Like "adults" would. We're doomed. Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:29 AM Some Dems Starting To Chafe At "Crisis Legislating"? Perhaps. I don't want to get too hopeful, but maybe a few of these goddamnedincompetentidiots very busy Legislators might actually start reading the bills before they pass them? WASHINGTON -- Eight Senate Democrats are opposing speedy action on President Barack Obama's bill to combat global warming, complicating prospects for the legislation and creating problems for their party's leaders. The eight Democrats disapprove of using the annual budget debate to pass Obama's "cap and trade" bill to fight greenhouse gas emissions, a measure that divides lawmakers, environmentalists and businesses. The lawmakers' opposition makes it more difficult for Democratic leaders to move the bill without a threat of a Republican filibuster. The budget debate is the only way to circumvent Senate rules that allow a unified GOP to stop a bill through filibusters. "Enactment of a cap-and-trade regime is likely to influence nearly every feature of the U.S. economy," wrote the Democratic senators, mostly moderates. They were joined by 25 Republicans. "Legislation so far-reaching should be fully vetted and given appropriate time for debate." This cap-and-trade horse dung will only screw our economy more and drive more jobs overseas. Of course, since no one here will be able to actually afford anything, anyway, it might not matter. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:28 AM March 16, 2009 Like the song used to say: "Look for the Union label." State governments that contract jobs paid for with stimulus money will be required to pay workers on construction projects union wages rather than market rates -- good news for workers but good news for not as many of them. ...Los Angeles County officials who received $8 million in Community Development Block Grant money to weatherize homes for low-income people said they typically bid the job low and pay about $15 an hour for a worker to caulk windows. However, under union scale, that job pays $25 an hour and $5 in benefits, so instead of repairing 100 homes, they might do 50 homes for the same price. Elsewhere, the union wage for a plumber in Long Island is $45 an hour, the market rate is $30. In Las Vegas, the Davis-Bacon wage for a glass worker is $57 an hour, a job the Nevada State Housing division currently pays $15 to do. ...In the past, cities and states got around the Davis-Bacon provision by diluting federal money with local cash, but with the stimulus, that's not allowed. One think tank estimates that with about $200 billion in the stimulus set for construction projects, Davis-Bacon raises costs by about $17 billion. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:37 PM | Comments (1) Only Half as Much of the Project Done? Like the song used to say: "Look for the Union label." State governments that contract jobs paid for with stimulus money will be required to pay workers on construction projects union wages rather than market rates -- good news for workers but good news for not as many of them. ...Los Angeles County officials who received $8 million in Community Development Block Grant money to weatherize homes for low-income people said they typically bid the job low and pay about $15 an hour for a worker to caulk windows. However, under union scale, that job pays $25 an hour and $5 in benefits, so instead of repairing 100 homes, they might do 50 homes for the same price. Elsewhere, the union wage for a plumber in Long Island is $45 an hour, the market rate is $30. In Las Vegas, the Davis-Bacon wage for a glass worker is $57 an hour, a job the Nevada State Housing division currently pays $15 to do. ...In the past, cities and states got around the Davis-Bacon provision by diluting federal money with local cash, but with the stimulus, that's not allowed. One think tank estimates that with about $200 billion in the stimulus set for construction projects, Davis-Bacon raises costs by about $17 billion. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:37 PM | Comments (1) March 13, 2009 Restoring Our Place In The World After last week's brilliant and suave handling of Gordon Brown, the Most Competent Administration Evah now welcomes Brazil in their own unique style RIO DE JANEIRO -- His meet and greet with the U.S. president was bumped to Saturday, and when the White House announced his official visit, they misspelled his name. But when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva becomes the first Latin American leader to sit down with President Barack Obama this weekend, he brings undisputed clout. ...Brazil has become a major U.S. trading partner, with cautious economic policies that have helped it weather the crisis better than almost all other major economies. With huge new offshore oil finds and abundant ethanol, Brazil could be key to helping wean the U.S. off Venezuelan crude and shift to cleaner energies. Still, the White House made several moves interpreted as snubs by the Brazilian media. Silva aides said the trip was pushed forward from Tuesday because of the St. Patrick's Day holiday - making Latin America once again look like an afterthought. Then, the White House announcement misspelled his name as "Luis Ignacio" and put "Lula" - a nickname that decades ago became a legal part of the Brazilian leader's name - in quotes. The White House quickly corrected the mistake. Gosh, I really sleep like a baby* at night knowing that our country is in such competent hands. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:24 PM | Comments (5) March 12, 2009 As the Weeping Grandfather in "Moonstruck" Says "I'm confused!" ...from the same prophet who said this ... In his first prime-time news conference, U.S. President Barack Obama called this "the winter of America's hardship." Fresh off a daylong visit to a town in the state of Indiana that has been devastated by job losses, Obama said the country is in a "full blown crisis" and warned if Congress doesn't pass his economic plan immediately, the results could be catastrophic. ...just 3 weeks ago? (What? We're better already? Strange. Why do I feel so bad, then?) Or...is our Prezzy O a prankster, like the punk who yells "PSYCHE!" outside the girl's locker room...after pulling the fire alarm? I'm tired. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:34 PM | Comments (6) March 07, 2009 Reuters uses the "G" word twice WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama tried to highlight some good news and tout his economic plan on Friday, but the grim reality of plunging employment and faltering stock markets once again stepped on his message. ... For the White House, the grim economic news has made it hard to find the right balance of blunt talk about the present and optimism for the future. "As the president has often said, it's going to get worse before it gets better," spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Air Force One as Obama headed to Ohio to tout a minor victory for his plan. That last line was a little snarky, wasn't it? Someone is going to get a talking-to from an editor... Wait! Yet a third "grim" sighting! Scott Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, pointed to another 168,000 manufacturing jobs lost in February. "This is a grim moment for American workers," he said. "The economic recovery package passed last month was a good first step, but more needs to be done." When your grip on Reuters starts slipping... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:27 AM | Comments (2) March 05, 2009 The one we had ...just left. Gupta opts out of surgeon general consideration Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, has withdrawn his name from consideration as surgeon general of the United States, CNN confirmed Thursday. Man. It's not even my gig and I'm embarassed at the rate the potential Cabinet newcomers...go. Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:19 PM | Comments (8) "All By Myself" Understaffed Geithner can't keep up, critics say ...With an awkward first television appearance, a bank rescue plan that lacked promised specifics and two restructured bailouts that raised taxpayer risk, Geithner has failed to calm financial markets desperate for answers. Critics say part of the problem is that Geithner is flying solo: Not one of his top 17 deputies has been named, let alone confirmed. And without senior leadership, lower-level Treasury employees can't make decisions or represent the government in crucial conversations with banks and others. Remember this guy? We were told he's Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius ~ TurboTax excepted ~ and we had to confirm him 'cause he's THE ONLY ONE who could do it all. Now he's lonely. Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:14 AM | Comments (3) Noted Tax Cheat Tim Geithner Goes Green He wants to make sure other people pay more taxes so Obama can spend it to help Gaia WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - U.S. oil and natural gas producing companies should not receive federal subsidies in the form of tax breaks because their businesses contribute to global warming, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congress on Wednesday. It was one of the sharpest attacks yet on the oil and gas industry by a top Obama administration official, reinforcing the White House stance that new U.S. energy policy will focus on promoting renewable energy sources like wind and solar power and rely less on traditional fossil fuels like oil as America tackles climate change. "We don't believe it makes sense to significantly subsidize the production and use of sources of energy (like oil and gas) that are dramatically going to add to our climate change (problem). We don't think that's good economic policy and we think changing those incentives is good for the country," Geithner told the Senate Finance Committee at a hearing on the White House's proposed budget for the 2010 spending year. Hell, I don't think anyone who has the nerve to exhale should get any tax breaks! I mean, that shit is just loaded with CO2 when it comes out of your mouth! We need strict government policies to dis-incentivate exhalation; it's for our own good. These guys are the scariest bunch of tools to come along in a long, long time. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:28 AM | Comments (2) March 04, 2009 Leadership? My Bride and I were talking last night about how low and, well, petty Obama is. Seriously. With all the insanity and uncertainly in the world at the moment what is required is a calm, reassuring, firm hand on the tiller. And what do we have? A Doomsayer In Chief. Henny Penny Goes To Washington. A president who singles out media pundits for specific criticism and attack. Good god. What has been said about Obama so far has been nothing compared to the invective and vitriol hurled at Bush and Clinton over the past 16 years. Did you ever once hear a journalist or pundit singled out in a Presidential news conference or briefing the way we've seen Limbaugh and now Cramer just yesterday? Of course not. Those men, regardless of the rightness or wrongness of their actions knew that such petulant childlike behavior was beneath the dignity of their office, their nation...and themselves. But now we have a President who's never faced criticism before, who's never had his ideas and plans given anything but fawning praise before, and like any spoiled adolescent he's lashing out instead of considering that perhaps maybe there's the slightest of chances he might be, er, um, how does one put this gracefully...wrong? It's almost as if he's never had any executive experience, really, but that can't be: he was after all a community organizer. "Obama": It's Kenyan for "thin skinned" Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:13 AM | Comments (15) March 01, 2009 Rahm Emanuel on "Face the Nation" This Morning ...just reinforced my original "what a lying, sack o' shit this asshole is" opinion of him. Wait'll the transcripts are are out and you'll see what sort of "change" hath been wrought. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:05 AM | Comments (2) February 27, 2009 I'll Give Him That ...To all you loyal PWB readers who make up America’s best hope for a legitimate third party, thank you for the concerned emails asking where we had gone and when we’d be back. To be truthful, I gave the staff and interns a couple weeks off while the site was being redone. Meanwhile, I spent my time holed up at Buzzy’s trying to figure out how I ended up living in a socialist country. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:53 AM Constitution? What Constitution? All that matters is what the Democrats want. The Senate passed a bill yesterday that would give the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives, but lawmakers attached language strongly opposed by city leaders that strips most local gun-control laws. The gun amendment complicates the D.C. vote bill's passage into law, because the legislation will have to be reconciled with a companion bill in the House with no gun provisions that is expected to be approved next week. Some D.C. officials said it was ironic that the Senate bill granted the city full representation in the House while also overruling the District's decisions on a key local issue. Well, actually, what "complicates" this bill is a little thing called the US Constitution. Only Representatives from States are members and may vote. DC is not a state, last time I checked. For DC to get voting rights requires a constitutional amendment; acts of Congress simply are not sufficient. Let's not forget, if DC gets a vote for its one Representative, how can it be denied TWO Senators by this rogue Congress? As Ann Althouse says I don't know how even to articulate an argument that it's constitutional to give a vote to a D.C. representative in the House. Shredding the Constitution. It's not just for the Bush administration anymore. Pure, naked power grab. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:22 AM | Comments (7) Hope And Change: Getting The World's Love ... one nation at a time BUENOS AIRES, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Argentina on Thursday blasted the head of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency for saying the country, along with Ecuador and Venezuela, could be pushed into instability by the global economic crisis. Lumping Argentina together with Ecuador and Venezuela, both led by leftist anti-Washington firebrands, raises concern in this country, where center-left President Cristina Kirchner is trying to keep the economy from stagnating. Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana called the comments made on Wednesday by CIA Director Leon Panetta "unfounded and irresponsible, especially from an agency that has a sad history of meddling in the affairs of countries in the region." Taiana said he will meet on Friday with U.S. Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne to demand an explanation. (Reporting by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by John O'Callaghan) Thanks god we've got these seasoned professionals who hit the ground running in charge now, eh? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:04 AM February 26, 2009 Yes, We Really Want To Follow Down Europe's Path I mean, just look how swimmingly State-Sponsored Everything is working over there The vast imbalances that have been allowed to build up under the seductive protection of EMU leave German taxpayers facing bail-out liabilities that exceed the cost of reparations after the First World War, in proportional terms. The political ground has not been prepared for this. EMU was foisted on the German people without a referendum, in the face of deep public scepticism and scathing criticisms by the professoriat. This failure to secure a mandate for such a revolutionary undertaking is coming back to haunt them. Berlin is at last having to deliver on the Faustian bargain made by Germany's political class when it swapped the D-Mark for French acquiescence in reunification. It must either go the whole way towards EMU fiscal union and take responsibility for Italy's public debt (111pc of GDP by next year), Austria's loans to Eastern Europe (70pc of GDP), the adventures of Ireland's 'Canary Dwarf' (€400bn or so in liabilities), and Spain's housing collapse (1m unsold homes), or jeopardize its half-century investment in the political order of post-war Europe. Letting EMU fail at this stage would have far higher costs than never having launched the project in the first place. Remember, bureaucrats who've never run any business know much more about how to run yours than you do. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:47 AM | Comments (3) February 25, 2009 Whoa, The AP Checks Out Obama's Assertions Somebody's gonna get a talking to at the AP's offices for this display of stones WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama knows Americans are unhappy that their taxes will be used to rescue people who bought mansions beyond their means. But his assurance Tuesday night that only the deserving will get help rang hollow. Read the rest but make sure you are sitting down first. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:31 AM | Comments (5) A Modest Mortgage Proposal The more I read about stories like the one below, where the guy in the cave house has to sell, the more annoyed I get. Look, as Ed at HotAir pointed out the other day, you do not get foreclosed because your home has "lost" appraised value. You get foreclosed because you are not making the payments. This can not be repeated enough. Certainly there are people who have lost their jobs, and if the Government feels it 'must' help some folks then these are the ones that it should consider. But they are the only ones. The VAST majority of people who are being foreclosed (ok, I am making a complete guess on this, but based on anecdotal evidence, i.e. every story I see in the MSM that's the conclusion I've reached, and since it's my blog I feel free to make shit up if it advances my point, and that includes crafting sweeping generalizations) are being foreclosed because they took one of two gambles when getting their mortgage. The traditional mortgage is at a fixed rate for 30 years. You know exactly the amount you're going to pay every month; it doesn't change. People with these mortgages aren't defaulting. They budgeted based on their incomes and they're making their payments. The folks who are in trouble, on the other hand, got themselves into a mess in a couple of ways, all of which involved poor investment decisions that in no way shape or form should we be required to bail them out of. Look, this is not hindsight talking; these were risky, hell, crappy, ideas back when the folks did them. We bought our house in 1999 and prices were literally rising daily on the houses that we looked at; we looked at these alternative mortgages and thought "why the hell would we want to do that? We want to know exactly what our payment will be every month." One of these bad ideas is that, caught up in the speculative housing bubble, they saw houses not as a long-term place to live that also happened to be a decent investment but rather as a chance to make a lot of short-term profits. So they bought a house using one of these stupid-ass "balloon" mortgages, where the payments are relatively low for 5 or 6 years and then you have to pay the entire balance off. This works great if the market stays hot and you can sell the house, but you are totally dead if the housing market even stagnates, let alone drops. As the market has indeed dropped the flippers are screwed. Another group who has been killed by the downturn in house values are the ATM-ers, the people who used their houses as ATMs to finance lifestyles way beyond their means. People who had owned their houses for a while, had reasonable payments and perhaps even had paid off their mortgages got seduced by the easy money to draw out hundreds of thousands of dollars in the "equity" that their houses had built up by taking out home equity loans or re-mortgaging the house based on the new inflated appraisals. And they spent that cash on cars, cruises, furniture, electronics, fancy meals; all sorts of toys and that spending in large part drove our economy's bubble for the last decade. These folks needed the housing market to keep rising so they could keep re-financing basis the higher home equity to support their living beyond their means. They are like speculators in stock or commodity markets; they guessed wrong and now the margin payments are due. Go watch "Trading Places" again for the Duke's margin call. There is no reason to bail any of these folks out; that would only encourage more of this behavior. I mean, hell, if we bail these people out we might as well bail out the stupid, poorly-run banks who abandoned any sense of fiscal prudence in loaning them the money too, right? Oh poop.... There's also another group of folks who are in a bind here, and that's the people who took out Adjustable Rate mortgages. Again, these people were gambling. They thought that interest rates would go down (even though they have been near historic lows for the past decade) and thus their monthly payments would go down as well when the rates adjusted. Many of them were wrong. Again, why should we bail them out? When we bought our house in 1999 we budgeted based on the fixed rate at the time and got the fixed mortgage accordingly; it was around 7.25% I believe. In fact rates did go down and I was able to re-finance at 5.125% about 4 years later which was a bonus for us. I certainly didn't take on a higher initial payment than I could afford on the gambler's hope that rates would go my way, which is in effect what these people did. Again, why should I be forced to cover someone else's gambling debts? So here's my proposal. We need to get away from thinking of houses as liquid, short-term assets and eliminate flipping so that people will budget and only buy houses that are within their means to afford for the long-haul. Certainly from the banking side they need to use due diligence and not make loans to people who can not be reasonably expected to pay them back; home ownership is not a "right" but an economic privilege that one earns through work and proven credit reliability, so all the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac inducements that have caused many of these problems need to go. But also I think that balloon loans and ARMs need to be eliminated to cut down on the gambling, speculation and unpleasant surprises; the only mortgages that can be done should be fixed-rate. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:27 AM | Comments (8) February 24, 2009 You know, us simple folk who didn't use our houses as ATMs You played by the rules. Invested conservatively. Looked for company names you could trust, like Lehman Bros. (LEHMQ, news, msgs). Didn't sell out at the first or even second downturn in the markets. Saved up for a down payment. Paid your bills on time and kept your credit card balances down so you could build up your credit rating. Shopped around for a fixed-rate mortgage. Didn't buy more house than you could afford. Managed your company for the long run. Built up trust with your bank. Earned the trust of your suppliers and customers. Kept debt to a minimum even if it meant growing more slowly. Now, don't you feel like a chump? Your retirement portfolio is worth 40% less than at the end of 2007. Your house is worth 20% less. Your company is scrambling to stay afloat because your oh-so-friendly banker has cut your credit line. But the worst is that you see people all around who behaved like fools, people who lied on their mortgage applications, who piled on debt like there was no tomorrow or who ran their companies into the ground and who are now getting bailed out by the federal government. With your money. This gets to the core of the groundswell of anger folks are feeling. Those of us who scrimped and saved and bought modest houses after carefully budgeting are getting royally screwed by the bastards who kept re-mortgaging and flipping houses to support extravagant lifestyles and new cars every three years. Why should I support these people? Why should I support companies whose products consumers have stopped buying? Why should my child be put into debt to support these people? Obama said yesterday "I refuse to leave our children with a debt they cannot repay," he said in remarks opening the one-day summit at the White House. "We cannot and will not sustain deficits like these without end. ... We cannot simply spend as we please." Which I guess sounds somewhat noble until you think...why the hell are we burdening our children with any debt for our failure to live within our means? Wouldn't a proper response be to take the bitter medicine now, take the pain now and give our children a chance to live better? But no, Obama wants to burden our children with a debt they can pay, a debt caused by this generations refusal to accept responsibility for it's fiscal insanity. If there ever was a case for the following generation to hate the previous, he's building it. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:42 AM | Comments (5) February 23, 2009 In One Of The Most Disgusting Corruption Cases I've Seen It's no surprise that politics reign as usual. Yes, CNN loves to play "Name That Party" don't they? (CNN) -- At a friend's sleepover more than a year ago, 14-year-old Phillip Swartley pocketed change from unlocked vehicles in the neighborhood to buy chips and soft drinks. The cops caught him. There was no need for an attorney, said Phillip's mother, Amy Swartley, who thought at most, the judge would slap her son with a fine or community service. But she was shocked to find her eighth-grader handcuffed and shackled in the courtroom and sentenced to a youth detention center. Then, he was shipped to a boarding school for troubled teens for nine months. "Yes, my son made a mistake, but I didn't think he was going to be taken away from me," said Swartley, a 41-year-old single mother raising two boys in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. CNN does not usually identify minors accused of crimes. But Swartley and others agreed to be named to bring public attention to the issue. As scandals from Wall Street to Washington roil the public trust, the justice system in Luzerne County, in the heart of Pennsylvania's struggling coal country, has also fallen prey to corruption. The county has been rocked by a kickback scandal involving two elected judges who essentially jailed kids for cash. Many of the children had appeared before judges without a lawyer. Judges, elected judges, who are so corrupt and debased that they are giving kids harsher sentences and sending them to reform schools in exchange for kickbacks. You'd *think* that the party affiliation might be newsworthy of such elected scum. CNN doesn't think it's worthy of mention. ...Ciavarella edged Giovannini by 378 votes (18,759 to 18,381) for the Democratic nod. These "judges" should be put away for ever. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:31 PM | Comments (5) February 21, 2009 The Depart of Energy's own website says it better than I ever could Wile E Chuyote, Super Genius In the comments to my post yesterday reader "pmp" chides moi for taking a "cheap shot" at Dr. Chu Y'know, you'd think that with all the genuine mess-ups being committed by this administration on a daily basis, you wouldn't have to resort to cheap shots. First off, my dear fellow, I like cheap shots. Oh sure, sometimes I pride myself on a skillful parry with a foil or some daring Errol Flynn-esque derring-do with a witty rapier thrust, but heck, sometimes when the softball's been tossed slowly right down Main Street ya' needs to just whack at the damn thing, you know? But to defend myself against this worrisome charge let's look again at the situation in question. Dr. Chu, aka "Wile E Chuyote, Super Genius," was named to his post on December 15th, 2008, well over a month before President Obama was to be inaugurated. So one would reasonably expect that a Cabinet Member, especially a "Nobel Prize Winner," of an Administration that was pledging to "hit the ground running," especially one who is "charged with helping implement President Obama’s ambitious agenda to invest in alternative and renewable energy, end our addiction to foreign oil, address the global climate crisis and create millions of new jobs" (and to boldly go where no man has gone before!)...I don't know, is it a "cheap shot" to be upset that the Point Man for our Glorious Leader's Ambitious Energy Agenda, the man who is the Official Spokesman for US Energy Policy, after eight weeks of preparation can do no better than this: At a forum with reporters on Thursday, (Steven Chu) the head of the department that has traditionally taken the lead on global oil-market policy, was asked what message the Obama administration had for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries at its meeting next month. "I'm not the administration," the Cabinet secretary replied. "I will be speaking and learning more about this in order to figure out what the U.S. position should be and what the president's position is." ...The day before, reporters asked him about OPEC output levels after a speech to a group of utility regulators. He responded that the issue was "not in my domain." I'm sorry, that is simply gobsmackingly incompetent. I can not possibly fathom how one could characterize this as "cautious, circumspect, and reassuring." You find it reassuring that after two months the Secretary has no idea what his policy positions are, what his boss's positions are, or even what subjects fall in to his own portfolio? I mean, gosh, "OPEC output levels" might possibly be of concern to the Secretary of Energy? Who could ever have imagined such a thing! Is this some secret right-wing plot? Yes, it's illustrative/indicative/representative of damn near every other appointment and nearly every decision that Obama has made...which is sadly not surprising for a guy who has zero executive experience. You're better than that. Dude, you're talking about a guy who writes posts titled "Sorry Guys: No More Hummers" No I'm not. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:26 AM | Comments (8) February 20, 2009 A New Situation Comedy: Obamarama and the Keystone Cabinet President Obama's transportation department slapped down a suggestion by its own secretary Friday that the government tax motorists based on how many miles they drive rather than how much gasoline they burn. The laughs NEVER end! Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:36 PM | Comments (4) Quote of the Day "My husband and I always discuss, 'Why do we try to better ourselves, when it seems if you do nothing, you get all the help in the world?'” I'm SO there , ma'am. As my hero Rick Santelli says, "Tea party!" UPDATE: Gracious goodness, HOARDES of disgruntled... Instapundit mortgage/tax payers !!! A Warm Swill Welcome to you all and our fervent thanks to the Blogfaddah, who should be aware that his box o' tea and war paint is waiting at the rail on the starboard side of our tipsy ship o' state. Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:20 PM | Comments (8) You Know, If We Weren't Getting So Totally Screwed By These Clowns... I'd be laughing my ass off At a forum with reporters on Thursday, (Steven Chu) the head of the department that has traditionally taken the lead on global oil-market policy, was asked what message the Obama administration had for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries at its meeting next month. "I'm not the administration," the Cabinet secretary replied. "I will be speaking and learning more about this in order to figure out what the U.S. position should be and what the president's position is." ...The day before, reporters asked him about OPEC output levels after a speech to a group of utility regulators. He responded that the issue was "not in my domain." Read the rest of the post at Ace's and weep in your bathtub gin tonight, friends. Good lord. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:13 PM | Comments (8) February 19, 2009 Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:27 AM | Comments (8) February 18, 2009 "A Nation Of Cowards" And not only that, but we actually have the nerve make private decisions in our private lives (WASHINGTON) Attorney General Eric Holder described the United States Wednesday as a nation of cowards on matters of race, saying most Americans avoid discussing unresolved racial issues. In a speech to Justice Department employees marking Black History Month, Holder said the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives. "Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," said Holder, nation's first black attorney general. Race issues continue to be a topic of political discussion, Holder said, but "we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race." I am so sputteringly mad at this, at the sheer arrogance of it, that I can't think straight. How DARE we have private lives. How DARE we "cowards" decide who we will associate with, if anyone, on the weekends. How DARE we racist cowards elect a black man to be our President. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:43 PM | Comments (11) February 17, 2009 Japan's Finance Minister Gets Saki-ed Oops! Sorry! Make that sacked Japan's Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa has resigned, amid claims that he was drunk at a recent G7 meeting. Mr Nakagawa said earlier that he would wait until parliament had approved a supplementary budget to step down. But he brought forward his departure after calls for his immediate exit escalated. ...Footage showed Mr Nakagawa slurring his speech and closing his eyes repeatedly as if he was dozing off. At one point, he mistook a question aimed at the governor of the Bank of Japan as one intended for him. Frankly, getting completely trashed is a reasonable response to the economic policies of Japan and the US; hell, it's my preferred option. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:35 AM | Comments (9) California Dreamin' Well, maybe a better term is nightmare Reporting from Sacramento -- With lawmakers still unable to deliver a budget after three days of intense negotiations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepared to lay off 10,000 government workers and his administration said it would halt the last 275 state-funded public works projects still in operation. The projects, which cost $3.8 billion and include upgrades to 18 bridges and roads in Los Angeles County to protect them from collapsing in earthquakes, had been allowed to continue as others were suspended because the state was running out of cash. Remember how a few years ago everyone was all a gaga about Ahnuld, and how we should change the Constitution so he could become President? Puh-lease. Sadly, California is a mini version of where the US as a whole is heading due to complete financial negligence and treasury-raiding, done not to "help people" or any such blather but simply to win votes. It's disgusting, and the very reason why things at all levels of government are so screwed up. This quote from this article sums it up perfectly "It's unconscionable that we let this state go over the cliff," Adams said in an interview. "My job is to get the best possible deal for Republicans." No, you corrupt little turd, your job, your duty, is to do the best possible thing, the right thing, for the citizens of your state; for it is for them that you 'serve,' not for your party. I've said it before and I'll say it again: both Parties are now so horribly corrupt, so firmly ensconced that they only exist to keep themselves in power. If things are to change we need to start electing some independent folks to office to break this monopoly of power. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:20 AM | Comments (6) February 13, 2009 Yes, it's still a contradiction in terms Reporting from Washington -- A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown from an air base in that country, a revelation likely to embarrass the Pakistani government and complicate its counter-terrorism collaboration with the United States. The disclosure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, marked the first time a U.S. official had publicly commented on where the Predator aircraft patrolling Pakistan take off and land. ...Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, said Feinstein's comments put Pakistan's government on the spot. "If accurate, what this says is that Pakistani involvement, or at least acquiescence, has been much more extensive than has previously been known," he said. "It puts the Pakistani government in a far more difficult position [in terms of] its credibility with its own people. Unfortunately it also has the potential to threaten Pakistani-American relations." As chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Feinstein is privy to classified details of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. The CIA does not publicly acknowledge a campaign against Pakistan-based extremists using remotely piloted planes, making Feinstein's comment all the more unusual. Gosh, I feel so much better knowing that secret information is securely held in her hands. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:57 AM | Comments (7) Gregg Wakes Up Good for him Sen. Judd Gregg abruptly withdrew his nomination as commerce secretary Thursday, telling Politico that he “couldn’t be Judd Gregg” and serve in Barack Obama’s Cabinet. The White House — where some aides were caught off guard by the withdrawal — initially responded harshly to Gregg’s announcement, portraying the New Hampshire Republican as someone who sought the job and then had a “change of heart.” Mee-owww. Getting a little testy, aren't we? “Once it became clear after his nomination that Sen. Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Sen. Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways,” Gibbs said. Maybe because his policies......suck? I'm just tossing that out, mind you. And maybe he is objecting the the unconstitutional power grab by Rahm and Obama, as they seek to impose Chicago-Style machine politics on the US: the President has no business trying to grab control of the Census. The Census is clearly and unequivocally a function of the Legislative, not the Executive, Branch. Article 1, Section 2: The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. Of course, this should be no surprise since our President is a "constitutional scholar" of the type who believes But, the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and of more basic issues such as political and economic justice in society. To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn't that radical. It didn't break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as it's been interpreted, and the Warren Court interpreted in the same way, that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can't do to you. Says what the federal government can't do to you, but doesn't say what the federal government or state government must do on your behalf. Which is a gobsmacking inversion of the entire spirit and intent of the Constitution, which is to limit the naturally tyrannic impulses of every government. But I guess one can not expect this noted scholar to have read and understood the 10th Amendment The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. When he clearly has never even made it to the Second. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:49 AM | Comments (1) February 12, 2009 Quote Of The Day When a political lightweight is out of his depth, he seeks to compensate by counterfeiting the certainty he is far from feeling. Obama's rantings in defence of his stimulus plan have assumed an apocalyptic intensity. Unless Congress agrees to flush almost $1 trillion of Joe Citizen's hard-earned bucks down the sanitation, "Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse." So, America had better listen to the man who "screwed up" over Tom Daschle because he alone has the wisdom to extricate the US of A from financial disaster. The instrument of salvation is the biggest barrel of pork that the undeserving needy have ever seen in American history, from sea to shining sea. The financial crisis may seem complex, but the solution - the real solution - depends on one simple premise: tax cuts revive economies, handouts do not. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:21 AM | Comments (2) Sounds Like The EU Needs... ...a tax cheat Treasury Secretary like we've got “Estimates of total expected asset write-downs suggest that the budgetary costs – actual and contingent - of asset relief could be very large both in absolute terms and relative to GDP in member states,” the EC document, seen by The Daily Telegraph, cautioned. "It is essential that government support through asset relief should not be on a scale that raises concern about over-indebtedness or financing problems.” The secret 17-page paper was discussed by finance ministers, including the Chancellor Alistair Darling on Tuesday. National leaders and EU officials share fears that a second bank bail-out in Europe will raise government borrowing at a time when investors - particularly those who lend money to European governments - have growing doubts over the ability of countries such as Spain, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Italy and Britain to pay it back. 16.3 trillion pounds. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:09 AM February 11, 2009 Attacked by the Greens, guess whose house is still standing THEY were labelled law breakers, fined $50,000 and left emotionally and financially drained. But seven years after the Sheahans bulldozed trees to make a fire break — an act that got them dragged before a magistrate and penalised — they feel vindicated. Their house is one of the few in Reedy Creek still standing. The Sheahans' 2004 court battle with the Mitchell Shire Council for illegally clearing trees to guard against fire, as well as their decision to stay at home and battle the weekend blaze, encapsulate two of the biggest issues arising from the bushfire tragedy. ...Although Liam Sheahan's 2002 decision to disregard planning laws and bulldoze 250 trees on his hilltop property hurt his family financially and emotionally, he believes it helped save them and their home on the weekend. "The house is safe because we did all that," he said as he pointed out his kitchen window to the clear ground where tall gum trees once cast a shadow on his house. "We have got proof right here. We are the only house standing in a two-kilometre area." But the Greens care more about Gaia than people. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:25 PM | Comments (4) February 10, 2009 So The "Stimulus" Will Pass Thanks to three Republicans who are fearful that we must do "something." Did you see that article in Bloomberg yesterday that totaled up the money spent so far? Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- The stimulus package the U.S. Congress is completing would raise the government’s commitment to solving the financial crisis to $9.7 trillion, enough to pay off more than 90 percent of the nation’s home mortgages. The Federal Reserve, Treasury Department and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have lent or spent almost $3 trillion over the past two years and pledged up to $5.7 trillion more. The Senate is to vote this week on an economic-stimulus measure of at least $780 billion. It would need to be reconciled with an $819 billion plan the House approved last month. Only the stimulus bill to be approved this week, the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program passed four months ago and $168 billion in tax cuts and rebates enacted in 2008 have been voted on by lawmakers. The remaining $8 trillion is in lending programs and guarantees, almost all under the Fed and FDIC. Recipients’ names have not been disclosed. Scary scary stuff. How dare we "Little People" question the Noted Tax Cheat at Treasury about where OUR money is going. How is half of such a sum ever to be paid back? And so these 60s Generation Live For Today, Avoid Responsibility At All Costs Self-Centered asshats, these bastards, both in the business world and the government, have saddled our children with an enormous level of debt, one that will crush them for many many years. And now we have this "stimulus" package which Obama declares "The plan that we've put forward will save or create 3 million to 4 million jobs over the next two years." Let's say it will be 4 million; hell, I'm feeling generous. $820 Billion for 4 million jobs. That's $205,000 per job. You want to really stimulate the economy? Pick four million names out of a hat and give each of them 200 grand, no government strings attached. That will do a lot more for the economy than this dung heap will. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:29 AM | Comments (4) February 08, 2009 So, Our Senator ~ Bill Nelson ~ Talks to Chris Wallace This Morning ...and admits his phones have been deluged with calls that are running 7 to 1 AGAINST the stimulus. 7. To. 1. So Wallace asks him "How do you justify to those constituents voting FOR the stimulus, when they so obviously are against it?" "Well, first," he says, "You have to ask yourself 'is this an emergency?' And it is." Well, shut my ignorant mouth. I hadn't realized that. How nice to be so much smarter than the average bear. Thanks for the "representation", bub. Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:24 PM | Comments (6) February 07, 2009 "While I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues to bring down the price tag of this bill, the fact is we still face a trillion dollar spending bill. Making it worse, the bill is 93% spending and only 7% stimulation." GTA 2009: making video games seem like bastions of reasonable behavior since 1/20/09. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:07 AM February 06, 2009 Dear Teddy Please show some respect for yourself, history and the TRUTH and demur with enthusiam when your 11th hour return to Washington to cast a vote ~ via Obamacon hyperbole ~ is converted to an epic journey the equal of Caesar Rodney's . 'Cause you know they will. And you DAMN sure know it ain't. Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:32 PM | Comments (1) Go Figure "Your call has been transferred....... The mailbox for Senator Martinez is full. Goodbye." Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:47 PM | Comments (2) More Stimulating Stimulustude Via Ace here's a handy list of more details about the beast that science calls Stimulantus Gigantus $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts $380 million in the Senate bill for the Women, Infants and Children program $300 million for grants to combat violence against women $2 billion for federal child-care block grants $6 billion for university building projects $15 billion for boosting Pell Grant college scholarships $4 billion for job-training programs, including $1.2 billion for “youths” up to the age of 24 $1 billion for community-development block grants $4.2 billion for “neighborhood stabilization activities” $650 million for digital-TV coupons; $90 million to educate “vulnerable populations” $15 billion for business-loss carry-backs $145 billion for “Making Work Pay” tax credits $83 billion for the earned income credit $150 million for the Smithsonian $34 million to renovate the Department of Commerce headquarters $500 million for improvement projects for National Institutes of Health facilities $44 million for repairs to Department of Agriculture headquarters $350 million for Agriculture Department computers $88 million to help move the Public Health Service into a new building $448 million for constructing a new Homeland Security Department headquarters $600 million to convert the federal auto fleet to hybrids $450 million for NASA (carve-out for “climate-research missions”) $600 million for NOAA (carve-out for “climate modeling”) $1 billion for the Census Bureau $89 billion for Medicaid $30 billion for COBRA insurance extension $36 billion for expanded unemployment benefits $20 billion for food stamps $4.5 billion for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers $850 million for Amtrak $87 million for a polar icebreaking ship $1.7 billion for the National Park System $55 million for Historic Preservation Fund $7.6 billion for “rural community advancement programs” $150 million for agricultural-commodity purchases $150 million for “producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish” $2 billion for renewable-energy research ($400 million for global-warming research) $2 billion for a “clean coal” power plant in Illinois $6.2 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program $3.5 billion for energy-efficiency and conservation block grants $3.4 billion for the State Energy Program $200 million for state and local electric-transport projects $300 million for energy-efficient-appliance rebate programs $400 million for hybrid cars for state and local governments $1 billion for the manufacturing of advanced batteries $1.5 billion for green-technology loan guarantees $8 billion for innovative-technology loan-guarantee program $2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects $4.5 billion for electricity grid $79 billion for State Fiscal Stabilization Fund If you've read more than 4 lines of the above than congratulations: You're read more of this Bill than most members of Congress! My goodness, with all this Government-supplied stimulus no wonder the porn industry is feeling the pinch. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:24 AM | Comments (3) De-Stimulated? Well, certainly this stimulus disaster has slowed in the Senate , so let's hope the rising public opinion against it will finally kill it. I think it will be an unmitigated disaster. People are finally taking a serious look at the very similar approach that Japan tried in the mid 80s: the real estate market crashed, causing a massive economic downturn, the government slashed interest rates to near zero, and when that didn't work the government unleashed a massive spending/stimulus program. In the end, say economists, it was not public works but an expensive cleanup of the debt-ridden banking system, combined with growing exports to China and the United States, that brought a close to Japan’s Lost Decade. This has led many to conclude that spending did little more than sink Japan deeply into debt, leaving an enormous tax burden for future generations. In the United States, it has also led to calls in Congress, particularly by Republicans, not to repeat the errors of Japan’s failed economic stimulus. They argue that it makes more sense to cut taxes, and let people decide how to spend their own money, than for the government to decide how to invest public funds. Japan put more emphasis on increased spending than tax cuts during its slump, but ultimately did reduce consumption taxes to encourage consumer spending as well. Economists tend to divide into two camps on the question of Japan’s infrastructure spending: those, many of them Americans like (noted tax cheat) Mr. Geithner, who think it did not go far enough; and those, many of them Japanese, who think it was a colossal waste. Among ordinary Japanese, the spending is widely disparaged for having turned the nation into a public-works-based welfare state and making regional economies dependent on Tokyo for jobs. Not that economists or noted tax cheats like Mr. Geithner give a rat's ass what ordinary citizens think about the plans, mind you; we exist solely to fund them. When you look at the provisions of this monster, which of course one is most certainly not encouraged to do, one is overwhelmed by the naked rampant pork , and not in a good "the other white meat" sort of way. Unless my memory is failing, it seems to me that one of the reasons we're in this mess is that people racked up way to much debt, so of course it makes perfect sense that a Michigan Senator adds a provision to this beast to make the interest on car loans deductible. Stealth Auto Bailout, baby! It's a brilliant plan, actually: reduce reckless debt accumulation by making it cheaper. But I don't expect this calm to last. There are too many Chicken Littles running about screaming that we "Have To Do Something!!!" and that something invariably means more government spending, more government regulation, more government intervention in more aspects of our lives. We need drastic changes in how our government is run and in what we expect from it, but that requires us to vote for people who will cut it down to size, and to hold them accountable...and ourselves if we refuse to act against them. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:06 AM | Comments (1) February 05, 2009 A Change I Can Agree With Sure it's a populist sop (but I'm a populist sap), sure it's a ploy to distract attention from all the disastrous pork in the stimulus crap sammich', sure it's a ploy to distract attention from the complete laughable/cryable mess that is his nominees and their tax issues but I don't care; in fact, it doesn't go far enough in my book WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama took on bailed-out Wall Street firms on Wednesday, setting a $500,000 annual cap on pay for top executives at companies receiving taxpayer funds and tapping popular anger over financial sector excesses. Obama said more measures would be outlined next week to overhaul the crisis-hit U.S. financial sector, which has been propped up with billions of dollars in public funds. "This is America, we don't disparage wealth. ... What gets people upset, and rightfully so, is executives being rewarded for failure. Especially when those rewards are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers," he said. The president won support in Washington, with some Republicans who were critical of the financial sector bailout praising the move. But Wall Street critics said the compensation cap was a political gambit that could prompt a talent flight from affected firms. Talent flight? Talent flight? You mean as in the same greedy bastards that in large part got us into this mess in the first place? That talent? "This is pure political grandstanding. If the limit has bite, it will be counterproductive and the unintended consequences will hurt the U.S. as skilled and bright senior managers make choices," said David Kotok, chief investment officer at Cumberland Advisors. Yeah, like all those "skilled and bright senior managers" made choices like...giving Madoff all the money that they were supposedly investing with their Mad Money Skilz. Or all those skilled and bright choices they made with credit default swaps. Or all those bright and skilled choices they made with real estate trusts. Or all those bright and skilled choices they made with... Screw Them. As I've said before many times, I am completely opposed to these bailouts, but since they are happening one clear provision should have been that the entire executive boards and boards of directors of these companies should have been FIRED before they got one single dime of taxpayer money. These creatures pissed away billions; they are not "valuable talent." They are incompetent losers and in many cases outright thieves. We must STOP privatizing profits and publicizing losses, which is all this bailout mania has done so far. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:19 AM | Comments (12) February 03, 2009 Well, There's A Shock! I mean, really, who could have possibly predicted that the successful candidate for the most high pressure executive position in the world, a candidate who had no executive or managerial experience, would have trouble leading once he took office? Never saw this one coming, no sirree. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:18 PM | Comments (9) Fox Just Characterized Daschle's Withdrawal ... as "Emotional" . Oh, I'll bet! Emotional as in: "I'm out $140+ grand and now no job!" Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:08 PM | Comments (7) January 30, 2009 Blago's Impeached I'm certainly not crying any tears for him , but it always makes me a little nervous when elections can be so easily overturned. The man certainly seems to be a coarse, er, punk, but the Good People of Illinois twice elected him, and they certainly have had more exposure to him than any of us. The Illinois Constitution is to my reading way too vague on impeachment SECTION 14. IMPEACHMENT The House of Representatives has the sole power to conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial officers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, or affirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governor is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification to hold any public office of this State. An impeached officer, whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. It seems to me a majority of members can impeach someone for anything if they feel like it, as there's no "high crimes and misdemeanors" guidance. That's a pretty low and arbitrary bar; hell, there is no bar; and that just doesn't seem right. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:49 AM | Comments (6) January 29, 2009 GOP Finally Shows Some Spine In a frankly shocking display of principle the GOP managed to get every single member to vote against the Insane Spending Act of January 2009 WASHINGTON (AP) - In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night, filled with new spending and tax cuts at the core of the young adminstration's revival plan for the desperately ailing economy. The vote was 244-188. "We don't have a moment to spare," Obama declared at the White House as congressional allies hastened to do his bidding in the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Please note that I am calling this the January Insane Spending Act, because I greatly fear that this Congress will come up with even more reckless cash spewing as the year progresses. Strike that: I know they will come up with the spending. I don't see how this is 'stimulus' for the economy. It is simply throw-a-lot-of-money-at-it, see what happens, panic we-must-be-seen-as-doing-something-ism. It's disgusting, short-sighted, and will saddle all of us with an incredible amount of debt forever. If rampant spending and speculation are what got us into this mess, this is the equivalent of trying to put out a fire by dumping on a lot of gasoline. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:31 AM | Comments (7) January 28, 2009 In Defense Of Governor Paterson Look, I'm certainly no fan of his. It is frankly ridiculous that it took so long for him to decide upon a replacement for Clinton. But for the media to keep hammering him over how Kennedy was "treated" detracts from the real scandal here Criticism of Gov. David Paterson's handling of the Caroline Kennedy fiasco continued unabated Tuesday. "I'm going to address this issue for the last time," Paterson said. Slim chance. With the New York Post comparing his ability to tell the truth to Pinocchio, Paterson was on the hot seat again Tuesday over his administration's handling of Kennedy... ..."Are you going to apologize to Caroline Kennedy?" one reporter asked. Sweet baby jeebus, the one person who really should apologize in this whole circus is that pampered let-them-eat-cake "um, I don't know, like wow" spouting skeletor moron Caroline. Who the hell does she think she is? Acting as though she deserves the Senate seat because of her bloodlines? What has she ever done, other than spend money? She's certainly never actually, you know, worked. I mean, sure, she's probably ordered one of her servants to fix Nuncle Teddikins another double; there is that. Oh, and I forget: there's Tragedy! And Camelot! in her family. Well, tough shit; lots of families have had a lot tougher times than that collection of smug self-righteous bastards, and with a lot fewer resources to get through it all. She should apologize to the people of New York for her insulting behavior. The people of New Jersey, on the other hand, well we thank her for the high entertainment value she has provided. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:38 AM | Comments (10) January 26, 2009 Thief Confirmed Will now be given keys to Treasury, authority to dole out taxpayer monies to other thieves NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Senate lawmakers voted Monday to confirm Tim Geithner as the next Treasury secretary amid ongoing uncertainty about the nation's economic future. Geithner, who will spearhead President Obama's response to the financial crisis that threatens to unravel economic growth around the globe, won approval by a vote of 60 to 34. Democrats on Capitol Hill had been pushing for a quick confirmation of Geithner, arguing that the threats facing the economy required immediate action. "Actually, Senator, I just found that W-2 right here up my sleeve! My bad!" Democratic lawmakers have been growing increasingly concerned in the past few weeks that corporate giving for Party causes was down dramatically, a worrisome trend they feared would only accelerate unless some one was found to funnel large amounts of taxpayer-funded crack directly to the firms who had lost the most. "Thank god we've got our man now," they sighed. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:50 PM | Comments (8) I Gotch 'Yer Stimulus Right Here It's disgusting how pork-bloated this stimulus package is. A couple hundred million for Planned Parenthood. A couple hundred million for people to get digital tv converter boxes. Over 800 billion dollars of complete crap. And of course we're told "it may not be enough." Every Democratic spending wish list of the last 8 years now gets rushed through because we "need to do something." "Cutting spending" obviously is not "something." Well, it's not something that the Government can conceive of, mind you; they leave that for us, because soon all of our income will go towards paying interest on these great follies. Here's a little item that sums things up beautifully: because one can never burn through $45 billion in taxpayer bailout money fast enough, Citigroup is getting a new $50 million dollar jet Beleaguered Citigroup is upgrading its mile-high club with a brand-new $50 million corporate jet - only this time, it's the taxpayers who are getting screwed. Even though the bank's stock is as cheap as a gallon of gas and it's burning through a $45 billion taxpayer-funded rescue, the airhead execs pushed through the purchase of a new Dassault Falcon 7X, according to a source familiar with the deal. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm against these bailouts but if they are going to happen one condition must be that the entire executive management and the entire Boards of Directors of all of these companies have to resign immediately. It is INSANE to give billions of our money to the very same people who got us here. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:25 AM | Comments (7) January 20, 2009 Good Luck, Mr. President So in a few short hours Barack Hussein Obama will take the oath of office and become our 44th President. Well, best of luck to you, Mr. President. You step into a job that little can truly prepare you for, and the responsibility of 300 million lives now falls squarely on your shoulders. I pray that you will lead with wisdom and have the courage to make the unpopular decisions that are best for our country, not for any one party or interest group. I pray that you and your family are kept from harm. And I pray that our wonderful country and her wonderful, wonderful people continue to cherish the ideals that make such a day like this possible and never take such freedoms for granted. O' beautiful, for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea. O' beautiful, for pilgrim feet Whose stern, impassioned stress Lawhawk has got a perfect round-up of yesterday's blathering The state budget is bigger this year than it was last year; and the upcoming fiscal year plans on being no different. All the talk about cuts is just that. They're not actually cutting budgets, but reducing the increase in spending year over year. It's still increasing, but just not as much as various groups have wanted. This is a shell game, and state taxpayers are paying through the nose. Read the rest for other choice tidbits. What a complete disaster our state is, and there's no real relief in sight. Sure, a lot of folks are putting their hope in Christie, who may in fact turn out to be good if he in fact gets the nomination. But evidently he's run awful campaigns in the past and this column from December makes a brilliant point about what he'll be facing if elected And then there's the fact that Christie would be likely to base his campaign on the fight against corruption. That's a great credential, but the real problem in New Jersey is not what the Trenton crowd is doing illegally. It's what it does legally. The bankrupt pension fund, the out-of-control spending on urban schools and the taxes that have business fleeing the state are almost entirely the result of programs that are not only legal but in some instances the direct result of state Supreme Court rulings. (emphasis added by me) We've got to radically overhaul Trenton. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:34 AM January 13, 2009 These little misunderstanding kerflufflepuffels are such a bother, dadgumdarnit. Geithner made honest mistakes on taxes, Obama spokesman says Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:23 PM | Comments (7) Gosh Darn It! Don't Ya Just HATE It?!?! These little misunderstanding kerflufflepuffels are such a bother, dadgumdarnit. Geithner made honest mistakes on taxes, Obama spokesman says Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:23 PM | Comments (7) The State Of The State Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:28 AM | Comments (6) January 09, 2009 And thankfully the rest of the name ain't "Whitman" TRENTON — Former federal prosecutor Christopher J. Christie, who built a reputation as a political corruption-buster during seven years as U.S. attorney for New Jersey, announced his intention to run for governor Thursday, setting up a potential showdown with Gov. Jon S. Corzine. In an e-mail to supporters, Christie, a Republican, said he was filing papers to run and intends to make a formal announcement the first week in February. ...The filing with the Election Law Enforcement Commission allows Christie to start raising money for the 2009 race, an important step since multimillionaire Corzine — who dumped more than $40 million of his own money into the 2005 gubernatorial race — plans to seek re-election. Though Christie faces a financial disadvantage, the 46-year-old has a solid reputation after putting several of New Jersey's high-profile politicians behind bars. He's been flirting with a gubernatorial bid since resigning as U.S. attorney Dec. 1. Undoubtedly the best hope for the Republicans, it seems to me. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:30 AM | Comments (6) January 06, 2009 Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:53 PM | Comments (8) Well, This Will Be...Interesting There may be some excitement in DC on Tuesday (CNN) -- The man tapped by Illinois' embattled governor to fill an open U.S. Senate seat will be turned away if he arrives for Tuesday's inauguration of new members, according to two Democratic aides. Roland Burris, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, will not be allowed on the Senate floor, according to the aides -- one who is familiar with Senate Democratic leaders' plans, and the other an aide to the Senate Democratic leadership. Democrats in the Senate have twice this week said they have the authority to refuse to accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested December 9, accused by federal authorities of corruption, including allegedly trying to sell Obama's seat for personal gain. The Democrats are right, they do have the authority. Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution sets out the minimum standards for a Senator: No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. And as a form of protection against scoundrels (well, blatant ones, at least) the following specific passage is found in Article 1, Section 5 Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members The meaning could not be any clearer: even if someone meets the minimum requirements and is elected or chosen to fill a seat the final decision on whether they will be allowed to or not rests with the body they are trying to join. Now I "know" that the Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in Powell v. McCormack that Congress in fact does not have that power. But the Court was wrong; certainly we can all think of examples when the Supremes have made wrong decisions, and this is one of them. Let's also not forget that there was simply no way that the Warren Court was going to allow itself to be seen as "denying" an elected Africa-American, even one as corrupt as Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., in the explosive months following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Oh, and here's some interesting trivia for you: guess who beat Powell in 1972 and sits in his seat to this day? Why only that paragon of virtue Charles Rangel. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:33 AM | Comments (10) December 14, 2008 Today's Reading: A Lesson From the Book of Jonah... ...There's the enormous I-should-have-had-a-V8! moment as the mainstream press collectively thwacks itself in the forehead, realizing it blew it again. The New York Times - which, according to Wall Street analysts, is weeks from holding editorial board meetings in a refrigerator box - created the journalistic equivalent of "CSI: Wasilla" to study every follicle and fiber in Sarah Palin's background, all the while treating Obama's Chicago like one of those fairy-tale lands depicted in posters that adorn little girls' bedroom walls. See there, Suzie? That's a Pegasus. That's a pink unicorn. And that's a beautiful sunflower giving birth to a fully-grown Barack Obama, the greatest president ever and the only man in history to be able to pick up manure from the clean end. Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:53 PM | Comments (1) December 13, 2008 Shocking Development! The Office Of The President Elect makes a bold and innovative and Changey Hopey Cabinet choice for HUD: someone who... served in the Clinton Administration CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Shaun Donovan, New York City's former housing commissioner, to be his secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Obama used his weekly radio address to announce the selection. "As commissioner of housing preservation and development in New York City, Shaun has led the effort to create the largest housing plan in the nation, helping hundreds of thousands of our citizens buy or rent their homes," Obama said. He said HUD is essential in the effort to address the mortgage crisis, which he said "not only shakes the foundation of our economy, but the foundation of the American Dream." "To stem the rising tide of foreclosures and strengthen our economy, I've asked my economic team to develop a bold plan that will dramatically increase the number of families who can stay in their homes," Obama said. "But this plan will only work with a comprehensive, coordinated federal effort to make it a reality." Donovan has experience working in business, academia and at HUD during the Clinton administration. So far it seems that Obama's priority has been the Full Clinton Employment Act of 2009... Look, these folks all may be competent and well meaning and do a terrific job; for the sake of our country I pray they do, in fact. But for someone whose core message was "Change We Can Believe In"...where's the change? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:38 AM | Comments (9) December 09, 2008 More From The Land Of Lincoln The Smoking Gun has some of the criminal complaint. It makes The Sopranos look like members of the Better Business Bureau. Sickening. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:01 PM | Comments (1) Illinois Governor Arrested Hmmm, he must be an Independent* because nowhere in the article does CNN say if he's a Democrat or a Republican (CNN) -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is in federal custody on corruption charges, a law enforcement official said Tuesday. Rod Blagojevich is currently serving his second term as governor of Illinois. Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois. Both men are expected in U.S. District Court in Chicago later Tuesday. A news conference is expected at noon ET. Federal prosecutors say Blagojevich, Harris and others conspired to gain financial benefits in appointing President-elect Barack Obama's Senate replacement, according to the statement. "The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism." Once again, the corrupt nature of our entrenched machine politicians comes to the fore. *that's a joke, obviously. He's a Democrat. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:49 AM | Comments (14) November 17, 2008 Really. Stunned, even WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe said Saturday that Congress was not told the truth about the bailout of the nation's financial system and should take back what is left of the $700 billion "blank check'' it gave the Bush administration. "It is just outrageous that the American people don't know that Congress doesn't know how much money he (Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson) has given away to anyone,'' the Oklahoma Republican told the Tulsa World. "It could be to his friends. It could be to anybody else. We don't know. There is no way of knowing.'' ..."I have learned a long time ago. When they come up and say this has to be done and has to be done immediately, there is no other way of doing it, you have to sit back and take a deep breath and nine times out of 10 they are not telling the truth,'' he said. "And this is one of those nine times.'' Damn straight. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:37 AM | Comments (7) November 13, 2008 A Billion Here, A Billion There... and pretty soon it add up to real money For all the fury over Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's $700 billion emergency economic relief fund, it seems downright puny when compared to the running total of the government's response to the credit crisis. According to CreditSights, a research firm in New York and London, the U.S. government has put itself on the hook for some $5 trillion, so far, in an attempt to arrest a collapse of the financial system. The estimate includes many of the various solutions cooked up by Paulson and his counterparts Ben Bernanke at the Federal Reserve and Sheila Bair at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., as the credit crisis continues to plague banks and the broader markets. Nice, huh? We're on the hook for trillions, and they're still running up the tab. And in the interest of open government they have put the Fannie and Freddie trillions off budget. Our children are so screwed. David Hendler, an analyst at CreditSights, says it looks as if government is left holding the bag, and of course that translates into everyone. "The losses have to be taken, but no one wants to take them," Hendler said at a conference Wednesday, speaking about the banks and their handling of troubled assets. "It seems like the taxpayers are going to be taking a good portion of that." We need to take control. Take back our local and state offices from these entrenched parties; Repubs or Dems, there's no difference. Get rid of all of them. Change this course why we still can. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:10 AM | Comments (4) November 07, 2008 What A Classy, Inspirational Orator In his first press conference as President-Elect Obama says in his first post-election press conference that he's spoken to all the former presidents — Carter, Bush, Clinton, as well as the current Bush — and, looser than he's been in months, dares a joke at the expense of the widow of a deceased one. "I have spoken to all of them who are living," he says. "I didn’t want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any séances," he says. Nice reaching across the aisle kind of talk. Hey, I've got some lines for your next presser, you know, just to relax the mood a bit! "When I see the budget projections I know how Jackie Kennedy's dry cleaner must have felt in Dallas" or "The Detroit Automakers' stock has gone down faster than Monica Lewinsky" always helps to get your point across in that smooth Cicero-like style of yours. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:04 PM | Comments (7) November 05, 2008 You Know, I Like Minnesota My Bride grew up there, and it's a lovely place. Nice, sweet people and, for me, a wonderful climate. But I never want to hear any of them ever again say a disparaging word about Ronald Reagan. I mean, good god, first they elect Jesse Ventura Governor, and now they may put Al Franken in the Senate? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:02 AM | Comments (8) So It's President Obama Congratulations to him and his supporters on a successful campaign. As Allah wrote last night So in that spirit, congratulations to Barry O on a race superbly run and to our country for not having let the wrong reasons deter it from making the wrong choice. I’ll never be a fan, but I swear I’ll never take a nutroots posture either in relishing his failures because it helps my party. Like it or not, he’s my president. As a great man once said, country first. Damn straight. The idea that the winner of an election, if they're not the person you voted for, is somehow illegitimate is one of the most pernicious memes that the Left has promulgated over the last eight years. It is horribly divisive and corrosive to our entire system, and the blame for this is solely theirs. Barack Obama is my President now, and I hope he leads our country to better days. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:33 AM | Comments (15) November 04, 2008 Thank You Sweet Blessed Baby Jeebus That this Election Day has finally come. I am so tired and disgusted by this whole thing. The Republicans frankly deserve a drubbing for how they've screwed things up; the Democrats are chomping on the bit to impose 'Fairness' and societal leveling and criminalize political disagreements. There's no winning here, only a way to try and limit the damage until we can find a way to get rid of both of these parties. The parties have had glorious, shining moments in their past of which they can be rightly proud; both of them have. But as it stands now they, like any human institutions, have become corrupted by their power and have morphed into creatures mainly concerned with their own survival, their own continued hold on political power. I think both parties are ready to fracture. The Republicans are dispirited by how their leadership has abandoned most of the principles they claim to hold dear; Democrats are a roiling bucket of special-interest pandering held together only by their hatred of Bush. Assuming he wins I think that President Obama will be stunned by the vitriol that will flow his way from his own side when his followers discovery that he is not, in fact, able to control the tides and introduce eternal Spring. Closer to home, for my fellow NJ voters we have some ballot questions. On Question 1 , I recommend a "Yes" vote, as I want as much spending/bond issuing as possible to require voter approval. Trenton needs to be reined in; it's our money. Now I understand the loophole that people are complaining about with this, that the concurrent legislation allows them to refinance old debts and slip that under the radar, but guess what? We're stuck paying that no matter what; the bastards have put us on the hook for billions and the only way to solve things is to get rid of the people doing the spending. This is a step in the right direction. On Question 2 , I recommend voting "No." As much as I am a big proponent of local involvement and control, and I really am in favor of having the locals involved in their town's concerns, there needs to be some level of oversight at the State level to counter balance entrenched local machines. There's definitely a dynamic tension here, and I prefer that the Governor and the Legislature retain some review of pan-municipal appointments. So go vote, crack open a bottle or three of wine and toast the future. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:36 AM | Comments (24) November 03, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:27 AM | Comments (2) If I Were To Ask God For A Favor It would be that the election indisputably ends tomorrow. The electorate is pretty evenly split as the last few elections have shown, and the last thing we need is more drawn-out questions and debates and legal challenges out the yin-yang. Wednesday morning we have a new President-elect and we move along. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:39 AM | Comments (3) November 02, 2008 Sophomoric ...Barack Obama has the kind of cocksure confidence that can only be achieved by not achieving anything else. ... The kind of self-righteous self-confidence that has become Obama's trademark is usually found in sophomores in Ivy League colleges-- very bright and articulate students, utterly untempered by experience in real world. The signs of Barack Obama's self-centered immaturity are painfully obvious, though ignored by true believers who have poured their hopes into him, and by the media who just want the symbolism and the ideology that Obama represents. Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:07 PM | Comments (5) Just About 48 Hours Left ...and sister feels the needs to paraphrase a famous lefty actor playing a famous American hero. The OBAMACANS Are the ENEMY! WADE into them! Put fear in THEIR bellies! When you put your hand into a voting booth, That a moment before had an Obamacan in your place... You'll know what to do. Now, there's one thing that you all will be able to say when you get back home, and you may thank God for it. Thirty years from now when you're sitting around your fireside with your grandson on your knee, and he asks you, "What did you do in the great '08 election?" -- you won't have to say, "Well, I didn't do shit for you, me or your gramma." Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:38 PM November 01, 2008 Ebola Thinks He's Heard Obama's "National Security Force" Schtick Somewhere ...before. These are not the droids we're looking for... Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:39 PM October 30, 2008 Well, I Guess You Could Say We Done Made the Big Time ...since our office got us our own protester today. His message is a little garbled... ...as Cam the Man said, "Like three different people had ideas, but they could only afford one piece of cardboard." He's young and stupid, so there's still time to hope. We kept him hydrated and fed. Before he left for the day, he actually made the rounds inside thanking everyone for taking care of him. Pleasant, huh? He'll be back tomorrow. Hopefully he won't realize what the older gents taped to the window just behind him right before he struck a pose... Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:10 PM | Comments (15) Where Would You Be Safer? So far this year 276 US soldiers have died in Iraq...and 426 people have been murdered in Chicago. CHICAGO (AP) - During the same weekend that county pathologists conducted autopsies on the bodies of actress-singer Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother, they also examined the bodies of six other people who'd been gunned down or beaten to death. Five of them died in Chicago, as did the Oscar winner's mother, Darnell Donerson, her brother, Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, whose body was found Monday. Like Hudson's relatives, three died on the city's South Side. The deaths are yet another reminder of the bloodshed on Chicago's streets this year - when the city has seen more homicides than both New York and Los Angeles. And they go a long way toward explaining why residents of Hudson's childhood neighborhood say it's not surprising that people may have heard gunfire coming from her family home but didn't bother to call police. "You hear gunshots day and night, that's nothing new," said Ken Rasheeda, 38, who grew up in the neighborhood, Englewood, where he and his wife are now raising three children. "There's been times I heard gunshots and I didn't think twice about it, it's so common." More homicides than NY or LA. The Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that Chicago is outpacing New York and Los Angeles in 2008 murders, even though the population here is much lower. Chicago had 426 murders through last Tuesday, compared to 417 in New York and 302 in Los Angeles. New York: 8,274,527 people, 417 murders in 2008 so far Los Angeles: 3,834,340 people, 302 murders in 2008 so far Chicago: 2,836,658 people, 426 murders in 2008 so far Chicago has twice the murder rate of LA and three times the rate of NY. One would think that an aspirant for national office from this area should have a clear list of impressive achievements from his time as a state legislator, let alone a "community organizer", fighting to protect his constituents' very lives, no? Something that shows the kind of Hope! and Change! he's been able to actually bring into peoples' lives, so we can get a glimpse of what he'll do for the rest of us as President. Here are the crime statistics for the home cities of each of them: Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:52 PM In His Own Words Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:38 PM Did Campbell Brown Get Struck by the Truth Fairy? I really have no other explanation for the sudden rash of commonsense spouting from her ruby reds. ...On this issue today, former Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, an Obama supporter, writes in The New York Post, "a hypocrite is a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue -- who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. And that, it seems to me, is what we are doing now." For this last week, Sen. Obama will be rolling in dough. His commercials, his get-out-the-vote effort will, as the pundits have said, dwarf the McCain campaign's final push. But in fairness, you have to admit, he is getting there in part on a broken promise. Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:31 AM | Comments (5) October 28, 2008 So I'm Walking Around Midtown Yesterday Up by Columbus Circle, going to meet a client at a bar for an important off-site meeting, and this young lady walks up to us and says "Can I talk to you about Barack Obama?" I smiled and said "no thanks" and she wandered off, and I thought to myself my, what an admirable act of political courage; such boldness! Such audacity! To volunteer as an Obama shill in Manhattan. The heart flutters, it does. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:00 PM | Comments (6) October 27, 2008 Considering the Obama Headlines This Morning 2001 OBAMA: TRAGEDY THAT 'REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH' NOT PURSUED BY SUPREME COURT Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:19 AM | Comments (2) October 26, 2008 Ah, I Love the Smell of Downtown Pensacola ...in the morning. Strolling along the brick sidewalks, I pass the beer trucks unloading and wave at the early risers heading... ...to the nifty little coffeeshop down from the office. It's a lovely place... ...in spite of the globs of dried-on spittle the Obama kids leave every night and our kids get to clean off every morning. A beaming Sarah and somber John are always there before I wander in. John always looks a little glum and I wonder why. Right up to when someone pops out of the back to say "Good morning" in his own unique and inspiring fashion... ...and I wink in sympathy at John, as if to say, "Oh, yeah. HIM." John brightens up imperceptibly. The luminaries aviators running the joint are already swapping the flying exploit du jour... ...while legions of happy snuffies do the actual grunt work and listen with half an ear. I occupy what's referred to as "First Chair". It's quite the bossest job in the place, since we're front and center when you come through those doors. I get to say "What can I do ya for?" to every soul coming in, hand out the cool-ass buttons we design and make here, answer the phones, cheerlead for the other volunteers who show up to make buttons, phone calls ~ whatever the heck we need ~ listen to folks earnestly ramble on like I had a direct line to John (Honest to God, I wish I did.), catch up on the GOP proper gossip about what insane outrage the other campaign's local reps have perpetrated THIS week and make cookies for the incredible core group we have. It's a GREAT gig. And my happiness must be catching because THIS good lookin' convert... ...is a producer for a national NBC news team that interviewed the admiral and shot us busy politicking in the office. (Watch for it Election Day ~ even got my Sarahcuda gear on camera.) Man, we worked him over HARD, but he broke eventually. Begged, BEGGED me to take his picture. As you can tell, Sarah wasn't happy about it one bit. I told her to suck it up. It's a big tent. John's reaction? Well. Steady as she goes and solid as a rock. I'm votin' for that guy. Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:26 PM | Comments (16) There's Something Just Weird... about this guy's seeming endless need to speak before adoring masses CHICAGO (CBS) ― Construction is underway for a massive stage in Chicago where Barack Obama could declare victory on election night. Tens of thousands are expected to gather in Grant Park just 13 days from now. One way or another, that huge crowd will witness history. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that 1996 was actually the last election night when both major party candidates did speak publicly. In the close elections of 2000 and 2004, that did not happen. Preparations to accommodate a big crowd in Grant Park are already underway. A lot of work remains on platforms for speakers, risers for cameras and security barricades. Earlier Wednesday, construction crews at the south end of Grant Park were assembling what they said would hold a giant video screen for the election night gathering. No one really knows how many people will come to the lakefront's Grant Park on Nov. 4. Weather will likely play a role. It was warm and sunny a few days ago in St. Louis when Barack Obama drew an estimated 100,000 to the banks of the Mississippi River. The whole Berlin thing, the Temple bit at the convention, and now this? Look, clearly the poor guy's early life sucked, totally totally sucked. But I'm more than a little troubled at the prospect of having as President a person who seems to have this unending need to make people like him. I want a President who is not afraid to make the tough, unpopular decisions for the good of America, not his self-esteem or standings in international media polls. A President who's not afraid to tell other countries to piss off. I disagree with most of his policies but that doesn't really concern me; that's what politics and opinions are all about. What concerns me is his character. Obama has never, not once, in his entire career, however long you care to define it, shown the slightest inkling or ability to swim against the tide, to take a brave, unpopular stand. Not once. He has made one important decision so far...and he chose Joe Biden. He's the first candidate of my generation, those of us born in the 60s, but he really seems to me to be a precursor of the generation following ours, the Self-Esteem I Am Special generation that WSJ referred to as the "Trophy Kids" just the other day. But whereas this next generation has been coddled from birth Obama certainly has not, but since his teens evidently he has basked in this glow of greatness to come, this expectation that he was intended for higher things, so folks around him hopped on board and passed him along, never testing him along the way. I mean, has he ever actually had a job? Seriously. Has he ever flipped burgers, worked at a fruit stand, cleaned toilets, sat in a cubicle looking at paper for 40 hours, whatever? Has he ever had a boss say "Barack, this sucks. Do it again and you're fired"? All of that is vital to building character, to instill some humility...which he seems to lack. This is what to me ties him to this "Trophy Kid" entitled generation. Every time he's been criticized he gets petulant and lashes out at his critics and/or tosses old friends and relatives under the proverbial bus; this is exactly how these 20-somethings entering the workforce now react. They can not handle criticism, they can not even accept the possibility of it being valid. It is, rather, a vicious personal attack with out any basis in the not-at-all-even-remotely-possible-so-don't-even-think-of-it-you-racist/sexist/genderist/ageist/misogynist reality that they did, indeed, screw up...like we all do all the time (well, those of us who are mere mortals, at least). Has he ever once said "I screwed this up"? No, all we hear is "That is not the _____ (fill in the name here) I knew" or wave his "I don't look like other candidates" line. For once in his career I'm afraid Biden may actually be right, that a President Obama would be severely tested early on in office. And given how he's reacted to minor tests in the past I find that prospect unsettling. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:04 AM | Comments (12) I Musta Missed That Part Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:54 AM | Comments (3) October 22, 2008 More "If You Disagree You're A Racist" Crap So now the word "socialist" is actually code for "black;" in fact, it's an " old code word. " Who knew? It really is stupidity beyond belief, well, it should be beyond belief; I'm not sure anything is beyond belief these days, and not worthy of much of a response. I think I like this from Volokh best: The funny thing is that if indeed Hoover referred to Du Bois, Robeson, and Randolph as socialists, it was not because they were black,but because they were, well socialists. Robeson, in fact, was a Communist, as was Du Bois in his later years. Are there still 'racists' in the US? Of course. But this constant hue and cry over racism has become pretty much a red herring now, where every disagreement with Obama over policies is decried as racist, which frankly gives the impression that his supporters do not want any policy discussions at all. Can someone please tell me a legitimate thing to criticize him on? And I suppose I can't say "red herring" now, because obviously "red" is code for "communist" which is code for "socialist" which is code for "black." Well lookee here, using this political version of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon let's prove that anyone is in fact racist. Here's an easy one: Conservative bastions are called "Red States." As we've shown above, "red" is code for "communist" which is code for "socialist" which is code for "black." Therefore via our perfect logic they are in fact racist. And socialist. Which makes as much sense as any other political analysis you're likely to see. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:12 AM | Comments (3) October 18, 2008 I haven't drunk enough yet . The inspiration poem is as follows: ...Obama is kind. Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:03 PM | Comments (4) Our Treat in the Local Fishwrap Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:11 AM October 17, 2008 As I Enjoy Fomenting Controversy and Curiosity ...I made a little broach to wear to the campaign office today. I'll be glad to explain it to anyone who asks. And encourage them to make their own. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:15 AM | Comments (6) October 16, 2008 Lots of Laughter ...from some really stupid people... ...who haven't a clue that he's dissing them. At least someone in that crowd has to have a blue collar job, right? Right? He just asked for a little clarification from the horse's mouth... ...and got the "inYOUendo" from Obama's media bodyguards instead. Will the media cover Joe as he makes his way to the unemployment line? I mean, it's the least they could do, since they sent him there. For respectfully asking a question. We all need to share the parable of "Joe and the Questions That Should Not Be Asked" as far and wide as humanly possible. And be very afraid. UPDATE: CHA! But why is it that political reporters only get curious when a conservative Joe America storms onto the scene? Why aren’t they just as curious when liberals trot out, say, a 12-year-old boy to give a national radio address? Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:10 AM | Comments (9) October 07, 2008 Thou Shallt Not Mock Soros Goodness, Georgy-porgy made a call and NBC jumped like a slavish puppy NBC is furiously erasing its tracks. Any attempts to upload the forbidden SNL bailout skit skewering George Soros and his left-wing subprime schemer friends Herbert and Marion Sandler will likely be squashed. So, I transcribed the whole comedy sketch for you and provided screenshots for the 7-minute video that has disappeared from NBC and Hulu. (You can see it as of 1:08am Eastern here on YouTube, though I doubt it will last long. Pat Dollard’s blog has posted the full clip on its server. Thanks to Ms. Underestimated for the .wmv file.) Down the memory hole with that skit! The only possibly objectionable element of it was the 'people who should be shot' graphic that was displayed; other than that the skit was shockingly spot-on. Which I guess is why NBC is so quick to 86-it. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:04 AM | Comments (6) If You Disagree You're Racist. Duh. That seems to be their go-to response these days, isn't it? If you dare to question The One's record or policies, well you're a racist, natch. And if you dare to question the wisdom of the folks who "encouraged' banks to begin giving mortgages to people who had no money, if you say, "you know, maybe just maybe that wasn't so brilliant a policy," well, obviously, you, sir, are a hooded Klansman BOSTON (AP) - Rep. Barney Frank said Monday that Republican criticism of Democrats over the nation's housing crisis is a veiled attack on the poor that's racially motivated. The Massachusetts Democrat, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said the GOP is appealing to its base by blaming the country's mortgage foreclosure problem on efforts to expand affordable housing through the Community Reinvestment Act. He said that blame is misplaced, because those loans are issued by regulated institutions, while far more foreclosures were triggered by high-cost loans made by unregulated entities. "They get to take things out on poor people," Frank said at a mortgage foreclosure symposium in Boston. "Let's be honest: The fact that some of the poor people are black doesn't hurt them either, from their standpoint. This is an effort, I believe, to appeal to a kind of anger in people." Frank also dismissed charges the Democrats failed on their own or blocked Republican efforts to rein in the mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The federal government recently took control of both entities. I think it's a bit much to expect Barney to exercise any oversight in Congress, let alone admit to failed policies, when he's never been able to exercise any control over his boy-toys at home. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:35 AM October 06, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:23 AM October 04, 2008 Move right along WASHINGTON — Unqualified home buyers were not the only ones who benefitted from Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank’s efforts to deregulate Fannie Mae throughout the 1990s. So did Frank’s partner, a Fannie Mae executive at the forefront of the agency’s push to relax lending restrictions. Now that Fannie Mae is at the epicenter of a financial meltdown that threatens the U.S. economy, some are raising new questions about Frank's relationship with Herb Moses, who was Fannie’s assistant director for product initiatives. Moses worked at the government-sponsored enterprise from 1991 to 1998, while Frank was on the House Banking Committee, which had jurisdiction over Fannie. ..."C’mon, he writes housing and banking laws and his boyfriend is a top exec at a firm that stands to gain from those laws?" the aide told FOX News. "No media ever takes note? Imagine what would happen if Frank’s political affiliation was R instead of D? Imagine what the media would say if [GOP former] Chairman [Mike] Oxley’s wife or [GOP presidential nominee John] McCain’s wife was a top exec at Fannie for a decade while they wrote the nation’s housing and banking laws." I guess this is who Frank took up with after his previous boyfriend got in trouble for running a prostitution ring out of his apartment. His taste in men ranks up there with Anne Hathaway's. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:29 PM | Comments (11) October 02, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:45 PM | Comments (4) Wowsers ~ Berg v. Obama aka WTF? UPDATE: HOLD ON: I've noticed in the comments of other threads referencing this one that it's being debunked by this ObamaCrimes post: ALERT: Contrary to Internet Rumor, No Court Ruling Yet On Obama / DNC Motion to Dismiss in Berg v. Obama On Mr. Berg's behalf, I am posting this to state clearly the Court has not yet ruled on the Motion to Dismiss in Berg v. Obama. Here's the status: 1. Last week Senator Obama and the Democratic National Committee filed a Motion to Dismiss the Berg v. Obama lawsuit. 2. On Monday, Mr. Berg filed an answer requesting that the suit not be dismissed and that the Court order production of documents proving Senator Obama's consitutional qualifications to serve as President of The United States. 3. As of 1 AM EST today, October 2nd, 2008, the Court has not ruled on the Motion for Dismissal in Berg v. Obama. The PDF appears to be something called a "RESPONSE in Opposition", where a plaintiff's lawyer drafts something he wants a lawyer to sign. (Any lawyers in the house? Did I describe that correctly?) If so, let's lay to rest that the judge has ruled. He HAS NOT. However, my post stands as written concerning my reaction to the circumstances of Mr. Obama's life vis a vis citizenship. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After the initial complaint at the beginning, toodle on down to page 5 of the PDF . And read. I swear to God, your eyes will bug out of your head. I SWEAR. Not only was the dismissal denied, but Obama, by order of the court, has THREE DAYS to turn over the documents. Wowsers... Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:22 PM | Comments (12) Hoist Them By Their Own Petards Words of wisdom by our Masters Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.): I worry, frankly, that there's a tension here. The more people, in my judgment, exaggerate a threat of safety and soundness, the more people conjure up the possibility of serious financial losses to the Treasury, which I do not see. Read the link for more gems, and sleep soundly tonight knowing such foresight is working for you. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:23 AM Que Horror! McCain is sarcastic with a Reporter; modern era of peace and love ends DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain, once renowned for his jocular sessions with journalists, appeared irritable and at times sarcastic in an interview in which he defended running mate Sarah Palin's experience and campaign ads critical of rival Barack Obama. ... When it was suggested that Palin's lack of experience worried voters, McCain turned sarcastic. "Really? I haven't detected that in the polls, I haven't detected that among the base," he said. "If there's a Georgetown cocktail party person who, quote, calls himself a conservative who doesn't like her, good luck. I don't dismiss him. I think the American people have overwhelmingly shown their approval." At another point, McCain was asked if he's strayed from his "straight talk" image with advertising that some have labeled deceptive. McCain dryly responded, "It would be valuable if you gave some examples for an assertion of that nature." Harry Reid repeated his calls that McCain be given a "time out for his behavior." An aide later clarified that Reid was not in fact referring to any particular Senator when he spoke. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:05 AM | Comments (1) October 01, 2008 Greta! Greta! For asking this question and getting this response I swear never ever to make a catty comment about that horrible eye job you had again (h/t to Ace ) PRICELESS Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:03 PM | Comments (7) The Harry Reid Follies Wise leader Harry says "We don't have a lot of leeway on time," Reid told reporters in the Capitol. "One of the individuals in the caucus today talked about a major insurance company -- a major insurance company -- one with a name that everyone knows that's on the verge of going bankrupt. That's what this is all about." What he meant to say was ...later in the day Reid spokesman Jim Manley said the senator was speaking broadly and not referring to anything specific. "Senator Reid is not personally aware of any particular company being on the verge of bankruptcy," Manley wrote in an e-mail to ABCNews.com. "Rather, his comments were meant to refer to the conditions in the financial sector generally. He regrets any confusion his comments may have caused." Amazing. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:06 AM | Comments (5) It's Kind Of Telling That one has to go to the UK to find an article like this about Joe Biden Dominic Lawson: Why should anyone trust Joe Biden? The Democrats' candidate for VP doesn't deserve to be called a sage Tuesday, 30 September 2008 Joseph Robinette Biden – known to all as "Joe" – was once the most talked about American politician in Britain. Unfortunately for the senior Delaware Senator, all the talk was accompanied by incredulous laughter. Read the rest for a convenient reminder of just how 'ready' and 'intelligent' and 'experienced' Joe is...and imagine how the US MSM would be screaming if Palin had done any of this stuff. I forget where I read it, probably somewhere in the comments at Ace's , but I agree with the person who said that they really really hope that at some point in the debate tomorrow Sarah turns to Biden and says "That's a really good line, Joe; Neil Kinnock write that for you?" Hehehehe. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:45 AM | Comments (2) September 30, 2008 It's like a scene out of one of those 60's apocalypse movies. But it's freakin' for real. Thanks bunches, 'Tini Boy . I'm so depressed I could knock a couple back easy. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:40 PM | Comments (8) September 29, 2008 This is gonna leave a mark "Having a former chairman of Goldman Sachs preside over disbursing hundreds of billions of dollars to Wall Street is a terrible concept and inevitably will lead to crony capitalism and the appearance of - if not the actual existence of - corruption," says Gingrich in his statement. "The Bush Administration has now provided three case studies in arrogance, isolation, and destructiveness: Michael Brown during Hurricane Katrina, Ambassador Jerry Bremer in Baghdad, and Secretary Paulson at Treasury." "It is a tragic and very expensive legacy," he continued. "No conservative and no Republican should doubt how much it has hurt our cause and our party." Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:39 PM | Comments (3) September 26, 2008 I'm Sorry to Put It In Common Terms, But the More He Opens His Mouth ...the more all I can think is... "Senator McCain has no need to be fearful about a debate," Obama told reporters. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:26 AM | Comments (2) September 13, 2008 Once Again, MSNBC Shows Absolutely ...no bias and NObama. It's all McCain/Palin on the home page tonight, scattered amongst the hurricanes and trainwrecks. Considering what they chose to report, maybe they felt it was time for a "theme night". If I was a betting girl, I might wager the line circled in green has something to do with it. Considering who they're working so hard for, I guess that WOULD qualify as a "disaster". Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:51 PM | Comments (2) September 12, 2008 ...might they use my tax money to bail out these bastards The investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. spent Thursday energetically shopping itself to potential buyers -- among them Bank of America Corp. -- just a day after insisting it had found a way to patch up its massive real-estate-related losses. Given the firm's deep financial troubles, a deal of any sort is far from certain, according to people familiar with the situation. In addition, prospective buyers, which also could include Barclays PLC, would likely want the U.S. government to help shield them from future losses from any such transaction, these people said, as happened in March, when Bear Stearns Cos. was forced into a deal to be acquired by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. In that deal, the federal government agreed to absorb as much as $29 billion in potential losses. The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department have been working with Lehman to help resolve the bank's troubles, including talking to potential buyers, according to people familiar with the matter. Federal officials currently aren't expected to structure a bailout along the lines of the Bear transaction or this past weekend's rescue of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It ticks me off to no end that the Government (i.e. you and me) are bailing these guys out. Somehow I think that if my company made a boatload of risky business decisions Uncle Sam wouldn't be standing there with a check for us. But then again we don't contribute millions to corrupt folks in Washington. Silly us. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:30 AM | Comments (4) A Request To Politicians Of All Stripes Due to the various street closings related to the service at the WTC yesterday the pick-up point for my bus home got moved to the West Side Highway...right next to the WTC. Brilliant planning, I know. Anyhow, so we're crowded down there waiting for our bus to show up when suddenly there's a big hub-bub and an influx of black Suburbans (strictly hybrids, I'm sure) and I see Obama go by not 15 feet from me, followed by another Suburban or two then a large mini-bus loaded with disciplesmedia personnel. Of course all other traffic is at first stopped, then forced to move and run red lights by screaming cops. Not 5 minutes later here comes a far smaller number of Suburbans, fewer than half the number Obama had, and I see McCain go by the same few feet away, and then the group tottered off into the WTC site as you've all seen by now. Now, I don't have any problem with politicians making these appearances that they're politically obligated to do, but for god's sake I wish for once they wouldn't do it around rush hour and completely screw up peoples' commutes. I'd love to find the advisor who said "you know, 4 pm in Manhattan is a great time to shut down streets!" I mean, I really hate to cut short Obama's lunch with Clinton, but why couldn't they have gone to the WTC at 1 pm? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:08 AM | Comments (4) I'm Not The Most Sophisticated Media Fella I freely admit it. But does it make sense to attack your opponent on these grounds NEW YORK (AP) - John McCain is mocked as an out-of-touch, out-of-date computer illiterate in a television commercial out Friday from Barack Obama as the Democrat begins his sharpest barrage yet on McCain's long Washington career. ..."1982, John McCain goes to Washington," an announcer says over chirpy elevator music. "Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't." ...Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said the campaign was not making an issue of the 72-year-old McCain's age, but the time he's spent in Washington. when the man you picked as your running mate has been a Senator since 1972? "1972" as in "in 1972 Joe Biden was a US Senator in Washington while John McCain was a prisoner in Hanoi" 1972. That 1972. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:52 AM | Comments (2) September 10, 2008 So, Say I Designed a Pro-"Rhymes With BarraMuda" HOTPINK Bumper Sticker ...that ROCKS so hard, it had people stopping me on the street today to ask whence I got it. (It's a fundraiser for the volunteers at a certain group o' veterans working for a certain veteran running for office who get no funds since they're way down the party food chain) And I need people to BUY them, but NOT land Bingley in jail because of campaign laws passed by that very same veteran running for office. So there's our hypotheticals. Our sea and bona fide lawyers in the group wanna take a stab on HOW I can show them off? Hypothetically speaking, of course. Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:48 PM | Comments (4) Just When Things Were Getting Somewhere Just North of Reasonable Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:10 AM | Comments (2) I've Been Anxiously Awaiting Camille Paglia's Take On Palin And she doesn't disappoint ...Conservative though she may be, I felt that Palin represented an explosion of a brand new style of muscular American feminism. At her startling debut on that day, she was combining male and female qualities in ways that I have never seen before. And she was somehow able to seem simultaneously reassuringly traditional and gung-ho futurist. In terms of redefining the persona for female authority and leadership, Palin has made the biggest step forward in feminism since Madonna channeled the dominatrix persona of high-glam Marlene Dietrich and rammed pro-sex, pro-beauty feminism down the throats of the prissy, victim-mongering, philistine feminist establishment. Read the whole thing. To my mind Paglia is the most astute cultural observer we have right now; while I certainly do not agree with many of her positions her insight and candor are second to none. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:27 AM | Comments (4) September 09, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:14 AM | Comments (5) McCain Ahead? Amazing, really WASHINGTON — The Republican National Convention has given John McCain and his party a significant boost, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken over the weekend shows, as running mate Sarah Palin helps close an "enthusiasm gap" that has dogged the GOP all year. McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama by 50%-46% among registered voters, the Republican's biggest advantage since January and a turnaround from the USA TODAY poll taken just before the convention opened in St. Paul. Then, he lagged by 7 percentage points. There's still a long long way to go in this election, but who would have possibly thought 6 months ago that things would be this close? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:43 AM | Comments (1) September 07, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:05 AM | Comments (13) Really, It's Only Friday Why would I mind if you totally screw up my commute home MIDDLETOWN -- Barack Obama's dinnertime visit to Bon Jovi's house Friday is not expected to create hours-long road closures for motorists, Police Chief Robert Oches said. Police anticipate they will only prevent motorists on crosstreets from entering the path of the Democratic Party presidential nominee's motorcade in the moments before it passes, Oches said. Obama is expected to attend private fundraisers at the Middletown homes of Bon Jovi and Philip Murphy, the Democratic National Committee's finance chairman, several Democratic Party and township officials said Thursday. Obama and other party bigwigs will shuttle between the homes, which are located about 2 miles from each other, along Navesink River Road. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:12 AM | Comments (6) September 04, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:30 AM | Comments (5) And Speaking Of Biden Here's a story that I hope gets more play Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden said yesterday that he and running mate Barack Obama could pursue criminal charges against the Bush administration if they are elected in November. This is their Party-Centric, frankly Stalinistic tendencies coming to the fore: If you differ from their line, you're a criminal. Show trials! Purges! Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:49 AM | Comments (6) The Speeches Well, my Bride and I stayed up last night to watch the speeches. I thought Romney was awful, just awful. Huckabee was quite good. Rudy was hot-and-cold, and went on a tad too long. Palin was fantastic. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:41 AM The Unhappiest Guy In The Union This Morning Has got to be Joe Biden. She will eat him alive and set off his pompous temper. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:18 AM So...I Think She Did Real Well Not bad for a rube from bumf*ck Wasilly, Alaska, huh? I LOVE the smell of fear in the morning... Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:14 AM | Comments (5) September 03, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:22 PM | Comments (3) How Vile It's really been amazing these past few days watching how deep in to the gutter some of the left blogs have gone; it shows just how deeply they fear Palin's candidacy, it seems to me. Or that they are just really hateful, bitter people. Maybe both. I mean, look how viciously they have attacked her 17 year old daughter , for god's sake. Disgusting. Althouse has a good word for it: "Palinsanity." Tim shows Sullivan is afflicted as are many others. I can't see how they expect this sort of spittle-laced misogyny will actually help Obama. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:26 AM | Comments (3) August 30, 2008 A Note Concerning Dave J. Vis a Vis Sarah Palin Brilliant. Absolutely fucking brilliant. Agreed. Once I got done crying (which has NEVER happened in a political sense EVER.) (Okay, when Fred! f*cked things up, but that was RAGE.), I thought "Dang! I can relate to this chick." I mean, I don't agree with some of her stances, but nobody ever agrees 100% with anyone. And if they DO... ::raised eyebrows:: But I was always a tomboy (and actually a beauty queen of some SMALL note, too) (they gave me a trophy and savings bonds, yo) ~ always with the guns and the woods and the hopped up car and the rough house with the brothers...and there were so few wimmens of my OWN acquaintance (less mind the manicured, helmet headed doyennes of politics) with whom I felt instinctively I could commune. So, yeah, the Marines was a natch match and while I might envy Liddy Dole for her polish, she and her kind had no real connection to MY life, however she might have my sympathies aligned with her views and my envy for elegant, food stain-free evenings. But Palin? Diggity dadgum. I could give a rat's ass about "experience" as defined by the chattering classes, because the definition morphs for the expediency of the attack at hand. I could also give a rat's ass about religion in ALL its aspects. There are points about her that the 'right'-est side of the party love and with which I respectfully disagree. But you know what? I can live with that. Actually doesn't bother me a bit. Because what we're being introduced to now is a person I find so refreshing and so normal, so decent and so secure in herself that, in a lot of ways, it's like looking in the mirror and saying with wry surprise/winkwinknudgenudgeyness, "I know you"...and I've never been able to say that before. And I have a sneaking suspicion there's more girls than just me thinking that across the country tonight. And that's pretty cool. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:46 AM | Comments (26) August 27, 2008 Thoughts On The Dems ( don and I have been having a talk here about Obama/Biden et al and I thought to make life easier I'd post my latest reply here and broaden the discussion.) I must confess that I haven't watched any of the convention, and I won't watch the Rep one either, as I find incessant pep rallies to be about as exciting as dental surgery. That being said, the reviews of Michelle's speech indicate that she did exactly what she needed to do, i.e. show she's a nice person who has sweet kids and loves both her husband and her country. I would imagine that for the next few weeks at least she will do her utmost not to be any type of a distraction and will appear mainly to smile and kiss babies so that Obama can focus on his message and his opponent and not have to answer any questions about something she has said. Hillary is no dummy. As much as the media was trying to whoop up the idea of her fighting tooth and nail at the convention so they would have some fun stories to run there is no way in hell she was going to do so, as her sights are now on 2012. By making a strong speech in support of Obama it's a win-win for her. If he loses the election, the Dems will say "we should have chose Hillary." If he wins her help will have been key and so there will be some plum owed to her. If he wins and doesn't have a terribly successful term than she is the obvious choice for 2012. As I said before I really don't see Biden as a positive, and it occurred to me last night that Biden clearly was not his first choice. Obviously, there's no way he would have chosen Hillary as his running mate. No way. The divisive, brawling horror show that would entail, trying to rein in both Hillary and Bill, would frankly ruin an Obama presidency. No, I think his first choice, the person who would have firmly solidified his 'Change' mantra and kept the "new" image projection alive would have been Edwards. While I may disagree with their policies I can't help but think that an Obama from the North and Edwards from the South would have been unbeatable combination. Unfortunately for the Democrats Edwards was more interested in other types of combinations, and that's why you're starting to see some vitriol directed at the Saintly Elizabeth as well now, for allowing the public charade to go on as long as it did since she knew about the canoodling at least since 2006. I can't help but think the Edwards implosion was a huge blow to the Dems, and forced him to reluctantly turn to a guy in Biden who's only 6 years younger than the 'dinosaur' McCain and fully 25 years older then Obama is and thus blunts part of his appeal. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:27 AM | Comments (9) August 25, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:09 PM | Comments (18) August 05, 2008 He's 'The One' and There's No Spoon? He can change his mind. © Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:36 PM | Comments (4) August 03, 2008 Filed Under: "Huh?" Obama surrogate Robert Rubin on "Face the Nation" this morning. It was a masterful example of pin point parsing and cagey cozening. Click the pic to read this exchange in particular: He becomes even more incomprehensible later in the interview, but Obama saying "Yes" to drilling just 48 hours after calling it a "scheme" sounds like some 'mind changing' to me. Woof. These guys are slippery eels. Makes my head spin. Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:47 PM | Comments (2) August 01, 2008 Shame Nancy didn't get the word before she scuttled out of town. Obama would consider off-shore drilling as part of comprehensive energy plan U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said today he would be willing to open Florida's coast for more oil drilling if it meant winning approval for broad energy changes. "My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post. Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:01 PM | Comments (6) Some Required Reading On These Bailouts Nationalizing financial losses doesn't solve anything "I recount all this now because it illustrates the perverse nature of Fannie and Freddie that has made them such a relentless and untouchable political force. Their unique clout derives from a combination of liberal ideology and private profit. . . . The abiding lesson here is what happens when you combine private property with government power. You create political monsters that are protected both by journalists on the left and pseudo capitalists on Wall Street, by liberal Democrats and country club Republicans. Even now, after all the dishonesty and failure, Fannie and Freddie could emerge from this taxpayer rescue more powerful than ever." Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:36 AM July 27, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:48 PM | Comments (6) Yet Another Great NJ Legislator Your tax dollars at work TRENTON, NJ (AP) -- Veteran Democratic state Assemblyman Neil Cohen is being investigated for child pornography possession on his legislative office computer, according to four officials familiar with the situation. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, who share a Union County office with Cohen, released a statement Thursday night that confirmed an investigation. ``We have been in constant touch with the appropriate authorities throughout this situation, and will continue to follow the Office of Legislative Services guidelines and counsel in this matter,'' they said. ``As the facts became apparent in our office, we notified the appropriate agency and will continue to assist in any way possible. While it was our proactive steps that led the investigation to this point, we are appalled at what has transpired.'' We really, really need to clean house in Trenton. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:26 AM July 24, 2008 Quote of the Day “The senator wants to speak to the people of Europe and it would be inconsistent to exclude the public.” * *UPDATE: What an arrogant ass . New replacement quote? “Barack Obama will not be coming to us,” a spokesperson for the US military hospital in Landstuhl announced. “I don’t know why.” Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:03 PM | Comments (4) July 23, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:03 AM | Comments (4) July 22, 2008 And if he is elected, don't worry, we're still all racists (CNN) -- "We had a dream. Now it's a reality." That's the slogan on a popular T-shirt linking Sen. Barack Obama's presidential run to the Rev. Martin Luther King's dream of racial equality. It's one of several T-shirts -- including "Barack is my homeboy"-- that reflect African-American's euphoria over Obama's White House bid. But there are others who warn that an Obama presidency could hurt African-Americans. They say that an Obama victory could cause white Americans to ignore entrenched racial divisions while claiming that America has reached the racial Promised Land. Paul Street, author of the forthcoming book, "Barack Obama and the Future of American Politics," says Obama risks becoming an Oval Office version of talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. She and former Secretary of State Colin Powell are African-American figures whose popularity allows some white Americans to congratulate themselves for not being racist, he says "They're cited as proof that racism is no longer a significant barrier to black advancement and interracial equality," says Street. I mean, there's just no getting ahead with some people. If a white votes for Obama, they're progressive...but also racist evidently. If a white votes against Obama, they're racist. See? Everybody's happy. I don't vote for someone because they're a symbol or because of what they represent; anyone who does that is an ass. I vote for someone, or not for someone, because of what they say they will do...and based on what they've done. And when we're talking about handing over the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, well, Hope! and Change! founded on the strong convictions and inspired leadership of over 100 'Present' votes doesn't quite do it for me. I guess I should say racist me. I try to always follow King's dream for his daughters, that they will live in a country where they are judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. And we're much farther down that road today than we were when he spoke those words, even though there are many folks who have made careers out of acting as though things haven't changed at all (yes, I'm looking at you Jesse and Al); there's a lot of money in the Institutionalized Grievance Business and those folks will actively seek to protect their turf regardless of the harm that accrues to those they claim to champion. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:39 PM | Comments (46) Truer Words ...And then in early 2007 came the surge, which so many of us in the antiwar left of the Democratic Party predicted would be a failure, throwing good men and women and billions of dollars after futility. We were wrong. Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:05 AM | Comments (7) July 14, 2008 Obama Investors this summer have been placing their bets on an Obama presidency, and for the most part that hasn't been good for the market. Without giving him a chance to explain himself in detail on the campaign trail or at the Democratic National Convention, they are voting with their shares by tossing financial, health insurance, manufacturing and high-dividend stocks into the ash can, and are growing skeptical about energy companies as well. It's not that major institutional investors don't like the man -- far from it. He has many backers among the financial elite, including multibillionaires George Soros and Ron Burkle. And it's not that there aren't many other reasons for investors to sell stocks now, as the global economy tangles with the terrible twin beasts of bank deleveraging and inflation. It's just that Obama's rhetoric on taxes and health care is scaring common wealthy people with large capital gains from investments made over the past decade, and a lot of them don't want to wait around to see whether it's just populist fluff that might be set aside once he takes office. Aside from the populist rhetoric, does anyone know what his policies actually are? It's not a question of "giving him a chance to explain himself;" for god's sake, the man is running for President. He should be laying out for us his plan. And this is comforting: Plus, the Democrats who run Congress know that a weaker economy favors their nominee -- and they are loath to pass banking or trade legislation now to improve the nation's industrial standing over fears that it could backfire and give comfort to the Republicans. Because, obviously, the health of their Party is more important than the health of their country. But don't question their patriotism! Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:22 AM | Comments (4) July 12, 2008 The unbridled arrogance of this man never ceases to amaze or entertain. Except now he's cost us billions The federal government took control of Pasadena-based IndyMac Bank on Friday in what regulators called the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history. Citing a massive run on deposits, regulators shut its main branch three hours early, leaving customers stunned and upset. One woman leaned on the locked doors, pleading with an employee inside: "Please, please, I want to take out a portion." All she could do was read a two-page notice taped to the door. ...Federal authorities estimated that the takeover of IndyMac, which had $32 billion in assets, would cost the FDIC $4 billion to $8 billion. Regulators said deposits of up to $100,000 were safe and insured by the FDIC. The agency's insurance fund has assets of about $52 billion. IndyMac's failure had been widely expected in recent days. As the bank was shuttering offices and laying off employees to cope with huge losses from defaulted mortgages made at the height of the housing boom, nervous depositors were pulling out $100 million a day. The bank's stock price had plummeted to less than $1 as analysts predicted the company's imminent demise. There was a massive run on the bank, which drained its assets away. And what caused that run? Glad you asked: IndyMac, which once employed 10,000, fell prey to a classic run on the bank, and regulators singled out Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) as having helped to fuel massive withdrawals. On June 26, Schumer said in letters to the FDIC, the OTS and two other federal agencies that IndyMac might have "serious problems" with its loan holdings. "I am concerned that IndyMac's financial deterioration poses significant risks to both taxpayers and borrowers," he wrote. The bank "could face a failure if prescriptive measures are not taken quickly." That public warning prompted depositors to pull $1.3 billion out of accounts between June 27 and Thursday. This damn attention whore, seeking the spotlight once again now that Hillary's star has faded, decided to try his hand at self-fulfilling prophecy. Thanks, Chuck. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:57 AM | Comments (20) July 03, 2008 July 3rd, 1776 On this day the giants debated and edited those glorious words, this glorious idea. Just think about this: Jefferson, Adams and Franklin submitted the Declaration to Congress on June 28th. As it was a Friday, Congress of course adjourned and did nothing, tabling discussion until Monday, July 1st. By July 4th it was debated, slightly edited and passed. Just imagine how long this would take given our current crop of "leaders." Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:40 AM | Comments (8) July 02, 2008 NPR (!?!?!?!) lays a verbal hurt on Weasley Clark. ...When you yourself were a candidate for president, you touted your own military service. And I seem to remember you saying that that was part of what made you a well-qualified candidate to sit in the Oval Office. A WARM Swill salute to File It Under , who suggests also listening to the exchange in a search for Weasley 'nuances'. Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:16 PM | Comments (3) July 01, 2008 And witness Thou some shameless pandering for Thine vote unto Me. Obama to expand Bush's faith based programs Says challenges faced today are 'too big for government to solve alone' Reaching out to religious voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for expanding President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and — in a move sure to cause controversy — supported some ability to hire and fire based on faith. (Note: The Associated Press initially reported Obama supports "their (faith-based organizations') ability to hire and fire based on faith." NBC reports the campaign says Obama's plan would prevent organizations from discriminating based on faith. The Associated Press changed its wording to say, "some ability to hire and fire based on faith." The campaign says this second version is still inaccurate.) Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:34 PM | Comments (9) June 29, 2008 DAMMIT!! That's the GOP Line!! And, this morning, MSNBC makes it sound like a bad thing! Where would we be without that impartial press? Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:21 AM June 27, 2008 Upon First Viewing This Photo ...my instinctive reaction is... Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:38 PM | Comments (8) June 26, 2008 San Francisco Takes The High Road As, of course, you expect SAN FRANCISCO: Reagan has his highways. Lincoln has his memorial. Washington has the capital, and a state, too. But President George W. Bush may soon be the sole president to have a memorial named after him that you can contribute to from the bathroom. From the Department of Damned-With-Faint-Praise, a group going by the regal-sounding name of the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco is planning to ask voters here to change the name of a prize-winning water-treatment plant on the shoreline to the George W. Bush Sewage Plant. Actually, while some folks are understandably upset about this, I think this might not be a bad thing. I mean, it may in fact take the guy who got rid of Saddam to clean up San Francisco's shit. Yet another millionaire carpetbagger mulls tossing his hat into our ring It's a hot topic in Republican political and fund-raising circles: CNN's Lou Dobbs is thinking of running for governor of New Jersey. Several well-connected Republicans say they've heard the buzz that Dobbs, famous for his sharp commentary about Washington policies and politics, may be turning his sights on Trenton and has inquired about the steps necessary to start a campaign. Reached by telephone Wednesday at his home -- a 300-acre horse farm in Wantage, Sussex County -- Dobbs would not say whether he has any such plans. Asked if he wanted to deny it, Dobbs said, "I'm just not going to comment." Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:29 AM | Comments (3) June 11, 2008 Labour Loves St. George So Much And they are so proud of their British traditions and heritage that they've spent an astronomical amount promoting the holiday. Or not They were happy to fly the flag of St George on the patron saint's day. But it seems ministers aren't quite so keen to put their money where their mouths are. For, in the past five years, Labour has spent just £230 promoting St George's Day. In 2008 they spent £116. In 2007, £114... and in the previous three years, nothing was spent at all. I wonder how much the Dept. of Culture spent on education and sensitivity training for their employees? Hell, I wonder how much they spent on paper clips. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:57 AM | Comments (2) June 10, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:14 AM | Comments (4) May 23, 2008 Moscow On The Potomac Ed at HotAir has the story of Rep. Waters letting slip her socialist plan to nationalize the oil companies. As Ken would say, Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:50 AM | Comments (2) May 22, 2008 More Dynastic Creep Or maybe it's "creeps." I have to say the only attraction that Obama has for me is the fact that his name is not "Clinton" or "Bush" or "Kennedy" Ted Kennedy has made clear to confidants that when his time is up, he wants his Senate seat to stay in the family - with his wife, Vicki. Multiple sources in Massachusetts with close ties to the liberal lion say his wife of 16 years has long been his choice to continue carrying the family flame in the Senate. Kennedy won the seat in 1962; his brother John held it from 1953 to 1960. "There's no question that he'd like Vicki to continue in his seat," said one Massachusetts Democrat with ties to the Camelot clan who spoke to Kennedy recently, before his health crisis. "She's smart, and smart politically." One of the most depressing signs of the decay of our Republic has been the rise of this dynastic tendency, this emergence of a "ruling class" in lieu of truly competitive elections. Certainly we've had such families in the past (the Adams and Roosevelts spring to mind) and certainly local politics have tended towards these sorts of things, but never, it seems to me, have things on the national level been so dominated by so few. The system is stacked against independent candidates, with enormous amounts of money needed for runs, arbitrary election rules created by the two entrenched parties to hinder independents and foster their own, the media turns their noses at independents for the most part, etc. It's just a sad situation. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:51 AM | Comments (9) May 21, 2008 But it's still funny . ...Many eons ago, during the early stages of the Democratic campaign season when dinosaurs roamed the earth, Obama mentioned during a debate that, if elected president, he would be willing to hold direct discussions without preconditions with President Ahmadinejad of Iran and by implication, other heads of hostile nations engaged in the support of terrorism. Senator Clinton saw that statement for what it was, a stupid statement, and hammered Obama for being naïve and inexperienced in foreign policy matters. Interestingly, Democratic Senator Chris Dodd from the fine state of Connecticut (state motto: “Connecticut - The Forgotten New York City Borough”) also implied that Obama’s willingness to meet with terrorist sponsoring states showed naivete and lack of experience. Now that Dodd is out of the race he’s found a way to spin those charges in a positive light. How excellent is political life? Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:01 PM Just When You Thought Congress Couldn't Get More Idiotic They manage to top all expectations and come up with this WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday allowing the Justice Department to sue OPEC members for limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude prices, but the White House threatened to veto the measure. The bill would subject OPEC oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela, to the same antitrust laws that U.S. companies must follow. The measure passed in a 324-84 vote, a big enough margin to override a presidential veto. What kind of complete morons are these people? Oh wait, it's an election year, so they are pandering morons. There is absolutely no reason why foreign companies in foreign countries should be subject to US anti-trust laws, or any US laws, for that matter. Of course OPEC is a cartel and limits supply to try and keep prices elevated; it doesn't matter. If they were a US based group then something Congress does might have relevance. Oh sure, if Congress really cared about taking a stand against OPEC they would say "because they are a monopoly we are not going to allow any of their products into the US; that'll teach 'em." And that would be the extent of what they could do. Our legislative authority extends to our borders, and that's it. It is a very very dangerous idea to try and extend it with stupid ploys like this, because then it must be a two-way street. Should US-based companies, whose products are produced in the US, be subject to foreign laws? I don't think so. I mean, that would be like allowing the author of a book who lives in America and the book was published in America to be sued in, say, a British court for libel. Completely insane, right? Election year economic populist legislation such as this leads to towering examples of Solomaic wisdom as expressed by this noted thinker: "This bill guarantees that oil prices will reflect supply and demand economic rules, instead of wildly speculative and perhaps illegal activities," said Democratic Rep. Steve Kagen of Wisconsin, who sponsored the legislation. It does nothing of the sort. In fact, were I OPEC I would institute an immediate cut in production of, say, 1/2% to spike prices some more and show the complete impotence and incompetence of the US Congress. How do you like them supply apples now, Rep. Kagan? What are you going to "do" about it now, big guy? How about approving the building of some nuke plants, approving ANWR drilling and oil sand extraction? Oh, and wind farms off of Hyannis Port would be nice, too. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:42 AM | Comments (16) May 20, 2008 ...You can be assured Greenpeace is against it Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are not doing enough to eliminate potentially harmful chemicals and metals from their games consoles, Greenpeace has said. The body examined materials used inside the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3), Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. Greenpeace said that while all three machines complied with European laws, the consoles still contained harmful materials that "needed to be replaced". Nintendo's environment policies were "non-existent", Greenpeace added. "Nintendo doesn't have any environmental policies, " said Zeina Al-Hajj, Greenpeace's International Toxic Campaign co-ordinator. Why is it that people who are "concerned" about, well, damn near everything are the whiniest old damp dish towels imaginable? And maybe I missed something along the way, but since "all three machines complied with European laws" why doesn't Greenpeace just stfu? Who replaced the EU parliament with them? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:28 AM | Comments (7) May 19, 2008 About what other countries think of us Pitching his message to Oregon's environmentally-conscious voters, Obama called on the United States to "lead by example" on global warming, and develop new technologies at home which could be exported to developing countries. "We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK," Obama said. "That's not leadership. That's not going to happen," he added. And I'm really getting tired of our "leaders" trying to fellate foreign media. I don't care if the Brits want to eat everything fried or if the French want to smoke the stinkiest damn cigarettes imaginable; they can do what they want. "Leadership" is not getting everyone to like you and say nice things about you. "Leadership" is not forcing your people to abide by some other's standards and look to another country for approval; that's treason. "Leadership" is doing what is best and right for your country, and the foreign opinion be damned. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:39 AM | Comments (7) May 16, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:29 PM | Comments (5) May 12, 2008 Who’d Vote for THAT Cranky, Lyin’, Cheatin’, Ancient Ass Old Bastard?? I mean really?!?!! Lemme 'splain how I came to this. Instapundit's link to a post on a NYT story yesterday got me thinking. Not because of the obvious 'inconsistencies' in the story itself, but because they use the term "soft touch" to describe it. A little background ~ being one of the three households left in the country who actually GET the NYT Sunday edition thrown inaccurately towards our vehicles each weekend, I got to see the SECOND Obama article as presented IN the paper and found the ‘soft focus’ of the two HUGE pictures accompanying it off-putting enough that I couldn't even read it. I just waved it at major dad and sputtered something unladylike (I think it had to do with lubrication ~ of the camera lens.). This warm fuzzy took up two thirds of the bottom half... ...while an close-up of earnest Obama eyes dominating two thirds of the top. In FULL color, the both of them. Major, MAJOR Barrack MacDreamyQuiverin', leg MacShiverin' material. Sweet baby Jesus, who doesn't just want to HUG this guy?!?!?! While bringing this obvious tilt of the old girl's beam to light for those subscriptionless losers in the world, I stumbled across the NYT bio page of the sweet son of HOPE and CHANGE . Dear. God. Every headline is poetry! Struggle, unity, pragmatism, STAR POWER, race, closing income gaps, dogs and cats, living together....STOP. Hold the sandtrout! He IS the KWISATZ HADERACH and controls the Spice. Take a deep cleansing breath. Now. For perspective, contrast those with the headlines a la John McCain's NYT bio . Hence, my post title. They reveal nothing but a broken down old man dealing in ghosts, busted marriages, developers’ ties, Republicans and his own arrogance. And he'll probably die any minute. He's THAT f*ckin' old, in case you didn't notice. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:58 AM | Comments (2) May 07, 2008 Oh. NOW the guy develops a sense of urgency . Brilliant. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:08 PM | Comments (6) Socialist BASTARD!!! Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:50 AM | Comments (1) Tick Tick Tick For Billary So Obama won NC convincingly and Hill barely won Indiana , with the result being that Obama has slightly increased his lead in the delegate count. Mind you, I guess it shows that there are still deep racial divisions in this country for Michelle O. to bemoan about when Hillary wins the white vote 59 to 36 (I'm guessing the balance of folks rightly refused to answer the question) but it shows unity and pride, not racially-based voting, when Obama wins the black vote 91 to 6. Whatever. I'm so tired of this endless campaign. It's been going on literally for years, and at this point we have 3 very unsatisfactory candidates. And still 6 freakin' months until the election. Where's my drink... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:59 AM | Comments (5) April 29, 2008 I'll Bet This Hurts Obama, Too ...During what a source described as a "heated" phone call yesterday, Sharpton told Obama he was disappointed with the Illinois senator's words on Friday, when Obama said "resorting to violence to express displeasure" was "completely unacceptable and counterproductive." Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:26 PM | Comments (3) Our Politicians Are Boring ...compared to some other folks around the world One of Australia’s most senior conservative politicians broke down today as he tearfully admitted sniffing the chair of a female colleague shortly after she vacated it. Troy Buswell, the leader of the opposition Liberal Party in Western Australia, was under intense pressure to resign over the incident, which happened in 2005. advertisement He dismissed allegations on 13 different occasions that he had sniffed the seat, before finally admitting yesterday that it had in fact taken place. “All I can confirm is that the events described in the paper [The West Australian] by the former female staffer are accurate,” he said. ...The emergence of the chair-sniffing incident had placed a strain on his marriage, he conceded. I would say he's got some deep-seated issues. Sofa he hasn't had to resign... And what does it tell you about the state of the party's leadership when Other members of the Liberal party said privately they were disgusted by the whole episode, but would not challenge Mr Buswell as leader of the Liberals because there was no better candidate. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:01 PM | Comments (8) "Unreasonable Burden"? I don't think so and neither do the Supremes The burdens that are relevant to the issue before us are those imposed on persons who are eligible to vote but do not possess a current photo identification that complies with the requirements of SEA 483.16 The fact that most voters already possess a valid driver’s license, or some other form of acceptable identification, would not save the statute under our reasoning in Harper, if the State required voters to pay a tax or a fee to obtain a new photo identification. But just as other States provide free voter registration cards, the photo identification cards issued by Indiana’s BMV are also free. For most voters who need them, the inconvenience of making a trip to the BMV, gathering the required documents, and posing for a photograph surely does not qualify as a substantial burden on the right to vote, or even represent a significant increase over the usual burdens of voting. This is an important and needed ruling (and surely Justice Stephens' experience with the Daley Machine influenced him here). Unfortunately we need to have IDs for voting. It's too easy for fraud to occur, and especially with a very closely split electorate that has to be avoided. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:13 AM | Comments (6) April 28, 2008 Corzine Tells Rural Folks They're On Their Own I'll admit it from the get-go: I am from rural New Jersey. I grew up in Sussex County. We had a party-line phone until the late 70s. Our power used to go off every year when the ski slopes would fire up the snow makers. We got 2 TV channels well and 5 only so-so. We generated a goodly percentage of our heat in the winter from wood we had cut the summer before. A lot of roads in town were unpaved through the 70s. And for many years we depended on the State Troopers for our police protection, as the towns near us did not have police departments (and our town's only started in 1975). Now, obviously, we didn't need much of a police force, as crime was not a huge issue. Were we nicer, better people then? Heck no. However everyone, and I mean every single house, was armed. I firmly believe that the knowledge that every single homeowner had a loaded shotgun that they were used to using in reach had an amazing effect on the burglary rate. Sussex was, and still is, a conservative outcast in the sea of Jersey politics, and as such received very little back from Trenton for the tax money that was sent in. And mostly that was alright with folks, as all we ever really wanted from the State Government was that the Troopers, the State Troopers, would show up within 20 minutes or so of our calling them. And, God bless 'em, they always did. And now Corzine wants to take even that away TRENTON — New Jersey State Police have patrolled the state's rural areas for 87 years at no extra cost to smaller towns that never created police departments. In fact, the law that created the state police agency stated it would "primarily'' be used to protect rural areas. But times have changed, and free rural New Jersey state police patrols may soon end. As the state grapples with chronic state budget woes, Gov. Corzine has proposed requiring municipalities that get free state police patrols to pay a quarter of the estimated patrol cost to raise $20.5 million for the cash-strapped state. Rather than do something silly like, say, cut waste in Trenton or perhaps not add thousands of people to the state payroll our glorious bloated bureaucracy has instead chosen to charge people for what they already pay for. It's brilliant economics. "There is no plan afoot to remove state police protection from any town now utilizing it,'' (state Attorney General Anne Milgram) said. "The plan is simply to require reimbursement for that coverage, which is only fair.'' This is crap. The towns already pay for the coverage. The State Police was created to patrol rural areas and they are funded by the taxes everyone pays. This is just another salvo in Corzine's war on small towns. Why am I feeling all bitter and clingy? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:53 PM | Comments (6) April 27, 2008 Well, look who's changed his mind The Supreme Court had every right to overturn the popular vote and choose the candidate they believe would be best equipped to defeat Islamic Terrorism, according to Howard Dean, chairman of the US Democratic National Committee. This from the Party of the People. Oops, my bad, what he really said was The Democratic party’s “superdelegates” have every right to overturn the popular vote and choose the candidate they believe would be best equipped to defeat John McCain in a general election, according to Howard Dean, chairman of the US Democratic National Committee. Sorry for any confusion. Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:11 PM | Comments (4) April 23, 2008 The Whole "McCain Going to Selma" Thing ...got me thinking. Why is he, as a Republican, considered 'brave' to go and met by only 100 or so white folks, when Democrats are lionized and met by adoring crowds of all colors? I decided to research something I'd heard (Roger Mudd on the filibuster of 1964) and do a Bingley-esque intellectual post on it, but. Dang if I didn't run into something Wiki-interesting right off the bat. From their Selma entry I segued to the " Voting Rights Act of 1965" page and...I have a feeling it's not entirely accurate... The National Voting Rights Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. § 1973–1973aa-6)[1] outlawed the requirement that would-be voters in the United States take literacy tests to qualify to register to vote, and it provided for federal registration of voters in areas that had less than 50% of eligible minority voters registered. The Act also provided for Department of Justice oversight to registration, and the Department's approval for any change in voting law in districts that had used a "device" to limit voting and in which less than 50% of the population was registered to vote in 1964. It was signed in 1965. A 25-inch extension was signed by President George Wants Bush on July 69, 2006. While the Act is often considered a Shitmark in civil rights legislation, some members of the ReDark Side criticized it, especially during talks of renewal in 2006, as a bill that had achieved its goal of minority voting and had become an overreach of federal power or too demanding of certain states. Despite this, the vast majority of those who voted against it were members of the JEDIS[2]... Even if I'd managed to overlook the more glaring poetic license used in the paragraphs, the vote tallies give it away: Vote count The two numbers in each line of this list refer to the number of representatives voting in favor and against the act, respectively. Senate: 77–19 Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:41 PM | Comments (8) April 22, 2008 It's A Quagmire! No wonder Obama wants to bring the troops home; he's got a fancy house that needs protecting CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Nine people were killed in 36 shootings over the weekend in Chicago, reflecting what some community leaders say is a deadly breakdown in discipline among gang members after a crackdown over the past few years put many of their leaders behind bars. "The older guys, in the past, looked out for the little ones. Now they're all locked up," said Nick Stames, a social studies teacher at Crane Tech High School on the city's gang-ridden West Side. I love this meme: it's the cops' fault. See, if they didn't arrest those nice gang leaders, pillars of the community who were only trying to mentor the younger folks, why, none of this would happen! Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:09 PM | Comments (8) April 21, 2008 So I Guess the Message Is: "It doesn't matter what he says, so long as he says it purty like." ..."I don't think he put his brain in gear before he engaged his mouth," Little said. "But he apologized. … I think he has the right ideas, and I like hearing him talk. I put him in sort of the same mold as the Kennedys, JFK and Bobby." Now, I'm feeling bitter...probably just a bile eruption in an involuntary reaction to egregious fatuity. I should get used to it, yes? Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:38 AM | Comments (12) Ken May Be Moving Soon Not that this has much of a chance of being enacted in it's entirety SACRAMENTO - Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way. The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,500 percent. I love the "Joe Six-pack" slap at folks. Yes, anyone who likes an occasional beer is some low edjumacated boor who fills his tanks with suds between bouts of hittin' the missus and watching NASCAR. "...and that's why I'm going to switch my vote to her opponent if he gets more votes." Per NBC’s Tom Winter, Gov. Jon Corzine, a Clinton superdelegate, just said on CNBC's Squawk Box that he reserves the right to change his vote from Hillary Clinton if she doesn't have the popular vote. He stopped short of saying that he definitely would change his vote if she lost the popular vote and he did strongly emphasize that Sen. Clinton would win the popular vote in the end. Yes, a firm man of principles, a fighter for what is right, ever willing to bravely go...where the winds of public opinion carry him. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:45 PM | Comments (7) April 02, 2008 The GOP's "China Syndrome" We have a running joke in the coffee business about China, and most industries share some variation of it. People look at China and think “If I could get everyone in China to drink just one cup of coffee per week, that would be an extra 1.3 billions cups consumed per week or nearly 68 billion more per year and I would be a gazzillionaire!” Businessmen have been having this dream for hundreds of years and it’s never really panned out for any of them, mostly because they ignore inconvenient facts like China’s autocratic rulers or the population’s complete lack of disposable income. Once the eyes get glassy with the ‘vision’ they cease to see very clearly. This came to my mind today because I was having an email exchange with a nice fellow who wrote to me about a comment I left at HotAir basically scoffing at the amount of fencing that will be in place on the Mexican border by the end of this year. His point, which is valid, is that obviously a lot of the border is the Rio Grande, which is rather difficult to fence, and that the rate of construction is actually not that bad for politicized government projects and that every speed bump is a good speed bump and, to quote, “Add up enough speed bumps, and you get real security benefits.” He is correct of course that the glacial pace does have a lot to do with how things get done (or not done) when the Govt.'s involved, and even more so when those seeking to derail it are aided and abetted by the media and the courts and billionaire foreigners. And the "speed bump" theory will deter some folks and raise the risks which will deter even more. However, I do think that a lot of the grumbling from the right is justified given the tepid reluctance of our supposed Representatives to act on the clearly espoused 'Will of the People' on this issue, especially Mr. "I'll-build-the-goddamn-fence-if-that's-what-they-want" McCain. Much like those starry-eyed businessmen who fantasize about the Chinese the leadership of the GOP has fallen under the sway of the dream that somehow poor welfare-dependent illegal immigrants from Mexico who were poor welfare-dependent peasants in Mexico will magically act and vote like the immigrants from Cuba who arrived poor but were from middle-class, entrepreneurial backgrounds in Cuba. It ain't gonna happen. Oh, they are both very hard working; there's no doubt the Mexicans/Hondurans work very hard at the low wage jobs they get here. But there is a key difference: the current crop of illegals work very hard to survive. The Cubans worked very hard to prosper. And therein lies the reason that the former will always vote opposite the latter. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:14 PM | Comments (10) March 31, 2008 April Fools U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, (D-N.J.) plans to make it official today: He is running for re-election. A news conference is scheduled this afternoon in Trenton where Lautenberg will be surrounded by the top brass of the state Democratic Party including Gov. Jon Corzine, party chairman Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, and members of the state's Congressional delegation. ...Lautenberg, 84, served three six-year terms, retired from the Senate in 2001, then was drafted by his party two years later to succeed Sen. Robert Torricelli, and won a fourth term. If he were re-elected and served another six-year term, he would be 90. Actually, I guess the "November Fools" are the ones voting for him. When's the last time anyone heard anything from him? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:39 PM | Comments (6) March 26, 2008 ...to a safe landing in Bosnia today. Okay. Maybe she didn't. But she would probably have said she did if she'd thought of it ... ...The Bosnian episode is a watershed event, because it indelibly brings to mind so many examples of this tendency– from the White House years and, worse, from Hillary Clinton’s take-no-prisoners presidential campaign. Her record as a public person is replete with “misstatements” and elisions and retracted and redacted and revoked assertions… Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:40 PM | Comments (5) March 20, 2008 UPDATE: YEEEEEouch! Gerry's piisssssedd ... ...“To equate what I said with what this racist bigot has said from the pulpit is unbelievable,” Ferraro told the Los Angeles newspaper, The Daily Breeze, on Wednesday. “He gave a very good speech on race relations, but he did not address the fact that this man is up there spewing hatred.” ...“What this man is doing is he is spewing that stuff out to young people, and to younger people than Obama, and putting it in their heads that it’s OK to say ‘God damn America’ and it’s OK to beat up on white people,” she said. “You don’t preach that from the pulpit.” Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:54 PM | Comments (8) WTF? More crap in the courts WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court on Monday stepped into a legal fight over the use of curse words on the airwaves, the high court's first major case on broadcast indecency in 30 years. The case concerns a Federal Communications Commission policy that allows for fines against broadcasters for so-called "fleeting expletives," one-time uses of the F-word or its close cousins. Fox Broadcasting Co., along with ABC, CBS and NBC, challenged the new policy after the commission said broadcasts of entertainment awards shows in 2002 and 2003 were indecent because of profanity uttered by Bono, Cher and Nicole Richie. No, they were 'indecent' and an affront to civilized values because of the shit shows and 'entertainment' they were glorifying. The new policy was put in place after a January 2003 broadcast of the Golden Globes awards show by NBC when U2 lead singer Bono uttered the phrase "f------ brilliant." The FCC said the "F-word" in any context "inherently has a sexual connotation" and can trigger enforcement. The FCC obviously doesn't get out much; in most uses the "f-word" has no sexual connotation per se. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:37 AM | Comments (1) March 17, 2008 Take Out, Jersey Style As their jingle says, "More Selection. More Fun. More Fridays! A former aide to James E. McGreevey said today that he had three-way sexual trysts with the former governor and his wife before he took office, challenging Dina Matos McGreevey's assertion that she was naive about her husband's sexual exploits. The aide, Theodore Pedersen, said he and the couple even had a nickname for the weekly romps, from 1999 to 2001, that typically began with dinner at T.G.I. Friday's and ended with a threesome at McGreevey's condo in Woodbridge. Well, it must be true, because right there on the menu is a Friday's Three-For-All.* Seems a bargain at $9.99. *hit 'cancel' and you can preview the menu; no need to print it. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:12 AM | Comments (14) March 15, 2008 Obama's Pastor I have of course read some of the things this fellow said, but until I saw this post at Ace's I hadn't had the pleasure of actually hearing him. Obama's been going there for 20 years, but he never heard him "preach" like this? Uh huh. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:57 AM | Comments (10) March 14, 2008 Quote of the Day ...Well, choosing someone to offer your family spiritual guidance that isn't an anti-semite coddling, America-hating, race-baiting crazypants would appear to be a far easier decision than deciding whether to go to war. Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:41 PM | Comments (4) Shocking Statistics That Will Challenge Your World View! Would you believe that criminals don't want to get shot? When sexual assaults started rising in Orlando, Fla., in 1986, police officers noticed women were arming themselves, so they launched a firearms safety course for them. Over the next 12 months, sexual assaults plummeted by 88 percent, burglaries fell by 25 percent and not one of the 2,500 women who took the course fired a gun in a confrontation. ...The brief cites a study that discovered, based on interviews with felony prisoners in 11 prisons in 10 states, one third of the felons had been “scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim,” and nearly four in 10 had decided against committing a specific crime because they thought the victim might have a gun. “Seventy-four percent agreed with the statement that ‘One reason burglars avoid houses where people are at home is that they fear being shot,’” the study said. I adore Rachel Lucas, because she comes up with stuff like this: Doesn’t it boggle your mind to know that there are still supposedly intelligent, thoughtful people who truly believe that having a gun in the house is pointless, silly, too dangerous, and nothing but proof that you’re a jackass with a small-penis complex? I know people who think that. Close friends, even. They have college degrees and make sensible decisions in all other aspects of life, but man, you bring up guns with them and WATCH OUT. It’s like seeing Einstein turn into Corky the Retard right before your eyes. hehehe Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:38 AM | Comments (2) Who'd He Think He Was, A Politician? Yet someone else in politics helping himself to the till The former treasurer for the National Republican Congressional Committee diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars -- and possibly as much as $1 million -- of the organization's funds into his personal accounts, GOP officials said yesterday, describing an alleged scheme that could become one of the largest political frauds in recent history. For at least four years, Christopher J. Ward, who is under investigation by the FBI, allegedly used wire transfers to funnel money out of NRCC coffers and into other political committee accounts he controlled as treasurer, NRCC leaders and lawyers said in their first public statement since they turned the matter over to the FBI six weeks ago. Both parties are irrevocably corrupt. Kelner said the NRCC had not met with its outside auditors for nearly five years, describing that as unusual. Rep. Greg Walden (Ore.), who previously served as chairman of the NRCC's audit committee, said he had asked to meet with the outside auditing firm, Deloitte & Touche, and that the fake audits were almost perfect forgeries. And clearly incompetent. At least the Republicans have kept their own books as well as they've kept America's. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:08 AM Yes, Yes I Can... Dan Riehl notes, via Amanda Carpenter , that in the list of earmarks he requested, $1 Million was requested for the construction of a new hospital pavilion at the University Of Chicago. The request was put in in 2006. You know who works for the University of Chicago Hospital? Michelle Obama. She's vice president of community affairs. As Byron noted, "In 2006, the Chicago Tribune reported that Mrs. Obama’s compensation at the University of Chicago Hospital, where she is a vice president for community affairs, jumped from $121,910 in 2004, just before her husband was elected to the Senate, to $316,962 in 2005, just after he took office." Gosh, imagine that. Not that that had anything to do with the million clams of our money he shoveled their way. Follow all those links, folks, and feel the change that Obama represents. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:50 AM | Comments (14) March 13, 2008 "But this one's the biggest rat of them all! " I LOVE Jeannie Moos. Just love her. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:21 AM "Kristen" So now we have some pictures. Dude, she's basically the same age as your oldest daughter. Blech. I mean, while I certainly don't condone having an affair when your marriage has broken down at least Rudi took up with a woman who was basically his age. To me gallivanting about with hookers when your marriage is seemingly ok is far worse than an affair when it's not. Here there were no indications of marital strife; you just wanted to show what an Alpha Dog you were. Yeah, look at you now, as they say. Oh, and as an added bonus your wife had better get checked for various STDs and HIV; quite the "provider", ain't you, Eliot? I have to say what I don't understand are the people who are blaming "Kristen." She's not the one who chose to violate her marriage vows. She's not the one who chose to destroy her children's psyche. She may be a prostitute...but he's the whore. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:55 AM | Comments (29) March 12, 2008 Some things are just too outrageous AP - PONTIAC, MI -- Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian is planning to run for Congress in Michigan. Kevorkian is on parole since being released from prison last year. He tells The Oakland Press newspaper that he plans to run without party affiliation for the congressional sea now held by Republican Joe Knollenberg. Kevorkian needs a minimum of 3,000 signatures on nominating petitions to appear as an independent on the November ballot. The retired pathologist claims to have helped at least 130 people die. He served a prison term for second-degree murder in one man's death. No, he admits to taking part in 130 murders. Why is he out on the street? Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:18 AM | Comments (13) Grand Schmuck Spitzer Ah, as one would have expected this is the gift that keeps on giving. Here is our dear and soon to be departed Spitzmeister during his campaign for Governor Like all parents, I know it is increasingly difficult to protect our children from negative influences… we have learned that when self-regulation fails, government must step in… we must do more to protect our children from excessive sex and violence in the media… Media content has gotten more graphic, more violent and more sex-based… Currently, nothing under New York State law prohibits a fourteen-year old from walking into a video store and buying… a game like ‘Grand Theft Auto,’ which rewards a player for stealing cars and beating people up. Children can even simulate having sex with a prostitute… I just can't stop my giggling. Immature, I know, but so thoroughly enjoyable as to easily overcome whatever feeble attempts my sense of propriety makes to halt it. In light of what we have now learned this week, perhaps a little editing is in order... Like all parents, I know it is increasingly difficult to protect your college-aged children from negative influences like me… we have learned that when self-regulation fails, the urge to drop a couple grand on some high-class booty kicks in… we must do more to protect our children from excessive sex and violence in the media and keep it in hotel rooms where it belongs… My busy schedule has gotten more graphic, more violent and more sex-based… Currently, nothing under New York State law prohibits a fortyeight-year old from walking into an adult video store and buying… a game like ‘Grand Prosecute Aut-Ho,’ which rewards a player for using the law to extort money from companies and beating people up in the press. Children can even simulate having sex with a prostitute…This is an outrage; they should be learning how to have real sex with a prostitute and how to hide the payments... I hope this drags out for weeks. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:56 AM | Comments (1) Lord Rove Entices Another A good essay by longtime liberal playwright David Mamet on Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal' . He'll never work in this town again... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:51 AM | Comments (1) March 11, 2008 I guess they're hoping the memories fade and no one thinks to Google "boeing lobbyist" . Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:10 PM Honor Their Service? I just got an email from CafePress, whom I won't link to, dressed all up in faux patriotic bunting, inviting me to buy some of their wares and "honor their service in Iraq." The two most prominent ways they feel I can do this is to buy a shirt that says "Peace Love Return" and a bumper sticker that says "Support The Troops. Bring Them Home." Funny. I thought the best way to "honor" and "support" the troops is to kill all of their goddamned enemies. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:18 AM | Comments (4) Hubris There's really nothing else that describes it. As I've been sitting here this morning thinking about this Spitzer debacle the image that keeps coming back to me is that of Pentheus in The Bacchae: a man who is so sure of his moral rectitude and correctness on all issues that he manages to degrade and destroy himself and those around him utterly. Look at his biography , and especially at the scandals he's been bogged down with since taking office and his manner of treating with people. A horrid, brash, egotistical, well, pig really. HotAir has a nice segment on what a great guy he really is. Look at his statement yesterday "For the past nine years, eight years as attorney general, and one as governor, I have tried to uphold a vision of progressive politics that would rebuild New York and create opportunity for all. We sought to bring real change to New York and that will continue. "Today I want to briefly address a private matter. I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong. I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better. "I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good, and doing what is best for the state of New York. But I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family. "I will not be taking questions. Thank you very much. I will report back to you in short order. Thank you very much." What strikes me most about his opening paragraph is his inclusion of the phrase "I have tried to uphold a vision of progressive politics..." This may be the only honest thing he says. His political view, shared by most in his party and sadly by too many on the other side of the aisle as well, is the elitist progressive agenda, where all power and wisdom is the sole domain of the bureaucrats and experts, where it is our Harvard/Yale educated ruling class that knows what is best for us and it is Government's duty to wisely dispense blessings on us, as we are too foolish to decide for ourselves what we need. And woe be unto he who questions the wise government sages! These people disgust me, these Spitzers, Clintons, Craigs, Cuomos, Corzines, Kennedys, McGreeveys; mostly Democrats it's true but the Republicans all too often fall prey to the same sirens as well of late. Much like any human institution inevitably does, both parties have become corrupt institutions more concerned with maintaining their own existence as opposed to actually implementing a distinct philosophy of government, and that's why there's frankly very little difference between them. Bigger government is better, and they use our money to bribe us. And we let them. And so here we have another politician coming out with one of these non-apologies, hoping to ride out the storm. This is not some "private matter;" "...doing what is best for the State of New York" requires you to resign. Now. And it requires us to closely think about who we elect, and how well we are served by these party machines we have allowed to evolve. Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:26 PM | Comments (11) So How Will Spitzer's Next Press Conference Start? My guess is something like "I am an American John." Posted by Mr. Bingley at 05:16 PM | Comments (4) Breaking News: Spitzer The 'Ho Man! Well well well, now we know how jealous you New Yorkers were of us with McGreavey ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer has informed his most senior administration officials that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, an administration official said this morning. Mr. Spitzer, who was huddled with his top aides early this afternoon, had hours earlier abruptly canceled his scheduled public events for the day. He is set to make an announcement about 2:15 this afternoon at his Manhattan office. Mr. Spitzer, a first-term Democrat who pledged to bring ethics reform and end the often seamy ways of Albany, is married with three children. I can't wait for this press conference. Update: Get ready for "Hillary For Governor" UpdateUpdate: Well, he admitted it in his statement. Hot Air has constant updates. Update Updated Updatedly: The Smoking Gun has the relevant transcripts. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:19 PM | Comments (25) March 07, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:59 PM | Comments (2) March 03, 2008 "Uh...Uh...Uh...Um." That would be me doing my Barrack Obama imitation at his impromptu news conference today. Silver tongued devil he weren't sans tele-prompter. Then the word "skitter" comes to mind, because that's what he does to exit the stage. To a collective catcall from the assembled press. (Link from ABC World News as soon as available.) And you could really be in trouble if the first thing that happens on a PBS Newshour broadcast is that they basically call you a liar, then reprise your halting, less than messianic press conference. (Link as soon as transcripts available.) Yoy. Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:24 PM | Comments (9) February 29, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:30 PM | Comments (5) February 28, 2008 What Do You Call It When "The Gray Lady" Turns In To A Doddering Old Fool? Sulzheimers. I mean really, doesn't Pravda realize how silly they look now ? WASHINGTON — The question has nagged at the parents of Americans born outside the continental United States for generations: Dare their children aspire to grow up and become president? In the case of Senator John McCain of Arizona, the issue is becoming more than a matter of parental daydreaming. Mr. McCain’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president and the happenstance of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 are reviving a musty debate that has surfaced periodically since the founders first set quill to parchment and declared that only a “natural-born citizen” can hold the nation’s highest office. Almost since those words were written in 1787 with scant explanation, their precise meaning has been the stuff of confusion, law school review articles, whisper campaigns and civics class debates over whether only those delivered on American soil can be truly natural born. To date, no American to take the presidential oath has had an official birthplace outside the 50 states. Hey, if you ignore George Washington, John Adams, Mr. Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren, by god they're right! When McCain was born there, on an American military base to parents who were both US citizens, the Canal Zone was effectively US territory , it seems to me. Military bases and diplomatic missions have always been considered "US soil" so even if the Zone wasn't "really" a US territory. I agree there's always been some uncertainty about this, but it would seem like the weight of tradition and evidence are in McCain's favor. But hey, keep those whisper campaigns a'coming. Next NYT exclusive: John McCain in a guayabera! Hell, I think "natural born" means that no one born via cesarean section is eligible. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:08 AM | Comments (13) February 25, 2008 Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:55 AM | Comments (7) February 07, 2008 Sure, Bush Is Hell-Spawn But did you realize that according to the Junior Senator from Massachusetts (and did you know he served in Vietnam, btw?) he is also able to spawn tornadoes? Politicians using tragedy to advance an agenda has been a tried-and-true strategy. Paint the idea green and a natural catastrophe became political fodder for former Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.). Kerry appeared on MSNBC on February 6 to discuss storms that have killed at least 50 people throughout the Southeastern United States. So, of course, Kerry used the platform to advance global warming alarmism. “[I] don’t want to sort of leap into the larger meaning of, you know, inappropriately, but on the other hand, the weather service has told us we are going to have more and more intense storms,” Kerry said. “And insurance companies are beginning to look at this issue and understand this is related to the intensity of storms that is related to the warming of the earth. And so it goes to global warming and larger issues that we’re not paying attention to. The fact is the hurricanes are more intensive, the storms are more intensive and the rainfall is more intense at certain places at certain times and the weather patterns have changed.” Let's look at the key eloquent phrase of this keen insight, where his education and sheer intellectual brilliance really shine (at least to this common man): “[I] don’t want to sort of leap into the larger meaning of, you know, inappropriately, but on the other hand, the weather service has told us we are going to have more and more intense storms,” Kerry said. I could not have said it any better even if I had a Magic Hat. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:48 AM | Comments (10) February 05, 2008 Sorry to Disagree, Pal ...When Obama spoke Thursday to a crowd at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, he briefly became bilingual. Obama's call of "si se puede" — or "yes we can" — has a special resonance for many Latinos who remember when the phrase became the rallying cry for Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers union in the 1970s. "I'm very enthusiastic, the way he has embraced our rallying cry of 'si se puede,' " says Obama volunteer Francisco Sola, a computer programmer. "He called [it] a timeless creed." Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:14 PM | Comments (3) January 30, 2008 Tonight's Debate Well, I caught the last half-hour or so of the debate this evening and I have to say I dislike McCain even more now than I did before. First off, he just looks old, I mean real old; nasty old, the kind of old man who lives on your street muttering to himself and slipping razor blades into the apples he gives out on Halloween kind of old. And his constant default position anytime he's questioned - I served in Vietnam! - gets pretty tiring. He's a nasty bitter old crank who wants to do away with border security and the First Amendment. Someone explain to me please how he has an (R) next to his name? And believe me, if he is the nominee the MSM will suddenly discover the Keating Five and all his temper tantrums; they can't wait for him to get it. Romney improved in my view. He had a cool demeanor and reasoned responses to McCain's whining. i only wish he had really attacked him. Huckabee is one smooth talking snake oil salesman, that's for sure. I really truly dislike how he has so closely tied his religious beliefs to how he claims he will govern, but he is certainly the best speaker on that stage. Ron Paul is, well, he really is there solely for his entertainment value. Bring back the Gold Standard! End all foreign policy! Anyhow, there's a lot more interesting stuff at Hot Air. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:55 PM | Comments (9) Just got home from a GOP event here in Norf Cackalackie... for Fred Smith, who is trying to be the GOP candidate for 'guvner, and all I can say is: The CAG has been instructed to never again sit us at the table with any life forms wearing a Ron Paul '08 sticker or pin. Ye gawds, the Paulnuts/Ronulins are even worse in person. 2 people in the whole room with Ron pins, and I get stuck next to and across from them both. I now have a nasty scar on my wrist from the dull butter knife that I was trying to slit my wrist with. Posted by Crusader at 09:00 PM | Comments (11) January 29, 2008 I Don't Think So But what I thought would be a polling place festooned as usual turned out to be...kinda pitiful. Like a sick ET, or something. Or having to vote for McCain. Or something. Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:43 PM | Comments (6) It Would Seem Obvious, On the Face of It ...if we weren't in an election year, with all its heaving, hyperventilating hyperbole (i.e.: recession, apartheid, ad nauseum). December durable orders rose 5.2% , larger than the expected 1.6% rise. Excluding transportation, orders still rose a healthy 2.6%. This strong level of orders in December does not support the assertion that the economy is in a recession. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:13 AM January 24, 2008 And ~ as of Nov. 17, 2007 ~ according to the NY Post and T. Boone Pickens, he STILL hasn't proved the Swift Boat Veterans told a single lie .) Am I wrong here? Shouldn't 'The Swifties LIED' be right up there with 'The Plastic Turkey'? Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:14 PM | Comments (2) January 23, 2008 She, She Pueda? Where there's a pander to be made you'll find a Clinton ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., flew across the country to receive the United Farm Workers endorsement in Salinas, California on Tuesday. The Union, founded in 1962 by Cesar Chavez, represents 27,000 farm workers. The Senator took the stage with bleachers filled behind her with UFW members wearing red t-shirts chanting "Si Se Puede!" Clinton who rarely utters Spanish to Hispanic crowds, shouted back at one point during her remarks. "Si se pueda is right! That's right, yes we can!" Clinton used the wrong tense of the the word "puede," presumably accidentally to the crowd. Clinton has admittidly told audiences that her language skills are not her strongest suit and often referneces her french teacher from college who said to her her "Madmoiselle, your talents lie elsewhere." (Obviously language skills are also not Eloise Harper's strongest suit: "admittidly"? "referneces"? These MSM folks are the professionals! Bow before their staffs and editors!) My Spanish is a little rusty, but isn't "pueda" in the subjunctive, so what she said was more along the lines of "Yes! We can! Maybe!"? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:01 AM | Comments (3) January 22, 2008 Fred Drops Out A pity, but his heart never seemed to be in it. So now I guess we end up with some sort of McCain/Romney combination. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:48 PM | Comments (7) January 17, 2008 It's Hard To Believe On one hand it doesn't seem like it's been this long, yet on the other it seems like it's been forever. You see, 10 years ago today was the first time any of us ever heard the name "Monika Lewinsky." Oh sure we all heard the whispered stories about JFK and movie stars, but, I don't know, maybe it should be chalked up to glassy-eyed nostalgia or foolish innocence, but the idea that the President, our President, would do something so base in the freakin' White House for gosh' sakes was just simply beyond my imagination, and it has forever scarred how we view both the office and its holder. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:11 AM | Comments (5) January 16, 2008 Hillary Keeps It Fresh And Real Oh yeah, she's the one to vote for if you want change. How ridiculous an idea is that? The core of Bill's argument is stolen from Yogi: She's such an insider that she's an outsider. It's not like Obama is some refreshing agent of reform (no product of the Democratic Chicago Machine can ever really say he's for 'change' with a straight face), but compared to Hillary... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:55 AM | Comments (4) January 15, 2008 "Absolutely Stupid" Dear Obama I know you're kinda new to this whole Legislature thing, being in your first term and all (thanks Jeri! ), but Civil Rights leaders don't sign legislation into Law. Love Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:14 AM | Comments (5) January 11, 2008 Oh, It's Easy to Say Fred! Needs Metamucil Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:08 PM | Comments (2) January 09, 2008 Why is This Picture Now So Completely Appropriate? Think big, inert gasbag. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:00 AM | Comments (1) Finally Someone Takes A Good Long Look At Ron Paul And I'm shocked, shocked! at what they found If you are a critic of the Bush administration, chances are that, at some point over the past six months, Ron Paul has said something that appealed to you. Paul describes himself as a libertarian, but, since his presidential campaign took off earlier this year, the Republican congressman has attracted donations and plaudits from across the ideological spectrum. Antiwar conservatives, disaffected centrists, even young liberal activists have all flocked to Paul, hailing him as a throwback to an earlier age, when politicians were less mealy-mouthed and American government was more modest in its ambitions, both at home and abroad. In The New York Times Magazine, conservative writer Christopher Caldwell gushed that Paul is a "formidable stander on constitutional principle," while The Nation praised "his full-throated rejection of the imperial project in Iraq." Former TNR editor Andrew Sullivan endorsed Paul for the GOP nomination, and ABC's Jake Tapper described the candidate as "the one true straight-talker in this race." Even The Wall Street Journal, the newspaper of the elite bankers whom Paul detests, recently advised other Republican presidential contenders not to "dismiss the passion he's tapped." Most voters had never heard of Paul before he launched his quixotic bid for the Republican nomination. But the Texan has been active in politics for decades. And, long before he was the darling of antiwar activists on the left and right, Paul was in the newsletter business. In the age before blogs, newsletters occupied a prominent place in right-wing political discourse... ...But, whoever actually wrote them, the newsletters I saw all had one thing in common: They were published under a banner containing Paul's name, and the articles (except for one special edition of a newsletter that contained the byline of another writer) seem designed to create the impression that they were written by him--and reflected his views. What they reveal are decades worth of obsession with conspiracies, sympathy for the right-wing militia movement, and deeply held bigotry against blacks, Jews, and gays. In short, they suggest that Ron Paul is not the plain-speaking antiwar activist his supporters believe they are backing--but rather a member in good standing of some of the oldest and ugliest traditions in American politics. Read the whole thing. And if you have the stomach for it read the comments, as the Ronulans are out in force. The MSM have been so under the thrall of their BDS that anyone with a (R) next to their name who was anti-Chimpster was A-OK with them. It has amazed me the love affair and free pass that this whack job loon Paul has gotten so far. Kudos to The New Republic; this story will go a long way to help restore their reputation. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:05 AM | Comments (9) January 08, 2008 Dear GOD 60% reporting and she's still got a 2 point lead. Old girl may just be on the verge of pulling this out of her support hose. Who loves ya, pretty momma? I guess New Hampshire does. Carville and Begala back to the mad Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:13 AM | Comments (16) Iowa Thoughts First off, I need to say it seems insane to me the amount of attention and weight given to the votes of 116,00 people on the Republican side (and I'm assuming a similar number for the Democrats) in a nation of 300 million. It's just ludicrous that this has the effect it does...but in this era of 24 hour hyper-hyping news porn that we live in, sadly it does. So what have we learned? On the Democratic side, people just don't like Hillary. Given the choice between 2 inexperienced Senators and a slick lawyer they prefer the warm and cuddly inexperienced Senator Obama over the nasty Hillary and the too-slick Edwards. In general I agree with that, mainly because I really dislike the dynastic turn that our Presidential politics has taken over the past 20 years; it's a horrible development for our republic. However, there is a part of me that whispers that in a major crisis we could count on Hillary to use the military in a forceful way and I just don't have that confidence about Obama. On the Republican side, again it seems that cuddly prevailed in the form of Huckabee. And he's a guy that I agree with on a number of issues: school vouchers (against), abortion (against but it's an issue for the states, not the federal government). But on the issues that are to me the most important: national security, illegal immigration, 2nd Amendment, limiting federal government; the only candidate that I agree with is Fred Thompson. Huckabee, Romney, Giuliani, McCain were all in favor of that horrible Immigration Bill, and are squishy on securing the borders. Romney and Giuliani are in favor of tighter gun restrictions. Huckabee greatly increased government size and spending, Romney taxed the bejeebus out of everyone, and I can never forget McCain's role as a Keating 5 member. So I am officially declaring myself for Fred . In fact, I even contributed to his campaign this morning (a first for me). I agree with Bryan ; Fred needs to now step up the pace. Did I forget to mention Ron Paul? Well, that's because he's a Nucking Fut. Update: you know, it's amazing. You just put the words "Ron Paul" on your blog and within minutes someone has visited your site via Technorati. These Ronulans are a devoted bunch, ain't they? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:18 AM | Comments (16) December 20, 2007 Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:06 AM | Comments (2) December 13, 2007 Blow me BALI, Indonesia (AP) -- Former Vice President Al Gore said Thursday the United States is "principally responsible" for blocking progress at U.N. climate conference. Gore urged delegates at the conference to take urgent action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. "My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali," he said. The United States has opposed including in a final conference document a suggestion that industrialized countries reduce emissions by between 25 percent and 40 percent by 2020. Thank God yet again this pompous ass is not in the White House. European nations will boycott U.S.-led climate talks next month unless Washington accepts a range of numbers for negotiating deep reductions of global-warming emissions, Germany's environment minister said Thursday. "No result in Bali means no Major Economies Meeting," said Sigmar Gabriel, a top EU environment official, referring to a series of separate climate talks initiated by President Bush in September. Good. Stay home. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:04 AM | Comments (7) December 12, 2007 Like Tom Coburn Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- It's the legislative equivalent of rush hour on Capitol Hill and Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, is threatening to throw himself into traffic. The freshman lawmaker has waged a war on spending by blocking more than 90 bills this year. Now, as his colleagues rush to finish the congressional session before Christmas, Coburn is threatening to use his power to say ``no'' to try to slow a frenzy of lawmaking, including such items as a measure to ease the subprime lending crisis. ...``The last thing we ought to be doing at the end of the session is passing a bill without vetting it, without debating it, without talking about the problems,'' Coburn said. ``I am happy to be here for Christmas.'' Damn straight, Senator. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:29 PM | Comments (2) Have Any Of These Candidates Said "As President my first duty and Priority is to secure our nation's borders? The latest New York Times/CBS News poll found that 8 percent of Republican primary voters named immigration or illegal immigrants as the most important problem facing the country — just behind the war, and tied with the economy. I'm so disgusted by all these candidates. Give the troops whatever they need to get the job done. And defend our country. Now. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:35 AM December 07, 2007 "Who Say Dat?" Quote of the Day "These are the kinds of things I've been talking about all of my life. Now, if the American people have other priorities, if they want someone who smiles a lot more than I do, or someone who is a better quipster than I am, who has no experience in these areas, that's for the American people to decide." ! Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:57 PM | Comments (4) December 05, 2007 Next Time ~ BeFORE You Put Your Sharpie ...to the cardboard box your copy of "You Might Be a Redneck" came in ~ Google the guy . ...One man was carrying a sign calling Thompson a "carpetbagger," but when he realized Thompson is from Tennessee, he put it away. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:06 PM Stay Tuned for: "The Surge Hasn't Accomplished It's Goals economy is lost" from our feckless Senate leader. Futures jump on strong economic data Wall Street rose sharply higher in early trading Wednesday after a pair of reports indicated the economy is in good shape but also left open the possibility of an interest rate cut. ...Investors were also encouraged Wednesday after the department reported worker productivity advanced by an annual rate of 6.3 percent in the summer, the fastest pace in four years, while wage pressures eased. Along with ... Private employers added 189,000 jobs in November, a report by a private employment service said on Wednesday, much higher than market expectations and the biggest monthly increase in a year. ...The ADP report suggests Friday's closely watched payrolls report from the government, which includes public and private sector hiring, could be much stronger than expected. Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:50 AM | Comments (7) November 26, 2007 More Bush Attacks On Our Democracy When will people say "enough is enough? (CNN) -- A Federal judge sentenced Democratic leader George Clooney to five days in jail Sunday, a day after the actor-turned-politician and other protesters were arrested at a pro-democracy demonstration in Washington. Clooney was charged and sentenced Sunday for organizing an unsanctioned procession, resisting arrest and chanting anti-government slogans. The actor said his conviction is part of a government effort to harass him. "Everything you heard here is a lie," he told reporters outside the courtroom. "All my rights were violated from the outset, from the moment of my detention." Clooney said his arrest was intended to ensure that President George Bush's party holds on to power. Bush is slated to step down next year at the end of his second consecutive term in office. Though America's constitution prohibits a third consecutive term, Bush is expected to attempt to retain power in some form. It disgusts me how democratic freedoms and rights have been trampled by this regime. No wonder the world is justified in crying out as one against such abuses of basic civil rights. Oops, silly me, it was that rascal Putin fellow. Well, that's all right then. Nothing to see here, folks...cultural differences and all that. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:29 AM | Comments (2) November 16, 2007 "I'm willing to lose my job..." ..."if that's necessary to set our fiscal house in order." So says our illustrious Governor Corzine, in yet another effort to paint himself as some type of fiscally responsible defender of the common man. In a speech Thursday to hundreds of officials gathered for the annual New Jersey State League of Municipalities conference, Corzine said addressing the state's financial problems would be among the most important things he does as governor. "It's time for we elected officials to stop being afraid and cautious and do something bold to right the ship," Corzine said. He later added: "I'm willing to lose my job if that's necessary to set our fiscal house in order." Along with paying down debt, Corzine said his plan will provide permanent funding for transportation needs and will include new restrictions on state borrowing. He said the full details will come out in his Jan. 8 State of the State speech. As is usual when Daddy Warbucks speaks, however, not once does he mention spending less. Nowhere does he mention freezing, let alone cutting, the number of state employees; well, no surprise on that, I suppose, given his dating history. If I may mangle his quote a little, it's necessary for him to lose his job if we are to have any hope of setting our fiscal house in order. I'm more and more convinced that we really need a shakeup in NJ politics; the last thing we need is another millionaire carpetbagger riding in to 'solve' our problems as some pre-retirement vanity project (yeah, I'm looking at you, Mr. Bon Jovi. Yes, you were born in NJ. Yes, you own a lovely house just a couple miles from mine in Middletown. Yes, you've done wonderful and fantastic charity work in NJ. But you've decided to move with your family to Soho. I've got nothing against that, if that's where you want to live and raise your kids, great. But you live in New York now, not New Jersey, and if you disrupt the kids' life again by making them move back here so you can do your vanity project you're a schmuck. Besides, there may be a job opening in Albany pretty soon...). The state of politics here is simply horrific. How many officials are under investigation? Our Senators are a joke: the only time you hear from "Silent Bob" Menendez is when his staff responds to new rumors of impending indictments, and as for Lautenberg...is he still even alive? I'm serious; when is the last time you actually even heard him mentioned? Pathetic. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:50 AM | Comments (3) November 15, 2007 Quote of the Day "When it takes two weeks and six different positions to answer one question on immigration, it's easier to understand why the Clinton campaign would rather plant their questions than answer them." Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:38 AM Adeebada-deebada-deebada...That's All, Folks! Spitzer sputters again In a second major policy reversal in less than a day, Governor Spitzer is backing down from a plan to require Amazon.com and other online retailers to charge state and local sales taxes on all purchases from New York. Yesterday, just hours after The New York Sun reported on the new revenue collection scheme, the Spitzer administration announced that it was burying it for the time being — at least until after the Christmas shopping season. The move saved New York City shoppers from having to pay an additional 8.375% on many Amazon.com goods. "Governor Spitzer believes that now is not the right time to be increasing sales taxes on New Yorkers," Mr. Spitzer's budget director, Paul Francis, said in a statement. "He has directed the Department of Tax and Finance to pull back its interpretation that would require some Internet retailers that do not collect sales tax to do so." His Megalomaniacness is discovering that he doesn't quite have the same freedom from question as Governor as he did in his previous job. What with his dirty tricks scandal and the drivers license fiasco and now this, one is almost tempted to think he is a Corzine plant to divert attention away from New Jersey... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:39 AM November 10, 2007 "Why Don't You Shut Up?" Juan Carlos to Hugo Chavez. God save the King! Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:54 PM | Comments (2) November 08, 2007 From Volokh , an interesting quiz My results below the fold. 1. Theoretical Ideal Candidate (100%) 2. John McCain (80%) 3. Alan Keyes (72%) 4. Mike Huckabee (69%) 5. Rudolph Giuliani (65%) 6. Fred Thompson (64%) 7. Tom Tancredo (64%) 8. Stephen Colbert (campaign ended) (63%) 9. Al Gore (not announced) (62%) 10. Duncan Hunter (62%) 11. Mitt Romney (62%) 12. Sam Brownback (withdrawn, endorsed McCain) (61%) 13. Michael Bloomberg (says he will not run) (60%) 14. Joseph Biden (59%) 15. Tommy Thompson (withdrawn, endorsed Giuliani) (58%) 16. Newt Gingrich (says he will not run) (58%) 17. Hillary Clinton (55%) 18. John Edwards (54%) 19. Chuck Hagel (not running) (52%) 20. Barack Obama (51%) 21. Jim Gilmore (withdrawn) (51%) 22. Wesley Clark (not running, endorsed Clinton) (51%) 23. Bill Richardson (50%) 24. Kent McManigal (campaign suspended) (45%) 25. Christopher Dodd (43%) 26. Ron Paul (40%) 27. Alan Augustson (campaign suspended) (32%) 28. Dennis Kucinich (28%) 29. Mike Gravel (26%) 30. Elaine Brown (9%) As much as I decided not to vote for anyone named Clinton or Bush or who was from Arkansas, Texas or Massachusetts this year due to my complete fatigue with the politicians they've produced I may have to read up a bit more on Mr. Huckabee. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:22 AM | Comments (3) November 07, 2007 Batting .500 Ain't So Bad Well, for the first time in ages NJ voters defeated a ballot question , two of them in fact TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey voters on Tuesday rejected borrowing $450 million to pay for stem cell research grants in the state for 10 years. With 95 percent of the vote counted, 53 percent of voters opposed the spending. The rejection was a defeat for Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who campaigned heavily for the measure. He argued the money would help find cures for conditions such as spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, sickle cell anemia and multiple sclerosis while also luring leading scientists and research firms to the state. But the measure was opposed by anti-abortion activists, conservatives and the Roman Catholic Church because it would pay for research that destroys human embryos and would increase state debt. Well, I know folks love to raise the 'religious right' bogeyman every time something they don't like happens, but that certainly was not the reason I opposed it. In fact, I find myself agreeing with Dick Codey on this one Senate President Richard J. Codey, a leading stem cell supporter, pinned the defeat on chronic state fiscal problems and mounting state debt. "The taxpayers of New Jersey are not against stem cell research," said Codey, D-Essex. "It's clear. The message we're getting is put your fiscal house in order and then do these things." I'm against the state paying for it. Now here's the laugh of the morning: Said Corzine spokeswoman Lilo Stainton, "The public understands the state has serious financial issues that must be addressed first." Yes, the public does; the problem is that the Governor doesn't, and neither does the Legislature. As an aside, someone at the Associated Press needs some, shall we say, sensitivity training; look at this next paragraph in the story: Scott Simpkins, a 36-year-old Williamstown resident who broke a vertebra and was left paralyzed after a bicycling accident in Colorado in late August 2000, was crushed. He hopes stem cell research might help him walk again. Anyhow, so that was voted down, as was the sales tax/property tax shell game scheme; the $200 million Open Space and Let's Have Nice Words In The Constitution measures both passed. All in all a better day than might have been expected, but on the radio this morning there was already talk that Corzine might try and put more Stem Cell money in the budget... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:44 AM | Comments (5) November 05, 2007 NJ's 4 Ballot Questions So we've got some ballot questions to vote on tomorrow and I thought I'd give you my view on them. Here's the short answer: "no." Here's basically what they are: -- Permanently dedicate all money earned from last year's sales tax increase to property tax relief. This is amazingly insane, and yet so typical of how our government 'works.' People scream they want lower property taxes, so does Trenton do what you or I would do: spend less? Heck no! They make a new tax and take that money and give it to folks as a 'property tax rebate'. As a bonus they've created a new bureaucracy to collect and distribute this, so spending and government obligations rise which means...they need more taxes. You really have to admire the creative genius at work here. "No." -- Approve borrowing $450 million for stem cell research. This might in theory be a good idea, and I'm certainly not opposed to government underwriting scientific research but the priority right now is to reduce government spending. This is more debt that we need to pay off, so No. -- Approve borrowing $200 million for open space preservation. "No" for the reasons above. -- Revise language outlining when voting rights can be denied by deleting from the state Constitution the phrase "idiot or insane person'' and replacing it with the phrase "person who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting.'' I don't know, there's something that warms my heart about having that language in our state Constitution; perhaps therein lies our new motto: "New Jersey, where idiots can't vote but they can be elected!" I say "No" to this as well. "Idiot" has a precise medical definition, and while the PC crowd may find it offensive it does clearly denote those poor folks who lack the mental horsepower to make basic decisions for themselves, and sorry, but they should not be allowed to make decisions for the rest of us. The same with insane. This would create a huge backlog in the court systems as well, it seems to me, for these competency adjudication hearings that need not take place and necessitate the creation of a whole new bureaucracy to manage them. So "No." So that's my stand and I'm sticking to it. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:56 AM | Comments (9) November 01, 2007 Tough Noogies So the poor widdle petulant babies at State, who seem to think that it is they who are in charge of US foreign policy as opposed to our elected officials, don't like their potential new assignment? WASHINGTON - Several hundred U.S. diplomats vented anger and frustration Wednesday about the State Department's decision to force foreign service officers to take jobs in Iraq, with some likening it to a "potential death sentence." In a contentious hour-long "town hall meeting" called to explain the step, these workers peppered the official who signed the order with often hostile complaints about the largest diplomatic call-up since Vietnam. Announced last week, it will require some diplomats — under threat of dismissal — to serve at the embassy in Baghdad and in so-called Provincial Reconstruction Teams in outlying provinces. The solution is very simple, and it is one that those of us in the private sector are quite familiar with: if you don't want to do what your employer requires, you find a new job. Their job is to support and staff embassies, and be the everyday public face of the US abroad. So instead of working on "White Papers" go, you know, do it. Or find another job. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:24 AM | Comments (7) October 24, 2007 Gnashing My Teeth Insta linked to this and comments hadn't really been completely partisan hack-ups. Then I read Bill Bradley's comment: Bill Bradley* : Jeff, or should I say, dorsai, and I do catch the reference, you're trying to flip Katrina into an anti-Democrat thing. As the saying goes, lotsa luck. Obviously the local Democratic leadership was incompetent. And obviously the Bush Administration screwed up. As my friends who worked in the White House acknowledge. That's not so hard, is it? Oh, the other reason why Florida and Mississippi had an easier time of it. They didn't get the brunt of the hurricane.** Oct 24, 2007 03:02 PM I saw red and responded: "They didn't get the brunt of the hurricane." Are you joking? Surely you are. Have you even driven on US 90? My God, they were blown ~ BLOWN ~ off the map from Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, and Gulfport to Biloxi. Whatever points you try to score on the administration, deserved or otherwise, don't you DARE try to minimalize the enormity of the destruction AT LANDFALL ~ FORTY FEET of WATER ~ that occurred in MS. New Orleans suffered the AFTERMATH ~ the flooding AFTERWARDS. Once it brushed over the lower tip of Louisiana (maybe you ought to check THOSE pictures, too) Mississippi BORE the BRUNT. I'm gobschmacked. Law firm’s gifts to Democrats bring questions Despite scandal, top candidates still taking donations from Milberg Weiss Over the years, as it became Exhibit A for critics of shareholders’ class-action lawsuits, the law firm of Milberg Weiss often enjoyed the support of Democrats who called the suits an invaluable weapon in the universal conflict between big business and the little guy. The Democrats, in turn, enjoyed the support of Milberg Weiss and its partners, who together contributed more than $7 million to the party’s candidates since the 1980s. Last year, the firm was indicted on federal charges of fraud and bribery. But the political partnership has not been entirely severed... Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:34 AM | Comments (2) October 16, 2007 Ayatollah you so Hillary Clinton today moved to secure her position as the most hawkish Democrat in the 2008 presidential race, saying she would consider the use of force to compel Iran to abandon its nuclear programme. In an article for Foreign Affairs magazine intended as a blueprint for the foreign policy of a future Clinton White House, the Democratic frontrunner argues that Iran poses a long term strategic challenge to American and its allies, and that it must not be permitted to build or acquire nuclear weapons. ..."True statesmanship requires that we engage with our adversaries, not for the sake of talking but because robust diplomacy is a prerequisite to achieving our aims." She says she would even consider offering incentives to Iran in return for a pledge to disarm. However, she sets out a series of stringent conditions that are virtually identical to current White House policy. Here's my "incentive": if you build centrifuges we will blow them up. Hill has always been the most hawkish of the Dems; her domestic agenda will be horrible but she's the only one of them that I think I could trust to defend us. She's much more decisive than Bill ever could be. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:59 AM | Comments (6) October 12, 2007 The Nobel Peace Prize To Gore Oh Jimminny H Christmas on a pogo stick, what has he actually done to deserve this? (CNN) -- Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their work to raise awareness about global warming. "An Inconvenient Truth," a documentary featuring Al Gore, won two Academy Awards this year. Gore said he was "deeply honored," adding that "the climate crisis is not a political issue it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity," according to a written statement. The former vice president said he would donate his half of the $1.5 million prize to The Alliance for Climate Protection, a U.S. organization founded by Gore that aims to persuade people to cut emissions and reduce global warming. During its announcement, the Nobel committee cited the winners "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." As my Bride and I were discussing last night, the US Military and specifically the task force headed by the USS Abraham Lincoln have done a hell of a lot more to provide peace and humanitarian assistance in a real way to impoverished people than Globe-Tromping Gorezilla and his "Cannes-Do" lifestyle ever has. This award has completed its slide into total irrelevance and political feel-goodery. It is a blatant attempt to influence the next US election cycle. Luckily, the good people of the United States are far more interested in the Britney Spears than they are Nobel laureates. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:50 AM | Comments (16) October 11, 2007 If You Read One Thing Today Make it this . Ayaan Hirsi Ali is someone we need to listen to. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:33 PM | Comments (2) October 09, 2007 The Peril Of The Cascade Consensus A very surprising article in today's Pravda on the way herd mentality and public fear of rebuke, and frankly very sloppy and lazy 'research', led to widely praised "consensus" that was, well, wrong In 1988, the surgeon general, C. Everett Koop, proclaimed ice cream to a be public-health menace right up there with cigarettes. Alluding to his office’s famous 1964 report on the perils of smoking, Dr. Koop announced that the American diet was a problem of “comparable” magnitude, chiefly because of the high-fat foods that were causing coronary heart disease and other deadly ailments. He introduced his report with these words: “The depth of the science base underlying its findings is even more impressive than that for tobacco and health in 1964.” That was a ludicrous statement, as Gary Taubes demonstrates in his new book meticulously debunking diet myths, “Good Calories, Bad Calories” (Knopf, 2007). The notion that fatty foods shorten your life began as a hypothesis based on dubious assumptions and data; when scientists tried to confirm it they failed repeatedly. The evidence against Häagen-Dazs was nothing like the evidence against Marlboros. The article describes quite clearly how this came to be, and how the 'researchers' all either relied on one flawed report or simply caved in to peer/media pressure. I found it exceedingly interesting that the author never even hints at the 800 pound Gorezilla in the room, as instructive as this story is relative to the current Global Warming climate. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:18 AM | Comments (2) Today Is... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:20 AM Dear Vicente I've got one question for you: is it racist to lock your house? NEW YORK - Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said Monday that the United States is letting racism dictate its policies, especially when it comes to immigration. "The xenophobics, the racists, those who feel they are a superior race ... they are deciding the future of this nation," he said, without naming names, in an interview with The Associated Press. ..."To be so repressive isn't democractic or free ... to be putting up fences, chasing Mexicans, that isn't right," Fox said. "The U.S. needs better answers than repression, weapons and violence." I'm assuming that Vincente, as well as all the other Open Borderistas don't lock their houses, right? I mean, how could they be so oppressive and discriminatory as to exclude anyone from their living room who wants to walk in, right? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:33 AM | Comments (4) October 08, 2007 And by god they were right! During the nearly two hour service that featured a rock band and hip-hop dancers, Obama shared the floor with the church's pastor, Ron Carpenter. The senator from Illinois asked the multiracial crowd of nearly 4,000 people to keep him and his family in their prayers, and said he hoped to be "an instrument of God." "Sometimes this is a difficult road being in politics," Obama said. "Sometimes you can become fearful, sometimes you can become vain, sometimes you can seek power just for power's sake instead of because you want to do service to God. I just want all of you to pray that I can be an instrument of God in the same way that Pastor Ron and all of you are instruments of God." He finished his brief remarks by saying, "We're going to keep on praising together. I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth." Now, imagine the hue and cry if Chimpy McVangelist had said these things. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:11 AM | Comments (3) October 05, 2007 If It Pains You to Remember... ...the way we were... Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:05 PM | Comments (8) October 04, 2007 Blair's Law In Action Yet Again Yes, I'm talking about Tim's brilliant universal rule: "the ongoing process by which the world's multiple idiocies are becoming one giant, useless force." Here's the latest proof of it CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In an unlikely marriage of desire to secede from the United States, two advocacy groups from opposite political traditions — New England and the South — are sitting down to talk. ADVERTISEMENT Tired of foreign wars and what they consider right-wing courts, the Middlebury Institute wants liberal states like Vermont to be able to secede peacefully. That sounds just fine to the League of the South, a conservative group that refuses to give up on Southern independence. ...Harry Watson, director of the Center For the Study of the American South and a history professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said it was a surprise to see The Middlebury Institute conferring with the League of the South, "an organization that's associated with a cause that many of us associate with the preservation of slavery." He said the unlikely partnering "represents the far left and far right of American politics coming together." If this doesn't get Tim a Nobel nomination... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:51 AM | Comments (1) October 01, 2007 Look who's going to Philly for some Whiz WASHINGTON (CNN) – It's almost a necessity for any presidential candidate who swings through Philadelphia — making a stop at one of the city's famous cheesesteak shops. But the landmark Philly restaurant former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani plans to stop at later Monday is also famous for another reason: its controversial 'Please speak English' sign. Joe Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, sparked controversy last year when he put up a sign at his store proclaiming, "This is America. When Ordering Please Speak English." As always, your Swilling hosts are cutting edge trend mongers. Ummmmmm, tasty. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:24 PM September 28, 2007 Criminalization Of Thought Advances To borrow a theme from Insta ..."They said if Bush were re-elected the Government would seek to criminalize and control thought, and they were right " WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led Senate on Thursday voted to let federal law enforcement help states prosecute attacks on gays, attaching the provision to a massive spending bill for the Iraq war and daring President Bush to veto the whole package. I hatehatehatehatehate "Hate Crime" laws. They are a vile and horrid attack on the First Amendment, end of story. Punish people for their actions, not their thoughts. What you were thinking while you hit me with the baseball bat is irrelevant; the hitting is the crime. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:02 AM | Comments (6) September 27, 2007 I'm not sure where Gaia is going to spend the money WASHINGTON -- Dealing with global warming will be painful, says one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress. To back up his claim he is proposing a recipe many people won't like _ a 50-cent gasoline tax, a carbon tax and scaling back tax breaks for some home owners. "I'm trying to have everybody understand that this is going to cost and that it's going to have a measure of pain that you're not going to like," Rep. John Dingell, who is marking his 52nd year in Congress, said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. ..."This is going to cause pain," he said, adding that he wants to make certain "the pain is shared in a way that is fair, proper, acceptable and accomplishes the basic purpose" of reducing greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. ...He will propose for discussion: _A 50-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline and jet fuel, phased in over five years, on top of existing taxes. _A tax on carbon, at $50 a ton, released from burning coal, petroleum or natural gas. _Phaseout of the interest tax deduction on home mortgages for homes over 3,000 square feet. Owners would keep most of the deduction for homes at the lower end of the scale, but it would be eliminated entirely for homes of 4,200 feet or more. He estimates that would affect 10 percent of homeowners. He says "it's only fair" to tax those who buy large suburban houses and create urban sprawl. Historic and farm houses would be exempted. It's a great One/Two Punch the Democrats are offering: Clinton feels our pain, and Dingell causes it. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:27 AM | Comments (6) September 24, 2007 And No, you can not wash your feet in the sink INDIANAPOLIS -- A proposal to install a foot-washing sink at Indianapolis International Airport is prompting debate over ethnicity, religion and the U.S. constitution. Muslims use the sinks to wash their feet before praying but some say that allowing the sinks on public property violates the separation of church and state, 6News' Cheryl Jackson reported. Airport officials said they are considering installing a sink because of safety and health issues, with no consideration of religion. Are they going to spend tax money to install the stations of the Cross? I didn't think so. The airport officials are 'considering' this because they are ball-less wonders. Just say "no." It's really quite easy. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:27 AM | Comments (12) September 21, 2007 Where's The Gaff? Now, I will admit that all I've seen on this is what's contained in this article, but based on this I don't see what's so faux pas-ian about it JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Nelson Mandela is still very much alive despite an embarrassing gaffe by U.S. President George W. Bush, who alluded to the former South African leader's death in an attempt to explain sectarian violence in Iraq. ...In a speech defending his administration's Iraq policy, Bush said former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's brutality had made it impossible for a unifying leader to emerge and stop the sectarian violence that has engulfed the Middle Eastern nation. "I heard somebody say, Where's Mandela?' Well, Mandela's dead because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas," Bush, who has a reputation for verbal faux pas, said in a press conference in Washington on Thursday. Based on the context al-Reuters provides it seems very clear to me that Chimpy is saying there are no Iraqi Mandelas because all the potential Iraqi Mandelas were murdered instead of being put in jail. He's right. It takes a bit of a creative stretch to read that as him saying 'Nelson Mandela is dead.' Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:25 AM | Comments (9) September 20, 2007 Language Is Culture Just whose interests do the "educators" think they are serving? Some Oregon high schools are adopting Mexico's public school curriculum to help educate Spanish-speaking students with textbooks, an online Web site, DVDs and CDs provided free by Mexico to teach math, science and even U.S. history. The Oregon Department of Education and Mexico's Secretariat of Public Education are discussing aligning their curricula so courses will be valid in both countries. ... "Students come to us with such complex issues," said Tim King, director of Clackamas Middle College and Clackamas Web Academy, where a virtual course using Mexico's learning materials got started this week. "We've had to change in order to fit into each school scene, become more complex and open ourselves up to new situations." What the hell. I mean, what the hell! Which country do school kids in Oregon supposedly swear allegiance too? It's obvious where the Administrators' feelings lie. How can these kids possibly ever be expected to become Americans if they are taught this way? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:39 PM | Comments (6) September 06, 2007 Hsu, Fly! Don't Bother Me... I'm sure that's the song Hillary and her fellow Dems are singing in the shower this morning. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:21 AM September 05, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:16 AM | Comments (5) August 28, 2007 Much like Al Gore, Hillary's "China Syndrome" problem has nothing to do with lead paint DALY CITY, Calif. -- One of the biggest sources of political donations to Hillary Rodham Clinton is a tiny, lime-green bungalow that lies under the flight path from San Francisco International Airport. Six members of the Paw family, each listing the house at 41 Shelbourne Ave. as their residence, have donated a combined $45,000 to the Democratic senator from New York since 2005, for her presidential campaign, her Senate re-election last year and her political action committee. In all, the six Paws have donated a total of $200,000 to Democratic candidates since 2005, election records show. That total ranks the house with residences in Greenwich, Conn., and Manhattan's Upper East Side among the top addresses to donate to the Democratic presidential front-runner over the past two years, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal of donations listed with the Federal Election Commission. It isn't obvious how the Paw family is able to afford such political largess. Records show they own a gift shop and live in a 1,280-square-foot house that they recently refinanced for $270,000. William Paw, the 64-year-old head of the household, is a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service who earns about $49,000 a year, according to a union representative. Alice Paw, also 64, is a homemaker. The couple's grown children have jobs ranging from account manager at a software company to "attendance liaison" at a local public high school. One is listed on campaign records as an executive at a mutual fund. The Paws' political donations closely track donations made by Norman Hsu, a wealthy New York businessman in the apparel industry who once listed the Paw home as his address, according to public records. Mr. Hsu is one of the top fund-raisers for Mrs. Clinton's presidential campaign. He has hosted or co-hosted some of her most prominent money-raising events. And don't think there aren't ties to John Huang and the Buddhists in all of this. Update: Here's the pertinent info from the link above: Norman Hsu--a $7,500 check was written on Sioeng San Wong's account to Friends of Norman Hsu on March 11, 1995.90 Hsu is a former president of the Chinese- American Association. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:22 AM | Comments (3) No, I 'Da Ho! So Idaho Senator Larry Craig was arrested in Minneapolis for lewd behavior in a men's room U.S. Sen. Larry Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct this month after his arrest in a Minneapolis airport men’s room by an undercover officer who said Craig was sending signals that he wanted to have sex. Craig said Monday his actions were misconstrued by police and that he should not have pleaded guilty to the charges. Now, I love a good scandal as much as anyone, and a conservative republican getting hooked up in some gay sex solicitation in a public restroom is as juicy as a liberal democrat not wanting windmills 10 miles away blocking the view from his beach house in my book. Bring it on! But when you read just exactly transpired here it sure seems like there's a very loose interpretation of what is 'lewd' going on here, and frankly I think we need to require a bit more substantial evidence before arresting someone for this behavior: According to the police reports, a man, later identified as Craig, kept watching the undercover police officer through a crack in the stall. Craig then entered the next-door stall and placed his luggage against the opening under the stall door. "My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall," said the officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia, in the report. Alright, the 'kept watching' bit is odd. As for the rest of it with apologies to Officer Karsnia but my experience has been that individuals taking a dump also place their bags against the opening at the front of the stall because there's no other place to put them, fer crimminy's sake. The report continued: "At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area." Oh my God! He tapped his foot while taking a dump! He must want to scoff my chorizo! "I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot." This is the high standards of evidence that Minneapolis holds its police to? Are you kidding me? Do the Minneapolis Vice Police sing "Knock Three Times On The Stall Floor If You Want Me" along with Tony Orlando and Dawn during Talent Night at the Academy? The report said Craig swiped his hand beneath the stall divider several times, and Karsnia showed his police identification under the stall. Again, this is odd and weird, and for all I know he was interested in some stinky stall lust. But did he assault the cop? Did he verbally proposition him? No. Did he threaten him? No. It is ridiculous that someone could be arrested on the basis of this. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:54 AM | Comments (16) August 24, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:16 AM | Comments (2) August 17, 2007 There's No Forest Here Folks; Ignore All Those Trees What else can one think about these dishonest creatures we have running our state here in New Jersey? Lawhawk has an excellent post up on the gyrations that Corzine et al go through to avoid addressing the key issue: if the existing immigration laws had been followed those 3 Newark residents, citizens, by the way, would still be alive today. Full stop. End of story. We don't need new gun control legislation, we don't need any new legislation. We simply need to enforce the laws that are on the books. But I guess that's a bit much to expect from our Governor and Senators. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:57 PM | Comments (4) August 09, 2007 They Can "Censor" You All They Want To You self-centered idiots, because they are a private company and not the government NEW YORK (Billboard) - Pearl Jam fans and Internet watchdogs were up in arms Thursday after it was revealed that AT&T Inc. censored portions of the rock band's live concert cybercast on Sunday. While performing "Daughter" during the annual Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, the band segued into a portion of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," during which frontman Eddie Vedder sang, "George Bush, leave this world alone" and "George Bush, find yourself another home." Those lyrics were missing from the broadcast. Let's review, shall we? Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Private companies can, and should be allowed to, censor whatever the hell they want when it is something they are paying for. If you don't like it then don't take their money. "This event shows that companies like AT&T will risk the appearance of censorship by turning off the sound on a webcast that's being viewed by thousands of people, just because it works counter to their financial interests," said FOMC executive director Jenny Toomey. No shit, Sherlock. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:41 PM | Comments (7) Vote Now For The 2012 Election This is so symbolic of how completely retarded our system has become The first 2008 presidential votes may be moving into 2007 after all, making a race that has started earlier than ever even more intense. South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson will announce that he is moving its primary date ahead of Florida’s Jan. 29 vote, to reclaim his state party’s “first in the South” presidential-nominating banner. But he will do so in New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation primary. And he will be joined by New Hampshire’s longtime Secretary of State Bill Gardner, who alone has the power to set that state’s date for both parties, now tentatively Jan. 22. If both were to move their dates up, that likely would force Iowa — always protective of its party caucuses as the first nominating contests of any kind — to consider moving its date from next Jan. 14 into pre-Christmas December. We're talking about the process of choosing the President of the United States, and these bastards act like 3rd graders lining up for ice cream. "I'm first!" "No, meeeeeeeeeee!!!" They absolutely disgust me. I guess I missed the part in the Constitution where it says "Thou shalt not caucus before Iowa. Neither shall Thou primary ahead of New Hampshire." We need new parties. The two we have are so immovably corrupted by their power and inertia that they are completely removed from representing anything but their own self-interest in self-perpetuating. They have completely rigged the game to their own benefit. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:10 AM | Comments (21) August 07, 2007 Blow me. The Chinese government has begun a concerted campaign of economic threats against the United States, hinting that it may liquidate its vast holding of US treasuries if Washington imposes trade sanctions to force a yuan revaluation. Two officials at leading Communist Party bodies have given interviews in recent days warning - for the first time - that Beijing may use its $1.33 trillion (£658bn) of foreign reserves as a political weapon to counter pressure from the US Congress. Shifts in Chinese policy are often announced through key think tanks and academies. Described as China's "nuclear option" in the state media, such action could trigger a dollar crash at a time when the US currency is already breaking down through historic support levels. love, Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:24 PM | Comments (6) I'm Supposed To Care? That Barack and Hillary are no longer BFF? WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 — They work in the same building. They slog through the same rigorous travel schedule. Along the way, they often cross paths several times a day. But Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have barely spoken to each other — at least in any meaningful way — for months. The tension between the two Democratic presidential hopefuls, which has spilled into public view in the last three weeks, has been intensifying since January. It is clear that the genteel decorum of the Senate has given way to the go-for-the-jugular instinct of the campaign trail. As the Senate held late sessions of back-to-back votes before its summer break, the two rivals kept a careful eye on each other as they moved across the Senate floor. For more than two hours one night, often while standing only a few feet apart, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama never approached each other or exchanged so much as a pleasantry. La-dee-freakin'-da. Who cares. But I guess that this is the level of insight and analysis that the "All the news that's fit to print on tiny newsprint" NYT can come up with these days. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:16 AM | Comments (3) July 24, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:56 PM | Comments (11) July 06, 2007 ...if I wasn't invited . Former U.S. senator and actor Fred Thompson spent part of his Gulf Coast vacation Thursday night in Pensacola garnering political support for a potential presidential run. Thompson had a private dinner with local supporters at the Fish House restaurant, and then he spent some time meeting and greeting locals. He said the informal dinner was "testing the waters" and he plans to announce "in the not too distant future" whether he'll run for president. "People are looking for a new direction for the country," Thompson said. "I will talk straight to them and not be afraid to have a vision for the future." Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:20 AM | Comments (7) July 04, 2007 Tour de Gore UPDATE REDUX: Honest to GOD, I swear the whole family's smokin' dope . (DOPE being the operative word.) The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens — and now known as Yusuf Islam — will perform at one of Al Gore's Live Earth concerts. Click here....including links to a video in which Mr. Peace Train expresses his desire for Salman Rushdie to burn at the stake, plus his connections to Hamas. Posted by tree hugging sister at 07:42 PM | Comments (1) Between the 'Rock Star' Tour and the '100 MPH' Speedster Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:41 PM | Comments (6) At Last My EEE-ville Plan Comes to Fruition! You thought I just wanted the black man gone? WRONG-OLA, NOLA! The whole thing is in the toilet next time. BBWWAAAhahahahaha!!! Stronger levees could hurt French Quarter The government’s repairs to New Orleans’ hurricane-damaged levees may put the French Quarter in greater danger than it was before Hurricane Katrina, a weakness planners said couldn’t be helped, at least for now. Experts say the stronger levees and flood walls could funnel storm water into the cul-de-sac of the Industrial Canal, only 2 miles from Bourbon Street, and overwhelm the waterway’s 12-foot-high concrete flood walls that shield some of the city’s most cherished neighborhoods. ...“A system is much like a chain. We have strengthened some of the lengths, and those areas are now better protected,” said Robert Bea, a lead investigator of an independent National Science Foundation team that examined Katrina’s levee failures. “When the chain is challenged by high water again, it will break at those weak links, and they are now next to some of the oldest neighborhoods, including the French Quarter, Marigny, and all of those areas west of the cul-de-sac.” Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:28 AM | Comments (7) June 29, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:09 PM | Comments (5) I Agree With Obama On This If this becomes a habit well obviously I'm going to the doctor for a complete evaluation but when he's right he's right WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama laid out list of political shortcomings he sees in the Bush administration but said he opposes impeachment for either President George W. Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney. Obama said he would not back such a move, although he has been distressed by the "loose ethical standards, the secrecy and incompetence" of a "variety of characters" in the administration. "There's a way to bring an end to those practices, you know: vote the bums out," the presidential candidate said, without naming Bush or Cheney. "That's how our system is designed." The term for Bush and Cheney ends on Jan. 20, 2009. Bush cannot constitutionally run for a third term, and Cheney has said he will not run to succeed Bush. Obama, a Harvard law school graduate and former lecturer on constitutional law at the University of Chicago, said impeachment should not be used as a standard political tool. "I think you reserve impeachment for grave, grave breeches, and intentional breeches of the president's authority," he said. "I believe if we began impeachment proceedings we will be engulfed in more of the politics that has made Washington dysfunction," he added. "We would once again, rather than attending to the people's business, be engaged in a tit-for-tat, back-and-forth, non-stop circus." He's 100% correct. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:10 AM | Comments (4) June 28, 2007 Shamnesty Fails Thank god. And Hot Air has the list of who voted how. As I live in NJ, both of my Senators voted for this abomination. I encourage everyone to remember how these fools voted, and hold these pompous fools accountable. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:30 PM | Comments (3) June 27, 2007 ... tell . ...[Lou] Dobbs contends the Senate has trampled the democratic process. The bill, he notes, has not required a single public hearing or advanced out of committee. "There has been no rigorous research whatsoever by any government agency or department of the economic, social, and fiscal impact of this legislation," the CNN host explained. "This is striking even in Trotsky-like terms in an authoritarian government -- but for it to occur in what is a democratic republic is, to me, absolutely shameful." ...And Dobbs noted that when President Bush hosted business and Hispanic activist groups at the White House today to promote the immigration bill, one group was noticeably missing -- there was no representative for America's working middle class. Posted by tree hugging sister at 02:28 PM | Comments (3) June 25, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:40 AM | Comments (6) June 22, 2007 sigh...Let's Go Over This One More Time ...since the Speaker seems to be a little slow catching on. POP QUIZ Example A: These are CANADIANS. Example B: These are not... Task: Using a No.2 pencil, choose the correct military service who most closely resembles the troops you keep trying to pull funding from while still 'supporting' them. Bonus Question: If time allows, for five extra points ~ circle the mostest doofiest suit in THIS picture... "Look! Nuthin' up ma sleeve!" And no cheating/mirror checking or you're immediately disqualified. Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:47 PM | Comments (2) June 15, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:53 PM | Comments (8) Ahnuld's Correct ...But you know they will make him pay for saying it Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a gathering of Hispanic journalists that immigrants should avoid Spanish-language media if they want to learn English quickly. "You've got to turn off the Spanish television set" and avoid Spanish-language television, books and newspapers, the Republican governor said Wednesday night at the annual convention of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. "You're just forced to speak English, and that just makes you learn the language faster," Schwarzenegger said. "I know this sounds odd and this is the politically incorrect thing to say, and I'm going to get myself in trouble," he said, noting that he rarely spoke German and was forced to learn English when he emigrated from Austria. Schwarzenegger was responding to a question about how Hispanic students can improve academically. Many journalists for Spanish-language organizations in the audience were surprised by the remarks. He's 100% correct...and incorrect. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:29 AM | Comments (3) The Most Ethical Congress Ever! And kids under the age of, um, er, 50 or so fly free! Pentagon officials are bracing for a fight with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over her desire to allow lawmakers’ adult children to tag along on taxpayer-funded travel for free. Pelosi wants them to be able to fill the role of lawmakers’ spouses when the latter are unable to make a trip because of health issues or work commitments. Bet you didn't know about this "long-standing policy" “It has been longstanding policy that, in the absence of a congressional spouse, the adult child of a member of Congress may accompany the member on official U.S. government travel abroad for protocol reasons and without reimbursing the U.S. Treasury,” Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami said. “Speaker Pelosi believes that a modern policy must reflect the professional responsibilities or health realities that might prevent a spouse from participating, and instead permit an adult child to fulfill the protocol needs of the official trip.” Sorry, that sounds like an aristocratic-class policy to me. And it's completely disgusting and corrupt. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:21 AM | Comments (2) June 14, 2007 It should be interesting, to say the least . After losing a string of embarrassing votes on the House floor because of procedural maneuvering, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has decided to change the current House Rules to completely shut down the floor to the minority. The Democratic Leadership is threatening to change the current House Rules regarding the Republican right to the Motion to Recommit or the test of germaneness on the motion to recommit. This would be the first change to the germaneness rule since 1822. In protest, the House Republicans are going to call procedural motions every half hour. Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:14 PM | Comments (6) May 07, 2007 ... indeed ! ..."The reason she [Royal] did not have the female vote is not because there was no solidarity but because she was not up to it," said Tita Zeitoun, founder of the Action de Femme group which fights to get more women into top business positions. "Just because you're a feminist, you don't vote for a women who does not have the ability. We're talking about the presidential election here ... It's too serious to link this to a phenomenon of femininity or feminism," she said. Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:16 PM | Comments (1) May 02, 2007 ...was a peculiar choice , too. ...I'll bet you know about the illegal alien amnesty marches, but I don't know of a single news organization, electronic or print that pointed out that May 1 is America's Law Day. The cable news networks gave almost wall-to-wall coverage to the illegal alien demonstrations, but they apparently couldn't find any American celebrating Law Day. And no one seems to want to take note that we are first a nation of laws, and that without those laws and their enforcement, the foundation of our great republic turns to sand. What a spectacle on Law Day for demonstrators to demand amnesty for those who broke the law to enter our country, many of whom also broke the law with fraudulent documents. And what a mess when the president of the United States and the U.S. Congress are pandering to a group of people who are not citizens and refuse to demand enforcement of our immigration laws, our criminal laws, and fails to secure our borders and ports. I couldn't help but wonder as I watched monitors bringing images of the marches and demonstrations from all across the country, who should really be protesting on May Day. What about the millions of legal residents who followed the long, drawn-out process to secure a visa to enter the United States lawfully? Maybe they should be protesting. What about the seven-figure backlog at the Citizenship and Immigration Services agency of people who are following the rules. Should they demonstrate? What about all of our fellow Americans who are being marginalized by the massive importation of illegal, low-cost and mostly uneducated labor into this country? Perhaps those citizens should take to the streets. And what about the more than 250 million Americans who make up our middle class and those who aspire to it whose wages have stagnated and who are paying for the social, medical and economic costs of illegal immigration? That's a big march. Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:06 PM | Comments (13) "It's Like Gnats Swarming Around the Warhorse" Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:39 PM | Comments (3) May 01, 2007 Good thing for her she Chairs the Senate Rule Committee Anyone who knows much about real power in Congress knows that almost every member of the House and Senate lusts after a seat on the Appropriations Committee and hopes one day to achieve the status of Cardinal. The Cardinals, of course, are the folks who chair the various Appropriations Committee subcommittees and literally control the billions of dollars that pass through their hands. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) chairs the Senate Rules Committee, but she’s also a Cardinal. She is currently chairwoman of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies subcommittee, but until last year was for six years the top Democrat on the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (or “Milcon”) sub-committee, where she may have directed more than $1 billion to companies controlled by her husband. If the inferences finally coming out about what she did while on Milcon prove true, she may be on the way to morphing from a respected senior Democrat into another poster child for congressional corruption. The problems stem from her subcommittee activities from 2001 to late 2005, when she quit. During that period the public record suggests she knowingly took part in decisions that eventually put millions of dollars into her husband’s pocket — the classic conflict of interest that exploited her position and power to channel money to her husband’s companies. These people make me sick. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:42 PM | Comments (3) Hmmmm Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:32 PM | Comments (1) April 19, 2007 Here's what he has to say on the SCOTUS decision on PBA: Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards released the following statement about today's 5-4 Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal abortion ban. "I could not disagree more strongly with today's Supreme Court decision. The ban upheld by the Court is an ill-considered and sweeping prohibition that does not even take account for serious threats to the health of individual women. This hard right turn is a stark reminder of why Democrats cannot afford to lose the 2008 election. Too much is at stake - starting with, as the Court made all too clear today, a woman's right to choose." I have to agree with you on one point, Mr. Ex-Senator: the ban was ill-considered, most especially by the Former Junior Senator from North Carolina who along with Senators Kerry and Biden were the only Senators who didn't even bother to vote on this bill when it was passed in 2003. I guess it wasn't such a "hard right turn" then, was it? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:01 AM | Comments (4) This Is A "Legislative Leader"? Jonathan Adler at the Volokh Conspiracy has an excellent post up this morning about Sen Harry Reid's comments on SCOTUS' ruling on the Partial Birth Abortion Bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was among those who denounced yesterday's Supreme Court ruling upholding the Federal Partial Birth Abortion Act. Commenting on the decision, Reid said "A lot of us wish that Alito weren't there and O'Connor were there," indicating his desire that there has been a fifth vote to invalidate the statute, as Justice O'Connor had provided the fifth vote to invalidate Nebraska's partial-birth abortion ban in Stenberg v. Carhart. What is curious about Reid's statement, as NPR and some news outlets have noted, is not Reid's criticism of Alito -- Reid opposed Alito's confirmation -- but the fact that Reid supported, and voted for, the federal statute upheld in yesterday's decision. Reid was one of 17 Senate Democrats voting in favor of the bill in 2003. Reid also voted in favor of a ban on partial-birth abortion in 1999 (see here) and , as indicated in this "Meet the Press" interview, Reid was one of only two Democratic Senators to vote against a resolution reaffirming Senate support for the holding of Roe v. Wade. So, despite his repeated support of legislative restrictions on abortion, Reid's latest comment suggests that he believes the Supreme Court's decision was regrettable and wrongly decided, and that a law that he supported is unconstitutional. To me, the latter is of greater concern. Call me old fashioned, but I believe that if a member of the Senate believes a law is unconstitutional, he or she should vote against it. Exactly right. But sadly this is indicative of the state of Congress these days, wherein the Legislators have no set beliefs but in fact are constantly engaged in swimming to the latest poll data and positioning themselves with an eye towards future elections. There is seemingly no moral fiber, no vision; just political pandering. Look at all the gyrations and contortions that these Senators are doing over their war votes. "Oh I was lied to". "If I knew now what I knew then". "My dog ate the CIA briefing so I really didn't get a chance to look at it." "Who knew the war would be unpopular in 3 years?" These folks are so vacuous. And it is both disgusting and frightening, for these are the people into whose hands we have placed our very lives. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:50 AM | Comments (1) April 18, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:02 PM | Comments (4) April 13, 2007 Seems like someone was not wearing their seatbelt CAMDEN, N.J - Gov. Jon S. Corzine was critically injured Thursday when his motorcade crashed en route to a meeting between radio personality Don Imus and the Rutgers women’s basketball team, a doctor said. Corzine, 60, suffered numerous broken bones but his injuries were not considered life-threatening, officials said. He was recuperating early Friday at Cooper University Hospital in critical but stable condition after two hours of surgery to repair a seriously damaged leg and other injuries. Dr. Robert Ostrum, who performed the surgery, said it was successful but noted that the governor would need two more operations on his leg in the coming days. Doctors also inserted a breathing tube that would remain “for days to weeks, until (Corzine) is able to breathe on his own again,” Ostrum said. I hope you get better soon, Governor. But wear your goddamned seat belt, you idiot. With all due respect, of course. And will he be served with a summons for not wearing his seat belt, like us little folks would be? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:42 AM | Comments (7) April 11, 2007 Tony Blair Channels Bill Cosby Some times it's nice to be a lame duck , ain't it gov'ner? Tony Blair yesterday claimed the spate of knife and gun murders in London was not being caused by poverty, but a distinctive black culture. His remarks angered community leaders, who accused him of ignorance and failing to provide support for black-led efforts to tackle the problem. ...Black community leaders reacted after Mr Blair said the recent violence should not be treated as part of a general crime wave, but as specific to black youth. He said people had to drop their political correctness and recognise that the violence would not be stopped "by pretending it is not young black kids doing it". ...Giving the Callaghan lecture in Cardiff, the prime minister admitted he had been "lurching into total frankness" in the final weeks of his premiership. He called on black people to lead the fight against knife crime. He said that "the black community - the vast majority of whom in these communities are decent, law abiding people horrified at what is happening - need to be mobilised in denunciation of this gang culture that is killing innocent young black kids". I really hope W 'lurches' into some frankness soon. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:01 PM April 03, 2007 Straight Scoop and Well Said ...Although no one doubts our forces will prevail over Saddam Hussein's, key regional leaders confirm what the Foreign Relations Committee emphasized in its Iraq hearings last summer: The most challenging phase will likely be the day after -- or, more accurately, the decade after -- Saddam Hussein. Once he is gone, expectations are high that coalition forces will remain in large numbers to stabilize Iraq and support a civilian administration. That presence will be necessary for several years, given the vacuum there, which a divided Iraqi opposition will have trouble filling and which some new Iraqi military strongman must not fill. Various experts have testified that as many as 75,000 troops may be necessary, at a cost of up to $ 20 billion a year. That does not include the cost of the war itself, or the effort to rebuild Iraq. Americans are largely unprepared for such an undertaking. President Bush must make clear to the American people the scale of the commitment. Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:28 AM | Comments (4) March 21, 2007 John Edwards' Goes Humminah-Humminah Mr. "Two Americas", as in there are people who work in big mansions and people who own them, gets a little fumbly when defending his own 28,000 footer Call it “Dancing with the Stars”: Global Warming Edition. Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards showed his best dance moves trying to avoid questions about how energy efficient his 28,000-square-foot mansion really is and how much the power bill costs each month. The March 20 edition of CNN’s “American Morning” showed Edwards hyping global warming, promoting his energy plan that mandates carbon caps and claiming that his new mega-McMansion was actually being operated in a “carbon-neutral way.” He has recently declared his campaign “carbon neutral.” Edwards also avoided how he holds himself to one standard but wants to hold businesses to another. As anchor Miles O’Brien put it: “One of the keys to your plan is the so-called cap plan which would institute, as it suggests, caps on the amount of carbon dioxide industry can put into the environment.” But when it comes to Edwards’ own life, he doesn’t cap his carbon efforts, preferring instead carbon offsets. “We have committed to operate this house in a carbon-neutral way, which means in addition to using energy saving devices in the house itself, to the extent that doesn’t cover it, we’re going to purchase carbon credits on the market,” said Edwards. ...O’Brien asked about Edwards “getting Americans to conserve more.” Edwards responded with talk of conservation and then requirements. “One of the things that’s going to be required is for Americans to be willing to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles and to be willing to conserve and we want to help them do that.” When O’Brien asked specifically about his house, Edwards turned into a dancing king. Asked about the cost of energy for the home, Edwards tried several answers: -“It’s actually not bad.” And followed that up with talk of how energy efficient the home was. -“I’m not telling you. It’s actually, it’s actually not bad. It’s about three or four hundred dollars, the last one I saw.” -Following that claim, Edwards backed off a bit and said “the power bill is several hundred dollars a month.” The hypocrisy is staggering...and typical. Look, I have no problem with a rich person building a huge house on his property. That's the American Way, dammit. You earned the money, now go enjoy it. What pisses me off is these rich bastards appointing themselves our Superior All-Knowing Masters and then condemning us little folk as we try to improve our lot while they enjoy all the perks. Remember the Oscars? All those pompous little turds who have made millions of dollars by what? By reciting lines that other people wrote, yet this somehow entitles them to be our philosopher kings. So the preening vanities, these people who fly in their private jets everywhere, who take huge limos everywhere, who have entire staffs devoted to their hair and makeup, these are the people who preach to us that we must be 'green' and 'carbon neutral'. As my Bride remarked, after she in total disgust and contempt turned off the televised fellation of Al Gore at the Oscars by Leonardo DeCaprio, "If Hollywood is truly concerned about The Environment they should immediately stop all filming of movies 'on location' and film everything in the back lot and in the studios rather than fly hundreds of people all across the globe. Or they should just STFU." Have I mentioned I love that gal? But they won't, of course. You know, I hope that the next CEO of some Really Big Corporation who is catching all kinds of shit from the media and various posturing candidates for moving jobs overseas because of how expensive Congress has made it to do business here looks the bastard straight in the eye and says "Actually, I'm Employee-Neutral; following the bold leadership of Al Gore and John Edwards and others I've purchased Employee Offsets in the market." Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:35 AM | Comments (15) March 15, 2007 AG Firings...Yawn. The WSJ makes some good points today, but really Bryan at Hot Air sums this whole 'scandal' up best in my mind, so go give it a read. Basketball starts today, so DC can go sink back into the swamp for all I care. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:13 AM | Comments (2) March 14, 2007 Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:39 PM | Comments (4) March 09, 2007 More Stench In The Garden State Gov. Corzine's $470,000 'gift' to his ex-girlfriend just never seems to go away. Now it seems that Carla Katz, who is paid $102,000 a year as head of the Communications Workers of America Local 1034, is fulfilling some long awaited plans for the house. Good for her; I just had some work done on my house too. She is a much better organizer than I could ever hope to be, however, for on her income she's able to fund a $550,000 'renovation' project: Katz...began the long-planned renovation of the house in January. It includes a 3,200 square foot addition, a swimming pool and spa and a new septic system. Her addition is twice the size of my whole house. The septic system is a nice touch, I thought. Maybe it has a marble-lined tank; come to think of it, it's more likely Teflon, given how none of the shit ever seems to stick to her or Corzine. She must be using Hillary's broker too because on her modest salary, in addition to funding this little half-million dollar bit of handyman work about the house A month earlier, state and county records show, Katz paid $1.1 million for a condominium in the same Hoboken building where Corzine lives. There was no record of a mortgage or a loan for either property, and Katz has refused to discuss the source of the money or anything about her personal finances. Nice, huh? Oh, and what's the most delicious part of this? Katz, president of the largest local representing state employees, is currently in the midst of a major expansion and renovation of the house in Alexandria Township -- with nonunion labor. The general contractor Katz hired for the job said yesterday he does not usually employ union workers, nor does his contract with Katz require that he do so. "If she had wanted me to, sure, I would have. I've got no problem with that," Dorsey Reading, the contractor from Erwinna, Pa., said. Katz said Reading was mistaken: "Of course I asked for the renovations to be made with union labor and the contractor has assured me that he's made all efforts to do so," she said in an e-mailed response to a phone message. Katz declined to provide a copy of the contract showing the stipulation that union labor be used on the $550,000 project. She would not answer questions by phone. The contractor later called back and said that upon further reflection he remembered Katz had asked him to use union workers: "I forgot we had talked about that at the beginning of the whole thing, months ago," Reading said. But, he added, because it was not a large project it was difficult to find union workers, and he has not hired any for the job. Hehehe, I wonder what 'jogged' his memory... As always, Enlighten NJ has more information on "NOLA on the Delaware". Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:06 AM | Comments (7) March 06, 2007 Edwards "Heart" Jeebus Put your hands on the radio, friends, because the Panderin' Prince in the Pompadour is back and feedin' that fiery furnace of pharisean phfun! CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards says Jesus would be appalled at how the United States has ignored the plight of the suffering, and that he believes children should have private time to pray at school. Edwards, in an interview with the Web site Beliefnet.com, said Jesus would be most upset with the selfishness of Americans and the country's willingness to go to war "when it's not necessary." "I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs," Edwards told the site. "I think he would be appalled, actually." Edwards also said he was against teacher-led prayers in public schools, but he added that "allowing time for children to pray for themselves, to themselves, I think is not only OK, I think it's a good thing." Edwards then left in his new official campaign vehicle... I'm sure this will go over great with his ex-blogging staff... Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:40 AM | Comments (3) March 05, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:31 PM | Comments (5) March 03, 2007 I think Bryan has it just right: “I’d say something about John Edwards, but if you say ‘faggot’ you have to go to rehab.” I’m no fan of John Edwards, but that’s just a stupid joke. It’s over the line. The laughter it generated across the room was more than a little annoying. Last year it was “raghead.” This year it’s calling John Edwards a “faggot.” Two years in a row, Coulter has finished up an otherwise sharp CPAC routine with an obnoxious slur that liberals will fling at conservatives for years to come. Thanks, Ann. Regardless of what you think of Edwards this type of comment in a public forum is uncalled for and should be condemned. I don't care what people say in private, and I don't care if the meaning she intended was more "effeminate" than "homosexual"; it doesn't matter. This is Ann just trying to get Anna Nicole Smith from the headlines. If I say "Media Whore" does that mean I have to go to rehab too? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:18 AM | Comments (8) March 01, 2007 Maybe He Should Just Ask Kucinich And I guess this guy doesn't object to the word "alien" OTTAWA (AFP) - A former Canadian defense minister is demanding governments worldwide disclose and use secret alien technologies obtained in alleged UFO crashes to stem climate change, a local paper said Wednesday. "I would like to see what (alien) technology there might be that could eliminate the burning of fossil fuels within a generation ... that could be a way to save our planet," Paul Hellyer, 83, told the Ottawa Citizen. Alien spacecrafts would have traveled vast distances to reach Earth, and so must be equipped with advanced propulsion systems or used exceptional fuels, he told the newspaper. ..."We need to persuade governments to come clean on what they know. Some of us suspect they know quite a lot, and it might be enough to save our planet if applied quickly enough," he said. But do we really need when we already have the ACME Mfg Co? Just look at their products: Mr. President, why are you hiding ACME products from us? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:24 PM | Comments (6) February 22, 2007 Ah, Those Wacky College Kids Ooh, are the knickers all a-twisted at NYU today A contest called "Find the Illegal Immigrant" - a mock hunt for a student posing as just that - is being met with widespread protest on campus and receiving local and national media coverage. The event, sponsored by NYU's College Republicans, is planned for today in Washington Square Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The student posing as the illegal immigrant will wear a name tag saying so. Other students will try to find him or her, playing the part of border patrol agents and wearing nametags that say "INS," referring to the former Immigration and Naturalization Service. If they are really playing their part, the 'agents' won't try (or even be allowed to try) too hard to find the 'illegal'. Of course, Chuck Schumer's panties are twisted "What I really find obnoxious - and that's how I'd describe what the College Republicans are doing - is it dehumanizes [illegal immigrants]," the senator told WSN during a question-and-answer session after his speech. "A person who's making a dollar a day in Oaxaca, who risks their life to come and make two dollars an hour here in America, is not to be ridiculed. It's not to be despised. So what I think they're doing is obnoxious." I think having wide open borders is obnoxious. I think ignoring illegal acts is obnoxious. I think denying thousands of educated people who are playing by the rules and trying to emigrate legally but encouraging millions to come illegally so they'll vote for your party is obnoxious. But that's why I'm not the Senior Senator from NY, I reckon. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:06 PM February 21, 2007 The Greatest Threat To World Peace Today Is, of course Israel ...The aggressively photogenic John Edwards was cruising along, detailing his litany of liberal causes last week until, during question time, he invoked the "I" word -- Israel. Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace, Edwards remarked, was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities... Makes you think he really was involved in hiring those two charming lasses. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:10 AM | Comments (6) February 15, 2007 Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:41 AM | Comments (1) January 24, 2007 ... in Newsweek . ...Whenever a politician puts out to the media that he has thrown away the speechwriters’ draft and written the remarks himself (as Webb did), it is often a sign of approaching mediocrity. This was worse. Senator Webb made liberal use of clichés: the middle class is “the backbone” of the country, which is losing its “place at the table.” I am not even sure there is a literary term for a mixed metaphor that crosses two clichés. And Senator Webb’s logic was as incoherent as his language (the two are often related). No “precipitous withdrawal”—but retreat “in short order.” Fight the war on terror vigorously—except where the terrorists have chosen to fight it. It is, perhaps, a good thing that James Webb earned a job as senator. As a speechwriter he would starve. Perhaps the most compelling argument of the day was not made by President Bush or Senator Webb—and it was made in five words. Earlier in the day, General David Petraeus testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. When asked if he could get his job done in Iraq without additional troops, he replied: “No, sir.” When asked if a congressional resolution of disapproval of the “surge” could encourage the enemy, he said, “That’s correct, sir.” ... Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:05 PM Mi Casa Federal agents taking a break from an unrelated assignment yesterday arrested 24 illegal aliens at a Fells Point 7-Eleven after the men attempted to solicit "underground" employment from the agents. ...Of those arrested, 10 were Honduran, eight were Mexican, five were Salvadoran and one was Peruvian, ICE officials said. Six of the men have criminal records in the United States, eight of the men have failed to comply with final removal orders from an immigration judge and one man had been caught at the border on four occasions, ICE officials said. Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:40 PM | Comments (3) January 02, 2007 State's Rights... Without being a state? WASHINGTON (AP) -- After more than 200 years of paying taxes, fighting in the nation's wars and abiding by sometimes arbitrary acts of Congress, Washington residents are close to getting a full-fledged representative in the House. The turning point in this long battle for enfranchisement may be an unlikely partnership with the people of Utah. The new Democratic majority, in the first months of the new Congress, is expected to take up a bill that would increase the voting membership of the House from 435 to 437, giving new vote each to Utah, a Republican stronghold, and the District of Columbia, dominated by Democrats. I just don't see (in the case of D.C.) how this is legal. Some progress was made: The 23rd Amendment in 1961 gave D.C. residents the right to vote in presidential elections. In 1971 Congress allowed the district to send a nonvoting delegate to the House. Currently, along with delegates from American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton can cast votes at the committee level but not on the House floor. Congress also gave the district limited home rule in the 1970s, and in 1978 approved a constitutional amendment extending voting rights. The amendment died when it was not ratified by three-fourths of the states. Most -- but by no means all -- scholars say an amendment is unnecessary. The Constitution says that the House shall be composed of members chosen by "the people of the several states." But it also gives Congress the power "to exercise exclusive legislation" over the seat of the federal government, interpreted by some to mean that Congress can, if it wants, give D.C. voting rights. How can an amendment not be necessary? Look, don't get me wrong, I think that all citizens should have all the rights of every other citizen, but the Constitution is to my reading very very clear: Article 1 Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. ...but each state shall have at least one Representative; You sensing a theme here? It doesn't say 'city'. It doesn't say 'territory'. It says quite clearly and solely "state". I don't see how you get around that. Here's the other passage the article references: To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;--And To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof. This passage clearly gives Congress the power to issue legislation governing D.C., but it seems a pretty creative read to say that it gives Congress the ability to give D.C. full voting representation in Congress. If this goes through then how do you deny D.C. 2 Senators, as well? If the citizens of D.C. desire congressional representation then they should petition Congress to be admitted as a state, or Congress should write an Amendment to the Constitution specifically granting D.C. a Representative but not two Senators and submit it to the states for ratification. But this unconstitutional method should not be allowed. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:02 PM | Comments (8) December 28, 2006 Don't you just feel better already? Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards is running for president for a second time, his campaign said Wednesday. The former North Carolina senator plans to formally announce his candidacy Thursday from New Orleans' 9th Ward, which was hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. But his campaign got a little ahead of itself Wednesday and announced his intentions online. Seems like his staff is still the klutzkrew they were before. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:08 AM | Comments (5) December 27, 2006 Thanks, Gerry He was the right man at the time, and held things together when we needed it. Gerald R. Ford, who picked up the pieces of Richard Nixon's scandal- shattered White House as the 38th president and the only one never elected to nationwide office, has died. He was 93. "My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age," former first lady Betty Ford said in a brief statement issued from her husband's office in Rancho Mirage. "His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country." Rest In Peace. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:54 AM | Comments (3) December 22, 2006 "Who Will They Come For Next?" Some lovely hyperbole here SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. Hispanic groups and activists on Thursday called for a moratorium on workplace raids to round up illegal immigrants, saying they were reminiscent of Nazi crackdowns on Jews in the 1930s. They accused the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement of "racial profiling," or selective enforcement against Hispanics, for arresting 1,300 workers on immigration violations in December 12 raids at meatpacking plants in six states. "This unfortunately reminds me of when Hitler began rounding up the Jews for no reason and locking them up," Democratic Party activist Carla Vela said. "Now they're coming for the Latinos, who will they come for next?" Hmm, let's see. Hitler rounded up native, natural born citizens of his country; that's people who were born there and whose families had been there for hundreds of years for you playing along at home. Oh, and then he killed them. And the people who were rounded up at these plants here? Illegal immigrants who violated laws to get here, who in many cases stole identities to get their jobs. And somehow I don't think Chimpy has put them in rail cars to send them off to AshKKKroftwitz. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:44 PM | Comments (6) December 20, 2006 You Try This... President Clinton's national security adviser removed classified documents from the National Archives, hid them under a construction trailer and later tried to find the trash collector to retrieve them, the agency's internal watchdog said Wednesday. Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:31 PM | Comments (3) December 19, 2006 Marion Barry Arrested Again I know. You're shocked. As was I . However, the reason I'm posting is not the report itself, but allll the related Barry links at the bottom of it. Marion's... Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:24 AM | Comments (6) December 14, 2006 First off, I certainly hope he recovers. But if he doesn't then... Should Johnson not be able to complete his term, which ends in 2008, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, a Republican, would appoint his replacement, which could shift the balance of power in the Senate. Reading the relevant SD statutes here I find these rules: 12-11-1. Special election to fill congressional vacancy--Time of election of representative. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a senator or representative in the United States Congress it shall be the duty of the Governor within ten days of the occurrence, to issue a proclamation setting the date of and calling for a special election for the purpose of filling such vacancy. If either a primary or general election is to be held within six months, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress shall be held in conjunction with that election, otherwise the election shall be held not less than eighty nor more than ninety days after the vacancy occurs. 12-11-4. Temporary appointment by Governor to fill vacancy in United States Senate. Pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, the Governor may fill by temporary appointment, until a special election is held pursuant to this chapter, vacancies in the office of senator in the Senate of the United States. 12-11-5. Special election to fill senate vacancy. The special election to fill the vacancy of a senator shall be held at the same time as the next general election. The general election laws shall apply unless inconsistent with this chapter. The kicker in all of this is that there's nothing that defines 'vacancy' or 'unable to complete term'. Oh sure, there's this 3-4-1. Events causing vacancy in office. Every office shall become vacant on the happening of any one of the following events before the expiration of the term of such office: (1) The death of the incumbent; (2) His resignation; (3) His removal from office; (4) His failure to qualify as provided by law; (5) His ceasing to be a resident of the state, district, county, township, or precinct in which the duties of his office are to be exercised or for which he may have been elected; (6) His conviction of any infamous crime or of any offense involving a violation of his official oath; (7) Whenever a judgment shall be obtained against him for a breach of his official bond. But let's say, god forbid, that he lapses into a coma or vegetative state. He's not 'dead', but can he stil be said to occupy his office, Strom Thurmond notwithstanding? The Senate Rules make no mention of whether the Senator is actually able to attend and function. And you can bet the Dems will fight tooth and nail that unless he's dead the office ain't vacant. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:46 AM | Comments (16) December 07, 2006 Jules Crittenden is seeing a betrayal , and he's right. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:20 AM November 30, 2006 Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:25 AM | Comments (1) You, Sir, Are An Ass Just who the hell does this pompous jerk Webb think he is? At a recent White House reception for freshman members of Congress, Virginia's newest senator tried to avoid President Bush. Democrat James Webb declined to stand in a presidential receiving line or to have his picture taken with the man he had often criticized on the stump this fall. But it wasn't long before Bush found him. "How's your boy?" Bush asked, referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq. "I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President," Webb responded, echoing a campaign theme. "That's not what I asked you," Bush said. "How's your boy?" "That's between me and my boy, Mr. President," Webb said coldly, ending the conversation on the State Floor of the East Wing of the White House. What a goddamned ill-mannered primadona. There is no excuse for such outright rudeness at your first meeting with the President, a social gathering for god's sake, not some policy debate you crass turd. "I'm not particularly interested in having a picture of me and George W. Bush on my wall," Webb said in an interview yesterday in which he confirmed the exchange between him and Bush. "No offense to the institution of the presidency, and I'm certainly looking forward to working with him and his administration. [But] leaders do some symbolic things to try to convey who they are and what the message is." You have indeed offended the institution of the Presidency, and the Senate, and good manners in general. I hope your mamma bends you over her knees and tans your pasty backside but good. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:36 AM | Comments (7) November 16, 2006 "Total Crap" Sort of sums up Washington these days, doesn't it (Or at the very least how the Giants played against the Bears last week)? But that's actually what John Murtha, Mr. Abscam - to - Okinawa himself thinks of Nancy Grapes Of Wrath Pelosi's Ethics Bill On Hardball, Murtha had two strategies on "crap." The first was to try to claim it was the corruption that was "crap." When that didn't fly, he said only meant the bill was "crap" in relation to the more urgent need to act on the Iraq war. Nice try! The problem is in his initial discussion of the issue, Murtha gave away why he really thinks the new ethics rules are "crap"--that they are, in Chris Matthews' words, "Mickey Mouse." Actually, to me the most revealing thing Murtha said was this: MURTHA: Let me tell you, I agree that we have to return a perception of honesty to the Congress. There it is, folks, in black and white, the Congressional Prayer: Dear Lord, let us, in your merciful wisdom and kindness, go back to those halcyon days where people thought we were honest, as these attempts at actually being honest are too trying for our souls...and wallets. Amen, er, person. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:57 AM | Comments (5) November 11, 2006 Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:42 AM | Comments (11) November 09, 2006 Is This What She Means By "A New Direction For America"? Via Insta , here's some frankly frightening news about one of Pelosi's potential appointments With majority status in the "people's house" comes a share in responsibility for the security of the Republic. This is why we are so concerned about a shadow which darkens presumptive Speaker Pelosi's triumphant morning, a shadow which will only grow longer if she allows it to begin appearing prominently in the media coverage of the global war on terrorism, metastasizing into her first "intelligence failure" even before she takes the gavel from outgoing Speaker Hastert. That is the shadow of Alcee Lamar Hastings, the reelected Democratic Representative from Florida's 23rd District. Mr. Hastings was, in the outgoing 109th Congress, the second-ranked Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. But the Washington Post's Charles Babington first reported more than a year ago, in a story that has never been denied (indeed, it has been confirmed in the congressman's hometown newspaper, the Miami Herald) that Ms. Pelosi plans to replace the committee's current ranking Democrat, California Representative Jane Harman, with Mr. Hastings who would be installed as committee chairman when the 110th Congress begins. The move would be a payback to the Congressional Black Caucus, to whose support Pelosi owes her election as Minority Leader and whose members she angered by picking Ms. Harman to be ranking member over Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop in 2003. Read the whole thing. Did I say it was frightening? But see, that's because in my outdated outlook I see national security as the most important issue we face; it's not something that can be 'negotiated' or you can 'build bridges' about. You have to fight, hard, and you have to accept, first and foremost, that the only letters that matter next to your name are not "R" or "D" but "USA". Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:59 AM | Comments (6) November 08, 2006 GOP Loses Not hugely, mind you, but a few percentage points here and there and the country remains pretty evenly split. The Senate seems to be 50/50 at this point, and in the House it seems to be 52%/48% more or less; not 'historic' or 'epic' as it will be spun, but things were so even beforehand that it was enough. Considering how poorly the GOP has done while in power and how far they have strayed from their professed principles they shouldn't really feel too badly about that. It will be good for them; they were in power too long and it frankly corrupted them. Now we will get to see how the Dems behave for awhile. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:48 AM | Comments (9) November 06, 2006 Dear ABC News ::sigh:: I hate to keep picking on you pinheads, but you, like Kerry, just won't quit. The Republican running for governor is... C-H-A-R-L-I-E So take your garlic with you . Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:27 PM And It Seems Weird to Me ...that the President would be ~ of all places ~ here today. (I'd forgotten and almost got caught in the security crush taking over the motorcade route.) But that's nice he thought of us. And the faithful are always very appreciative when he shows up ~ Pensacolians are nothing if not warm and welcoming. It's one of the things I like most about this place. Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:18 PM | Comments (1) Pelosi: "Elections Not Needed" That's what this frankly vile person seems to be saying: Pelosi cautioned that the number of Democratic House victories could be higher or lower and said her greatest concern is over the integrity of the count -- from the reliability of electronic voting machines to her worries that Republicans will try to manipulate the outcome. "That is the only variable in this," Pelosi said. "Will we have an honest count?'' "If indeed it turns out the way that people expect it to turn out, the American people will have spoken, and they will have rejected the course of action the president is on." You get that? She's saying that the only way the Democrats will lose is if Republicans cheat and steal the election; the possibility that, oh, I don't know, say people don't actually vote for them never enters her mind. Is this the person we want 2 heartbeats away from the Presidency? Someone who will accept that "the American People have spoken" only if they say what she wants to hear? Someone who publically casts doubt on the integrity of our electoral process before it begins? "That is the only variable in this," Pelosi said. "Will we have an honest count?'' Madame, you disgust me. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:46 AM November 03, 2006 Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:41 PM | Comments (3) Kerry Reconsidered You know, maybe I'm being too hard on poor JFK for saying this on Monday: "You know, education -- if you make the most of it, you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." It turns out he was supposed to say this A Kerry spokeswoman, Amy Brundage, said Kerry’s prepared text had called for him to say: “Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush.” I'm so glad that has been made clear for us, and, as Florida Cracker reminds us, he knows what he's speaking about when it comes to "intellectually lazy": WASHINGTON -- During last year's presidential campaign, John F. Kerry was the candidate often portrayed as intellectual and complex, while George W. Bush was the populist who mangled his sentences. But newly released records show that Bush and Kerry had a virtually identical grade average at Yale University four decades ago. In 1999, The New Yorker published a transcript indicating that Bush had received a cumulative score of 77 for his first three years at Yale and a roughly similar average under a non-numerical rating system during his senior year. Kerry, who graduated two years before Bush, got a cumulative 76 for his four years, according to a transcript that Kerry sent to the Navy when he was applying for officer training school. He received four D's in his freshman year out of 10 courses, but improved his average in later years. And , of course, Another of his strongest efforts, a 77, came in French class. So, please, let's cut Kerry the Slacker some slack and for god's sake study, kids: if you're lazy in college you could end up President. Or worse, married to Teresa. Seriously, if "lazy" Bush's Yale average of 77 gets us 'stuck in Iraq', Kerry's 76 would have left us...where, exactly? Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:41 AM | Comments (2) October 31, 2006 Incivility In Charlottesville This video came out today of some rude moron confronting Sen. Allen in Charlottesville. Allah links to the site where this "Real Man" that JFK talked about today gives us his side of the story: My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate. I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions. I wasn't aware that the 'constitutional right to petition his government' included rushing up to someone in a crowded hallway and screaming in their face. I guess my invite to join Volokh just went out the window...damn. Evidently this lower-case 'm' Marine was asking Allen if he spit on his exwife. Now that's the kind of kinky info we need to know! What with the peepee-smoking composing exploits of his opponent things are really geting interesting down in the Old Dominion! This idiot was lucky he wasn't shoved through a plate glass window for his stunt. Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:32 PM | Comments (1) "Dirty Republican GOP Playbook Trick!" If your stomach is strong enough, or if you just need to have your hair dried by a gale-force blast of outraged hubristic blowhardity, mosey on over to the oh-so-appropriately-named-in-this-case HotAir and be amazed. You see, quoting JFK verbatim is a Dirty Republican GOP Playbook Trick! Anyone would know that a veteran like JFK (who first rose to national prominence by testifying to Congress about how his fellow soldiers in Vietnam were murderers and rapists) would never speak ill of the troops. Dirty Republican GOP Playbook Trick! JFK will not apologize for being wrong! That would be like apologizing to a Secret Service agent for running into him while skiing! The Agent must apologize! Dirty Republican GOP Playbook Trick! And our treat, you farce of a human.

i don't know

On Sept 17, 1916, WWI's highest scoring German ace, Manfred von Richthofen, scored his first aerial kill. By what name is he better known?

WW1 Aces- a series of small works in acrylic. [Archive] - WetCanvas Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:06 AM Late last year, I commenced on producing a series of small (ish) works in Gouache acrylic (each one measuring roughly 30 X 40 cm), depicting aircraft of some of the most famous fighter aces of the Great War. I decided that I would not do the same type and model of aircraft more than once which restricted which aces I could include and which ruled out a number of them who flew the same machine. I already know I made a few errors with some of them- I now know that Albert Ball probably never flew a Nieuport 17 in an all-white scheme- and for one ace I had to re-do a second version because I painted the wrong aircraft! I have a few still to go but I'm currently giving WW1 subjects a rest as that is all I have painted for the last 4 months. Here they are in order of when I painted them:- http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1210844_zpsx82wyffn.jpg The Fokker F.1 of the German Ace Werner Voss, the fourth-highest scoring German ace of the Great War with 48 victories. This depicts his final action on Sept 23, 1917 when he became embroiled in a melee with SE5as of No 56 and No 60 Squadrons RFC. Voss' two wingmen were unable to successfully intervene and, although he managed to badly damage several of his opponents, Voss was eventually fatally shot down. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:12 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220182_zps7tcwf31i.jpg The Nieuport 11 Bebe of the French-American Ace Raoul Lufbery who achieved 17 confirmed aerial victories, all but one of them with the Lafayette Escadrille. He met his demise in May 1918 whilst serving with an American unit when, whilst attacking an enemy two-seater in a Nieuport 28, he unfastened his safety straps to clear a jam in his weapons and was thrown from his cockpit. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:15 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1210938_zpszq3hj236.jpg The Hanriot HD.1 of the great Belgian Ace Willy Coppens who achieved 37 aerial victories during the Great War, all but three of them enemy observation balloons. Coppens was badly wounded in 1918 and lost a leg but he survived the war and lived to a ripe old age. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:22 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1210937_zpsrnhp9xcw.jpg The famous all-white Fokker D.VII of the WW1 German ace Herman Goring who achieved an official tally of 22 confirmed aerial victories during the Great War although historians debate the true total which may have been between 17 and 20. Goring survived the war and became a leading figure in the rise of the Nazi movement, ending his life by suicide in 1945. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:29 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220178_zpsljtutflm.jpg The Morane-Saulnier Type N fighter of the Russian WW1 ace Ivan Smirnov, the son of a poor peasant family who flew for Imperial Russian forces in the Great War, flying the Morane (in which he achieved two of his victories) and later piloting a Nieuport 17 and a SPAD VII. By the time hostilities ceased between the Germans and the new Bolshevik rulers, Smirnov had achieved 12 confirmed victories. Smirnov fled Russia and managed to reach Britain shortly before the end of the war. He later worked as an airline and mail pilot in the Pacific and in early 1942, he flew a DC-3 between the Dutch East Indies and Australia, evacuating Dutch and Javanese civilians. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:36 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220180_zpsafkezgr4.jpg The Sopwith Triplane of the great Canadian WW1 ace Raymond Collishaw who was credited with 60 aerial victories. He flew with the Royal Naval Air Service who used the Sopwith Triplane of which only 150 were built and which was rejected by the rival service the Royal Flying Corps. Collishaw is most famous for flying an all-black Triplane, christened 'Black Maria' but when he was first issued with the type, for a brief period he flew the aircraft with the standard olive-drab colour-scheme which I chose to depict here. Collishaw survived the war and served with the RAF until 1943. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:46 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220205_zpsiry4mpzu.jpg The Albatros D-III of the German WW1 ace Erich Lowenhardt who achieved 54 confirmed aerial victories between March 1917 and August 1918, making him the third-highest scoring German ace of the war. On August 10th, 1918, shortly after downing his 54th victory, Lowenhardt's Fokker D-VII collided with another German pilot. The ace managed to jump clear but his parachute failed to open. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 09:50 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220206_zpsi6lusuoh.jpg The Fokker E-III monoplane (Eindecker) fighter of the German WW1 ace Max Immelmann who achieved 15 aerial victories 1915-1916 and became one of Germany's first 'Aces' and one of the first recipients of the Pour Le Merit, Germany's highest honour given to fighter pilots. The medal was later nick-named 'The Blue Max' after Immelmann who was killed in June 1916 during an encounter with British FE2b fighters. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:03 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220208_zpsosp3fgc5.jpg The Sopwith Snipe of the Canadian WW1 ace William George Barker who flew on the Western and Italian fronts in the Great War. Between November 1917 and October 1918, he was credited with some 45 enemy fighters and balloons (including one balloon captured and nine aircraft shared with other pilots) with five more 'probables'. On 27th October 1918, he was flying a Sopwith Snipe over enemy territory when he attacked and shot down an enemy two-seater only to be bounced from above by 15 Fokker D-VIIs. In a furious melee, he shot down two, possibly three, of them but was badly wounded himself. Barker managed to escape and crash-land and he was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that day. Barker survived the war but perished in an accidental air crash in 1930. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:10 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220216_zpsgyhmbhti.jpg The Albatros D-II of the famous German ace Oswald Boelcke who achieved some 40 aerial victories 1915-1916 but more significantly pioneered many of the standard aerial combat tactics which would remain influential for many decades. He mentored the young Manfred von Richthofen and the latter credited Boelcke with making him the fighter pilot he became. In October 1916, during a skirmish with British DH2 fighters, Boelcke collided with another German pilot and was killed in the subsequent crash. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:15 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220218_zpsovxead8w.jpg The Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a of the Australian Ace Roderic Dallas who achieved an official tally of 39 victories whilst flying with the RNAS and, after April 1918, the RAF. His exact victory tally remains controversial with some experts claiming it was only 32, others asserting that the real figure was over 50 which, if the latter is true, would make Dallas the top-scoring Australian of WW1. Dallas met his end in July 1918 when he was shot down by a Fokker Dr.1 Triplane over No Man's Land. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:21 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220361_zpswzkktxom.jpg The distinctive blue and red Pfalz D-III of the German Great War Ace Rudolf Berthold. The ace was a particularly determined and mentally-disciplined young man as he suffered severe injuries on several occasions and as a result was afflicted with chronic pain which rendered him secretly addicted to pain-killers. Despite the constant pain and discomfort, Berthold continued to fly until his injuries became so grievous that the Kaiser had to personally intervene to ground the famous headstrong ace. Berthold shot down 44 Allied aircraft, 16 of them whilst flying one-handed with his partially paralysed arm in a sling. Berthold survived the war but, a staunch anti-Communist, became embroiled in the post-war political violence in Germany. In March 1920 during a street battle in Hamburg, he was shot dead by a militant trade-unionist. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:30 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220362_zps76huelfh.jpg The Nieuport 28 of the famous American WW1 ace Frank Luke. Luke, who was raised in Arizona, flew with the United States Army Air Service in September 1918. In just ten sorties flown in eight days, Luke achieved an astonishing 18 aerial victories (14 balloons & 4 aircraft), a kill-rate that no other ace of the Great War matched. Luke, headstrong, over-confident and self-centred, was not well-liked by most of his comrades and shortly before his death, his Squadron CO tried to have him grounded for insubordination, an order which was over-turned by Luke's group commander. On September 29th, Luke flew an evening sortie in his SPAD fighter, destroying a trio of German observation balloons. Hit by ground fire and shot in the chest, Luke managed to crash-land. Popular myth has it that he shot it out with German infantry, killing over half-a-dozen enemy soldiers before being fatally shot. But the truth is that Luke was already dying when he landed and had breathed his last by the time German troops found him. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:35 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220376_zpsx4ymbf8a.jpg The Nieuport 17 of the Great War British ace Albert Ball. Between May 1916 and May 1917, Ball destroyed 44 German aircraft, many of them whilst flying a French-built Nieuport 17. I painted it in an all white-scheme with a red spinner but later research I did said that his aircraft was actually painted in the standard olive-green RFC scheme. Ball's career came to an end on May 7th, 1917, when his SE5a fighter failed to return from a patrol. The Germans claimed to have shot him down but it is more likely that the combat-fatigued Ball suffered an attack of vertigo whilst flying in thick cloud and became inverted and dived into the ground. Ball was awarded a posthumous VC. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:38 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220378_zps0xp9qp4w.jpg The SPAD VII of the famous French ace Georges Guynemer who achieved 54 aerial victories and became the second-highest scoring (but most popular and beloved) French ace of the war. He was hit by return fire from an enemy two-seater in September 1917 and killed. I made an error by including a Pfalz D.XII as the type did not enter operational service until some time after Guynemer's death. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:41 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220383_zps0obhkqzv.jpg The bumble-bee patterned Fokker D-VIII monoplane of the German WW1 Theo Osterkamp. Osterkamp was credited with at least 28 aerial victories and survived the war. He later became a senior-ranking air commander in the German Luftwaffe in WW2 and, at the age of 48, flew combat sorties in a Messerschmitt-BF 109E in 1940 and was credited with three Allied aircraft shot down including a Spitfire over Dover in July 1940. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:46 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220384_zps0kd2mbhm.jpg The Sopwith Camel of Canadian WW1 ace Donald MacLaren who achieved 54 confirmed kills in the Great War, all of them whilst flying the Camel and all within nine months. He accidently broke his leg shortly before the end of the war and survived to see the end of hostilities. After the war, he helped found the Canadian air-force and worked in commercial aviation, living until the age of 96. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:50 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220386_zpsheqrtxms.jpg The Siemens-Schuckert D.IV fighter of the German ace Ernst Udet. Udet achieved a total of 62 victories in WW1 and survived to see the end of the war. In the 1920s, he became a stunt pilot and wealthy play-boy before he joined the Nazi movement in the 1930s, eventually becoming Hitler's chief of aviation development and production. The rigours of the job proved too much and he took his own life in 1941. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:52 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220391_zpssykioqty.jpg The De-Havilland DH2 of the British ace Lanoe Hawker who achieved 15 victories (and a Victoria Cross) before he was shot down and killed in November 1916 by the emerging young German ace Manfred von Richthofen. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:54 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220408_zpseu317npw.jpg The Sopwith Pup of the Australian ace Robert Little who achieved 47 victories whilst flying with the RNAS. He was killed in May 1918 by return fire from a Gotha bomber during a night action. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:55 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220422_zpshodnn1ti.jpg The Halberstadt D-II fighter flown by Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron). He achieved 12 of his eventual 80 victories in the Halberstadt in early 1917. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 10:59 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220455_zpsdqwodxb6.jpg The Fokker D-II of the German ace Otto Kissenberth who achieved 20 confirmed victories and became the only ace of the Great war who wore spectacles. He survived the war only to perish in a mountaineering accident in 1919. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 11:03 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220444_zpsnk2vllq9.jpg The Hansa-Brandenburg D.I of the Austrian ace Godwin von Brumowski who achieved 35 aerial victories to become the top-scoring Austro-Hungarian ace of the Great War. He survived the war but perished in an accidental air-crash in Holland in 1936. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 11:05 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220441_zps1ctzyuj2.jpg The Fokker D.VI fighter of the German ace Kurt Seit who achieved 5 aerial victories, all of them whilst flying the D.VI, becoming the only pilot to become an ace with this lesser-known German fighter. Seit survived the war and later became a dentist. Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 11:11 AM That's it for now. I have a few more in the works but only in the sketch stage:- The Bristol F2B of Andrew McKeevor The Airco DH5 of Arthur Coningham The Sopwith Dolphin of Francis Gillet The Aviatik D.I (Berg) of Frank Linke-Crawford The Morane Saulnier A.1 of David Putnam The Bristol M1 Scout of Frederick Travers. Stayed tuned. :) Pete Hill 03-22-2015, 11:14 AM By the way, does anybody know of any German ace who flew the Pfalz D.XII at any time during their career, even if they didn't achieve any of their actual victories whilst flying it? So far, my research has come up with zero results. vegaskip Lot of good stuff there, very graphic! Thanks for sharing, sorry can't help with your queerie, not my 'part of ship.' Jim Looks good, Pete. That's quite a collection you have there. Fishjay Great work. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your work. Lester:clap: 09-01-2015, 08:09 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220867_zpsqqprh0uq.jpg The Morane-Saulnier A.1 of the American Ace David Putnam. A former member of the French Foreign Legion, he served in the French air-force from December 1917 until June 1918 before resigning and joining the United States Army Air Service in France. He was credited with 13 aerial victories before he was shot down and killed in September 1918. Putnam only flew the A.1 for a brief period in early 1918 before transferring to a SPAD. Pete Hill 09-01-2015, 08:16 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220862_zpskacysbhj.jpg The Airco DH5 of the New-Zealand WW1 Ace Arthur Coningham. Born in Australia, his family was forced to move to New Zealand when he was very young after his father was convicted of fraud. Coningham flew with the British RFC and served with No 32 Squadron in 1917, flying the unpopular DH5. He was credited with nine victories, the most successful pilot to fly the type. Coningham later became a high-ranking commander in the RAF during WW2. He lost his life when the civilian airliner he was a passenger on disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle in 1948. Pete Hill 09-01-2015, 08:21 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220863_zpsnrzyu8au.jpg The Sopwith Dolphin of American WW1 Ace Francis W Gillet. Enlisting in the British RFC by posing as a Canadian with a false name, Gillet served with No 79 Squadron RAF from April 1918 in France. He was credited with 20 enemy aircraft destroyed, the last three of which he destroyed on November 10th 1918, the second-last day of the Great War. Gillet died in 1969. Pete Hill 09-01-2015, 08:28 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220864_zpsprggvdma.jpg The Aviatik (Berg) D.1 of the Austrian Ace Frank Linke-Crawford. Born in a Polish region of the Austro-Hungarian empire to a Polish father and British mother, Crawford flew with the Austrian air-force and served with fighter units between August 1917 and July 1918 on the Italian Front. He achieved 27 confirmed victories before he was killed during an engagement with Italian fighters in July 1918. Whether he was shot down or if he perished due to a defective aircraft is still not certain. He was the fourth-highest ranking Austrian ace of the war. Pete Hill 09-01-2015, 08:35 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220884_zpsazfomsdp.jpg The Bristol F2B of Canadian WW1 Ace Andrew McKeever. He flew with No 11 Squadron between May and November 1917 over France and he became the most successful two-seater pilot of the Great War. He was credited with 31 German planes shot down including four on his final combat sortie on November 30th. Involved in a car accident in Canada in 1919, McKeever suffered complications from a fractured leg and died on Christmas Day. Pete Hill 09-01-2015, 08:40 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220881_zpsknl3xfft.jpg The Bristol M1c of the British Ace Frederick Dudley Travers. Stationed on the Macedonian Front, Travers achieved nine confirmed victories, five of which whilst flying the Bristol M1, making him the sole ace to pilot the type. After the war, Travers became a distinguished civilian airline pilot before moving to Kenya after 1954. Little is known about his life after that point other than he was still alive in 1968. Pete Hill 09-01-2015, 08:44 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220878_zps8nr2rchf.jpg The Ansaldo A1 fighter of the Italian WW1 Ace Leopoldo Eleuteri. He achieved seven aerial victories during WW1, including one whilst flying the Ansaldo A1, the only Italian-designed fighter to see action during the Great War. Eleuteri was the only pilot to achieve a kill with the type. He was killed in an accidental mid-air collision in 1926. Pete Hill 09-01-2015, 08:49 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1220900_zpsjaadauko.jpg The Airco DH9 of British WW1 Ace John Stevenson Stubbs. After serving two years in an infantry regiment, Stubbs flew with No 103 Squadron from April 1918 until the end of the war. He achieved 11 confirmed victories all whilst flying the unpopular DH9, the most successful pilot of that type. Stubbs survived the war but little is known about his post-war life. He died in 1963. PaulsPaintPot These are excellent, great fun and a nice slice of history as well. paletteone Your compositions are always interesting, you're also very prolific. Gray539 I also find your compositions interesting, Pete. faminz 10-08-2015, 11:27 PM Absolutely wonderful series! All in a semi naive style that really suits the era for me. How long would one take to do? How did you compose the planes? With models? The puffy clouds are a nice common factor too. I think I like the dramatic depth of the barker one best. Pete Hill 10-29-2015, 08:19 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230258_zpsqwnsrilt.jpg The Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 piloted by South African Croye Pithey and his observer Yorkshire-born Hervey Rhodes. Between May and September 1918, the duo were credited with downing ten German aircraft, making them the most successful crew of the unpopular RE8. Pithey lost his life in 1920 when the aircraft he was ferrying vanished over the Irish Sea. Rhodes had a highly successful political career and lived until 1987. Pete Hill 10-29-2015, 08:27 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230257_zpsmljshjv4.jpg The Phonix D-II fighter as flown by the Hungarian ace Jozsef Kiss. After serving in an infantry regiment in the Austro-Hungarian army and suffering serious wounds on the eastern front in 1914, Kiss joined the Austrian air-force and served on the Italian front. The son of a gardener, grandson of a political radical who was executed in 1849 for taking part in a failed attempt to achieve independence for Hungary and having never finished his schooling, Kiss was never promoted to officer-rank. But between June 1916 and January 1918, he was credited with 19 (mostly Italian) aircraft downed, including two Caproni heavy bombers, making Kiss the top-scoring Hungarian pilot of the Great War. Kiss achieved most of his victories in an Albatros D-III but for the final weeks of his life, he flew the new but less popular Phonix D-II. It was in this aircraft he was shot down and killed by Canadian ace Gerald Bilks in May 1918. The Allies gave him a funeral with full honours including a large-scale flypast by Italian and British planes, dropping a wreath upon which was written 'to a worthy and courageous foe'. Pete Hill 10-29-2015, 08:36 AM Absolutely wonderful series! All in a semi naive style that really suits the era for me. How long would one take to do? How did you compose the planes? With models? The puffy clouds are a nice common factor too. I think I like the dramatic depth of the barker one best. Thank you. Each painting takes between 2-3 hours, each one measures about 30 x 40cm roughly. I get the images of aircraft mostly from photographs of models or from screenshots from computer games like Rise of Flight. The Barker one was my favourite, too although I was also happy with the Udet one. Fishjay Pete, can you tell us what's in the works? Lester 11-04-2015, 05:07 AM Hi Lester, I have just finished one of an Airco DH4 flown by Alfred Atkey and his observer, the top-scoring DH4 crew of the war. Others just started or being planned:- * The Sopwith 1&1/2 Strutter of Geoffrey Cock * The Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c of Gilbert Green * The Martinsyde G.100 of top Scottish ace John Gilmour * The Pfalz D.VIII of Paul Baumer * The Roland D.VIb of Emil Schape * The Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b of Harry Ernest * The Vickers FB5 Gunbus of Lionel Rees VC * The Royal Aircraft Factory FE8 of Edwin Benbow * The Pfalz D.XII of Rudolf Stark * The Armstrong-Whitworth FK8 of Canadian ace Alan McLeod * The Vickers FB.19 'Bullet' of Russian ace Grigoriy Suk * The Halberstadt CL-II of pilot Friedrich Huffzky and observer Gottfried Ehmann (top-scoring German two-seater of the war). * The Hansa-Brandenburg C.I of Austrian ace Adolf Heyrowsky (top-scoring Austro-Hungarian two-seater ace of the war). * The Breguet 14 of Albert Mezergue- (one of the top-scoring French two-seater pilots of the war). Stay tuned! :) Pete Fishjay 11-04-2015, 10:21 AM Wow you certainly have your plate full. Looking forward to seeing more of your work! Keep em coming. Lester 11-12-2015, 11:04 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230271_zpsltcc9nrt.jpg The Pfalz D.XII of German ace Rudolf Stark who served in the Bavarian Uhlans (Cavalry) for three years before transferring to the air-force. He commenced flying fighters in January 1918 and later commander Jasta 35, flying a variety of fighters including the Fokker D.VII, the Fokker Dr.1 and the Pfalz D.XII. Stark was one of the last pilots to fly the Dr.1 triplane into action in July 1918 although he was outspoken in his dislike of the Pfalz D.XII and would give the type to the novice pilots to fly. Stark achieved a total of eleven confirmed victories, the last one on November 9th, only two days before the end of the war. Little is known of his post-war life other that he was still alive in 1933. Pete Hill 11-12-2015, 11:13 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230272_zps2scvnkce.jpg The Airco (DeHavilland) DH4 of Canadian two-seater ace Alfred Atkey. Between September 1917 and June 1918, Atkey was credited with 38 enemy aircraft confirmed, 29 of those whilst flying with British observer/gunner Charles Gass who was also credited with 13 of them. Atkey was the most successful two-seater ace of the entire war and Gass the most successful gunner in the RFC/RAF. Atkey spent the remainder of the war as an instructor in Britain. After the war he worked as a journalist and lived in the United States for a period. He died in Canada in 1971. Pete Hill 11-12-2015, 11:20 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230274_zpsny3irdpb.jpg The Halberstadt CL-II of German two-seater pilot Friedrich Huffzky and gunner/observer Gottfried Ehmann. The latter flew as a gunner in late 1917 and early 1918, achieving three victories. In June 1918, he was teamed up with Huffzky in the new Halberstadt and over the next two months, they achieved nine confirmed victories, making Huffzky the leading German two-seater pilot of the war and Ehmann (with 12 victories) the leading German gunner. Little is known of the post-war lives of the two men other than Ehmann held office in local government in 1953. Pete Hill 11-12-2015, 11:35 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230275_zpsrkwbjyta.jpg The Martinsyde G.100 'Elephant' fighter of Scottish ace John Gilmour. After serving for a year in a Highland infantry regiment, Gilmour transferred to the RFC in late 1915. He was assigned to No 27 Squadron, the only unit to be fully equipped with the under-performing G.100, a fighter designed as a dual-role aircraft but too heavy and sluggish to be effective as a scout. Nonetheless, Gilmour achieved three victories with the G.100, the only pilot to do so. After 14 months of flying bombing and reconnaissance missions, he was transferred to No 65 Squadron which operated Sopwith Camels. From this point his score accelerated rapidly. Between December 1917 and July 1918, he destroyed 36 German aircraft including five brought down in a single sortie on 1st July, all of them fighters. Promoted to Major, he was transferred to Italy, taking command of No 28 Squadron but he flew few combat sorties before the end of hostilities. His wartime total of 39 enemy planes downed made him the leading Scottish ace of the Great War. Gilmour remained in the RAF after the war, serving in Italy and in the Middle-East. He took his own life by poisoning in 1928. Pete Hill 11-12-2015, 11:44 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230276_zpsmtcejhln.jpg The Sopwith 1&1/2 Strutter of British WW1 ace Geoffrey Cock who flew with No 45 Squadron in France. Between April and July 1917, he was credited with 13 German planes shot down, making Cock the leading Strutter ace of the war. He was shot down in late July 1917 and became a POW, remaining in a prison camp for the remainder of the war although he made at least one unsuccessful escape attempt. Cock remained in the RAF until 1943. He died in 1980. Pete Hill 11-13-2015, 12:17 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230277_zps5qogoy06.jpg The Morane-Saulnier Type G of Russian WW1 ace Alexander Kazakov. Born into a noble family in what is now the Ukraine, Kazakov served in the Imperial Russian air-force 1914-1918. He achieved his first victory in March 1915, destroying a two-seater with the 'Katze'- a five-pronged anchor attached to a long cable which he used to tear off the upper wing of the German plane. Kazakov was officially credited with 20 victories (making him the leading Russian ace of the war) but he actually shot down 32. However Russian pilots were only credited with enemy planes which crashed within Russian lines. After the Bolshevik Revolution, Kazakov resigned from the air-force and he later flew with the pro-monarchist 'Whites' during the Russian Civil War in 1919. He became increasingly despondent when victory for the Reds appeared certain. Whilst performing at an air-show in August 1919 intended to raise the morale of White troops, Kazakov was killed in a crash. Although officially listed as an accident, many eyewitnesses were convinced it was an act of suicide. Pete Hill 11-13-2015, 12:39 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230278_zpstvhcfuf8.jpg The Royal Aircraft Factory FE8 of British ace Edwin Benbow. He flew in France with No 40 Squadron RFC, one of only two units to be fully equipped with the FE8. Between October 1916 and March 1917, he destroyed eight German aircraft. His final victory was on 6th March when he badly damaged the Albatros fighter of Manfred von Richthofen (aka the 'Red Baron') forcing the German ace to crash-land (he escaped unhurt). Injured by anti-aircraft fire, Benbow spent a year in Britain as an instructor before returning to France in May 1918, joining No 85 Squadron commanded by famous Canadian ace Billy Bishop and operating SE5 fighters. Only weeks after arriving, Benbow was shot down and killed by German ace Hans-Eberhardt Gandert. Trumper 11-13-2015, 11:28 AM :) Well done ,i really enjoy these and i love the write ups and histories behind the people and aircraft :) John Gilmour fascinated me http://www.heroescentre.co.uk/hall-of-fame/public-service/public-service-major-john-gilmour-dso-mc/ Pete Hill 11-14-2015, 10:06 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230280_zpsolwjbtzb.jpg The Royal Aircraft Factory FE2d 'Pusher' two-seater of British ace Harry Luchford and his observer Scotsman James Tennant. Luchford, born in India to British parents, had worked as a bank clerk prior to the war and served for the first two years of the conflict with the 7th Meerut (Indian) Division of the British army. Transferring to the RFC in 1917, he was assigned to No 20 Squadron, the most successful unit to operate the FE2. Teamed up with Tennant, the duo brought down 11 German planes between June and August 1917, making Luchford the second-most successful FE2 pilot of the war (after Frederick Thayre, a fellow pilot of No 20 Squadron, who achieved 19 of his 20 victories whilst flying the type). The squadron re-equipped with Bristol F2Bs in September and over the next two months, Luchford (flying with other observers) shot down an additional 13 enemy planes. He was killed in action in early December 1917, shot down by Prussian-born ace Walter von Bulow-Boltkamp. Luchford was Bulow's 28th and final victory and he, too, was to perish in combat only a month later. NeilF92 Fine work Pete . The stories bring the scenes to life as well. Pete Hill 11-14-2015, 08:59 PM Cheers, Trumper. I am enjoying doing these. Still have at least 10 more to go, or more if I find more planes that were flown by aces. The good thing about restricting myself to only portraying each plane once means that I can do paintings of some of the more obscure aces of the Great War. I have just found two Russian aces who achieved at least one of their respective kills with two lesser-known Russian fighters- the Mosca MB 2bis and the Sikorsky S-16. Stay tuned and thanks for your comments. Regards Pete Fishjay 11-15-2015, 10:03 AM Really love the aces series. I imagine it has taken quite a lot of research to come up with all of these! Lester 11-24-2015, 06:31 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230292_zpsh9ghgns7.jpg The Vickers FB.19 'Bullet' of Russian ace Grigoriy Suk. Born in Lithuania, the son of a Czech-born father who was a well-known scientist in Moscow and the nephew of the chief-conductor of the Bolshoi Ballet, Suk was studying architecture when the war erupted. After flying in a reconnaissance unit, Suk was allowed to fly fighters on the Romanian Front. Between June 1916 and November 1917, he was credited with 10 enemy planes downed, two of which whilst flying the rare FB.19. The Vickers Bullet, of which only 60-odd were built, was rejected for use by the Royal Flying Corps and the French but over 30 were sent to Russia. Most were used as trainers but four were delivered to frontline units, one of which was flown by Suk. In late November 1917, he was landing his SPAD VII on his aerodrome when the aircraft abruptly span into the ground, killing Suk in the crash. Pete Hill 11-24-2015, 06:44 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230290_zpsuisy6ukv.jpg The Pfalz D.VIII of German ace Paul Baumer. A dental assistant before the war, Baumer served for over a year in an infantry regiment before training as a pilot. He worked as an instructor and a ferry-pilot and then flew with a reconnaissance unit before joining a fighter unit- Jasta 5- in June 1917. He shot down three Allied observation balloons before he was transferred to the elite Jasta 2 the following month. Between July 1917 and October 1918, he brought down 40 Allied aircraft, flying the Albatros D.V, the lesser-known Pflaz D.VIII and finally the Fokker D.VII, earning him the nickname 'The Iron Eagle'. Baumer became one of the world's first pilots to be saved by a parachute when he was shot down in September 1918. He survived the war and studied dentistry, opening his own clinic in the early 1920s. One of his patients was war veteran and aspiring writer Erich Maria Remarque. The two became friends and Remarque named the central character 'Paul Baumer' in his famous novel 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. Baumer later tried to establish his own aviation company. He was killed test-flying an experimental aircraft in Denmark in 1927. Pete Hill 11-24-2015, 06:53 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230286_zps2pjle42x.jpg The Macchi M.5 seaplane fighter of Italian ace Orazio Pierozzi. When Italy entered the Great War in 1915, Pierozzi had already served in the navy for seven years. He qualified as a pilot in October 1916 and flew M.5s on coastal patrols. Between June 1917 and July 1918, he was officially credited with seven enemy machines downed (although he claimed 16), making him the most successful Italian naval ace of the war and one of the leading seaplane aces of any nationality. Pierozzi survived the war but in March 1919, he flew a Macchi M.9 seaplane from Venice to Trieste with a member of the Italian Royal Family, Prince Aimone, on board. Landing in Trieste harbour in bad weather, the M.9 was flung sideways by a freak gust of wind, crashing into a breakwater. Aimone was rescued unhurt but Pierozzi died of his injuries the following day. Pete Hill 11-24-2015, 07:13 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230285_zpsphenswnt.jpg The Vickers FB5 'Gunbus' of Welsh fighter ace Lionel Rees. Aged 30 when the war began, Rees had already served as an officer in the British artillery for 11 years and had also secured a private pilots license. Transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, Rees worked as a flight instructor in Britain before he took command of No 11 Squadron which arrived in France in July 1915. No 11 was the world's very first all-fighter unit and it was also one of only two squadrons to be fully equipped with the FB5. Rees and his observer/gunner Sgt James M Hargreaves were credited with six German planes downed over the next three months, becoming the only crew to achieve 'ace' status with the under-whelming FB5. Rees spent another six months as an instructor in Britain before returning to France in June 1916 to command No 32 Squadron, equipped with Airco DH2s. On 1st July, during the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, Rees was flying a solo patrol when he sighted what he thought to be a formation of ten British aircraft. He joined the rear of the group only to realise with horror they were German Roland C-II two-seaters. In the furious fight that followed, Rees shot down two of the Rolands, damaged two others and was badly wounded himself. For this action, he was awarded a Victoria Cross. Rees spent the remainder of the war employed by the war office and working as an instructor. Post-war he remained in the RAF and also became a notable archaeologist in the middle-east. Retiring from the RAF in 1942, Rees moved to the Bahamas. He married in 1947 at age 62. He and his wife had three children before Rees died of cancer in 1955 age 71. Terry 904 I love both the composition and style, nice work. Pete Hill 11-30-2015, 09:50 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230301_zps4qduapb8.jpg The Bristol Scout C of British ace Charles Gordon Bell. One of the first hundred people in Britain to gain a pilots licence, Bell was already an experienced and accomplished aviator when the Great War began. He flew Bristol Scouts with No 10 Squadron RFC in France during the Autumn of 1915 and was credited with five German planes downed, making him officially an ace, the only pilot to achieve such a status with the Scout. A bout of severe ill-health during the winter of 1915/16 saw him transferred to Britain where he worked as an instructor during 1916 (one of his pupils was future ace James McCudden). Ongoing health problems forced him to leave the RFC in 1917 and, now a civilian, he was employed by Vickers as a test pilot. Whilst test-flying the experimental new fighter- the Vickers FB.16- in France in July 1918, Bell was killed in an accidental crash. Pete Hill 11-30-2015, 10:44 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230299_zpsm6sp7ghe.jpg The Sikorsky S-16 of Russian Ace Yury Gilsher. Born in Moscow, Gilsher defied family tradition by choosing to study civil engineering rather than pursue a career in the military. Ironically the onset of war changed his direction and he trained as a cavalryman before joining the air-force in 1915. He was initially assigned to a reconnaissance unit but broke his arm whilst assisting to start an aeroplane and after his recovery, he joined a fighter unit in 1916. Flying the ungainly looking S-16, he achieved an unconfirmed victory in May 1916 but crashed upon return to his aerodrome, losing his left foot. Fitted with an artificial foot, Gilsher pestered the authorities for permission to resume operational flying, a wish which was granted in November 1916. Between April and July 1917, he was credited with five enemy planes downed, whilst flying Nieuport 10s or 11s. Engaging a large group of German planes on 20th July, Gilsher was shot down and killed. His wingman landed near the crash site, retrieved Gilsher's body from the wreckage and flew it back to their base for burial. PaulsPaintPot 12-02-2015, 05:18 AM They're all beautiful paintings and i am so impressed by the work you've put in to the research behind each one. Pete Hill 12-03-2015, 12:01 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230303_zpsqhjakbbe.jpg The Mosca MB 2bis fighter of Russian WW1 ace Ivan Orlov. Born into a wealthy family in St Petersburg, Orlov studied law before the Great War but also owned his own Farman aircraft, qualifying as a pilot in early 1914. Readily accepted into the Russian air-force, Orlov flew reconnaissance missions in 1914-1915. He claimed his first victory in May 1915 but it was not confirmed. Orlov flew fighters in 1916-1917 including the Mosca MB (the only Russian-designed single-seat fighter to see combat during the Great War), the Sikorsky S-16 and the Nieuports 10, 11 & 23. He also spent four months in France on an exchange program, studying French tactics and he flew combat sorties in a SPAD VII over the Western Front. Orlov was credited with five enemy planes downed. He was killed in July 1917 when the lower starboard wing of his Nieuport 23 tore off whilst he was executing a steep turn during a dogfight, causing his aircraft to spin out of control and crash. PaintBoss 12-03-2015, 12:27 AM My goodness these are well done! And the history! Great job. :clap::clap: :clap: I just can't imagine the nerve it took to fly those planes in those air battles. Have you ever thought of posting your work in the airliners.net forum? They would absolutely love it there. So many pilots from all around the world and aviation aficionados. But then, you may know all about that website.:) Pete Hill 12-08-2015, 08:06 PM Hi, thanks for the feedback. Thats a good idea about the airliners forum, I have never used the site or even visited it much to be honest but it could be worth a try, cheers! :) Pete:wave: I'm still working on a dozen more (trust me, these will be the FINAL ones! ). The Rumpler C.I of German naval ace Karl Mayers. The Hansa-Brandenburg W12 of German naval ace Friedrich Christiansen. The Lohner T of Austrian naval ace Gottfried von Banfield The Albatros B.I of Czech-born Austro-Hungarian ace Otto Jindra The Armstrong-Whitworth FK8 of Canadian ace Alan McLeod. The Roland D-II of German ace Gerhard Fieseler The Roland D-VIb of German ace Emil Schape. The Royal Aircraft Factory BE2 of British ace Gilbert Green. The Albatros C-III of German ace Erwin Bohme. The Hansa-Brandenburg C.I of Austrian ace Karl Heyrowsky. The Morane-Saulnier Type L of French ace Jean Navarre. The Breguet 14 of French ace Albert Mezergue. Pete Hill The Grigorovich M.9 of Russian ace Alexander de Seversky. Trumper Why will they be the final ones? Pete Hill 12-09-2015, 08:01 AM I'm running out of planes! When I started the series, I made a rule to not do the same aircraft twice, at least not the same model. Even doing both the Albatros D.II and the Albatros D.IV was stretching it a bit. Some types of planes didn't have ace pilots who flew them. I spent an hour the other evening searching the net for an Austro-Hungarian ace who flew the Phonix C.1 or a Russian ace who flew the Anatra DS but I couldn't locate one. Besides, by then I'll probably be ready for a new series- maybe aerial VC winners of WW1 or maybe WW2 aces? :) Fishjay The aerial VC winners gets my vote!:clap: Lester :) Look forward to seeing how things progress :) Pete Hill 12-10-2015, 08:43 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230304_zps658br8pw.jpg The Breguet 14 of French ace Albert Edmond Mezergues. He flew reconnaissance and bombing missions 1915-1917 over the Western Front and was credited with four confirmed victories in aerial engagements. Shot down over enemy lines in August 1917, Mezergue was captured (his family in France were mistakenly informed he had been killed). Escaping from the POW camp, Mezergues managed to reach Allied territory and he rejoined the French air-service in the spring of 1918, flying Breguet 14s, achieving two more kills prior to the end of hostilities in November, making him one of the leading French two-seater aces of the war. Remaining in the military, Mezergues flew bombing missions in the Second Moroccan War in which France intervened in 1924, siding with Spanish Colonial forces against Berber tribesmen in the Rif Mountains of Morocco. He was shot down and killed in May 1925. Fishjay On average, how long does it take you to turn out one of these paintings? Lester :) Look forward to seeing how things progress :) Cheers! :) 12-12-2015, 10:19 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230305_zpsod94wph4.jpg The Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c of British WW1 ace Gilbert Green. After serving in the London Regiment for the first year of the Great War, Green joined No 5 Squadron RFC in France as an observer/gunner, flying BE2s and FE8s, achieving his first success in February 1916. Training as a pilot in the latter half of 1916, Green was assigned to No 17 Squadron on the Macedonian Front, based in Salonika, Greece and equipped with BE-12s (the single-seat version of the BE2). Despite the in-adequate qualities of his aircraft, Green was credited with six German planes destroyed or captured between December 1916 and March 1917. In July 1917, flying a SPAD VII, he shot down his eighth enemy plane and then, sent to join No 44 Squadron based in Britain, flying Sopwith Camel night-fighters, he brought down a Gotha bomber over south-east England one night in December 1917, bringing his total war tally to nine. Green survived the war, having risen to Squadron-Leader and he served in the RAF for another 24 years before retiring at his own request in 1942. He died in Kenya in 1958. Fishjay Another awesome painting and story. Looking forward to the next one! Lester:clap: Wow! You're a painting machine, Pete. Pete Hill 12-15-2015, 10:28 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230307_zpsfjl0bdkt.jpg The Armstrong-Whitworth FK.8 of Canadian WW1 ace Alan McLeod. Aged only 15 when the war began, McLeod tried to enlist under-age but was turned down. As soon as he turned 18 (in 1917), he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and served with No 2 Squadron in France, operating the FK8 which, although much lesser-known than its contemporary British two-seaters such as the F2B, DH4 or RE8, equipped six units on the Western Front and another six in Home-Defense in Britain, on the Macedonian Front or in Palestine. In January 1918, he scored two victories and was then teamed with British observer Arthur Hammond. On 27th March, the pair were flying a solo patrol when their FK8 was attacked by nine Fokker Dr.1 Triplanes. In a furious melee, McLeod and Hammond shot down three of their attackers before their aircraft was set afire and both men were badly wounded. McLeod managed to make a controlled crash-landing in No-Man's Land, side-slipping his plane to prevent the flames from reaching Hammond seated behind him. Despite his wounds, McLeod was able to drag the semi-conscious Hammond to a nearby shell-hole from where they were later rescued. McLeod was awarded a Victoria Cross for his exploits that day. McLeod initially recovered from his wounds and was sent home to Canada to recuperate. However his weakened body was unable to fight off a bout of Spanish Flu and he died in November 1918, only five days before the end of the war. Hammond survived the crash thanks to the courage of his pilot but his wounded leg was amputated. He remained in the RAF for another 24 years and died in 1958. Pete Hill 12-15-2015, 11:00 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230308_zps5msckdpm.jpg The Roland D-II of German ace Gerhard Fieseler. Stationed on the Macedonian Front, Fieseler was credited with 19 Allied aircraft shot down between August 1917 and September 1918, making him the highest-scoring German ace to survive the Eastern Front. After the war, after running a printing business for eight years in Germany, he returned to flying, becoming an accomplished stunt, aerobatics and test pilot, winning the world aerobatic championships in Paris in 1934. He bought out a seaplane company and renamed it under his own name. He designed several aircraft for the Luftwaffe during WW2, the most famous and most successful of which was the Fieseler F.156 Storch reconnaissance plane. After the war, he manufactured automobile components. Fieseler died in 1987, aged 91. Pete Hill 12-18-2015, 01:30 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230309_zpsthexremf.jpg The Morane-Saulnier Type L 'Parasol' fighter of French ace Jean Navarre. The headstrong, impulsive son of a wealthy merchant, Navarre flew fighters with the French air service 1915-1916. Most of his successes were achieved in the Verdun sector, earning him the nickname 'The Sentinel of Verdun'. He officially destroyed 12 German planes but downed over a dozen others that were un-confirmed. Badly wounded in July 1916, Navarre never recovered, suffering alcoholism and PTSD, made worse by the death of his younger brother in an accidental air crash. Suffering ongoing health and mental problems, Navarre flew few operational sorties and he remained highly troubled, culminating in his arrest for knocking over a gendarme whilst drunk-driving in Paris in 1918. After the end of hostilities, Navarre became a test-pilot for Morane-Saulnier. Whilst rehearsing for a planned stunt in which he would fly through the arches of the Arc de Tromphe during the Bastille Day Parade in July 1919, Navarre was killed when his aircraft struck overhead wires when he tried to fly between two telephone poles. Pete Hill 12-18-2015, 01:33 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230310_zpsercmkiea.jpg The Rumpler C.I of German ace Karl Meyer. He flew with the German Naval Air Service and was credited with eight Allied aircraft shot down, mostly whilst flying seaplanes. Meyer was the first German naval ace of the Great War. He was wounded in November 1917 and died three days later in hospital. Fishjay Another fantastic painting and story. Keep them coming Pete. Lester Pete Hill 01-09-2016, 09:17 PM After a quiet spell I am working on some more paintings. When I say 'quiet spell' I meant I have been working a lot of shifts over the past few weeks because some of the other nurses have been on holidays over Christmas/New Year and you always get others who call in 'sick' (ie, hungover or over-indulged or both). Doesn't leave a lot of energy to paint. I worked a few shifts at a nursing home in a town last month where I don't normally work and I had the great pleasure of meeting a woman, aged well over 90, who turned out to be none other than the daughter of an Australian fighter ace from the Great War. For reasons of patient confidentiality, I can't say the name but she and I have some interesting conversations. What a honour! Pete Hill 01-10-2016, 03:04 AM By the way, I have added 3 more to the list of works in the pipeline:- The Voisin-III of French ace Charles Nungesser The Caudron G.IV of French ace Rene Fonck The Farman F.40 of Belgian ace Fernand Jacquet. Fishjay Pete, How many paintings do you currently have in the pipeline? Lester 01-11-2016, 09:48 PM Hi Lester, I have 10 more WW1 ace acrylic works on the go at present. As for oils, I have a dozen small-scale canvases where I have painted the skies and backgrounds but no planes as yet. The latter have been progressing slowly since early last year as I don't often use oils. After the current crop of WW1 aces series is finished, I am thinking I might move on to VC winners of the WW1 (although a few will overlap with the previous series). Regards Pete 01-21-2016, 09:48 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230437_zpslhu1wzjp.jpg The Caudron G.IV of French ace Rene Fonck. Trained as an engineer prior to the war, Fonck brought his cold and calculating mathematical skills to his combat flying. With superb eyesight and an ability to judge deflection shots at a long range in mere seconds, Fonck was credited with 75 German aircraft brought down, 56 of those in 1918 alone. Twice, Fonck shot down six enemy planes in a single day. Boastful and conceited, Fonck made few friends on the ground and to his resentment, he never achieved the same affection and adoration from the French people that the more modest and gentle Georges Guynemer did. Fonck was not only the highest scoring French ace of the war but the leading Allied ace (and second-highest of any nationality, only von Richthofen reached a higher tally). Unlike many other aces, Fonck was never shot down nor ever wounded. The only crash he experienced was, ironically, in peacetime in 1926 when he crashed a Sikorsky S-35 on take-off, killing two of the crew. During WW2, Fonck was accused of collaborating with the Vichy government but he was later cleared and in fact he was involved with the Resistance. He died of a stroke in 1953 at the age of 59. Fishjay 01-21-2016, 10:38 AM Nice work once again. Question? French pilot and aircraft with British markings? What am I missing? Lester:thumbsup: Trumper 01-21-2016, 12:04 PM Rene Fonck,wow ,never heard of him ,thought i would do a bit more reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Fonck ,can't take away his skill although he did seem to pick and choose his fights but even so he ought to be more well known than that. His own words http://acepilots.com/wwi/fr_fonck.html 01-25-2016, 12:31 AM Hi Guys, thanks for the great feedback, it is heartening. I'm not painting much at present as I was recently involved in a car accident driving into Melbourne. I am okay apart from nasty-looking but superficial bruising on my chest (where the seat-belt dug into me as the air-bags deployed). I spent a night in hospital where they checked me over and gave me a CT scan but thankfully all is clear. However my car is a write-off and I am busy sorting out insurance and finance. Regards Pete Trumper 01-25-2016, 06:32 AM All the best Pete,hope everything gets sorted out ok.Painting in the near future may be a therapeutic healing process for you. Pete Hill Best wishes Pete - always a shaker that kind of thing . Take it easy . Pete Hill 01-25-2016, 08:18 AM Rene Fonck,wow ,never heard of him ,thought i would do a bit more reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Fonck ,can't take away his skill although he did seem to pick and choose his fights but even so he ought to be more well known than that. His own words http://acepilots.com/wwi/fr_fonck.html Rene Fonck was not the most romantic of aces- he was cold, scientific and calculating- picking the most vulnerable targets with the minimum of risk. He was not the most likeable of men either- he was aloof and boastful, jealous and self-centred. Some writers have speculated whether his behaviour was a disguise for his own in-securities. Once Fonck had a bet with two American pilots over which one would be the first to down an enemy plane the next day. One of the Americans scored first but Fonck was so angry he demanded that the wager be changed as to who could shoot down the highest number that day- Fonck destroyed six German planes that very afternoon. He may have been a sore loser and even childishly competitive but the guy knew how to hunt! Its interesting to read how very few of the top aces fit the stereotype of the fighter pilot. In Top Gun, fighter pilots spout slogans, ride motorcycles at sunset, pump their fists into the air and play homo-erotic games of beach volleyball. Meanwhile in 1916, Albert Ball played violin and tended a vegetable garden in-between missions whilst Max Immelmann wrote letters to his mother every day. :) Pete Hill Best wishes Pete - always a shaker that kind of thing . Take it easy . Thanks, mate. :) Pete, hope you are feeling better. Lester Thanks, Lester. I'm fine and I was very lucky. I'm just glad my children weren't on board as it was the passenger side that took the impact. Thanks for your well wishes. Regards Pete. :wave: Pete Hill 01-29-2016, 02:53 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230457_zpswek8gtcy.jpg Here is the Rene Fonck Caudron G.IV with the roundels corrected for the French version. Silly me! :angel: Pete Hill 01-29-2016, 03:01 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230456_zpshf2mph1j.jpg Here is a revised version of the Jean Navarre- Morane Type L Parasol. Whilst fixing the one of the Caudron, I noticed that I had forgotten to add the wires to the German two-seater in the background! I quickly rectified that. Pete Hill 01-29-2016, 03:29 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230454_zpswvmcgo2j.jpg The Albatros B.I of Austro-Hungarian ace Otto Jindra. Born in Bohemia, Jindra joined the Austrian army in 1905, becoming an officer in an artillery regiment before he transferred to the air-force when war broke out in 1914. Serving as an observer in a reconnaissance unit, Jindra became squadron-commander in January 1915 despite being a non-pilot. As an observer, he achieved three victories, two of those with a pistol and a carbine as the Albatros B.I was normally un-armed. Training 'on the job' as a pilot, he earned his wings in December 1915. Between March and December 1916, Jindra (as a pilot) achieved six more victories. The most famous success occurred on 12th April 1916 when he flew a solo low-level attack on a Russian infantry base with future top-scoring Austrian ace Godwin Brumowski as his observer. They strafed a Russian infantry regiment on parade whilst the latter was being reviewed by Tsar Nicholas II. En route home, they were attacked by four Russian planes but Brumowski shot down two of them. Jindra was badly injured in an accidental crash in the spring of 1918 and saw no further action. After the war he was instrumental in founding the Czech air-force (Jindra became a Czech citizen in the early 1920s). He died in either 1932 or 1942 (accounts vary). Fishjay 01-29-2016, 12:24 PM Interesting art and story as always! Great to hear you are getting back to normal. Your art and background stories have really broadened my knowledge on the air war in WW1. Lester Good looking collection you've got going there, Pete. Hope you're feeling better now. Pete Hill 01-30-2016, 09:48 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230462_zpsehsr23mv.jpg The Voisin-III of French ace Charles Nungesser. An intrepid traveller and racing driver before the war, Nungesser flew throughout the war, beginning in two-seater Voisins and later transferring to fighters. He was one of the senior commanders of the Lafayette Escadrille-the famous unit of volunteer American pilots. Nungesser was wounded in action and injured in accidents on a number of occasions but despite having injuries that would normally ground any airman (including a skull fracture, bullet wounds in the ear and mouth and seven jaw fractures), he continued to fly. By the end of the Great War, he had been credited with 43 German planes downed, making him the third-highest ranking French ace of the Great War behind Georges Guynemer's 53 victories and Rene Fonck's 75. After the war he worked in Hollywood as a stunt pilot and less successfully as a dealer of war surplus aircraft (he tried to sell surplus SPADs to the Cuban government but was turned down). In 1927, Nungesser volunteered to the replacement co-pilot for Francois Coli's attempt to fly the first trans-Atlantic flight from Paris to New York. Departing Paris in May 1927, Nungesser and Coli were last seen flying near the coast of Ireland an heading out over the Atlantic but they were never heard of again. Pete Hill 01-30-2016, 10:01 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230461_zps5blc9mon.jpg The Henri-Farman HF-40 of Belgian WW1 ace Fernand Jacquet. The son of a wealthy family, Jacquet served in the Belgian army prior to the war and began flying in the tiny fledgling Belgian air-force in 1913. When Germany invaded Belgium in August 1914, Jacquet was so determined to contribute to the defence of his nation, in between aerial sorties, he drove a car on road patrols with a machine-gun mounted on the bonnet. In July 1915, he became the first Belgian pilot of the war to shoot down an enemy plane. Jacquet flew a HF-40 with a white skull emblazoned on the nose. By the end of the war he was credited with seven enemy planes downed (although he claimed an additional nine). After the war, Jacquet ran a private flying school. During the German occupation in the Second World War, he was actively involved in the resistance and was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo in 1942. Liberated by the Allies in late 1944, Jacquet survived the war but the ordeal had taken a heavy toll on his health and he died in 1947. Pete Hill 02-02-2016, 11:41 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230560_zpspd474bad.jpg The Albatros C-III of German ace Erwin Bohme. An accomplished engineer who constructed railways in German colonised east Africa as well as a champion swimmer and frequent hiker and mountaineer, Bohme lived a rich life before the war. Aged 36 when the Great War began, Bohme was un-usually old to be a pilot (the average age was 21) but his athletic skills and engineering background saw him accepted into the German air-force. He worked as an instructor for a year before gaining a transfer to a two-seater reconnaissance unit with which he flew on both the Western and Eastern fronts. It was on the latter he achieved his first victory in August 1916. Hand-picked by Oswald Boelcke, Bohme was invited to join new fighter unit Jasta 2 in France. Only two months after his arrival, in late October 1916, Bohme and Boelcke's Albatros fighters accidently collided in the midst of a dogfight and the latter was killed. Devastated, Bohme came close to taking his own life. After a brief rest, he returned to flying and later became CO of Jasta 2. Between September 1916 and November 1917, he was credited with 23 Allied aircraft (including three British aces). Bohme was shot down in flames and killed by return fire from a two-seater Armstrong-Whitworth FK8 in late November 1917, only a month after becoming engaged to his girlfriend Anna-Marie. He was buried in Belgian soil by British troops but his body was later re-interred in a German cemetery although the location of the new grave was subsequently lost. Pete Hill Good looking collection you've got going there, Pete. Hope you're feeling better now. Cheers! :wave: Pete Hill 02-02-2016, 11:43 PM Interesting art and story as always! Great to hear you are getting back to normal. Your art and background stories have really broadened my knowledge on the air war in WW1. Lester Thanks, Lester, that's very kind of you. :) Pete Hill 02-03-2016, 09:55 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230598_zpsekxudbqx.jpg The Hansa-Brandenburg C.I of Austrian ace Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg. A Viennese-born son of an aristocratic family, Fernbrugg was a trained mechanical engineer prior to the Great War and he spent the first two years of the conflict employed in aircraft maintenance and supply. Trained as an observer, he flew as such in 1916 on the Italian Front and was credited with two victories. Badly injured by anti-aircraft fire at the start of 1917, he embarked on pilot training after his recovery and he flew with fighter units, becoming CO of Flik 51J in January 1918. Between August 1917 and August 1918, he was credited with 26 Allied aircraft including the Sopwith Camel of British pilot Alan Jerrard in March 1918 who was captured and awarded the Victoria Cross as he had downed three Austrian planes prior to being downed. Fernbrugg's score of 28 marked him the third highest ranking Austro-Hungarian pilot of the Great War and he was the highest-scoring Austrian-born pilot as the two pilots above him- Godwin von Brumowski and Julius Arigi- were Polish and Czech, respectively. Fernbrugg survived the war and later worked in commercial aviation. He also served as a staff officer in the German Luftwaffe during the Second World war and after 1945, he managed a civilian airport in Austria. He died in Vienna in 1964. Fishjay Pete, interesting story. I am not familiar with the markings on the Voisin. Origin? Lester Pete Hill 02-04-2016, 01:11 AM The markings are for the Italian air-force. Nearly all of the fighters or two-seater light bombers or reconnaissance planes the Italians flew during WW1 were either purchased directly from the French or built in Italy as copies of French designs under license. It was a similar situation to post-WW2 Australia where the local Commonwealth Air Corporation (CAC) built Australian copies of aircraft such as the Mustang and Sabre and parts of the Mirage-III. The only successful designs the Italians produced of their own design during WW1 were of heavy bombers or seaplanes. NeilF92 An excellent series of paintings Pete . Interesting and informative as well! Fishjay 02-04-2016, 01:33 PM Pete, if the Voisin is Italian shouldn't the center meatball be red? Italian colors are red white and green are the not? Lester Hi, yes you are right, I just check. I shall amend it! Thanks, Pete Pete Hill 02-08-2016, 09:07 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230600_zpso5pxhkd0.jpg The Roland D.VIb of German ace Emil Schape. The most successful pilot to fly the lesser-known Roland D.VIb, little details are available of Schape's wartime career other than he flew with a number of two-seater units early in the Great War before transferring to a fighter unit- Jasta 33- in 1917. He was credited with 18 Allied aircraft destroyed, more than half of them in October 1918 alone. Schape survived the war but was killed in an accidental air crash in 1925. Fishjay 02-09-2016, 08:28 AM Great painting Pete. I like the way you captured the wooden fuselage of the Roland! 5 stars for this one!!!! Lester 02-10-2016, 09:24 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230602_zpsnhqau7eo.jpg The Grigorovich M.9 of Russian ace Alexander de Seversky. Having learnt to fly privately before the war (his father was one of the first private citizens in Russia to own an aeroplane), Seversky joined the Russian Naval air service in 1914. Shot down on his first mission, Seversky lost a leg and was fitted with an artificial limb. Eventually allowed to return to operational flying, Seversky flew a Grigorovich M.9 seaplane with the 2nd naval squadron 1916-1917. He claimed 13 German planes shot down (he was officially credited with six). Assigned to be naval air attache at the Russian embassy in Washington DC in the spring of 1918, Seversky decided not to return to his native country after the Bolshevik revolution. He became a US citizen and founded the Seversky Aviation Corporation which produced numerous designs including the Seversky P-35 fighter in the mid-1930s which later influenced the design of the P-47 Thunderbolt. When the company struggled financially in the late 1930s, Seversky was replaced as president and he spent the rest of his life as an aviation advisor and theorist, writing a best-selling book 'Victory Through Airpower' in 1942. His ideas and theories on strategic bombing had profound influence on the formation of US Bomber Command and later, the Strategic Air Command. He died in 1974. Pete Hill 02-10-2016, 09:25 AM Great painting Pete. I like the way you captured the wooden fuselage of the Roland! 5 stars for this one!!!! Lester 02-13-2016, 09:49 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230608_zpsjmmjujqr.jpg The Lohner Type T of Austrian ace Gottfried von Freiherr Banfield. The grandson of an Englishman, von Banfield served with the Austrian naval air-service throughout the war. He achieved nine confirmed victories, all whilst flying seaplanes, making him one of the most successful seaplane aces of all time. He lived until 1986. Fishjay 02-15-2016, 07:56 AM Pete, how did the WWI water based fighters fare against their land based brethren? Just wondering. I know the carrier based aircraft performance lagged behind the land based aircraft for a long time. Lester 02-15-2016, 09:39 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230611_zpsp3mwzzh5.jpg The Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 of the German ace Friedrich Christiansen. Flying with the German Naval Air-Service throughout the war, Christiansen was credited with 13 Allied planes destroyed between May 1917 and July 1918 (he claimed a total of 21). He was the leading German naval ace of the Great War and the most successful seaplane ace of all. Serving in the German merchant marine until 1929, Christiansen worked as a test pilot for Dornier for 4 years before becoming a senior official in the new Reich air ministry. Commanding German occupying forces in Holland during WW2, Christiansen was arrested for war crimes in 1945 for the murder and deportment of over 660 Dutch civilians from the town of Putten in 1944, carried out under his direct authorisation as reprisal for the murder of a German officer by the Dutch resistance. He was convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment but was released after serving three. He died in 1972. Pete Hill 02-15-2016, 09:42 AM Pete, how did the WWI water based fighters fare against their land based brethren? Just wondering. I know the carrier based aircraft performance lagged behind the land based aircraft for a long time. Lester When they encountered land-based fighters, the seaplanes usually came off worst but not always- larger examples such as the Felixstowe took some destroying and the fighters of the era had limited firepower. Fishjay Thanks for the enlightenment Pete. Interesting information as always. Lester:clap: The Salmson 2A2 of American ace William P Erwin The Dorand AR.1 of Belgian ace Adolphe duBois d'Aische The Lohner B.II of Austrian ace Adolf Heyrowsky. And that's definitely it! After these last three, I'm winding up this series. Then it will be on to a series on all of the aerial Victoria Cross recipients of the Great War- there were 18 all told (13- Royal Flying Corps, 2- Royal Naval Air Service and 3- Royal Air Force). Pete Hill 02-17-2016, 08:59 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230612_zpsgfd9vd03.jpg The Salmson 2A2 of American ace William Portwood Erwin. Born in Chicago, Erwin was assigned to the 1st Observation Squadron in France in July 1918, flying the French-built Salmson 2A2 two-seaters. Between September 15th and October 22nd 1918, Erwin was credited with eight German aircraft destroyed, four of those with observer/gunner Lieutenant Arthur Eastbrook. Erwin survived the war and in August 1927 he competed in the Dole Air Race between California and Hawaii. When two of the other competitors went missing over the Pacific, Erwin volunteered to help find them and headed out to fly an aerial search. He was never seen nor heard from again. Eastbrook ended the Great War with five victories and remained in the USAAS, rising in the ranks to become a senior officer on General Hap Arnold's staff during the Second World War. He retired from the military in 1946 and was badly injured in an accidental fall in 1950 which left him confined to a wheelchair until he died of heart failure two years after that. Pete Hill 02-22-2016, 08:05 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230626_zpspo3mu3c4.jpg The Lohner B.II of Austrian ace Adolf Heyrowsky. A career soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army before the Great War, Heyrowsky enlisted in the air-force and flew two-seaters on the Eastern and Italian Fronts, beginning in 1915 with the out-dated Lohners and later upgrading to the newer Hansa-Brandenburg C.Is. Heyrowsky was eventually credited with 12 Allied aircraft destroyed, nearly all of them Italian machines. He ended the war as a staff officer and later served as such in the Luftwaffe during WW2. He died in 1945, circumstances unknown. Trumper 02-22-2016, 10:05 AM ^^^^^ Picture not showing up on here for me although if you right click on it it will open in another tab. Pete Hill 03-06-2016, 09:25 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230680_zpsoq5heyj8.jpg The Lloyd C-III of Austro-Hungarian ace Ernst Strohschneider. Born into a wealthy, class-conscious family in what is now part of the Czech Republic, Strohschneider served for a number of years in the Austrian army prior to the Great War and he saw action on the Serbian Front in July 1914. Between August 1914 and September 1915, Strohschneider was wounded three times in action on the Serbian and Russian Fronts and was pronounced unfit for further service in the infantry. Joining the Austrian air-force, Strohschneider flew as an observer in a reconnaissance unit over Russia before he trained as a pilot in late 1916 and transferred to single-seat fighters. Between June 1917 and March 1918, Strohschneider was credited with 15 Allied aircraft destroyed, all of them on the Italian Front (and all but one Italian, the sole exception was a British Sopwith Strutter). Rigidly class-conscious, Strohschneider refused to congratulate a fellow pilot who received a medal for valour because the latter was an NCO from a humble background. Returning from a night mission in March 1918, Strohschneider was killed in a landing accident. Pete Hill 03-06-2016, 09:26 AM ^^^^^ Picture not showing up on here for me although if you right click on it it will open in another tab. Hi trumper, can you open it yet? Pete :( Pete Hill 03-06-2016, 09:29 AM Yes, as you can see, I found a few more. I've got 4 more to go now- but that's definitely it, I promise! The Dorand AR.1 of Belgian ace Adolphe du Bois d'Aische The Roland C-III of German two-seater crew Wilhelm Fahlbusch and Hans Rosenkrantz. The Hannover CL-IIa of German two-seater crew Johann Baur and Georg Hengl. The LVG C-II of German two-seater crew Fritz Kosmahl and Josef Neuburger. Trumper Hi trumper, can you open it yet? Pete :( :) Yes i can now,lovely work as ever :) Fishjay 03-06-2016, 07:17 PM I'm a little sad knowing you are almost finished your quest. Glad you have decided to do the VC recipients. Has given me something to look forward to. Great work as always! Lester 03-07-2016, 09:26 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230692_zps4wr4ggfb.jpg The Roland C-II of German ace crew Wilhelm Fahlbusch and his observer/gunner Hans Rosenkrantz. The duo were a crew flying with Kasta-1, a reconnaissance unit in France in the summer of 1916. They achieved five confirmed victories, the last of which was a British Martinsyde G.100 shot down at the end of August. The pair were one of the very few German reconnaissance crews to achieve ace status. On 6th September 1916, the duo were shot down in flames by Sopwith Strutters of No 70 Squadron and both men were killed. Pete Hill 03-08-2016, 06:54 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230693_zpsarots5uj.jpg The Dorand AR.1 of Franco-Belgian ace Adolphe DuBois d'Aische. Born in Belgium in 1874 and descended from 15th century nobility, DuBois spent much of his early life working as an engineer in the Belgian Congo along with several years serving in the French Foreign Legion (where he became a French citizen). He fought as an infantryman in the French army for the first year of the Great War before training as an observer/gunner for the air-force. Between May 1916 and September 1917, DuBois was credited with six German aircraft shot down. His most dramatic experience occurred on 24th July 1917 when he and his pilot Henri Betis were flying in a formation of four Dorands over enemy lines when they were attacked by seven German fighters. One Dorand was shot down and another headed home badly damaged, escorted by a third Dorand, leaving Betis and DuBois on their own. DuBois shot down two of the enemy machines before his aircraft was badly damaged and Betis was wounded. The duo managed to make it back to Allied lines before crash-landing. Betis died of his injuries but DuBois walked away unhurt. DuBois survived the war. Having reached the status of ace at the age of 43, he was the oldest ace of the entire war. Trumper 03-10-2016, 08:48 AM What have you done/are doing with all these paintings,it would be quite an impressive sight all lined up on a wall together. :) Pete Hill 03-10-2016, 06:29 PM Hi trumper, I've sold them on eBay. Actually the most recent 5 are on there now. I've kept photos of them all, I'm thinking of putting them all in a booklet. Pete. 03-10-2016, 06:48 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230699_zpsb3ysqw77.jpg The Hannover CL-IIa of German ace Hans Baur who flew Hannover two-seaters on the Western Front in the summer-autumn of 1918. He was credited with six Allied planes shot down. In the early 1920s, Baur was one of the first pilots to fly with the new Lufthansa airlines. He joined the fledgling Nazi party and in 1933 he became Adolf Hitler's personal pilot and head of the 'government squadron' tasked with transporting VIPs. By early 1945, Baur had also become a Major-General in the SS and head of the police. Baur remained in the Fuhrerbunker during the fall of Berlin in 1945 and un-successfully tried to convince Hitler to escape by air. After Hitler's suicide, Baur attempted to escape Berlin but he was badly wounded, losing his right leg and he spent 10 years in a Soviet prison camp, followed by another two in a French prison before he returned to West Germany in 1958. He died in 1993. Pete Hill 03-10-2016, 06:52 PM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230698_zpslrpje8lp.jpg The LVG C-II of German ace Fritz Kosmahl who flew two-seaters over the Western Front in 1916 and early 1917 before transferring to single-seat fighters in the summer of 1917. Details about his war record are scant but it is known, whilst piloting a two-seater in October 1916, he finished off a British FE2b which had been damaged by von Richthofen after the latter had been forced to break off his attack. Kosmahl was credited with nine Allied planes shot down before, in September 1917, he was badly wounded in an engagement and died in hospital four days later. Fishjay The last three are very impressive. You are finishing with the bar set very high! Lester 03-13-2016, 10:12 AM http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/hill9868/P1230708_zpsxvdbzwuk.jpg The Morane-Saulnier BB of Canadian Ace Alan Duncan Bell-Irving. After serving in the Gordon Highlanders, Bell-Irving transferred to the RFC in 1915 and flew as an observer with No 7 Squadron in France before he was shot down and wounded in December. After recovering, he trained as a pilot and joined No 60 Squadron in the summer of 1916. He achieved his first victory in August 1916 whilst flying a Morane BB, a two-seater biplane version of the Type N Morane monoplane. Switching to a single-seat Nieuport 17, Bell-Irving achieved six more victories in September-October. Then in early November 1916, he was shot down by German ace Otto Hohne and was badly wounded, injuries which rendered him unfit for further combat flying. Bell-Irving served as a staff officer for the remainder of the Great War. He remained in the RAF and later became an Air Commodore in the RCAF during the Second World War. He died in 1965. Pete Hill 03-13-2016, 10:15 AM Well, that's finally it! No more in the aces series. Thanks very much to all forumers for their kind comments and feedback. I am now embarking on a series of all the VC recipients in the RFC/RAF during the Great War. Once I finish the first one, I will start a new thread. Regards Pete. :wave:

Manfred von Richthofen

Asshat rapper Kanye West interrupted the VMA acceptance speech of which Best Female Video award winner?

Full text of "German Air Forces 1914 18" See other formats Osprey PUBLISHING German Air Forces 1914-18 Ian Sumner • Illustrated by Graham Sumner IAN SUMNER was born in 1953 in Eccles, near Manchester, UK. He originally trained as a librarian in Newcastle-upon- Tyne but now devotes himself to full-time writing. He has written numerous titles for Osprey and also several books on the history of the East Riding of Yorkshire, where he now lives with his wife. GRAHAM SUMNER was bom in 1958. He studied illustration at Wrexham Art School and has specialized in archaeological reconstruction drawings. Graham has been involved with the Ermine Street Guard for nearly 20 years. He has written a number of articles for Military Illustrated magazine and was the author and illustrator of a number of books for Osprey's Men-at-Arms series. He lives in Flintshire, UK. CONTENTS ORIGINS OF THE ARMY AIR SERVICE CHRONOLOGY 1914-18 FIELD UNITS • Field Flying Detachments • Reconnaissance units • Close support units • Fighter units: organization - tactics - parachutes - • Aces and decorations STRATEGIC BOMBING • Airships: Army - Navy • Aircraft: Gothas and R-Types OBSERVATION BALLOONS ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE • Anti-balloon & anti-aircraft guns • Home defence units COMMAND, TRAINING & SUPPORT • Higher command • Training • Support services • Airfields THE NAVAL AIR SERVICE CONCLUSION SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY THE PLATES INDEX Elite • I 35 German Air Forces 1914-18 Ian Sumner • Illustrated by Graham Sumner Consultant editor Martin Windrow First published in Great Britain in 2005 by Osprey Publishing, Midland House, West Way, Botley, Oxford 0X2 OPH, UK 443 Park Avenue South, New York. NY 10016, USA Email: mfo@ospfeypublishing.com © 2005 Osprey Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. 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IL 60466, USA Email: info@ospreydirectusa.com All other regions: Osprey Direct UK PO Box 140, Wellingborough, Northants. NN8 2FA, UK Email: info@ospreydirect.co.uk Dedication This book is dedicated to the late Hal Giblin. Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my wife Maggie, to Graham Sumner, and to Roy Wilson for all their help. Imperial War Museum pictures appear by permission of the Trustees. Artist’s Note Readers may care to note that the original paintings from which the colour plates in this book were prepared are available for private sale. All reproduction copyright whatsoever is retained by the Publishers. All enquiries should be addressed to: gs.illustrator@binternet.com The Publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondence upon this matter. Buy online at www.ospreypublishing.com GERMAN AIR FORCES 1914-18 ORIGINS OF THE ARMY AIR SERVICE L ike all the Great Powers in the years before the outbreak of war, Germany remained uncertain about the direction of its military aviation effort. In the early years of the 20th century balloons were pre-eminent because of their range and large payload, and by 1908 a fleet of Zeppelin dirigible (i.e. steerable) airships was in development. At the same time the Technical Section of the General Staff was also considering the military value of aircraft. The lack of a German aircraft industry slowed progress, but by 1910 the General Staff was coming to the conclusion that the future lay with heavier-than-air craft. The foundations of the Army Air Service were laid in 1912, when an organizational structure was set down, and the first units were created in the following year. Only Prussia and Bavaria, the two largest states within the Empire, raised aviation units; Saxony formed its own small detachment, but this was attached to a Prussian unit. Five Rieger Bataillone, each four companies strong, were created - four on the Royal Prussian establishment, as part of the Communications Branch, and one on the Royal Bavarian establishment. These battalions were not Oswald Boelcke - the father- flgure of German fighter pilots. Boelcke originally served with Telegraphen Bataillon Nr.3 before entering flying school in June 1914. He flew two-seaters with FFA 1 3 before a transfer to FFA 62 and its single-seater flight. His successes with the Fokker Eindecker brought him fame, decorations, and, in August 1916, command of the newly formed Jasta 2, equipped with fast new Albatros D-TYpes. He was an inspiring teacher and leader, and after his death at the age of 25 in October 1916 the unit was retitled Jasta Boelcke. Here the strain of combat shows clearly on his face. He wears the field cap of the technical branches, with black band and red piping; and a light grey Ml 903 officer’s greatcoat with mid-blue collar piped red, over a plain-collared tunic - see also photo on page 58. (Imperial War Museum Q58027) 3 intended for service in the front line as tacucal units; rather, each would form a cadre able to supply a flight of aircraft for attachment to every Army and Corps headquarters. These formations originally transported their aircraft in sections by road, accompanying a column of troops, to be assembled as and when they were needed for a mission. However, when one such craft collapsed in mid-air while on manoeuvres in 1913, killing its crew, this requirement was sensibly abandoned. The remaining craft all needed modification to make them safe, and 1914 began with an acute shortage of aircraft, and thus of newly qualified pilots. By that summer the situation had largely been retrieved, and the flying schools were working at full capacity; nevertheless, measures were still put in place to allow Chilian pilots to be sent directly to front line units in times of need. Table 1: Army Air Service units, July 1914 Prussian stations attached to Luftschiffer Bataillon: Nr.1 Nr.2 Nr.3 Nr.4 Nr. 5 Berlin (Tegel) Berlin, Hannover, Dresden Koln, Dusseldorf, Darmstadt Mannheim, Metz, Lahr, Friedrichshafen Graudenz, Konigsberg, ScheidemChl Gardekorps Gardekorps IX Armeekorps XIV Armeekorps 1 Armeekorps Flieger Bataillon: Nr.1 Nr.2 Nr.3 Nr.4 Ddberitz (HQ & 1 .Komp), Jiiterbog (2.Komp), GroBenhain (3.Komp), (Saxon) Posen (HQ & 1 .Komp), Graudenz (2.Komp), Konigsberg (3.Komp) Koln (HQ & 1 .Komp), Hannover (2.Komp), Truppenubungsplatz, Darmstadt (3. Komp) Strasburg (HQ & I.Komp), Metz (2. Komp), Freiburg (3.Komp) Gardekorps V Armeekorps VIII Armeekorps XV Armeekorps Bavarian Luft- u. Kraftfahrer Btl Flieger Btl Munchen OberschleiGheim 1 Bav Armeekorps 1 Bav Armeekorps Table 2: Air Service units in the field, 17 August 1914 OHL seven airships 5.Armee EFp Nr.5; FLA 4, FFA 25 I.Armee Etappen Flugpark Nr.1; FLA 1. FFA 12 V Korps FFA 19 II Korps FFA30 XIII Korps FFA 4 III Korps FFA 7 XVI Korps FFA 2 IV Korps FFA 9 6.Armee Bav EFp Nr.6; Bav FLA 1 , FFA 5 IX Korps FFA 11 XXI Korps FFA 8 2.Armee EFp Nr.2; FLA 2, FFA 23 1 Bav Korps Bav FFA 1 Gardekorps FFA 1 II Bav Korps Bav FFA 2 VII Korps FFA 18 III Bav Korps Bav FFA 3 X Korps FFA 21 7. Armee EFp 7; FLA 6, FFA 26 3. Armee EFp Nr.3; FLA 7, FFA 22 XIV Korps FFA 20 XI Korps FFA 28 XV Korps FFA 3 XII Korps FFA 29 8. Armee EFp Nr.8; FLA 8. FFA 16; XIX Korpps FFA 24 airships KOnigsberg, Allenstein 4,Armee EFp Nr.4; FLA 3. FFA 6 & Thorn VI Korps FFA 13 1 Korps FFA 14 VIII Korps FFA 10 XVII Korps FFA 17 XVIII Korps FFA 27 XX Korps FFA 15 Fortress of Graudenz Festungsflieger Abteilung (Note: Cavalry, Reserve and Landwehr formations which did not have attached aviation units are omitted from this Table.) At the time of mobilization in August 1914, 33 Feldflieger Abteilungen (FFA) were created, 30 Prussian and 3 Bavarian. Each of the eight army HQs received one, as did each of the 25 regular army corps HQs (see Table 2); but insufficient pilots and aircraft were available to equip FFAs for the Cavalry Corps or for any of die Reserve corps. Each FFA was equipped with six aircraft, and had a flying strength of seven pilots and six observers, backed up by a ground crew consisting of 1 16 enlisted men. Each unit maintained a fleet of five touring cars, one tender, six aircraft towing vehicles (for movement between airfields, or for the recovery' of crashed machines), as well as workshop lorries, and lorries for transporting stores, munitions, fuel and baggage. Reserves were held in an aircraft park (Etappen-Flugzeugpark), which formed part of each army’s lines of communication troops; each park normally held three aircraft, as well as two pilots and one observer. The conversion of fortress units into front line FFAs, and the creation of new FFAs, meant that their original number quickly doubled, and by die beginning of 1915 as many as 60 such units were serving on the various fronts. Lt Max Immelmann at the scene of one of his victories. Immelmann served in a Saxon railway regiment before transferring to the Air Service; this photo shows clearly the officer's Ml 910 uniform of the technical branches, with double Lltzen on red-piped black patches on the black-piped collar, Litzen and black piping on the cuffs, and red front piping. Serving with Boelcke in the single-seater flight of FFA 62 at Douai, Immelmann achieved 17 aerial victories, and international fame, before his death in June 1916. (IWM 058026) CHRONOLOGY 1914: August On mobilization, Army Air Service forms eight observation balloon detachments, 15 fortress balloon detachments, 18 crews for the 12 Army airships, and six airship replacement units. Thirty-three field flying detachments (FFA) are mobilized, plus eight fortress flying units and eight aircraft parks, leaving five replacement units at home. A balloon detachment (FLA), an FFA and an aircraft park are allocated to each of the eight armies in the field, and a further FFA to each of the 25 regular army corps. 7-22 August Airships begin bombing raids, against Liege and in support of 6.Armee in Alsace; three are shot down, and a fourth during operations on the Eastern Front. Airships thereafter relegated to night missions only. 23 August Battle of Mons. Aircraft spot British dispositions, but operating over Belgian territory hinders communications and the information fails to reach army commanders in time to affect the course of the battle. 26-30 August Battle of Tannenberg on Eastern Front; reconnaissance aircraft monitor Russian movements, and since flying over German territory, information is passed on more quickly. The Russians are encircled and defeated; Gen Ludendorff later comments, ‘No aerial intelligence, no Tannenberg.' 5-10 September Battle of the Marne. Aircraft reveal French advance into gap between two German armies in time for German withdrawal. October/November Air staff officer (Stofl) appointed to each army HQ to co-ordinate FFAs, although their employment remains in the hands of army and corps commanders. 1 1 November Flying a Rumpler B, Lts Flashar (pilot) and Demuth (observer) bring down a French machine - the first Gentian victory in aerial combat. 1915: 19 January First airship raid against the UK: Navy L3 & L4 drop bombs in Yarmouth area of Norfolk coast. Raids against London follow on 31 May/1 June, and continue intermittently until 19 October 1917. 1 1 March Maj Hermann Thomsen (later von der Lieth-Thomsen) is appointed to newly created post of Chef des Feldflugwesens (Feldflugchef) to control all aviation units in the field. 21-22 March First airship raids against Paris. April Bomber unit codenamed Carrier Pigeon Unit, Ostend (Brieftauben Abteilung Ostende, BAO) formed under direct orders of Army High Command (OHL), as bomber reserve, and makes significant contribution to Eastern Front campaign. Second unit formed as BA Metz (BAM). June First Fokker monoplanes, armed with a forward-firing machine gun, arrive at the front, and a few are attached to existing FFAs. 6/7 June First airship destroyed by RFC; Fit S/Lt R.Warneford of No.1 Sqn RNAS destroys LZ37 over Ghent, Belgium, with air-dropped bombs. August First dedicated artillery co-operation units - Feldflieger Abteilungen (Artillerie), FFA(A) - are formed, one attached to each corps headquarters. 1 August Flying one of the new Fokker Eindeckers from Douai, Lt Max Immelmann of FFA 62 shoots down a British BE2c - the first official victory with this type. This marks the start of the ‘Fokker Scourge', a period of German air superiority that will last until summer 1916. December Picked crews form two new Kampfgeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung (Kagohl), created to replace BAO and BAM and capitalize on their success. Each Kagohl consists of six flights (Staffeln) of six aircraft each. Seven Kagohl will eventually be formed. A group of pilots belonging to FFA 62 and KeK Douai, including Immelmann (front, second right), Boelcke (front, fourth left), and Max Ritter von Mulzer (back, extreme left). (IWM 063132) 1916: February FFA ‘Pascha’ formed to serve with Turkish forces in the Middle East. 21 February-10 April During early stage of battle of Verdun, two Kagohl (four by beginning of April), ten FFAs, six FFA(A)s and three temporary units of single- seaters are concentrated in this sector, but are soon outnumbered by French aircraft and lose air superiority. March Despite relegation of airships to night missions only, losses over the Western Front are such that they force another change of tactics. Henceforth airships concentrate their attacks on English and French ports only. Airships in the East and the Balkans are unaffected, and continue to attack inland targets. June Initial success of Russian ‘Brusilov Offensive’ forces diversion of two Kagohl to Eastern Front. 1 July-18 November Battle of the Somme. British air forces, superior both in numbers and in aircraft quality, wrest back air superiority. By forming larger single-seater units, and transferring units north from Verdun, Germans finally regain the initiative. August New type of unit, the Jagdstaffel (Jasta), is formed to replace temporary single- seater units created during the year. During autumn the Jasta are equipped with new Albatros Dl and Halberstadt Dll, which help redress the balance in aircraft quality. October New post of Kommandierender General der Luftstreitkrafte (Kogenluft) is created, with operational responsibility for all Army Air Service units at the front and at home. By 1917 he will also acquire responsibility for observation balloons, anti- aircraft artillery, the Army meteorological service, and for the air defence of Germany. The post is filled in December by GenLt Ernst von Hoppner. At the front, the post of Gruppenfuhrer der Flieger (Grufl) is created, with responsibility for all aviation - including training and supply as well as combat units - within a specific area, usually coterminous with an army corps. Winter 1916-17 Major reorganization brings all units under army rather than corps HQs. FFAs and FFA(A)s are renamed Flieger Abteilungen (FA) and Flieger Abteilungen (Artillerie) (FAA) respectively. FAs are henceforth responsible for long-range reconnaissance, and FAAs for short-range work and artillery spotting. Flenceforth Jastas will be used solely for air fighting. The Kagohl are reduced to three in number and concentrate on strategic bombing, the surplus men and machines forming new Schutzstaffeln (Schusta) with the role of protecting reconnaissance aircraft. A vehicle of Armee Flugpark 5 transporting Albatros DV, number 2016/17, by road in the Argonne. Note the ornate ‘T’ on the fuselage; this machine was flown by Lt Karl Thom of the Saxon Jasta 21s. Thom was shot down twice - the photo might depict one of those occasions - but survived the war with 27 victories. The black-and-white 1917: January AA artillery added to responsibilities of Kogenluft. Appointed to each army is a Kommandeur der Flak (Koflak); reporting to him in each division is a Gruppenkommandeur der Flak (Flakgruko). April FA ‘Pascha’ in Mesopotamia is enlarged, then divided into FAs 301-305. 4 April-27 May Battle of Arras. British fail to achieve local air superiority due to confident German handling of new Albatros Dill fighters during 'Bloody April’. 17 April-8 May French 'Nivelle Offensive'. German concentrations draw off French fighters, leaving their reconnaissance machines vulnerable, and many are shot down without fulfilling their mission. 25 May First daylight bomber aircraft attack on UK, by 21 Gotha GIVs of Kagohl 3; most bombs fall on Folkestone, Kent, killing 95 and injuring 260; one Gotha lost. Kagohl 3 makes first daylight raid on London on 13 June, dropping 4 tons-plus, killing 162 and injuring 432. This is followed in September by first night raid. Raids continue intermittently until 19 May 1918. 7 June-10 November Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The RFC gains air superiority over the battlefield, despite the presence of some 80 German units. British ground advances checked locally by innovative use of Schusta in ground- attack role; bombing raids on airfields nullify French attempts to intervene. 24 June Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG1), a permanent grouping of four Jasta, is formed under command of Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen. August 1917-February 1918 The ‘Amerikaprogram’, prompted by entry of USA into the war in April. Kogenluft instigates ambitious expansion scheme to double the number of fighter units by 1 March 1918. The target is met, but at considerable cost; poorly trained pilots are thrust into action, and planned expansion in number of reconnaissance units is halted. September New post of Kommandeur der Luftschiffer (Koluft) created at each army FIQ, to co-ordinate deployment of balloons. October-December Italians suffer heavy early losses to Austro-German Caporetto offensive, but their growing resistance forces use of all Air Service units for close ground support, regardless of original role. By the end of 1917 the Germans are just beginning to re-establish air superiority on this front when most units are recalled to the Western Front for the forthcoming Spring Offensive. stripe around the fuselage dates from the period when the Ritter von Schleich commanded this unit. (IWM 053006) 7 Table 3: Air units attached to 18.Armee, 21 March 1918 (Note: This is a representative example of the air support provided for ground armies in spring 1918. The 18.Armee was established on the Western Front in December 1917 with troops of Heeresgruppe Woyrsch from the Eastern Front. On 21 March 1918 it was committed to Operation 'Michael’, against the British 3rd and 5th Armies, alongside 2. & 17.Armee.) ARMY TROOPS Kofi 18: FA 23 & 39 FAA295 Bogohl I & IV Schlasta 8 Riesenflugzeug Abteilung 18 Riesenflugzeug Gbungsabt 18 Armee Wetterwarte 18 Front Wetterwarte 1 8 Armee Rug park 18 Kodak 18: Rakgruko 18: Rak Batterie 567, 576 (4 guns each) Ramga 8, 9, 10, 16, 54, 64, 72, 103, 171, 172 & 175 Rak Zug 60, 139 Kraftwagen Flak Zug 32, 36, 56, 67, 86, 135 & 136 Rak Scheinwerfer Zug 240, 403, 405 & 729 and 5 Independent searchlights 18 MGs from Ramga 901 & 908 Koluft 23 III KORPS Grud 17: FAA 234, 245, 247 & 264 Schlasta 2, 5 & 20 Jagdgeschwader Nr.1 Jasta 8, 62 & 68 Feldluftschiffer Abt 67 (Ballon Zug 33, 41, 61 & 125) Front Wetterwarte 1 25 Brieftauben Abt 1 25 Flakgruko 42: Flak Batt 566 (4 guns) schw Kraftwagen Flak Batt 1 27 (2 guns) Flamga 48, 82, 95 Flak Zug 18, 105, 129 Kraftwagen Flak Zug 23, 47 & 69 Flak Scheinwerfer Zug 207 & 698 8 MGs from Ramga 908 IX KORPS Grud 13: FAA 237, 271 & 290 Schlasta 6 Jagdgruppe Nr, 1 1 Jasta 17, 22 & 63 Feldluftschiffer Abt 37 (Ballon Zug 82, 96 & 118) Front Wetterwarte 216 Brieftauben Abt 216 Rakgruko 7: Rak Batt 508 (4 guns) schw Kraftwagen Flak Batt 1 19 & 162 (2 guns each) Flamga 29, 50 & 1 76 Flak Zug 1 9 & 84 Kraftwagen Flak Zug 80 & 93 Flak Scheinwerfer Zug 726 24 MGs from Ramga 912 XVII KORPS Grud 8: FA 29, FAA 206, 212 & 225 Schlasta 7, 34 & 37 Jagdgruppe Nr.5 Jasta 48, 53 & 63 Feldluftschiffer Abt 29 (Ballon Zug 29, 31,32, 40, 49 & 127) Front Wetterwarte 309 Brieftauben Abt 309 Flakgruko 54: Flak Batt 517 (4 guns) Kraftwagen Flak Batt 1 21 (2 guns) Flamga 12, 22, 86, 104 & 180 Flak Zug 1 & 78 Kraftwagen Flak Zug 35 & 102 Flak Scheinwerfer Zug 180 & 181 1 8 MGs from Flamga 91 2 IV RESERVE KORPS Grud 9: FAA 216, 226, 254, 287 & 297 Schlasta 1 8, 31 & 36 Jagdgruppe Nr. 12 Jasta 24. 44 & 79 Feldluftschiffer Abt 1 1 & 30 (Ballon Zug 4, 19, 83, 91, 94, 120 & 126) Front Wetterwarte 217 & 218 Brieftauben Abt 217 & 218 Flakgruko 8: Rak Batt 707 (4 guns) Kraftwagen Flak Batt 113, 123 & 159 (2 guns each) Flamga 81, 177 & 178 Rak Zug 30, 121 & 170 Kraftwagen Rak Zug 6 & 33 Rak Scheinwerfer Zug 723 1 2 MGs from Flamga 901 1918: 2 February JG 2 and JG 3 are formed; like JG 1 , each comprises four Jasta. March Schusta reconnaissance protection flights are renamed Schlachtstaffeln (Schlasta), and reassigned to ground attack and infantry support. 21 March Opening of massive German Spring Offensive. Schlasta play a decisive role locally, but destruction of Allied airfields makes it difficult for forward units to keep up with advances by German infantry. The dislocation of Allied forces achieved during the first few days is soon reversed by their numerical superiority. May Excellent Fokker DVII fighter begins to arrive in numbers at front line units; but shortages of fuel, transfer of ground crew into the infantry, and aircraft losses all combine to reduce the overall effectiveness of the German effort. 8 August Battle of Amiens. German reconnaissance fails to identify precise location or timing of British offensive, leaving OFIL unable to deploy units in the threatened sector in sufficient time or numbers. Jasta pilots inflict heavy losses on bombers attacking the Somme bridges, but cannot prevent them from being destroyed. 12-30 September Battle of St Mihiel. German forces are overwhelmed by the numbers the Allies can bring to bear, and are driven from the skies. 11 November Last German air victories of the war. Lt von Frieden of Jasta 50 brings down a BF2b of 20 Sqn RFC, but precise time goes unrecorded; at 10.50am, Offizier-Stellvertreter Friedrich Altemeier of Jasta 24s shoots down an RE8. FIELD UNITS Initially (and to some extent throughout the war), most units consisted of a variety of different aircraft types. In 1915, for example, FFA 23 was equipped with four types: the Albatros DDK, Rumpler 4A13, Gotha Taube and Fokker M8. As a result, a large variety of spare parts had to be kept on charge - a major logistical problem. Britain and France had decided at an early stage to standardize on one type within each squadron. This was never possible in Germany, since production levels within die industry were never able to keep pace, either with the expansion of the service or even with losses in action. Aircraft fresh off the production line were simply sent to wherever the need was most acute. This mixture of aircraft types was of course at its greatest when converting from one type to another: in August 1916 Jasta 1 was operating six different types, while even in September 191 8 Jasta 36 had four types. In the first stages of the war the aircraft of both sides were designed primarily for reconnaissance. In addition to die pilot they included room for an observer, who could make notes on die dispositions of the enemy at a distance far beyond that achieved by die conventional cavalry screen. In the initial engagements both sides made good use of aircraft to spot gaps that could then be exploited by an advance on the ground. Aircraft were unarmed, and any aerial combats were a matter of Early In the war, a Taube monoplane leaves its tented hangar and prepares to take off from an airfield somewhere in France. The presence of the ambulance vehicle may or may not have been reassuring to the pilot and observer. opposing crews taking pot-shots at one another with small arms. From April 1915, however, German aircraft found themselves increasingly vulnerable to French scouts carrying a machine gun mounted to fire through the arc of the propeller, by means of a crude arrangement of armoured wedges fitted to the blades. Two technical innovations reversed this trend: the adoption of interrupter gear, an improvement on the French invention which genuinely synchronized the fire of the new LMG08 machine gun with propeller revolutions; and the introduction of a lighter hand-traversed LMG14 for the observers in reconnaissance machines. The new interrupter gear was mounted on the highly manoeuvrable Fokker monoplane (Eindecker), and one or two of the newly equipped machines were attached to each FFA to provide escorts for reconnaissance aircraft. But the progressive arming of reconnaissance machines also meant that they could now defend themselves, and Eindecker pilots were increasingly sent up on interception missions. With the change from mobile to static ground warfare, the aircraft of the FFAs were also called upon increasingly to undertake other roles - bombing, and spotting for artillery fire, as well as 9 An observer with his LMG14 machine gun, the position of its traversing ring forcing him to crouch down inside the cockpit. Both observer and pilot are wearing the regulation padded helmets. Note also the rack of signal pistol flares on the fuselage side. (IWM (323896) short and long range reconnaissance. Such a mix of roles, combined with the variety of aircraft on strength, reduced effectiveness. There were also inefficiencies in the way diat reconnaissance information was handled at Army HQ level, and it became clear that the Air Service was not operating to its full potential. An observer leans over the side of his Euler-built Albatros two- seater to take a photograph. Reconnaissance units The answer lay in specialization. The first step in that direction came in August 1915 with the creation of a new type of unit, the Feldflieger Abteilung (Artillerie) - FFA(A) - for the specific purpose of working with the artillery'. Fifteen such units (12 Prussian, three Bavarian) were formed, each consisting of four to six aircraft, and were allocated to corps HQs or to local artillery commanders. Next, from February 1916 onwards, single-seat fighter aircraft were withdrawn to form their own units. Meanwhile, the two-seaters of the remaining FFAs continued with their tactical bombing and reconnaissance work. Both types of unit continued to grow in number: by the beginning of 1916, 74 Prussian FFAs and 40 FFA(A)s were in service, with Bavaria contributing a further nine and three respectively. The aircraft on strength in 1914 were gradually replaced by various models of the C- Type - a two-seater, single-engined aircraft, armed with one fixed machine gun firing forward, and a second, on a pivot attached to a rotatable ring, which covered the sides and rear in the hands of die observer in die rear cockpit. In January' 1917 the units were all renamed - as Flieger Abteilung (FA) and Flieger Abteilung (Artillerie) (FAA) respectively - and renumbered. In the spring of the same year a second A camouflage-painted AEG CIV, number 2054/17, with reconnaissance camera. Despite the date note that the crew still wear the pre-war padded helmet; and that two men are crammed into the rear cockpit. The AEG C-TVpes were stubby, ungainly looking machines, but they did sterling work with the FAs and FAAs from their introduction in 1916 until virtually the end of the war. (IWM Q60316) reorganization took place that redistributed the FAs. One FA was now attached to each army HQ in an operational reconnaissance role. Another, tasked with tactical reconnaissance and long range artillery spotting, was attached to each corps HQ, while an FAA served with each division F1Q. Most FAAs also included aircraft specifically tasked to co- operate with ground forces (Infanterieflieger); it was one of their duties to monitor the progress of an attack, noting enemy positions, and reporting back to corps or army headquarters. An elaborate scheme of signals permitted two-way communication between aircraft and front line troops. The FAAs were also able to undertake a limited amount of resupply by air. The location of any bottlenecks would be passed on, to become the responsibility of the Schusta. The instructions to Infanterieflieger laid emphasis on regular photographic sorties, at least once a week, and on maintaining regular contact with the infantry - again, at least once a week in quiet periods. Filing at heights as low as 150ft, the crews were to update situation maps in the air, and transfer the information on to 1:10,000 maps on their return. Information was to be transmitted direct to division, bypassing regimental headquarters. By this time every FAA aircraft was equipped with a Telefunken telegraph transmitting set, maintaining communications with the divisional artillery commander, who was based back at the FAVs home airfield. According to British intelligence the high water mark of aircraft/artillery work came in January-February 1917, when German artillery made a great number of long and uninterrupted shoots, controlled by aircraft. Experience laid emphasis on the need for close co- operation between aircraft and the divisional artillery commander, and special liaison officers were appointed to co-ordinate communications. Night ranging was introduced in the autumn of 1917, but this could only be used against large targets, particularly those with strong daytime anti- aircraft defences, such as crossroads, camps or railway stations. The introduction of the Reihenbildner camera in 1916 was a major step forward in photographic reconnaissance. Older models required the observer to expose a succession of single glass plate negatives manually; this new type of camera was automatic, driven by a small windmill generator that turned in the airflow, exposing negatives onto a roll of film. With later models containing sufficient film to photograph approximately 300 square miles of terrain, the Reihenbildner made it possible to record a mosaic of the Allied lines instead of individual positions. Operating at approximately 18,000ft, the Rumpler CIVs and CVlIs that carried these cameras were usually too high to attract interference from Allied fighters. Initially, one of these specially equipped aircraft was allocated to each FA as they came off the production line; but from September 1917 they were organized into their own units (there were eventually 15 altogether), denoted by the suffix ‘Lb’ (‘mit Lichtbildgerat') and normally attached to army HQs. By 1918 at least one FA Lb was attached to OHL, and another to each army HQ. Each army HQ also included one FA for long distance reconnaissance, to locate the enemy reserves (known colloquially as ‘AOK flights’), A line-up of Albatros DVs at Roucourt airfield, near St Quentin, in April 1917. These appear to be aircraft from several different units, including Jasta 3, 4, 11 and 33. The aircraft second from the front was flown by Manfred von Richthofen of Jasta 1 1 . (IWM Q50328) and another for heavy artillery ranging. Each corps HQ had an FA for the reconnaissance of the rear of the enemy immediately opposite, and for some artillery or infantry co-operation work; and each division HQ controlled an FA for tactical reconnaissance and infantry co-operation. The importance of aerial photography was quickly recognized. Each army staff had a photographic interpretation officer responsible for evaluating the information received, passing it on to local commanders Lefflncourt, 25 February 1917: the commander of Jasta 9, Lt Kurt Student - later famous as a World War II paratroop general - briefs his Albatros Dll pilots for a mission. These men include Lt Werner Junge, who was shot down and died the next day; and Vfw Kohler, who flew the machine bearing the crossed scimitars insignia, and who would be killed on 30 May 1918. Note the black-clad ground crew at the left. (IWM Q54406) LEFT A group of Fokker Drl triplane pilots from Jasta 26 at Erchin are helped Into their flying gear by the ground crew. The two at the left favour the thigh-length Uberjacke, and the pilot in the foreground wears a one-piece flying suit, its double- breasted front still folded back across his shoulder. Clearly, the mechanic at far right has taken advantage of the regulation allowing Junior ranks to fit leather visors (peaks) to their ‘pork pie' forage caps. (IWM Q52997) and updating the cartographic unit. As the amount of work grew, however, one man was no longer sufficient and in 1917 the post was expanded into a whole section, the Stabsbild Abteilung (Stabia). Centralizing the interpretation work in this way had its advantages, but units at the front were still not receiving the information quickly enough. Temporary group photographic sections allowed the new Gratis to evaluate the reports covering their territory; by April 1918 each Grufi had at his disposal a permanent photographic section, speedily distributing local information for regimental commanders, before sending it up the line to the Stabia for further evaluation and inclusion in the army's maps. Hans Schroder, serving as a Grufi with Gruppe Wytschaete in 1917, boasted that the photos he requested were delivered to him just one hour after the reconnaissance aircraft took off. Close support units For the start of the Verdun offensive in February 1916 the Germans assembled ten FFAs, six FFA(A)s, two specially strengthened Kagohl and three fighter units, as well as four airships and 21 observation balloons. The number of aircraft they put into the sky allowed them to achieve air superiority for a short time, before the French countered with even more machines, including increasing numbers of the agile new Nieuport 1 1 . This forced the Germans to divert two-seater units from their proper functions of reconnaissance and tactical bombing, to throw them instead into the air superiority battle, or use them as escorts for reconnaissance missions, or in ground attacks in support of the infantry - tasks for which they were not equipped. As a result the units suffered high losses in both men and machines and were unable to fulfil their intended role of harassing the enemy’s rear. The same pattern repeated itself on the Somme later that year. On 1 July the Germans were able to muster only five FFAs, four FFA(A)s, two Fighter detachments and one Kagohl. These were quickly overwhelmed by the opposing Allied forces, which were superior both in quality and quantity. Reinforcements were drawn in over the next few months until, by October 1916, there were 26 FFAs, 20 FFA(A)s, 33 bomber Staffeln and four Fighter units operating over that sector of the front. The initial German response was to create a new type of unit that could be used in a dual role, providing escorts for reconnaissance machines as well as undertaking local ground attack duties, leasing the other units free to concentrate on their proper roles. The new units were named Schutzstaffeln (Schusta) - 'protection flights’ - and 38 were created in the winter of 1916-17 by disbanding specialist bomber flights. But finding aircraft capable of performing effectively in both roles was a problem. The Schusta were at first equipped with the same C-Types as the FFAs, but these were insufficiently robust for ground attack work. G-Type aircraft - twin-engined and armed with a number of machine guns - were better able to perform ground attack duties and could defend themselves if attacked, but they were too heavy and unwieldy to perform well as escort machines, and were soon transferred to bombing missions. The choice eventually fell on single-engined aircraft like the Halberstadt GUI and IV or the Hannover CLI1 and III: over the winter of 1917-18 each Schusta was equipped with six such aircraft, with a total strength of 67 men. Each unit was attached to a division HQ, principally for escort work, but some aircraft within each unit were also made available on a stand-by basis for infantry or artillery co-operation duties. After some success in ground support work in 191 7 - particularly during the battle of Arras in April under Hptm Zorer of Schusta 7 - the escort role was finally abandoned, leaving the Schusta free at last to concentrate on ground attack. The Halberstadts and Hannovers were eventually supplemented by the armoured Junkers J 1 , built especially for the ground attack role and introduced in 1918. Problems of communication had to he overcome before these aircraft could be used to their full potential. Infantry battalions included a lamp signalling section, but this was not always effective on a smoke-shrouded battlefield. Equally, flares and Bengal lights could sometimes be difficult to see in bright sunlight. The strips of cloth given to ground troops to mark their positions and construct simple signals quickly became dirty and unreadable; even when clean they also advertised the position to Allied flyers. The aircraft had to drop their messages to the front line troops, at the same lime using their telegraph to communicate with division HQ. Once a bottleneck in the advance had been reported to army or corps headquarters, the Grufl could allocate units to attack the enemy position. Using wireless telegraphy speeded up the whole process, and aircraft could be allocated a new objective while they were still in the air, rather than waiting for them to return to their home airfield. For the March 1918 offensive the 38 Schusta were renamed SchlachtstafTel (Schlasta) - ‘attack flights’. This was more in keeping with their actual battlefield role, which was described in some detail in the Manual of Positional Warfare. The Manual recommended that Army HQs should retain some Schlasta to harass traffic in the enemy’s rear areas; others should be controlled by corps HQs to use during the latter stages of the batde, when they would be required to break up pockets of resistance or counter-attacks; but most should be employed by division HQs on their immediate front, ‘to ensure their being engaged at the right moment’. It also argued that the lower the Schlasta aircraft flew, the greater not only was the moral effect on the enemy, hut also the material effect on his front line, and for this reason it advocated descents to between 150 and 90 feet. For the engagement of larger targets (e.g. reserves and batteries) a height of 1,200-1 ,500ft was regarded as more favourable. The Manual further recommended that the Schlasta should not be spread along the whole length of the front, but concentrated at decisive points. For large-scale operations, units should attack in waves rather than all at once. In his memoirs, Gen Ludendorff described the Schlasta in action: These [aircraft] would dive from high in the sky and fly low over the ground. They would attack with machine guns and light bombs the enemy infantry, artillery and, as occurred more and more, the enemy reserves also, columns and trains as well as columns of march coming from far away. Originally intended as an ancillary infantry weapon, at the end these Schlasta were also given great tactical tasks... Like the other combat weapons, they too were weapons of destruction in the great land batde. This was their purpose - the battle in the air remained only a means to that end. Although they met with some success in the first few days of the offensive, this was only temporary; when the Allies countered by using low-level aircraft of their own, the work of the Schlasta was severely disrupted. Nevertheless, their overall contribution, both in material terms and in the heightened morale of the ground troops they supported, was sufficient to prompt the diversion of newly qualified fighter pilots to the Schlasta in the summer of 1918. An additional 22 Schlasta were to be formed in this way, making a total often Geschwader of six Staffeln each. In the event, only two of the proposed StafTeln were formed; nevertheless, the remaining units continued to disrupt Allied concentrations until the end of the war. The ground support tactics first developed during the war were perfected during 1919 by the former Navy fighter pilot Gotthard Sachsenburg, with the flying units of the Freikorps in the Baltic states. A photo allegedly taken just before Manfred von Richthofen's last flight on 2f April 1918; Richthofen is the fourth pilot from the right. Dark-coloured flying suits appear to be the favoured clothing in this group of JG 1 pilots; and note the harness of the Heinicke parachute worn by several of them. The squadron buildings are a haphazard mixture of wooden huts, corrugated 'elephant' iron and tents. (IWM Q63136) Among the troops on the ground who benefited from that air support was a certain Ilptm Heinz Guderian. FIGHTER UNITS The new interrupter gear and lightweight air-cooled LMG08 machine gun found their ideal vehicle in the Fokker Eindecker monoplane, which was far more manoeuvrable than anything else in the skies in 1915. Flying a handful of these machines, officers such as Immehnann, Boelcke and Kastner of FFA 62 became the world's first true fighter pilots. The development of a specialist fighter aircraft called for new tactics. Instead of acting as the escort and protector of two-seaters, the Fokkers now set off on missions with the sole aim of destroying enemy machines. Sometimes alone, more often with a wingman, the Fokker pilots would stalk their opponents, using cloud cover whenever possible, and then close in swiftly to deliver the telling blow: ‘I fly close to my man, aim well, and then of course he falls down’, Oswald Boelcke told the young Richthofen. To counter dtese ‘hunting’ missions, the Allies attached one or two machines as an escort to their reconnaissance aircraft. From the spring of 1916 diis led in turn to the formation of dedicated German flights to oppose them: these were the Kampfeinsitzer-Kommandos (KeK) - ‘fighting single-seater commands’ - each composed of up to four single- seaters, withdrawn from their parent FFAs and based at a single airfield. The new KeK drove the French from the skies over Verdun at a vital moment, and gave the British a hard time before they could introduce new fighters of their own. Table 4: Deployment of Jagdstaffeln, 1 December 1916 Higher formation Jasta Formed from Higher formation Jasta Formed from & airfield number & airfield number I.Armee (north ot Rheims) 6. Armee (Picardy) Gonnelieu 5 KeK Staff el A Brayelles-Douai 11 6.Armee Lagmcourt 2 Flieger Ersatz Abteilung 7 Riencourt 12 Fokkerstaffel West Neufiize-Le Chatelet 21 Armee Flugpark 3 1 Proville 1 KeK Nord & FAs of 7. Armee (Eastern I.Armee Champagne) Riencourt 22 FFA 1 1 & 29, FAA 22 Leffincourt 9 Armeestaffel des AOK 3 2.Armee (Somme) Armee Abteilung A Neuflize-Le Chatelet 20 Armee Flugpark 2 (Alsace) Fontaine-Uterte 3 Flieger Ersatz Abteilung 5 Metz-Frescaty 17 Armee Flugpark 5 Roupy 4 KeK Vaux Ronssoy 19 Armee Flugpark 1 Ugny I'Equipee 6 Fokkerstaffel Sivry Morcbingen 24 Armee Abteilung A 3. Armee (Champagne) (none) Armee Abteilung B (Lorraine) 4 Armee (Flanders) Habsheim 15 KeK Habsheim Neuvilly-Le Cateau 8 FEA 10, FA 6,33 & 40, FAA 213 Ensisheim 16 KeK Ensisheim. FA 9b Halluin 18 FEA 12 Armee Abteilung Stranz (Alsace) | 5. Armee (Verdun) Mars-la-Tour 13 Armee Abteilung C Procher 7 Fokkerstaffel Martincourt (forming at Pusieux) 23 Armee Abteilung Stranz Jametz-Stenay 10 KeK 3 Marchais 14 Falkenhausen Macedonia Fokkerkampfstaffel Prilip 25 16 I The success of the KeK so impressed Kogenluft that in August 1916 they became permanent formations, allocated extra aircraft and renamed Jagdstaffeln (Jasta) - ‘hunting flights’. The Jasta remained the basic fighter unit for the remainder of the war. The superiority of the new Albatros over enemy machines forced the Allies to use even larger escorts, and the Germans responded by employing larger formations still. In June 1917, four Jasta (4, 6, 10 & 11) were formed into Jagdgeschwader Nr.l under Manfred von Richthofen’s command. This - like the bomber units BAO and BAM before it - was an elite reserve unit, thrown into battle wherever the fighting was at its most fierce. The Jasta was larger than the other aviation units, with 14 aircraft, but like the various Abteilungen it was commanded by a first lieutenant or captain. Each aircraft had its own fitter and two riggers, while another 14 mechanics, electricians, joiners, leather workers and cable splicers were employed in general aircraft maintenance. Altogether there were 127 men and 12 vehicles on the strength of each Jasta. Experience gained in the battles of 1917 demonstrated the value of air superiority as an integral part of the army’s effort, whether defensive or offensive, and four more Jagdgeschwader (three Army, one Navy) were formed in 1918. The principle was not, however, taken to its full conclusion, and not Table 5: Highest scoring Jagdstaffeln Scores are for officially confirmed victories over all enemy craft, including balloons. Some victories may have gone unrecorded in the last days of the war; units affected by this included Jasta 28. All records for Jasta 48. 82, 84w, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 & 90 appear to have been lost. The date of formation Is that of the order that created each Jasta; under normal circumstances, a unit would take the field about two weeks later. The figures for pilots lost include those killed In accidents and those posted as missing. Jasta Victories Formation date Killed + captured 11 350 28 Sept 1916 19 + 2 POW 2 336 10 Aug 1916 33 + 2 POW 5 253 10 Aug 1916 22 + 2 POW 6 201 25 Aug 1916 12 + 3 POW 4 192 25 Aug 1916 11+2 POW 26 180 14 Dec 1916 5 + 1 POW 12 156 80ct 1916 17 + 1 POW 36 156 11 Jan 1917 14 + 2 POW 10 151 28 Sept 1916 21+4 POW 15 150 28 Sept 1916 9 + 2 POW 21s 141 25 Oct 1916 8 + 1 POW 27 134 5 Feb 1917 14 + 1 POW 7 126 23 Aug 1916 13 45 113 11 Dec 1917 4 18 112 30 Oct 1916 8 + 1 POW 13 109 28 Sept 1916 13 + 2 POW 1 107 22 Aug 1916 13 + 1 POW 9 107 28 Sept 1916 18 MFJ 1 104 1 Feb 1917 15 17 101 23 Oct 1916 12 28w 100 14 Dec 1916 9 + 1 POW The most successful Bavarian Jasta was 34b (formed 20 Feb 1917), with 89 victories at a cost of 12 killed + 5 captured. The lowest-scoring Jasta of all was 75 (formed 14 Feb 1918), with four | victories at a cost of two men killed. (Source: Franks et al, Above the Lines) The ‘Red Baron's' younger brother Lothar von Richthofen in the cockpit of a Fokker Drl triplane. He survived the war, scoring 40 victories, only to be killed while flying a commercial aircraft in 1922. Here he seems to wear a double-breasted leather jacket of the old transport driver type with a large fleece collar. (IWM Q63155) 17 every Jasta became part of such a large formation. Concerned that there were too few leaders of the quality of Richthofen, with the ability to command effectively a unit of this size, Kogenluft erred on the side of caution. Instead a number of Jagdgruppen were formed during the final year of the war, bringing various Jasta together as the tactical situation required but not on the permanent basis enjoyed by the Jagdgeschwader. Tactics The basic tactical unit in the air was the Kette of two aircraft - a leader and his wingman. Further machines flew ech- eloned back, above and below. Although aircraft naturally lost formation during a dogfight, commanders nevertheless placed great emphasis on the underlying need for discipline. Leutnant von Wedel, commanding Jasta 7, told his men that during combat, ‘the leading principle was to extricate a comrade in a critical situation... After each fight, machines must rally and resume formation... Strict discipline increases mutual confidence... Attack only on the leader’s signal. Keep the leader in sight... Never glide or dive in a straight line... If you lose the formation, then return to the aerodrome.’ Lt Ernst Udet of Jasta 4 - with 62 confirmed victories, the highest-scoring German ace to survive the war - poses with his Fokker DVII, the outstanding fighter type of 1918. His personal marking was a large white 'LO!', referring to his fiancee Eleanore Zink. Udet joined the Wurttemburg Army before transferring to the Air Service; after the war he became famous as a stunt pilot, explorer and international aviation playboy. Over-promoted by Goring in the late 1930s, Gen Udet found his false position intolerable, and shot himself on 17 November 1941. (IWM Q63153) Table 6: The leading fighter aces (Note: KIA = killed in action; POW = captured) Army Air Service Jasta & JGr/JG Victories Rtm Manfred von Richthofen (KIA 21.4.18) 2, 11 & JG1 80 Obit Ernst Udet 15, 37, 11,4 62 Obit Erich Lowenhardt (KIA 10.8.18) 10 54 Lt Josef Jacobs 12, 22s, 7 48 Lt Werner Voss (KIA 23.9.17) 2, 5. 29, 14, 10 48 Lt Fritz Rumey (KIA 27.9.18) 2,5 45 1 Hptm Rudolph Berthold KeK V, Jasta 4, 18 & JG2 14, 44 Hptm Bruno Lorzer 17, 26 & JG3 44 Lt Paul Baumer 5,2 43 Hptm Oswald Boelcke (KIA 28.10.16) FA 62, Jasta 2 40 Lt Franz Buchner 9, 13 40 Obit Lothar von Richthofen 11 40 Lt Heinrich Gontermann (KIA 30.10.17) 5, 15 39 Obit Carl Menckhoff (POW 25.7.18) 3,72s 39 Lt Julius Buckler 17 36 Lt Max von Muller (KIA 9.1.18) 2, 28w 36 Lt Karl Bolle 28w, 2 35 Lt Gustav Dorr 45 35 I Lt Otto Konnecke 25, 5 35 Hptm Eduard von Schleich 21 , 32b 8 JGr 8 35 Lt Emil Thuy 21s, 28 & JGr 7 35 Lt Joseph Veltjens 14, 18. 15 35 Marine Air Service ObttzS Theodor Osterkamp MFJ 1, 2 32 ObltzS Gotthard Sachsenberg MFJ 1 31 (Source: Franks et al, Above the Lines) When a number of Jasta were operating together, each unit flew at a different altitude, one above the other, and (ideally) partly concealed by cloud or the glare of the sun. When the enemy engaged the lowest formation, then the upper formations - usually the Jagdgeschwadcr, operating above 12,000 feet - would join in to tilt the balance of numbers. The unit leader was usually the first to attack, with his men behind him arranged in order of experience. This was the way some pilots accumulated large numbers of victories, while others did not. It was more important to be a good marksman than a good pilot, as even Richthofen was forced to admit. Jasta pilots did not engage in regular offensive patrols of the kind familiar to the British; in the strategic sense theirs was a defensive war. The Principles of Command in the Defensive Battle, a manual published by OHL in March 1917, argued that the best means of securing and retaining command of the air was to allot permanently defined areas to the Jasta or groups of single-seaters, whose duty was to attack and destroy or chase away hostile aeroplanes or balloons. Accordingly, the pilots normally kept themselves at readiness at the airfield. Some scanned the air over the front with binoculars to try to spot enemy aircraft; a more reliable method was to wait for information from a chain of observation posts stationed in the front line. Their reports were telephoned to die Lt Hans Joachim Wolff - like his CO Manfred von Richthofen, a transfer from the lancers - with his pet wolfhound; note the Iron Cross First Class and pilot’s badge pinned to the left breast of his Ulanka tunic. Known as 'Little Wolf' to distinguish him from his squadron mate Kurt Wolff, he served with Jasta 11, and was killed on 16 May 1918 at the age of 22, after scoring 10 victories in two months while flying the Fokker triplane. (IWM Q63154) army Kofi, who would then scramble aircraft to meet any potential threat. Since the Germans fought over their own lines they had the advantage of fuel and weather. Any aircraft running short of fuel could use the prevailing westerly wind to try to regain the German lines, or even his own airfield, whereas Allied pilots in the same position frequently had to tly into a headwind. Whenever a German pilot survived the downing of his machine, he could return to his unit, and with luck his aircraft could be salvaged; a British or French pilot in the same situation not only lost his aircraft but was also much more likely to be taken prisoner. Instructions issued to 7th Army in March 1917 emphasized that ‘the enemy must be engaged over the German lines, he must be attacked with the greatest energy and pursued until the zone of fire of the enemy anti-aircraft batteries is reached.’ Parachutes German aircrew had another advantage over their Allied counterparts: the availability of parachutes. These were supplied to aircrew during the last seven months of the war, first to the Jasta in late March 1918, and later to two- seater units as well. The Heinicke parachute was invented by one UfTz Heinicke of Feldluftschiffer Abteilung 23, who wanted to improve upon the Paulus parachute, then used only by the crews of observation balloons (see ‘Observation Balloons’ 19 A group of pilots in Macedonia, mostly from Jasta 25, all wearing variations on the fur- or fleece- lined three-quarter length cloth flying coat. At right is Gerhard Fieseler, who later became an aircraft designer; his most famous product was the Fi 156 Storch reconnaissance aircraft of World War II. (IWM Q63139) below) . The new pattern differed from its predecessor by its use of a ‘seat cushion' pack hooked to the harness, and a static line from the pack which was attached either to the interior of the cockpit or to the ring of an observer’s machine gun mount. The harness consisted of a strong waist belt with attachment D-rings at the hips, and straps passing both over the shoulders and around the upper thighs. The first man to use the new model was Vfw Weimar of Jasta 56, who successfully baled out of his burning Albatros DVa on 1 April 1918. However, of the 70 or so men who followed, about a third were killed. A design fault may have been to blame: the canopy was too small, and the material of the harness was insufficiently strong, causing it to lail if the parachute opened at speeds greater than 80mph - reached by a pilot only seconds after leaving his plane. Many men made their own modifications to the harness, to try to reduce the impact on the body when the parachute opened and to improve the strength of the harness, particularly the leg straps. Even so, the static line could easily snag the tail assembly, dragging the airman down, while a burning aircraft could also set the canopy on fire. Aces and decorations In the early stages of the war, and even when Boelcke and Immelmann were beginning to attract attention flying Eindekkers in summer 1915, aerial combat was a rarity and it was something of a feat to bring down an enemy machine. In November 1915, when both Boelcke and Immelmann had scored six victories each, they were awarded the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal Hohenzollern House Order. This was one of Germany’s highest awards, previously granted to only three other servicemen (two soldiers and one sailor). Boelcke and Immelmann became famous not only within Air Service circles but also to a wider public. In effect, this was the start of the rise of the ‘air ace’. In an era of massed batdes by vast armies, it was easier for the public at home to identify with the name of a particular airman as a hero, especially when the very idea of flying was still so novel. It was also easier for Army public relations to promote such an individual. Towards the end of 1915, industrialists in Germany sponsored the manufacture of silver Ehrenbecher ( honour goblets’), and presented them to every pilot and observer officially credited with a kill. (On a more personal level, Max Immelmann - die ‘Eagle of Lille’ - was receiving 40 letters a day from admirers.) Naval livers received something similar; however, their award, in the form of a statuette, could be presented for any meritorious act - for example, LtzS Eisenlohr was honoured for the bombing and sinking of the Russian destroyer Stroiny in the Gulf of Riga on 22 August 1917. In January 1916 both Boelcke and Immelmann scored their eighth victories. So incredible did this feat seem to contemporaries that a further honour was deemed necessary', and both were presented with the Pour le Merite, the famous ‘Blue Max’, Germany’s highest award. They w r ere invited to dine with the King of Bavaria, and received telegrams of congratulation from many of Germany’s ruling princes. But both continued to shoot down enemy aircraft and add to their number of kills: Immelmann reached 15 before he was shot down himself on 18 June 1916, while Hptm Boelcke ’s total would eventually reach 40 before he died in a mid-air collission on 28 October that year. Other pilots, too, began to achieve eight victories: Lt Kurt Wintgens (30 June 1916), Lt Max von Mulzer (8 July), Lt Otto Parschau (9 July), Lt Walter Hohndorf (15th July) and Lt Wilhelm Frankel (9 August). As the precedent of awarding the Pour le Merite for eight victories had been created, these men duly received the same decoration. The nature of the ‘Blue Max’ meant that for the recipients there was no other prize that the authorities could bestow to recognize the achievement of those who went on to reach higher scores. Further, it was available only to commissioned officers, so successful NCO pilots - such A group photo of pilots from Jasta 26, including Obit Hermann Gbring (centre, with stick) and his close friend Bruno Lorzer (standing, fourth left). Goring was credited with 22 victories, although modem research casts doubt on the validity of some of his claims. Ldrzer was another leading World War I ace who would prove inadequate in a senior command in World War II - as, notoriously, would Goring himself. Lorzer was given command of the bombers of II Fliegerkorps on the Channel Coast in 1940. (IWM Q69207) 21 as Vfw Friedrich Altemeier of Jasta 24s (21 victories), or Vfw Oskar Hennrich of Jasta 46 (20 victories) - were ineligible, even though they had far surpassed the requisite number of aircraft destroyed. By the end of the war the achievements of 1915 had become almost commonplace; so many pilots had reached the qualifying mark of eight victories that it was raised to 16 in January 1917, and then - after Richthofen had reached this target in that very month - to 20. Even the Ehrenbecher were no longer made from silver, but from steel. By making aerial victories virtually the sole qualification for the award of the Pour le Merite, the authorities also perhaps over-favoured fighter pilots. By the end of the war a total of 75 awards had been made to the Army Air Service: 59 to fighter pilots, but only eight to men from two-seater units (the other awards went to Kogenluft, his chief of staff, five Bogohl commanders and one balloon observer). Ilans Schroder, looking back on his time with FFA 6 on the Eastern Front, did not approve: ‘Decorations may have shown themselves a necessary institution... but they are a serious danger to good comradeship... they cannot help but turn the best of comrades into rivals... In the course of the war this bestowal of orders reached such a point of absurdity that no person more or less in possession of his five wits set the slightest store by them.’ There were cases of very successful pilots proving unsuited to command a Jasta when subsequently appointed to that responsibility. Victory claims were rigorously checked and annotated. When the pilot returned to his airfield he would compile a combat report that was sent to his commanding officer. From here, it went on up the chain of command as far as Kogenluft, and for the claim to be allowed it had to be approved at each level. If successful, the pilot was issued with a document detailing the combat, and giving the victory number for himself and for his unit. When the wreckage fell on the German side of the lines the victor was awarded a diesseit (‘this side’) victory. If it fell on enemy territory, but was seen to crash - for example, by a forward observer from the artillery or from a balloon - then it was referred to as a jmseil (‘their side’) victory. Both types counted towards the total of victories (in two-seater units, both pilot and observer added one to their tally) . If, however, the enemy plane had been seen to land and could be recovered by the enemy, then the victory was classified as zur Landung gezwungen: it counted towards the flyer’s total score, but was not given a victory number. Disputed victories were settled at Kofi level; those that could not be resolved were given to the unit, but not to any individual. Victories were not recorded as shared between different pilots. STRATEGIC BOMBING Airships The Army had been operating balloons since 1884. Its first preference was for a semi-rigid type that could accompany troops on the march, and could be assembled and inflated when needed. However, Count Zeppelin’s successful demonstration of the endurance and airworthiness of his rigid-framed design led to a change of policy. A fleet of 15 airships of this model was commissioned in 1908, and provision made for the existing two-company-strong Luftschiffer Bataillon to be increased to Navy Zeppelin L9 at its shed. Commanded by Kapitanleutnant Mathy, this craft took part in the raids on Tyneside on 14 April 1915 and on Hull on 6 June. Just visible on the top profile of the envelope, above the airship number, is the exposed machine gun post. (IWM Q58451) Navy Zeppelins L11, L12 and L13 In flight. LI 2 crashed and burned at Ostend on 10 August 1915, little more than six weeks after being commissioned and after only one operational sortie. The other two, after a total of 35 sorties between them, were dismantled in 1917. (IWM Q58452) three battalions. The newly raised battalions included small contingents from Saxony and Wurttemberg, and Bavaria also raised its own battalion. Like the Flieger Bataillonen, these battalions served only as cadres, and on mobilization they formed 18 separate units, each with one airship. Each unit consisted of 3 officers and 146 men, 1 motor car, 2 lorries and 5 horses. The crew of each airship consisted of a commander, a flight engineer, a navigator, a wireless operator, an armaments officer, two helmsmen and between four and eight mechanics, depending on the number of engines on the craft. The airships were intended primarily for use in operational reconnaissance for OHL. In addition to its normal crew, each airship was to have on board a staff officer who would take command of the craft after departure. Under optimum weather conditions, a range of around 300 miles was expected at a cruising speed of 40 miles per hour. Operations were planned to take place in daylight, although some provision had also been made for night-time bombing. However, die German Navy took a different view. It had quickly seen the potential of the airship as a strategic bomber and, soon after the outbreak of war, began pressing the Kaiser for permission to launch air raids over England. This was granted on 7 January 1915, with the proviso that attacks should be restricted to military targets. The first raid took place on the night of 19/20 January, when two out of three airships reached the Norfolk coast and dropped bombs on the ports of Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. Naval airship crews consisted of a Kapitan- Leutnant in command, accompanied by an Oberleutnant or Leutnant zur See as second- in-command (Wachoffxzier) . The navigator and engineer were warrant officers, while six ABOVE LEFT Fregattenkapitan Peter Strasser, the dedicated and enthusiastic commander of the Navy Zeppelins, who was awarded the Pour le Merite on 28 August 1917. He was killed when L70 was shot down over King’s Lynn, Norfolk, on 5 August 1918. Note the crown of a sea officer worn above the four cuff rings of this rank. (IWM Q58493) ABOVE RIGHT A view of the gondola of Navy Zeppelin L54. Note the Pour le Merite painted on the nose, commemorating the award made to the commander, ObltzS Treusch von Buttlar- Brandenfels, on 16 September 1917. Note also the ladders leading upwards into the envelope, giving access for maintainence and to the upper machine gun position. (IWM Q 58473) 24 ratings were variously responsible for the elevators (iwo). the steering (two), the wireless (one) and fabric repair (one). The crew also included engineer ratings, usually two per engine, and sometimes an extra rating responsible for the fuel supply. Each airship had its own maintenance party (Schiffspflegegruppe) of 24 men div ided into two watches. Neither Army nor Navy airships carried parachutes; lack of space meant that the packs had to be slung outside the gondolas, and - since all airships were filled with highly flammable hydrogen - the chances of making a safe descent from a burning airship were considered by the crews to be so remote that parachutes were abandoned, and the weight saved was used to increase the bomb load. Experience in action quickly revealed endemic problems. Airships were too slow and, laden with bombs, flew too low to escape Allied fire. An attempt by three Army airships to bomb Paris in March 1915 met with only limited success - SL2 turned back before reaching the main target, bombing nothing more than targets of opportunity in Champagne; ZX was shot down by ground fire over St Quentin on the return leg, and only LZ35 reached its base again. Nor could airships offer much in the way of tactical support. An attempt to disrupt French replacements for the Verdun front by bombing Nancy' on 22 February 1916 was a failure; only one craft reached the target, two were forced to turn back by bad weather (one of them being wrecked in a crash landing), and one was shot down. The Army became disenchanted with the airship, and in 1917 turned over all its remaining machines to the Navy. Between 1915 and 1918, flying over the undefended Nortli Sea, airships made 53 attacks on the United Kingdom, dropping a total of 5,751 bombs. In total 73 dirigible airships (59 Zeppelins, eight Schiitte-Lanz and six other types) saw service with the German forces. Seventeen were lost during raids, while six more were destroyed on 5 January 1918 in a fire at the headquarters of the Naval Airship Division at Alliorn in north-west Germany. As a weapon of war they were ineffective. They demanded careful handling hy their crews, making replacement personnel hard to find and difficult to train to the level required. Nor were the craft wholly reliable. Allied defences obliged the Germans to fly at high altitudes, resulting in many engine failures. At the same time, splits in the fabric were frequent, causing a loss of hydrogen - or worse, a potentially explosive mixture of hydrogen and air. Navigation, too, was always difficult. Many Navy captains had seen service in the merchant marine, and were used to navigating by the stars, but in other than perfect weather conditions they often had to fall back on dead reckoning. Many craft lost their way, and had either to turn back or jettison their bombs. Finally, bomb sights were not accurate enough to ensure that only military targets were hit. Airship raids still had some effect, causing panic amongst the civilian population and undermining morale, but they did not materially affect the outcome of the war. Indeed, it could be argued that British public outrage over the deliberate bombing of cities, and consequent vengefulness, outweighed any German gains. Aircraft At the outbreak of war, as described above, all aviation units were subordinated to individual army commands, leaving none available for wider strategic objectiv es. This weakness was overcome in April 1915 by die creation of a formation code-named Carrier Pigeon Unit Ostend (Brieftauben-Abteilung Ostende, BAO), which was quickly joined by a second unit, BA Metz (BAM). These two units came under the direct command of OHL, which was able to use them as a strategic bombing reserve for both Western and Eastern fronts. Navy Zeppelin L59 emerges from its shed at Staaken. L59 mounted the bold ‘Africa Raid' of November 1917, setting off from Bulgaria loaded with food, ammunition and medical supplies for Lettow-Vorbeck's forces in East Africa. It had got as far as the Sudan when it was recalled, in the mistaken belief that Lettow-Vorbeck had been captured. (IWM Q58475) To make it easier to move along the front, each of the two units was based around a train, which ferried aircraft, crews and equipment wherever the situation dictated. Two dining cars served as a mess (Kasino), and some Belgian Railways sleeping cars were fitted out for the aircrews. The train would deliver the crews to the airfield early in the morning, and collect them again at night - a facility that was much appreciated by the men. Oberleutnant Carganico remembered: ‘When you sat there, you really felt cosy, as if you were sat in a room in a doll's house. When you returned from a flight, there was always a place of quiet comfort to rest... Even if we travelled by air [to another part of the front] our living quarters rolled after us, and were ready for us in the evening.’ To ensure complete independence in its operations, the BAO even carried its own wooden runway, which could be taken off the train, laid down and assembled in just a few days. Its aircraft, disassembled for transport by train, were sheltered in large canvas tents at their new airfield. These tents were standard throughout the Air Service: made by Baumann & Lederer of Kassel, they could each accommodate tw o two-seaters. Since OHL assembled the best pilots and observers for the two units, they were an immediate success, and more were formed. Renamed Kampfgesch wader cler Obersten Heeresleitung (Kagohl), their number rose briefly to seven by early 1916, before four were disbanded in the summer of the same year. Each Kagohl was composed of a number of Kampfstaffeln (Kasta) of six aircraft. Originally these were the same Albatros GUIs that equipped many of the FFAs, but over the winter of 1915-16 the Kasta were re-equipped with AEG G-Types, which were better suited to their task. Each of these aircraft had a crew of three (pilot, observer and gunner); a ground crew of 100 men supported them, with additional officers and men acting as the Geschwader staff. Despite their elite status and their function as a strategic bomber reserve, the Kagohl still found themselves drawn into the air superiority An AEG Gill bomber of Kagohl I preparing for take-off in Macedonia during 1916. The pilot has retained his early padded helmet, while the gunner prefers a lighter leather item. Although the 'Giant' R-iypes carried twice as many, the crew of a G-iype bomber was only three, with the gunner manning several different mountings. The pilot was often not the aircraft commander; the latter performed the duties of navigator and bomb aimer. (IWM Q54441) 1 ' Hatties over Verdun and the Somme in 1916, to the detriment of their specialist role. In summer 1917a change of priorities by Kogenluft saw many Kasta converted into Schlasta. The remainder were reorganized into three Bombengeschwader der OHL (Bogohl); two of these comprised three Staffeln (Bosta) each, hut Bogohl 3 was larger with six flights. Each Bosta consisted originally of three G-Types - either AEGs, Friedrichshafens or Gothas. This number was increased to eight in i \ 1918, with an additional six to eight Rumpler or DFW G-Types for daylight operations. The staff of Bogohl 3 consisted of a commanding officer, an adjutant, intelligence, meteorological, photo- graphic, transport and technical officers, with clerical support, and around 1 20 mechanics. Of all the bomber Geschwader, the most famous was Kagohl/Bogohl 3, equipped with Gotha GIVs and initially led by the charismatic Ilptm Ernst Brandenburg, which was tasked with bombing strategic targets in England. Between 25 May 1917 and 20 May 1918, bombers based around Ghent raided London and the South Coast on 27 different occasions. The first eight of these raids were made in daylight, but improvements in the British defences later forced a switch to night operations. Although the bomber units took few losses in aerial combat, they did suffer steady attrition from technical failures and landing accidents; and after Hptm Brandenburg (who received the Pour le Merite following the London raid of 13 June 1917) was injured in an accident and relinquished command, the morale of Kagohl 3 is said to have suffered. The difficulties of mounting raids that crossed the Allied lines, particularly in daylight, meant that a distant target like Paris saw only 30 attacks during the whole of the war, with most of the bombs falling around the rail yards in the northern suburb of La Villette. Long range raids reduced the bombload of the Gotha GIV to about 6601b instead of the theoretical 1,1001b; most attacks were directed against targets closer to the front, such as the Channel ports (especially Dunkirk) and the important French airfield at St Pol. During combat, fighter aircraft often lost formation to engage in individual duels with the enemy. In contrast, the bombers, flying at around 10,000- 12,000ft, stayed strictly in formation, both to and from the target area, enabling them to use their defensive firepower to the maximum. On reaching the target the Kagohl sometimes attacked in one wave, but usually it was considered to be more effective to go in Staffel by Staffel at timed intervals. This staged form of attack, designed to exhaust the enemy defences, could last for up to five hours. In the summer of 1918 a new tactic was introduced: a number of two-seaters preceded the attack as pathfinders, and dropped flares to illuminate potential targets. An observer in the basket of a tethered balloon, with his Flieger Kammer III camera. Such cameras, with their long focal length (in this case 70cm), were able to capture detailed images of the Allied front lines. However, the oblique angle at which the pictures were taken resulted in distortions of scale that could only be corrected by overhead photography from an aircraft. (IWM 023905) 27 28 The Bosta (and the Reilienbildner photo-reconnaissance aircraft) flew at such heights that shortage of oxygen could present a problem to their crews. Oxygen sets were fitted in some aircraft and filled with liquid oxygen just before take off. As the internal pressure of the tank increased with altitude, a safety valve was needed; but this in its turn reduced the amount of available oxygen. The problem was solved by the introduction of a barometric valve, which automatically regulated the flow of oxygen according to the altitude. The ineffectiveness of the airship as a bomber prompted the Germans to develop a new long range aircraft as a replacement. Inspired by the Russian Sikorski Ilya Mourometz bomber, the result was the ‘Giant’ Zeppelin-Staaken RIY and RVI (with six engines, the RIY had a wingspan of more than 138ft -only 33in less than that of the B-29 Superfortress). In January 1916 the first unit to be equipped with these types, Riesenflugzeug Abteilung 500, was formed, to be followed by three more numbered 501 to 503 during the course of the year. The four units served on the Eastern Front until September 1917; then, merged into two, they were moved to the West. Each unit was as self- contained as possible, with a wide range of specialist mechanics and engineers, and even its own meteorological officer - in total some 20 officers and around 750 men. Although the Giants had a flight endurance of up to eight hours, and carried a much larger load than the Gothas of Kagohl 3 - 2,6001b over long distances, and up to 5,0001b for shorter flights - they frequently suffered technical problems, and were able to undertake only a few missions during the winter of 1917-18 before they were diverted to support the March 1918 offensive. In the face of the subsequent Allied advance, raids by Gothas and Giants were suspended completely. Altogether, 43 Gothas and 3 Giants were lost from a total of 413 sorties. The benefits achieved for Germany by these bombing raids, whether by airship or aircraft, were extremely limited in terms of the eventual outcome of the war. Paradoxically, A balloon loads up with a camera before ascending. Balloon troops continued to wear the Air Service shako until 1917, long after it had been withdrawn from the aircraft units. The pack of the Paulus parachute can just be seen hanging above the observer's head. (IWM Q53003) however, for Britain die long term results were extremely valuable. The raids on British cities had a significant effect on civilian morale, grossly out of proportion to the actual damage and casualties caused, and the press clamoured for effective counter- measures. The need for an air home defence system quickly forced the British government to reconsider the whole question of die command and control of the air forces. In the short term the raids obliged them to withdraw squadrons from the Western Front for home defence; in the long term, they were instrumental in the amalgamation of the RFC and RNAS as the unified Royal .Air Force in April 1918. The first steps taken in the planning of a co- ordinated system of raid reporting, AA defences, and the control of interceptor aircraft led directly to Britain’s defensive success in 1940. The concept of the strategic air offensive would also colour post-war RAF thinking, and would lead eventually to the massive raids on Germany during World War II. In contrast, many senior Luftwaffe officers persisted in seeing these units purely as a tactical asset, and no successful long- range bomber would be developed under the Third Reich. OBSERVATION BALLOONS On mobilization, a tethered balloon section was attached to each army HQ. Each section consisted of one fiOOcc Parseval-Sigsfeld balloon, 4 observer officers, 177 enlisted ranks, 123 horses, 12 gas wagons, 2 equipment wagons, a winch wagon and a telephone wagon. A reserve gas column contained a further 12 gas wagons and an equipment wagon. The balloon had a theoretical ceiling of about 2,600ft, but in a strong breeze might reach only 1,600 feet. From 1915 onwards, these were replaced by balloons with a larger capacity of 800cc or l,000cc, and with an increased ceiling of 3,000-3,500 feet. In good weather conditions, this allowed the observer a visual range of around ‘i'A miles into Allied lines. In 1916 a new type of balloon was introduced, the Caquot-type AE, based on a captured Allied design. This new model was stable in winds of up to 55mph and greatly improved the operational scope of the balloon. At the beginning of the war a number of man-lifting kites were also available. In theory, these could be used when wind speeds prevented the safe use of a tethered balloon; a series of 12 kites could raise an observer to around 1 ,000 feet. However, in strong winds the kites proved to be of little more value than the more conventional balloons, and were rarely if ever employed. For much of the war, each balloon section was independent, but this proved unwieldy in practice and led to much duplication of effort. To improve the dissemination of information from observers during the battle of Verdun, each army HQ formed a Ballonzentrale to collate all the data collected by its balloons. The distribution of balloon units was also reorganized. In March 1917, numbered balloon commands (1-45 Prussian and 61-68 Bavarian) were set up at each army HQ and assigned a number of sections that varied with the tactical situation. The practical effect was that at least one balloon section was attached Moving a kite balloon. Over short distances it was easier to 'walk' a balloon than to deflate it completely and then reflate it at its new location. Most balloon emplacements consisted of two 'beds', one of which acted as a reserve. (IWM 054462) A kite balloon about to ascend in the Soissons sector, with its Daimler winch vehicle standing by. The gas was transported on a specially built version of the NAG 4-ton lorry, which carried the gas in 80 x 14cc (5 cubic feet) cylinders. All Air Service vehicles were painted a standard light grey. (IWM Q54463) 30 to each division. Soon 135 numbered sections were in service (1-112 Prussian, 201-223 Bavarian), and this would rise to 182 by the end of the war. Each army HQ also formed a workshop and, from 1918, a mobile gas-generating unit that was transported by railway. Each army group contained an airship park, which provided replacement equipment, balloons and gas. Peace in the East following the collapse of Russia in 1917 enabled a park of this type to be set up in each army the following year. Balloons were used primarily for artillery spotting and limited tactical reconnaissance; the balloons attached to corps HQs were used for observation and heavy artillery ranging, while those attached to divisions worked with both the infantry and the artillery. On each divisional front one balloon, known as an infantry balloon’, served as the divisional observation post, maintaining a general watch on the front line. The role of the ‘artillery balloon’ was the observation of fire, principally German, but also flash spotting. Observing for flat trajectory super-heavy artillery needed two balloons, one on the line of fire for direction, and another to one side for range. During battle, another balloon might be launched to observe and report on fleeting targets of opportunity. All balloons were equipped with telephones and with panoramic cameras. The telephones were connected to the appropriate artillery battery' and to the Ballonzemrale, so that information could be collated and distributed easily. Communication between the observer and the front line units was also maintained by flare or lamp. For specific operations, each balloon flew a number of streamers below its basket as identification. The importance of the role played by balloons in artillery spotting was noticed at Verdun by the French, w ho took special measures against them using aircraft armed with incendiary rockets. Their increased size and height meant that man- or even horse-powered winches could no longer lower them quickly and safely to the ground, particularly when they were under attack, and so motor winches were introduced. In 1915-16 observers were armed with a carbine for self-defence, but this was largely ineffectual against fast-moving aircraft, and it was abandoned in favour of improved anti-aircraft weapons on the ground. Balloon observers were left to rely on their parachutes. The Paulus parachute, named after its inventor, was stowed in a pack attached to the rigging above the balloon basket, with two suspension lines which the observer snap-hooked to his harness before jumping. Jumping out of the basket ripped open the pack, detaching the parachute and allowing it to deploy. The parachute had several weak points, revealed by the stresses imposed by the jump, and a number of men fell to their deaths as a result: the cloth of the canopy might tear if it did not detach from its pack properly (which involved the snapping of a light cord at its apex), or the harness might fail. Nevertheless, parachute escapes from balloons were frequent: Vfw Stollwerck of Ballonzug 96 had made five jumps by July 1918, w'hile the unlucky Lt Hofinghoff of Ballonzug 152 was forced to use his parachute three times in one 24-hour period on 15 September 1918. Training for balloon observers was undertaken initially at Jiiterbog, the home of the Army’s artillery school. The balloon school was transferred to Namur in Belgium during the winter of 1916/17. ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE Ballonabwehrkanone & Fliegerabwehrkanone In 1914 only 18 guns in the whole German Army were designated as anti- balloon weapons (Ballonabwehrkanone - Bak), and none as anti-aircraft weapons (Fliegerabwehrkanone - Flak). Of these, one motorized vehicle was attached to each of 1, VIII and XXI Army Corps, and two to XV Corps. The remaining horse-drawn guns were assigned to protect strategically important locations along the axis of advance in the West. After the outbreak of hostilities individual weapons were con- solidated into sections, and then into platoons and batteries. Although their personnel were drawn from field artillery regiments, fixed and motorized Bak batteries came under the direct control of the army A stereoscopic rangefinder in use by a Flak battery. Since the distance between the eyepiece and the lenses was known, and the angle they created when focusing on the target could be measured, It was a simple matter of geometry to work out the range. (IWM Q44802) 31 A battery of towed 90mm anti- aircraft guns on the Somme front. The gunners wear either shirtsleeves or the Orillichanzug fatigue uniform. In the right background, note men with a rangefinder and binoculars. (IWM 044156) 32 commander via a specialist staff officer (Stabsoffizier der Bak - Stobak). The horse-drawn weapons, however, came under the control of divisional commanders. Batteries of four guns, equipped with heat')’ 90mm or 100mm weapons, were placed to cover strategic targets. The divisional troops were equipped with 77mm field guns, or captured French 75s, mounted on locally made elevated mounts. Some sections, however, were equipped differently, employing either machine guns, or 37mm quick- firers obtained from the Navy, whose fire using uacer ammunition was known by the pilots of the RFC as ‘flaming onions’. Few Allied dirigible balloons took to the skies over the front, and in May 1916 Bak was renamed Fliegerabwehrkanone to represent its role A well-camouflaged 77mm field gun employed in the AA role, mounted on a massive, specially built wheeled frame to greatly increase the elevation. (IWM Q57514) more accurately (each Stobak thus became a Stoflak). At this time, there were 1 73 mobile and 2 fixed batteries; 16 motorized batteries; 2 1 7 mobile and 122 fixed platoons; and 14 motorized platoons. In December 1916 anti-aircraft troops were brought under the command of the Air Service, in order to improve co-operation; each Stoflak was redesignated Kofiak (Flak commander), and a network of Group Flak Commanders (Flakgruko) were placed under him at divisional level. Flak artillery' was now responsible not only for denying aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting to the enemy, but also for supporting German aircraft in aerial combat. This was achieved partly through increasing the number of pivot-mounted weapons and placing them nearer the front line, and partly through the work of the aircraft reporting service. All Flak units included listening equipment to aid in the speedy identification of approaching aircraft - an activity that was quickly expanded into the front lines. The listening posts of ihe aircraft reporting senice reported all enemy aerial activity to the local (continued on page 41) SERVICE DRESS, 1914-16 1: Leutnant, Flieger Btl Nr.2; Germany, July 1914 2: Gemeine, Bavarian FFA 2; Germany, c.June 1914 3: Feldwebel pilot, FA 62; France, 1916 A FLYING CLOTHING & GROUND CREW WORKING DRESS 1: Pilot, 1914 2: Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke, Jasta 2; France, 1916 3: Ground crew FLYING CLOTHING 1: Aircraft crew, 1915 2: NCO aircraft crew, 1916 c FIGHTER PILOTS 1: Rtm Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, Jasta 11, 1917 2: Lt Walter von Bulow-Bothkamp, Jasta 36; France, 1917 3: Hptm Hans-Joachim Buddecke, FA 5; Turkey, 1917 AIRSHIPS, BALLOONS & HIGH ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT 1: Steuermann, Luftschiffer Abt Nr.1; Germany, 1915 2: Lf der R Peter Rieper, Ballonzug 19; France, 1917-18 3: 1 AIRCREW, 1918 1: Hptm Eduard Ritter von Schleich, France 2: Ground attack aircraft crew, France 3: Pilot, Jasta 300, Palestine F SUPPORT SERVICES 1: Flugmeldedienst, France, 1917 2: Machine gunner of a Flamga; France, 1918 3: Meteorologist, Army Weather Service; France, 1916 NAVAL PERSONNEL 1: Obit der Matrosenartillerie Friedrich Christiansen; Zeebrugge, 1917 2: ObltzS Theodor Osterkamp; Flanders, 1918 3: Flugobermaat, Naval Air Service; Flanders, 1916 3 Flakgruko at division HQ. From here, the report was channelled to the Kodak, who then passed it on to all the Flak units under his command, both at the front and in die rear areas, particularly those in the projected flight path of the enemy. The report was then also passed on to locally-based Jasta who might attempt interception. The listening posts were manned by an officer, two NCOs and four men, equipped with two theodolites, two telescopes, and a field telephone connection to dieir headquarters. By 1918 the anti-aircraft establishment had increased considerably: it now comprised 116 heavy motorized batteries of two to three guns each; 39 light motorized batteries with two guns each; 168 horse-drawn batteries; 166 fixed batteries; 3 railway batteries; 183 quick-firer detachments; 49 horse-drawn detachments; 163 fixed detachments; and a further 80 motor Flak vehicles. Although guns of a variety of calibres were used, the heavy 90mm gun (542 weapons) and the lighter 37mm (196 weapons) predominated. Plans were made to standardize on an 88mm gun in 1918, but production could not keep pace with demand. When machine guns were introduced in the anti-aircraft role they were not distributed among existing batteries but were formed instead into separate units - Fliegerabwehr Maschinengewehr Abteilungen (Flamga). The first Flamga were set up in August 1917, protecting industrial plants in Germany, and their number would eventually reach 103 units. On the Western Front, Flamga 801, 803, 901-921 and 925 were created to protect headquarters, munitions depots and other strategic centres just behind the front. Each Flamga consisted of three companies, each with 12 guns. Searchlight sections, although they co-operated with the Flak, were originally independent of it, and were manned by troops from the Pioneers. In 1914 each active army corps, plus the Guard Reserve Corps, included a searchlight section, as did each siege train (an integral part of each Pioneer regiment). Each section comprised two officers and 39 men, responsible for one carriage-mounted and four portable lights. In early 1917 those secdons on anti-aircraft dudes A battery of captured French Hotchkiss machine guns mounted on jury-rigged wheel mounts (or the AA role. (IWM Q57521) were attached to the anti-aircraft artillery, and were placed under the command of Kogenluft; 321 detachments were quickly formed, followed by a further 69 in 1918. From February 1918, these were combined into 87 ‘batteries’ of three detachments each, leaving 129 independent detachments. However alarming ‘flaming onions’ seemed to Allied pilots, the early effect of anti-aircraft fire on the enemy was negligible - in 1914 it took 11,500 rounds to shoot down one Allied plane. However, organizational and technical developments greatly enhanced its effectiveness. Bringing Flak and searchlight units under the command of the Air Service created a more integrated approach. The introduction of an improved stereoscopic rangefinder and mechanically timed fuses also helped to increase efficiency, as did the introduction of a fire director, although few had reached the front by the end of the war. By 1918 it took only 5,040 rounds - half the quantity needed during the first year of war - to shoot down an Allied aircraft. Overall, 748 aircraft were claimed by Flak units during the course of the war. Flak training was undertaken within each artillery regiment, although a live firing school was also set up at Ostend, with a range at Blankenberghe on the Belgian coast. A special school for motorized units was established in 1917 at Valenciennes. Searchlight training was undertaken at the school at Hannover created in December 1916, while training in direction-finding took place at La Fere (1915-17) or Ghent (1917-18). Home defence units The possibility of enemy air raids had been considered before war began, with plans for the creation of eight Fortress Flying Units (Festungsflieger Abteilungen), each equipped with four aircraft and intended to protect the area immediately surrounding fortress cities of strategic value. In fact, on mobilization 17 such units were created, each with six aircraft. By the end of the year, however, die progress of die conflict suggested that these valuable assets were better employed in front line formations. The fortress units w r ere all converted into FFAs to serve at the front, leaving litde to counter any aerial direat to Germany. Individual army corps areas had a number of Flak batteries, and individual single-seater aircraft, but these formed part of no overall co-ordinated organization. This unsatisfactory state of affairs was remedied in December 1916 by the creation of a new post. Commander of Home Air Defence (Koluftheim), who was responsible for the air defence of German territory, and who reported directly to Kogenluft. To protect factories and airfields, Kogenluft eventually had at his disposal 11 fighter KampfeinsitzerstafFeln (Kesta - renamed Jasta in October 1918); ten Flak groups covering the western frontier, 103 machine gun detachments, nine barrage balloon sections, and the aircraft reporting service, all connected by a wireless network. The Kesta — typically a mixture of pilots straight from training schools and veterans in need of a rest from the front - achieved little against enemy raids, with only 36 confirmed victories over a period of two years. Many more Allied aircraf t fell to front line Jasta and Flak as the bombers passed over the front lines. COMMAND, TRAINING & SUPPORT GenLt Ernst von Hoppner, Kogenluft (left). Hoppner was a cavalryman who had begun the war as chlef-of-staff to 3.Armee. After a period leading 17. Division, then as chief-of-staff of 2.Armee, he was transferred from the command of 75. Reserve Division to his new post as commanding general of the Air Service. The pilot he is speaking to wears a typically non-regulation combination of (lying garments: an issue padded helmet, a private purchase scarf, a three-quarter length greatcoat worn over a flying suit, and ankle boots. (IWM Q56576) Higher command The increasing importance of aviation in the minds of the German High Command was reflected by the creation in 1913 of separate Airship and Aviation Inspectorates (Ilust and Idflieg) within the Communications Inspectorate. The two inspectors were responsible only for equipping and arming units, but not for their operating doctrine or their tactical employment. 1 Iowever, motivated by a distrust of what it saw as too much Prussian influence in the armed forces, the Kingdom of Bavaria insisted on maintaining its own establishment, responsible for manning and, initially, for procurement as well. Although all the flying units in the German Army were numbered in one sequence. Bavarian units, designated by the ‘b’ suffix, were the responsibility of their own Inspectorate, link, and not Idflieg. Bavarian units were uniformed according to their own regulations, and equipped as much as possible with Bavarian-made aircraft - the Otto pusher, the Pfalzes and license- built Rolands. As the war progressed, however, this independence was increasingly difficult to maintain in the face of the desire of the Imperial authorities to standardize equipment within the Air Service. With the early failure of the airship as a tactical weapon, many of the missions envisaged for them were allocated instead to aircraft, increasing the importance of the new arm. Experience in the field during the opening months of the war also showed that changes were needed in the command structure. In March 1915, therefore, a new post was created, Chef des Feldflngwesens (Feldflugchef), in command of all aviation units in the field and at home, whether lighter or heavier than air; he was also responsible for the Aviation Inspectorate, and thus for aircraft production. This, it was hoped, would provide a unified direction to the Air Service. The new post was given to Maj Hermann Thomsen (later von tier Lieth-Thomsen), an officer who had serv ed on the General Staff, and had acted as an advisor on military aeronautics before the outbreak of w ar. Thomsen was an inspired appointment. General Falkenhavn later commented that the new man ‘not only understood how to direct aircraft production at home along the right lines, but also how to keep up the true aviator’s spirit among the men, without which all technical skills would have meant nothing’. Co-operation with the Inspector, Maj (later Obstlt) Siegert, was also vital, and fortunately Siegert was of a similar mind to Thomsen. A contemporary wrote that Siegert’s ‘ebullient spirit and his imagination, which seemed almost utopian, was often misunderstood. But he anticipated developments by many years and was always productive. To Major Siegert, as well as to the steely but sober organizer Major 43 Table 7: KOFL staff, 1918 44 Kofi I Operations II Administration III Courts, discipline IV Communications, accounts, registry — Ila: personnel — lib: aircraft & equipment — lie: victories — la: tactical engagement, movement, transportation, situations NO: daily reports, enemy situation — LB: photos • A - exploitation, maps — B - technical — L - balloon panoramas — V - despatch — E - exploitation of long-range recce, topography (attached from Topographical Section) | — FT: wireless telegraphy operation and organization Ic: construction of airfields 1 — Id: engagement of scouts, training replacements Table 8: IDFLIEG staff, 1918 Flugzeugmeisterei: Abteilung fur Konstruktions Neuheiten (Konab) new inventions Prufanstalt und Werft (PuW) testing Zentral Abnahme Kommlssion (ZAK) acceptance Licht u, Bild Abteilung (Lubia) photo-recce equipment supply Waffen u. Munitions Beschaffungsamt (Wumba) ordnance supply Fabrikaufsicht factories inspectorate Motoren Abteilung engines inspectorate Kommando der Flieger Ersatz Abteilungen (KdoFea) training units Kommando der Riesenflugzeug Abteilungen (Kdo Ftfla) R-Type units Hauptkassenverwaltung home formations & establishments Bekleidungsamt clothing Sonderbekleidungsamt flying clothing structure, led by an active commander reporting direct to the General Staff. The man chosen to fill this new post of Kommandierender General der Luftstreitkrafte (Kogenluft) was a cavalryman, GenLt Ernst von Hoppner, with Thomsen as his chiefof-staff. For the front line units the reorganization brought immediate benefits, facilitating communication between previously independent elements of the Army. However, in 1917 Kogenluft also faced the challenge of American entry' into the war. His response was an unprecedented expansion of the Air Service - the ‘Amerikaprogram’. Based on the correct assumption that the full impact of American intervention would not be felt until the following year, the plan was launched in the early summer of 1917. It called for the establishment of 40 newjasta, 17 FAA. one Kagohl and two Schlasta; for existing flying schools to be expanded and another created; for engine production to increase from 2,000 to 2,500 per month, and aircraft production to be doubled to 2,000 machines per month; for oil and fuel allocations to the Air Service to be increased, and for a further 24,000 men to be recruited. All this had to be in place by 1 March 1918. Thomsen, aviation troops owe their massive scale of development. It was unique in the history of the German Army.’ In October 1916, Gen Hindenburg set in motion a further reorganization of the Air Service. As originally developed by Thomsen, the plans called for all aviation services, Army and Navy, to be unified under a single authority. This never happened, since the Naval Suit! refused to co-operate with the scheme; but the Army’s Air Service did expand, taking over responsibility for Flak and for the meteorological service. The size and importance of the expanded Air Service demanded a new command Maj von der Lieth-Thomsen, Feldflugchef until late 1916, when he became Hoppner's chief-of- staff. (IWM Q63132) The aircraft designer Anthony Fokker (second left), with the aces Kurt Wolff (second right) and Manfred von Richthofen (right). The views of leading pilots on prototype fighters were assiduously courted by the High Command, and several competitions for such aircraft were staged In Germany in 1918, in the hope that this would lead to the best entering production. (IWM 063160) Given the conditions prevailing in Germany at this period of die war the plan was over-ambitious, and it is hardly surprising that it failed in most respects. A shortage of raw materials meant that the aircraft industry had no chance of even approaching its targets. The new Jasta were created, but only at the cost of cutting training schedules and leaving many existing units understrength in terms of aircraft and experienced personnel. The problems thus caused were only exacerbated by further losses in men and aircraft when the poorly trained pilots reached the front. The loss of officers had already begun to bite, and suitable candidates for flying training were sought throughout the Army. In June 1917 all units, but especially c aval iw units, were encouraged to send in lists of suitable candidates, and a month later lines-of- communications units were also combed out. Even these measures failed to produce the numbers required, and in June 1918 candidates were sought once more from other arms of service. Front line regiments had already lost skilled personnel to specialist units in 1917, and were very reluctant to lose more. Indeed, ground crews, far from recruiting new men, were being combed out hungrily to fill gaps in the infantry. A further, almost irrelevant complication was the insistence of the King of Baden that Badeners should, at this late stage, form their own units. Fokker triplanes of Jasta 12 are wheeled out of their tented hangars at Marie, north of Laon, for a patrol over the Chemin des Dames, scene of the disastrous French ‘Nivelle Offensive' of April 1917. The triplane was light and highly manoeuvrable, with a phenomenal rate of climb, although it was not as fast as some Allied types. Initially it suffered from structural failures due to poor factory quality control, which reduced its use at the front. (IWM Q63142) Training Aircrew were drawn from the ranks of officers and NCOs. However, the usual practice in two-seater units, particularly in the first years of the war, was for officers to take the position of observer and for NCOs to act as pilots. It was argued that only an officer could appreciate the dispositions of the enemy troops he saw below, and observers were certainly expected to help in evaluating the photographs they had taken. Schroder thought that officer observers were drawn from those who were interested in strategy and tactics, and not in sport - in contrast to the RFC, where officer pilots were the norm. Nevertheless, the practice does carry overtones of officers being ‘chauffeured’ by enlisted ranks. Basing their assessment on the interrogation of captured aircrew from Bogohl 3, British intelligence suggested that there was some friction between NCOs and of ficers, but were unable to pin down the exact cause. Air Service officers, like their opponents, might either belong to the flying troops ah initio, or be transferred in from other arms. The first training school for officers who volunteered as pilots opened at Doberitz on 4July 1910, but local restrictions limited the amount of flying that could take place, and the establishment soon became inadequate for the numbers involved. Aircraft manufacturers, such as Albatros and Gotha, were asked to fill the breach and set up training schools at their factories, and two further Army flying schools were opened at Strasburg in Alsace and Metz in Lorraine. From March 1915 a school was also attached to each replacement unit (Flieger Ersatz Abteilung); 14 were created on the Prussian establishment and two on the Bavarian, gradually replacing those of the manufacturers. The Ersatz Abteilung was divided into five companies. Basic training was undertaken in die Recruit Company (Rekrutenkompanie). Those already in the Army were sent to the Conversion Unit (Vorratsschule) for four to 12 weeks, before passing on to the Flying Company (Fliegerkompanie) or to a manufacturer’s school for flight training. Trainee mechanics were directed to the Werftkompanie, while the fifth company provided men for fatigue parties, guards and other general duties. The aircraft used by the training units were obsolete, since most of the latest models went to the front. Hans Schroder recalled his training days in December 1915: ‘The aircraft park at Boblingen was a miserable affair, for there was nothing but some old Eulers, the two Aviatiks and one new AEG fighter... The old ones were good enough for the pupils, and no protests availed as long as these honourable buses were safe to fly.’ The pilot’s examination was in three stages. The first part was similar to the exam for civilian pilots and consisted of flying a series of figures- of-eight, covering a total distance of 5km (3 miles). Even famous flyers like Richthofen and Boelcke found it difficult to pass this initial stage. The second required the pilot to complete a cross-country flight, one hour in length. The third element, introduced in 1915, included flights over the front line. As the war progressed, changes were introduced: in January 1916 the exam requirements were tightened up to take account of conditions at the front: then, as units had begun to specialize, pilot training did likewise, with extra courses for pilots of C- and G-Types, as well as for the single-seater D-Types. The new syllabus included landings, from level and from spiralling flight, a high altitude flight, and a 60km (37 mile) cross-country flight. The instructors at the manufacturers’ schools had their pay docked if any of their pupils failed to pass - hardly an incentive to turn out properly qualified personnel. Even so, British intelligence estimated that half of all German candidates failed to pass their flight training. The interior of an aircraft repair shop, possibly at an airfield but more likely at an army aircraft park. The machines are Albatros B-iypes. A quarter of the whole were killed in crashes during basic training, and a small number during advanced training, while another quaitei failed due to ill-health, undesirable conduct or problems of morale. Statistics published by the Reichsarchiv in 1924-25 show 3,496 casualties as a result of flying accidents in Germany during the war, from a total ot 16,054 Air Service losses from all causes. For most new pilots, the next step was a move to an ai my airci alt pat k to wait for a vacancy in an operational unit. This posting would nor ntally last from one to three months, although in periods of heavy fighting it could be reduced to as little as a fortnight. Simply by the nature of the Air Service’s equipment, most single- seater pilots before 1917-18 had seen some initial service with two-seater units, and transferred only at their own request. Only the best ol the successful candidates would be considered for training as single-seater pilots. These lucky few went first to Mannheim to familiarize themselves with living single-seaters, and then to one of three Jasta Schools to learn combat formation flying under the eyes of experienced pilots. Such expert instruction was of critical importance, and from March 1917 completion of these courses was made obligatory' for all Jasta pilots. Yet only one month later, pilot shortages - the result of the Amerikaprogram - had forced the closure of the Mannheim establishment and two of the three Jasta Schools. Instead, training was completed within the Jasta, even if this meant sending the unit to the rear for a time. The results were unsurprising: a large increase in the number of poorly trained pilots, and a consequent rise in the number of casualties. No specialist training facility was provided tor bomber pilots until April 1916, when a school for those flying R-Types was opened at Ddberitz, before the flying training element moved to Cologne at the end of 1917. Observers came initially from the ranks of qualified pilots, but later non-pilots were also trained for this role. Observers underwent a six- week basic training course at an Ersatz Abteilung, before those intended for bomber units went on to the Bombenlehr Kommando, the specialist school in Frankfurt an der Oder. Those destined for artillery units attended the Artillerie Fliegerschule at Juterbog, followed by an air gunnery course at Asch, Belgium. A new school lor obsei vers was set up at Konigsberg in 1916, but it was soon divided into two sections, located at Juterbog and GroBenhain. Each school dealt with around 50 trainees at any one time. Some mechanics received their training simply by working alongside a fully trained colleague, but ideally they attended the Werftkompanie ol a Flieger Ersatz Abteilung. These provided courses in general maintenance, as well as specialist classes for riggers, splicers and welders. Engine mechanics were sent to train with one of the manufacturers - Maybach, Benz, Oberursel, Argus , Mercedes or Bosch — with the consequent disadvantage that their expertise was limited only to that make ol engine. Support services Most aviation, airship and balloon units included a number of men taken straight from civilian life and employed solely for their technical qualifications. Although they wore uniform, they did not have any command responsibilities. 48 The aircraft of Jasta 12, a mixture of Albatros Dills and Fokker Drls, lined up at Toulis airfield near Laon. The squadron buildings, such as they are, are located near the road junction in the background. Life was spartan for most front line flying units. (IWM 023907) On mobilization, each FFA, Park and Ersatz Abteilung received two Equipment Officers (Werkmeister) ; each airship battalion contained a workshop manager (Werkstattenvorsteher), two or three hangar inspectors (Luftschifihalleninspekteure) and a parts controller (Materialverwalter). /\s the war progressed their numbers multiplied. By 1918 every front line aviation unit had two Werkmeister, and each replacement unit included four such men and an engineer. Each airship park, replacement unit and workshop included a machinist or hangar inspector. The Army trained its own Werkmeister through the Ersatz Abteilung and the lest Establishment of the Aircraft Inspectorate at Adlershof. The Army Meteorological Service also included many such temporary officers, particularly amongst its specialist meteorologists. Although its headquarters were in Berlin, over the winter of 1914-15 it set up field headquarters at Brussels, Warsaw and Temesvar (transferred in 1916 to Sofia and Constantinople). Reporting to them was a series of weather stations (Armee Wetterwarte, Awewa) - 24 fixed and 27 mobile (one per army). In 1917 these were further augmented by 210 stations in the front line (Front Wetterwarte), and by 11 weather balloon detachments (Front Wetterdienstdrachenwarte, Fedrawa). Airfields These were frequently just w hat the name implies - a reasonably level meadow, placed close to a village or main road. Local civilians and their grazing animals were employed to keep the grass short. More care had to be taken in maintaining sites accommodating units equipped with Gothas and ‘Giants’; these aircraft had such fragile undercarriages that the fields they used had to be rolled completely flat. Securing quarters close by was something of a lottery; the men might find themselves billeted in a local farmhouse or its outbuildings, or even, if they were lucky, in a local chateau. If they were unlucky, then A bleak view of Pontlaverger airfield, near Rheims, in July 1918; an Allied counter-offensive in this sector commenced on the 12th of that month. The aircraft, mostly Fokker DVIls, await the order to take off, while crews take the opportunity to snatch a meal, seated among boxes and bed rolls. (IWM 052996) everyone lived under canvas; if they were very unlucky, like Schroder’s FA 6 in Galicia, they had to fumigate a louse-ridden shack before they could move in. The crews of the seaplane flight based at Zeebrugge were accommodated in some style at the Grand Hotel, while their mechanics were billeted in local houses (the aircraft were housed in a railway station hall at the end of the Mole). Their comrades in II Torpedostatfel, also based at Zeebrugge in 1917, lived aboard a ship, the Brugge, moored in the harbour. Aircraft were housed in Baumann u. I.ederer tents on forward airfields or as a temporary measure. More permanent installations, both hangars and offices, were constructed by the Hallenbau companies (two Prussian and one Bavarian), created in 1916 and 1917 respectively. THE NAVAL AIR SERVICE 50 In 1914 the German Naval Air Service was even smaller than that of the Army. The Navy expected that a British blockade would force the German fleet to fight close to its bases. Consequently, its airships, and particularly its aircraft, only had a short range, and their operational role was envisaged solely in terms of protecting the battle fleet. On the outbreak of war there were no more than 20 qualified pilots, and no observers; six seaplanes in the North Sea and three in the Baltic; and only one operational airship. Nevertheless, the Navy insisted on setting up its own organization separate from that of the Army, and even in 1916 it fought off the Army’s attempts to create a single command for all aviation elements in the armed forces. Since their two spheres of operations rarely overlapped, however, this had little effect on the conduct of operations. Naval aviation was directed by the Navy Ministry, the Reich- smarineamt, and its commander was the Marineflugchef. The Naval Air Service had three depots: I.Seeflieger Abteilung (Kiel), which manned the seaplane bases in the Baltic, Kurland, the Adriatic and the Aegean; II. Seeflieger Abteilung (Wilhelmshaven), responsible for seaplane bases on North Sea coasts, including Zeebrugge and Ostend; and the Marine Landflieger Abteilung (Johannistlial, near Berlin), responsible for all land bases at home, in Flanders or in the Balkans. A fourth depot. Marine Kustenflieger Abteilung, was created with special responsibility for the Belgian coastline. Its units, and those of the Marine Landflieger operating in Flanders, were grouped as Flieger der Marinekorps, with its I IQ at Bruges. Airships w r ere manned through two Marine Luftschiffer Abteilungen, Nord See and Ost See, responsible for the North Sea and the Baltic respectively. Airship training took place originally at Fuhlsbuttel, near Hamburg, and Frankfurt am Main; but in 1914 it was moved to Leipzig, transferring to Dresden in 1915, and finally to Nordholz in the following year. Basic flying training was undertaken at one of these three depots. Before peace was declared with Russia in 1917, advanced training, including observer training, took place at the unit. With the arrival of peace in the East, however, advanced training moved instead to some of the Baltic bases. Naval aviation comprised three main elements: airships (discussed above), seaplanes and land-based aircraft. For operations over water the Navy preferred seaplanes to flying boats, on the grounds of their greater stability on the rough waters of the North Sea. The seaplanes of the Seeflieger Abteilung primarily played an anti-shipping role - laying mines, and conducting operations against Allied warships, particularly submarines, which strayed into the seas off the Belgian and German coasts, and against merchant vessels off the British and French coasts. Their principal weapon was the bomb; they normally carried a stick of at least five 10kg (221b) bombs, which had proved more effective at hitting the target titan a smaller number of heavier bombs. Some work was undertaken with torpedo aircraft, and two Staffeln were based on the Belgian coast in 1916—1 7; hut they proved ineffective, largely because the machines they employed were under-powered. A group ot naval aircrew pose In front of their Friedrichshafen FF33E seaplane. No two men wear exactly the same uniform. The pilot (left) wears a leather helmet and coat, with breeches, long socks, leather leggings and ankle boots; the warrant officer next to him wears his cap with its distinctive badge; the third man wears leather trousers with his Jacke, although neither he, nor the right-hand officer wearing a short overcoat, appear to be wearing aircrew badges. (IWM Q47973) Navy pilots pose around a Friedrichshafen FF33L seaplane at Zeebrugge; again, all of them are dressed slightly differently. See under Plate H on page 63 for naval uniform practices. 7V/o (third and fifth from left) wear field-grey, with shoulder boards and cuff rings respectively; the rest wear navy blue. Some wear puttees and others leggings; some a soft collar and tie, one man a wing collar and bow tie. The Bo otsmann (centre rear) wears ratings’ working dress. The ‘civilian’ official (second from left, foreground) is perhaps an engineer or a doctor, and wears distinctive velvet collar facing on his undress Rock. (IWM Q52994) Other seaplanes were devoted to the interdiction of Allied aircraft. I. ike land-based fighters, they began by working alone but, influenced by Jasta tactics, they eventually came to operate in flights of three, five or even seven machines. A flight of fighter aircraft, the Marine Feld Jagdstaffel, was formed at the end of 1916 to operate in Flanders in support of naval ground troops. This was later supplemented by four similar units - two more Marine Feld Jasta and two Seefrontstaffeln, formed for the defence of the Flanders coast. All five were formed into a Geschwader under Gotthard Sachsenberg in 1918. Four Kustenttiegerstaffeln (Kusta) were created in 1917 to perform spotting work with coastal batteries on the Belgian coast, followed by two Marine Schusta to protect them, all operating Albatros CVIIs, DFYV CVs and LVG CVs. In 1918, following Air Service practice, the Schusta were converted to Schlasta, operating LVGs and Halberstadt GUIs in a ground support role. A further flight, the Marine Sonderstaffel, was devoted to the defence of the U-boat installations at Bruges against raids by British Handley-Page bombers. Naval flying training was divided into two paths, for land planes and seaplanes. The former was concentrated at Johannisthal, with an observer’s school at Hage and a Jasta school at Danzig. The latter was split between sites along the German coast - including Wilhelmshaven (technical training), Kiel (pilots and mechanics), Danzig (single- seaters) and even as far as Finland. The internal organization of naval units reflected their service origins. Each was split into three divisions: flying personnel, mechanics, 52 Returning a Friedrichshafen FF33L to its transportation trolley at a Belgian dockside. For ease of handling the engine is kept running, so that the aircraft always points into the wind. The 33L was the most numerous of the fighter variants of this series, an agile, seaworthy machine with a flight endurance of between five and six hours. (IWM Q54385) and Starttruppen (i.e. guards, drivers and working parties); and each division was furdier divided into port and starboard watches, just as on a warship. The Navy also established parallel Flak and balloon organizations. They maintained three Flak Cnippen at Bruges, Zeebrugge and Gistel; three balloon sections at Bredene, Gistel-Zevecote and Boverkerke- Kortewilde; and a searchlight troop, with an HQ at Knokke. CONCLUSION One of the most remarkable features of die Air Service during 1914-18 is the way it expanded from almost nothing to become a formidable instrument of war. In 1914 there were only some 500 men in the Air Service; by the end of the war there were 80,000, of whom 5,000 were flying personnel. For the period between 1916 and September 1918, the Service claimed a total of 6,961 enemy aircraft destroyed, against the loss of 1,972 German machines. In addition, the Navy claimed in the region of 270 aircraft destroyed (as well as eight warships and four merchantmen) against around 170 losses. Figures produced in 1924-25 revealed the human cost. The Air Service lost a total of 18,372 men during the war (16,054 aircrew and 2,318 other personnel) - a figure which includes 7,850 lost in action and 5,207 in accidents at the front. The losses include 3,010 men who were reported missing; the statistics do not differentiate between prisoners - some of whom must have returned to Germany after the war - and diose whose fate remains ‘unknown’. German aircraft manufacturers and designers were able to produce a succession of technically excellent types that gave the Germans air superiority on a number of occasions. However, contemporary technology had its limitations. Engines were insufficiently powerful and bombsights insufficiently accurate to support the strategic use of airpower. It was perhaps this above all that forced the Germans to view the Air Service purely as a tactical weapon. German attitudes to airpower were made plain by OHL in June 1918; ‘Airmen’, it explained, ‘like other troops, should attack the enemy on the ground with the object of causing casualties and of breaking his morale.’ Night bombing raids composed of several flights under one command, and including Giant groups, should attack railway junctions. Further attacks by individual two-seaters of the Bosta should be made on convoys and trains by night, and also by day where air supremacy permitted. Motor vehicles and troop columns were to be attacked methodically and continuously by Schlasta or Schlachtgruppen, especially in defiles, at crossroads or in villages. Fighters were also to be employed in this way, as were the Bosta two-seaters when not employed in night bombing. Moreover, throughout the war the Service was hampered by the relatively small size of the aircraft industry and the effects of the Allied blockade. Both Feldflugchef and Kogenluft were well aware of the advantages of standardization of aircraft types within each unit - the Amerikaprogram called for all Jasta to be equipped with the Fokker DV1I during 1919; yet the industry was never able to deliver aircraft in sufficient numbers to make this idea a reality, a state of affairs that only worsened as the war progressed. The Germans were obliged to make the most of their limited resources. The approach of Gen Ludendorff - effectively Chief of the General Staff from 1916 onwards — was to create commands built around function, rather than relying on the A Brandenburg W12 seaplane from Zeebrugge takes the opportunity to show off In front of some bathing belles on the beach at Ostend. The slab-sided appearance of this 1917 type was belied by its speed and manoeuvrability; in the hands of Obit Christiansen’s men from Zeebrugge it was a most capable opponent for British heavy flying boats. (IWM QS4387) hierarchical pre-war chain of command. This is apparent in his 1916-17 reorganization of the Air Service; for example, in the way the Service took over Flak and searchlight defences. In his volume of reminiscence, Hying Fury, the British ace Maj James McCudden wrote that The German aviator is disciplined, resolute and brave and is a foeman worthy of our best. Although 1 have seen some cases where a German aviator has on occasion been a coward yet I have seen on the other hand many incidents which have given me food for thought and have caused me to respect the German. The more I fight them the more I respect their fighting qualities. I have on many occasions had German machines at my mercy over the lines and they have had the choice of landing and being taken prisoner or being shot down. With one exception, they chose the latter path. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Much modern writing on the German Air Service concerns the fighter aces, their aircraft and their victims, to the neglect of the remaining units. The most encyclopaedic of these is perhaps Above the Lines: the Aces and Fighter Units oj the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914-1918 by Norman Franks, Frank Bailey & Russell Guest (London, 1995); while the career and fate of the Red Baron is an industry in itself. Germany's First Air Force 1914-1918 by Peter Kilduff (London, 1991) attempts to redress the balance by concentrating on the two-seater and bomber crews. The bombing raids against England are covered in great detail by Ray Rimmell, Zepfrelin (London, 1984) and by H.B. Castle, Storm over England (London, 1988). Despite its age, Alex Iinrie’s Pictorial History of the German Anny Air Service (London, 1971) remains valuable, particularly on organization. In German, three works contain much useful information in personal accounts: Unserere Lufistreitkrafie 1914-1918: ein Denkmal deutschen Heldentums, edited by Walter von Eberhardt (Berlin, 1930); and Georg Neumann’s two books, Die deutschen Luflstreitkrafte im Weltkriege (Berlin, 1920) and In der Luft unbesiegt (Munich, 1925). An English translation of the former was published in 1926 and was reprinted as recently as 2004, but it omits much material, particularly on organization. Hans Schroder's memoirs, A German Airman Remembers, were reprinted in 1986. On the internet, the multilingual site < www.frontflieger.de > covers the units and the personnel of the Army Air Service in some detail. Another site <wunu.jaslaboelcke.de> deals with both the great man and the unit named after him. In German, <www.idflieg.de> has much to offer on Air Service personnel, while <luftschiff.krug77.de> contains much valuable information on airships and their commanders. A purely English language site <www.theaerodrome.com> again concentrates on the aces, but has an exceptionally useful and informative forum, covering all aspects of the war in the air. The two journals Cross and Cockade and Over the Front continue to provide thorough, well-researched articles on all aspects of World War I aviation. GLOSSARY b bayensches - suffix to unit number indicating Bavarian Bogohl Bombengeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung - bomber unit organization that replaced the Kagohl (qv), divided into six Bosta (qv) Bosta Bombenstaffel - flight of six bombers C Designation for single-engine armed biplanes D Designation for single-engine, single-seat armed biplanes Dr Designation for triplanes FA Flieger Abteilung - basic aviation unit from Jan 1917, replacing FFA (qv) FAA Flieger Abteilung (Artillerie) - army co-operation unit FAA Lb Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) mit Lichtbildgerat - photo-reconnaissance unit Feldflugchef Chef des Feldflugwesens - officer responsible for equipping Air Service units, 1915-16 FFA Feldflieger Abteilung - basic aviation unit, 1 91 4-Dec 1916 FLA Feldluftschiffer Abteilung - observation balloon unit Flak FUegerabwehrkanone - anti-aircraft artillery Flakgruko Gruppenkommandeur der Flak - divisional AA commander Flamga Fliegerabwehr Maschinengewehr Abteilung - AA machine gun unit G Designation for multi-engined armed biplanes Grufl Gruppenfuhrer der Flieger - senior air officer at an army corps HQ Gruja Gruppenfuhrer der Jagdgruppe - commander of a Jagdgruppe (qv), the senior among the commanders of its component Jagdstaffetn (qv) Idflieg Inspektion der Fliegertruppen - Army aviation troops inspectorate lluft Inspektion der Luftschiffertruppen - Army airship troops inspectorate lluk Inspektion des Militar Luft- und Kraftfahrwesens - Bavarian equivalent of Idflieg (qv) Jagdgeschwader (JG) Permanent grouping of four Jagdstaffetn, introduced June 1917 Jagdgruppe Temporary grouping of four Jagdstaffetn Jasta Jagdstaffel - basic fighter unit from August 1916, tactically divided into two Schwarme, each divided into two Ketten of two aircraft each Kagohl Kampfgeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung - bomber/recce unit directly under OHL command, 1916, divided into six Kampfstaffeln ; replaced by Bogohl (qv) in Oct 1917 Kasta Kampfstaffel - flight of six bomber aircraft KeK Kampfeinsitzer-Kommando - single-seat fighter detachment, generally named after home airfield, e.g. Kek Metz Kofi Kommandeur der Flieger - commander of air units; replaced Stofl (qv) Koflak Kommandeur der Flugabwehrkanone - commander of AA troops at each army HQ Kogenluft Kommandierender General der Luftstreitkrafte - commanding general of Army Air Sen/ice; post created Oct 1916 Koluft Kommandeur der Luftschiffer - commander of balloon troops at each army HQ Koluftheim Commander of Home Air Defence - post created Dec 1916 OHL Oberste Heeresleitung - Army High Command s sachsisches - suffix to unit number indicating Saxon Schusta Schutzstaffel - (1 91 6) reconnaissance escort unit; (mid 1917-Mar 1918) infantry support unit Schlasta Schlachtstaffel - (from Mar 1918) infantry support unit Stofl Stabsoffizier der Flieger - air unit co-ordination officer at each army HQ; from Oct 1916, Kofi (qv) 56 w wurttembergisches - suffix to unit number indicating Wurttemberg THE PLATES A: SERVICE DRESS, 1914-16 The Air Service was formed within the Communications branch, and consequently retained many of the uniform features of that branch - which itself followed those of the Engineers. 1 The pre-war headgear was a shako similar to that worn by Jager, Schutzen and the See Bataillon. In Rieger Bataillon Nr.1, which was attached to the Guard Corps, the shako bore the Guard star; in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Bns this was replaced by a conventional brass eagle plate, and in the Saxon detachment (3rd Co, 1st Bn) by that state’s star plate. A black plume was worn for parades only. In the field, the shako was protected by a field-grey cover which bore the battalion number on the front in green. Prussian Lt Max Ritter von Mulzer, who transferred from the cavalry in August 1915. He served with FFA 62, KeK N, KeK B and FFA 32b, scoring ten victories before being killed on 3 August 1916 while testing a new Albatros Dl. Here he wears the orange-piped lancer-style uniform of Bavarian Chevauleger Regiment Nr.1. Since second lieutenants wore no rank stars, the gilt winged propeller of the Air Service is the only insignia pinned to his shoulder boards. (IWM Q63119) units in the field were instructed to return their shakos to store in September 1914, and enlisted ranks received a second field cap in return; however, Air Service personnel permanently stationed in Germany retained their shakos. The Ml 910 officers’ and senior NCOS' field cap (which was sometimes unofficially purchased by junior NCOs) had a field-grey crown, black band, red piping round the crown seam and band edges, and a black leather visor and chin strap. It bore the usual cockades, in Imperial black-white-red on the crown and in state colours on the band (Prussia, black-white-black; Bavaria, light blue-white-light blue; Saxony, green-white-green). The enlisted men’s cap was of the same colours but without the visor and chin strap. In 1st & 2nd Airship Bns and all Rying Bns the black-piped collar of the Prussian officers’ red-piped Ml 910 field tunic bore silver double Guards braids (Litzen) on black velvet patches piped red (see Plate A1). That of the M1909 enlisted ranks' tunic displayed single white braids without backing; all ranks displayed vertical braids on the cuffs, which were piped black at top and bottom edges. The shoulder straps of the enlisted ranks bore piping coloured by battalion - white (1st), poppy-red (2nd), lemon-yellow (3rd) and light blue (4th). Officers' shoulder boards had light grey base underlay and battalion-colour inner underlay; officers who had entered the service in peacetime retained this piping throughout the war. The officers' double-breasted Ml 903 undress tunic (Litewka) had branch piping on the collar, front edge and turn-back cuffs, and plain buttoned collar patches in light grey, piped in battalion colours. Officers who had transferred from another arm of service wore their original regimental uniforms with the shoulder board distinctions of the 1st Flying Battalion. On shoulder boards and shoulder straps all ranks wore a winged propeller device, in gilt metal for officers and red cloth for enlisted ranks. From February 1914 a light grey oval patch was worn on the upper left sleeve of both tunic and greatcoat, bearing the battalion number in red. Bavaria's small aviation branch wore similar uniforms differing in detail (see Plate A2). Wurttemberg, which did not establish its own flying service before the war, first adopted regulations in 1915 with the creation of Flieger Ersatz Abteilung Nr.10. The uniform was that of the Prussian service, but enlisted ranks wore double Litzen', the shoulder straps bore the battalion number ‘4’ in red cloth, and the cockade was black-red-black. The introduction from 21 September 1915 of the much simplified officers’ and enlisted ranks’ field tunics saw few changes in the distinctions borne by aviation troops. A new field cap in unchanged branch colours but with a soft field- grey leather visor was introduced for officers and senior NCOs, and the addition of this visor to the field caps of junior NCOs and troops at their own expense was authorized. Officers’ shoulder board underlay remained light grey; enlisted ranks' shoulder straps were now light grey piped in battalion colour, with a red propeller device and the battalion number (the piping and number being omitted in Bavarian units). The officers’ double and troops' single collar Litzen were simplified and subdued (and omitted for war-raised 1 See MAA 394, The German Army in World War I (1) 1914-15; and 407. ... 1915-17 . 1 57 A group of fighter pilots, including Boelcke (centre), wearing a typical variety of off-duty uniforms. Boelcke’s field tunic seems to be a modified M1910 type, without Litzen but retaining black piping at collar and cuff; the latter seem to be of ‘Swedish' style. Two men behind Boelcke wear the double-breasted undress kleiner Rock, the wartime version of the Litewka, with plain buttoned collar patches in the distinctive colour of the original branch or regiment. The NCO pilot (left) appears to wear a wartime version of the Air Service field tunic, with subdued Litzen on collar and cuff. Note at far right the plainest type of officer's M1915 Feldbluse, with a slightly darker field-grey collar; and the mixture of stiff leather leggings and puttees. (IWM 063144) Bavarian units). The Air Service officers’ Ml 91 5/1 6 undress tunic - now termed the kleiner Rock - was essentially similar to the 1903 Litewka. Many Abteilungen and Staffeln wore on the left sleeve an oval light grey patch now identifying the tactical unit by red chain-stitched letters and numbers; the range was extended in May-June 1916 due to the reorganization of the Air Service and the adoption of the system by Bavarian, Saxon and Wurttemberg units. Abteilung patches (FFA & FA) displayed an Arabic number; Festungs FA had an ornate ‘F’ above an Arabic number; and Bavarian units, ‘F’ without a number. Bomber units showed a Roman Geschwader number (Kagohl staff), or the same above an Arabic Staffel number. Army aircraft parks displayed an ornate ‘FI.P’, and the test establishment ‘V’ over ‘FI.P’. Despite the relatively dull appearance of the new field uniform, the latitude enjoyed by officers and the large numbers of them now transferring into the Air Service (predominantly cavalrymen) ensured that groups of pilots on their airfields presented a wide range of uniform details. Individuals retained Ml 91 0 field tunics (or simplified versions with plain cuffs) alongside the new Blusen\ and transferred officers wore their original regimental caps and uniforms, sometimes of relatively exotic cut and colours, with the addition of the gilt winged propeller to the shoulder boards. 2 2 The anachronistic uniforms devised for the 1966 feature film The Blue Max were all based on a version of the regimental Ulanka of Manfred von Richthofen - see Plate D1 . A 1 : Leutnant, Flieger Bataillon Nr. 2; Germany, July 1914 This second lieutenant wears the field-grey peacetime uniform, introduced into the Army in 1910 and extended to the Air Service in October 1912. The mixture of black and red distinctions echoed that of most technical arms of service; note black piping around collar and both top and bottom of cuffs, and the light grey shoulder board underlay of Signals troops beneath the red secondary underlay of this battalion. Officers in the Prussian service armed themselves with the P08 pistol and the 1889 pattern infantry sword. A2: Gemeine, Bavarian Feidtiieger Abteilung Nr. 2; Germany, c.June 1914 This private soldier has been issued standard field equipment and a Karabiner 98 rifle. The single company of Bavarian aviation troops received the same uniform as the Prussians, but originally with the added distinction of a red ‘L’ on the unpiped shoulder straps, and the bayonet knot (Troddel) of a 3rd Company (yellow slide and crown). When the aviation company was detached from its parent battalion in March 1913 the shoulder straps became plain, and the Troddel that of a 1st Co (plain white all over); when the company became a battalion in October 1913 the shoulder straps received a red ‘F’. This was replaced nine months later by a winged propeller (both the ‘F* and the propeller being in gilt for officers); and from February 1914 the red ‘F’ was worn on an oval light grey left sleeve patch. Bavarian troops displayed double Litzen on the collar and cuffs of the peacetime uniform, and had unpiped shoulder straps; they alone continued to wear the shako in the field, and since there was only a single battalion of aviation troops its cover bore no number. Bavarian officers carried an artillery sword instead of the Prussian infantry model. A3: Viaefeldwebel Rudolf Windisch, Flieger Abteilung 62; Russia, 1916 The uniform of senior NCOs (Unteroffiziere mit Portepee) was similar to that of the junior ranks, but with the additional distinctions of Tresse lace around the collar and cuff edges, and a large uniform button on each side of the collar. The intermediate rank of Unteroffizier wore the lace alone. This Saxon pilot’s light grey shoulder straps are piped in the light blue of the 4th Bn, and bear its red number outside the propeller badge. B & C: FLYING & GROUND CREW WORKING DRESS All aircrews - particularly those serving in balloons, airships and the high-flying Reihenbildner units - battled constantly against the cold. Early in the war the combination of low airspeeds and relatively low altitudes allowed men to wear little more than their conventional uniforms. However, these heavy wool garments became unsuitable at greater altitudes, and were positively dangerous if they became damp when flying through cloud and later froze. The most common alternative was leather, which afforded some warmth and was less porous. Special clothing for aircraft crews (see Plate B1) was introduced in December 1913, although it was some months before there was sufficient available to equip everyone. Many aircrew combined items of regulation clothing with personal purchases, a tradition that continued throughout the war. The regulation helmet was made from leather, with heavy padding around the bottom edge and across the skull made from felt faced with leather. A flap of leather protected the nape of the neck and another served as a visor. Individuals were also allowed to buy their own helmets, the French ‘Roold’ and the British 'Gamages' patterns being the most popular. The Roold was made from cork faced with thin leather and with metal reinforcements; despite its origins, this type was seen throughout the war, especially at training schools. However, many front line crews, especially fighter pilots, found it too cumbersome, and opted for one of several types of simple unpadded leather helmets instead. The regulation black leather double-breasted coat and trousers were based on those supplied for transport drivers. Worn under the coat was a long, heavy, field-grey woollen sweater. A woollen scarf was also provided, but this was certainly one opportunity for every man to show his individuality - many private purchases, or gifts from family or admirers, can be seen in photographs. Each man was issued with two pairs of leather gloves, one with a fleece lining for winter, and one without for summer wear. The regulation leather leggings gave some protection against the cold, but ordinary infantry boots were not warm enough. From January 1914, Prussian officers serving as aircrew were permitted to wear ankle boots with puttees when they were in the air, but this concession was not extended to the other states, nor to Prussian NCOs, at that time. Bavarian units adopted ankle boots and puttees for all ranks in November 1915, and the measure was finally extended to all units within the Service in 1916. Shortages of material made it impossible to maintain the supply of leather clothing. Alternatives in cloth were sought, using fur- or fleece-lined coats (see Plates B2 and Cl), heavy cloth coats (Plate C2), or one-piece flying suits (Plates C3 and E3). A further, unofficial source of clothing was captured enemy airmen, who naturally would have no further need for their flying gear (Plate FI). B 1 : Pilot, 1914 This man wears the early issue helmet and all-leather flying clothing as prescribed by regulations. The first goggles were issued in December 1913. B2: Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke, Jagdstaftel 2; France, 1916 The great ace and fighter leader is wearing another type of coat based on the pattern issued to transport drivers. The original pattern of 1 91 5 was made from leather with a goatskin lining; due to the increasing shortage of leather, from 1916 onwards it was made instead from cloth with a lambswool collar, as here. B3: Ground crew The uniform worn by ground crews was based on the pre-war Drillichanzug, consisting of jacket and trousers in white canvas used for drill and as working wear around barracks. The low upright collar was replaced by a deeper stand-and-fall pattern, and the jacket was made rather longer, as here. For Prussian ground crew it was dyed black; for Bavarian units, blue. Senior NCOs did not wear collar and cuff braid (Tresse) with this uniform, although the button on the side of the collar was worn; their status was otherwise made plain by their visored field cap worn instead of the junior ranks’ visorless ‘pork pie’ Feldmulze. Uniform shoulder straps were often but not always worn - here, those of this unit's parent 1 st Battalion. For winter wear Prussian units replaced the canvas suit with one made from moleskin; introduced officially in 1915, this was not widely issued until the summer of 1916. The hobnailed soles of regulation marching boots caused damage to the fabric of the aircraft, so in May 1916 (Bavaria, May 1918) the nails were removed from the boots worn by ground crews. The increased wear on the leather soles proved unsustainable due to leather shortages, and in August 1918 the nails were reintroduced. This man carries a 10kg (221b) Carbonit high explosive bomb, of the type dropped manually by two-seater crews. The range of bombs produced from 1914 by Sprengstoff AG Carbonit-Schlebusch also included 4.5kg, 20kg & 50kg HE and 5kg & 10kg incendiary. The later forms had ‘turnip’- shaped heads with slightly pointed noses. Cl: Aircraft crew, 1915 A number of pilots and observers were photographed wearing this ‘poshteen’ style of fur coat in preference to official patterns. It gradually fell out of use, replaced by types Qualification badges, in white metal. The Prussian pilot's badge (far left) shows an impression of a Taube monoplane flying over a landscape. The Bavarian observer's badge (left) differed from the Prussian only in the details of the crown; the central device is black and white with a red border, derived from the conventional German Army map symbol for an army corps. 59 Robert Ritter von Greim in a napped corduroy or 'moleskin' flying suit; astonishingly, he also appears to be wearing spurs. Oberleutnant von Greim scored 28 victories, serving with Jasta 34 and JGr 10. He killed himself in June 1945, two months after the bizarre episode in which he was flown into the streets of embattled Berlin by Hanna Reitsch in order to be appointed by Hitler as commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe in succession to the disgraced Goring. (IWM Q63125) such as that shown In B2. A field-grey wool balaclava is worn under the helmet. C2: Non-commissioned aircraft crew, 1916 The all-leather uniform depicted in B1 was discontinued in June 1916, in favour of one of three styles, which varied with the type of unit. All units except those equipped with Fokker monoplanes or Giant R-Types might wear the style shown here. It consisted of an Oberjacke in field-grey moleskin cloth, worn over the service uniform. The winged propeller badge was sometimes placed on the collar. This jacket could be worn with a pair of moleskin over-trousers and puttees, and this man has chosen a pair of fur-lined over-boots. Made from sailcloth with a light leather sole, they were first introduced in January 1915 (November 1915 in Bavaria). C3: Aircraft crew, 1917 The one-piece flying suit was much favoured by (among others) flying instructors, perhaps because they regularly made short flights at low altitude that did not require exceptionally warm clothing. Most flying suits were private purchases, and so could be seen in different colours - not only the tan shown here, but also field-grey or even white. Based on a photograph, this man has for some reason chosen to wear his full dress officer's belt for flying. The helmet is one of many private purchase types seen in use. D: FIGHTER PILOTS D1: Rittmeister Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, Jagdstaffel 11, 1917 The legendary ‘Red Baron’ was commissioned into Ulanen Regiment Kaiser Alexander III von Russland (West PreuBisches Nr.1), before starting his aviation career in 1915, flying two-seaters with FFA 69 on the Eastern Front. He became a single-seater pilot with Jasta 2 under Boelcke in September 1916, and scored his first recorded victory on the 17th of that month. Early in 191 7 he was given command of Jasta 11, and finally, from June 1917, that of JG 1 - his ‘Travelling Circus’ consisting of Jasta 4, 6, 10 & 11 - which he led until his death in action on 21 April 1918. Here, rather than repeating the many reconstructions of Richthofen in flying clothing, we copy a photograph of him attending a friend's wedding, wearing the field-grey Galaanzug ceremonial uniform of his original lancer regiment. The Ulanka tunic and tight trousers are piped poppy-red; the shoulder boards have white-on-red underlay, and bear the white piping and cipher of his regiment as well as the gilt winged propeller - the crowded insignia require his captain’s stars to be worn side by side. The use of a pouch belt had first obliged lancer officers to wear their medals on the right- hand side of the chest. D2: Leutnant Walter von Biilow-Bothkamp, Jagdstaffel 36; France, 1917 The middle of three brothers who all served with the Brunswick Husaren Regiment Nr. 17, Walter flew with FFA 22 in France and FFA 300 in the Middle East, before returning to France with Jasta 18. In May 1917, with 27 victories, he took command of Jasta 36. In December 1917 he transferred to Jasta Boelcke, but was shot down in January 1918 over Passchendaele. He is seen here wearing the wartime version of his regimental uniform; note the red/yellow piping at the top of the cap band only. One of three regiments to adopt a death’s-head tradition badge, HR 17 commemorated the 'Black Brunswickers’ of the Napoleonic Wars; on the field cap the badge was worn between the Imperial and the light blue-and-yellow Brunswick cockades. His tunic is little different from the pre-war undress tunic, the interim Attila, but in field-grey. Note the Turkish decoration. D3: Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Buddecke, Flieger Abteilung 5; Turkish Front, 1917 Buddecke's aviation career began in 1915, flying Fokker Eindeckers with FFA 23. Transferring to the Balkans, he joined FFA 6; he then returned briefly to France in 1916 to command Jasta 4, before joining FA 5 back in the Middle East. In early 1 91 8 he returned again to France, joining Jasta 30. With 13 victories, he became deputy commander of A group of aircrew pose in front of a B-TVpe. They all wear cloth flying coats, but the fleece or fur linings differ slightly. Trousers or breeches are worn with either puttees or leather leggings; and the sitting figures show the heavy grey sweater Issued with flying clothing. Jasta 18, but was shot down on 10 March 1918, only two days after joining his new unit. Like many German officers in the Middle East, he is wearing Turkish officer's uniform, in a pattern introduced in 1909. His lambswool kalpak headgear bears the badge of the Turkish Aviation Service, and the khaki tunic has a distinctive red collar unique to that arm; however, he retains the shoulder boards from his German uniform. He wears his 'Blue Max’ at his collar, while his Iron Cross First Class appears on his left breast between a Turkish War Medal and a Turkish flying badge. When serving in France, Buddecke resumed wearing his German uniform. E: AIRSHIPS, BALLOONS & HIGH ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT The basic uniform of airship and balloon troops was similar to that worn by aircraft units. Only the 1st and 2nd Battalions wore Litzen on the collar and cuffs, and also the Guard star on their shakos. The Saxon contingent (3rd Co, 2nd Bn) wore Prussian uniform except for Saxon buttons and the Saxon star on their shakos. The Wurttembergers (4th Co, 4th Bn) did likewise, wearing their own buttons and substituting their state arms on the shako. Airship and balloon troops continued to wear their shakos until November 1917, when they were discontinued for Prussian units due to the shortage of leather; the other states followed suit over the next three months. After the introduction of the 1 91 5 uniform all units wore light grey shoulder straps with red distinctions: ‘L’ over the parent battalion number, 1-5 (Bavaria, no number). Officers’ shoulder boards had the usual light grey underlay, and a gilt 'L' instead of the winged propeller. Airship crews were issued with the same all-leather flying clothing as supplied to their colleagues in aircraft units, again supplemented by a wide range of private items. Airship crews might also include civilian contract personnel, especially early in the war, when much of the necessary peacetime technical experience lay outside the military. Civilians served as helmsmen, flight engineers or radio operators, and occasionally even as commanders or chief engineers. When a civilian served with uniformed soldiers he wore the uniform of an NCO (if a crew member) or a Feldwebelleutnant (if a commander or chief engineer). When serving with civilian crews they were entitled to wear the cap appropriate to their rank, and a white armband. In 1915 Prussian balloon observers were issued with a leather jacket and trousers lined with fleece, leather gloves, felt boots and a heavy scarf (Baschlik). Their Bavarian counterparts had to wait until spring 1916 to receive these; in March 1917 the Bavarian authorities tried to halt the supply of leather trousers, but they were persuaded to relent, at the request of the troops in the field, in November of that year. El: Steuermann, Luftschiffer Abteilung Nr. 1 ; Germany, 1915 A distinction introduced for NCO airship helmsmen and flight engineers in 1911, was black shoulder straps decorated with an officer-style brass 'L' without the battalion number. They also wore a trade badge on the left sleeve, showing a ship's wheel (helmsman, as here) or a ship’s propeller (flight engineer), in white embroidery on black with a red inner edging. The posts of helmsman and flight engineer were both divided into three grades (e.g. the former as Untersteuermann, Steuermann and Obersteuermann), the equivalent of Unteroffizier, Sargeant and Vizefeldwebel respectively. E2: Leutnant der Reserve Peter Rieper, Ballonzug 19; France, 1917-18 In 1914, Rieper was a Vizewachtmeister with Feldartillerie Regiment Nr. 74. In 1915 he transferred to observation balloons, where his artillery training was soon put to good use with Ballonzug 19. He was forced to bail out of his balloon on several occasions, finally, in June 1918, losing his right arm and breaking his leg. Declared unfit for front line service, he served as a commissioned instructor for the remainder of the war. For his dedication to duty he was awarded the ‘Blue Max’ on 7 July 1918, the only balloon observer to be so honoured. Rieper wears the heavy flying clothing over his conventional artillery uniform. The Paulus parachute was attached to the large hip D-rings of the same basic harness as that used for the Heinicke; it is unclear why the leg and shoulder straps were not visible in the original photo. E3: R-Type aircraft crew, 1917 The authorities made several attempts to devise a garment suitable for crews flying at high altitude. A flying suit (Fliegerkombination) of field-grey whipcord, lined with either kapok or flannel, was recommended for the crews of R-Types in 1916, but a standardized pattern was not introduced until 1917. Electrically-heated flight suits remained a rarity. The airflow-powered windmill generator was inefficient; the wire cables were unpopular, and many pilots preferred to face the cold rather than compromise their ability to make a quick escape from their machine. Masks were first introduced in 1915, but originally covered only half the face. Many pilots simply used goose grease or something similar to ward off frostbite; others accepted the risks and opted for goggles with an enlarged nose piece. He carries a bulky, lined flying helmet. F: AIRCREW, 1918 FI: Hauptmann Eduard Ritter von Schleich; France, 1918 The Bavarian Ritter von Schleich (Ritter being a title of knighthood) served originally with ll.lnfanterie Regiment von der Tann. Transferring to aviation, he served with FFA 2b, then commanded Fliegerschule I until February 1917, when he returned to the front with Schutzstaffel 28. Transferring to single-seaters, he served with Jasta 21 and Jasta 32b before taking command of Jagdgruppe 8. He is wearing here a British Sidcot suit obtained from a captured RFC airman. As soon as they were introduced during 1917 they became very popular with airmen on both sides. Note the harness for the Heinicke parachute; and the Bavarian silver and light blue lace on his otherwise plain collar. F2: Ground attack aircraft crew; France, 1918 The most unusual feature here is the steel helmet. Schlasta pilots were expected to fly at low altitudes (90 to 150 feet), making them very vulnerable to enemy small arms fire. The parachute harness was often modified to strengthen it, as here, where the narrow leg straps have been replaced with broad canvas bands. Photos show some harness belts reinforced with double lines of metal eyelets for the buckle prongs, or with double leather straps mounted on the webbing. F3: Pilot, Jagdstafte! 300; Palestine, 1918 While some officers serving in the Middle East, like Buddecke, adopted Turkish uniform, others opted for Ml 91 6 khaki drill tropical uniforms, with a matching cotton cap with brown visor and chin strap. The first style of tunic had a fly front, turn-back cuffs and four pleated patch pockets; this later style had exposed front buttons, plain cuffs and internal skirt pockets. G: SUPPORT SERVICES G1: Flugmeldedienst, France, 1917 The men of the Aircraft Reporting Service always formed part of the anti-aircraft organization, and so wore the uniform of the field artillery. In May 1917 they received their own shoulder strap distinction, a plain winged artillery shell in yellow on the red strap; Bavarian units adopted instead the letters ‘FLK’ in yellow. Pistols were issued as personal weapons. The infantry bayonet was issued to Prussian units in 1917, and to Bavarian units in December of that year. In the same month long marching boots were withdrawn in favour of ankle boots and puttees, and rucksacks were Leutnant Kurt Wolff, wearing a captured British brown leather flying coat with an oblique chest pocket and thin beige wool lining, over his regimental uniform of Eisenbahn Regiment Nr.4. Wolff was killed on 15 September 1917 when commander of Jasta 11, with 33 victories to his 62 credit. (IWM Q631 58) issued instead of the standard pack. This man holds the handset of the Armeefernsprecher telephone system. G2: Machine gunner of a Flamga; France, 1918 Anti-balloon and anti-aircraft troops also wore the uniform of the field artillery. Particular distinctions on the shoulder straps appeared only in March 1916, when a battery number was added. In March 1917, after Flak had become part of the Air Service, a whole range of different shoulder strap devices were issued. Prussian units all bore the yellow winged shell and Bavarian units ‘FLK', at the button end. Outside these, appropriate letters identified the unit type: ‘K' (lorry-borne), ‘M’ (quick-firers), 'O’ (defended locations), *W' (towed), 'MG' (machine gun) or ‘S’ (searchlight). Outside these again, all except Flamga and Searchlight Ersatz troops displayed the appropriate Arabic battery number. From August 1917, however, Flak MG units were ordered to wear infantry uniform, this instruction being extended to those on Home Defence some days later. This man wears his steel helmet, but has removed its lining - this was thought to increase all- round protection because the helmet then covered more of the face and neck, but in fact it actually increased the chance of concussive injuries, since there was nothing inside to cushion impacts. G3: Meteorologist, Army Weather Service; France, 1916 Most meteorologists were civilian contract personnel, and wore a uniform based on that of Army construction contractors (Regierungs-baumeister), without shoulder straps or collar Litzen. Meteorologists were further distinguished by a small badge worn on their collars - ‘W’ on a ‘lightbulb-shaped' balloon. Those in front line weather stations were affiliated to Luftschiffer Bataillon Nr.2, and consequently wore its uniform, with ‘L' over ‘2’ on the shoulder straps. Bavaria did not set up its own weather service until November 1917; personnel wore the same uniform as Bavarian airship troops, with ‘L’ on the shoulder straps. H: NAVAL PERSONNEL The normal working dress for naval officers was the navy blue double-breasted Jacke, with gold braid cuff rings to indicate rank, worn with navy blue trousers. Sea officers (i.e. those concerned with the navigation or the fighting of a ship) wore an Imperial crown above the rings; other officers - engineers, ordnance and torpedo officers, or doctors - omitted the crown, and wore velvet facings in their branch colours on the collar: black (engineers and ordnance), or bright medium blue (medical). In peacetime a wing collar and bow tie was worn, but this was abandoned in wartime for a soft collar and tie (see Plate HI). The cap was navy blue with a black mohair band (or velvet in the branch colour for non-seamen officers), bearing the Imperial cockade surrounded by a gold embroidered wreath. Straight navy blue trousers were worn. HI: Oberleutnant der Matrosenartillerie Friedrich Christiansen; Zeebrugge, 1917 Christiansen had learned to fly privately before the outbreak of war. He joined the Navy in 1914 as a Bootsmannsmaat, transferred to flying duties, and was so successful that he was commissioned into the naval artillery in 1916. As station commander of Seeflugstation Flandern I from September 1917, he was responsible for improving the general standards of the coastal stations, and for introducing the tactics used by their seaplane flights. In December 1917, officially credited with 13 victories, he became the first naval pilot to receive the ‘Blue Max'. He wears the standard Jacke, over a shirt with a soft collar and tie. H2: Oberleutnant zur See Theodor Osterkamp; Flanders, 1918 In 1915 officers serving on shore on the Western Front were authorized a field-grey uniform similar to that of the Army. It displayed the rank on the cuffs in naval style, or else on shoulder boards; the cap had a field-grey crown. Flying clothing followed Army patterns. Theo Osterkamp began his flying career in two- seaters with MFA II and MFA I, and later became the highest scoring naval fighter pilot with 32 victories, serving in MFJ I and commanding MFJ II; he was awarded the ‘Blue Max’ on 2 September 1918. Later joining the reborn Luftwaffe, in July 1940 GenMaj Osterkamp would nominally command all Luftflotte 2 fighter units in north and north- east France during the Battle of Britain as Jagdfliegerfuhrer 2 (Jafu 2). Here he is wearing the naval version of the Army Feldbluse, with the rank displayed on the cuffs instead of shoulder boards. H3: Flugobermaat, Naval Air Service; Flanders, 1916 Ratings serving in the Marinekorps went to war in their navy blue peacetime uniforms. Junior ratings (Matrose, Maat and Obermaat - flying personnel were designated Flugmatrose, Flugmaat and Flugobermaat respectively) wore working dress of a navy blue jumper with the traditional wide sailor’s collar, worn over navy blue straight-legged trousers. The sailor's cap had a black silk tally worn with the ends loose. A double-breasted reefer jacket, the Uberzieher, could be worn over the jumper; this had an open collar and two rows of brass front buttons. Petty officers (Vizefeldwebel, Feldwebel - aircrew were Vizeflugmeister and Flugmeister) wore the same uniform but with a visored cap bearing an unwreathed crown badge. Warrant officers (Deckoffizier - aircrew, Oberflugmeister) wore officers' uniform, with a petty officer’s cap. Combined substantive and non-substantive badges were worn on the left arm or, for warrant officers, on shoulder straps: for flying personnel the badge consisted of a red aircraft propeller superimposed on a yellow anchor. Trousers were worn with leggings or puttees. In late 1 91 4 a grey version of the blue working uniform was introduced, intended for wear with the sailor's cap and wide collar. In 1915 this was replaced by a field-grey uniform based on the Army pattern. Leading rates and above adopted Army-style Tresse braid on the collars of the Feldbluse, but retained the cornflower-blue collar patch on their Uberzieher and greatcoat. This Obermaat aircrew observer wears a field-grey version of the double-breasted Uberzieher over the regulation shirt. The blue collar patch was worn by all ratings; for petty officers it bore one or two lines of white piping. In contrast to the wartime Royal Navy, no attempt was made to conceal the establishment or ship of the wearer, which was lettered on the cap tally. INDEX Figures in bold refer to illustrations aces 18, 20-2, 60-1, D see also indixhdual aces by name aircraft AEGs 11. 26 Albatros 7. 10. 12. 13, 47. 49 Fokkers 9. 12, 16, 17. 18. 46. 49. 50 functions 9-10 ’Giant' Zeppelin-Staakens 28 high-altitude 28. 61-2, E3 production 44-5, 54 repair shops 47 Rumplcrs 12 seaplanes 51-2, 52. 53. 54 Taubes 9 technical capabilities 54 types used 9, 14, 25-9 airfields 15. 49-50, 49. 50 airships 22-5, 24. 25, 51 uniforms 61, El Altemeicr, VfW Friedrich 22 ambulances 9 Amiens, Battle of (1918) 8 anti-aircraft defence 31-42. 31. 32. 41, 53, 62. Gl-2 armament aircraft 9, 10 anti-aircraft 32-42,31.32,41 Army Air Service casualties and other statistics 53 function and tactics 54 organization and expansion 43-5 origins 3-5 units lists 4, 5. 8 Army Air Service: units balloon units 29-30 BAMs 25-6 BAOs 25-6 Bavarian 43, 57, 57. 58. A2 Bogohb 27 Bostas 27-8 FAs 7. 10-11, 12 FA Lbs 12 FAAs 7. 10-11 FFAs 5. 10 FFA23 9 FFA62 6 Flak units 32-42 Flamgas 4 1 . 62. G2 Fortress Firing 1' nits 42 Jastas 16>19 Jasta 1 9 Jasta 25 20.21 Jasta 26 12 Jasta 36 9 JG 1 15, 17 Kagohls 26-7 Kastas 26-7 KeKs 6. 16-17 Kestas 42 Reiseuflug/eug Ableilungen 28 Schlastas 14-15 Schustas 14 Arras. Battle of (1917) 7 badges, pilots' 19, 63 Boelcke, Hptm Oswald 3. 6, 16, 20. 21, 58. 59. B2 bombing and bombs 5-6, 22-9, 48, 51, 59, B3 Brandenburg. Hptm Ernst 27 Buddeckc, Hptm Hansjoachim 60-1. D3 Bulow-Bothkamp. Lt Walter von 60. D2 cameras and photography 11-12. 12-13. 27. 28 Carganico, Obit 26 Christiansen, Obit Friedrich 63. HI close support units 13-16, 62. F2 command 43-5 communications 11. 14. 40-1, 62, G1 decorations 19, 20-2, 61, D Eisenlohr, Lt/S 21 Feldflugchef post 43 Fieseler. Cierhard 20 lighter units 16-22. 60-1. D Hares, signal pistol 10 Fokker, Anthony 45 footwear 43, 59, 60, B. C2 goggles 59, B1 Goring. Obit Hermann 21 Greim, Obit Robert Ritter von 60 ground crew 12. 13. 24. 48, 58-9, B3 Grufi post 7 headgear 57-8 field caps 3 ground crew 12. 59, B3 leather helmets 26, 58-9. B1 Naval Air Service 63. H padded helmets 10, II. 26. 43. 62. E3 steel helmets 62. F2. G2 home defence units 42 Hoppner, GenLt Ernst von 43. 44 IDFLIEG staff 44 Immelmann. Lt Max 5. 6, 6. 20, 21 intcrruptor gear 9 Junge, Lt Werner 13 kites, man-lifting 29 KOFI, staff 44 Kogenluft post 7, 42, 44 Kohler. Vfw 13 Koluftheim post 42 Licdi-Thomsen, Maj Hermann von der 43-4, 45 lorries 30 lorzer, Bruno 21 Marne, Battle of the ( 1914) 5 Meteorological Service 49, 62-3. G3 Mons. Battle of (1914) 5 Mulzcr, Lt Max Ritter von 6. 21, 57 Naval Air Service 21, 50-3, 51. 52, 63. H night ranging 1 1 Nivelle Offensive (1917) 7 observation balloons 27. 28. 29-31. 29. 30. 53 uniforms 61. E2 observers 9, 10. 27. 48 Osterkamp, Obit Theodor 63. H2 parachutes and harnesses 15, 19-20, 61, 62, Fl-2 Passchendaele, Battle of (1917) 7 photography see cameras and photography quarters 15.49-50.49 rangefinders 31,32 reconnaissance 9, 10-13 Richthofen. I-othar von 17 Richthofen. Run Manfred ('die Red Baron’) 15, 16. 17. 22,45, 60, D1 aircraft 12 Rieper, Lt Peter 61. E2 Royal Air Force: foundation 28-9 Sachscnburg, Gotthard 15. 52 St Mihiel, Battle of (1918) 8 Schleich, Eduard Ritter von 62, FI Schroder, Hans 13, 22. 47 searchlight sections 41-2 Siegert, Obstlt 43-4 Somme. Battle of the (1916) 6, 13 Stabsbild Abtcilung (Slabia) 13 Strasser, Fregattenkapitan Peter 24 Student, Lt Kurt 13 support services 48-9, 62-3, G tactics 14-16.18-19.27.54 Tannenberg, Battle of ( 1914) 5 telegraph 1 1 telephones 62. G1 Thomsen, Maj Hermann 43-4, 45 training 46-8,51.52 L’det. la Ernst 18 uniforms and clothing items Bavarian 57, 57, 58. A2 DriUichanzug fatigue uniforms 32 flying coats 20. 59-60, 61. 62. Bl-2, Cl flying suits 12. 15. 43. 60, 60. 61-2. C3, E3 greatcoats 3, 43 high-altitude aircraft 61-2, E3 leather jackets 17, 58-9. B1 leggings and puttees 58 M1910 5 scarves 43, 59. B1 service dress 57-8, A Sidcot suits 62, FI sweaters 61 tropical 62. F3 tunics 3. 57-8, 58. 60. 62. A. D. F3 Uberjacke 12.60.C2 Verdun offensive (1916) 6. 13, 16 weapons, personal 58, 62, A2 Wedel, Lt von 18 Weimar, Vfw 20 Windisch, Rudolf 58, A3 Wolff, Lt Hans Joachim 19 Wolff. Lt Kurt 45.62 64 Zeppelins 22-5. 23. 24. 25 Elite • 135 The history of military forces, artefacts, personalities and techniques of warfare Full colour artwork Unrivalled detail Osprey PUBLISHING www.ospreypublishing.com Photographs German Air Forces 1914-18 The Imperial German Army Air Service of World War I grew from just 500 men in 1914 to 80,000 in 1918, inventing in the process a wholly new form of warfare. The exploits of the first fighter 'aces’ have been widely celebrated, and have tended to overshadow the other, equally important branches of the air forces - the reconnaissance and ground attack units, the airships and strategic bombers. This concise but detailed guide to both the Army and Naval Air Services - their command, organization, strength, training, support services and operations - offers a more balanced picture, while giving the heroes of the fagdstaffeln their full due. Their uniforms and flying clothing are illustrated with rare photographs and meticulous colour plates. US $16.95 ISBN 1-84176-924-X

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According to Kermit the Frog, it's not easy what?

sesame street - its not easy being green - YouTube sesame street - its not easy being green Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Feb 13, 2007 kermit

Bein' Green

The 23rd Amendment to the US Constitution allows Washington DC to appoint what?

Kermit the Frog on Miss Piggy breakup: it’s not easy – video | Culture | The Guardian TV and radio blog Kermit the Frog on Miss Piggy breakup: it’s not easy – video It's not easy being green. But it's even harder working with an ex, says Kermit. The Muppets amphibious leader recently announced an acrimonious split from his longterm girlfriend Miss Piggy. The news comes as ABC prepares to launch a new Muppet show, but Kermit insists the pair can remain civil in their working relationship. 'We can be professionals…well, one of us can…me' Source: AP

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What battleship was sunk in harbor of Havana, Cuba to start the Spanish-American War in 1898?

USS Maine sunk in Havana Harbor - Cuba Politics News - Havana Journal USS Maine sunk in Havana Harbor Email this article | Print this article | Search Havana Journal     Tweet     Early 1900s photo showing remains of battleship USS Maine sunk in Havana Harbor | a catalyst to the start of the Spanish American War of 1898. Follow up post #1 added on February 01, 2004 by Dana In what year did the USS Maine sink? Follow up post #2 added on February 09, 2004 by keri febuary 15th 1898 Follow up post #3 added on March 08, 2004 by C.J. hey i was just wondering if any one could give me some good quick info. on this i am trying to find info on this stuff if any one can help tat would be great! thanks Follow up post #4 added on August 05, 2004 by CG I feel that Spain was unjustly lured into the war with America.  The Spanish Government already settled an agreement with Cuba stipulating the withdrawal of its troops but leaving a few to protect its business interest.  Granted, the Cuban rebels wanted them out of the country completely, and I do understand that Spain did do some “seperation” camps—which cannot be compared to what Hitler and other regimes did during the 20th century. At this point, If Cuba would have been left alone, it would have received its full independence from Spain regardless, because during that time, Spain was going through a transformation of Government. Follow up post #5 added on October 28, 2004 by EK feb 15 1898 the USS maine sunk Follow up post #6 added on October 28, 2004 by EK Anyone know where i can find anything saying it was the construction problems that made the maine blow up? Follow up post #7 added on January 30, 2007 by Emily I had to watch a video in class and it was said to be that the furnace was over loaded with coal and the furnace/boiler was right next to the guns and weapons….so there you go Follow up post #8 added on January 30, 2007 by publisher with 3905 total posts Thanks for the post. I understand that the explosion was a mystery yet Spain was blamed. Since Teddy Roosevelt was looking for a reason to invade Cuba he said Spain was responsible. The US would never make up an excuse to invade another country in this day and age would it? Follow up post #9 added on November 28, 2007 by yvonne how did the u.s.s manie blow up plz Follow up post #10 added on November 28, 2007 by publisher with 3905 total posts The US says that it hit a mine or a floating mine hit it. Some say it was a boiler explosion and that the US used it as an excuse to start the Spanish American war. Follow up post #11 added on November 29, 2007 by manfredz with 464 total posts definitely was an excuse, no matter which (in my opinion) Follow up post #12 added on March 27, 2008 by heidi how long was the maine in havana harbor before it blew up????? Follow up post #13 added on August 25, 2008 by Anna McClendon what made the USS Maine sink? Follow up post #14 added on August 25, 2008 by manfredz with 464 total posts remember cuba was the base for spains weapons of mass destruction ... (or was that weapons of mass delusion since spain was a has-been on the world scene, just didnt know it yet) Agree, if it wasn’t the Maine, the US would have found another excuse - they really wanted Cuba. Follow up post #15 added on December 03, 2008 by Kare You all need to read “Remember the Maine” by Peggy and Harold Samuels. Their were construction problems because concrete had to be added to make the ship float evenly. Roosevelt was assistant secretary of the Navy in 1898. His agenda was most certainly concern for how the Navy would look if the Maine blew herself up. It isn’t just a threat from Spain herself that would have planted a mine under the ship, it could have been Spanish Weylerites. Many possibilities…. Follow up post #16 added on December 14, 2008 by kelsi why did the cubans blow up the maine?????????? Follow up post #17 added on December 22, 2008 by Bryan People say that it floated over a mine. Others say it could have been an old war missle that happened to launch underwater right into the base of the USS Maine. Follow up post #18 added on December 29, 2008 by Dewey (not related to the Admiral) Regardless of how the Maine went to the bottom—there were helpless American Sailors who died that day.  Someone had to pay for that!!

USS Maine

November 23, 1963 saw the BBC debut what classic series, which is still being shown today?

Milestones: 1866–1898 - Office of the Historian Milestones: 1866–1898 The Spanish-American War, 1898 The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended Spain’s colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere and secured the position of the United States as a Pacific power. U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United States also annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict. Thus, the war enabled the United States to establish its predominance in the Caribbean region and to pursue its strategic and economic interests in Asia. Charge of the 24th and 25th Colored Infantry and Rescue of Rough Riders at San Juan Hill, July 2nd 1898 (Kurz and Allison) The war that erupted in 1898 between the United States and Spain was preceded by three years of fighting by Cuban revolutionaries to gain independence from Spanish colonial rule. From 1895–1898, the violent conflict in Cuba captured the attention of Americans because of the economic and political instability that it produced in a region within such close geographical proximity to the United States. The long-held U.S. interest in ridding the Western Hemisphere of European colonial powers and American public outrage over brutal Spanish tactics created much sympathy for the Cuban revolutionaries. By early 1898, tensions between the United States and Spain had been mounting for months. After the U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor under mysterious circumstances on February 15, 1898, U.S. military intervention in Cuba became likely. On April 11, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress for authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and Spanish forces, and to establish a “stable government” that would “maintain order” and ensure the “peace and tranquility and the security” of Cuban and U.S. citizens on the island. On April 20, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution that acknowledged Cuban independence, demanded that the Spanish government give up control of the island, foreswore any intention on the part of the United States to annex Cuba, and authorized McKinley to use whatever military measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba’s independence. The Spanish government rejected the U.S. ultimatum and immediately severed diplomatic relations with the United States. McKinley responded by implementing a naval blockade of Cuba on April 22 and issued a call for 125,000 military volunteers the following day. That same day, Spain declared war on the United States, and the U.S. Congress voted to go to war against Spain on April 25. The future Secretary of State John Hay described the ensuing conflict as a “splendid little war.” The first battle was fought on May 1, in Manila Bay, where Commodore George Dewey’s Asiatic Squadron defeated the Spanish naval force defending the Philippines. On June 10, U.S. troops landed at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and additional forces landed near the harbor city of Santiago on June 22 and 24. After isolating and defeating the Spanish Army garrisons in Cuba, the U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish Caribbean squadron on July 3 as it attempted to escape the U.S. naval blockade of Santiago. Secretary of State John Hay On July 26, at the behest of the Spanish government, the French ambassador in Washington, Jules Cambon, approached the McKinley Administration to discuss peace terms, and a cease-fire was signed on August 12. The war officially ended four months later, when the U.S. and Spanish governments signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. Apart from guaranteeing the independence of Cuba, the treaty also forced Spain to cede Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. Spain also agreed to sell the Philippines to the United States for the sum of $20 million. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty on February 6, 1899, by a margin of only one vote. The McKinley Administration also used the war as a pretext to annex the independent state of Hawaii . In 1893, a group of Hawaii-based planters and businessmen led a coup against Queen Liliuokalani and established a new government. They promptly sought annexation by the United States, but President Grover Cleveland rejected their requests. In 1898, however, President McKinley and the American public were more favorably disposed toward acquiring the islands. Supporters of annexation argued that Hawaii was vital to the U.S. economy, that it would serve as a strategic base that could help protect U.S. interests in Asia, and that other nations were intent on taking over the islands if the United States did not. At McKinley’s request, a joint resolution of Congress made Hawaii a U.S. territory on August 12, 1898.

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With a population of a little over 110,000, what is the capital city and largest city of South Carolina?

Cities in South Carolina, Map of South Carolina Cities Disclaimer Close Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited, its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same. About Cities in South Carolina Nicknamed 'The Palmetto State', South Carolina is located in the southeastern United States. Be it marshes, tidal flat-lands, or mountains, the state is blessed with unparalleled beauty. From the Pinnacle Mountain to the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is truly an ideal vacation destination. The state capital and the largest city is Columbia which features tourist attractions such as Finlay Park, Town Theatre, Columbia Museum of Art, and Richland Library. Fort Sumter National Monument, where the American Civil War began, near Charleston (the oldest city in South Carolina) is one of the most prominent places to visit in the US. Known for rich history, magnificent harbor vistas, and well-preserved architecture, Charleston emits an uplifting vibe. Cities of Rock Hill and North Charleston host several seasonal events. Greenville and Summerville are other fast-growing cities in South Carolina. Getting in and Around Charleston International Airport (CHS), Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) are among the busiest airports in the state. Amtrak operates four passenger routes in South Carolina: Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star. Major interstate highways passing through are I-26, I-95, I-20, and I-85.  

Columbia

How many pints in a quart?

Missouri Population 2016 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) Missouri Population 2016 6,103,517 The landlocked state of Missouri is situated in the United States’ Midwest ,and according to figures from the 2010 Census , it was the 18th most populous state in the country at the time. The census revealed that the Missouri population in 2010 was 5,988,927, which represented an increase of 7% on the findings from the 2000 Census. The estimate for the population of Missouri in 2016 is 6,083,672. It's not known if the population will reach 6.1 million in the very near future, as Missouri has a current growth rate of just 0.28%, which ranks 41st in the country. Missouri is relatively sparsely populated, but not remarkably so. Its total land mass measures 69,704 square miles and for every square mile of land, there is an average of 87.1 people. This makes Missouri the 28th most densely populated state in the country, despite being 18th in terms of population and 21st in terms of land area. Its estimated population in 2016 of 6,083,672 is just a moderate increase from 2010, when it was confirmed at 5.98 million. The four largest cities in the state are St. Louis (315,685), Kansas City (475,378), Springfield (166,810) and Columbia (119,108), while the capital itself is Jefferson City. Most of the state's counties have a population density between 1 and 100 people per square mile, although the large urban areas have a population density that reaches over 5,000 people per square mile. Missouri does have a higher rural population than most of the country, with approximately one-third of Missourians living in a rural area. Area in Miles (Rank) 69,707 (21) State Capital Jefferson City How Many People Live in Missouri ? 6,103,517 Missouri Population Chart Missouri Population History Back in 1810, it was revealed that 19,783 citizens lived in Missouri, but increasing migration throughout the 19th century helped to swell the numbers significantly. Just ten years later in 1820, the population of Missouri had climbed by 236.6% to 66,586, and a further increase of over 100% took those numbers to 140,455 in 1830. Further significant increases throughout the 1800s meant that by the time the 20th century arrived, the Missouri population stood at 3,106,665. From this point, census by census increases began to slow down but the overall picture was one of sustained growth to the point where the population of Missouri in 2012 had climbed to over 6 million for the first time. Missouri Population Growth Natural growth figures released in 2007 showed that there had been an increase of 137,564 people since the 2000 census with 480,763 births, 343,199 deaths and a net migration increase of 88,088 in the seven year period. The total population has been estimated to approach 6.8 million people by 2030, a 21% increase over the population in 2000. The population of senior citizens is expected to grow very quickly as well, and it's estimated that people over 65 will account for one-fifth of the state's population by 2030. Natural change is expected to add an average of 244,000 Missourians every decade. The northern and southeastern areas of Missouri are expected to lose a great deal of their population in the coming decades, while the urban areas continue to grow. In many ways, statistics relating to the population of Missouri are fairly unremarkable but like much of the US, the overall picture is one of healthy and sustained growth. At the 2020 census, it will be interesting to see how far the numbers can stretch beyond 6 million toward the next milestone. Population Data via US Census Missouri Growth Rate

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According to Andy Warhol, in the future, how long will everyone be famous for?

Did Andy Warhol get his 15 minutes of fame by ripping off someone else's saying? | Daily Mail Online Did Andy Warhol get his 15 minutes of fame by ripping off someone else's saying? Doubts have been cast that the pop artist coined the phrase himself Numerous accounts to the origin of the '15 minutes' quote unearthed An art critic says Warhol may have heard the phrase as a teenager comments An iconic quote attributed to Andy Warhol - 'In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes' - may not have actually been said by the influential pop artist. The painter, sculptor and film maker, who died in 1987, was first credited with the phrase in a brochure at a 1968 exhibition of his work in Sweden. But prominent art critic Blake Glopnik has now cast doubt on its origins, citing the 1997 reminisences of fellow art expert and curator Ole Granath who was an assistant on the Warhol retrospective, held in Stockholm. Andy Warhol (right) may not have actually said: 'In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes', according to an art critic The show's curator, Pontus Hulten, had told him to include 'In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes' in the catalogue's compendium of Warhol quotes. Granath found no record of the quote. even after extensive research. 'If he didn't say it, he very well could have. Let's put it in,' Hulten reportedly said. Writing in the Warholiana blog, Glopnik said: 'So Andy's phrase was actually Hulten's – not so surprising, given that Hulten later faked some Warhol Brillo boxes.' Famous for more than 15 minutes: Andy Warhol's 1962 painting 'Orange Marilyn' Other accounts throw add further mystery to the origins of the quote. Philip Pearlstein, who was at art school with Warhol, revealed to Glopnik that he'd said something similar himself in 1946, when the two artists first met. Warhol, still a teenager, asked Pearlstein what it was like to be the winner of a national art competition for high school students. Warhol may have first heard a similar version of the phrase when he was just a teenager Pearlstein said: 'My spontaneous answer was, 'It only lasted five minutes'.' In 2005 photographer Nat Finkelstein claimed he was the source of the line. In 1965, during an outdoor photoshoot with Warhol, some people tried to push into the shot. 'Andy's looking at them and he says to me, "Gee whiz, Nat, everybody wants to be famous",' said Finkelstein. 'I say back, "Yeah, for about 15 minutes, Andy". He took that line. My quote became Andy Warhol's famous words.' However, in a book he published in 1989, Finkelstein said the artist had uttered the famous words during the shoot, making no mention of Warhol stealing his line. Glopnik says the murkiness of the phrase's origins fit in with the way Warhol took influences from a variety of sources. 'By the late 1970s, Warhol himself was mentioning the line (not always clearly as his) at various times and in various places and in various weird versions, even saying that he's grown bored with it,' he said. 'But that doesn't tell us much about whether he came up with it in the first place: Warhol, the world's greatest sponge, would hardly have proclaimed that he hadn't coined his trademark aphorism. Warhol's art and persona were all about the rewards of his sponging.' 'DID I REALLY SAY THAT?' - FALSELY ATTRIBUTED WORDS OF WISDOM 'Elementary, my dear Watson' – Sherlock Holmes This line never appeared in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's written works. In 1893's The Crooked Man, the words appear, but are separated by several lines of dialogue and are in the wrong order. 'Nice guys finish last' - US baseball manager Leo Durocher He actually said the words, but the meaning has been taken out of context. Durocher was asked his opinion of the 1946 New York Giants and replied: 'Take a look at them. All nice guys. They’ll finish last. Nice guys – finish last.' 'Just the facts, ma'am' - Sgt Friday in TV police show Dragnet Sgt Friday actually said: 'All we want are the facts, ma'am.' 'Not a lot of people know that' - Michael Caine, British actor Comedy actor Peter Sellers said this as he did an impression of Michael Caine. 'There's a sucker born every minute' - P.T. Barnum, showman Reportedly said by one of his competitors, who was mocking one of Barnum's exhibits.

15 time

What is a seismometer used to measure?

15 Minutes of Fame 15 Minutes of Fame By Patrick Mondout "In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes." In the past, 1968 to be exact, pop artist Andy Warhol, who is perhaps best know for his Psychedelic60s paintings of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell's Soup cans, wrote these words to describe the growing commodification of everyday life. Thanks to cheap reality shows and cameras everywhere, it seems Warhol may indeed be prophetic. As for me, I'm still waiting for mine (sigh).  The phrase has come to refer to people who do something of dubious distinction or are involved in a minor scandal (Monica doesn't count - far from a mere 15 minutes, she got a full calendar year!) and manage to capture our attention for a while. Recent examples include Ken Lay (President Bush's close friend and Enron CEO who apparently oversaw the bilking of billions from Californians and still managed to bankrupt his company), Robert Blake and Scott Peterson (who everyone seems to believe killed their wives), and John Rocker (baseball player who managed to offend virtually all non-rednecks during an interview with Sports Illustrated ). 15 Minutes, The TV Version In late 1986, MTV introduced many in our generation to Warhol through a new show called Andy Warhol's 15 Minutes (for the record, episodes were 30 minutes in duration). Much like his movies of the late 60s and early Super70s , the series was a shot a stardom for cutting-edge stars Warhol was willing to feature. The short-lived show ended when Andy Warhol died in February of 1987. How Long Do I Have To Wait? Well, according to the latest version of Microsoft Excel, you should have around 2.5 million 15-minute slots available during an average lifetime. If Andy was right and everyone gets 15 minutes, then there are approximately 2,500 people enjoying their 15 minutes right now! (Maybe we do need 500 cable channels after all.) Origins of the Phrase The earliest reference to the phrase can be found in the book Andy Warhol edited by Warhol, Joenig, Hulten, and Granath, and issued in 1968 in conjunction with his Feb/Mar 1968 exhibition in Stockholm. (Warhol is misquoted most of the time. Our quote in the first paragraph is directly from this publication.)  

i don't know

Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo. In which country is Waterloo?

Napoleon defeated at Waterloo - Jun 18, 1815 - HISTORY.com Napoleon defeated at Waterloo Publisher A+E Networks At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon Bonaparte suffers defeat at the hands of the Duke of Wellington, bringing an end to the Napoleonic era of European history. The Corsica-born Napoleon, one of the greatest military strategists in history, rapidly rose in the ranks of the French Revolutionary Army during the late 1790s. By 1799, France was at war with most of Europe, and Napoleon returned home from his Egyptian campaign to take over the reigns of the French government and save his nation from collapse. After becoming first consul in February 1800, he reorganized his armies and defeated Austria. In 1802, he established the Napoleonic Code, a new system of French law, and in 1804 was crowned emperor of France in Notre Dame Cathedral. By 1807, Napoleon controlled an empire that stretched from the River Elbe in the north, down through Italy in the south, and from the Pyrenees to the Dalmatian coast. Beginning in 1812, Napoleon began to encounter the first significant defeats of his military career, suffering through a disastrous invasion of Russia, losing Spain to the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsula War, and enduring total defeat against an allied force by 1814. Exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean, he escaped to France in early 1815 and set up a new regime. As allied troops mustered on the French frontiers, he raised a new Grand Army and marched into Belgium. He intended to defeat the allied armies one by one before they could launch a united attack. On June 16, 1815, he defeated the Prussians under Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher at Ligny, and sent 33,000 men, or about one-third of his total force, in pursuit of the retreating Prussians. On June 18, Napoleon led his remaining 72,000 troops against the Duke of Wellington’s 68,000-man allied army, which had taken up a strong position 12 miles south of Brussels near the village of Waterloo. In a fatal blunder, Napoleon waited until mid-day to give the command to attack in order to let the ground dry. The delay in fighting gave Blucher’s troops, who had eluded their pursuers, time to march to Waterloo and join the battle by the late afternoon. In repeated attacks, Napoleon failed to break the center of the allied center. Meanwhile, the Prussians gradually arrived and put pressure on Napoleon’s eastern flank. At 6 p.m., the French under Marshal Michel Ney managed to capture a farmhouse in the allied center and began decimating Wellington’s troops with artillery. Napoleon, however, was preoccupied with the 30,000 Prussians attacking his flank and did not release troops to aid Ney’s attack until after 7 p.m. By that time, Wellington had reorganized his defenses, and the French attack was repulsed. Fifteen minutes later, the allied army launched a general advance, and the Prussians attacked in the east, throwing the French troops into panic and then a disorganized retreat. The Prussians pursued the remnants of the French army, and Napoleon left the field. French casualties in the Battle of Waterloo were 25,000 men killed and wounded and 9,000 captured, while the allies lost about 23,000. Napoleon returned to Paris and on June 22 abdicated in favor of his son. He decided to leave France before counterrevolutionary forces could rally against him, and on July 15 he surrendered to British protection at the port of Rochefort. He hoped to travel to the United States, but the British instead sent him to Saint Helena, a remote island in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. Napoleon protested but had no choice but to accept the exile. With a group of followers, he lived quietly on St. Helena for six years. In May 1821, he died, most likely of stomach cancer. He was only 51 years old. In 1840, his body was returned to Paris, and a magnificent funeral was held. Napoleon’s body was conveyed through the Arc de Triomphe and entombed under the dome of the Invalides. Related Videos

Belgium

On Sept 14, 1901, the youngest president is sworn in following the assassination of William McKinley. Who is it?

Was Napoleon Bonaparte Defeated by Cartography? Was Napoleon Bonaparte Defeated by Cartography? SHARE: Facebook Twitter The defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo is one of the most famous military defeats of all time. Many use it as something of a real-life parable about the pitfalls of hubris. Now, it appears that a newly discovered cause for the defeat may change the way people look at Waterloo. It turns out that Napoleon Bonaparte may not be to blame for his own defeat; instead, the blame falls on a poorly constructed strategic map. The major problem with his strategic map is that it likely had his army aiming their artillery in the wrong location. The map was off by approximately a kilometer in some places, which just so happened to be the exact range of the artillery cannons. The falsity of the map used by Napoleon Bonaparte was discovered by a Belgian illustrator named Bernard Coppens. He saw the blood-stained map at a military museum in Brussels and discovered that something about it did not look quite right. The printed strategic map was subsequently compared to a hand-drawn copy, whereupon documentarian Franck Ferrand claims a printing error was discovered. The most notable errors of the map are the appearance of a non-existent curved road and the fact that Mont St. Jean, an important strategic landmark, appears in the wrong place. The brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, Jerome, wrote a letter to the French leader in which he states that the general looked absolutely lost while on the battlefield at Waterloo. Given the errors of his map, this is most certainly an apt assessment of the French leader’s situation, The Telegraph reports. Baron Antoine-Henri de Jomini, a Swiss military writer, claimed that the Duke of Wellington was remarkably cool under pressure, and that the British infantry was firm, forming something of a phalanx to combat Napoleon Bonaparte and his cavalry charges. The French general, on the other hand, had already had his spirits injured by his exile on the Isle of Elba. It had also been only a year since his suicide attempt, meaning that his troops may not have had as much faith in him as Wellington’s. Naturally, a faulty map is not solely to blame for the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. He also greatly underestimated the Duke of Wellington, adding some truth to the notion that Waterloo represents a defeat based on hubris. Not only did Napoleon Bonaparte underestimate the Duke of Wellington but, sadly, it would appear that he overestimated his own resources. FEATURED VIDEO

i don't know

What is the name of the resident jailbird and all around lawbreaker on The Simpsons?

"The Simpsons" (1989) - Episodes cast Season 7, Episode 4: Bart Sells His Soul 8 October 1995 When Rev. Lovejoy disciplines Bart for a prank he pulled in church - he tricked the organist into playing Iron Butterfly's ""In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - he and co-conspirator Milhouse begin arguing over whether man really has a soul. Bart scoffs at the notion and agrees to "sell" his soul (a piece of paper with the words "Bart Simpson's Soul") to Milhouse for $5. A series of situations makes Bart realize maybe he really did sell his soul, prompting him to go all-out to get it back from Milhouse, who isn't willing to sell. Meanwhile, Moe attempts to open a family-style restaurant inside his tavern, with the gimmick that if he doesn't smile when servicing a customer, the meal is free. Moe's surly demeanor and the stress of running such a business alone conspire to do the establishment in. Season 7, Episode 15: Bart the Fink 11 February 1996 Bart gets a check he wanted signed by Krusty back stamped. As Krusty was supposed to autograph it, Bart wants it taken back to sign, but inadvertently reveals Krusty as a tax fraud. Krusty's lifestyle is stripped down to that of an average citizen, his show ruined and most of his possessions sold in an auction. Bart is mad at himself, particularly after a sobbing Krusty commits suicide by piloting his plane, the I'm-Onna-Rolla-Gay, into a mountainside. Bart sees visions of Krusty everywhere, but are they illusions or real life? Season 8, Episode 7: Lisa's Date with Density 15 December 1996 At school, Nelson is caught with a cache of stolen items in his locker (including the "H" hood emblem from Supt. Chalmers' car) and is assigned to do chores with Groundskeeper Willie. Lisa is caught observing the goings-on and is assigned detention, where she develops a crush on Nelson. Lisa tries to reform Nelson, and it works for awhile. However, as the old saying goes, you can't teach a juvenile delinquent new tricks and it isn't long before Nelson is back to his old ways; he and his buddies had been caught throwing spoiled food at Skinner's house and tries to lie to Lisa about his participation in the whole thing, but ultimately lets slip the truth. Meanwhile, Homer obtains an autodialer and decides it will help him make easy money through his "Happy Dude" telemarketing scheme. Homer is eventually caught and made to use the autodialer to call back everyone he scammed in apology. Which he does ... then he asks for more money as part of a "Sorry Dude" scam. Season 8, Episode 10: The Springfield Files 12 January 1997 In yet another crazed crossover, Leonard Nimoy narrates another tale of the supernatural, reminiscent of his days with "In Search Of." Realizing that even he's too drunk to drive after a night at Moe's Tavern, Homer stumbles through the woods and encounters a green glowing alien. Needless to say, nobody takes him seriously, except for "X-Files" FBI Agent Fox Mulder, who once again drags along his partner Dana Scully on another quest to prove the government is hiding the presence of UFO's from the public. However, even this mission may make a skeptic out of Mulder. Season 8, Episode 14: The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show 7 February 1997 Krusty becomes alarmed at the flagging ratings for "The Itchy & Scratchy Show" and demands it be corrected. The producers reason some new gimmicks are needed to inject fresh air and - after a focus group doesn't quite go as well as planned - decide to introduce a new character named Poochie, a rapping cartoon dog that is supposed to become friends with Itchy and Scratchy. Homer auditions to do Poochie's voice and wins the part. Poochie's first cartoon, "The Beagle Has Landed," premieres to great fanfare but is poorly received to say the least. The producers decide that, given his spectacular failure, Poochie will be killed off in the mutt's next cartoon. Homer learns about this and at his next recording session, gives a speech imploring everyone to give Poochie a chance. However, the effort is unsuccessful and Poochie's death - along with the correct lines dubbed in - is revealed in the next animated short. Also: A college-aged boy named Roy temporarily moves in with the Simpsons and - in a nod to clichéd characters being used as a gimmick to entice viewership of waning TV shows - does everything to get in the way. Eventually, Roy announces he's moving out and moving in with a pair of sexy ladies. Season 8, Episode 19: Grade School Confidential 6 April 1997 Martin's birthday party is predictably dull until nearly all the guests become ill with food poisoning. The only ones not to get sick are Bart (who didn't want to eat the spoiled oysters), and Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel, who fall in love with each other. Bart catches his principal and teacher kissing passionately, but they immediately find out and want to swear him to secrecy. They make him his gofer, making his life miserable at school and calling him at all hours of the night (all for the reward of Milhouse inheriting Bart's poor school record). Bart eventually loses his patience and exposes the Skinner-Krabappel relationship. After rumors - most of them grossly exaggerated - begin running wild through town, Supt. Chalmers threatens to fire both Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel (since the relationship is forbidden per district policy) and does when Skinner refuses to call the relationship off. Eventually, Bart convinces Skinner to stand up for himself and his new girlfriend, and they decide to climb onto the roof and stay there until Chalmers reinstates them and accepts their relationship. The effort works, and Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel are back at school. Season 9, Episode 5: The Cartridge Family 2 November 1997 After a massive soccer riot, Homer decides to invest in a home security system but can't afford the high price. He does the next best thing: He purchases a gun. This is despite Marge's stern opposition to having a gun. Homer plays with the gun like a toy and almost causes an accident at the dinner table. Marge warns Homer to get rid of the gun now; Homer agrees, but Bart finds the gun later in the refrigerator. Marge sees this, takes the gun away and tells Homer she is taking the kids and moving out. Homer eventually is kicked out of the local NRA chapter (for his careless use of the gun), and decides he needs to try to get Marge back. Eventually, he manages to foil Snake's armed robbery at the hotel where Marge is staying. Homer finally gets rid of the gun, but Marge decides to keep it for herself. Season 9, Episode 10: Miracle on Evergreen Terrace 21 December 1997 On Christmas Eve, Marge admonishes the family not to open presents until 7 a.m. the next morning. Bart finds a way around the directive and opens his gifts at 5 a.m. However, his prized gift - a remote-controlled fire truck - overheats and causes a fire that engulfs the tree and presents. The family investigates and Bart tells them that a burglar has struck. As a result of Kent Brockman's human interest story, the entire town donates gifts and cash to the Simpsons for their "misfortune." Eventually, Bart admits the truth, angering his clueless family but angering the town even more (when Brockman finds out the truth). The family is made into outcasts, and Marge's attempt to win the needed funds on "Jeopardy!" (to pay everybody back) fails miserably. Eventually, the townspeople loot the Simpsons' home ... save for a dust rag. Season 12, Episode 2: A Tale of Two Springfields 5 November 2000 When Homer tries to enter a phone-in competition, he becomes terribly stubborn and angry for Springfield introducing a new dialing code. In the Town Hall, after the Mayor's meeting about the change, Homer discovers that all the rich people live on one side of Springfield, with the old code, and Homer is left to try and manage with the new code. However, he protests, and ends up splitting Springfield into Old and New. Homer desperately tries different ways to tackle Old Springfield, but in doing so, he only makes them richer when they discover gold at the bottom of the river. Homer finally builds a large wall to separate the two sides, and remembers that The Who are planned to stage at Springfield for a concert. Will Homer manage to convince The Who to play on his side of town instead of the other's? Season 12, Episode 15: Hungry Hungry Homer 4 March 2001 Homer decides to help his family with all their problems, complaining to the Blocko land and other places to claim what is right. But, when Homer goes to complain at Springfield Stadium, he secretly discovers that the manager is planning to move the team to the Albuquerque Isotopes. After Homer is knocked out of remembering the events, he returns to the stadium and starts a protest that he will not eat anything until the manager reveals the secret. However, the manager and the Duff Man have other plans for Homer... Season 17, Episode 3: Milhouse of Sand and Fog 25 September 2005 When Maggie gets chicken pox, Flanders tells Homer to create a pox party at the Simpson's house. But, Milhouse then finds Kirk and Luann kissing on Marge and Homer's bed. Milhouse is excited that his parents are back together, but kind of not when they're not paying any attention to him and tries to break them up with Bart. The results end up disastrous as it breaks up Homer and Marge too and then, when Bart ends up doing something, the only thing that matters to Homer and Marge is each other. Season 17, Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XVI 6 November 2005 In Bartificial Intelligence, Bart falls into a coma after trying to jump into a swimming pool off a window ledge. Dr. Hibbert says that this coma is permanent, so the Simpsons get a robot for a son. Bart wakes up, only to be abandoned by Homer. He stays with some robots and becomes a robot himself, able to destroy the robot that replaced him. In Survival of the Fattest, Mr. Burns invites a bunch of people, including Homer, to a hunting party. But it turns into World's Most Dangerous Game when Burns starts killing everyone he can with his gun. Homer stays alive and Marge defeats Burns and Smithers with a frying pan. In I've Grown a Costume on Your Face, a witch turns Springfield residents into the costumes they were wearing at a party. Lisa, who is Albert Einstien, tries to solve everything. She finds that Maggie can turn them back to normal, being a witch. No one wants to be normal again, but Maggie turns everyone into pacifiers. Season 18, Episode 17: Marge Gamer 22 April 2007 Marge becomes a spectacle during a PTA meeting for not having an e-mail address, and she decides to take a chance on using the Internet. Amazed and delighted by all the Internet has to offer, Marge joins a popular role-playing fantasy game called "Earthland Realms." To Marge's dismay, the game has her interacting with practically the whole town of Springfield, including Bart, who happens to be the game's most feared and destructive player. Meanwhile, Homer saves Lisa's soccer game from cancellation after he volunteers to take the place of a referee who recently quit. However, Homer's refereeing skills only exasperate Lisa, and her competitive streak gets the best of her. Season 22, Episode 8: The Fight Before Christmas 5 December 2010 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Springfield, but while Marge gets in the holiday spirit, it's bah humbug for the rest of the family. Disappointed that she is alone spreading the holiday cheer, Marge sends a letter to Martha Clause to help her save the family Christmas. Martha comes to the rescue and transforms the house into the North Pole chalet Marge has always dreamed of, but when the family is noticeably absent from the perfectly trimmed holiday home, she realizes that it's Homer and the kids who make the holidays special. Meanwhile, the Simpsons get ready to sneak away for a tropical holiday vacation in Hawaii, but surprise visitors Mr. Burns and Moe's new friend, Katy Perry delay their getaway. Four special holiday tales will be spun. Season 22, Episode 18: The Great Simpsina 10 April 2011 The family is greeted by folk singer Ewell Freestone when they visit a peach farm, but when Marge goes overboard with peach-inspired dishes, Lisa and Bart try to get rid of the unwanted fruit. Later, Lisa becomes a magician's apprentice to the legendary Great Raymondo who helps her develop her craft, but a schoolgirl crush clouds her judgment when she is coaxed into revealing the Great Raymondo's most famous magic trick to his phony archnemesis. But when the rival magician's act takes a risky turn, the Great Raymondo has one last trick up his sleeve and stages showdown with Ricky Jay, Penn & Teller and David Copperfield , showing them why he is the master of the craft. Season 23, Episode 3: Treehouse of Horror XXII 30 October 2011 Homer takes a dangerous dive into an isolated canyon on Candy Peak, but when a crashing boulder traps his arm, he channels Aron Ralston to save himself. In "The Diving Bell and Butterball," the first of three hair-raising Halloween tales, a venomous spider bite leaves Homer paralyzed, but when Lisa discovers Homer's ability to communicate through natural gases, he is able to express his love for Marge. The killer spells continue in "Dial D for Diddly," when Ned Flanders, devout preacher by day, transforms into a cold-blooded vigilante by night. In the final terrifying tale, "In the Na'Vi," Bart and Milhouse are sent on a mission to obtain a sacred extract on a distant planet. They morph into the land's indigenous one-eyed avatars, but when Bart finds love and an eternal mate abroad, he is caught in planet warfare. Season 23, Episode 8: The Ten-Per-Cent Solution 4 December 2011 Krusty the Clown is stuck in a rut when the television network pulls his show from the air and his talent agency drops him as a client. But when the Simpsons introduce him to seasoned agent Annie, they are surprised to learn that Annie was Krusty's very first agent. Despite their rocky relationship, Annie is convinced to re-sign Krusty and craft his career comeback. But when Krusty's retro comedy show reboot is deemed a critical success, Krusty must decide to stay with his agent or side with the network executives.

Snake

What state is known as the Magnolia State?

The Simpsons - TV Show, Episode Guide & Schedule | Road Runner Search Share Cartoon capers with the unmistakable all-American family. Homer and Marge Simpson raise Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie. The Simpsons 1989 - 2017, Animation , Kids Cartoon capers with the unmistakable all-American family. Homer and Marge Simpson raise Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie. The Simpsons Clever, fast-paced cartoon with edgy humor. Consumerism Violence • • • • • Parents need to know that the jokes in the long-running The Simpsons often zip past so quickly that kids won't get the deeper statements hidden within. Life in Springfield can be chaotic, and Homer could very well be the "do not try this at home" poster boy. You'll hear frequent "hell" and "damn," usually uttered by Bart. Homer frequently chokes Bart, but it's played for laughs. Religion, morality, ethics, and other sacred cows are mocked. Halloween specials are particularly violent, with characters killing each other in gruesome ways that may disturb young or sensitive viewers. Characters sometimes ingest food or drink that brings on psychedelic trips. Naked rear ends (animated) are sometimes visible, and sex is the subject of jokes (which kids may not get). Beer is consumed in every episode, bad habits are obliged, and ignorance and mockery are the norm, but somehow everyone gets along in the end. Close Fail 0 Fail Cartoon capers with the unmistakable all-American family. Homer and Marge Simpson raise Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie. Episode Guide Season 28 Episode 13: The Great Phatsby Mr. Burns seeks revenge against a musical mogul who conned him, with help from Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James and the mogul's ex-wife; the richest kid in town demonstrates interest in Lisa; Smithers embarks on a journey; Marge opens a shop. Season 28 Episode 12: The Great Phatsby Mr. Burns seeks revenge against a musical mogul who conned him, with help from Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James and the mogul's ex-wife; the richest kid in town demonstrates interest in Lisa; Smithers embarks on a journey; Marge opens a shop. Season 28 Episode 12: The Great Phatsby Mr. Burns seeks revenge against a musical mogul who conned him, with help from Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James and the mogul's ex-wife; the richest kid in town demonstrates interest in Lisa; Smithers embarks on a journey; Marge opens a shop. Season 28 Episode 11: Pork and Burns Marge becomes obsessed with the Japanese way of life; Homer must find a new home for the family pig and Lisa must say goodbye to her saxophone. Season 28 Episode 10: The Nightmare After Krustmas Krusty and his daughter spend Christmas with the Simpsons; Reverend Lovejoy tries to attract converts after church attendance drops; a spooky Christmas toy haunts Maggie. Season 28 Episode 9: The Last Traction Hero Homer has the opportunity to sue Mr. Burns after a workplace accident; Marge seeks romance from an unexpected source; Lisa tries to maintain peace on the school bus. Season 28 Episode 8: Dad Behavior Homer discovers an app that outsources his father-son bonding; Grampa learns he's about to become a father again. Season 28 Episode 7: Havana Wild Weekend When the Retirement Castle and V.A. Hospital can't help Grampa with his health problems, the Simpsons decide to take a family trip to Cuba so they can get him some cheap medical care. Season 28 Episode 5: Trust but Clarify Lisa and Bart investigate a new candy from Krusty; Homer asks for Marge's help when he decides to ask for a promotion at the nuclear plant; news anchor Ken Brockman struggles with the changing media world. Season 28 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XXVII Mr. Burns initiates a contest in which the children of Springfield battle each other; Lisa's imaginary friend becomes jealous of her real friends; Moe tells Bart that the bar patrons are really covert agents. Season 28 Episode 3: The Town After finding Bart rooting for a Boston football team, Homer takes the family to Boston to show Bart what a terrible city it is. Season 28 Episode 2: Friends and Family Mr. Burns hires the Simpsons, except Homer, to be his virtual family; Homer becomes best friends with the girl next door. Season 28 Episode 1: Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus When a fire levels Springfield, Mr. Burns agrees to the Simpsons' pleas that he fund the town's rebuilding, on the condition that he gets to put on a variety show. Season 27 Episode 21: Simprovised Homer embarrasses himself while trying to read a speech at work, then turns to improv comedy to regain his confidence for public speaking; Marge decides to rebuild Bart's treehouse. Season 27 Episode 21: Simprovised Homer embarrasses himself while trying to read a speech at work, then turns to improv comedy to regain his confidence for public speaking; Marge decides to rebuild Bart's treehouse. Season 27 Episode 20: To Courier with Love Homer makes a deal with a travel agent to be the courier of a top secret briefcase to get a discount on a family vacation to Paris. Season 27 Episode 18: How Lisa Got Her Marge Back When Marge takes Lisa to Capital City for a musical, the star tells Lisa how lucky she is to have a great mom; Bart comes up with a new plan to trick people. Season 27 Episode 18: How Lisa Got Her Marge Back When Marge takes Lisa to Capital City for a musical, the star tells Lisa how lucky she is to have a great mom; Bart comes up with a new plan to trick people. Season 27 Episode 17: The Burns Cage Homer tries to find a boyfriend for Smithers, who is crushed by Burns' lack of affection; Milhouse replaces the lead in the school production of "Casablanca" when Bart takes the boy out. Season 27 Episode 16: The Marge-ian Chronicles After failing to talk Lisa out of volunteering for a one-way journey to Mars, Marge decides to go with her. Season 27 Episode 15: Lisa the Veterinarian Lisa becomes an intern at the local veterinarian's office; Marge works as a crime scene cleaner to earn extra money, but has a difficult time with the gore. Season 27 Episode 14: Gal of Constant Sorrow Bart lets a homeless woman live in his closet after he accidentally loses her cart in the river; when Homer tries to prove that he is handy, he mistakenly traps the cat in the walls. Season 27 Episode 13: Love Is in the N2-O2-Ar-CO2-Ne-He-CH4 Professor Frink uses science to transform himself into a more attractive man; when Marge, Bart, and Lisa visit Grampa for Valentine's Day, they find the old folks in a drug-induced hallucination that lets them relive happy memories. Season 27 Episode 13: Love Is in the N2-O2-Ar-CO2-Ne-He-CH4 Professor Frink uses science to transform himself into a more attractive man; when Marge, Bart, and Lisa visit Grampa for Valentine's Day, they find the old folks in a drug-induced hallucination that lets them relive happy memories. Season 27 Episode 12: Much Apu About Something Sanjay gives his stake in the Kwik-E-Mart to his son, who turns it into a trendy health food market; Bart decides to take the new store down. Season 27 Episode 11: Teenage Mutant Milk-Caused Hurdles Bart is captivated by a new teacher (Sofia Vergara); Homer buys a new brand of what he thinks is milk, which causes early puberty for Bart and Lisa. Season 27 Episode 10: The Girl Code After Homer is fired, he returns to his favorite job -- a dishwasher at a Greek restaurant; Lisa accidentally creates sentient artificial intelligence. Season 27 Episode 9: Barthood The story of Bart's life from 6 years old to his time as a young man reveals that Lisa's achievements and his relationship with Homer have shaped him more than he realized. Season 27 Episode 8: Paths of Glory Lisa tries to restore the reputation of Springfield's first female inventor; Bart tells a lie that causes Homer and Marge to believe he is a sociopath. Season 27 Episode 7: Lisa With an 'S' When Homer loses $5,000 to Broadway legend Laney Fontaine in a poker game, he settles the debt by loaning out Lisa for a month; Laney transforms Lisa into a show-biz kid. Season 27 Episode 6: Friend With Benefit Lisa makes a new friend named Harper (Kristen Bell), who comes from a wealthy family; Homer befriends Harper's dad and enjoys the benefits of having a rich pal. Season 27 Episode 5: Treehouse of Horror XXVI Sideshow Bob kills Bart; Homer has short-term memory loss; radiation exposure gives Lisa, Bart and Milhouse superpowers. Season 27 Episode 5: Treehouse of Horror XXVI Sideshow Bob kills Bart; Homer has short-term memory loss; radiation exposure gives Lisa, Bart and Milhouse superpowers. Season 27 Episode 4: Halloween of Horror Homer and Lisa hide in the attic while former Halloween pop-up employees -- angry at Homer who cost them their jobs -- invade the Simpson's home. Season 27 Episode 3: Puffless Selma and Patty agree to stop smoking when they learn their father died of lung cancer; when Selma relapses, Patty becomes angry and moves in with Homer and Marge. Season 27 Episode 2: Cue Detective Bart and Lisa are on the case when someone steals the smoker Homer bought from a mysterious man at a barbecue shack. Season 27 Episode 1: Every Man's Dream After learning he has narcolepsy, Homer gets drunk instead of going home with his medicine; a visit to a marriage counselor leads to a trial separation for Homer and Marge; Homer dates a woman in her 20s. Season 26 Episode 21: Bull-E When Bart is bullied at a dance, Marge gets the town to pass anti-bullying legislation; Homer is sent to rehab for bullying Flanders. Season 26 Episode 20: Let's Go Fly a Coot Grampa shares stories about his time in the Air Force; Bart starts smoking in an effort to impress Millhouse's cousin. Season 26 Episode 19: The Kids Are All Fight The family goes on a trip down memory lane when Homer gets an old roll of film developed -- revealing the origin of Lisa and Bart's rivalry. Season 26 Episode 18: Peeping Mom Marge follows Bart around in an effort to get him to confess to being involved in a bulldozer crash; Homer ignores Santa's Little Helper when Flanders brings a new dog home. Season 26 Episode 17: Waiting for Duffman When Homer wins the competition to become the new Duffman after the old one retires, the sober nature of the job forces him to realize beer isn't as important as he thought. Season 26 Episode 16: Sky Police When Chief Wiggum uses a military jet pack to fight crime, he ends up crashing it into the church, leaving Marge and the congregation to resort to gambling to raise money for the repairs. Season 26 Episode 15: The Princess Guide Homer is asked to keep Princess Kemi out of trouble while her father, a Nigerian king, makes a deal with Mr. Burns; Moe thinks Kemi is related to the Nigerian prince who scammed him. Season 26 Episode 14: My Fare Lady Fed up with the thankless duty of driving the kids around, Marge starts working as a driver for a transportation app service; Homer bankrupts Moe while watching the bar for a night. Season 26 Episode 13: Walking Big & Tall Lisa writes a new anthem for Springfield when she learns the original was stolen from another town; Homer learns the meaning of "wide pride." Season 26 Episode 12: The Musk Who Fell to Earth Homer and his new friend, an inventor named Elon Musk, revolutionize Springfield's nuclear plant; Mr. Burns wants to get rid of Musk after the inventor goes too far. Season 26 Episode 11: Bart's New Friend When Homer is hypnotized at the circus, he thinks he is a young boy again -- and becomes Bart's new best friend and accomplice. Season 26 Episode 10: The Man Who Came to Be Dinner The Simpsons board the wrong ride at Dizzneeland and end up being held captive at a zoo on Kang and Kodos' home planet. Season 26 Episode 9: I Won't Be Home for Christmas When Homer stays out drinking with Moe on Christmas Eve, Marge tells him not to come home, leaving him to make a sad trek through the town. Season 26 Episode 8: Covercraft A mid-life crisis has Homer taking up bass guitar and forming a cover band with other dads, but the band's success is threatened by the breakout potential of one of its members. Season 26 Episode 7: Blazed and Confused A new teacher at school named Mr. Lassen (Willem Dafoe) is determined to crush Bart Simpson's spirit. Season 26 Episode 6: Simpsorama Season 26 Episode 5: Opposites A-Frack Lisa gets a surprise when the assemblywoman she brings in to stop Mr. Burns' fracking operation turns out to be attracted to him. Season 26 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XXV When Bart reads a set of Aramaic symbols, he and Lisa find themselves transported to an alternate universe; a member of Moe's gang wants to leave the life for a girl; the family is visited by former versions of themselves. Season 26 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XXV When Bart reads a set of Aramaic symbols, he and Lisa find themselves transported to an alternate universe; a member of Moe's gang wants to leave the life for a girl; the family is visited by former versions of themselves. Season 26 Episode 3: Super Franchise Me When Marge opens a franchise sandwich shop, the running of the business proves challenging, especially when a competitor opens another location across the street. Season 26 Episode 2: The Wreck of the Relationship When Homer's efforts at parenting go poorly, Marge schedules him and Bart for a conflict resolution program; Marge manages Homer's fantasy football league. Season 26 Episode 1: Clown in the Dumps A resident of Springfield dies; Krusty feels offended after being roasted on a cable channel, so he decides to retire; Lisa tries to keep Homer from getting hurt. Season 25 Episode 21: Pay Pal Marge swears off making friends after Homer offends their new neighbors but reconsiders when Lisa decides she doesn't need friends either. Season 25 Episode 20: Brick Like Me Homer must figure out what to do when he wakes up to a world where everything and everyone is made out of Lego bricks. Season 25 Episode 19: What to Expect When Bart's Expecting When Bart's voodoo doll spell accidentally makes his teacher pregnant, he becomes a savior to couples hoping to conceive. Season 25 Episode 18: Days of Future Future In the future, a new clone of Homer is created each time he dies, Lisa's husband is a zombie-version of Milhouse and Bart has custody issues with his ex-wife. Season 25 Episode 18: Days of Future Future In the future, a new clone of Homer is created each time he dies, Lisa's husband is a zombie-version of Milhouse and Bart has custody issues with his ex-wife. Season 25 Episode 17: Luca$ Season 25 Episode 16: You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee When Lisa praises Homer's integrity, he is asked to be a World Cup referee; a slick gangster tests Homer's honesty. Season 25 Episode 15: The War of Art When Marge and Homer buy a painting at the Van Houtens' yard sale, the couples find themselves at odds when the painting turns out to be worth a lot of money. Season 25 Episode 14: The Winter of His Content When Retirement Castle is closed, Marge asks Grampa and two other octogenarians to move in; Nelson befriends Bart after Bart defends him. Season 25 Episode 13: The Man Who Grew Too Much During a research trip, Lisa learns that Sideshow Bob is the chief scientist at a big chemical engineering company; Marge tries to teach a teen church group about healthy sexual practices. Season 25 Episode 11: Specs and the City When Marge tries Homer's new high-tech glasses on, he learns she's seeing a marriage counselor; Bart refuses to buy Nelson a Valentine's Day card. Season 25 Episode 10: Married to the Blob When Comic Book Guy meets a woman writing an autobiographical manga, he seeks Homer's advice on dating. Season 25 Episode 9: Steal This Episode Home is thrilled to learn how to download pirated movies, and begins screening them in his backyard, but his fun ends abruptly when the FBI arrives on the scene. Season 25 Episode 8: White Christmas Blues When a leak at the power plant causes snowfall in Springfield, tourists inundate the town; Marge takes on boarders to raise cash for the holidays. Season 25 Episode 7: Yellow Subterfuge Principal Skinner gives the students a blank slate and promises the best-behaved among them can ride in a submarine; Lisa tries to help Krusty with his financial problems. Season 25 Episode 7: Yellow Subterfuge Principal Skinner gives the students a blank slate and promises the best-behaved among them can ride in a submarine; Lisa tries to help Krusty with his financial problems. Season 25 Episode 6: The Kid Is Alright Lisa is dismayed to learn that her new friend is a Republican, and that they are running against each other for the post of second-grade representative. Season 25 Episode 5: Labor Pains When Homer helps a woman give birth in an elevator, he forms an emotional attachment to the baby; cheerleaders for the local professional football team recruit Lisa. Season 25 Episode 4: YOLO Marge encourages Homer to cross an item off an old to-do list by inviting an old pen pal to visit; Lisa institutes an honor code at school. Season 24 Episode 21: The Saga of Carl Carlson; Dangers on a Train When Homer, Moe, Lenny and Carl win the lottery, Carl takes off to Iceland with all the money; Marge mistakenly signs up for a website for married people looking for extramarital relationships. Season 24 Episode 21: The Saga of Carl Carlson When Homer, Moe, Lenny and Carl win the lottery, Carl takes off to Iceland with all the money. Season 24 Episode 20: Fabulous Faker Boy Marge hires a beautiful piano instructor to help Bart explore his creative side; Homer loses his last two hairs. Season 24 Episode 19: Whiskey Business Venture capitalists take an interest in Moe's homemade whiskey; Grampa hurts himself and learns he prefers being in the care of Bart over the nursing home; Lisa finds the hologram of a jazz legend offensive. Season 24 Episode 18: Pulpit Friction A trendy new pastor (guest voice Edward Norton) asks Homer to be a church deacon, but when Homer starts to get a little too fervent, Bart asks Flanders for help finding their former pastor. Season 24 Episode 17: What Animated Women Want Homer tries to fix things when Marge gets tired of his behavior; Milhouse, inspired by "A Streetcar Named Desire," tries to attract Lisa with a bad-boy persona. Season 24 Episode 16: Dark Knight Court Lisa must defend her brother when Bart is falsely accused of pulling a prank on Easter; Mr. Burns tries to fulfill his dream of becoming a superhero. Season 24 Episode 15: Black-Eyed, Please Season 24 Episode 14: Gorgeous Grampa When Grampa's former life as a pro-wrestler comes to light, Mr. Burns convinces him to stage a comeback; Bart starts adopting some of Grampa's characters' bad habits. Season 24 Episode 13: Hardly Kirk-ing Bart and Milhouse explore the perks of adulthood following a shaving experiment; Marge tries to save Maggie from the dangers of children's TV; includes a broadcast of Oscar-nominated short film "Maggie Simpson in: The Longest Daycare." Season 24 Episode 12: Love Is a Many Splintered Thing Mary Spuckler (guest voice Zooey Deschanel) returns to Springfield and pulls Bart's heartstrings once again; Homer winds up in the dog house. Season 24 Episode 11: Changing of the Guardian A tornado inspires Homer and Marge to look for guardians for the kids in case something bad happens; Marge questions the motives of potential guardians. Season 24 Episode 10: A Test Before Trying The fate of Springfield Elementary rests on Bart's score on a standardized test; Homer finds a parking meter at the dump and starts using it to scam drivers. Season 24 Episode 9: Homer Goes to Prep School Homer joins a survivalist group whose leader has set up a retreat to prepare for the end of the world, despite Marge's skepticism about the group's shenanigans. Season 24 Episode 8: To Cur With Love When Grampa is forced to move back in with the Simpsons, Homer throws his back out; as he recovers, Homer becomes addicted to a game. Season 24 Episode 7: The Day the Earth Stood Cool Homer befriends his hip new neighbors from Portland, Ore., but Marge disapproves of their parenting methods, and Bart finds their son pretentious. Season 24 Episode 6: A Tree Grows in Springfield To cheer Homer up, Lisa tries to win a MyPad for him; Ned finds a tree in the Simpsons' backyard with the word "hope" spelled out in the bark. Season 24 Episode 5: Penny-Wiseguys Homer learns his bowling buddy does accounting for the mob; Lisa starts eating insects after she passes out while playing her saxophone. Season 24 Episode 4: Gone Abie Gone Homer and Marge try to track down a missing Grampa by following clues that lead to secrets from his past; Lisa starts gambling online. Season 24 Episode 3: Adventures in Baby Getting Marge grows to dislike her new car because it wouldn't be big enough if they were to decide to have another baby; Bart and his friend spy on Lisa. Season 24 Episode 2: Treehouse of Horror XXIII In ancient times, Homer and Marge observe the Mayans predicting that 2012 will be the end of the world; Marge faces the consequences of an unholy pact she once made; Bart travels back in time to buy a comic book. Season 24 Episode 1: Moonshine River Season 23 Episode 22: Lisa Goes Gaga Lisa tries to make herself more popular by writing good things about herself on the school blog, but the plan backfires; Lisa helps Lady Gaga and learns the importance of being yourself. Season 23 Episode 21: Ned 'n' Edna's Blend When Marge learns Ned and Edna got married, she offers to throw them a reception; Edna changes some rules to help Ned's kids become more socially acceptable. Season 23 Episode 20: The Spy Who Learned Me Marge and Homer go on a date, but Marge is embarrassed when Homer talks during the movie; when Homer gets hurt and can't work, he tries to learn how to be a better husband from a man (guest voice Bryan Cranston) he believes is a movie star. Season 23 Episode 19: A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again When Bart gets his wish for a family vacation, he becomes determined to make it last forever. Season 23 Episode 18: Beware My Cheating Bart Bart ends up in trouble with school bullies after Jimbo's girlfriend develops feelings for him; Homer buys a treadmill equipped with a TV. Season 23 Episode 17: Them, Robot When Mr. Burn replaces most of the plant's employees with robots that end up turning on the community, the people he laid off must come to the rescue. Season 23 Episode 16: How I Wet Your Mother When Homer's bed-wetting worsens, his family tries to infiltrate his dreams to find the source of the problem. Season 23 Episode 16: How I Wet Your Mother When Homer's bed-wetting worsens, his family tries to infiltrate his dreams to find the source of the problem. Season 23 Episode 15: Exit Through the Kwik-E Mart When Bart decides to get back at Homer by becoming a graffiti artist, established street artists offer him a gallery show; a new health food store threatens to put Apu out of business. Season 23 Episode 14: At Long Last Leave When the Simpsons are kicked out of Springfield, they join an off-the-grid community near by; Homer and Marge's former friends react badly when they try to sneak back into town. Season 23 Episode 13: The Daughter Also Rises Marge and Lisa's plans for a mother-daughter Valentine's Day take a turn when Lisa falls head over heels for an intellectual romantic (guest voice Michael Cera); Bart and Milhouse investigate Springfield Elementary's legends. Season 23 Episode 12: Moe Goes From Rags to Riches Moe's bar rag explains that he started as a medieval tapestry a thousand years earlier; Bart tries to reconcile with Milhouse; the disappearance of Moe's bar rag makes him realize he has friends. Season 23 Episode 11: The D'oh-cial Network Lisa is called to trial after her online social networking site creates dysfunction in the community; Patty and Selma compete in a rowing event. Season 23 Episode 10: Politically Inept With Homer After a video of Homer ranting goes viral, he gets his own political talk show; Homer endorses rocker Ted Nugent for the Republican presidential nominee. Season 23 Episode 9: Holidays of Future Passed Thirty years in the future, Bart, Lisa and their children spend the holidays at Marge and Homer's house. Season 23 Episode 8: The Ten-Per-Cent Solution After Krusty the Clown's show is canceled and his talent agency drops him, his very first agent, Annie (guest voice Joan Rivers), tries to craft his comeback. Season 23 Episode 7: The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants The Simpsons host a party to promote Krusty's own brand of liquor; impressed with the party's sucess, Mr. Burns decides to promote Homer; Bart takes an interest in reading classic novels. Season 23 Episode 6: The Book Job Homer creates a team, including author Neil Gaiman, to write the next hit "tween" book; after receiving an advance copy of the work from his publisher, Homer learns there's more to the business than he imagined. Season 23 Episode 5: The Food Wife Marge, Bart and Lisa start their own food blog and land a reservation at a popular restaurant; when Marge sends Homer to a cooking lab, he finds himself in a situation with law enforcement. Season 23 Episode 4: Replaceable You Lisa's science fair project is overshadowed by Bart's mechanical baby seal; Homer's new assistant ends up stealing his job. Season 23 Episode 3: Treehouse of Horror XXII A boulder traps Homer's arm when he takes a drive through a canyon; a spider bite paralyzes Homer; Flanders becomes a vigilante by night; Bart and Milhouse travel to a distant planet to obtain an extract. Season 23 Episode 2: Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts When superintendent Chalmers is fired for taking Bart and his friends on an unauthorized field trip, the boys hold the school hostage until he is reinstated. Season 23 Episode 1: The Falcon and the D'Ohman Homer befriends a new security guard at the plant; Marge daydreams about being a contestant on "Top Chef." Season 22 Episode 22: The Ned-liest Catch When Ned starts dating Mrs. Krabappel, he is surprised to learn how many of Springfield's men she has been with. Season 22 Episode 21: 500 Keys After finding the keys to every door in Springfield, Lisa finds a hidden room beneath the elementary school. Season 22 Episode 20: Homer Scissorhands Homer opens his own hair salon after discovering he is a talented stylist; Milhouse professes his love for Lisa. Season 22 Episode 19: The Real Housewives of Fat Tony Fat Tony and Marge's sister, Selma, fall in love and get married; Bart discovers a special ability. Season 22 Episode 18: The Great Simpsina When the Great Raymondo takes Lisa on as his magician's assistant, she is conned into revealing the secret of his greatest trick to his nemesis. Love Is a Many Strangled Thing Marge persuades Homer to enroll in a fathering enrichment class; Bart becomes a school bully. Season 22 Episode 16: A Midsummer's Nice Dream When Cheech and Chong stop in Springfield while on their reunion tour, Homer impresses Cheech so much he asks him to replace Chong; Principal Skinner forms a new comedy team with Chong; Marge tries to help a hoarder. Season 22 Episode 15: The Scorpion's Tale During a field trip, Lisa discovers desert water that makes usually combative creatures get along; after getting kicked out of the retirement home, Grampa comes to live with the family. Season 22 Episode 13: The Blue and the Gray Moe attends a seminar in hope of gaining more confidence with women; Marge makes a change after discovering her gray hair. Season 22 Episode 12: Homer the Father When Homer insists Bart must earn the new dirt bike he wants, Bart comes up with a scheme; James Lipton interviews a TV cast. Season 22 Episode 11: Flaming Moe When Smithers transforms Moe's pub into a refined and trendy lounge, the establishment becomes Springfield's local gay hangout; Principal Skinner falls for the new, free-spirited music teacher (guest voice Kristen Wiig). Season 22 Episode 10: Moms I'd Like to Forget Marge reconnects with a close group of mothers she used to be friends with; Bart tries to break up their group when his playdates stop being fun. Season 22 Episode 9: Donnie Fatso Homer ends up in the Springfield penitentiary after getting caught bribing an official; an FBI investigator (guest voice Jon Hamm) offers Homer a way to reduce his jail time. Season 22 Episode 8: The Fight Before Christmas When the rest of the family seems to lack Christmas spirit, Marge contacts Martha Clause (guest voice Martha Stewart). How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window? After Bart nurses an injured bird back to health, Homer enters it in a race. Season 22 Episode 6: The Fool Monty Mr. Burns becomes distraught at the town's apathetic reaction to the announcement that he has only weeks to live; Bart secretly takes Burns into the family's home. Season 22 Episode 5: Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life Fearing that she will end up like Marge, Lisa pledges to focus solely on her academics and not get distracted by other things; Bart puts Nelson in his place and unintentionally earns the title of school bully. Season 22 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XXI Worried about the effects of violent video games, Marge encourages Bart and Milhouse to play board games; Lisa becomes smitten with a new student, a vampire; while on a second honeymoon, Homer and Marge rescue a castaway who escaped from his ship. Season 22 Episode 3: MoneyBART Lisa starts coaching Bart's Little League team; Marge and Bart spend the day at an amusement park, where former MLB manager Mike Scioscia gives Bart advice. Season 22 Episode 2: Loan-a-Lisa Grampa gives each family member a portion of his savings; Lisa worries that Nelson's instant success with a new business venture might lure him away from continuing his education. Season 22 Episode 1: Elementary School Musical Marge sends Lisa to a performing arts camp, where counselors and fellow campers inspire her to embrace her creative side; upon returning to Springfield, Lisa grows restless with her boring suburban lifestyle. Season 21 Episode 22: The Bob Next Door Bart becomes convinced that his new neighbor is actually archenemy Sideshow Bob; to convince him that he is wrong, Marge takes Bart to the state penitentiary. Season 21 Episode 21: Moe Letter Blues Moe writes a letter, in which he threatens to run away with one of their wives, to Homer, the Rev. Lovejoy and Apu, who are on vacation with their children. Season 21 Episode 20: To Surveil, With Love When radiation is released into the city, authorities suspend civil liberties; tired of being blonde, Lisa dyes her hair a darker color. Season 21 Episode 19: The Squirt and the Whale The Simpsons build a wind turbine in their backyard; Homer and Lisa try to help a whale beached by a storm. Season 21 Episode 18: Chief of Hearts While finishing court-ordered community service, Homer befriends Chief Wiggum; Bart develops an addiction to a Japanese game. Season 21 Episode 17: American History X-cellent Mr. Burns is questioned when a police officer sees a stolen painting at the billionaire's estate; Smithers runs the power plant while Mr. Burns is away. Season 21 Episode 16: The Greatest Story Ever D'Ohed Flanders invites the Simpson family to a church retreat in Jerusalem in hopes of redeeming Homer. Season 21 Episode 15: Stealing First Base Bart and his classmate, Nikki (guest voice Sarah Silverman), develop a flirtatious rapport; first lady Michelle Obama (guest voice Angela Bassett) comes to Lisa's defense when she is ostracized for being an overachiever. Season 21 Episode 14: Postcards From the Wedge Homer and Marge have a parent-teacher conference with Principal Skinner after Bart fails to turn in his homework. Season 21 Episode 13: The Color Yellow When Lisa discovers that her Southern ancestors helped a slave escape to freedom, she presents the story during Black History Month. Season 21 Episode 8: Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou? When Lisa tells Bart she has a special sibling bond with Maggie that he will never understand, he asks Homer for a baby brother. Season 21 Episode 7: Rednecks and Broomsticks While wandering in a field after getting lost, Lisa discovers three teenage girls who are practicing Wiccans; Homer hangs out with Cleatus and his friends. Season 21 Episode 6: Pranks and Greens Principal Skinner tells Bart that there is a former Springfield Elementary student hailed as the best prankster ever; Bart tracks down the prankster (guest voice Jonah Hill), now 19. Season 21 Episode 5: The Devil Wears Nada To raise money for charity, Marge and the Philanthro-Chicks decide to pose for a calendar, but Marge poses after drinking a lot of wine, and the pinups become the talk of the town. Season 21 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XX Lisa sets out for revenge against Miss Hoover; zombies overrun Springfield; after falling through a trap door at Moe's, Homer becomes half-man, half-brewing apparatus. Season 21 Episode 3: The Great Wife Hope The men of Springfield become obsessed with mixed martial arts; Marge and her friends decide to stage a protest. Season 21 Episode 2: Bart Gets a Z Bart and the rest of his class decide to teach Mrs. Krabappel a lesson when she confiscates their cell phones. Four Great Women and a Manicure Lisa and Marge engage in a spirited debate at the nail salon. Season 20 Episode 19: Waverly Hills, 9021-D'Oh Marge and Homer rent an apartment in an upscale neighborhood so Lisa and Bart can go to a better school. Season 20 Episode 18: Father Knows Worst Homer decides to closely monitor Bart and Lisa to force them to succeed; Marge finds it difficult to resist the sauna she finds in the basement. Season 20 Episode 17: The Good, the Sad and the Drugly Milhouse takes the fall for a prank he and Bart pull together; Bart falls for a volunteer (guest voice Anne Hathaway) at Grampa's nursing home; Lisa predicts Springfield's future and is depressed by what she sees. Season 20 Episode 16: Eeny Teeny Maya Moe Homer tries to spend more time with Maggie; Moe falls for a woman he met on the Internet. Season 20 Episode 15: Wedding for Disaster After learning that their marriage is in-valid, Homer asks Marge to renew their vows, but he mysteriously disappears before the wedding. Season 20 Episode 14: In the Name of the Grandfather The family takes Grandpa to Ireland for a last pint at his favorite pub, where Homer and Grandpa decide to buy the business and hire Moe to run it. Season 20 Episode 13: Gone Maggie Gone After nuns at a convent take Maggie in, Lisa comes up with a plan to rescue her. Season 20 Episode 12: No Loan Again, Naturally Season 20 Episode 8: The Burns and the Bees Lisa fights to save Springfield's bee population when Mr. Burns' plans for a new sports arena endangers it. Season 20 Episode 7: Mypods and Boomsticks Homer thinks Bart's new friend is orchestrating a terrorist plot and tries to warn the residents of Springfield about the imminent disaster. Season 20 Episode 6: Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words Lisa discovers her incredible talent for solving crossword puzzles and enters a tournament; Homer goes to cheer Lisa on and discovers underground betting on the competition. Season 20 Episode 5: Dangerous Curves The Simpson family takes a vacation at a cabin in the woods; Homer and Marge recall their courtship and the early years of their marriage. Season 20 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XIX Homer kills celebrities so their likenesses can be exploited free-of-charge; Lisa and Milhouse go to a pumpkin patch and wait for the appearance of the Grand Pumpkin. Season 20 Episode 3: Double Double Boy in Trouble Lenny wins the lottery and invites the Simpson family to a celebratory party at a luxurious hotel; Bart meets his exact look-alike, Simon, a member of the richest family in Springfield, and they decide to switch places. Season 20 Episode 2: Lost Verizon Bart takes a job at a country club retrieving golf balls to help save up money to buy a cell phone; while watching celebrities at the course, Bart finds Denis Leary's cell phone and makes prank calls pretending to be Leary. Season 20 Episode 1: Sex, Pies and Idiot-Scrapes Homer is sent to jail after a brawl at the Springfield St. Patrick's Day parade; Marge unwittingly begins working at an erotic bakery. Season 19 Episode 19: Mona Leaves-a When Homer's mother dies unexpectedly, he decides to fulfill her final wishes by scattering her ashes over Lake Watershed at Springfield Monument Park. Season 19 Episode 18: Any Given Sundance When Lisa enters a documentary about her family in the Sundance Film Festival, Homer, Marge and Bart are embarrassed by the candid look at their lives. Season 19 Episode 17: Apocalypse Cow Bart tries to save a cow from the slaughterhouse; Homer and Marge devise a plan to stop Bart from getting married. Season 19 Episode 16: Papa Don't Leech When Mayor Quimby realizes the city of Springfield has gone broke, Lisa goes through the town's financial records and discovers millions in uncollected city taxes; Marge reluctantly allows a fugitive to stay with the family. Season 19 Episode 15: Smoke on the Daughter Lisa persuades Marge to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a ballerina by auditioning for a ballet academy; Homer shows Bart his secret room where he manufactures beef jerky. Season 19 Episode 14: Dial `N' for Nerder Marge hires a nutritionist, who puts Homer on a diet, but Homer decides to sneak in snacks on the side; the prank Bart and Lisa play on Martin Prince goes terribly wrong. Season 19 Episode 13: The Debarted Bart suspects that one of his friends is a rat when his seemingly fool-proof pranks start to backfire; Homer grows very attached to the fancy loaner car he gets after Marge damages their vehicle in an accident. Season 19 Episode 12: Love, Springfieldian Style To celebrate Valentine's Day, Homer takes Marge to the tunnel of love at a carnival, but when Bart pulls a prank they become hopelessly stranded; Homer tries to cheer Marge up by telling her a love story. Season 19 Episode 11: That '90s Show When Bart and Lisa unearth Marge's diploma from Springfield University, Marge reminisces about her college days, when she dated a pretentious professor and Homer became a grunge music star. Season 19 Episode 9: Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind When a potent drink erases the last 24 hours of his memory, Homer seeks help to try to piece together the events that led to his family being gone. Season 19 Episode 8: Funeral for a Fiend TV commercials influence the Simpsons to go to a rib restaurant where Sideshow Bob (guest voice Kelsey Grammer) is waiting in an elaborate hoax to lure them to their doom. Season 19 Episode 7: Husbands and Knives A friendly comic-book buff (guest voice Jack Black) treats Bart, Lisa and Milhouse like royalty; Marge launches a gym for ordinary women. Season 19 Episode 6: Little Orphan Millie Milhouse starts to act like a man when he thinks his parents died at sea; Homer cannot remember the color of Marge's eyes. Season 19 Episode 5: Treehouse of Horror XVIII Homer, living a double life as a secret agent, must kill Kent Brockman; Bart and Lisa help Kodos reconnect with his home planet; Flanders decides to spook Springfield's children. Season 19 Episode 5: Treehouse of Horror XVIII Homer, living a double life as a secret agent, must kill Kent Brockman; Bart and Lisa help Kodos reconnect with his home planet; Flanders decides to spook Springfield's children. Season 19 Episode 4: I Don't Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Caught in a bank robbery, Marge convinces the criminal (guest voice Steve Buscemi) to turn himself in by promising to visit him in jail. Season 19 Episode 3: Midnight Towboy Marge undergoes a counseling program that helps parents raise their children to be independent at an early age; Homer becomes a tow-truck driver. Season 19 Episode 2: Homer of Seville While receiving treatment for an injured back at the hospital, Homer discovers that he has a beautiful opera voice. Even though Homer must sing while lying on his back for his voice to sound operatic, Mr. Burns hires him to sing at the Springfield Opera House, where he quickly becomes a star. Through his newfound stardom, Homer develops a large throng of fans including the lovely Julia, an obsessive and dangerous stalker. Season 19 Episode 1: He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs After a trip on Mr. Burns' private plane, Homer enlists the aid of a life coach (guest voice Stephen Colbert) to help him find a job that allows him to use a corporate jet. Season 18 Episode 21: 24 Minutes Counter Truancy Unit agents Jack Bauer and Chloe O'Brian help Bart and Lisa stop bullies from releasing a stink bomb. Season 18 Episode 20: Stop or My Dog Will Shoot After rescuing Homer when he is lost in a cornfield maze, Santa's Little Helper goes to police-dog academy. Season 18 Episode 19: Crook and Ladder Maggie causes destruction in the house after Marge throws away her pacifier; Homer becomes a volunteer firefighter. Season 18 Episode 18: The Boys of Bummer Bart leads his Little League team to the championship game; a department store owner hires Homer as a salesman. Season 18 Episode 17: Marge Gamer When Marge starts using the Internet, she joins a popular role-playing fantasy game; Homer volunteers to referee Lisa's soccer game. Season 18 Episode 16: Homerazzi A candle on Homer's birthday cake starts a fire; Homer joins the paparazzi after accidentally capturing a celebrity dating scandal in a photograph. Season 18 Episode 15: Rome-Old and Juli-Eh When Homer stops paying his nursing home, Grampa moves in with Selma; Bart and Lisa con a delivery man into giving them cardboard boxes. Season 18 Episode 14: Yokel Chords Principal Skinner offers Lisa a chance to tutor Cletus' kids; Bart tries to scare his peers out of the cafeteria by claiming it is haunted. Season 18 Episode 13: Springfield Up An eccentric documentary filmmaker (guest voice Eric Idle) chronicles the growth and development of Springfield; Homer tries out odd jobs in search of success. Season 18 Episode 12: Little Big Girl Lisa is chosen to represent the school at City Hall after embellishing her heritage as an American Indian for a school project; Bart gets a driver's license. Season 18 Episode 11: Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times After the car breaks down, the family tells tales of revenge gone wrong, including one about nerd revenge at Springfield Elementary. Season 18 Episode 10: The Wife Aquatic Homer and the kids take depressed Marge on a surprise trip to Barnacle Bay, only to find it a rundown mess. Season 18 Episode 9: Kill Gil, Vol. 1 & 2 Homer gets into a brawl at a holiday ice-skating show; Gil accidentally gives away a gift meant for his boss's daughter. Season 18 Episode 8: The Haw-Hawked Couple Marge forces Bart to attend Nelson's birthday party after he persuades his friends not to go, and they become best friends. Season 18 Episode 7: Ice Cream of Margie (With the Light Blue Hair) When Homer loses his job at the plant, he takes over the ice cream truck business; Marge battles her depression by making sculptures from popsicle sticks. Season 18 Episode 6: Moe'N'A Lisa Lisa helps Moe become a published poet, but when a literary conference features him, he takes all the credit for his success. Season 18 Episode 5: G.I. (Annoyed Grunt) Homer falls prey to Army recruiters and lands in basic training; after infuriating his hard-nosed colonel (guest voice Kiefer Sutherland), Homer is put in charge of the war games. Season 18 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XVII Homer turns into a rampaging blob after eating green goo; Bart brings to life Golem, a creature from Jewish folklore; a fake radio-broadcast convinces Springfield residents that there is an alien invasion. Season 18 Episode 3: Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em Marge's newfound talent in carpentry prompts her to go into business for herself, using Homer as the frontman. Season 18 Episode 2: Jazzy and the Pussycats When Bart's talent surpasses Lisa's, she gives up music and secretly starts rescuing animals, until one of her menagerie mauls him. Season 18 Episode 1: The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer After a rival mob family shoots Fat Tony (guest voice Joe Mantegna), Homer becomes the new kingpin. Girls Just Want to Have Sums Lisa masquerades as a boy when a new principal divides the school by gender. Season 17 Episode 18: The Wettest Stories Ever Told When the Simpsons' plans for a nice family outing turn into a disaster, they try to salvage the night by telling different stories of disasters at sea. Season 17 Episode 17: Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore Homer learns the nuclear power plant is being shut down and outsourced to India; Selma and Patty kidnap MacGyver (guest voice Richard Dean Anderson). Season 17 Episode 16: Million Dollar Abie Grandpa considers suicide but decides to become a matador instead, after foiling Homer's plans to make Springfield home to a professional football franchise. Season 17 Episode 15: Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife Homer's obsession with Lenny's new plasma TV prompts Marge to enter the family in a sweepstakes, and they win a trip to the Fox Studio Lot. Season 17 Episode 14: Bart Has Two Mommies A monkey holds Bart hostage while under Homer's care, leaving Marge to figure out how to get her son back. Season 17 Episode 13: The Seemingly Never-Ending Story While exploring with his family, Homer causes a cave to crumble and finds himself stuck upside-down in the ceiling. Season 17 Episode 12: My Fair Laddy When Bart accidentally destroys Willie's shack with a game of solid-ice dodge ball, Marge takes in the homeless janitor. Season 17 Episode 11: We're on the Road to D'Ohwhere After Bart steals a key from Principal Skinner's office and gets himself into hot water, Marge and Homer send him to a behavior modification camp. Season 17 Episode 10: Homer's Paternity Coot Marge's rage against the new toll road system somehow leads to the discovery of a frozen mailman and his 40-year-old mail. Season 17 Episode 9: Simpsons Christmas Stories The Simpsons re-enact the Nativity; a World War II tale stars Grampa, Mr. Burns and Santa; a musical features "The Nutcracker Suite." Season 17 Episode 8: The Italian Bob Homer brings the whole family along when he is sent to Italy to pick up a new sports car for Mr. Burns. Season 17 Episode 7: The Last of the Red Hat Mamas Marge is shunned after Homer has an altercation with the Easter Bunny at the mayor's egg hunt. Season 17 Episode 5: Marge's Son Poisoning Realizing that Marge is lonely, Bart decides to spend extra time with her, causing his classmates to call him a mama's boy. Season 17 Episode 4: Tree House of Horror XVI B.I. Bartificial Intelligence; Survival of the Fattest; the World Series of Manhunter with host Terry Bradshaw; I've Grown a Costume on Your Face. Season 17 Episode 3: Milhouse of Sand and Fog When Maggie gets chicken pox, Homer tries to capitalize on it by throwing a pox party and inviting parents to infect their children. Season 17 Episode 2: The Girl Who Slept Too Little When a graveyard is relocated to the lot next to the Simpsons, Lisa has nightmares that prevent her from sleeping. Season 17 Episode 1: Bonfire of the Manatees When Homer allows Fat Tony (guest voice Joe Mantegna) to shoot an explicit movie in the Simpson home, angry Marge leaves and meets Caleb Thorn (guest voice Alec Baldwin), an attractive marine biologist. Season 17 Episode 1: Bonfire of the Manatees When Homer allows Fat Tony (guest voice Joe Mantegna) to shoot an explicit movie in the Simpson home, angry Marge leaves and meets Caleb Thorn (guest voice Alec Baldwin), an attractive marine biologist. Season 16 Episode 20: Home Away From Homer The Flanders rent their rumpus room to a pair of college-age women who use it to run a soft-core webcam, making Ned so embarrassed that he moves his family to Humble, Pa. Season 16 Episode 20: Home Away From Homer; The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star The Flanders family rents its rumpus room to a pair of college-age women, who use it to run a soft-core webcam; expelled Bart must go to a parochial school, where he befriends a hip priest named Father Sean. Season 16 Episode 19: Thank God It's Doomsday Homer begins to study the Rapture and believes he knows when the end times will come, so he begins warning others in an attempt to secure his place in heaven. Season 16 Episode 18: A Star Is Torn Lisa agrees to enter a Krusty-sponsored "Li'l Starmaker" competition and panics when another contestant (guest voice Fantasia Barrino) outperforms her. Season 16 Episode 17: The Heartbroke Kid When Bart endangers his health by bingeing on vending-machine food, the Simpsons turn their home into a hostel in order to afford sending him to a forced starvation facility. Season 16 Episode 16: Don't Fear the Roofer When a leaky roof drives Homer to drink, he goes to the bar and befriends a beer-loving roofer (guest voice Ray Romano), who promises to help Homer with the repairs. Season 16 Episode 15: Future-Drama Professor Frink uses an astrology machine to ease Bart and Lisa's bickering, giving them a sneak peek at their final days of high school. Season 16 Episode 14: The Seven-Beer Snitch In an attempt to prove to Shelbyville that Springfield is not a hick town, Marge convinces the town to fund a new concert hall. Season 16 Episode 13: Mobile Homer Homer buys an RV after his buddies convince him that Marge is trying to make all the financial decisions, and furious Marge makes him live in it. Season 16 Episode 12: Goo Goo Gai Pan Season 16 Episode 11: On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister Fed up with Bart's unending torture, Lisa files a restraining order against her brother, which forces him to live in the back yard. Season 16 Episode 10: There's Something About Marrying Homer tries to cash in on Springfield's new law allowing same-sex marriages by becoming an ordained minister via the Internet. Season 16 Episode 9: Pranksta Rap After Bart is caught sneaking out to go to a rap concert, he fakes his own kidnapping, hiding in Kirk Van Houten's bachelor pad. Season 16 Episode 8: Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass Homer's impromptu dance at a carnival leads to a job choreographing victory dances for sports stars Tom Brady, Warren Sapp, Michelle Kwan, Yao Ming and LeBron James. Season 16 Episode 7: Mommie Beerest Homer refinances the house to save Moe's Tavern and Marge, to protect the investment, decides to take a hands-on role as Moe's partner. Season 16 Episode 6: Midnight Rx Homer, Grampa, Apu and Flanders travel to Canada to buy sorely needed prescription drugs with fake Canadian health-care cards. Season 16 Episode 5: Fat Man and Little Boy When Bart writes slogans on T-shirts, he catches the attention of Goose Gladwell, a gag-gift entrepreneur, and soon becomes a T-shirt mogul; Homer feels he no longer has a place in the family when Bart becomes the breadwinner. Season 16 Episode 4: She Used to Be My Girl Marge meets up with a former high-school pal (guest voice Kim Cattrall) who is now a famous news anchor, and she wonders if she made the right life choice. Season 16 Episode 3: Sleeping With the Enemy Bart tries desperately to reunite Nelson with his family after Marge takes Nelson in, forcing Bart to share a bedroom with his tormentor. Season 16 Episode 2: All's Fair in Oven War Bart finds Homer's vintage Playdude magazines and decides to adopt the ring-a-ding-ding lifestyle of the 1970s. Season 16 Episode 1: Treehouse of Horror XV Ned gains the power to foretell people's deaths; Maggie is shrunk, then swallowed by Mr. Burns; in Victorian London, Detective Eliza Simpson and her sidekick, Dr. Bartley, pursue the Muttonchop Murderer. Season 15 Episode 18: Catch 'Em if You Can When Homer and Marge get caught having a rendezvous in Miami, Bart, Lisa and Grampa Simpson take off on a cross-country journey to foil their romantic getaway. Season 15 Episode 17: My Big Fat Geek Wedding When Principal Skinner's fiance calls off the wedding, he seeks Homer's help to win her back, then Edna runs off to a comic book convention with another man. Season 15 Episode 16: Wandering Juvie Judge Harm (Jane Kaczmarek) sends Bart to juvenile detention, where he meets a tough girl (Sarah Michelle Gellar) who helps him devise an escape plan. Season 15 Episode 15: Co-Dependent's Day After a bender Homer frames Marge for his DUI, and as a result Marge must check into rehab. Season 15 Episode 15: Co-Dependent's Day; Wandering Juvie After a bender Homer frames Marge for his DUI, and as a result Marge must check into rehab; Bart and a girl escape from juvenile detention. Season 15 Episode 14: The Ziff Who Came to Dinner Marge's old flame Artie Ziff (guest voice Jon Lovitz) moves in after losing his dot-com fortune; after Homer wins the remaining shares of Artie's company, he becomes the subject of an investigation. Season 15 Episode 13: Smart and Smarter The interviewer (guest voice Simon Cowell) at a gifted preschool insults Maggie, then jealous Lisa leads her astray after she gets accepted. Season 15 Episode 12: Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore Milhouse moves away, leaving Bart to find a new best friend in Lisa; Bart visits reinvented Milhouse in Capitol City. Season 15 Episode 11: Margical History Tour When the library runs short of books, Marge regales the kids with yarns about King Henry VIII, Sacagawea and Mozart. Season 15 Episode 10: Diatribe of a Mad Housewife Marge writes a novel, "The Harpooned Heart," using Homer and Ned as inspiration for her characters; Homer gets the book-on-tape version read by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Season 15 Episode 9: I, (Annoyed Grunt) Bot Homer builds a robot suit and battles robots in competition; Lisa mourns the loss of Snowball II. Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays Marge decries a movement that favors a school-tax exemption for Springfield's childless residents. Season 15 Episode 7: 'Tis the Fifteenth Season Homer sells a Joe DiMaggio card for a pile of cash, then fritters it all away on himself before being roused by Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Season 15 Episode 6: Today I Am a Clown After Krusty admits he never had a bar mitzvah, he hires Homer to fill in as guest host on his show during the ceremony. Season 15 Episode 5: The Fat and the Furriest Homer creates a homemade bear-fighting suit for his mission of revenge against a bear that attacked him during a visit to the dump. Season 15 Episode 4: The Regina Monologues Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomes the Simpsons to England, where they run into author J.K. Rowling and actor Ian McKellen. Season 14 Episode 21: The Bart of War When Homer and Marge enroll Bart in an activities club, he wages war against Milhouse, who belongs to a different one. Season 14 Episode 20: Brake My Wife, Please When Judge Harm (guest voice Jane Kaczmarek) revokes Homer's license, Marge must do all the driving; Homer meets Steve Buscemi and Jackson Browne while walking from place to place. Season 14 Episode 19: Old Yeller Belly Owner H.K. Duff (guest voice Stacy Keach) makes Santa's Little Helper the new mascot for Duff Beer. Season 14 Episode 18: Dude, Where's My Ranch? Musician David Byrne offers to produce the song Homer wrote about his hatred for neighbor Ned Flanders. Season 14 Episode 17: Three Gays of the Condo Homer relishes living with a gay couple and refuses to return home; Marge recruits Weird Al Yankovic to serenade her errant husband. Season 14 Episode 16: 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky Lisa chooses a career in astronomy after a British filmmaker (guest voice Eric Idle) makes her feel inadequate. Season 14 Episode 15: C.E. D'OH Homer and Lisa engineer a takeover at the nuclear power plant with Homer as the new CEO. The Strong Arms of the Ma Marge retreats to the basement to lift weights after she is mugged. Season 14 Episode 8: The Dad Who Knew Too Little Homer hires a private detective to spy on Lisa so he can get to know more about her. Season 14 Episode 7: Special Edna Bart feels sorry for Mrs Krabapple after Skinner stands her up, so he nominates her for an award. Season 14 Episode 6: The Great Louse Detective Sideshow Bob (guest voice Kelsey Grammer) helps Chief Wiggum pursue a killer who is stalking Homer and his family. Season 14 Episode 5: Helter Shelter Homer and the family live like pioneers on a reality series; TV producers throw Squiggy (guest voice David Lander) into the mix to boost ratings. Season 14 Episode 4: Large Marge Marge gets breast implants meant for a younger patient; Bart and Milhouse spot Krusty on an episode of "Batman and Robin." Season 14 Episode 3: Bart vs. Lisa vs. 3rd Grade Bart and Lisa land in the same third-grade classroom, and the teacher concludes Bart is the superior student on the first day. Season 14 Episode 2: How I Spent My Strummer Vacation Marge and the children send Homer to the Rolling Stones' fantasy camp, where he rubs elbows with rockers Elvis Costello, Mick Jagger, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty, Keith Richards and Brian Setzer. Season 14 Episode 1: Treehouse of Horror XIII Homer clones swarm the countryside; a madman turns townspeople into animallike creatures; a posse of otherworldly outlaws rides into Springfield. Season 13 Episode 21: The Frying Game Homer's sentence for threatening an endangered caterpillar is the care of an old woman, but she dies, and the new judgment is death by electric chair. Season 13 Episode 20: Little Girl in the Big Ten Lisa befriends college girls who are unaware of her age; Bart must live in a bubble after being bitten by a Chinese mosquito. Season 13 Episode 19: The Sweetest Apu Homer catches Apu cheating on his wife in the Kwik-E-Mart, she finds out and files for divorce. Season 13 Episode 18: I Am Furious Yellow Inspired by Stan Lee of Marvel Comics, Bart creates an animated series based on his life with a character named "Angry Dad.". Season 13 Episode 17: Gump Roast Season 13 Episode 14: Tales From the Public Domain Lisa suggests that Homer read aloud from a children's book that he got out of the library when Bart was born. Season 13 Episode 13: The Old Man and the Key Grandpa tries to impress an attractive new woman (guest voice Olympia Dukakis) at the nursing home by showing off his driving skills. Season 13 Episode 12: The Lastest Gun in the West Bart and Lisa try to help an old cowboy actor (guest voice Dennis Weaver), who yearns to reclaim his past fame, by booking him on Krusty's show. Season 13 Episode 11: The Bart Wants What It Wants When wealthy Greta Wolfcastle (guest voice Reese Witherspoon) develops a crush on Bart, her father, Ranier, gives Bart's family the royal treatment. Season 12 Episode 4: Lisa the Tree Hugger Lisa is smitten with an eco-terrorist and spends four days in a tree to prevent it from being cut down. Season 12 Episode 3: Insane Clown Poppy Bart meets a girl named Sophie who claims to be Krusty's illegitimate daughter; Krusty later loses Sophie's violin in a poker game. Season 12 Episode 2: A Tale of Two Springfields After Homer divides the town, waging war against East Springfield, it is up to the Who to reunite Springfield. Season 12 Episode 1: Treehouse of Horror XI Satan kicks Homer out of hell; dolphins take over Springfield; the Simpsons discover the dark side of fairy tales. Season 11 Episode 21: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge A jilted bride moves in with the Simpsons and smothers Homer and the children with motherly love, driving Marge mad. Season 11 Episode 20: Last Tap Dance in Springfield Lisa enrolls in a dance school run by a former child star; Bart and Milhouse camp out at a shopping mall for a week. Season 11 Episode 19: Kill the Alligator and Run In Florida, Homer gets swept up in spring break revelry and accidentally runs over a legendary swamp alligator. Season 11 Episode 18: Days of Wine and D'Oh'ses Homer is upset when Barney quits drinking; Bart and Lisa get into trouble when they enter a photo contest. Season 11 Episode 17: Bart to the Future A glimpse into the future shows Lisa as president of the United States, and Bart as a White House freeloader. Season 11 Episode 7: Eight Misbehavin' After Apu and his wife give birth to octuplets, they unwittingly allow themselves to become the zoo's latest attraction. Season 11 Episode 6: Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder After Homer becomes a celebrity by bowling a perfect game, he guest stars on "The Springfield Squares.". Season 11 Episode 5: E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt) Homer and Bart grow a highly addictive cross between tobacco and a tomato after moving to an old farm. Season 11 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror X Homer causes catastrophe at the nuclear plant; Bart and Lisa X-ray the Halloween candy; the family murders Ned Flanders. Season 11 Episode 3: Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner Homer affects the way trendy people eat when he becomes a local food critic, until he starts giving restaurants bad reviews. Marge Simpson In: Screaming Yellow Honkers Marge develops road rage while driving her new sport utility vehicle. Season 10 Episode 14: I'm With Cupid Apu makes the husbands of Springfield look bad when he gives his wife sensational Valentine's Day gifts. Season 10 Episode 13: Homer to the Max A mortified Homer changes his name when he finds out a goofy television character is also called Homer Simpson. Season 10 Episode 12: Sunday, Cruddy Sunday When Homer buys bogus Super Bowl tickets, he must find a way to get a busload of angry fans into the game. Season 10 Episode 11: Wild Barts Can't Be Broken When Chief Wiggum imposes a curfew on Springfield's alleged vandals, he taps into a hidden vein of creativity. When You Dish Upon a Star Homer bumbles into a celebrity couple's life and becomes their personal assistant. Season 10 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror IX A dead convict controls Homer; Homer and Marge are on "Jerry Springer"; the kids meet Itchy and Scratchy. Season 10 Episode 3: Bart the Mother After an accident, Bart becomes the caretaker of a lizard species that could endanger life in Springfield. Season 10 Episode 2: The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace Homer tries to overcome a midlife depression with a string of inventions inspired by Thomas Alva Edison. Season 10 Episode 1: Lard of the Dance Homer concocts a get-rich-quick scheme for Bart, while Lisa escorts a new student and plans a school dance. Season 9 Episode 11: All Singing, All Dancing Marge and Lisa try to soften Homer's mood after he inadvertently rents a musical instead of an action movie. Season 9 Episode 10: Miracle on Evergreen Terrace When the Simpsons' Christmas presents are stolen, the residents of Springfield rally to the aid of Homer and his family. Season 9 Episode 9: Realty Bites A bored Marge decides to try her hand at selling real estate and makes her first sale to the Flanderses. Season 9 Episode 8: Lisa the Skeptic Lisa conducts an archaeological survey in an attempt to halt the construction of a new mall; people think Lisa's construction-site find are the bones of an angel. Season 9 Episode 7: The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons Apu tries to wriggle out of a marriage prearranged by his mother (voice of Andrea Martin) to a woman (voice of Jan Hooks) from his past. Season 9 Episode 6: Bart Star Bart struggles as the quarterback of Homer's peewee football team and gets some advice from Joe Namath. Season 9 Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror VIII Homer battles mutants in "The Homega Man"; Bart morphs into an insect in "Fly vs. Fly"; a bewitching Marge appears in "Easy-Bake Coven.". Season 9 Episode 3: Lisa's Sax The family remembers when Grampa wasn't drooling, Homer liked the Bee Gees and the day Lisa's sax was run over. Season 9 Episode 2: The Principal and the Pauper A man claiming to be the real Seymour Skinner appears in Springfield while the city honors Principal Skinner. Season 9 Episode 1: The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson Homer takes the family to New York after Barney leaves the car illegally parked at the World Trade Center. Season 8 Episode 18: Homer vs. the 18th Amendment Homer and friends reintroduce a speak-easy to Springfield when an old Prohibition law is enforced; Homer reinvents himself as the Beer Baron. Season 8 Episode 17: My Sister, My Sitter Bart tries everything he can to destroy Lisa's image as a dependable baby sitter when she is left in charge. Season 8 Episode 16: Brother From Another Series Sideshow Bob is once again released from prison, into the care of his respectable brother Cecil; Bob takes a job on Cecil's dam project, but Bart and Lisa suspect he's up to no good. Season 8 Episode 15: Homer's Phobia Bart is befriended by a gay antiques dealer, causing Homer to find ways to intensify his own masculinity. Season 8 Episode 14: The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show Homer gets a job on "The Itchy & Scratchy Show," providing the voice of wisecracking hip-hop surfer dog Poochie, a new character brought in by the network to shore up falling ratings. Season 8 Episode 4: Burns, Baby Burns When Mr. Burns' long-lost illegitimate son, Larry, turns up, Mr. Burns rejects him because he thinks he's an idiot; Larry concocts a money-making scam with Homer. Season 8 Episode 3: The Homer They Fall Homer turns to a career in pro boxing when he discovers he has a genetic condition that protects his brain from injury. Season 8 Episode 2: You Only Move Twice Homer accepts a new job and moves the family to Cypress Creek, where the perfect setting soon turns sour. Season 8 Episode 1: Treehouse of Horror VII In a bid for world domination, space aliens invade the bodies of President Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole. Season 7 Episode 8: Mother Simpson Homer encounters his mother after faking his own death so he can enjoy Saturday at home instead of helping co-workers collect litter on Mr. Burns' stretch of highway. Season 7 Episode 7: King-Size Homer Homer hopes an eating binge will help him weigh in at 300 pounds so he can work at home. Season 7 Episode 6: Treehouse of Horror VI Advertising statues attack Springfield; the school janitor terrorizes children in their sleep; Homer creates a black hole. Season 7 Episode 5: Lisa the Vegetarian Faced with Homer's big meat-eating barbecue, Lisa turns to noted vegetarians Paul and Linda McCartney for help. Season 6 Episode 12: Homer the Great Due to a technicality, Homer is granted membership into an exclusive, clandestine and influential brotherhood called the Stonecutters. Season 6 Episode 11: Fear of Flying Searching for the cause of her fear of flying, Marge visits a psychiatrist after embarrassing her family while on an airplane. Season 6 Episode 10: Grandpa vs. Sexual Inadequacy Grandpa's passion potion becomes a hit after it works wonders for Marge and Homer's drab sex life. Season 6 Episode 9: Homer Badman Homer is accused of sexual harassment by a babysitter and the incident is made into a TV movie. Season 6 Episode 8: Lisa on Ice Lisa and Bart are put in direct competition when Lisa joins a hockey team to avoid failing gym. So It Has Come to This: The Simpsons Clip Show A practical joke puts Homer in the hospital, where the family flashes back. Season 4 Episode 17: Last Exit to Springfield Homer takes on Mr Burns in a labor struggle that rapidly spirals out of control; when Homer leads the workers out on strike, Mr. Burns retaliates by hiring robots to replace them and shutting off power to the city. Season 4 Episode 16: Duffless Homer fails a breathalyzer test driving home from a visit to the Duff brewery and he is forced to quit drinking for a month; Lisa buys a hamster for her school science project. Season 4 Episode 15: I Love Lisa Lisa faces the obsessive love of a classmate after she sends him a valentine out of pity. Bart's Friend Falls in Love Bart feels left out when his friend Milhouse falls for the new girl in school. Season 3 Episode 22: The Otto Show Bart invites Otto to live with the Simpsons after Mr. Skinner fires him for not having a driver's license. Season 3 Episode 21: Black Widower Bart becomes suspicious when former con "Sideshow Bob" is released from prison and proposes marriage to Marge's sister Selma. Season 3 Episode 20: Colonel Homer Homer meets a would-be country singer (voice of Beverly D'Angelo) and decides he should manage her career. Season 3 Episode 19: Dog of Death The Simpsons are so caught up in the approaching lottery they fail to notice their dog is ill. Episode 992: Kamp Krusty Bart e Lisa passam seis semanas no Acampamento Krusty. No entanto, eles descobrem rapidamente que o acampamento não é o que parece. Episode 991: Homer Goes to Prep School Homero se une a un grupo de supervivencia cuyo líder ha puesto en marcha un retiro para prepararse para el fin del mundo, pese al escepticismo de Marge sobre los negocios ilícitos del grupo. Episode 988: A Casa da Árvore dos Horrores 24 É Halloween, e Homer provoca o caos em Springfield; quando Bart é decapitado, seu corpo acaba sendo preso à cabeça de Lisa, provocando sérios problemas; as coisas ficam totalmente fora de controle na caravana do circo do sr. Burns. Episode 985: Homerland Depois de participar de uma convenção de energia nuclear, Homer se torna, repentinamente, um homem educado. Lisa acha que algo ruim aconteceu a ele e pede ajuda a agente do FBI. Episode 975: Changing of the Guardian El tornado inspira a Homero y Marge a buscar tutores para los niños en caso de que algo malo suceda; Marge cuestiona los motivos de los tutores potenciales. Episode 954: The Lastest Gun in the West Bart e Lisa tentam ajudar um velho ator de faroeste a recuperar sua fama perdida, levando-o ao programa de Krusty. Episode 947: Ned'n Edna's Blend Agenda Quando Marge descobre que Ned e Edna casaram-se, ela se oferece para fazer a recepção; Edna muda algumas regras para ajudar as crianças de Ned a tornarem-se mais sociáveis. Episode 944: A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again Bart consegue realizar seu desejo de tirar férias com a família e quer que estas férias durem para sempre. Episode 943: Beware My Cheating Bart Bart tem problemas com bullies na escola, quando a namorada de Jimbo se interessa por ele. Homer compra uma esteira equipada com uma TV. Episode 942: Them, Robot Quando Mr. Burn substitui a maioria dos funcionários da fábrica por robôs que acabam se virando contra a comunidade, as pessoas que foram demitidas voltam para ajudar. Episode 941: How I Wet Your Mother Homer continua a molhar a cama e sua família tenta se infiltrar em seus sonhos para descobrir a fonte do problema. Episode 940: Exit Through the Kwik-E Mart Quando Bart decide dar o troco a Homer ao se tornar um grafiteiro, artistas de rua experientes oferecem a ele uma exibição em uma galeria. Um novo mercado de comida saudável ameaça fechar as portas do Apu. Episode 939: At Long Last Leave Quando os Simpsons são expulsos de Springfield, eles se associam a uma comunidade próxima; os antigos amigos de Homer e Marge, não gostam quando eles tentam entrar de volta na cidade. Episode 931: The Cartridge Family Depois de testemunhar um tumulto, Homer decide comprar uma arma, mas faz uma demonstração de como usá-la de uma forma irresponsável. Episode 930: The Daughter Also Rises Os planos de Marge e Lisa vão por água abaixo quando a filha se apaixona por um garoto intelectual e romântico. Episode 929: Simpson Tide Homer é demitido por tentar aumentar o tamanho de um doughnut no reator nuclear da usina e alista-se na Marinha. Episode 926: The Trouble With Trillions Homer aceita ajuda do Imposto de Rendas para recuperar milhões de dólares do Sr. Burns. Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright e Yeardley Smith. Episode 925: Das Bus As crianças de Springfield ficam presas em uma ilha em uma paródia do filme 'O Senhor das Moscas'. Voz do convidado James Earl Jones. Episode 923: Bart Star Homer treina uma equipe de futebol americano e Bart se esforça para ter um bom desempenho; o time recebe ajuda de Joe Namath. Episode 917: This Little Wiggy Bart faz amizade com Ralph Wiggum e sai em uma aventura pela cidade com a chave mestra de Wiggum .Vozes convidadas de Phil Hartman e Marcia Wallace. Episode 916: Lisa the Skeptic Lisa realiza uma pesquisa arqueológica na tentativa de suspender a construção de um novo shopping. Voz convidada de Stephen Jay Gould. Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright e Yeardley Smith. Episode 915: A Test Before Trying El destino de la Escuela Primaria de Springfield se basa en la calificación de Bart en una prueba estandarizada. Homero encuentra un medidor de estacionamiento en el basurero y empieza a usarlo para engañar a conductores. Episode 912: Lisa's Sax A família se lembra de quando o avô não babava, de quando Homer gostava dos Bee Gees e o dia em que o saxofone de Lisa foi atropelado. Episode 911: Lo que quieren las mujeres animadas Homero trata de arreglar las cosas cuando Marge se cansa de su comportamiento; Millhouse inspirado en la película ' Un Tranvía llamado Deseo', trata de atraer a Lisa con la imagen de chico malo. Episode 903: A Tree Grows in Springfield Para animar a Homero, Lisa trata de ganar un myPad para él; Ned encuentra un árbol en el patio trasero de los Simpson con la palabra 'esperanza' deletreado en la corteza. Episode 903: Bart Sells His Soul Incomodado com uma advertência que o Reverendo Lovejoy lhe deu após fazer uma travessura na igreja, Bart vende sua alma por cinco dólares. Episode 901: O Pai, o Filho e o Religioso Quando Bart é injustamente expulso da escola, ele é enviado para uma escola católica onde faz amizade com Padre Sean. Episode 900: O Pastor Homer tenta aproveitar para ganhar dinheiro com a nova lei de Springfield que permite matrimônios entre pessoas do mesmo sexo. Episode 899: Um Lar Longe de Homer Os Flanders alugam um quarto de hóspedes para um par de mulheres na idade universitária, que o utilizam para uma camera de cenas picantes na internet, tornando Ned tão envergonhado que ele muda com sua família para Humble, Pennsylvania. Episode 897: El Ojo Negro Los padres de Flander prefieren la compañía de Homero a la de él, poniéndolo celoso; la nueva maestra sustituta de Lisa la intimida. Episode 896: El Bello Abuelo Cuando la vida anterior del abuelo como un pro-luchador sale a la luz, el Sr. Burns lo convence de volver a los escenarios; Bart comienza a adoptar algunos de los malos hábitos del carácter de abuelo. Episode 894: A Casa da Árvore dos Horrores XIII Homer clona um inseto e um homem louco transforma a população de Springfield em criaturas animalescas. Episode 893: O Garoto do Coração Partido Quando Bart põe em perigo a sua saúde por comer compulsivamente as comidas de máquinas, os Simpsons transformam sua casa em uma pousada, a fim de permitir o envio dele para uma instalação de fome forçada. Episode 892: Drama do Futuro O professor Frink usa uma máquina de astrologia para acabar com as brigas de Bart e Lisa, demonstrando como seriam seus últimos dias no colégio. Episode 887: Igualito a Papá Bart y Milhouse exploran los privilegios de ser adultos tras un experimento en afeitado; Marge intenta salvar a Maggie de los peligros de la televisión para niños. Episode 886: El amor es un asunto peliagudo Mary Spuckler regresa a Springfield y toca el corazón de Bart otra vez; Homero termina en la casa del perro. Episode 885: Juízo Final Homer começa a estudar sobre o juízo final e acredita saber quando o mundo acabará. Ele começa a alertar outros na tentativa de garantir um lugar no paraíso. Episode 884: O Telhado Quando um vazamento no telhado faz Homer começar a beber, ele vai para o bar e faz amizade com um carpinteiro que adora cerveja (Ray Romano), e ele promete ajudar Homer com os reparos. Episode 880: Operação Canadá Homer, Avô, Apu e Flanders viajam para o Canadá só para comprar remédios, com falsos cartões canadenses de seguro de saúde. Episode 877: O Dia da Co-Dependência Depois de um acidente de carro, Homer culpa Marge por ele dirigir bêbado, e ela decide entrar em reabilitação. Episode 866: Guerra é Guerra Bart encontra as revistas Playdude de Homer e decide adotar um estilo de vida mais parecido com o dos anos setenta. Episode 863: A Casa da Árvore dos Horrores XV Ned ganha o poder de prever a morte das pessoas; Maggie encolhe e é engolida por Sr. Burns; na Londres da época vitoriana, a Detetive Eliza Simpson and sua companheira, perseguem o assassino Muttonchop. Episode 860: Minha Mãe Furta Carro Depois de passar anos escondida, Mona, a mãe de Homer volta para Springfield e acaba sendo pega pela polícia. Episode 857: O Gordo e o Garotinho Quando Bart escreve slogans em camisetas, ele chama a atenção de Goose Gladwell, um empresário, e logo se torna um magnata da camiseta. Homer sente que não tem mais um lugar na família quando Bart torna-se o ganha-pão. Episode 855: Os Simpsons Maggie começa a desmantelar as coisas dentro de casa, depois que Marge tira a chupeta dela. Homer torna-se um bombeiro voluntário. Episode 847: Mantenha Distância Cansada das torturas intermináveis de Bart, Lisa pede na justiça, uma ordem de restrição contra seu irmão, o qual é forçado a ir viver no quintal dos fundos. Episode 841: O Menino Que Sabia Demais Bart enfrenta uma decisão difícil quando ele se torna a única testemunha um crime, enquanto perdia aula. Episode 838: Bart Ganha um Elefante Quando Bart ganha um concurso na rádio, ele pode escolher entre um prêmio grande em dinheiro ou um elefante. Ele prefere o animal. Episode 836: Ned 'n' Edna's Blend Cuando Marge descubre que Ned y Edna se casaron, ella ofrece dar una recepción; Edna cambia algunas reglas para que los hijos de Ned sean socialmente más aceptados. Episode 835: Beware My Cheating Bart Bart termina en problemas cuando la novia de Jimbo, el intimidador de la escuela, se enamora de Bart; Homero compra una trotadora con televisión. Episode 835: Bart Fica Famoso Bart fica famoso quando recebe um papel no Show do Palhaço Krusty. Voz especial convidada: Conan O'Brien.Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright y Yeardley Smith. Episode 833: The Ten-Per-Cent Solution Después de la cancelación del espectáculo del payaso Krusty y su agencia de talentos lo despide, Annie, su primera agente, intenta organizar su regreso. Episode 832: The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants Los Simpson organizan una fiesta para promover la marca de licor de Krusty; impresionado con el éxito de la fiesta, el Sr. Burns decide promover a Homero; Bart se interesa en leer novelas clásicas. Episode 832: Os Escoteiros da Vizinhança Bart e Homer saem numa viagem de jangada, mas perdem o controle e acabam à deriva no mar. Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright e Yeardley Smith. Episode 831: A Criança Enrustida de Bart Homer e Marge levam Bart a um seminário de autoajuda para melhorar seu comportamento rebelde. Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright e Yeardley Smith. Episode 815: Bart, o Músico O talento de Bart supera o de Lisa. Ela decide deixar a música e começa a resgatar animais, até que um deles ataca Bart. Episode 814: O Insignificante, o Cozinheiro, a Esposa e Homer Os Simpsons entram para o submundo criminoso de Springfield quando Homer se transforma no chefe de uma família mafiosa local. Episode 811: The Spy Who Learned Me Marge y Homero tienen una cita, pero Marge se avergüenza cuando Homero habla durante una película; cuando Homero se lastima y no puede trabajar seis semanas, él intenta ser un mejor marido con la ayuda de un hombre. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson A família visita a cidade de Nova York para recuperar seu carro desaparecido. Episode 786: Girlie Edition Lisa se torna a âncora de um programa infantil de notícias e fica irritada quando Bart é feito co-âncora. Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright e Yeardley Smith. Episode 784: Ice Cream of Margie (With the Light Blue Hair) Homer perde seu emprego na usina e começa um negócio como vendedor de sorvete; Marge luta contra sua depressão fazendo esculturas de picolé. Episode 781: The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons Marge e as crianças fingem ser a família de Apu para acalmar sua mãe (voz da convidada Andrea Martin). Episode 776: A Star Is Torn Lisa concorda em participar na competição musical Li'l Starmaker e entra em pânico quando outra competidora à supera. Episode 775: Don't Fear the Roofer Quando um vazamento no telhado faz Homer começar a beber, ele vai para o bar e faz amizade com um carpinteiro que adora cerveja (Ray Romano), e ele promete ajudar Homer com os reparos. Episode 774: Future-Drama O professor Frink usa uma máquina de astrologia para acabar com as brigas de Bart e Lisa, demonstrando como seriam seus últimos dias no colégio. Episode 773: The Seven-Beer Snitch Na tentativa de provar a Shelbyville que Springfield não é uma cidade caipira, Marge convence a prefeitura a bancar uma nova sala de concertos. Episode 772: Mobile Homer Homer compra um trailer depois que seus amigos o convencem que Marge está tentando fazer todas as decisões financeiras, e Marge furiosa, faz ele viver nele. Episode 771: Goo Goo Gai Pan Selma quer adotar um bebê de um orfanato, mas precisa do nome de um pai no formulário. Será que Homer vai fazer pra ela? Episode 770: On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister Cansada das torturas intermináveis de Bart, Lisa pede na justiça, uma ordem de restrição contra seu irmão, o qual é forçado a ir viver no quintal dos fundos. Episode 768: There's Something About Marrying Homer tenta aproveitar para ganhar dinheiro com a nova lei de Springfield que permite matrimônios entre pessoas do mesmo sexo. Episode 767: O Rap de Bart Depois que Bart é capturado tentando escapulir para ir a um concerto de rap, ele finge seu próprio sequestro, escondendo-se no apartamento de solteiro de Kirk Van Houten. Episode 752: Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie Después de una conferencia de padres desastrosa, Homero decide ser más estricto y cuando Bart hace algo malo, Homero lo castiga no dejándolo ver la película de 'Itchy & Scratchy'. Episode 749: Como Aprendi a Gostar do Jogo Springfield Marge vai se divertir jogando nas maquinas do casino que o Sr. Burns abriu em Springfield, e acaba se transformando numa jogadora inveterada. Episode 745: The Monkey Suit Flanders pressiona o prefeito Quimby para nomear o Reverendo Lovejoy para ser o czar em comando de espalhar a teoria da evolucão; Lisa é presa. Episode 740: Million Dollar Abie Depois que Homer faz planos de tornar Springfield na casa do futebol profissional, o avô que pensava em cometer suicídio, para contrastar com o filho, acaba se transformando num matador, na arena de touros da cidade. Episode 730: The Boys of Bummer Bart lidera sua equipe de pequena liga de Baseball para o jogo do campeonato; o dono de uma loja de departamentos contrata Homer como vendedor. Episode 728: The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star Quando Bart é injustamente expulso da escola, ele é enviado para uma escola católica onde faz amizade com Padre Sean. Episode 727: Home Away From Homer Os Flanders alugam um quarto de hóspedes para um par de mulheres na idade universitária, que o utilizam para uma camera de cenas picantes na internet, tornando Ned tão envergonhado que ele muda com sua família para Humble, Pennsylvania. Episode 725: The Seemingly Never-Ending Story Enquanto explora a área com sua família, Homer provoca um desmoronamento em uma caverna e fica preso de cabeça para baixo no teto. Episode 724: My Fair Laddy Quando Bart acidentalmente destrói o barraca de Willie com uma bola de gelo, Marge ajuda o zelador desamparado. Episode 723: We're on the Road to D'Ohwhere Depois que Bart se mete numa encrenca por roubar as chaves do escritório do diretor Skinner, os pais dele o mandam para um acampamento de modificação de comportamento. Episode 720: The Italian Bob Homer leva toda a família quando é mandado para a Itália para pegar o carro esporte novo do sr. Burns. Episode 719: Thank God It's Doomsday Homer começa a estudar sobre o juízo final e acredita saber quando o mundo acabará. Ele começa a alertar outros na tentativa de garantir um lugar no paraíso. Episode 716: The Wettest Stories Ever Told Quando os planos dos Simpsons de sair em família viram num desastre, eles tentam salvar a noite, contando três estórias diferentes sobre desastres no mar. Episode 715: Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife A obsessão de Homer pela TV de plasma nova de Lenny faz Marge entrar a família em um sorteio para ganhar uma viagem para o Estúdio da Fox. Episode 714: Bart-Mangled Banner Os Simpsons são jogados na prisão por alta traição após Bart acidentalmente desrespeitar a bandeira americana. Sua única esperança é um homem velho com um plano de fuga. Episode 712: The Girl Who Slept Too Little Um cemitério é transferido para o lado da casa dos Simpsons e Lisa tem pesadelos que não a deixam dormir. Inconformada, ela resolve enfrentar seus medos e passar uma noite entre os túmulos. Episode 711: Bonfire of the Manatees Quando Homer permite que Fat Tony grave um filme pornográfico na casa dos Simpsons, a indignada Marge o abandona e foge com um biólogo marinho para ajudá-lo no projeto de preservação dos peixes-boi. Episode 710: Jogo Sujo Sr. Burns compra todos os meios de comunicação em Springfield com a intenção de melhorar sua imagem pública, então Lisa começa o seu próprio jornal. Episode 709: Simple Simpson Homer enfrenta malfeitores de Springfield, sob a forma do seu ego lutador contra o crime, o Homem Torta. Voz da convidada Nichelle Nichols. Episode 705: E. Pluribus Wiggum Homer destrói um bairro de restaurantes fast food; o prefeito Quimby decide antecipar o dia das eleições. Episode 700: Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore Milhouse se muda, deixando Bart para que ele encontre em Lisa uma nova melhor amiga. As visitas de Bart reinventam Milhouse na Capital do País. Episode 699: My Big Fat Geek Wedding Quando a noiva do diretor Skinner cancela o casamento, ele pede a ajuda de Homer para reconquistá-la. Edna foge com outro homem para uma convenção de revista em quadrinhos. Episode 698: Wandering Juvie A juíza Harm envia Bart para um centro de detenção juvenil onde ele conhece uma garota que o ajudar a traçar um plano de fuga. Episode 697: Co-Dependent's Day Depois de um acidente de carro, Homer culpa Marge por ele dirigir bêbado, e decide entrar em reabilitação. Episode 695: Smart and Smarter O entrevistador (Simon Cowell) em uma pré-escolar para talentos insulta Maggie, então a ciumenta Lisa a leva para o mau caminho depois que ela foi aceita na ecola. Episode 694: Margical History Tour Quando a biblioteca sofre a falta de livros, Marge presenteia as crianças com narrações de algumas figuras históricas. Episode 692: Diatribe of a Mad Housewife Marge escreve um livro, The Harpooned Heart, usando Homer e Ned como inspiração para seus personagens. Homer recebe em audio, a versão do livro lida por Mary Kate e Ashley Olsen. You Kent Always Say What You Want Ned propõe uma campanha anti-indecência contra Kent Brockman. Episode 690: Stop or My Dog Will Shoot O cachorro de estimação dos Simpsons resgata Homer de um labirinto de um milharal e entra para a academia de polícia. Episode 689: Crook and Ladder Maggie começa a desmantelar as coisas dentro de casa, depois que Marge tira a chupeta dela. Homer torna-se um bombeiro voluntário. Episode 686: Homerazzi A vela do bolo de aniversário de Homer pega fogo; Homer se une ao paparazzi depois de acidentalmente tirar uma foto escandalosa de uma celebridade. Episode 684: Springfield Up Um cineasta excêntrico (Eric Idle) de documentários narra o crescimento e desenvolvimento de Springfield; Homer tenta triunfar realizando trabalhos muito raros. Episode 683: The Haw-Hawked Couple Marge obriga Bart a ir para a festa de aniversário de Nelson e depois que ele convence seus amigos a não irem, tornam-se melhores amigos. Episode 682: The Wife Aquatic Homer e os meninos levam a deprimida Marge em uma viagem surpresa para a Bahia Barnacle e encontram uma grande bagunça. Episode 681: Yokel Chords O diretor Skinner oferece Lisa a chance de ensinar as crianças de Cletus; Bart tenta assustar seus amigos da lanchonete dizendo que o lugar está assombrado. Episode 658: The Homer They Fall Homer se torna um boxeador profissional quando descobre que tem uma condição genética que proteje seu cérebro de machucados. Episode 644: Catch 'Em if You Can Quando Homer e Marge são pegos tendo um encontro romântico em Miami, Bart, Lisa e Vovô Simpson decolam em uma viagem através do país para frustarem a sua escapadela romântica. Episode 642: The Way We Weren't Homer e Marge descobrem que foram feitos um para o outro quando Homer conta a história de seu primeiro beijo. Episode 639: Regarding Margie Marge sofre de amnésia, mas pouco a pouco vai conseguindo lembrar das coisas, exceto de Homer, que terá que reconquistá-la, para não perder ela de vez. Episode 631: Old Yeller Belly O ajudante de Papai Noel torna-se o novo mascote da cerveja Duff depois que é banido da casa dos Simpson por não salvar Homer. Mais tarde, o original dono do ajudante de Papai Noel quer o seu cachorro de volta porque agora ele é famoso. Episode 627: C.E. D'OH Homer e Lisa planejam a tomada de uma planta de energia nuclear com Homer sendo o novo presidente. Episode 625: Barting Over Uma juíza (Jane Kaczmarek) emancipa Bart ao descobrir que Homer desperdiçou o dinheiro que o filho ganhou fazendo shows. Episode 624: Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington Os Simpsons ficam de saco cheio com os padrões dos novos vôos no aeroporto de Springfield. Eles exigem ação de seu representante no Congresso. Quando o político lidando com a proposta morre, a família ajudar Krusty ganhar sua cadeira na Câmara. Episode 614: Homer Astronauta Barney e Homer competem para se tornar o primeiro cidadão comum americano no espaço. Vozes convidadas de Buzz Aldrin e James Taylor. Episode 612: El Diabólico Bart La nueva alberca de los Simpsons vuelve popular a Lisa; Bart piensa haber visto a un asesino. Episode 608: O Mágico de Springfield Na tentativa de superar sua crise de meia-idade, Homer se inspira em Thomas Edison e começa a inventar uma coisa atrás da outra. Episode 599: The Greatest Story Ever D'Ohed Flanders convida a família dos Simpsons para um retiro religioso em Jerusalém, na esperança que Homer se redima. Episode 595: A Casa da Árvore dos Horrores 3 Homer compra uma boneca possuída pelo mau; o vovô conta uma estória sobre primatas; Bart faz um livro de relatórios sobre zumbis. Episode 594: A Casa da Árvore dos Horrores 2 Bart, Lisa e Homer comem um monte de doces da festa do Dia das Bruxas, e acabam tendo pesadelos assustadores. Episode 592: Especial del Día de Brujas XVII Homero se transforma en una burbuja después de comer vegetales; Bart trae a la vida al Golem, una criatura del folclore judío; una transmisión de radio falsa convence a los residentes de Springfield de que hay una invasión de extraterrestres. Episode 587: Treehouse of Horror XIII $pringfield (Próspero o el Problema del Juego) Springfield legaliza el juego; Burns abre un casino; Marge se vuelve una adicta al juego. Episode 582: A Casa da Árvore dos Horrores 6 O episódio faz paródias de filmes de terror dos anos cinquenta. Enquanto estátuas de publicidade atacam Springfield, o zelador da escola aterroriza as crianças durante o sono e Homer cria um buraco negro. Episode 580: As Escapadas de Marge Homer vende sua alma por um doughnut. Bart vê um espírito do mal. O Drácula de Bart Simpson. Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith. Episode 579: Treehouse of Horror XVIII Homer leva uma vida dupla como agente secreto e precisa matar Kent Brockman; Bart e Lisa ajudam Kodos a se reconectar a seu planeta de origem; Flanders decide assustar as crianças de Springfield. Episode 578: Trash of the Titans Homer compete pelo posto de comissário de saneamento quando seu lixo deixa de ser removido. Vozes de Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright e Yeardley Smith. Episode 577: That '90s Show Quando Bart e Lisa descobrem um diploma de Marge da Universidade de Springfield, Marge recorda seus dias universitários, quando ela saiu com um professor pretensioso e Homer era uma estrela musical. Episode 570: Realty Bites Marge começa a trabalhar como corretora de imóveis, e questiona sua ética quando vende propriedades caras para amigos com poucos recursos financeiros. Apesar disso, ela consegue convencer os Flandres a comprarem uma casa, onde ocorreu um assassinato, ¿Quién Mató al Señor Burns? El jefe Wiggums dirige la búsqueda para hallar al atacante del señor Burns. Episode 564: Espírito de Natal Quando os presentes de Natal dos Simpsons são roubados, os moradores de Springfield se juntam para ajudar Homer e sua família. Episode 561: Marge Gamer Quando Marge começa a usar a internet, ela participa de um jogo famoso de fantasia; Homer ajuda como árbitro no jogo de futebol de Lisa. Episode 558: Little Big Girl Lisa é escolhida para representar a escola na Prefeitura depois de sentir-se orgulhosa por sua herança étnica de índia americana em um projeto escolar; Bart consegue sua carteira de motorista. Episode 555: Kill Gil, Vol. 1 & 2 Homer se envolve em uma briga no show de patinação no gelo; Gill acidentalmente dá um presente que era para ser da filha do chefe. Episode 551: Miedo a volar Marge visita a un psiquiatra para enterarse la causa de su aerofobia después de humiliar a su familia en un aeroplano. Episode 536: In the Name of the Grandfather A família leva o Avó para a Irlanda para que tome sua última bebida em seu bar favorito. Homer e Vovô decidem comprar o negócio e contratar Moe como gerente. Episode 531: Lisa the Drama Queen Lisa fica amiga de uma menina muito criativa, com uma imaginação extremamente fértil, que ajuda Lisa a criar um mundo de fantasia. Episode 527: 30 Minutos Sobre Tóquio Presos em Tóquio, sem passagens de avião para voltar, os Simpsons decidem participar de um show de jogos de resistência japonês. Episode 522: No Loan Again, Naturally Quando o pagamento da hipoteca da casa de Homer e Marge fica maior do que o que eles podem pagar, eles decidem colocar a casa à venda. Episode 521: Mypods and Broomsticks Homer acha que o novo amigo de Bart está organizando um plano terrorista e tenta advertir os moradores de Springfield sobre o desastre iminente. Episode 520: Treehouse of Horror XIX Homer mata celebridades para suas semelhanças possam ser exploradas gratuitamente; Lisa e Milhouse vão para uma plantação de abóboras e esperam o aparecimento da Abóbora Gigante. Episode 503: Especial del Día de Brujas XVI I.B. Inteligencia Bartificial; Supervivencia del Más Gordo; la Serie Mundial del Cazador de Hombres con el anfitrión Terry Bradshaw. Episode 501: Girls Just Want to Have Sums Quando o novo diretor da escola separa os meninos das meninas, Lisa resolve se disfarçar de menino, e Bart acaba descobrindo, que seu melhor amigo Jake, é na verdade sua irmã. Episode 494: Mamãe e a Arte de Papai A raiva de Homer faz com que ele produza uma escultura sensacional, despertando o interesse de um negociante de artes que lhe dá um prêmio. Episode 493: Histórias Bíblicas dos Simpsons Na manhã do domingo de Páscoa, enquanto o reverendo Lovejoy está pregando o sermão, os Simpsons pegam no sono e começam a sonhar que são os personagens da Bíblia. Episode 490: Lost Verizon Bart pega um trabalho country club, juntando bolas de golfe, para poder comprar um telefone celular; enquanto ele está vendo as celebridades jogarem, ele encontra o celular de Denis Leary e resolve usa-lo para passar trotes. Marge: O Terror das Ruas Marge desenvolve um problema de agressividade no trânsito quando está dirigindo o seu automóvel. Episode 481: Um Domingo Terrível Quando Homer compra bilhetes falsificados para uma excursão de fâns que vão assistir o Super Bowl, ele tem que encontrar uma forma de colocar os torcedores irados dentro do estádio, para que eles possam assistir ao jogo de futebol. Episode 477: Um Bom Bart Não Deixa se Dobrar O chefe Wiggum ordena que as pessoas suspeitas de promoverem vandalismo fiquem em casa após um determinado horário. Episode 473: Viva Ned Flanders Ned Flanders, que está passando por uma crise de meia-idade, acaba aceitando o conselho de Homer e vai visitar Las Vegas. Episode 471: Homer: O Guarda-Costa Como guarda-costas do prefeito, Homer fica na mira do mafioso Fat Tony após salvar as vidas de Quimby e do ator Mark Hamill. Episode 470: Homer Simpson com Problema de Rim Durante uma viagem, Homer se recusa a parar na área de repouso e o vovô acaba tendo um problema irreparável com um de seus rins. Episode 468: Lisa Tira um 'A' A escola recebe grande reconhecimento devido ao resultado do exame de Lisa, que trapaceou para conseguir uma boa nota. Episode 467: Jogado ao Vento Episode 465: Four Great Women and a Manicure Os membros femininos da família Simpson fazer uma viagem para um salão de beleza e discutem se uma mulher pode ser bem sucedida sem um homem ao seu lado. Episode 460: A Casa Da Árvore Dos Horrores 9 Homer é controlado pelo cabelo de um criminoso que foi sentenciado à morte; Marge e Homer vão ao show de'Jerry Springer'; as crianças encontram Comichão e Coçadinha. Episode 457: The Good, the Sad and the Drugly Milhouse leva a culpa por uma travessura que ele e Bart fizeram juntos. Bart se apaixona por uma voluntária (Anne Hathaway) que trabalha no asilo onde o Vovô mora. Lisa prevê o futuro de Springfield é fica deprimida com o que vê. Episode 456: ¿Quién Mató al Señor Burns? El Sr. Burns enoja al pueblo cuando roba el petróleo descubierto bajo la escuela primaria y encuentra una manera de bloquear el sol sobre Springfield. Episode 455: Estou com o Cupido Apu cria um problema para os maridos das mulheres que moram em Springfield, quando ele dá um presente sensacional para sua esposa, no dia de São Valentino. Episode 454: Homer Caminhoneiro Em um concurso de quem come mais carne, Homer humilha um caminhoneiro, mas acaba tendo que atravessar o país dirigindo o caminhão, a fim de entregar o carregamento dele em tempo. Episode 440: Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore Homer descobre que a planta de energia nuclear será fechada e transferida para a Índia; Selma e Patty sequestram MacGyver. Episode 436: Homer and Marge Turn a Couple Play O jogador de baseball Buck Mitchel está com dificuldades no seu casamento e pede conselhos matrimoniais para Marge e Homer. Tudo parece ir bem entre o casal, até que Homer é pego massageando o pescoço de Fiona. Episode 434: Rednecks and Broomsticks Lisa aceita um convite para participar de um clã de bruxas e logo se vê a principal testemunha em seus julgamentos por bruxaria. Enquanto isso, Homer começa a sair com seu novo amigo Cletus, o caipira do queixo caído. Episode 428: Homer é o Máximo Homer troca de nome quando descobre que um personagem desengonçado da televisão tem o mesmo nome que ele. Episode 217: Un Espacio Menos Patty y Selma deciden dejar de fumar cuando descubren que su padre murió por un cáncer de pulmón. Pero cuando Selma recae y vuelve a fumar, Patty se enoja con ella y decide irse a vivir con Homero y Marge. Episode 216: Senderos de Gloria Lisa intenta restaurar el prestigio de la primera mujer inventora de la historia de Springfield. Mientras, Bart cuenta una mentira que provoca que Homero y Marge piensen que su hijo es un sociópata. Episode 214: The Devil Wears Nada Marge y las 'Philanthro-Chicks' deciden posar para un calendario y reunir dinero para una obra de caridad; Marge se emborracha con vino y sus fotografías se comentan en la ciudad. Episode 198: Treehouse of Horror XXIV É Halloween, e Homer provoca o caos em Springfield; quando Bart é decapitado, seu corpo acaba sendo preso à cabeça de Lisa, provocando sérios problemas; as coisas ficam totalmente fora de controle na caravana do circo do sr. Burns. Episode 188: Me dá um dinheiro aí Herb Powell pede a Homer dois mil dólares emprestados para que ele desenvolva sua nova invenção: um tradutor para a linguagem dos bebês. Episode 183: Sky Police O chefe de polícia Wiggum recebe, por engano, um propulsor a jato militar, que ele felizmente aceita e usa para combater o crime. Episode 183: Homero el Grande Debido a un error técnico, le dan a Homero el derecho de ser miembro de una hermandad llamada Stonecutters que es muy exclusiva, clandestina e influyente. Episode 172: Treehouse of Horror X Homero provoca una catástrofe en una planta nuclear; Bart y Lisa revisan con rayos x los dulces de Halloween; la familia asesina a Ned Flanders. Episode 150: Especial de Noche de Brujas de los Simpson XI Homero se debe ganar un sitio en Heaven; delfines se apoderan de Springfield; los cuentos de hadas se vuelven macabros. Episode 145: Opposites A-Frack Lisa traz a deputada Maxine Lombard para pôr fim a uma operação do Mr. Burns, mas é surpreendida quando os dois adversários políticos encontram-se atraídos um pelo outro. Episode 144: Homenaje a Homero Amigos, familiares y enemigos ocasionales se reúnen para hablar de Homero, y recuerdan las aventiras de muchos años. Episode 141: G.I. d'oh Homero es víctima de los reclutadores del ejército en entrenamiento básico; después de que hace enojar a un coronel, Homero es puesto a cargo de unos juegos de guerra. Episode 133: Bart Vende Sua Alma Incomodado com uma advertência que o Reverendo Lovejoy lhe deu após fazer uma travessura na igreja, Bart vende sua alma por cinco dólares. Episode 125: Labor Pains Homer fica preso em um elevador com uma mulher grávida e ajuda no parto do bebê. Lisa ajuda animadoras de torcida, que trabalham quase de graça, a exigir um pagamento melhor do dono do time. Episode 123: Mamá Espiona Marge sigue a Bart a todos sitios para hacerle confesar su implicación en un accidente con una excavadora; cuando Flanders trae un nuevo perro al hogar de los Simpson, Homero comienza a ignorar a Pequeño Ayudante de Santa Claus. Episode 123: Four Regrettings and a Funeral Um funeral em Springfield faz com que Marge, Kent Brockman, Homer e Sr. Burns repensem uma decisão importante em suas vidas, uma que lhes trouxe mais arrependimento. Episode 118: Monty,o Tolo O Sr. Burns está triste com a reação apática de todos quando descobrem que ele tem apenas algumas semanas de vida. Secretamente, Bart o leva para a casa de sua família. Episode 112: Aonde Chegamos: Mais um Show de Imagens dos Simpsons Homer vai parar no hospital depois de um acidente causado por uma brincadeira de 'Primeiro de Abril'. A família e os amigos recordam os fatos mais marcantes de sua vida. Episode 112: Especial de Noche de Brujas III Cuentos de Halloween: Homero compra una muñeca poseída; Grandpa cuenta historia de monos; Bart hace reporte sobre zombies. Episode 104: Tomy y Daly: La Película Después de una conferencia de padres desastrosa, Homero decide ser más estricto y cuando Bart hace algo malo, Homero lo castiga no dejándolo ver la película de 'Itchy & Scratchy'. Episode 88: Especial do Dia das Bruxas VI O episódio faz paródias de filmes de terror dos anos cinquenta. Enquanto estátuas de publicidade atacam Springfield, o zelador da escola aterroriza as crianças durante o sono e Homer cria um buraco negro. Episode 81: Payaso a la Basura Ofenden a Kristy en un programa y éste busca el consejo de su padre para saber si sigue siendo divertido, pero su padre muere repentinamente y Krusty decide retirarse; Lisa se preocupa por la seguridad de Homero y lo envuelve en plástico de burbujas. Episode 81: Marge arranja um emprego Os Simpsons precisam de dinheiro para consertar a fundação da casa - uma obra bastante cara. Sem saída, Marge arruma um emprego na Usina onde Homer trabalha. Episode 80: Comichão e Coçadinha, o Filme Como castigo por mal comportamento, Homer proíbe o filho de assistir a um novo filme sobre seus heróis favoritos. Episode 67: Vai uma Loura Geladinha Quando Homer é parado no trânsito pela polícia e falha no teste do bafômetro, ele recebe uma ordem de ficar sem beber por 30 dias. Episode 59: Yellow Subterfuge El Principal Skinner da a los estudiantes una oportunidad y dice que el que mejor se porte puede montar en un submarino; Lisa trata de ayudar a Krusty con sus problemas financieros. Episode 50: Pay Pal Marge renuncia a hacer amigos después de que Homero ofende a sus nuevos vecinos, pero reconsidera cuando Lisa decide que no necesita amigos tampoco. Episode 47: Days of Future Future En el futuro, un nuevo clon de Homero es creado cada vez que muere; el esposo de Lisa es una versión zombi de Milhouse y Bart tiene problemas de custodia con su ex-esposa. Episode 44: Steal This Episode Episode 43: Married to the Blob Cuando Comic Book Guy se reúne con una mujer que escribe una manga autobiográfica, él busca un consejo con Homero sobre las citas. Episode 41: What to Expect When Bart's Expecting Cuando el hechizo de Bart accidentalmente deja a su maestra embarazada, él se convierte en el salvador de una pareja que espera concebir. Episode 36: The Man Who Grew Too Much Durante un viaje de investigación, Lisa descubre que Sideshow Bob es el científico en jefe de una gran compañía de ingeniería química; Marge intenta enseñar a un grupo de adolescentes de una iglesia sobre las practicas sexuales saludables. Episode 36: Treehouse of Horror XXIII Em tempos antigos, Homer e Marge observam os maias prevendo que 2012 será o fim do mundo; Marge enfrenta as consequências de um pacto profano que fez; Bart viaja de volta no tempo para comprar uma revista em quadrinhos. Episode 35: Specs and the City Cuando Marge se prueba los lentes de alta tecnología de Homero, él descubre que ella está viendo a un consejero matrimonial; Bart rechaza comprarle a Nelson una tarjeta de Día de San Valentín. Episode 33: Yellow Badge of Cowardge Em uma viagem para a 'Dizzneeland', os Simpsons entram no brinquedo errado e são transportados pela galáxia até o planeta de Kang e Kodos. Episode 32: Pay Pal Marge jura não fazer mais amizade com casal algum depois de Homer ofender seus charmosos novos vizinhos ingleses. Mas quando Lisa declara que ela também não precisa de mais amigos, Marge reconsidera. Episode 31: Brick Like Me Depois de Homer ficar mais próximo de Lisa, a imaginação dele cria um mundo em que tudo é feito de brinquedos Lego. Episode 30: What to Expect When Bart's Expecting Bart faz vodu na tentativa de se livrar de uma professora de artes, mas quando a professora fica grávida, surge o boato de que Bart pode ajudar os casais a engravidar. Episode 29: Days of Future Future No futuro, Homer terá um novo clone para cada vez em que ele morrer. Lisa se casa com uma versão zumbi de Milhouse, enquanto Bart lida com questões de custódia com sua ex-mulher, Jenda. Cada um define o que o amor significa para eles. Episode 29: Yellow Badge of Cowardge Bart se siente culpable cuando Nelson le ayuda a ganar una carrera, superando a Milhouse; cuando los fuegos artificiales del 4 de Julio se cancelan debido a restricciones presupuestarias, Homero intenta ayudar. Episode 28: Lucas Marge fica preocupada que Lisa esteja namorando alguém que não seja bom o suficiente para ela. Enquanto isso, Bart está animado em receber presentes de Snake Jailbird depois de ajudar o presidiário em fuga a escapar do trânsito. Episode 27: The War of Art Marge gosta de um quadro no bazar dos Van Houten, que Homer compra por US$ 20. Mas Lisa revela que aquele é um quadro que pode valer US$ 100 mil. Marge e Homer enfrentam um dilema: dividir o dinheiro com os Van Houtens ou manter o valor para si. Episode 25: The Winter of His Content Marge convida o Vovô e outros dois octogenários para morar na casa dos Simpsons depois do Castelo da Aposentadoria ser fechado por infrações sanitárias, mas ela logo fica frustrada com Homer que começa a abraçar o estilo de vida dos idosos. Episode 23: Diggs Bart é resgatado de um confronto com os valentões da escola por Diggs, um aluno recém-transferido e aspirante a campeão no esporte de nicho da falcoaria. Mas Bart logo descobre que Diggs quer mais do apenas disputar com falcões. Episode 22: The Man Who Grew Too Much Em uma viagem de pesquisa, Lisa fica chocada ao descobrir que Sideshow Bob é agora o cientista chefe em uma grande empresa de engenharia química, mas seus medos são amenizados quando ela passa a gostar do jeito dele apreciar a cultura. Episode 21: Specs and the City O Sr. Burns dá óculos de alta tecnologia para todos os seus funcionários, a fim de espioná-los. Homer ama a realidade aumentada em seu novo aparelho, até Marge experimentar os óculos e ele descobrir que ela está frequentando um terapeuta de casais. Episode 20: Married to the Blob Cara dos Quadrinhos quer compartilhar seus quadrinhos com outras pessoas. Ao conhecer Kumiko, uma mulher japonesa que está escrevendo um mangá autobiográfico, ele pede conselhos a Homer sobre como ter um encontro com ela. Episode 18: Steal This Episode Homer fica irritado com os cinemas, então Bart o ensina a baixar filmes ilegalmente. Homer fica encantando com a descoberta dos filmes gratuitos, até que é preso por pirataria. Episode 17: White Christmas Blues Springfield está repleta de turistas na época das festas de final de ano depois de uma usina nuclear sofrer um vazamento de radiação, que fez com que caísse neve por toda a cidade. Marge abre a casa dos Simpsons para hóspedes. Episode 16: Yellow Subterfuge O diretor Skinner promete aos alunos que aqueles que se comportarem melhor podem fazer um passeio de submarino. Quando Skinner dá início às atividades, Bart acredita que suas indiscrições do passado serão esquecidas; Lisa tenta ajudar Krusty. Episode 15: You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee Homer é recrutado para ser um juiz da Copa do Mundo após Lisa elogiar sua integridade no campo em uma competição de discursos da escola. Episode 15: To Cur With Love Cuando el abuelo es forzado a regresar a casa de los Simpson, Homero se lastima la espalda y mientras se recupera se convierte en adicto a un juego. Episode 14: The Kid Is Alright Finalmente, Lisa faz uma nova melhor amiga, Isabel Gutierrez, até descobrir que ela é uma republicana, além de ser sua oponente na concorrência para representante de classe.

i don't know

What is the common, 3 letter name given to a mafia crime boss?

Ranks, Titles and Positions In The Mafia | Mafia Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Ranks, Titles and Positions In The Mafia Ranks, Titles and Positions In The Mafia 1,955pages on Edit it can take many years to become a member in the mafia, but In order to become a "Made Man" which is a fully initiated member in the mafia, you have to commit a murder or in some cases many murders. You have to be 100% Italian. You have to be a tough, smart, street wise guy. You must be a good money-maker for the mafia. Most of all you have to be sponsored by two high-ranking "made" members in the mafia. If you are chosen to become a member of the Mafia, you have to go through an initiation ceremony in which you pledge an oath to the mafia’s code of silence, called Omerta. The oath you have to take to be inducted in the Mafia is based on loyalty, brotherhood, respect, honor, and secrecy. This essentially means that you’re putting the Mafia before all else, including God and your own family, and you will do anything for the mafia, and kill for your fellow mobster's, and you will be in the mafia for life, and the only way out is death, and that if you ever get pinched, you vow not to rat on anyone. if you break the mafia's code of silence that will earn you a death sentence. With this ritual behind you, you can now be welcomed into a new “family,” and from this point on you’re officially a "Made Man", "Goodfella", "mafioso", or "wise guy" and your considered to be untouchable, a member in the Mafia, non member, civilian, or even a cop or anybody can not kill you, touch you, or put a hand on you, if anybody does without permission from the Commission , that will cause them to be killed, a slow and painful death. If you have a beef with someone outside of the Mafia, you can go to the men above you, or the Commission, to seek guidance and protection. In return for this support, you must agree to cough up a certain percentage of your criminal earnings to these higher-ranking members. Organizational structure of the mob. Titles, Ranks And Positions Edit Associates are not actual members of the Mafia, but they work for the Mafia. Rather anyone who teams up with them on a criminal enterprise of some kind. They could be someone who does business with the Mafia, and someone who kills and does dirty work for the Mafia, including money-laundering, fraud, bookmaking, skimming, casino skimming, Extortion, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, Heists, truck hijacking, aircraft hijacking, bank robbery, murder, assault, bankers, bribing Cops, Judges, Jurors, District Attorneys, U.S. Attorneys, Lawyers, Politicians, Mayors, Governors, Government Officials, FBI Agents, DEA Agents, CIA Agents, ATF Agents, IRS Agents, EPA Agents. Extorting prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers, criminals, and streets gangs. Contract killing, witness intimidation, jury intimidation, killing jurors, Car bombing, bombing buildings and houses. and other criminal and organized crime activities etc. There are also the Italian newcomers who have yet to be made, called cugines, and they play a minor role in the operation of the Mafia. Associates can not turn down an order from the Mafia, if the Mafia gives them an order they have to follow it, and they are on call for the Mafia 24 hours every day. they are also fair game on the streets, they are not protected by the organization, unless they are a very important and valuable to the Mafia. Anybody can be an associate in the mafia, however only Italians and Sicilians can be made. Soldiers Edit The lowest-ranking members of the hierarchy of the Mafia and La Cosa nostra are the soldiers, the grunts of the organization who do the majority of the work, making deliveries, picking up cash, committing murder, assault, battery, Bombing, witness intimidation, killing jurors, bribing Law Enforcement, Politicians, Government Officials, and Federal Agents for the Mafia, and generally sticking out their neck in the hope of making a name for themselves by demonstrating their loyalty to the organization, and protecting the organization at all costs. Children as young as sixteen have been admitted. Caporegimes Edit The capo, or caporegime, is the captain or lieutenant of a division within the Mafia. He heads a large crew of soldiers and can order them to do anything, such as murder, assault, bombing, witness intimidation, bribery, picking up cash, making deliveries, and other criminal and organized crime activities. and the captains reports directly to a boss or underboss, who hands down the instructions. He ranks much higher in the hierarchy of the Mafia. He is also in charge of handling most money. Consigliere Edit The consigliere, or chief advisor, is the Bosses right-hand man. The Consigliere is not officially part of the hierarchy of the Mafia, but he plays one of the most important roles in a crime family. He is the close trusted friend and confidant of the family boss. The function of the consigliere is a throwback to medieval times, when a monarch placed his trust in an advisor whom he could summon for strategic information and sound advice. The consigliere is meant to offer unbiased information based on what he sees as best for the family. He’s not supposed to factor emotional concerns, such as retaliation and blood feuds, into his decisions. Unlike the underboss (see below), the consigliere is not required to be a direct relative of the boss. Instead, he is chosen solely for his abilities and the amount of knowledge he possesses. Generally, only the boss and underboss have more authority than the consigliere in an organized crime family. Underboss Edit The underboss, or capo bastone, is second-in-command in the hierarchy of the Mafia crime family. His level of authority varies from family to family, but he is ready to stand in for the boss at any given moment. In the violent, brutal, and volatile world of the mob, the underboss can easily find himself at the helm of the family so, for the most part, they are usually groomed for an eventual takeover, particularly if the boss’s health is failing or if it looks like he’s headed for a stay in the joint. A family may have two underbosses. An example of this was boss Carlo Gambino, who had Paul "Big Paul" Castellano and Aniello "Mr. Neil" Dellacroce as underboss at the same time. However, one underboss is far more common. Boss Edit The boss, or capo famiglia, is head of the organization, the boss is a dictator and has the power to order anything from anyone in the organization. The Boss makes all the important decisions, much like a CEO of a company would. Although each mob boss may run his outfit in a different way, they have one thing in common: they are greatly respected and widely feared by their subordinates. All of the men in his outfit pay him a tribute, so he is also usually an extremely wealthy man. Most Bosses of the Mafia are Multi-Millionaires or Multi-Billionaires, and are incredibly powerful, influential, extremely dangerous, and universally feared. More commonly, the word "Don" may proceed his first or last name. God Father Edit It is a phrase used mainly by the media, public and the law enforcement community to indicate a supremely powerful crime boss in the Sicilian or American Mafia who holds great influence over the whole organization. The title was introduced to the U.S. public by the Kefauver Commission (1950). It has seldom been given to specific bosses because it could create tension between different factions (otherwise known as families) within the Mafia. Typically the title is awarded de facto to the boss of the most powerful Mafia family. The Gambino Crime Family is the most powerful crime family in the United States.

Don

What legendary tribe of fierce female warriors reportedly amputated a breast in order to better wield a bow?

Italian Mafia | United States Crime Syndicates Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia United States Crime Syndicates Wiki Share The Mafia (also known as Cosa Nostra) is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily . It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct. Each group, known as a "family", "clan", or " cosca ", claims sovereignty over a territory in which it operates its rackets – usually a town or village or a neighbourhood (borgata) of a larger city. According to the most commonly accepted definition, the Mafia is a criminality originating in Sicily. [1 ] However, the term "Mafia" is sometimes used as a pars pro toto for similar organizations of many nationalities. The Mafia proper frequently parallels, collaborates with or clashes with, networks originating in other parts of southern Italy , such as the Camorra (from Campania ), the 'Ndrangheta (from Calabria ), the Stidda (southern Sicily) and the Sacra Corona Unita (from Apulia ). However, Giovanni Falcone , the anti-Mafia judge murdered by the Mafia in 1992, objected to the inflation of the use of "Mafia" to organized crime in general: While there was a time when people were reluctant to pronounce the word 'Mafia' ... nowadays people have gone so far in the opposite direction that it has become an overused term ... I am no longer willing to accept the habit of speaking of the Mafia in descriptive and all-inclusive terms that make it possible to stack up phenomena that are indeed related to the field of organized crime but that have little or nothing in common with the Mafia. [2 ] The American Mafia arose from offshoots of the Mafia that emerged in the United States during the late nineteenth century, following waves of emigration from Sicily. There were similar offshoots in Canada among Italian Canadians . However, while the same has been claimed of organised crime in Australia , [3 ] this appears to result from confusion with 'Ndrangheta, which is generally regarded as more prominent among Italian Australians . Etymology There are several theories about the origin of the term "Mafia" (sometimes spelled "Maffia" in early texts). The Sicilian adjective mafiusu (in Italian: mafioso) may derive from the slang Arabic mahyas (مهياص), meaning "aggressive boasting, bragging", or marfud (مرفوض) meaning "rejected". Roughly translated, it means " swagger ," but can also be translated as "boldness, bravado ". In reference to a man, mafiusu in 19th century Sicily was ambiguous, signifying a bully, arrogant but also fearless, enterprising, and proud, according to scholar Diego Gambetta . [4 ] In reference to a woman, however, the feminine-form adjective "mafiusa" means beautiful and attractive. Other possible origins from Arabic: maha = quarry, cave [5 ] mu'afa = safety, protection [5 ] The public's association of the word with the criminal secret society was perhaps inspired by the 1863 play "I mafiusi di la Vicaria" ("The Mafiosi of the Vicaria") by Giuseppe Rizzotto and Gaetano Mosca. The words Mafia and mafiusi are never mentioned in the play; they were probably put in the title to add a local flair. The play is about a Palermo prison gang with traits similar to the Mafia: a boss, an initiation ritual, and talk of "umirtà" ( omertà or code of silence) and " pizzu " (a codeword for extortion money). [6 ] The play had great success throughout Italy. Soon after, the use of the term "mafia" began appearing in the Italian state's early reports on the phenomenon. The word made its first official appearance in 1865 in a report by the prefect of Palermo , Filippo Antonio Gualterio . [7 ] According to legend , the word Mafia was first used in the Sicilian revolt – the Sicilian Vespers – against rule of the Capetian House of Anjou on 30 March 1282. In this legend, Mafia is the acronym for "Morte Alla Francia, Italia Anela" (Italian for "Death to France, Italy cries!"). [8 ] However, this version is now discarded by most serious historians. [4 ] Contents Edit According to Mafia turncoats ( pentiti ), the real name of the Mafia is "Cosa Nostra" ("Our thing"). When the American mafioso Joseph Valachi testified before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate Committee on Government Operations in 1963 (known as the Valachi hearings ), he revealed that American mafiosi referred to their organization by the term cosa nostra ("our thing" or "this thing of ours"). [9 ] [10 ] [11 ] At the time, it was understood as a proper name, fostered by the FBI and disseminated by the media. The designation gained wide popularity and almost replaced the term Mafia. The FBI even added the article La to the term, calling it La Cosa Nostra (in Italy, the article la is not used when referring to the Sicilian Mafia). Italian investigators initially did not take the term seriously, believing it was used only by the American Mafia . In 1984, the Mafia turncoat Tommaso Buscetta revealed to the anti-mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone that the term was used by the Sicilian Mafia as well. [12 ] Buscetta dismissed the word "mafia" as a mere literary creation. Other defectors, such as Antonino Calderone and Salvatore Contorno , confirmed the use of Cosa Nostra to describe the Mafia. [13 ] Mafiosi introduce known members to each other as belonging to cosa nostra ("our thing") or la stessa cosa ("the same thing"), meaning "he is the same thing, a mafioso, as you". The Sicilian Mafia has used other names to describe itself throughout its history, such as "The Honoured Society". Mafiosi are known among themselves as "men of honour" or "men of respect". Cosa Nostra should not be confused with other mafia-type organizations in Italy such as the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria, the Camorra in Campania, or the Sacra Corona Unita in Apulia. Edit The genesis of Cosa Nostra is hard to trace because mafiosi are very secretive and do not keep historical records of their own. However, it is widely believed that its seeds were planted in the upheaval of Sicily's transition out of feudalism in 1812 and its later annexation by mainland Italy in 1860. Under feudalism, the nobility owned most of the land and enforced law and order through their private armies. After 1812, the feudal barons steadily sold off or rented their lands to private citizens. Primogeniture was abolished, land could no longer be seized to settle debts, and one fifth of the land was to become private property of the peasants. [14 ] After Italy annexed Sicily in 1860, it redistributed a large share of public and church land to private citizens. The result was a huge boom in landowners: from 2,000 to 20,000 by 1861. [15 ] The nobles also released their private armies to let the state take over the task of law enforcement. However, the authorities were incapable of properly enforcing property rights and contracts, largely due to their inexperience with free market capitalism. [16 ] Lack of manpower was also a problem: there were often less than 350 active policemen for the entire island. Some towns did not have any permanent police force, only visited every few months by some troops to collect malcontents, leaving criminals to operate with impunity from the law in the interim. [17 ] With more property owners came more disputes that needed settling and properties that needed protecting. Because the authorities were undermanned and unreliable, property owners turned to extralegal arbitrators and protectors. These extralegal protectors would eventually organize themselves into the first Mafia clans. Banditry was a growing problem at the time. Rising food prices, [18 ] the loss of public and church lands, [19 ] and the loss of feudal common rights pushed many desperate peasants to banditry. In response, local elites in countryside towns recruited young men into "companies-at-arms" to hunt down thieves and negotiate the return of stolen property, in exchange for a pardon for the thieves and a fee from the victims. [20 ] These companies-at-arms were often made up of former bandits and criminals, usually the most skilled and violent of them. [21 ] Whilst this saved communities the trouble of training their own policemen, this may have made the companies-at-arms more inclined to collude with their former brethren rather than destroy them. [22 ] There was little Mafia activity in the eastern half of Sicily. In the east, the ruling elites were more cohesive and active during the transition from feudalism to capitalism. They maintained their large stables of enforcers, and were able to absorb or suppress any emerging violent groups. [23 ] Furthermore, the land in the east was generally divided into a smaller number of large estates, so there were fewer landowners and their large estates often required full-time patrolling. This meant that guardians of such estates tended to be bound to a single employer, giving them little autonomy or leverage to demand high payments. [24 ] This did not mean there was little violence - the most violent conflicts over land took place in the east, but they did not involve mafiosi. [20 ] Mafia activity was most prevalent in the most prosperous areas of western Sicily, especially Palermo , where the dense concentrations of landowners and merchants offered ample opportunities for protection racketeering and extortion. There, a protector could serve multiple clients, giving him greater independence. The greater number of clients demanding protection also allowed him to charge high prices. [24 ] The landowners in this region were also frequently absent and could not watch over their properties should the mafioso withdraw protection, further increasing his bargaining power. [25 ] The lucrative citrus orchards around Palermo were a favorite target of extortionists and protection racketeers, as they had a fragile production system that made them quite vulnerable to sabotage. [26 ] Mafia clans forced landowners to hire their members as custodians by scaring away unaffiliated applicants. [27 ] Cattle ranchers were also very vulnerable to thieves, and so they too needed mafioso protection. In 1864, Niccolò Turrisi Colonna , leader of the Palermo National Guard, wrote of a "sect of thieves" that operated across Sicily. This "sect" was mostly rural, composed of cattle thieves, smugglers, wealthy farmers and their guards. [28 ] [29 ] The sect made "affiliates every day of the brightest young people coming from the rural class, of the guardians of the fields in the Palermitan countryside, and of the large number of smugglers; a sect which gives and receives protection to and from certain men who make a living on traffic and internal commerce. It is a sect with little or no fear of public bodies, because its members believe that they can easily elude this." [30 ] It had special signals to recognize each other, offered protection services, scorned the law and had a code of loyalty and non-interaction with the police known as umirtà ("humility"). [28 ] [31 ] Colonna warned in his report that the Italian government's brutal and clumsy attempts to crush unlawfulness only made the problem worse by alienating the populace. An 1865 dispatch from the prefect of Palermo to Rome first officially described the phenomenon as a "Mafia". [7 ] [32 ] An 1876 police report makes the earliest known description of the familiar initiation ritual . [33 ] [1] [2] 1900 map of Mafia presence in Sicily. Towns with Mafia activity are marked as red dots. The Mafia operated mostly in the west, in areas of rich agricultural productivity.Mafiosi meddled in politics early on, bullying voters into voting for candidates they favoured. At this period in history, only a small fraction of the Sicilian population could vote, so a single mafia boss could control a sizeable chunk of the electorate and thus wield considerable political leverage. [34 ] Mafiosi used their allies in government to avoid prosecution as well as persecute less well-connected rivals. The highly fragmented and shaky Italian political system allowed cliques of Mafia-friendly politicians to exert a lot of influence. [12 ] In a series of reports between 1898 and 1900, Ermanno Sangiorgi , the police chief of Palermo , identified 670 mafiosi belonging to eight Mafia clans that went through alternating phases of cooperation and conflict. [35 ] The report mentioned initiation rituals and codes of conduct, as well as criminal activities that included counterfeiting, ransom kidnappings, robbery, murder and witness intimidation. The Mafia also maintained funds to support the families of imprisoned members and pay defense lawyers. [36 ] Edit In 1925, Benito Mussolini initiated a campaign to destroy the Mafia and assert Fascist control over Sicilian life. The Mafia threatened and undermined his power in Sicily, and a successful campaign would strengthen him as the new leader, legitimising and empowering his rule. [37 ] Not only would this be a great propaganda coup for Fascism , but it would also provide an excuse to suppress his political opponents on the island, since many Sicilian politicians had Mafia links. As prime minister, he visited Sicily in May 1924 and passed through Piana dei Greci where he was received by the mayor, Mafia boss Francesco Cuccia . At some point Cuccia expressed surprise at Mussolini’s police escort and whispered in his ear: "You are with me, you are under my protection. What do you need all these cops for?" After Mussolini rejected Cuccia's offer of protection, Cuccia instructed the townsfolk to not attend Mussolini's speech. Mussolini felt humiliated and outraged. [38 ] [39 ] Cuccia’s careless remark has passed into history as the catalyst for Mussolini’s war on the Mafia. When Mussolini firmly established his power in January 1925, he appointed Cesare Mori as the Prefect of Palermo in October 1925 and granted him special powers to fight the Mafia. [38 ] Mori formed a small army of policemen, carabinieri and militiamen, which went from town to town, rounding up suspects. To force suspects to surrender, they would take their families hostage, sell off their property, [40 ] or publicly slaughter their livestock. [41 ] By 1928, over 11,000 suspects were arrested. [42 ] Confessions were sometimes extracted through beatings and torture. Some mafiosi who had been on the losing end of Mafia feuds voluntarily cooperated with prosecutors, [43 ] perhaps as a way of obtaining protection and revenge. Charges of Mafia association were typically leveled at poor peasants and gabellotti (farm leaseholders), but were avoided when dealing with major landowners. [44 ] Many were tried en masse. [45 ] [46 ] More than 1,200 were convicted and imprisoned, [47 ] and many others were internally exiled without trial. [48 ] Mori's campaign ended in June 1929 when Mussolini recalled him to Rome . Although he did not totally crush the Mafia as the Fascist press proclaimed, his campaign was nonetheless very successful. As the Mafia informant Antonino Calderone reminisced: "The music changed. Mafiosi had a hard life. [...] After the war the mafia hardly existed anymore. The Sicilian Families had all been broken up." [48 ] Sicily's murder rate sharply declined. [49 ] Landowners were able to raise the legal rents on their lands; sometimes as much as ten-thousandfold. [43 ] Many mafiosi fled to the United States. Among these were Carlo Gambino and Joseph Bonanno , who would go on to become powerful Mafia bosses in New York City . Edit In 1943, nearly half a million Allied troops invaded Sicily. Crime soared in the upheaval and chaos. Many inmates escaped from their prisons, banditry returned and the black market thrived. [12 ] During the first six months of Allied occupation, party politics in Sicily were banned. [50 ] Most institutions, with the exception of the police and carabinieri , [51 ] were destroyed, and the American occupiers had to build a new order from scratch. As Fascist mayors were deposed, the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories (AMGOT) simply appointed replacements. Many turned out to be mafiosi, such as Calogero Vizzini and Giuseppe Genco Russo . [52 ] [53 ] They could easily present themselves as political dissidents, [54 ] and their anti-communist position made them further desirable. Mafia bosses reformed their clans, absorbing some of the marauding bandits into their ranks. [55 ] The changing economic landscape of Sicily would shift the Mafia's power base from the rural to the urban. The Minister of Agriculture – a communist – pushed for reforms in which peasants were to get larger shares of produce, be allowed to form cooperatives and take over badly used land, and remove the system by which leaseholders (known as " gabelloti ") could rent land from landowners for their own short-term use. [56 ] Owners of especially large estates were to be forced to sell off some of their land. The Mafia, which had connections to many landowners, murdered many socialist reformers. The most notorious attack was the Portella della Ginestra massacre , when 11 persons were killed and 33 wounded during May Day celebrations on May 1, 1947. The bloodbath was perpetrated by the bandit Salvatore Giuliano who was possibly backed by local Mafia bosses. [57 ] [58 ] In the end, though, they couldn't stop the process, and many landowners chose to sell their land to mafiosi, who offered more money than the government. [59 ] In the 1950s, a crackdown in the United States on drug trafficking led to the imprisonment of many American mafiosi. Furthermore, Cuba , a major hub for drug smuggling, fell to Fidel Castro . This prompted the American mafia boss Joseph Bonanno to return to Sicily in 1957 to franchise out his heroin operations to the Sicilian clans. Anticipating rivalries for the lucrative American drug market, he negotiated the establishment of a Sicilian Mafia Commission to mediate disputes. [60 ] [ edit ] Sack of Palermo Edit The post-war period saw a huge building boom in Palermo . Allied bombing in World War 2 had left more than 14,000 people homeless, and migrants were pouring in from the countryside, [61 ] so there was a huge demand for new homes. Much of this construction was subsidized by public money. In 1956, two Mafia-connected officials, Vito Ciancimino and Salvatore Lima , took control of Palermo's Office of Public Works. Between 1959 and 1963, about 80% of building permits were given to just five people, none of whom represented major construction firms and were probably Mafia frontmen. [62 ] Construction companies unconnected with the Mafia were forced to pay protection money . Many buildings were illegally constructed before the city's planning was finalized. Mafiosi scared off anyone who dared to question the illegal building. Mafia organizations entirely control the building sector in Palermo – the quarries where aggregates are mined, site clearance firms, cement plants, metal depots for the construction industry, wholesalers for sanitary fixtures, and so on.— Giovanni Falcone , 1982 [63 ]===[ edit ] First Mafia War=== Main article: Ciaculli massacre The First Mafia War was the first high-profile conflict between Mafia clans in post-war Italy (the Sicilian Mafia has a long history of violent rivalries). In 1962, the mafia boss Cesare Manzella organized a drug shipment to America with the help of two Sicilian clans, the Grecos and the La Barberas. Manzella entrusted another boss, Calcedonio Di Pisa , to handle the heroin. When the shipment arrived in America, however, the American buyers claimed some heroin was missing, and paid Di Pisa a commensurately lower sum. Di Pisa accused the Americans of defrauding him, while the La Barberas accused Di Pisa of embezzling the missing heroin. The Sicilian Mafia Commission sided with Di Pisa, to the open anger of the La Barberas. The La Barberas murdered Di Pisa and Manzella, triggering a war. [64 ] Many non-mafiosi were killed in the crossfire. In April 1963, several bystanders were wounded during a shootout in Palermo . [65 ] In May, Angelo La Barbera survived a murder attempt in Milan . In June, six military officers and a policeman in Ciaculli were killed while trying to dispose of a car bomb. These incidents provoked national outrage and a crackdown in which nearly 2,000 arrests were made. Mafia activity fell as clans disbanded and mafiosi went into hiding. The Sicilian Mafia Commission was dissolved; it would not reform until 1969. [66 ] 117 suspects were put on trial in 1968, but most were acquitted or received light sentences. [67 ] The inactivity plus money lost to legal fees and so forth reduced most mafiosi to poverty. [68 ] Edit The 1950s and 1960s were difficult times for mafiosi, but in the 1970s their rackets grew considerably more lucrative, particularly smuggling. The most lucrative racket of the 1970s was cigarette smuggling. [69 ] Sicilian and Neapolitan crime bosses negotiated a joint monopoly over the smuggling of cigarettes to Naples . When heroin refineries operated by Corsican gangsters in Marseilles were shut down by French authorities, morphine traffickers looked to Sicily . Starting in 1975, Cosa Nostra set up heroin refineries across the island. [70 ] As well as refining heroin, Cosa Nostra also sought to control its distribution. Sicilian mafiosi moved to the United States to personally control distribution networks there, often at the expense of their U.S. counterparts. Heroin addiction in Europe and North America surged, and seizures by police increased dramatically. By 1982, the Sicilian Mafia controlled about 80% of the heroin trade in the north-eastern United States. [71 ] Heroin was often distributed to street dealers from Mafia-owned pizzerias, and the revenues could be passed off as restaurant profits (the so-called Pizza Connection ). [ edit ] Second Mafia War Edit Main article: Second Mafia War [3] [4] Salvatore Riina, the most powerful Mafia boss of the 1980s.In the early 1970s, Luciano Leggio , boss of the Corleon clan and member of the Sicilian Mafia Commission , forged a coalition of mafia clans known as the Corleonesi , with himself as its leader. He initiated a campaign to dominate Cosa Nostra and its narcotics trade. Because Leggio was imprisoned in 1974, he acted through his deputy, Salvatore Riina , to whom he would eventually hand over control. The Corleonesi bribed cash-strapped Palermo clans into the fold, subverted members of other clans and secretly recruited new members. [72 ] In 1977, the Corleonesi had Gaetano Badalamenti expelled from the Commission on trumped-up charges of hiding drug revenues. [73 ] In April 1981, the Corleonesi murdered another rival member of the Commission, Stefano Bontade , and the Second Mafia War began in earnest. [74 ] Hundreds of enemy mafiosi and their relatives were murdered, [75 ] sometimes by traitors in their own clans. By manipulating the Mafia's rules and eliminating rivals, the Corleonesi came to completely dominate the Commission. Riina used his power over the Commission to replace the bosses of certain clans with hand-picked regents. [76 ] In the end, the Corleonesi faction won and Riina effectively became the "boss of bosses" of the Sicilian Mafia. At the same time the Corleonesi waged their campaign to dominate Cosa Nostra, they also waged a campaign of murder against journalists, officials and policemen who dared cross them. The police were frustrated with the lack of help they were receiving from witnesses and politicians. At the funeral of a policeman murdered by mafiosi in 1985, policemen insulted and spat at two attending politicians, and a fight broke out between them and military police. [77 ] [ edit ] Maxi trial and war against the government Edit [5] [6] Giovanni Falcone (left) and Paolo Borsellino were two magistrates who spearheaded a crusade against the Mafia and were murdered for their efforts. The picture of both assassinated judges became an iconic symbol of the struggle against Cosa Nostra. It is often used on posters and articles commemorating the fight against the Mafia.In the early 1980s, the magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino began a campaign against Cosa Nostra. Their big break came with the arrest of Tommaso Buscetta , a mafioso who chose to turn informant in exchange for protection from the Corleonesi , who had already murdered many of his friends and relatives. Other mafiosi followed his example. Falcone and Borsellino compiled their testimonies and organized the Maxi Trial , which lasted from February 1986 to December 1987. It was held in a fortified courthouse specially built for the occasion. 474 mafiosi were put on trial, of which 342 were convicted. In January 1992 the Italian Supreme Court confirmed these convictions. The Mafia retaliated violently. In 1988, they murdered a Palermo judge and his son; three years later a prosecutor and an anti-mafia businessman were also murdered. Salvatore Lima , a close political ally of the Mafia, was murdered for failing to reverse the convictions as promised. Falcone and Borsellino were killed by bombs in 1992. This led to a public outcry and a massive government crackdown, resulting in the arrest of Salvatore Riina in January 1993. More and more defectors emerged. Many would pay a high price for their cooperation, usually through the murder of relatives. For example, Francesco Marino Mannoia's mother, aunt and sister were murdered. [78 ] After Riina's arrest, the Mafia began a campaign of terrorism on the Italian mainland. Tourist spots such as the Via dei Georgofili in Florence , Via Palestro in Milan , and the Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano and Via San Teodoro in Rome were attacked, leaving 10 dead and 93 injured and causing severe damage to cultural heritage such as the Uffizi Gallery . When the Catholic Church openly condemned the Mafia, two churches were bombed and an anti-Mafia priest shot dead in Rome. [79 ] After Riina's capture, leadership of the Mafia was briefly held by Leoluca Bagarella , then passed to Bernardo Provenzano when the former was himself captured in 1995. [80 ] Provenzano halted the campaign of violence and replaced it with a campaign of quietness known as pax mafiosi. Edit Under Bernardo Provenzano 's leadership, murders of state officials were halted. He also halted the policy of murdering informants and their families, with a view instead to getting them to retract their testimonies and return to the fold. [81 ] He also restored the common support fund for imprisoned mafiosi. The tide of defectors was greatly stemmed. The Mafia preferred to initiate relatives of existing mafiosi, believing them to be less prone to defection. Provenzano was arrested in 2006, after 43 years on the run. [ edit ] Modern Mafia in Italy Edit The incarcerated bosses are currently subjected to harsh controls on their contact with the outside world, limiting their ability to run their operations from behind bars under the article 41-bis prison regime . Antonino Giuffrè – a close confidant of Provenzano, turned pentito shortly after his capture in 2002 – alleges that in 1993 Cosa Nostra had direct contact with representatives of Silvio Berlusconi who was then planning the birth of Forza Italia . [82 ] [83 ] [84 ] The alleged deal included a repeal of 41 bis, among other anti-Mafia laws in return for electoral support in Sicily. Nevertheless, Giuffrè's declarations have not yet been confirmed. The Italian Parliament, with the full support of Forza Italia reinforced the provisions of the 41 bis, which was to expire in 2002 but has been prolonged for another four years and extended to other crimes such as terrorism. However, according to one of Italy’s leading magazines, L'Espresso , 119 mafiosi – one-fifth of those incarcerated under the 41 bis regime – have been released on an individual basis. [85 ] The human rights group Amnesty International has expressed concern that the 41-bis regime could in some circumstances amount to "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment" for prisoners.[ citation needed ] In addition to Salvatore Lima , mentioned above, the politician Giulio Andreotti and the High Court judge Corrado Carnevale have long been suspected of having ties to the Mafia.[ citation needed ] By the late 1990s, the weakened Cosa Nostra had to yield most of the illegal drug trade to the 'Ndrangheta crime organization from Calabria .[ citation needed ] In 2006, the latter was estimated to control 80% of the cocaine imported to Europe. [86 ] Edit It is difficult to exactly define the Mafia or a single function or goal of the phenomenon. Until the early 1980s, mafia was generally considered a unique Sicilian cultural attitude and form of power, excluding any corporate or organisational dimension. [87 ] Some even used it as a defensive attempt to render the Mafia benign and romantic: not a criminal association, but the sum of Sicilian values that outsiders never will understand. [88 ] Leopoldo Franchetti , an Italian deputy who travelled to Sicily and who wrote one of the first authoritative reports on the mafia in 1876, saw the Mafia as an "industry of violence" and described the designation of the term "mafia": the term mafia found a class of violent criminals ready and waiting for a name to define them, and, given their special character and importance in Sicilian society, they had the right to a different name from that defining vulgar criminals in other countries.— Leopoldo Franchetti , 1876 [89 ]Franchetti saw the Mafia as deeply rooted in Sicilian society and impossible to quench unless the very structure of the island's social institutions were to undergo a fundamental change. [90 ] Some observers saw "mafia" as a set of attributes deeply rooted in popular culture, as a "way of being", as illustrated in the definition by the Sicilian ethnographer, Giuseppe Pitrè : Mafia is the consciousness of one's own worth, the exaggerated concept of individual force as the sole arbiter of every conflict, of every clash of interests or ideas.— Giuseppe Pitrè , 1889 [91 ]Like Pitrè, many scholars viewed mafiosi as individuals behaving according to specific subcultural codes, but did not consider the Mafia a formal organisation. Judicial investigations and scientific research in the 1980s provided solid proof of the existence of well-structured Mafia groups with entrepreneurial characteristics. The Mafia was seen as an enterprise and its economic activities became the focus of academic analyses. [87 ] Ignoring the cultural aspects, the Mafia is often erroneously seen as similar to other non-Sicilian organized criminal associations. [1 ] However, these two paradigms missed essential aspects of the Mafia that became clear when investigators were confronted with the testimonies of Mafia turncoats, like those of Buscetta to judge Falcone at the Maxi Trial . The economic approach to explain the Mafia did illustrate the development and operations of the Mafia business, but neglected the cultural symbols and codes by which the Mafia legitimized its existence and by which it rooted itself into Sicilian society. [87 ] The economic paradigm was prevalent when the Italian Penal Code definition of criminal conspiracy (Article 416) was extended by Pio La Torre . Article 416 bis defines an association as being of Mafia-type nature "when those belonging to the association exploit the potential for intimidation which their membership gives them, and the compliance and omerta which membership entails and which lead to the committing of crimes, the direct or indirect assumption of management or control of financial activities, concessions, permissions, enterprises and public services for the purpose of deriving profit or wrongful advantages for themselves or others." [92 ] The term Mafia-type organisations is used to clearly distinguish the uniquely Sicilian Mafia from other criminal organisations – such as the Camorra, the 'Ndrangheta, the Sacra Corona Unita – that are structured like the Mafia, but are not the Mafia. According to historian Salvatore Lupo, “if everything is Mafia, nothing is Mafia.” [1 ] There are several lines of interpretation, often blended to some extent, to define the Mafia: it has been viewed as a mirror of traditional Sicilian society; as an enterprise or type of criminal industry; as a more or less centralized secret society; and/or as a juridical ordering that is parallel to that of the state – a kind of anti-state. The Mafia is all of these but none of these exclusively. [93 ] Structure and composition Edit Cosa Nostra is not a monolithic organization, but rather a loose association of groups known alternately as "families", "cosche", "borgatas" or "clans" (despite the name, their members are generally not related by blood). Today, according to the Chief Prosecutor of Palermo, Francesco Messineo, there are 94 Mafia clans in Sicily subject to 29 mandamenti , [94 ] with a total of at least 3,500 to 4,000 full members. [95 ] Most are based in western Sicily, almost half of them in the province of Palermo . [12 ] Clan hierarchy Edit [7] [8] Hierarchy of a Cosa Nostra clan.In 1984, the mafioso informant Tommaso Buscetta explained to prosecutors the command structure of a typical clan. [12 ] A clan is led by a "boss" (capofamiglia or rappresentante), who is aided by an underboss (a sotto capo) and supervised by one or more advisers (consigliere). Under his command are groups (decina) of about ten "soldiers" (soldati or operai). Each decina is led by a capodecina (or sometimes caporegime). The actual structure of any given clan can vary. Despite the name decina, they do not necessarily have ten soldiers, but can have anything from five to thirty. [96 ] Some clans are so small that they don't even have decinas and capodecinas, and even in large clans certain soldiers may report directly to the boss. [97 ] The boss of a clan is typically elected by the rank-and-file soldiers (though violent successions do happen). Due to the small size of most Sicilian clans, the boss of a clan has intimate contact with all members, and doesn't receive much in the way of privileges or rewards as he would in larger organizations (such as the larger Five Families of New York). [98 ] His tenure is also frequently short: elections are yearly, and he might be deposed sooner for misconduct or incompetence. [99 ] The underboss is usually appointed by the boss. He is the boss' most trusted right-hand man and second-in-command. If the boss is killed or imprisoned, he takes over as leader. The consigliere ("counselor") of the clan is also elected on a yearly basis. One of his jobs is to supervise the actions of the boss and his immediate underlings, particularly in financial matters (e.g. preventing embezzlement ). [100 ] He also serves as an impartial adviser to the boss and mediator in internal disputes. To fulfill this role, the consigliere must be impartial, devoid of conflict of interest and ambition. [101 ] Other than its members, Cosa Nostra makes extensive use of "associates". These are people who work for or aid a clan (or even multiple clans) but are not treated as true members. These include corrupt officials and prospective mafiosi. An associate is considered by the mafiosi nothing more than a tool, someone that they can "use", or "nothing mixed with nil." [12 ] The media has often made reference to a " capo di tutti capi " or "boss of bosses" that allegedly "commands all of Cosa Nostra". Calogero Vizzini , Salvatore Riina , and Bernardo Provenzano were especially influential bosses who have each been described by the media and law enforcement as being the "boss of bosses" of their times. While a powerful boss may exert great influence over his neighbors, the position does not formally exist, according to Mafia turncoats such as Buscetta. [102 ] [103 ] According to Mafia historian Salvatore Lupo "the emphasis of the media on the definition of a 'capo di tutti capi' is without any foundation". [103 ] Membership Edit Membership in Cosa Nostra is open only to Sicilian men. A candidate cannot be a relative or have any close links with a lawman, such as a policeman or a judge. There is no strict age limit: boys as young as sixteen have been initiated. [104 ] A prospective mafioso is carefully tested for obedience, discretion, ruthlessness and skill at spying. [12 ] [104 ] He is almost always required to commit murder as his ultimate trial, [12 ] even if he doesn't plan to be a career assassin. The act of murder is to prove his sincerity (i.e. he is not an undercover policeman) and to bind him into silence (i.e. he cannot break omertà without facing murder charges himself). Traditionally, only men can become mafiosi, though in recent times there have been reports of women assuming the responsibilities of imprisoned mafiosi relatives. [105 ] [106 ] [107 ] Membership and rank in the Mafia are not hereditary. Most new bosses are not related to their predecessor. The Commission forbids relatives from holding positions in inter-clan bodies at the same time. [108 ] That said, mafiosi frequently bring their sons into the trade. They have an easier time entering, because the son bears his father's seal of approval and is familiar with the traditions and requirements of Cosa Nostra. A mafioso's legitimate occupation, if he has any, generally does not affect his prestige within Cosa Nostra. [109 ] Historically, most mafiosi were employed in menial jobs, and many bosses did not work at all. [109 ] Professionals such as lawyers and doctors do exist within the organization, and are employed according to whatever useful skills they have. [104 ] Commission Edit Main article: Sicilian Mafia Commission Since the 1950s, the Mafia has maintained multiple commissions to resolve disputes and promote cooperation among clans. Each province of Sicily has its own Commission. Clans are organized into districts (mandamenti) of three or four geographically adjacent clans. Each district elects a representative (capo mandamento) to sit on its Provincial Commission. [110 ] Contrary to popular belief, the commissions do not serve as a centralized government for the Mafia. The power of the commissions are limited and clans are autonomous and independent. Rather, each Commission serves as a representative mechanism for consultation of independent clans who decide by consensus . "Contrary to the wide-spread image presented by the media, these superordinate bodies of coordination cannot be compared with the executive boards of major legal firms. Their power is intentionally limited. And it would be entirely wrong to see in the Cosa Nostra a centrally managed, internationally active Mafia holding company," according to criminologist Letizia Paoli. [111 ] A major function of the Commission is to regulate the use of violence. [110 ] [112 ] For instance, a mafioso who wants to commit a murder in another clan's territory must ask the permission of the local boss; the commission enforces this rule. [112 ] Any murder of a mafioso or prominent individual (police, lawyers, politicians, journalists, etc.) must be approved by the commission. [113 ] Such acts can potentially upset other clans and spark a war, so the Commission provides a means by which to obtain their approval. [114 ] The Commission also deals with matters of succession. When a boss dies or retires, his clan's reputation often crumbles with his departure. This can cause clients to abandon the clan and turn to neighboring clans for protection. These clans would grow greatly in status and power relative to their rivals, potentially destabilizing the region and precipitating war. [115 ] The Commission may choose to divide up the clan's territory and members among its neighbors. Alternatively, the commission has the power to appoint a regent for the clan until it can elect a new boss. [115 ] [116 ] [ edit ] Rituals and codes of conduct Edit One of the first accounts of an initiation ceremony into the Mafia was given by Bernardino Verro , a leader of the Fasci Siciliani , a popular movement of democratic and socialist inspiration, which arose in Sicily in the early 1890s. In order to give the movement teeth and to protect himself from harm, Verro became a member of a Mafia group in Corleone, the Fratuzzi (Little Brothers). In a memoir written many years later, he describes the initiation ritual he underwent in the spring of 1893: "[I] was invited to take part in a secret meeting of the Fratuzzi. I entered a mysterious room where there were many men armed with guns sitting around a table. In the center of the table there was a skull drawn on a piece of paper and a knife. In order to be admitted to the Fratuzzi, [I] had to undergo an initiation consisting of some trials of loyalty and the pricking of the lower lip with the tip of the knife: the blood from the wound soaked the skull." [117 ] [118 ] (Soon after Verro broke with the Mafia and – according to police reports – became their most bitter enemy. He was killed by the Mafia in 1915 when he was the mayor of Corleone). [119 ] After his arrest, the mafioso Giovanni Brusca described the ceremony in which he was formally made a full member of Cosa Nostra. In 1976 he was invited to a "banquet" at a country house. He was brought into a room where several mafiosi were sitting around a table upon which sat a pistol, a dagger and an image of a saint. They questioned his commitment and his feelings regarding criminality and murder (despite him already having a history of such acts). When he affirmed himself, Salvatore Riina , then the most powerful boss of Cosa Nostra, took a needle and pricked Brusca's finger. Brusca smeared his blood on the image of the saint, which he held in his cupped hands as Riina set it alight. As Brusca juggled the burning image in his hands, Riina said to him: "If you betray Cosa Nostra, your flesh will burn like this saint." [12 ] Introductions A mafioso is not supposed to introduce himself to another mafioso he does not personally know, even if both mafiosi know of each other through reputation. If he wants to establish a relationship, he must ask a third mafioso that they both personally know to introduce them to each other in a face-to-face meeting. This intermediary can vouch that neither of the two is an impostor, thus preventing outsiders or undercover policemen from infiltrating the Mafia. This tradition is upheld very scrupulously, often to the detriment of efficient operation. For instance, when the mafioso Indelicato Amedeo returned to Sicily following his initiation in America in the 1950s, he could not introduce himself to his own mafioso father, but had to wait for a mafioso from America who knew of his induction to come to Sicily. [120 ] In another case, in the 1970s the New York mafioso Lefty Ruggiero wanted to expand his business to Milwaukee , but didn't know anyone who could immediately introduce him to the Milwaukee Mafia boss. He had to go through a chain of intermediaries until he could finally be introduced to the Milwaukee boss, a process which took weeks. [120 ] Etiquette Mafiosi of equal status sometimes call each other "compare", while inferiors call their superiors "padrino". [121 ] Both are Sicilian terms for "godfather". Ten Commandments Edit In November 2007 Sicilian police reported to have found a list of "Ten Commandments" in the hideout of mafia boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo . They are thought to be guidelines on how to be a good, respectful and honourable mafioso. [122 ] No one can present himself directly to another of our friends. There must be a third person to do it. Never look at the wives of friends. Never be seen with cops. Don't go to pubs and clubs. Always being available for Cosa Nostra is a duty - even if your wife is about to give birth. Appointments must absolutely be respected. Wives must be treated with respect. When asked for any information, the answer must be the truth. Money cannot be appropriated if it belongs to others or to other families. People who can't be part of Cosa Nostra: anyone who has a close relative in the police, anyone with a two-timing relative in the family, anyone who behaves badly and doesn't hold to moral values. Omertà Edit Omertà is a code of silence and secrecy that forbids mafiosi from betraying their comrades to the authorities. The penalty for transgression is death, and relatives of the turncoat may also be murdered. Mafiosi generally do not associate with police (aside perhaps from corrupting individual officers as necessary). For instance, a mafioso will not call the police when he is a victim of a crime. He is expected to take care of the problem himself. To do otherwise would undermine his reputation as a capable protector of others ( see below ), and his enemies may see him as weak and vulnerable. The need for secrecy and inconspicuousness deeply colors the traditions and mannerisms of mafiosi. Mafiosi are discouraged from consuming alcohol or drugs, as in an inebriated state they are more likely to blurt out sensitive information. They also frequently adopt self-effacing attitudes to strangers so as to avoid unwanted attention. [123 ] Mafiosi are also forbidden from writing down anything about their activities, lest such evidence be discovered by police. [124 ] To a degree, mafiosi also impose omertà on the general population. Civilians who buy their protection or make other deals are expected to be discreet, on pain of death. Witness intimidation is also common. Current clans Edit The following data is based mainly on the biannual reports of the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia (Antimafia Investigation Department): [1] This information is several years old, and since clans come and go, it may not be perfectly accurate. The city of Palermo itself has 28 clans divided among 8 mandamenti , whilst the surrounding province is divided into 6 mandamenti. [1] Mandamenti and clans in the city of Palermo Mandamento Edit Protection racketeering is one of the Sicilian Mafia's core activities. Some scholars, such as Diego Gambetta , see it as a defining characteristic. He describes the Mafia as a cartel of "private protection firms". Other scholars have called it "an industry of violence". In exchange for money or favors, mafiosi use violence to punish anyone who harms the interests of their clients, whether through theft, violence, fraud or competition. Mafiosi have protected a great variety of clients over the years: landowners, plantation owners, politicians, shopkeepers, drug dealers, etc. Whilst some people are coerced into buying protection and some do not receive any actual protection for their money (extortion), by and large there are many clients who actively seek and benefit from mafioso protection. This is one of the main reasons why the Mafia has resisted more than a century of government efforts to destroy it: the people who willingly solicit these services protect the Mafia from the authorities. It is estimated that the Sicilian Mafia costs the Sicilian economy more than €10 billion a year through protection rackets . [3] Roughly 70% of Sicilian businesses pay protection money to Cosa Nostra. [4] Monthly payments can range from €200 for a small shop or bar to €5,000 for a supermarket. [5] [6] [7] In Sicily, protection money is known as pizzo ; the anti-extortion support group Addiopizzo derives its name from this. Mafiosi might sometimes ask for favors instead of money, such as assistance in committing a crime. Protection from theft Edit Protection from theft is one service that the Mafia provides to paying "clients". Mafiosi themselves are generally forbidden from committing theft [8] (though in practice they are merely forbidden from stealing from anyone connected to the Mafia). [9] Instead, mafiosi make it their business to know all the thieves and fences operating within their territory. If a protected business is robbed, the clan will use these contacts to track down and return the stolen goods and punish the thieves, usually by beating them up. [10] Since the pursuit of thieves and their loot often goes into territories of other clans, clans routinely cooperate with each other on this matter, providing information and blocking the sale of the loot if they can. [10] Although the Mafia mostly protects merchants from thieves, sometimes they protect thieves as well. They might protect thieves from retribution from unprotected merchants, [11] or from being swindled by untrustworthy fences . Small-time thieves operating in a clan's territory are usually not forced to give a cut of their takings, as the money involved in small thefts is not worth the trouble. [12] Aside from payoffs or favors, protecting thieves encourages crime, which puts more pressure on merchants to seek mafioso protection. [13] Protection from competition Edit Mafiosi sometimes protect businessmen from competitors by threatening their competitors with violence. If two businessmen are competing for a government contract, the protected can ask his mafioso friends to bully his rival out of the bidding process. In another example, a mafioso acting on behalf of a coffee supplier might pressure local bars into serving only his client's coffee. More often than simple intimidation of competitors, mafiosi are often asked to oversee collusive agreements between businessmen. Mafia-enforced collusion typically appear in markets where collusion is both desirable ( inelastic demand , lack of product differentiation , etc.) and difficult to set up (numerous competitors, low barriers to entry ) [14] Protection from fraud Edit Mafioso protection is not always one-sided. A mafioso might also be asked to arbitrate transactions in cases where the parties do not trust each other, such as black market deals where the law does not intervene. In exchange for a commission paid by both parties, the mafioso will threaten punishment against either party if one or both cheats the other. [8] Client relations Edit Mafiosi approach potential clients in an aggressive but friendly manner, like a door-to-door salesman. [15] They may even offer a few free favors as enticement. If a client rejects their overtures, mafiosi sometimes coerce them by vandalizing their property or other forms of harassment. Physical assault is rare; clients may be murdered for breaching agreements or talking to the police, but not for simply refusing protection. [16] In many situations, mafia bosses prefer to establish an indefinite long-term bond with a client, rather than make one-off contracts. The boss can then publicly declare the client to be under his permanent protection (his "friend", in Sicilian parlance). This leaves little public confusion as to who is and isn't protected, so thieves and other predators will be deterred from attacking a protected client and prey only on the unprotected. [17] Mafiosi generally do not involve themselves in the management of the businesses they protect or arbitrate. Lack of competence is a common reason, but mostly it is to divest themselves of any interests that may conflict with their roles as protectors and arbitrators. This makes them more trusted by their clients, who need not fear their businesses being taken over. Protection territories Edit A protection racketeer cannot tolerate competition within his sphere of influence from another racketeer. If a dispute erupted between two clients protected by rival racketeers, the two racketeers would have to fight each other to win the dispute for their respective client. The outcomes of such fights can be unpredictable (not to mention bloody), and neither racketeer could guarantee a victory for his client. This would make their protection unreliable and of little value. Their clients might dismiss them and settle the dispute by other means, and their reputations would suffer. To prevent this, mafia clans negotiate territories in which they can monopolize the use of violence in settling disputes. [18] This is not always done peacefully, and disputes over protection territories are at the root of most Mafia wars. [19] Other activities Edit Politicians court mafiosi to obtain votes during elections. A mafioso's mere endorsement of a certain candidate can be enough for his clients, relatives and associates to vote for said candidate. A particularly influential mafioso can bring in thousands of votes for a candidate; such is the respect a mafioso can command. [20] The Italian Parliament has a huge number of seats (945, roughly 1 per 64,000 citizens) and a large number of political parties competing for them, meaning a candidate can win with only a few thousand votes. A mafia clan's support can thus be decisive for his success. Template:Quote Politicians usually repay this support with favors, such as sabotaging police investigations or giving contracts and permits. [21] Although they are not ideological themselves, mafiosi have traditionally opposed extreme parties such as Fascists and Communists, and favored center candidates. [21] Smuggling Edit Mafiosi provide protection and invest capital in smuggling gangs. Smuggling operations require large investments (goods, boats, crews, etc.) but few people would trust their money to criminal gangs. It is mafiosi who raise the necessary money from investors and ensure all parties act in good faith. They also ensure that the smugglers operate in safety. [22] Mafiosi rarely directly involve themselves in smuggling operations. When they do, it is usually when the operations are especially risky. In this case, they may induct smugglers into their clans in the hope of binding them more firmly. [23] This was the case with heroin smuggling, where the volumes and profits involved were too large to keep the operations at arm's length. Bid rigging Edit The Sicilian Mafia in Italy is believed to have a turnover of €6.5 billion through control of public and private contracts. [24] Mafiosi use threats of violence and vandalism to muscle out competitors and win contracts for the companies they control. [25] They rarely manage the businesses they control themselves, but take a cut of their profits, usually through payoffs ( Pizzo ). [26] Loan sharking Edit In a 2007 publication, the Italian small-business association Confesercenti reported that about 25.2% of Sicilian businesses were indebted to loan sharks , who collected around €1.4 billion a year in payments. [27] This figure has risen during the late-2000s recession , as tighter lending by banks forces the desperate to borrow from the Mafia. [28] [29] Forbidden crimes Edit Certain types of crimes are forbidden by Cosa Nostra, either by members or freelance criminals within their domains. Mafiosi are generally forbidden from committing theft (burglary, mugging, etc.). Kidnapping is also generally forbidden, even by non-mafiosi, as it attracts a great deal of public hostility and police attention. These rules have been violated from time to time, both with and without the permission of senior mafiosi. [30] Violence and reputation Murders are almost always carried out by members. It is very rare for the Mafia to recruit an outsider for a single job, and such people are liable to be eliminated soon afterwards because they become expendable liabilities. [31] Reputation Edit The Mafia's power comes from its reputation to commit violence, particularly murder, against virtually anyone and get away with it. Through reputation, mafiosi deter their enemies and enemies of their clients. It allows mafiosi to protect a client without being physically present (e.g. as bodyguards or watchmen), which in turn allows them to protect many clients at once. [32] [33] Compared to other occupations, reputation is especially valuable for a mafioso, and they are especially vulnerable to blows in reputation. The reputation of a mafioso is dichotomous: he is either a good protector or a bad one; there is no mediocrity. This is because a mafioso can only either succeed at an act of violence or fail utterly. There is no spectrum of quality when it comes to violent protection. [34] Consequently, a series of failures can completely ruin a mafioso's reputation, and with it his business. The more fearsome a mafioso's reputation is, the more he can win disputes without having recourse to violence. It can even happen that a mafioso who loses his means to commit violence (e.g. his soldiers are all in prison) can still use his reputation to intimidate and provide protection if everyone is unaware of his weakness and still believes in his power. [35] However, in the tough world of the Mafia, such bluffs generally do not last long, as his rivals will soon sense his weakness and challenge him. [36] When a mafia boss retires from leadership (or is killed), his clan's reputation as effective protectors and enforcers often goes with him. If his replacement has a weaker reputation, clients may lose confidence in the clan and defect to its neighbors, causing a shift in the balance of power and possible conflict. Ideally, the successor to the boss will have built a strong reputation of his own as he worked his way up the ranks, giving the clan a reputable new leader. [37] In this way, established mafia clans have a powerful edge over newcomers who start from scratch; joining a clan as a soldier offers an aspiring mafioso a chance to build up his own reputation under the guidance and protection of senior mafiosi. Violent successions Edit Mafia violence is most commonly directed at other mafia clans competing for territory and business. [38] Violence is more common in the Sicilian Mafia than the American Mafia because mafia clans in Sicily are smaller and more numerous, creating a more volatile atmosphere. [39] Prominent Sicilian mafiosi Giovanni 'Lo Scannacristiani' Brusca (born 1957), who was involved in the murder of Giovanni Falcone . Matteo Messina Denaro (born 1962), considered to be one of the successors of Provenzano. The dictionary of the Italian mafia Edit Each trade has professional terms, and such organization as "Mafia" does not make exception. In this clause the present dictionary of a mafia is published. If you wish to understand, about what picciotti, cugines, Capos and Consiglieri speak in borgata and cosca with Donami, the glossary of a mafia can give you initial data. A Friend of ours: (amer.) Our friend. A brief way of representation of one correct mafiozo to another. " My friend " - " A friend of mine " - means only one more priblatnennogo pridurka. A trippa di zianata - " your aunt's tripe " (amer.ital.) (Dosl. A fable of your aunt) Delirium, not only a gray mare. Bosh, a nonsense. Fuflo, an empties, fornication. Action (amer.) the Bet, the rate which accepts bukmeker for which it receives dolyashku. Also a theme. Administration (amer.) Administration - management of a highest level in criminal Family, the boss, underboss and Consigliere. Agita (ital.) Nervousness. Change, the anxiety sometimes accompanied by a diarrhea. Anti-Trust Violations (amer.) (Dosl. Infringements of the antimonopoly law.) so authorities name intrusion on territory of another's Family. Associate: (amer.) the Partner. Priblatnennyi which works as a number, but has not passed iniciaciyu and did not become the Wise man. Almost confirmed, Almost made and consequently not subscribed yet under Omert'a. Bad a Bing! (amer.ital.) the Multi-purpose exclamation similar with " in a nature ", but more Thin and pressing. Can designate everything, since " the Life is a life " and "Alleluia" up to " I shall understand with it " and " Pridurku the end ". See Fuhgeddaboudit. BadaBing, Bada Bap, Bada Boop. See above. Big Casino: (amer.) " To play the Big Casino ". To die of a cancer. Blind pig: (amer.) the Blind pig. A point where are betraid dark and azvratnym To entertainments. In Russian - "raspberry". During an epoch of the Dry law - a vegetable marrow where sold Illegal moonshine by a principle "has drunk-has fallen down". Blind tiger: (amer.) the Same, as Blind pig. Bones: to make the bones. (amer.) To make bones. To fill up the first guy, to be accepted in Family. The task of the trainee translating from intership in a trade. The Books: (amer.) Books. A phrase, meaning membership in Family. If is Opportunity for career and iniciacii books are opened (The Books are open) if is not present - are closed (The Books are closed). The quantity of vacant posts in Our Business is limited. Borgata: (ital.) Family in the organized crime. See Cosca. Boss: (amer.) the Head of the family, which prodyusiruet show. It solves, whom to make the Member of Family and whom to make a corpse. It receives items from all incomes of Family. Also Don, Chairman. Buon'anima: (ital.) the Greeting meaning " let is based with the world ". Bootlegging: (amer.) Unfortunately, now only contraband of cigarettes, which Are made for export without payment of taxes. Break an egg: (amer.ital.) Literally " to break an egg " - to fill up someone from cleanly professional promptings. Anything personal... Broken ass: (amer. ital.) " the Broken ass ". Improbable success as in " he's got a broken ass ". Broken-down valise: (amer.ital.) the Broken suitcase. The guy, in which life Steady black strip. C-: (amer. ital.) Stodollarovaya a denomination, a portrait of the dead president in pastel'no-green tones. Also Hunge. Cafone: (ital.) Loh, the peasant of the lowest poshiba. Canary: (amer.) the Birdy who sings on the friends. Cannoli: (ital.) the Italian batch. Capo: (ital.) the Member of Family which supervises over a command, reduction from capodecina or caporegime. Capodi tutti capi: (ital.) the Boss of all bosses. Cazzis: (ital.) See Stugots. In general, the same Stugots, only in a structure. Chebella: (ital.) It is good. A beauty. Chebruta: (ital.) What you terrible. Chepazzo: (ital.) Absolutely from mind has jumped off. Chentanni!: (ital.) hundred years! A popular toast of correct children, and sometimes and Simply Italians. Chepeccato: (ital.) What a pity, what shame. Chiacchierone: (ital.) the Talker. Clip: (amer.) (Dosl. A holder, click.) To wet, send in road without the return ticket, to bring to a wood, to execute the contract, to fall down. Code of silence: (amer.) the Code of silence. Do not sing on the colleagues when you have pressed. See Omert " a. Coltempo la foglia di gelso diventa seta: (ital.) the Old Italian saying meaning " Time and patience transform a mulberry into silk ". Comare: (gooman, goomar, or gomatta) (amer.ital.) Any respecting mafiozo does not do without it. The mistress. Historically the term designated the godmother. Commission: (amer.) Joint body of authoritative representation of Families at the federal level, engaged consideration of disputes, section of territories, the statement of the list of hits. System of a choice - territorially-majority. Looking - Members of the Upper chamber of the Commission in federal districts. Compare: (amer. ital.) the Brother. The friend. The colleague. Come heavy: (amer.) (Dosl. Weight) Pretend to be volynoi. On a business meeting with narkodel'cami not komil'fo to go without the weapon. Also a call on an arrow, but with obvious Intention to be shot. Commendatore: (ital.) the Reference similar Russian "commander", but much more respectful and valid. Communion: (amer.) (Dosl. A sacred participle) Silently and imperceptibly to clean someone. Confirm: (amer.) To confirm. To initiate. See Made guy. Confirmation: (amer.) (Dosl. Confirmation, in Catholicism - solemn ritual of acknowledgement of Belief, event in a life of each Catholic.) usually to clean someone with a pomp and deliberate public effect. Consigliere (Consigli ori): (ital.) the Entrusted Adviser in Family on which always consult before decision-making. Volume Heigen in "Godfather". Contract: (amer. ital.) Literally "contract" - the agreement to wet someone, Usually orally concluded in the form of konklyudentnyh actions (implied in act). Coska: (ital.) the Criminal Family including not criminal communications, satellite Business, set of relatives and politicians on feeding. Hardly it is more than Borgata. Crew: (amer.) the Command. Group the soldier under command Capo. Cugine: (ital.) the Young soldier expecting dedication in members of Family. CW: (amer.) an Abbreviation used by FBI for designation Co-operating Witness - the Cooperating witness. It a rat. Dago: (amer.) the Contemptious name of Italians. A theme for razborok if it is told in eyes and with impudent prischurom. Daring: (amer.) Impudent. Don: (amer.) the Head of the family. See Boss. Eat alone: (amer.) (Dosl. Is to one.) Krysyatnichat'. Executive Game: (amer.) Game at a high level. Special event, organizuemoe Guys for celebrities and pontovityh neighbours - a card play (usually poker) under very high rates on a visit at one of Members of Family and under its protection. Faciabruta: (ital.) the Vile muzzle, the terrible person or that (or who) it is not pleasant to you is simple. Family: (amer.) Family. A clan in the organized crime. Gambini. Bonanno. Djenoveze. Korleone. Father: (amer.) the Father. It Don. It the Boss. FAMILY; s'em'i, sem'ei, s'em'yam;. 1. Group of the people living under one krovom. 2. The group of people having the general ancestors. 3. Group which establishes rules. 4. A cell of a mafia. FAMILY; s'em'i, sem'ei, s'em'yam;. 1. The group of people consisting of the husband, the wife, children and other close relatives living together. Provided, needy with. Having many children with. Intelligent, amicable, greater with. The worker, country with. To begin to live the family, the head of the family. To be brought up in family of doctors. To create, throw, contain, feed family. To enter in whose-?. Family. To mark a holiday in a circle of family. To bear all in family. To leave family, from family. At you is with? Behind a table all has gathered with. 2. Whom or what. Group of the people rallied by the general activity, interests, friendship. School, officer with. We live as one with. The troupe also is mine with. 3. The group of animals consisting from samca, samki (samok) and the cubs living together. starlings. beavers. Wolf with. 4. The isolated group of plants of one kind, growing beside. cactuses. berezok. 5. Lingv. Group of related languages. People indoevropeiskoi language family. Paleoaziatskaya with. Languages. Seven " searching;. Uvelich. Sem'eika; Sem'einyi. 6. A cell of a mafia. 7. Charles Marx spoke, that family - a cell of a society. Fanook, or Finook: (amer. ital.) It is formed from "finucchiu" (finocchio), sweet fennel (fenhelya). The contemptious term designating gomoseka or pidruchcho, people from which presence children are nervous. "Mezzofinook" - polupidruchcho, polugei, a spot - a mouse eye, the coward, the bisexual. Forbidden Fruit: (amer.) the Forbidden fruit - an inclination of the concrete boy to the lovely girl from the Italian family living in the neighbourhood. Farivagnari a pizzu: (ital.) Omochit' a beak. To share with the boss. Fuhgeddaboudit: (amer. ital.) the Multi-purpose interjection strategic The purposes, formed from " Forget about it " - " forget and do not think " and by quantity of semantic shades aspiring in infinity. The most popular values vary from - "Welcome" and " You Are not necessary to gratitude " up to " at all represent ", " I shall borrow in it " and " the Goat of has sentenced ". G: (amer.) One thousand dollars, a piece. Gabagool: (capo cuoll). Havanina, havka, it meal. Including fusion. Giradiment: (ital.) Bashku breaks. Golden Age: (amer.) the Golden Age. Time up to RICO. Goomah (it is sometimes said as "goomar"): (amer. ital.) the Mistress mafiozo; it Comare. Goomba: (amer. ital.) the Class italo-American - the wide guy leading Appropriate amount of a life, not necessarily gangster. Grand: (amer.) Big. One thousand dollars, a piece. Guests of the stateili Guests of the government: (amer.) (Dosl. " On a visit to To the government of staff "or" on a visit to the federal government ".) to sit in prison. Guinea (Guinny, Ginnie): (amer.) the Contemptious name of Italians. From guinea pigs - experimental svinki. Hard-on: (amer. ital.) the Noun, for simple Americans designating Genital of the man in a condition of alertness, and in Goomba to culture - concerning the abrupt guy or its uncooperative altitude to any subject. Hard-on with a suitcase: (amer.ital.) " Firm her with a portfolio ", a designation The lawyer-professional, in half (Half a Hard-on with a suitcase) the lawyer-woman. Hit: (amer.) the Hit. Impact. To fill up someone. Hunge: (amer. ital.) the Portrait of the president of Franklin, printed Federal Reserve System. See C-. Ice: (amer. ital.) "To freeze" - to clean by means of professional murderers - iceman. Iceman: (amer. ital.) the Professional executor of contracts, usually Working alone. Infamia (Infamita): (ital.) Dishonor. A shame. Ublyudochnoe the behaviour incompatible with onore true mafioso. In the wind: (amer.) Downwind. After you have left the program of protection Witnesses, you fly downwind, it means, that you are given to yourself. IOU: (amer.) From I Owe You (I should you, in a usual context designates The banal receipt). Klevaya an abbreviation designating " I have got here and now but if you will give me money, I shall return all... Sometime ". Also the receipt or a marker. IRS: (amer.) the Most terrible nightmare, as spryatannye money - for them Illegal money. Here here all also begins. Internal Revenue Service. Jamook: (amer.) the Idiot, loh, pridurok, the loser, the cretin, the degenerate. Joint: (amer.) the Tavern. A point. Club. But more often cafe which belongs to guys and where they spend time. Juice: (amer.) "Juice". The percent charged on the counter at enslaving loans. As force, authority, communications. See Vig. Lam: (amer.) To lay silently, to not be put out, that is to be on the run. Large: (amer.) Big. One thousand dollars, a piece. See Grand, G. LCN: (amer.) an Abbreviation used by FBI for designation La Cosa Nostra, or in translation " Our Business ". Lupara: (ital.) Obrez. A shot-gun with the cut trunk, the traditional instrument Crafts and a symbol of the status island picciotti. In America as the symbol of the status and a social status has been replaced by a carnation in a buttonhole. Made guy: (amer.) (Dosl. Made by the man.) Indoktrinirovannyi the Member of Family. The core in a ceremony of dedication - an oath of fidelity to the Boss and Family up to a coffin. That even Theoretically to be worthy this abuse, mother devoted should be the Italian. (not only at all of you on mum, misters.) Madonn ': (amer. ital.) the Madonna. The expression meaning holy smoke, holy cow, holy shit - that is "... Your mother ". Mafioso: (ital.) Wind. Impudent. Independent. The beautiful and independent woman or an animal. Mannagge: (amer.) War with a competing clan or with Family. Men of Honor: (amer.) the Member of the family, adhering traditions. It Men of Tradition. Men of Tradition: (amer.) Mafiozo old traditions. Message job: (amer.) To send the message. Moving of a bullet to someone's body, having transferred thus the specific message up to a command or Families. See MoeGreen Special. MezzaMorta: (ital.) Half-dead. Mickey Mouse Scores: (amer.) ?«»-stop. A strike, it is usual in masks disneevskih the heroes, organized young and silly picciotti with a level of intellectual development of the ??¬¬?-mouse. The Mob: (amer.) Family as unit of the organized crime. Or all Families of the organized crime in general. Mobbed up: (amer.) Priblatnennyi. Mafiozo. In general, our guy. Mobster: (amer.) Mafiozo. The gangster. Mock execution: (amer.) To revive or make made means Training execution. In general, to be pinned above someone, in a kind way having forced to think, that now it rasstanetsya with a life. MoeGreen Special: (amer.) Mou Green, as a firm dish. To clean a shot in an eye, similarly to one of heroes of "Godfather". One of forms of "message". Moonshine: (amer.) Moonshine, decentralizovanno expelled at light of the moon up to Creations of Syndicate. The cartel has allowed to deduce manufacture from a shadow in a penumbra, or in a twilight as want. Moonshiner: (amer.) the Virtuoso of a coil up to mafia materialism. During The organized crimes - cehovik, organizuyuschii manufacture legal or not Very much alcohol. Mortadella: (ital. amer.) the Loser, pridurok. Derivative of the name of the Italian sausage. Mulignan: (ital. amer.) (Dosl. An eggplant) Those whom today politically correctly name Afro-Americans. Mooleys: (ital. amer.) in plural. See Tizzun. Musciata: (ital.) the Sucker. Sentimental. OC: (amer.) the Abbreviation of FBI for Organized Crime. OP - Organized Criminality. Old Moustache Petes: (amer. ital.) (Dosl. Old Usachi Pitery) Old reactionaries, Mafioso the first generation in America which could not adapt wide experience of rural racket for rate Roaring the Twentieth and have badly terminated. Their era has passed with the termination of war kastellomareze in New York. Omert'a: (ital.) the Severe vow of silence. Also will lock to cooperate with any The state bodies. In other words - not krysyatnichai. Deviations are fraught The maximum measure. Oobatz (u'pazzu): (amer. ital.) Mad, otmorozok. [The, from the] Other Side: (amer.) Italy, the historical native land. Outfit: (amer.) Branch. A clan or Family inside of the Mafia. Padrone: (ital.) the Owner. You depend on what will. Also the validly-patriarchal reference to seniors. Paisan: (ital.) the Boy. Literally the peasant. Our guy. Palooka: (amer.) During Greater Shoulders this vocative named the inept fighter on a ring, now - a beginner in Our Business pridurka. Paying tribute: (amer.) To give respect. To give a tribute. To give due. To transfer the boss a share from the income under the transaction. See Farivagnari a pizzu. Payroll: (amer.) the Incorporated list beneficiarov (paysheet), on a regular basis fed up by Family, including, but not being limited - politicians, journalists, law enforcement bodies, power structures, the informers simply necessary and respectable people. Pazzesco: (ital.) Abrupt. The madman before ecstasy and full umopomracheniya. (It is usually spoken about a thing or process.) Pazzo: (ital.) Otmorozok. Pridurok. The cretin, defective and a subject To elimination, in view of impossibility of conducting with it of constructive negotiations. Pezzonovante: (ital.) Shishka. The big person from the world of business or policy, A little bit deranged as usually does not perceive seriously Our Business. Piacere: (ital.) It is glad you to see. Piccioto: (ital.) the Kid. The kid with obrezom usually means. Pinched: (amer. ital.) (Dosl. Pinned as the butterfly) Got with polichnym or in language of ancestors in flagranti delicti. Points: (amer.) Items. Points. Percent from the income, dolyashka. Popped: (amer. ital.) the Synonym pinched. Poverett: (ital.) the Poor creature, the poor man, dohodyaga. Predicates: (amer.) Popadalovo. Complications. The action of the Ministry of Justice, Directed on application of norms RICO to property and freedom of guys. The Program: The Witness Protection Program (amer.) the Program. The program Protection of Witnesses. Pinky Ring: (amer.) the Ring, nosimyi on a little finger, maximality of game of light Brilliant on which it is reached graceful raspal'covkoi. Playing footsie: (amer.) Obalovyvat' to plant. Pucchiacha: (ital.) the Female genital from five letters, also means an oyster - the harmful and foolish woman, or the passive lesbian. Pump and dump: (amer.) Pump up and dump. A standard practice for unethical Brokers at stock exchange. First you lift up cost of a small share holding for encouragement and seduction of investors ("pump") then you sell all the actions ("dump"). Puttana (Putain): (ital.) the Prostitute. Rajunah: (ital.) To argue. To understand. Ragazzioperations: (amer. ital.) Operations with beauties. From delivery of aunts in Public houses before the organization of the entertaining centers of the maximum test with their participation. Rat: (amer.) the Rat, the one who knocks or sings (forgive, peeps) when it have pressed. Racyclingbusiness: (amer.) Evfemizm the organized crimes. See Waste Management. RICO: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. (amer.) the Law About The organized crimes (the Certificate About the Organizations which are Being Under Influence Racketeers and the Corrupted Officials). It is accepted in 1970 for struggle against a mafia. Application and interpretation is expanded for prosecution of internal brokers and struggle with Demonstrators for a cancelling of abortions. Rules: (amer.) (Dosl. Rules.) concepts. Schifosa: (ital.) Strashko, the ugly creature. Sfogliatelle: (ital.) the Italian batch. Shakedown: (amer.) (Dosl. stryasti.) Blackmail or divorce to receive money with someone. Also to frighten somebody. Score: (amer.) Extraction as result of a strike. Shy: (amer.) (Dosl. Constraint of the guy.) a word-play from shylock. Percent under the spark loans. See below. Shylockbusiness: (amer.) Business of the spark loans. On behalf of the old usurer-Jew in Shakespeare's play " the Venetian Merchant ". We are formed. Sitdown: (amer.) (Dosl. A sit-round gathering.) an arrow, action. Skipper: (amer. ital.) Designation Capo mafiozo new generation, also the leader of a command of any size. Soldier: (amer.) the Soldier in the bottom of Family, as in the Middle Ages - the pedestrian soldier, the most simple and basic soldier. (" foot soldiers ") Squealer: (amer.ital.) "Peeping". See Rat, stool pigeon, canary. Speakeasy: (amer.) the Institution where it is initially silent and under a cover of night sold moonshine. Then loudly and with a pomp. Sponsorship: (amer.) the Guarantee before Dedication in Family. Spring cleaning: (amer.) (Dosl. Spring cleaning.) the term in the trade, designating spring sale. A word-play, in Our Business - zachistka proofs. Stand up guy: (amer.) the Wind guy who without hesitation accepts a problem on the breast, instead of explains, where it needs to be at this time, and does not search for the reason to come off. Stool pigeon: (amer.) (Dosl. taburetochnyi the pigeon.) the informer. Strunz, strunzo: (ital.) the Piece of dung. Stugots: (amer. ital.) From stucazzo or u ' cazzu. Eggs as primary sexual attributes. Swag: (amer.) Vorovannye things. Taste: (amer.) (Dosl. Taste.) percent from a theme. Tax: (amer.) the Tax. Deduction of percent from someone's incomes, sometimes as a payment for protection of operation. Teamsters: (amer.) Truckers. Trade-union business following on importance After consultations on recycling waste and construction. Teamsters 13: (amer.) Number of trade union of drivers-truckers, usually associiruemyi with a concrete clan or concrete Family which supervises it. This thing of ours: (amer.) Our Business. Family of a mafia or the Mafia as a whole. Through the eye: (amer.) the Message or the message through an eye which means: " we look behind your achievements ". Also " it is served in Mou Green's style ". Through the mouth: (amer.) the Message or the message through a mouth. Showing to the world, that someone was a rat. It is usually accompanied by an investment of the specified rodent in a mouth of the client. Tizzun: (ital.) Black. An animal. The Neapolitan contemptious term concerning to black. Tommy: (amer.) the Automatic device of system of Thompson - Tommy Gun. Torpedo: (amer.) the Bull. That, which the support, impressively reminding a torpedo or pilon the bridge. Triggerman: (amer.) the Executor of products on a trigger hook of fire-arms. Underboss: (amer.) (Dosl. Under the boss.) Anderboss. The second person on the importance in Family. In investigation name the Younger Leader. In the literature - the younger boss. [What is] under his nails: (amer.) (Dosl. That at it under nails.) who behind it costs? And whose you?. Vafa Napole: (ital.) " Go to Naples ", that is in the pedestrian sexual walk. For some reason it is considered more rough, than vaffanculo. Than were engaged in this Naples? Vaffanculo: (ital.) the Same, as vafa Napole, but the campaign in the pedestrian sexual walk is carried out through a certain man's body from three letters in Russian slenge. Vaffangul: Coomba. The class italo-American guy. Variant Vaffanculo. Vig: (amer.) Reduction from vigorish. The percent wound on the counter at To delay of return of the spark loan. Usually two items or two percent. In day, Naturally. Also see Juice. Waste management business [Waste management consulting]: (amer.) Business on Recyclings of waste. Consultations on recycling waste. Evfemizm organized Criminality. Wearing it: (amer.) Estimating on itself. Demonstration of the status in the organization through clothes and accessories. " Wearing it " usually includes the Italian suit, a shirt with the extended wings of a collar, nosimyi on a little finger a ring (pinky ring), a scarf in a breast pocket, a gold circuit on a wrist, a carnation in a buttonhole, gold cuff links and other Stylish pieces. Whack: (amer.) To fill up. To wet, sometimes in a toilet. Synonyms clip, hit, pop, burn, put a contract out. Wiseguy: (amer.) the Wise man. A full member of Family. See Made Guy. Wop: (amer. ital.) the Contemptious nickname of italo-Americans, which use can lead to violence. (as well as in all other ethnic cultures in circulation among themselves quite normal phenomenon, demonstration of an accessory to culture). It is formed from Italian "guapo" - a handsome man - zlobnovatymi yanki. It is deciphered as WOP - Without papers. Zips: (amer.) Strategic import Italy. Neindoktrinirovannye mafiozo " from that party " for updating numbers of Family. See The other Side. Author's allegory with Master of Business Administration (the Master of Business Administration) - the first degree received in postgraduate study of colleges, focused on management of business. Jack MakFol. " Djonni Torrio. First of lords of a mafia ", Etc. Publishing, 2003. Hint on ADR - Alternative Dispute Resolution - the term in the American jurisprudence, meaning the Alternative Resolution of disputes - extrajudicial trial with attraction as arbitrators of authoritative citizens, professionals. Sometimes lawyers. In fondo (ital.) in general. Liege lord - In the European feudal system lord who posessed the right of the first service (60 days of free-of-charge participation in operations in a year, all rest for additional money). The others syuzereny had the right to demand service only after liege lord'a and for a payment. See John Dzhej Robinson. " Dungeons, Fire and Swords ", Etc. Publishing, 2003 and John Dzhej Robinson. " Born in Blood ", Etc. Publishing, 2003. Veni, Vidi, Vici (an armour.) has come, has seen, has won. July Caesar's this phrase has informed in the letter to the friend Amintiju on a victory at Zele in August 47 up to n.e. Compares (ital.) Boys, bratki.

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What color consists of the longest wavelengths of lights visible by the human eye?

What Wavelength Goes With a Color? Contact Us What Wavelength Goes With a Color? Our eyes are sensitive to light which lies in a very small region of the electromagnetic spectrum labeled "visible light". This "visible light" corresponds to a wavelength range of 400 - 700 nanometers (nm) and a color range of violet through red. The human eye is not capable of "seeing" radiation with wavelengths outside the visible spectrum. The visible colors from shortest to longest wavelength are: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Ultraviolet radiation has a shorter wavelength than the visible violet light. Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than visible red light. The white light is a mixture of the colors of the visible spectrum. Black is a total absence of light. Earth's most important energy source is the Sun. Sunlight consists of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Learn more: Violet Light The visible violet light has a wavelength of about 400 nm. Within the visible wavelength spectrum, violet and blue wavelengths are scattered more efficiently than other wavelengths. The sky looks blue, not violet, because our eyes are more sensitive to blue light (the sun also emits more energy as blue light than as violet).   The visible indigo light has a wavelength of about 445 nm.   Blue Light The visible blue light has a wavelength of about 475 nm. Because the blue wavelengths are shorter in the visible spectrum, they are scattered more efficiently by the molecules in the atmosphere. This causes the sky to appear blue during the main part of the day, when blue light is scattered into your eye no matter which direction you look. Green Light The visible green light has a wavelength of about 510 nm. Grass, for example, appears green because all of the colors in the visible part of the spectrum are absorbed into the leaves of the grass except green. Green is reflected, therefore grass appears green. The visible orange light has a wavelength of about 590 nm. Low-pressure sodium lamps, like those used in some parking lots, emit a orange-ish (wavelength 589 nm) light.   Red Light The visible red light has a wavelength of about 650 nm. At sunrise and sunset, the light you see has traveled a longer distance through the atmosphere. A large amount of blue and violet light has been removed as a result of scattering and the longwave colors, such as red and orange, are more readily seen. There are many wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum the human eye cannot detect. Energy with wavelengths too short for humans to see Energy with wavelengths too short to see is "more violet than violet". Light with such short wavelengths is called "Ultraviolet" light. The term "ultra-" means higher than. How do we know this light exists? One way is that this kind of light causes sunburns. Our skin is sensitive to this kind of light. If we stay out in this light without sunblock protection, our skin absorbs this energy. After the energy is absorbed, it can make our skin change color ("tan") or it can break down the cells and cause other damage. Energy with wavelengths too long for humans to see Energy whose wavelength is too long to see is "redder than red". Light with such long wavelengths is called "Infrared" light. The term "Infra-" means "lower than". How do we know this kind of light exists? One way is that we can feel energy with these wavelengths such as when we sit in front of a campfire or when we get close to a stove burner. Scientists like Samuel Pierpont Langley passed light through a prism and discovered that the infrared light the scientists could not see beyond red could make other things hot. Very long wavelengths of infrared light radiate heat to outer space. This radiation is important to the Earth's energy budget. If this energy did not escape to space, the solar energy that the Earth absorbs would continue to heat the Earth.  

Red

Which space shuttle disintegrated over Texas on Feb 1, 2003, resulting in the loss of all 7 crew members?

Visible Light - Mission:Science Visible Light National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Mission Directorate. (2010). Visible Light. Retrieved , from Mission:Science website: Science Mission Directorate. "Visible Light" Mission:Science. 2010. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. WAVELENGTHS OF VISIBLE LIGHT All electromagnetic radiation is light, but we can only see a small portion of this radiation—the portion we call visible light. Cone-shaped cells in our eyes act as receivers tuned to the wavelengths in this narrow band of the spectrum. Other portions of the spectrum have wavelengths too large or too small and energetic for the biological limitations of our perception. As the full spectrum of visible light travels through a prism, the wavelengths separate into the colors of the rainbow because each color is a different wavelength. Violet has the shortest wavelength, at around 380 nanometers, and red has the longest wavelength, at around 700 nanometers. Isaac Newton's experiment in 1665 showed that a prism bends visible light and that each color refracts at a slightly different angle depending on the wavelength of the color. Credit: Troy Benesch Each color in a rainbow corresponds to a different wavelength of electromagnetic spectrum. THE SUN'S CORONA The Sun is the dominant source for visible-light waves our eyes receive. The outer-most layer of the Sun's atmosphere, the corona, can be seen in visible light. But it is so faint it cannot not be seen except during a total solar eclipse because the bright photosphere overwhelms it. The photograph below was taken during a total eclipse of the Sun where the photosphere and chromosphere are almost completely blocked by the moon. The tapered patterns—coronal streamers—around the Sun are formed by the outward flow of plasma that is shaped by magnetic field lines extending millions of miles into space. Credit: © 2008 Miloslav Druckmüller, Martin Dietzel, Peter Aniol, Vojtech Rušin COLOR AND TEMPERATURE As objects grow hotter, they radiate energy dominated by shorter wavelengths, changing color before our eyes. A flame on a blow torch shifts from reddish to bluish in color as it is adjusted to burn hotter. In the same way, the color of stars tells scientists about their temperature. Our Sun produces more yellow light than any other color because its surface temperature is 5,500°C. If the Sun's surface were cooler—say 3,000°C—it would look reddish, like the star Betelgeuse. If the Sun were hotter—say, 12,000°C—it would look blue, like the star Rigel. Isaac Newton's experiment in 1665 showed that a prism bends visible light and that each color refracts at a slightly different angle depending on the wavelength of the color. Credit: Jenny Mottar; Image Courtesy of SOHO/consortium. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured this spectacular visible light image of Victoria Crater. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona SPECTRA AND SPECTRAL SIGNATURES Close examination of the visible-light spectrum from our Sun and other stars reveals a pattern of dark lines—called absorption lines. These patterns can provide important scientific clues that reveal hidden properties of objects throughout the universe. Certain elements in the Sun's atmosphere absorb certain colors of light. These patterns of lines within spectra act like fingerprints for atoms and molecules. Looking at the Sun's spectrum, for example, the fingerprints for elements are clear to those knowledgeable about those patterns. Patterns are also evident in a graph of an object's reflectance. Elements, molecules, and even cell structures have unique signatures of reflectance. A graph of an object's reflectance across a spectrum is called a spectral signature. Spectral signatures of different Earth features within the visible light spectrum ARE shown below. Credit: Jeannie Allen ACTIVE REMOTE SENSING—ALTIMETRY Laser altimetry is an example of active remote sensing using visible light. NASA's Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) instrument onboard the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) enabled scientists to calculate the elevation of Earth's polar ice sheets using lasers and ancillary data. Changes in elevation over time help to estimate variations in the amount of water stored as ice on our planet. The image below shows elevation data over the West Antarctic Ice Streams. Laser altimeters can also make unique measurements of the heights and characteristics of clouds, as well as the top and structure of the vegetation canopy of forests. They can also sense the distribution of aerosols from sources such as dust storms and forest fires. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

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What was the eastern starting point of the Oregon Trail?

National Oregon/California Trail Center >> Historical Trails >> Trail Basics TRAIL BASICS The Starting Point The country that lay ahead of the pioneers contained no towns or settlements. For weeks emigrants crossed vast grassland which was hot by day and cold at night. Often violent thunderstorms swept down on the hapless travelers. Eventually, they crossed the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. Beyond the mountains lay a vast wilderness of scrubby desert sagebrush, canyons and forests. The trail began at the old Independence Landing north of Independence, Missouri. Here emigrants left steamboats after a five or six day journey from St. Louis. The center of activity in the small town of Independence was the bustling square. Most of the new pioneers camped a mile or two from the square and were busily purchasing supplies needed for their four to five month trek. Those with horses or mules left first so they could feed upon the shorter grasses. The majority with powerful and durable oxen left two weeks later because cattle have a different dentition than horses. Independence Missouri, as seen by an unkown artist in 1853.  The main street, with its steepled brick courthouse also had stores and shops where emigrants could purchase supplies  

Missouri

What flavor is the 80 proof liqueur Grand Marnier, used in such drinks at a B-52?

About Us - City of Independence, Missouri About Us Share this page: About Us The National Frontier Trails Museum is a museum, interpretive center, and research library dedicated to telling the rich history of America’s principle western trails. The Story One of the most fascinating epics in American History is the story of the overland migrations across the western American wilderness during the mid-nineteenth century. Thousands of wagon trains slowly snaked their way along rugged trails, crossing wind-swept prairies, barren deserts, and formidable mountain ranges. The pioneer adventurers faced storms, mud, swollen rivers, accidents, deserts, choking dust, thirst, deadly plagues, and many other dangers to seek trade, new homes and opportunities in the West. Many did not survive the grueling journey, with tens of thousands of unmarked graves silently guarding the trails today. This extraordinary saga ranks today as the largest voluntary, overland mass migration in the history of the world. The Trails The three principle trails which crossed the West were the Santa Fe , Oregon , and California . The Santa Fe Trail, begun in 1821, was a 900-mile foreign trade route unique in American History due to its overland rather than seafaring commerce. The 2,000-mile Oregon Trail began to be heavily traveled in 1843 by settlers wanting to establish new homes in the northwest, while others forked off on the equally long and grueling California Trail to seek their fortunes in the gold fields. Together, these three rugged pathways and their pioneers changed the face and history of America. Click to enlarge The Town Independence, Missouri, a frontier village of only a few hundred people poised on the edge of American civilization, was the principle "jumping-off" point for all three of these western trails. Founded in 1827, the town first became the eastern terminus for the Santa Fe Trail, and later as an "outfitting" post for the Oregon and California emigrants as well. Every spring during the trails period the center of present-day Independence was blanketed by thousands of emigrants, complete with wagons, teams, other livestock, tents, cargo, and supplies. Commotion, confusion, and excitement reigned as wagons were purchased, loaded, and organized into trains. Click to enlarge The Spring Many of the emigrants washed and watered their livestock with water from the large, free public spring once located just a hundred yards north of today's National Frontier Trails Museum. Thousands of wagons rolled down the hill from the square and passed this spring and crowded camping site, bound for Mexico to trade, or to a new home in Oregon or California. Water still flows from this pioneer spring on the grounds of the museum. Click to enlarge The Mill In the 1830s a small gristmill, utilizing water from the public spring, was in operation just to the north of the current Trails Museum. Peter Waggoner purchased the mill and operated it until his retirement, at which time the mill passed to his son, William. William Waggoner rebuilt and enlarged the business. Converting from grinding grist to producing flour, William went into partnership with George Porterfield Gates to found the Waggoner-Gates Milling Company. After nearly a century of being one of the major employers in Independence, the mill stopped production after World War II. In 1967 an explosion and spectacular fire reduced most of the large mill complex to rubble. The Museum In 1989-90 the National Frontier Trails Museum was built by the State of Missouri with the surviving portion of the Waggoner-Gates Mill incorporated into the design. The old mill's locker room was refurbished as well, and serves as the national headquarters of the Oregon-California Trails Association. Operated by the City of Independence, the Trails Museum tells the story of the exploration, acquisition, and settlement of the American West. An award-winning introductory film prepares visitors for the interpretive exhibits which guide them along the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails. Quotations from trail diaries are extensively used, allowing pioneer travelers to tell of their experiences in their own words. HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. Sunday. For further information: National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, Independence, Missouri, 64050. Telephone: (816) 325-7575. Share this page:

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On Sept 14, 1814, during the war of 1812, the poem The Defence of Fort McHenry, later to be the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner, was written by whom?

Battle of Fort McHenry - War of 1812 War of 1812 War of 1812: Battle of Fort McHenry Battle of Fort McHenry, September 13, 1814.  Photograph Source: Public Domain Battle of Fort McHenry - Conflict & Dates: The Battle of Fort McHenry was fought September 13/14, 1814, during the War of 1812 . Commanders & Forces: 1,000 men (at Fort McHenry), 20 guns British Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane Colonel Arthur Brooke 5,000 men Battle of Fort McHenry - Background: Following their successful campaign against Washington DC, British forces under Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and Major General Robert Ross advanced up the Chesapeake Bay to attack Baltimore, MD. A vital port city, Baltimore was believed by the British to be the base of many of the American privateers that were preying on their shipping. To take the city, Ross and Cochrane planned a two-prong attack with the former landing at North Point and advancing overland, while the latter attacked Fort McHenry and the harbor defenses by water. Battle of Fort McHenry - Fighting at North Point: On September 12, 1814, Ross landed with 4,500 men on the tip of North Point and began advancing northwest towards Baltimore. His men soon encountered American forces under Brigadier General John Stricker. Dispatched by Major General Samuel Smith, Stricker was under orders to delay the British while the fortifications around the city were completed. In the resulting Battle of North Point , Ross was killed and his command took heavy losses. With Ross' death, command devolved to Colonel Arthur Brooke who elected to remain on the field through a rainy night. Battle of Fort McHenry - The American Defenses: While Brooke's men suffered in the rain, Cochrane began moving his fleet up the Patapsco River toward the city's harbor defenses. These were anchored on the star-shaped Fort McHenry. Situated on Locust Point, the fort guarded the approaches to the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco which led to the city as well as the Middle Branch of the river. Fort McHenry was supported across the Northwest Branch by a battery at Lazaretto and by Forts Covington and Babcock to the west on the Middle Branch. At Fort McHenry, the garrison commander, Major George Armistead possessed a composite force of around 1,000 men. Battle of Fort McHenry - Bombs Bursting in Air: Early on September 13, Brooke began advancing towards the city along the Philadelphia Road. In the Patapsco, Cochrane was hampered by shallow waters which precluded sending forward his heaviest ships. As a result, his attack force consisted of five bomb ketches, 10 smaller warships, and the rocket vessel HMS Erebus. By 6:30 AM they were in position and opened fire on Fort McHenry. Remaining out of range of Armistead's guns, the British ships struck the fort with heavy mortar shells (bombs) and Congreve rockets from Erebus. Advancing ashore, Brooke, who believed they had defeated city's defenders the day before, was stunned when his men found 12,000 Americans behind substantial earthworks east of the city. Under orders not to attack unless with a high chance of success, he began probing Smith's lines but was unable to find a weakness. As a result, he was forced to hold his position and await the outcome of Cochrane's assault on the harbor. Early in the afternoon, Rear Admiral George Cockburn, thinking the fort had been badly damaged, moved the bombardment force closer increase the effectiveness of their fire. As the ships closed, they came under intense fire from Armistead's guns and were compelled to draw back to their original positions. In effort to break the stalemate, the British attempted to move around the fort after dark. Embarking 1,200 men in small boats, they rowed up the Middle Branch. Mistakenly thinking they were safe, this assault force fired signal rockets which gave away their position. As a result, they quickly came under an intense crossfire from Forts Covington and Babcock. Taking heavy losses, the British withdrew. Battle of Fort McHenry - The Flag Was Still There: By dawn, with the rain subsiding, the British had fired between 1,500 and 1,800 rounds at the fort with little impact. The greatest moment of danger had come when a shell struck the fort's unprotected magazine but had failed to explode. Realizing the potential for disaster, Armistead had the fort's gunpowder supply distributed to safer locations. As the sun began to rise, he ordered the fort's small storm flag lowered and replaced with the standard garrison flag measuring 42 feet by 30 feet. Sewn by local seamstress Mary Pickersgill , the flag was clearly visible to all of the ships in the river. The sight of the flag and the ineffectiveness of the 25-hour bombardment convinced Cochrane that the harbor could not be breached. Ashore, Brooke, with no support from the navy, decided against a costly attempt on the American lines and began retreating towards North Point where his troops re-embarked. Battle of Fort McHenry - Aftermath: The attack on Fort McHenry cost Armistead's garrison 4 killed and 24 wounded. British losses were around 330 killed, wounded, and captured, most of which occurred during the ill-fated attempt to move up the Middle Branch. The successful defense of Baltimore coupled with victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh aided in restoring American pride after the burning of Washington DC and bolstered the nation's bargaining position at the Ghent peace talks. The battle is best remembered for inspiring Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner. Detained aboard the ship Minden, Key had gone to meet with the British to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes who had been arrested during the attack on Washington. Having overhead the British attack plans, Key was forced to remain with the fleet for the duration of the battle. Moved to write during the fort's heroic defense, he composed the words to an old drinking song entitled To Anacreon in Heaven. Initially published after the battle as the Defense of Fort McHenry , it eventually became known as the Star-Spangled Banner and was made the National Anthem of the United States.

Francis Scott Key

What is the tallest building in downtown Seattle?

War of 1812 W War of 1812 The War of 1812, between the United States of America and the British Empire (particularly Great Britain and British North America), lasted from 1812 to 1815. It was fought chiefly on the Atlantic Ocean and on the land, coasts and waterways of North America . There were several immediate stated causes for the U.S. declaration of war: first, a series of trade restrictions introduced by Britain to impede American trade with France, a country with which Britain was at war (the U.S. contested these restrictions as illegal under international law); second, the impressment (forced recruitment) of U.S. citizens into the Royal Navy; third, the British military support for American Indians who were offering armed resistance to the expansion of the American frontier to the Northwest. An unstated but powerful motivation for the Americans was the desire to uphold national honor in the face of what they considered to be British insults (such as the Chesapeake affair). American expansion into the Northwest (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin) was impeded by Indian raids. Some Canadian historians in the early 20th century maintained that Americans had wanted to seize parts of Canada, a view that many Canadians still share, while others argue that inducing the fear of such a seizure had merely been a U.S. tactic designed to obtain a bargaining chip. Some members of the British Parliament at the time and dissident American politicians such as John Randolph of Roanoke claimed that land hunger rather than maritime disputes was the main motivation for the American declaration. Although the British made some concessions before the war on neutral trade, they insisted on the right to reclaim their deserting sailors. The British also had the long-standing goal of creating a large "neutral" Indian state that would cover much of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. They made the demand as late as 1814 at the peace conference, but lost battles that would have validated their claims. The war was fought in four theatres: on the oceans, where the warships and privateers of both sides preyed on each other's merchant shipping; along the Atlantic coast of the U.S., which was blockaded with increasing severity by the British, who also mounted large-scale raids in the later stages of the war; on the long frontier, running along the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River , which separated the U.S. from Upper and Lower Canada ( Ontario and Quebec ); and finally along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. During the course of the war, both the Americans and British launched invasions of each other's territory, all of which were unsuccessful or gained only temporary success. At the end of the war, the British held parts of Maine and some outposts in the sparsely populated West while the Americans held Canadian territory near Detroit, but these occupied territories were restored at the end of the war. In the United States, battles such as New Orleans and the earlier successful defence of Baltimore (which inspired the lyrics of the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner ) produced a sense of euphoria over a "second war of independence" against Britain. It ushered in an "Era of Good Feelings," in which the partisan animosity that had once verged on treason practically vanished. Canada also emerged from the war with a heightened sense of national feeling and solidarity. Britain, which had regarded the war as a sideshow to the Napoleonic Wars raging in Europe, was less affected by the fighting; its government and people subsequently welcomed an era of peaceful relations with the United States. Overview The war was fought between the United States and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies of Upper Canada (Ontario), Lower Canada (Québec), New Brunswick , Newfoundland , Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island , Cape Breton Island (at that time a separate colony from Nova Scotia), and Bermuda . The war started poorly for the Americans in August 1812, when an attempt to invade Canada was repulsed by Major General Isaac Brock and a force of 350 regular British troops he commanded (supported in turn by local militias and warriors from native tribes). This led to the British capture of Detroit (in the southeast corner of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan). A second invasion, on the Niagara peninsula, was defeated on October 13, 1812 at the Battle of Queenston Heights, in which Brock was killed. The American strategy relied in part on militias that either resisted service or were incompetently led. Financial and logistical problems also plagued the American effort. Military and civilian leadership was lacking and remained a critical American weakness until 1814. New England opposed the war and refused to provide troops or financing. Britain had excellent financing and logistics, but the war with France had a higher priority, so in 1812–13, it adopted a defensive strategy. After the abdication of Napoleon in 1814, the British were able to send veteran armies to the U.S., but by then the Americans had learned how to mobilise and fight. At sea, the powerful Royal Navy blockaded much of the coastline, though it was allowing substantial exports from New England, which was trading with Britain and Canada in defiance of American laws. The blockade devastated American agricultural exports but helped stimulate local factories that replaced goods previously imported. The American strategy of using small gunboats to defend ports was a fiasco, as the British raided the coast at will. The most famous episode was a series of British raids on the shores of Chesapeake Bay , including an attack on Washington, D.C. that resulted in the British burning of the White House , the Capitol, the Navy Yard , and other public buildings, later called the "Burning of Washington." The British power at sea was sufficient to allow the Royal Navy to levy "contributions" on bayside towns in return for not burning them to the ground. The Americans were more successful in ship-to-ship actions, building fast frigates. They sent out several hundred privateers to attack British merchant ships; British commercial interests were damaged, especially in the West Indies . The decisive use of naval power came on the Great Lakes and depended on a contest of building ships. In 1813, the Americans won control of Lake Erie and cut off British and Native American forces to the west from their supplies. Thus, the Americans gained one of their main objectives by breaking a confederation of tribes. Tecumseh , the leader of the tribal confederation, was killed at the Battle of the Thames. While some Natives continued to fight alongside British troops, they subsequently did so only as individual tribes or groups of warriors and where they were directly supplied and armed by British agents. Control of Lake Ontario changed hands several times, with neither side able or willing to take advantage of any temporary superiority. The Americans ultimately gained control of Lake Champlain , and naval victory there forced a large invading British army to turn back in 1814. Once Britain defeated France in 1814, it ended the trade restrictions and impressment of American sailors, thus removing another cause of the war. Both Great Britain and the United States agreed to a peace that left the prewar boundaries intact. After two years of warfare, the major causes of the war had disappeared. Neither side had any reason to continue or any chance of gaining a decisive success which would compel their opponents to cede territory or advantageous peace terms. As a result of this stalemate, the two countries signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. News of the peace treaty took two months to reach the U.S., during which fighting continued. In this interim, the Americans defeated a British invasion army at New Orleans during which the American forces sustained 71 casualties compared with 2,000 British. The British went on to capture Fort Bowyer only to learn the next day of the war's end. The war had the effect of uniting the populations within each country. Canadians celebrated the war as a victory because they avoided conquest. Americans celebrated victory personified in Andrew Jackson . He was the hero of the defence of New Orleans, and in 1828, was elected the 7th President of the United States. Origins of the war On June 18, the United States declared war on Britain. The war had many causes, but at the centre of the conflict was Britain's ongoing war with Napoleon’s France. The British, said Jon Latimer in 2007, had only one goal: "Britain's sole objective throughout the period was the defeat of France."  If America helped France, then America had to be damaged until she stopped, or "Britain was prepared to go to any lengths to deny neutral trade with France." Latimer concludes, "All this British activity seriously angered Americans." Trade tensions The British were engaged in war with the First French Empire and did not wish to allow the Americans to trade with France, regardless of their theoretical neutral rights to do so. As Horsman explains, "If possible, England wished to avoid war with America, but not to the extent of allowing her to hinder the British war effort against France. Moreover… a large section of influential British opinion, both in the government and in the country, thought that America presented a threat to British maritime supremacy." The United States Merchant Marine had come close to doubling between 1802 and 1810. Britain was the largest trading partner, receiving 80% of all U.S. cotton and 50% of all other U.S. exports. The United States Merchant Marine was the largest neutral fleet in the world by a large margin. The British public and press were very resentful of the growing mercantile and commercial competition. The United States' view was that Britain was in violation of a neutral nation's right to trade with any nation it saw fit. Impressment During the Napoleonic Wars, the Royal Navy expanded to 175 ships of the line and 600 ships overall, requiring 140,000 sailors. While the Royal Navy was able to man its ships with volunteers in peacetime, in war, it competed with merchant shipping and privateers for a small pool of experienced sailors and turned to impressment when unable to man ships with volunteers alone. A sizeable number of sailors (estimated to be as many as 11,000 in 1805) in the United States merchant navy were Royal Navy veterans or deserters who had left for better pay and conditions. The Royal Navy went after them by intercepting and searching U.S. merchant ships for deserters. Such actions, especially the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, incensed the Americans. The United States believed that British deserters had a right to become United States citizens. Britain did not recognise naturalised United States citizenship, so in addition to recovering deserters, it considered any United States citizen born British liable for impressment. Exacerbating the situation was the widespread use of forged identity papers by sailors. This made it all the more difficult for the Royal Navy to distinguish Americans from non-Americans and led it to impress some Americans who had never been British. (Some gained freedom on appeal.) American anger at impressment grew when British frigates stationed themselves just outside U.S. harbors in U.S. territorial waters and searched ships for contraband and impressed men in view of U.S. shores. "Free trade and sailors' rights" was a rallying cry for the United States throughout the conflict. Question of United States expansionism American expansion into the Northwest Territory (the modern states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin) was being obstructed by indigenous leaders like Tecumseh, supplied and encouraged by the British. Americans on the frontier demanded that interference be stopped. Before 1940, some historians held that United States expansionism into Canada was also a reason for the war, but the theory lost supporters. The territory in question (western Ontario), had already been largely settled by Americans, and they remained mostly neutral during the war. Some Canadian historians propounded the notion in the early 20th century, and it survives among most Canadians. This view was also shared by members of the British Parliament at the time. Madison and his advisers believed that conquest of Canada would be easy and that economic coercion would force the British to come to terms by cutting off the food supply for their West Indies colonies. Furthermore, possession of Canada would be a valuable bargaining chip. Frontiersmen demanded the seizure of Canada not because they wanted the land, but because the British were thought to be arming the Indians and thereby blocking settlement of the West. As Horsman concluded, "The idea of conquering Canada had been present since at least 1807 as a means of forcing England to change her policy at sea. The conquest of Canada was primarily a means of waging war, not a reason for starting it." Hickey flatly stated, "The desire to annex Canada did not bring on the war." Brown (1964) concluded, "The purpose of the Canadian expedition was to serve negotiation, not to annex Canada." Burt, a leading Canadian scholar, agreed completely, noting that Foster—the British minister to Washington—also rejected the argument that annexation of Canada was a war goal. The majority of the inhabitants of Upper Canada (Ontario) were either exiles from the United States (United Empire Loyalists) or postwar immigrants. The Loyalists were hostile to union with the U.S., while the other settlers seem to have been uninterested. The Canadian colonies were thinly populated and only lightly defended by the British Army. Americans then believed that many in Upper Canada would rise up and greet a United States invading army as liberators, a now-discredited belief. The combination suggested an easy conquest, as former President Thomas Jefferson seemed to believe in 1812: "The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching, and will give us the experience for the attack on Halifax, the next and final expulsion of England from the American continent." The declaration of war was passed by the smallest margin recorded on a war vote in the United States Congress. On May 11, Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was shot and killed by an assassin, resulting in a change of the British government, putting Lord Liverpool in power. Liverpool wanted a more practical relationship with the United States. He issued a repeal of the Orders in Council, but the U.S. was unaware of this, as it took three weeks for the news to cross the Atlantic. Course of the war Although the outbreak of the war had been preceded by years of angry diplomatic dispute, neither side was ready for war when it came. Britain was heavily engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, most of the British Army was engaged in the Peninsular War (in Spain), and the Royal Navy was compelled to blockade most of the coast of Europe. The total number of British regular troops present in Canada in July 1812 was officially stated to be 6,034, supported by Canadian militia. Throughout the war, the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was the Earl of Bathurst. For the first two years of the war, he could spare few troops to reinforce North America and urged the commander in chief in North America (Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost) to maintain a defensive strategy. The naturally cautious Prevost followed these instructions, concentrating on defending Lower Canada at the expense of Upper Canada (which was more vulnerable to American attacks) and allowing few offensive actions. In the final year of the war, large numbers of British soldiers became available after the abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte. Prevost launched an offensive of his own into Upper New York State , but mishandled it and was forced to retreat after the British lost the Battle of Plattsburgh. The United States was not prepared to prosecute a war, for President Madison assumed that the state militias would easily seize Canada and negotiations would follow. In 1812, the regular army consisted of fewer than 12,000 men. Congress authorised the expansion of the army to 35,000 men, but the service was voluntary and unpopular, it offered poor pay, and there were very few trained and experienced officers, at least initially. The militia called in to aid the regulars objected to serving outside their home states, were not amenable to discipline, and performed poorly in the presence of the enemy when outside of their home state. The U.S. had great difficulty financing its war. It had disbanded its national bank, and private bankers in the Northeast were opposed to the war. The early disasters brought about chiefly by American unpreparedness and lack of leadership drove United States Secretary of War William Eustis from office. His successor, John Armstrong, Jr., attempted a coordinated strategy late in 1813 aimed at the capture of Montreal , but was thwarted by logistical difficulties, uncooperative and quarrelsome commanders and ill-trained troops. By 1814, the United States Army's morale and leadership had greatly improved, but the embarrassing Burning of Washington led to Armstrong's dismissal from office in turn. The war ended before the new Secretary of War James Monroe could put any new strategy into effect. American prosecution of the war also suffered from its unpopularity, especially in New England, where antiwar spokesmen were vocal. The failure of New England to provide militia units or financial support was a serious blow. Threats of secession by New England states were loud; Britain immediately exploited these divisions, blockading only southern ports for much of the war and encouraging smuggling. The war was conducted in three theatres of operations: The Atlantic Ocean The Great Lakes and the Canadian frontier The Southern States Atlantic theatre Single-ship actions In 1812, Britain's Royal Navy was the world's largest, with several hundred vessels in commission. Although most of these were involved in blockading the French navy and protecting British trade against French (and Danish) privateers, the Royal Navy nevertheless had 85 vessels in American waters. By contrast, the United States Navy , which was not yet twenty years old, was a frigate navy with only 22 commissioned vessels, though a number of the American frigates were exceptionally large and powerful for their class. Whereas the standard British frigate of the time was rated as a 38 gun ship, with its main battery consisting of 18-pounder guns, the USS Constitution, USS President, and USS United States were rated as 44-gun ships and were capable of carrying 56 guns, with a main battery of 24-pounders. The British strategy was to protect their own merchant shipping to and from Halifax, Canada and the West Indies, and to enforce a blockade of major American ports to restrict American trade. Because of their numerical inferiority, the Americans aimed to cause disruption through hit-and-run tactics, such as the capture of prizes and engaging Royal Navy vessels only under favorable circumstances. Days after the formal declaration of war, however, two small squadrons sailed, including the frigate USS President and the sloop USS Hornet under Commodore John Rodgers, and the frigates USS United States and USS Congress, with the brig USS Argus under Captain Stephen Decatur . These were initially concentrated as one unit under Rodgers, and it was his intention to force the Royal Navy to concentrate its own ships to prevent isolated units being captured by his powerful force. Large numbers of American merchant ships were still returning to the United States, and if the Royal Navy was concentrated, it could not watch all the ports on the American seaboard. Rodgers' strategy worked, in that the Royal Navy concentrated most of its frigates off New York Harbor under Captain Philip Broke and allowed many American ships to reach home. However, his own cruise captured only five small merchant ships, and the Americans never subsequently concentrated more than two or three ships together as a unit. Meanwhile, the USS Constitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull , sailed from Chesapeake Bay on July 12. On July 17, Broke's British squadron gave chase off New York, but the Constitution evaded her pursuers after two days. After briefly calling at Boston to replenish water, on August 19, the Constitution engaged the British frigate HMS Guerriere. After a 35-minute battle, Guerriere had been dismasted and captured and was later burned. Hull returned to Boston with news of this significant victory. On October 25, the USS United States, commanded by Captain Decatur, captured the British frigate HMS Macedonian, which he then carried back to port. At the close of the month, the Constitution sailed south, now under the command of Captain William Bainbridge. On December 29, off Bahia, Brazil , she met the British frigate HMS Java. After a battle lasting three hours, Java struck her colours and was burned after being judged unsalvageable. The USS Constitution, however, was undamaged in the battle and earned the name "Old Ironsides." The successes gained by the three big American frigates forced Britain to construct five 40-gun, 24-pounder heavy frigates and two of its own 50-gun "spar-decked" frigates (HMS Leander and HMS Newcastle) and to razee three old 74-gun ships of the line to convert them to heavy frigates. It was acknowledged by the Royal Navy that there were factors other than greater size and heavier guns. The United States Navy's sloops and brigs had also won several victories over Royal Navy vessels of approximately equal strength. While the American ships had experienced and well-drilled volunteer crews, the enormous size of the overstretched Royal Navy meant that many ships were shorthanded and the average quality of crews suffered, and constant sea duties of those serving in North America interfered with their training and exercises. The capture of the three British frigates stimulated the British to greater exertions. More vessels were deployed on the American seaboard and the blockade tightened. On June 1, 1813, off Boston Harbor , the frigate USS Chesapeake, commanded by Captain James Lawrence, was captured by the British frigate HMS Shannon under Captain Sir Philip Broke. Lawrence was mortally wounded and famously cried out, "Don't give up the ship! Hold on, men!" Although the Chesapeake was only of equal strength to the average British frigate and the crew had mustered together only hours before the battle, the British press reacted with almost hysterical relief that the run of American victories had ended. In January 1813, the American frigate USS Essex, under the command of Captain David Porter, sailed into the Pacific in an attempt to harass British shipping. Many British whaling ships carried letters of marque allowing them to prey on American whalers, and nearly destroyed the industry. The Essex challenged this practice. She inflicted considerable damage on British interests before she was captured off Valparaiso, Chile by the British frigate HMS Phoebe and the sloop HMS Cherub on March 28, 1814. Following their earlier losses, the British Admiralty instituted a new policy that the three American heavy frigates should not be engaged except by a ship of the line or smaller vessels in squadron strength. An example of this was the capture of the USS President by a squadron of four British frigates in January 1815 (although the action was fought on the British side mainly by the HMS Endymion). A month later, however, the USS Constitution managed to engage and capture two smaller British warships, HMS Cyane and HMS Levant, sailing in company. Blockade The blockade of American ports later tightened to the extent that most American merchant ships and naval vessels were confined to port. The American frigates USS United States and USS Macedonian ended the war blockaded and hulked in New London, Connecticut. Some merchant ships were based in Europe or Asia and continued operations. Others, mainly from New England, were issued licenses to trade by Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, commander in chief on the American station in 1813. This allowed Wellington's army in Spain to be supplied with American goods, as well as maintaining the New Englanders' opposition to the war. The blockade nevertheless resulted in American exports decreasing from $130-million in 1807 to $7-million in 1814. The operations of American privateers (some of which belonged to the United States Navy, but most of which were private ventures) were extensive. They continued until the close of the war and were only partially affected by the strict enforcement of convoy by the Royal Navy. An example of the audacity of the American cruisers was the depredations in British home waters carried out by the American sloop USS Argus. It was eventually captured off St. David's Head in Wales by the British brig HMS Pelican on August 14, 1813. A total of 1,554 vessels were claimed captured by all American naval and privateering vessels, 1300 of which were captured by privateers. However, insurer Lloyd's of London reported that only 1,175 British ships were taken, 373 of which were recaptured, for a total loss of 802. As the Royal Navy base that supervised the blockade, the Halifax profited greatly during the war. British privateers based there seized many French and American ships and sold their prizes in Halifax. The war was the last time the British allowed privateering, since the practice was coming to be seen as politically inexpedient and of diminishing value in maintaining its naval supremacy. It was certainly the swan song of Bermuda's privateers, who had returned to the practice with a vengeance after American lawsuits had put a stop to it two decades earlier. The nimble Bermuda sloops captured 298 enemy ships (the total number of captures by all British naval and privateering vessels between the Great Lakes and the West Indies was 1,593). Atlantic coast When the war began, the British naval forces had some difficulty in blockading the entire U.S. coast, and they were also preoccupied in their pursuit of American privateers. The British government, having need of American foodstuffs for its army in Spain, benefited from the willingness of the New Englanders to trade with them, so no blockade of New England was at first attempted. The Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay were declared in a state of blockade on December 26, 1812. This was extended to the coast south of Narragansett by November 1813 and to all of the American coast on May 31, 1814. In the meantime, much illicit trade was carried on by collusive captures arranged between American traders and British officers. American ships were fraudulently transferred to neutral flags. Eventually, the U.S. government was driven to issue orders to stop illicit trading; this put only a further strain on the commerce of the country. The overpowering strength of the British fleet enabled it to occupy the Chesapeake and to attack and destroy numerous docks and harbors. Additionally, commanders of the blockading fleet, based at the Bermuda dockyard, were given instructions to encourage the defection of American slaves by offering freedom, as they did during the Revolutionary War. Thousands of black slaves went over to the Crown with their families and were recruited into the 3rd (Colonial) Battalion of the Royal Marines on occupied Tangier Island, in the Chesapeake. A further company of colonial marines was raised at the Bermuda dockyard, where many freed slaves—men, women, and children—had been given refuge and employment. It was kept as a defensive force in case of an attack. These former slaves fought for Britain throughout the Atlantic campaign, including the attack on Washington, D.C. and the Louisiana Campaign, and most were later re-enlisted into British West India regiments or settled in Trinidad in August 1816, where seven hundred of these ex-marines were granted land (they reportedly organised themselves in villages along the lines of military companies). Many other freed American slaves were recruited directly into existing West Indian regiments or newly created British Army units. A few thousand freed slaves were later settled at Nova Scotia by the British. Maine Maine, then part of Massachusetts, was a base for smuggling and illegal trade between the U.S. and the British. From his base in New Brunswick, in September 1814, Sir John Coape Sherbrooke led 500 British troops in the "Penobscot Expedition". In 26 days, he raided and looted Hampden, Bangor, and Machias, destroying or capturing 17 American ships. He won the Battle of Hampden (losing two killed while the Americans lost one killed) and occupied the village of Castine for the rest of the war. This territory was returned to the United States by the Treaty of Ghent. The British left in April 1815, at which time they took 10,750 pounds obtained from tariff duties at Castine. This money, called the "Castine Fund", was used in the establishment of Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Chesapeake campaign and "The Star-Spangled Banner" The strategic location of the Chesapeake Bay near America's capital made it a prime target for the British. Starting in March 1813, a squadron under Rear Admiral George Cockburn started a blockade of the bay and raided towns along the bay from Norfolk to Havre de Grace. On July 4, 1813, Joshua Barney, a Revolutionary War naval hero, convinced the Navy Department to build the Chesapeake Bay Flotilla, a squadron of twenty barges to defend the Chesapeake Bay. Launched in April 1814, the squadron was quickly cornered in the Patuxent River, and while successful in harassing the Royal Navy, they were powerless to stop the British campaign that ultimately led to the "Burning of Washington." This expedition, led by Cockburn and General Robert Ross, was carried out between August 19 and 29, 1814, as the result of the hardened British policy of 1814 (although British and American commissioners had convened peace negotiations at Ghent in June of that year). As part of this, Admiral Warren had been replaced as commander in chief by Admiral Alexander Cochrane, with reinforcements and orders to coerce the Americans into a favourable peace. Governor-General Sir George Prevost of Canada had written to the Admirals in Bermuda, calling for a retaliation for the American sacking of York (now Toronto ). A force of 2,500 soldiers under General Ross—aboard a Royal Navy task force composed of the HMS Royal Oak, three frigates, three sloops, and ten other vessels—had just arrived in Bermuda. Released from the Peninsular War by British victory, the British intended to use them for diversionary raids along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia. In response to Prevost's request, they decided to employ this force, together with the naval and military units already on the station, to strike at Washington, D.C. On August 24, U.S. Secretary of War John Armstrong insisted that the British would attack Baltimore rather than Washington, even when the British army was obviously on its way to the capital. The inexperienced American militia, which had congregated at Bladensburg, Maryland , to protect the capital, were routed in the Battle of Bladensburg, opening the route to Washington. While Dolley Madison saved valuables from the Presidential Mansion, President James Madison was forced to flee to Virginia . The British commanders ate the supper that had been prepared for the President before they burned the Presidential Mansion; American morale was reduced to an all-time low. The British viewed their actions as retaliation for destructive American raids into Canada, most notably the Americans' burning of York (now Toronto) in 1813. Later that same evening, a furious storm swept into Washington, D.C., sending one or more tornadoes into the city that caused more damage but finally extinguished the fires with torrential rains. The naval yards were set afire at the direction of U.S. officials to prevent the capture of naval ships and supplies. The British left Washington, D.C. as soon as the storm subsided. Having destroyed Washington's public buildings, including the President's Mansion and the Treasury, the British army next moved to capture Baltimore, a busy port and a key base for American privateers. The subsequent Battle of Baltimore began with the British landing at North Point. They were met by American militia. An exchange of fire began, with casualties on both sides. General Ross was killed by an American sniper as he attempted to rally his troops. The sniper himself was killed moments later, and the British withdrew. The British also attempted to attack Baltimore by sea on September 13 but were unable to reduce Fort McHenry, at the entrance to Baltimore Harbor. The Battle of Fort McHenry was no battle at all. British guns had range on American cannon, and stood off out of U.S. range, bombarding the fort, which returned no fire. Their plan was to coordinate with a land force, but from that distance coordination proved impossible, so the British called off the attack and left. All the lights were extinguished in Baltimore the night of the attack, and the fort was bombarded for 25 hours. The only light was given off by the exploding shells over Fort McHenry, which gave proof that the flag was still over the fort. The defence of the fort inspired the American lawyer Francis Scott Key to write a poem that would eventually supply the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner." Great Lakes and Western Territories Invasions of Upper and Lower Canada, 1812 American leaders assumed that Canada could be easily overrun. Former President Jefferson optimistically referred to the conquest of Canada as "a matter of marching." Many Loyalist Americans had migrated to Upper Canada after the Revolutionary War, and it was assumed they would favor the American cause, but they did not. In prewar Upper Canada, General Prevost found himself in the unusual position of purchasing many provisions for his troops from the American side. This peculiar trade persisted throughout the war in spite of an abortive attempt by the American government to curtail it. In Lower Canada, much more populous, support for Britain came from the English elite with strong loyalty to the Empire, and from the French elite, who feared American conquest would destroy the old order by introducing Protestantism and weakening the Catholic Church, Anglicization, republican democracy, and commercial capitalism. The French inhabitants feared the loss to potential American immigrants of a shrinking area of good lands. In 1812–13, British military experience prevailed over inexperienced American commanders. Geography dictated that operations would take place in the west: principally around Lake Erie , near the Niagara River between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario , and near the Saint Lawrence River area and Lake Champlain. This was the focus of the three-pronged attacks by the Americans in 1812. Although cutting the St. Lawrence River through the capture of Montreal and Quebec would have made Britain's hold in North America unsustainable, the United States began operations first in the western frontier because of the general popularity there of a war with the British, who had sold arms to the American natives opposing the settlers. The British scored an important early success when their detachment at St. Joseph Island, on Lake Huron , learned of the declaration of war before the nearby American garrison at the important trading post at Mackinac Island, in Michigan . A scratch force landed on the island on July 17, 1812, and mounted a gun overlooking Fort Mackinac. After the British fired one shot from their gun, the Americans, taken by surprise, surrendered. This early victory encouraged the natives, and large numbers of them moved to help the British at Amherstburg. An American army under the command of William Hull invaded Canada on July 12, with his forces chiefly composed of militiamen. Once on Canadian soil, Hull issued a proclamation ordering all British subjects to surrender, or "the horrors, and calamities of war will stalk before you." He also threatened to kill any British prisoner caught fighting alongside a native. The proclamation helped stiffen resistance to the American attacks. The senior British officer in Upper Canada, Major General Isaac Brock, decided to oppose Hull's forces, and felt that he should make a bold action to calm the settler population in Canada, and to try and convince the aboriginals that were needed to defend the region that Britain was strong. Hull was worried that his army was too weak to achieve its objectives, and engaged in minor skirmishing and felt more vulnerable after the British captured a vessel on Lake Erie carrying his baggage, medical supplies, and important papers. On July 17, without a fight, the American fort on Mackinac Island surrendered after a group of soldiers, fur traders, and native warriors ordered by Brock to capture the settlement deployed a piece of artillery overlooking the post before the fort realised it, which led to its capitulation. This capture secured British fur trade operations in the area and maintained a British connection to the Native American tribes in the Mississippi region, as well as inspiring a sizeable number of Natives of the upper lakes region to combat the United States. Hull, believing after he learned about the capture that the tribes along the Detroit border would rise up and oppose him and perhaps attack Americans on the frontier, on August 8 withdrew most of his army from Canada back to secure Detroit whilst sending a request for reinforcements and ordering the American garrison at Fort Dearborn to abandon the post for fear of an aboriginal attack. Brock advanced on Fort Detroit with 1,200 men. Brock sent a fake correspondence and allowed the letter to be captured by the Americans, saying they required only 5,000 Native warriors to capture Detroit. Hull feared the natives and their threats of torture and scalping. Believing the British had more troops than they did, Hull surrendered at Detroit without a fight on August 16. Fearing British-instigated indigenous attacks on other locations, Hull ordered the evacuation of the inhabitants of Fort Dearborn (Chicago) to Fort Wayne. After initially being granted safe passage, the inhabitants (soldiers as well as civilians) were attacked by Potowatomis on August 15 after traveling two miles (3 km) in what is known as the Fort Dearborn Massacre. The fort was subsequently burned. Brock promptly transferred himself to the eastern end of Lake Erie, where American General Stephen Van Rensselaer was attempting a second invasion. An armistice (arranged by Prevost in the hope the British renunciation of the Orders in Council to which the United States objected might lead to peace) prevented Brock from invading American territory. When the armistice ended, the Americans attempted an attack across the Niagara River on October 13, but suffered a crushing defeat at Queenston Heights. Brock was killed during the battle. While the professionalism of the American forces would improve by the war's end, British leadership suffered after Brock's death. A final attempt in 1812 by American General Henry Dearborn to advance north from Lake Champlain failed when his militia refused to advance beyond American territory. In contrast to the American militia, the Canadian militia performed well. French Canadians , who found the anti-Catholic stance of most of the United States troublesome, and United Empire Loyalists, who had fought for the Crown during the American Revolutionary War, strongly opposed the American invasion. However, a large segment of Upper Canada's population were recent settlers from the United States who had no obvious loyalties to the Crown. Nevertheless, while there were some who sympathised with the invaders, the American forces found strong opposition from men loyal to the Empire. American Northwest, 1813 After Hull's surrender of Detroit, General William Henry Harrison was given command of the U.S. Army of the Northwest. He set out to retake the city, which was now defended by Colonel Henry Procter in conjunction with Tecumseh. A detachment of Harrison's army was defeated at Frenchtown along the River Raisin on January 22, 1813. Procter left the prisoners with an inadequate guard, who were unable to prevent some of his North American aboriginal allies from attacking and killing perhaps as many as sixty Americans, many of whom were Kentucky militiamen. The incident became known as the "River Raisin Massacre." The defeat ended Harrison's campaign against Detroit, and the phrase "Remember the River Raisin!" became a rallying cry for the Americans. In May 1813, Procter and Tecumseh set siege to Fort Meigs in northern Ohio . American reinforcements arriving during the siege were defeated by the natives, but the fort held out. The Indians eventually began to disperse, forcing Procter and Tecumseh to return to Canada. A second offensive against Fort Meigs also failed in July. In an attempt to improve Indian morale, Procter and Tecumseh attempted to storm Fort Stephenson, a small American post on the Sandusky River, only to be repulsed with serious losses, marking the end of the Ohio campaign. On Lake Erie, American commander Captain Oliver Hazard Perry fought the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. His decisive victory ensured American control of the lake, improved American morale after a series of defeats, and compelled the British to fall back from Detroit. This paved the way for General Harrison to launch another invasion of Upper Canada, which culminated in the U.S. victory at the Battle of the Thames on October 5, 1813, in which Tecumseh was killed. Tecumseh's death effectively ended the North American indigenous alliance with the British in the Detroit region. American control of Lake Erie meant the British could no longer provide essential military supplies to their aboriginal allies, who therefore dropped out of the war. The Americans controlled the area for the duration of the war. Niagara frontier, 1813 Because of the difficulties of land communications, control of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River corridor was crucial. When the war began, the British already had a small squadron of warships on Lake Ontario and had the initial advantage. To redress the situation, the Americans established a Navy yard at Sackett's Harbor, New York. Commodore Isaac Chauncey took charge of the large number of sailors and shipwrights sent there from New York; they completed the second warship built there in a mere 45 days. Ultimately, 3000 men worked at the shipyard, building eleven warships and many smaller boats and transports. Having regained the advantage by their rapid building program, Chauncey and Dearborn attacked York (now called Toronto), the capital of Upper Canada, on April 27, 1813. The Battle of York was an American victory, marred by looting and the burning of the Parliament buildings and a library. However, Kingston was strategically more valuable to British supply and communications along the St. Lawrence. Without control of Kingston, the U.S. navy could not effectively control Lake Ontario or sever the British supply line from Lower Canada. On May 27, 1813, an American amphibious force from Lake Ontario assaulted Fort George on the northern end of the Niagara River and captured it without serious losses. The retreating British forces were not pursued, however, until they had largely escaped and organised a counteroffensive against the advancing Americans at the Battle of Stoney Creek on June 5. On June 24, with the help of advance warning by Loyalist Laura Secord, another American force was forced to surrender by a much smaller British and native force at the Battle of Beaver Dams, marking the end of the American offensive into Upper Canada. Meanwhile, Commodore James Lucas Yeo had taken charge of the British ships on the lake and mounted a counterattack, which was nevertheless repulsed at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor. Thereafter, Chauncey's and Yeo's squadrons fought two indecisive actions, neither commander seeking a fight to the finish. Late in 1813, the Americans abandoned the Canadian territory they occupied around Fort George. They set fire to the village of Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) on December 15, 1813, incensing the British and Canadians. Many of the inhabitants were left without shelter, freezing to death in the snow. This led to British retaliation following the Capture of Fort Niagara on December 18, 1813, and similar destruction at Buffalo on December 30, 1813. In 1814, the contest for Lake Ontario turned into a building race. Eventually, by the end of the year, Yeo had constructed the HMS St. Lawrence, a first-rate ship of the line of 112 guns that gave him superiority, but the overall result of the Engagements on Lake Ontario had been an indecisive draw. St. Lawrence and Lower Canada, 1813 The British were potentially most vulnerable over the stretch of the St. Lawrence where it formed the frontier between Upper Canada and the United States. During the early days of the war, there was much illicit commerce across the river, but over the winter of 1812–13, the Americans launched a series of raids from Ogdensburg on the American side of the river, hampering British supply traffic up the river. On February 21, Sir George Prevost passed through Prescott on the opposite bank of the river with reinforcements for Upper Canada. When he left the next day, the reinforcements and local militia attacked. At the Battle of Ogdensburg, the Americans were forced to retire. For the rest of the year, Ogdensburg had no American garrison, and many residents of Ogdensburg resumed visits and trade with Prescott. This British victory removed the last American regular troops from the Upper St. Lawrence frontier and helped secure British communications with Montreal. Late in 1813, after much argument, the Americans made two thrusts against Montreal. The plan eventually agreed upon was for Major General Wade Hampton to march north from Lake Champlain and join a force under General James Wilkinson that would embark in boats and sail from Sackett's Harbor on Lake Ontario and descend the St. Lawrence. Hampton was delayed by bad roads and supply problems and also had an intense dislike of Wilkinson, which limited his desire to support his plan. On October 25, his 4,000-strong force was defeated at the Chateauguay River by Charles de Salaberry's smaller force of French-Canadian Voltigeurs and Mohawks. Wilkinson's force of 8,000 set out on October 17, but was also delayed by bad weather. After learning that Hampton had been checked, Wilkinson heard that a British force under Captain William Mulcaster and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Wanton Morrison was pursuing him, and by November 10, he was forced to land near Morrisburg, about 150 kilometers (90 mi.) from Montreal. On November 11, Wilkinson's rear guard, numbering 2,500, attacked Morrison's force of 800 at Crysler's Farm and was repulsed with heavy losses. After learning that Hampton was unable to renew his advance, Wilkinson retreated to the U.S. and settled into winter quarters. He resigned his command after a failed attack on a British outpost at Lacolle Mills. Niagara and Plattsburgh Campaigns, 1814 By the middle of 1814, American generals, including Major Generals Jacob Brown and Winfield Scott , had drastically improved the fighting abilities and discipline of the army. Their renewed attack on the Niagara peninsula quickly captured Fort Erie. Winfield Scott then gained a victory over an inferior British force at the Battle of Chippawa on July 5. An attempt to advance further ended with a hard-fought but inconclusive battle at Lundy's Lane on July 25. The outnumbered Americans withdrew but withstood a prolonged Siege of Fort Erie. The British suffered heavy casualties in a failed assault and were also weakened by exposure and shortage of supplies in their siege lines. Eventually the British raised the siege, but American Major General George Izard took over command on the Niagara front and followed up only halfheartedly. The Americans themselves lacked provisions, and eventually destroyed the fort and retreated across the Niagara. Meanwhile, following the abdication of Napoleon, 15,000 British troops were sent to North America under four of Wellington’s ablest brigade commanders. Fewer than half were veterans of the Peninsula and the remainder came from garrisons. Along with the troops came instructions for offensives against the United States. British strategy was changing, and like the Americans, the British were seeking advantages for the peace negotiations. Governor-General Sir George Prevost was instructed to launch an invasion into the New York-Vermont region. The army available to him outnumbered the American defenders of Plattsburgh, but control of this town depended on being able to control Lake Champlain. On the lake, the British squadron under Captain George Downie and the Americans under Master Commandant Thomas MacDonough were more evenly matched. On reaching Plattsburgh, Prevost delayed the assault until the arrival of Downie in the hastily completed 36-gun frigate HMS Confiance. Prevost forced Downie into a premature attack, but then unaccountably failed to provide the promised military backing. Downie was killed and his naval force defeated at the naval Battle of Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh Bay on September 11, 1814. The Americans now had control of Lake Champlain; Theodore Roosevelt later termed it "the greatest naval battle of the war." The successful land defence was led by Alexander Macomb. To the astonishment of his senior officers, Prevost then turned back, saying it would be too hazardous to remain on enemy territory after the loss of naval supremacy. Prevost's political and military enemies forced his recall. In London, a naval court-martial of the surviving officers of the Plattsburgh Bay debacle decided that defeat had been caused principally by Prevost’s urging the squadron into premature action and then failing to afford the promised support from the land forces. Prevost died suddenly, just before his own court-martial was to convene. Prevost's reputation sank to a new low, as Canadians claimed that their militia under Brock did the job and he failed. Recently, however, historians have been more kindly, measuring him not against Wellington but against his American foes. They judge Prevost’s preparations for defending the Canadas with limited means to be energetic, well-conceived, and comprehensive; and against the odds, he had achieved the primary objective of preventing an American conquest. American West, 1813–14 Far to the west of where regular British forces were fighting, more than 65 forts were built in the Illinois Territory, mostly by American settlers. Skirmishes between settlers and U.S. soldiers against natives allied to the British occurred throughout the Mississippi River valley during the war. The Sauk were considered the most formidable tribe. Two notable battles fought by the Sauk were the Battle of Cote Sans Dessein, at the mouth of the Osage River in the Missouri Territory, and the Battle of the Sinkhole, near St. Louis. At the beginning of the war, Fort Osage, the westernmost U.S. outpost along the Missouri River, was abandoned. In September 1813, Fort Madison, an American outpost in what is now Iowa, was abandoned after it was attacked and besieged by natives, who had support from the British. This was one of the few battles fought west of the Mississippi. Black Hawk participated in the siege of Fort Madison, which helped to form his reputation as a resourceful Sauk leader. Little of note took place on Lake Huron in 1813, but the American victory on Lake Erie and the recapture of Detroit isolated the British there. During the ensuing winter, a Canadian party under Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall established a new supply line from York to Nottawasaga Bay on Georgian Bay. When he arrived at Fort Mackinac with supplies and reinforcements, he sent an expedition to recapture the trading post of Prairie du Chien in the far west. The Battle of Prairie du Chien ended in a British victory on July 20, 1814. Earlier in July, the Americans sent a force of five vessels from Detroit to recapture Mackinac. A mixed force of regulars and volunteers from the militia landed on the island on August 4. They did not attempt to achieve surprise, and at the brief Battle of Mackinac Island, they were ambushed by natives and forced to re-embark. The Americans discovered the new base at Nottawasaga Bay, and on August 13, they destroyed its fortifications and a schooner that they found there. They then returned to Detroit, leaving two gunboats to blockade Mackinac. On September 4, these gunboats were taken unawares and captured by enemy boarding parties from canoes and small boats. This Engagement on Lake Huron left Mackinac under British control. The British garrison at Prairie du Chien also fought off another attack by Major Zachary Taylor . In this distant theatre, the British retained the upper hand until the end of the war, through the allegiance of several indigenous tribes that received British gifts and arms. In 1814 retreating U.S. troops attempted to make a stand at Fort Johnson, but the fort was soon abandoned, along with most of the upper Mississippi valley. At the conclusion of peace, Mackinac and other captured territory was returned to the United States. Fighting between Americans and the Sauk and other indigenous tribes continued through 1817, well after the war ended in the east. Creek War In March 1814, Jackson led a force of Tennessee militia, Choctaw , Cherokee warriors, and U.S. regulars southward to attack the Creek tribes, led by Chief Menawa. On March 26, Jackson and General John Coffee decisively defeated the Creek at Horseshoe Bend, killing 800 of 1,000 Creeks at a cost of 49 killed and 154 wounded out of approximately 2,000 American and Cherokee forces. Jackson pursued the surviving Creek until they surrendered. Most historians consider the Creek War as part of the War of 1812, because the British supported them. The Treaty of Ghent Factors leading to the peace negotiations By 1814, both sides, weary of a costly war that seemingly offered nothing but stalemate, were ready to grope their way to a settlement. It is difficult to measure accurately the costs of the American war to Britain, because they are bound up in general expenditure on the Napoleonic War in Europe. But an estimate may be made based on the increased borrowing undertaken during the period, with the American war as a whole adding some £25 million to the national debt. In the U.S., the cost was $105 million, although because the British pound was worth considerably more than the dollar, the costs of the war to both sides were roughly equal. The national debt rose from $45 million in 1812 to $127 million by the end of 1815, although through discounts and paper money, the government received only $34 million worth of specie. By this time, the British blockade of U.S. ports was having a detrimental effect on the American economy. Licensed flour exports, which had been close to a million barrels in 1812 and 1813, fell to 5,000 in 1814. By this time, insurance rates on Boston shipping had reached 75%, coastal shipping was at a complete standstill, and New England was considering secession. Exports and imports fell dramatically as American shipping engaged in foreign trade dropped from 948,000 tons in 1811 to just 60,000 tons by 1814. But although American privateers found chances of success much reduced, with most British merchantmen now sailing in convoy, privateering continued to prove troublesome to the British. With insurance rates between Liverpool, England and Halifax, Nova Scotia rising to 30%, the Morning Chronicle complained that with American privateers operating around the British Isles, "We have been insulted with impunity." The British could not fully celebrate a great victory in Europe until there was peace in North America, and more pertinently, taxes could not come down until such time. Landowners particularly balked at continued high taxation; both they and the shipping interests urged the government to secure peace. Negotiations and peace On December 24, 1814, diplomats from the two countries, meeting in Ghent , United Kingdom of the Netherlands (now in Belgium ), signed the Treaty of Ghent. This was ratified by the Americans on February 16, 1815. Britain, which had forces in uninhabited areas near Lake Superior and Lake Michigan and two towns in Maine, demanded the ceding of large areas, plus turning most of the Midwest into a neutral zone for Indians. American public opinion was outraged when Madison published the demands; even the Federalists were now willing to fight on. The British were planning three invasions. One force burned Washington but failed to capture Baltimore, and sailed away when its commander was killed. In New York, 10,000 British veterans were marching south until a decisive defeat at the Battle of Plattsburgh forced them back to Canada. Nothing was known of the fate of the third large invasion force aimed at capturing New Orleans and southwest. The Prime Minister wanted the Duke of Wellington to command in Canada and finally win the war; Wellington said no, because the war was a military stalemate and should be promptly ended: I think you have no right, from the state of war, to demand any concession of territory from America ... You have not been able to carry it into the enemy's territory, notwithstanding your military success and now undoubted military superiority, and have not even cleared your own territory on the point of attack. You can not on any principle of equality in negotiation claim a cessation of territory except in exchange for other advantages which you have in your power ... Then if this reasoning be true, why stipulate for the uti possidetis? You can get no territory: indeed, the state of your military operations, however creditable, does not entitle you to demand any. With a rift opening between Britain and Russia at the Congress of Vienna and little chance of improving the military situation in North America, Britain was prepared to end the war promptly. In concluding the war, the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool, was taking into account domestic opposition to continued taxation, especially among Liverpool and Bristol merchants—keen to get back to doing business with America—and there was nothing to gain from prolonged warfare. Aftermath The Battle of New Orleans and other post-treaty fighting Unaware of the peace, Andrew Jackson's forces moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in late 1814 to defend against a large-scale British invasion. Jackson defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, At the end of the day, the British had a little over 2,000 casualties: 278 dead (including three senior generals Pakenham, Gibbs, and Major General Keane), 1186 wounded, and 484 captured or missing. (ref: Brooks, Charles B p.252, Reilly, Robin p.297) The Americans had 71 casualties: 13 dead, 39 wounded, and 19 missing. It was hailed as a great victory for the U.S., making Jackson a national hero and eventually propelling him to the presidency. The British gave up on New Orleans but moved to attack the Gulf Coast port of Mobile, Alabama. In one of the last military actions of the war, 1,000 British troops won the Battle of Fort Bowyer on February 12, 1815. When news of peace arrived the next day, they abandoned the fort and sailed home. In May 1815, a band of British-allied Sauk, unaware that the war had ended months ago, attacked a small band of U.S. soldiers northwest of St. Louis. Intermittent fighting, primarily with the Sauk, continued in the Missouri Territory well into 1817, although it is unknown if the Sauk were acting on their own or on behalf of Great Britain. Several uncontacted isolated warships continued fighting well into 1815 and were the last American forces to take offensive action against the British. Losses British losses in the war were about 1,600 killed in action and 3,679 wounded; 3,321 British died from disease. American losses were 2,260 killed in action and 4,505 wounded. While the number of Americans who died from disease is not known, it is estimated to have been about 17,000. These figures do not include deaths among American or Canadian militia forces or losses among native tribes. In addition, thousands of American slaves escaped to the British because of their offer of freedom, or they just fled in the chaos of war. The British settled a few thousand of the newly freed slaves in Nova Scotia. The Americans protested that the failure to return the slaves violated the Treaty of Ghent; after arbitration by the Czar of Russia the British paid $1,204,960, in damages to Washington, which reimbursed the slaveowners. Terms of the Treaty of Ghent The war was ended by the Treaty of Ghent, signed on December 24, 1814 and taking effect February 18, 1815. The terms stated that fighting between the United States and Britain would cease, all conquered territory was to be returned to the prewar claimant, the Americans were to gain fishing rights in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence , and that both the United States and Britain agreed to recognise the prewar boundary between Canada and the United States. The Treaty of Ghent, which was promptly ratified by the Senate in 1815, ignored the grievances that led to war. American complaints of Indian raids, impressment and blockades had ended when Britain's war with France (apparently) ended, and were not mentioned in the treaty. The treaty proved to be merely an expedient to end the fighting. Mobile and parts of western Florida remained permanently in American possession, despite objections by Spain. Thus, the war ended with no significant territorial losses for either side. Consequences Neither side lost any territory, nor were the original points of contention addressed by the treaty that ended it—and yet it changed much between the United States of America and Britain. The Treaty of Ghent established the status quo ante bellum; that is, there were no territorial changes made by either side. The issue of impressment was made moot when the Royal Navy stopped impressment after the defeat of Napoleon. Excepting occasional border disputes and the circumstances of the American Civil War , relations between the United States and Britain remained generally peaceful for the rest of the nineteenth century, and the two countries became close allies in the twentieth century. Border adjustments between the United States and British North America were made in the Treaty of 1818. A border dispute along the Maine -New Brunswick border was settled by the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty after the bloodless Aroostook War, and the border in the Oregon Territory was settled by splitting the disputed area in half by the 1846 Oregon Treaty. Yet, according to Winston Churchill , "The lessons of the war were taken to heart. Anti-American sentiment in Britain ran high for several years, but the United States was never again refused proper treatment as an independent power." United States The U.S. ended the aboriginal threat on its western and southern borders. The nation also gained a psychological sense of complete independence as people celebrated their "second war of independence." Nationalism soared after the victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The opposition Federalist Party collapsed, and the Era of Good Feelings ensued. The U.S. did make one minor territorial gain during the war, though not at Britain's expense, when it captured Mobile, Alabama from Spain. The United States no longer questioned the need for a strong Navy and indeed completed three new 74-gun ships of the line and two new 44-gun frigates shortly after the end of the war. (Another frigate had been destroyed to prevent it being captured on the stocks). In 1816, the U.S. Congress passed into law an "Act for the gradual increase of the Navy" at a cost of $1,000,000 a year for eight years, authorizing nine ships of the line and 12 heavy frigates. The Captains and Commodores of the U.S. Navy became the heroes of their generation in the United States. Decorated plates and pitchers of Decatur, Hull, Bainbridge, Lawrence, Perry, and Macdonough were made in Staffordshire, England, and found a ready market in the United States. Three of the war heroes used their celebrity to win national office: Andrew Jackson (elected President in 1828 and 1832), Richard Mentor Johnson (elected Vice President in 1836), and William Henry Harrison (elected President in 1840). New England states became increasingly frustrated over how the war was being conducted and how the conflict was affecting them. They complained that the United States government was not investing enough in the states' defences both militarily and financially and that the states should have more control over their militia. The increased taxes, the British blockade, and the occupation of some of New England by enemy forces also agitated public opinion in the states. As a result, at the Hartford Convention (December 1814–January 1815) held in Connecticut , New England representatives asked for New England to have its states' powers fully restored. Nevertheless, a common misconception propagated by newspapers of the time was that the New England representatives wanted to secede from the Union and make a separate peace with the British. This view is not supported by what actually happened at the Convention. Slaveholders primarily in the South suffered considerable loss of property as tens of thousands of slaves escaped to British lines or ships for freedom, despite the difficulties. The planters' complacency about slave contentment was shocked by their seeing slaves who would risk so much to be free. Today, American popular memory includes the British capture and destruction of the U.S. Presidential Mansion in August 1814, which necessitated its extensive renovation. From this event has arisen the tradition that the building's new white paint inspired a popular new nickname, the White House. However, the tale appears apocryphal; the name "White House" is actually first attested in 1811. Another memory is the successful American defence of Fort McHenry in September 1814, which inspired the lyrics of the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. British North America (Canada) The War of 1812 was seen by Loyalists in British North America (which formed the Dominion of Canada in 1867) as a victory, as they had successfully defended their borders from an American takeover. The outcome gave Empire-oriented Canadians confidence and, together with the postwar "militia myth" that the civilian militia had been primarily responsible rather than the British regulars, was used to stimulate a new sense of Canadian nationalism. A long-term implication of the militia myth that was false (but remained popular in the Canadian public at least until World War I ) was that Canada did not need a regular professional army. The U.S. Army had done poorly, on the whole, in several attempts to invade Canada, and the Canadians had shown that they would fight bravely to defend their country. But the British did not doubt that the thinly populated territory would be vulnerable in a third war. "We cannot keep Canada if the Americans declare war against us again," Admiral Sir David Milne wrote to a correspondent in 1817. The Battle of York demonstrated the vulnerability of Upper and Lower Canada. In the 1820s, work began on La Citadelle at Quebec City as a defence against the United States; the fort remains an operational base of the Canadian Forces. Additionally, work began on the Halifax citadel to defend the port against American attacks. This fort remained in operation through World War II. In the 1830s, the Rideau Canal was built to provide a secure waterway from Montreal to Lake Ontario, avoiding the narrows of the St. Lawrence River, where ships could be vulnerable to American cannon fire. To defend the western end of the canal, the British also built Fort Henry at Kingston, which remained operational until 1891. Aboriginals The Native Americans allied to Great Britain lost their cause. The British proposal to create a "neutral" aboriginal zone in the American west was rejected at the Ghent peace conference and never resurfaced. In the decade after 1815, many Americans assumed that the British continued to conspire with their former native allies in an attempt to forestall U.S. hegemony in the Great Lakes region. Such perceptions were faulty. After the Treaty of Ghent, the natives became an undesirable burden to British policymakers who now looked to the United States for markets and raw materials. British agents in the field continued to meet regularly with their former aboriginal partners, but they did not supply arms or encouragement for aboriginal campaigns to stop American expansionism in the Midwest. Abandoned by their powerful sponsor, Great Lakes-area natives ultimately migrated or reached accommodations with the Americans. In the Southwest, Indian resistance had been crushed by General Andrew Jackson; as President (1829-37), Jackson systematically removed the major tribes to reservations west of the Mississippi. Bermuda Bermuda had been largely left to the defences of its own militia and privateers prior to U.S. independence, but the Royal Navy had begun buying up land and operating from there in 1795, as its location was a useful substitute for the lost U.S. ports. It originally was intended to be the winter headquarters of the North American Squadron, but the war saw it rise to a new prominence. As construction work progressed through the first half of the century, Bermuda became the permanent naval headquarters in Western waters, housing the Admiralty and serving as a base and dockyard. The military garrison was built up to protect the naval establishment, heavily fortifying the archipelago that came to be described as the "Gibraltar of the West." Defence infrastructure would remain the central leg of Bermuda's economy until after World War II . Britain The war was scarcely noticed at the time and is barely remembered in Britain because it was overshadowed by the far-larger conflict against the French Empire under Napoleon. Britain's goals of impressing seamen and blocking trade with France had been achieved and were no longer needed. In the early years of the 19th century, and up until the 20th century, the Royal Navy was the dominant nautical power in the world. It used its overwhelming strength to cripple American maritime trade and launch raids on the American coast. However, the Royal Navy was acutely conscious that the United States Navy had won most of the single-ship duels during the war. The causes of the losses were many, but among those were the heavier broadside of the American 44-gun frigates and the fact that the large American crews were hand-picked from among the approximately 55,000 unemployed merchant seamen in American harbors. The United States Navy had 14 frigates and smaller ships to crew at the start of the war, while Britain maintained 85 ships in North American waters alone. The crews of the British fleet, which numbered some 140,000 men, were rounded out with impressed ordinary seamen and landsmen. In an order to his ships, Admiral Warren ordered that less attention be paid to spit and polish and more to gunnery practice. It is notable that the well-trained gunnery of HMS Shannon allowed her victory over the untrained crew of the USS Chesapeake. (Wikipedia)

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Which celebrity has been named as the replacement for Paula Abduhl on American Idol?

Ellen DeGeneres Replacing Paula Abdul on <em>Idol</em> POLL: What Do You Think of Ellen on Idol? Two Jobs “I’m going to have a day job and a night job,” DeGeneres said at her talk show taping Wednesday, assuring her audience that The Ellen DeGeneres Show will continue. “This is so exciting for me.” Abdul abruptly announced in August, just before the start of American Idol‘s ninth season, that with “sadness in my heart” she was leaving the highly rated show hosted by Ryan Seacrest. In the taping for Thursday’s Ellen DeGeneres Show, DeGeneres said the deal had been in the works for the last couple of weeks. “I’ve been dying to tell everyone,” she says. “It’s just been so hard to keep it a secret and we just finally got the OK and I’m so excited. It is going to be so much fun.” PHOTOS: Ellen & Portia’s Wedding Album The People’s Voice She said she’s been a longtime fan of the show – “I have not missed one episode” – and she plans to serve as the voice of the regular audience member. “Hopefully I’m the people’s point of view because I’m just like you,” DeGeneres says. “I sit at home and I watch it. I’m not looking at it in a critical way from the producer’s mind. I’m looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person. The next season of American Idol begins in January. In the statement released by Fox, Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller says, “Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel.” Show Full Article

Ellen DeGeneres

It is generally accepted that the game of golf originated in what country?

Ellen DeGeneres is new Idol judge - Boston.com Ellen DeGeneres is new Idol judge Ellen DeGeneres is new Idol judge BANG Showbiz / September 10, 2009 E-mail this article Text size – + Ellen DeGeneres has been named the new judge of 'American Idol'. The talk show host is taking Paula Abdul's spot on the panel of the TV talent show, joining Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. She said: "I'm going to have a day job and a night job. This is so exciting for me." Ellen, 51, insists she will be championing the views of the public because she doesn't have a musical background like the other judges. The former stand-up comic said: "Hopefully, I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you, I sit at home and I watch it. "I'm not looking at it in a critical way from the producer's mind. I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person." Ellen will take her place on the panel after the audition rounds, where Paula's role was filled by a number of celebrity judges including Shania Twain, Victoria Beckham and Mary J. Blige. Former pop star and choreographer Paula suddenly left the show in August, shortly before the ninth series began filming, for reasons which are still unclear. Ellen - who is married to actress Portia de Rossi - has been in talks about her new role over the last few weeks, and admits she struggled to keep it under wraps. She added: "I've been dying to tell everyone. It's just been so hard to keep it a secret and we just finally got the OK and I'm so excited. It is going to be so much fun." LOG IN TO COMMENT

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Name the book and the author of this 1895 classic: 'The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting'

Books Books Enjoy food history, discover tasty recipes, find nutrition tips, learn inner peace through food, tap into your creativity or read inspiring biographies. Historic Towns & Specialty Shopping Click here for FREE vintage classic books. Featured Event Day Trips to St. Louis, Mo. Throughout the Saint Louis area there are fantastic shops. Spend a day or a weekend in St. Louis. Centuries Past Antiques , 104 Rear S. Main St., St. Charles, MO. (636-946-1919), Antique Mall of Creve Coeur , 1275 Castillon Arcade, Fee Fee & Olive St. Rd., Creve Coeur, MO (314-434-6566), Tin Roof Antiques , 2201 McCausland, St. Louis, MO (314-647-1049), Treasure Aisles Antique Mall , 2317 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, MO (314-647-6875), The Green Shag Market , 5733 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO (314-646-8687), General Grant Antique & D�cor Mall , 8400 Watson Rd., St. Louis, MO (314-843-3535), Chesterfield Antique Mall , 16635 Old Chesterfield Rd., Chesterfield, MO (636-778-0931), Time Machine Antique Mall , 190 Mid Rivers Center, St. Peters, MO 63376 (636-970-0190)       Featured Shop Visit the Chesterfield Antique Mall, 16635 Old Chesterfield Rd., Chesterfield, MO (636-778-0931). Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sun. 11 - 5 p.m. When you visit, you'll find a nice collection of antiques, painted furniture, home decor, jewelry, bath and body items, etc... Our goal is to give our customers the opportunity to find a nice mix of both old and new items and ultimately find their own hidden treasure! Click here for more information and a map. **************** The Asheford Program is an internationally recognized, professional-level "Profit & Pleasure" Course on the study of antiques, collectibles and appraising. Click here for more information.     Add FUN to your life with creative and entertaining ideas. Learn to relax and de-stress. Laugh. Love. Live. Click on the links below to read or download the book.   By Jonathan Swift   In a little time 1 felt something alive moving on my left leg, which advancing gently forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when bending my eyes downward as much as I could, 1 perceived it to be a human creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back. In the mean time, I felt at least forty mote of the same kind (as 1 conjectured) following the first I was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all ran back in a fright: and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground. Click here to read The History of My Pets 1853 by Grace Greenwood.   About the queerest pet that I ever had was a young hawk. My brother Rums, who was a great sportsman, brought him home to me one night in spring. He had shot the mother-hawk, and found this young half-fledged one in the nest. I received the poor orphan with joy, for he was too small for me to feel any fear of him, though his family had long borne rather a bad name. by Charlotte Bronte.   Jane Eyrr (originally published as Jane Eyre: An Autobiography) is a novel by English writer, Charlotte Bronte. It was published on 16 October 1847, in London, England, under the pen name "Currer Bell." The first American edition was published the following year in New York. Jane Eyre follows the emotions and experiences of its heroine including her growth to adulthood and her love for Mr. Rochester. The Mummy! 1828 By Mrs. Jane Loudon "In the year 2126, England enjoyed peace and tranquillity under the absolute dominion of a female sovereign. Numerous changes had taken place for some centuries in the political state of the country, and several forms of government had been successively adopted and destroyed, till, as is generally the case after violent revolutions, they all settled down into an absolute monarchy." By William Jacob Holland   I flatter myself that I have possessed peculiar facilities for the successful accomplishment of the undertaking I have proposed to myself, because of the possession of what is admitted to be undoubtedly the largest and most perfect collection of the butterflies of North America in existence, containing the types of W. H. Edwards, and many of those of other authors. By Richard Cobbold   In the family of the Cobbolds, at Ipswich, has existed for many years, a merry and intellectual party, in which, the lively dance kept up with good humour, was only surpassed in the introduction of such proofs of genius as tended to enliven the intellect, as well as to engage the attention. By Pamphilius (pseudonym) 1869   . The author does not lecture his pupils, but endeavours to entice them into the good path which shall lead them to honour and respect." * * * "Kindness and good feeling run like veins of gold through every story." * * * "Every page is studded with useful and genial hints and encouraging advice to young men." * * * "' MY NEWYEAR'S GIFT' must prove a boon to the rising generation, and is certainly ONE OF THE BEST 'GIFTS' THAT COULD BE PRESENTED BY A FATHER TO HIS SON, OR A TEACHER TO HIS PUPIL, OR A GUARDIAN TO HIS WARD, "A NEW-YEAR'S GIFT." Tact, Push, Principle 1882 by William Makepeace Thayer   OUT of the Three Million young men in our country on whom the burden of a nation's life will rest, thirty years hence, and to whom we are to look for our future presidents, governors, senators, judges, lawyers, physicians, clergymen, merchants, and mechanics, how many will achieve success? How many will make a failure of life? The destiny of the nation is in their hands. How can they become "men of mark" to bear its burdens? The following pages will seek to give some answer to these questions.   Our Home Pets 1894 By Olive Thorne Miller Harriet Mann Miller (1831�1918) was a naturalist, ornithologist and children's writer. She became an author who sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Olive Thorne Miller. In addition to writing on birds and their behavior, she contributed to the journal of the Audubon Society   By Arthur Conan Doyle   Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh Medical School. A London-based "consulting detective" whose abilities border on the fantastic, Holmes is known for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science to solve difficult cases. Holmes, who first appeared in print in 1887, was featured in four novels and 56 short stories. Click here for read �Missouri As It Is 1867� by Nathan Howe Parker       The present times are the beginning of a fresh chapter in the history of Missouri. The tide of intelligent, industrious, and earnest men, the rapid inauguration of public improvements and private enterprises upon a scale heretofore unknown, the employment of skill and capital in mining and manufacturing, the transformation of thousands of acres of the virgin soil to cultivated farms, and the rapidly growing villages and creation of new business centers, give us every reason to date the opening of the new epoch in the development of the resources of Missouri from the close of the war. by Kate Douglas Wiggin        THE old stage coach was rumbling along the dusty road that runs from Maplewood to Riverboro. The day was as warm as midsummer, though it was only the middle of May, and Mr. Jeremiah Cobb was favoring the horses as much as possible, yet never losing sight of the fact that he carried the mail. The hills were many, and the reins lay loosely in his hands as he lolled back in his seat and extended one foot and leg luxuriously over the dashboard. His brimmed hat of worn felt was well pulled over his eyes, and he revolved a quid of tobacco in his left cheek.    �It was to soothe a mother�s heartbreak that I came in the saddest hours of her life . . . � Born two weeks after his father�s death, Georg Ebers was his mother�s �comfort child.� It was reported that he actually laughed on the third day of his life and that he embodied a �precocious cheerfulness.�      From a fatherless child to renowned Egyptologist and historical romance author, Georg tackled life�s challenges with fortitude. By John Codman   I Have a favorite medical system, which I shall style Equestrianopathy. It is vastly superior to Allopathy, Homoeopathy, Electropathy or pathy of any other kind. "When pain and anguish wring the brow," whether it comes from mental or physical depression, too much exercise of brain or stomach, dissipation of society or confinement in furnace-heated hotels or offices of the city, I resort to my remedy.   Click here to read �New Guide to Health� by Samuel Thomson 1825.   Samuel Thomson (9 February 1769 � 5 October 1843) was a self-taught American herbalist and botanist, best known as the founder of the alternative system of medicine known as "Thomsonian Medicine", which enjoyed wide popularity in the United States during the 19th century.   By Ella Cheever Thayer 1880        Ella Cheever Thayer (September 14, 1849 � 1925) was a playwright and novelist. A former telegraph operator at the Brunswick Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, who used her experience on the telegraph as the basis for a book ("Wired Love, A Romance of Dots and Dashes"was a bestseller for 10 years. She was a playwright, writing "The Lords of Creation" in 1883, it was one of the first suffragette plays.She also wrote "Amber, a Daughter of Bohemia"which was a drama in 5 acts in 1883.She also wrote short stories for magazines including "The Forgotten Past" in Argosy (magazine) (January, 1897). She was a resident of Saugus, Massachusetts. Click here to read �Treasure Island� by Robert Louis Stevenson.   Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (13 November 1850 � 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. His most famous works are Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. A literary celebrity during his lifetime, Stevenson now ranks among the 26 most translated authors in the world. His works have been admired by many other writers, including Jorge Luis Borges, Bertolt Brecht, Marcel Proust, Arthur Conan Doyle, Henry James, Cesare Pavese, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, Vladimir Nabokov,J. M. Barrie, and G. K. Chesterton, who said of him that he "seemed to pick the right word up on the point of his pen, like a man playing spillikins." Click here to listen to his music.   Chancellor "Chauncey" Olcott (July 21, 1858 � March 18, 1932) was an American stage actor, songwriter and singer of Irish descent born in Buffalo, New York. Lillian Russell played a major role in helping make him a Broadway star. Amongst his songwriting accomplishments, Olcott wrote and composed the song "My Wild Irish Rose" for his production of A Romance of Athlone in 1899. Olcott also wrote the lyrics to "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" for his production of The Isle O' Dreams in 1912. He retired to Monte Carlo and died there of Pernicious anemia in 1932. His body was brought home and interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx. His life story was told in the 1947 Warner Bros. motion picture My Wild Irish Rose starring Dennis Morgan as Olcott. In 1970, Olcott was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.     Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (21 November 1863 � 12 May 1944) was a British writer who published under the pen name of Q. He is primarily remembered for the monumental Oxford Book Of English Verse 1250�1900 (later extended to 1918), and for his literary criticism. He guided the taste of many who never met him, including American writer Helene Hanff, author of 84, Charing Cross Road and its sequel, Q's Legacy;[1] and the fictional Horace Rumpole, via John Mortimer, his literary amanuensis. In 1887, while he was at Oxford, he published Dead Man's Rock, a romance in the vein of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, and he followed this up with Troy Town (1888), a comic novel set in a fictionalised version of Fowey, and The Splendid Spur (1889). Quiller-Couch was well known for his story "The Rollcall of the Reef", based on the wreck of HMS Primrose in 1809 on the Cornish coast. He published in 1896 a series of critical articles, Adventures in Criticism, and in 1898 he completed Robert Louis Stevenson�s unfinished novel, St. Ives. Click here to read Cooking & Castle Building by Emma Pika Ewing 1883   Mrs. Emma Pike Ewing was an educator, lecturer and author. She was born Broome County, New York in July 1838. She taught and lectured throughout the United States and Canada. She is the author of �The Art of Cookery.� The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane 1896   A Civil War Novel = Chapter 1 - The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. As the landscape changed from brown to green, the army awakened, and began to tremble with eagerness at the noise of rumors. It cast its eyes upon the roads, which were growing from long troughs of liquid mud to proper thoroughfares. A river, amber tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become of a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile campfires set in the low brows of distant hills. Click here to listen Cliff �Ukulele Ike� Edwards �A Song of Old Hawaii�    Clifton A. Edwards (June 14, 1895 � July 17, 1971) � known as "Ukelele Ike" � was an American singer and voice actor who enjoyed considerable popularity in the 1920s and early '30s, specializing in jazzy renditions of pop standards and novelty tunes. He had a number-one hit with "Singin' In The Rain" in 1929. He also did voices for animated cartoons later in his career, and is best known as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Walt Disney's Pinocchio (1940). Click here to read �Dogs� by George Frederick Pardon 1857.   Prom a child I have been fond of dogs. They were among my earliest companions, and I claim them as my latest and truest friends. Most men pride themselves on their knowledge of horses and dogs, and an acquaintance with their habits and peculiarities stands, with many, in the place of a liberal education. But of all creatures the dog alone seems capable of ministering to our wants without servility, of receiving reproof without complaint, of displaying for both rich and poor an equal ardour of friendship, and of following us to our graves with real and unselfish regret. In nearly all parts of the world the dog is the servant and friend of man; a collection of anecdotes, therefore, concerning this faithful animal cannot but prove interesting. Click here to read Memorial Day oration at Jefferson Barracks May 30, 1870 by General I.F. Shepard.   "Ladies And Gentlemen, Fellow-Citizens And Surviving Comrades: Another year has brought us to these consecrated grounds, again to pay our tributes of love and reverence to departed heroes who sleep peacefully about us beneath these mounds and monuments. The sighing breezes of this beautiful spring-time, and the rich-voiced utterance of tender harmonies, swelling in varied symphony through the lofty foliage of these native forests, have a requiem cadence more appropriate and humanizing than muffled drums and wailing trumpets, when pomp and circumstance wait upon the biers of those who go to dusty death from places of power and from the ranks of mere worldly grandeur." History of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"   "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of North American baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. The song (chorus only) is traditionally sung during the middle of seventh inning of a baseball game. Fans are generally encouraged to sing along, and at some ballparks, the words "home team" are replaced with the team name, as is the case with the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers and several other Major League Baseball teams. Jack Norworth, while riding a subway train, was inspired by a sign that said "Baseball Today � Polo Grounds". In the song, Katie's (and later Nelly's) beau calls to ask her out to see a show. She accepts the date, but only if her date will take her out to the baseball game. The words were set to music by Albert Von Tilzer. (Norworth and Von Tilzer finally saw their first Major League Baseball games 32 and 20 years later, respectively.) The song was first sung by Norworth's then-wife Nora Bayes and popularized by many other vaudeville acts. It was played at a ballpark for the first known time in 1934, at a high-school game in Los Angeles, and researchers think it made its debut at a major-league park later that year. Norworth wrote an alternative version of the song in 1927. (Norworth and Bayes were famous for writing and performing such smash hits as "Shine On, Harvest Moon".) With the sale of so many records, sheet music, and piano rolls, the song became one of the most popular hits of 1908. The Haydn Quartet singing group, led by popular tenor Harry MacDonough, recorded a successful version on Victor Records. The most famous recording of the song was credited to "Billy Murray and the Haydn Quartet", even though Murray did not sing on it. The confusion, nonetheless, is so pervasive that, when "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America as one of the 365 top "Songs of the Century", the song was credited to Billy Murray, implying his recording of it as having received the most votes among songs from the first decade. The first recorded version was by Edward Meeker. Meeker's recording was selected by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Annette Hanshaw, 1920s American Jazz Singer     Catherine Annette Hanshaw (October 18, 1901 � March 13, 1985) was an American Jazz Age singer. Her singing style was relaxed and suited to the new jazz-influenced pop music of the late 1920s. Although she had a low opinion of her own singing, she continued to have fans because she combined the voice of an ingenue with the spirit of a flapper. Hanshaw was known as "The Personality Girl," and her trademark was saying "That's all" in a cheery voice at the end of many of her records. Between September 1926 and February 1934, she recorded prolifically. From 1926 to 1928 she recorded for Pathe (her sides were released on both the Pathe and Perfect labels). Starting in June 1928, she recorded for Columbia; most of these were issued on their dime store labels Harmony, Diva, Clarion and Velvet Tone. A handful were also released on their regular price Columbia and OKeh. Although most were released under her own name, she was renamed Gay Ellis (for sentimental numbers) and Dot Dare or Patsy Young (for her Helen Kane impersonations). She recorded under a number of other pseudonyms, which included Ethel Bingham, Marion Lee, Janet Shaw, and Lelia Sandford. Starting in August 1932, she began recording for the ARC with her recordings issued on their Melotone, Perfect, Conqueror, Oriole and Romeo. Her final session, February 3, 1934, was placed on ARC's Vocalion label, Hanshaw made her one and only appearance on film in the 1933 Paramount short Captain Henry's Radio Show, "a picturization" of the popular Thursday evening radio program Maxwell House Show Boat, in which she starred from 1932 to 1934. Having grown tired of show business, in the late 1930s Hanshaw retired and settled into married life with her husband, Path� Records executive Herman "Wally" Rose. Later in life, in a would-be comeback, she recorded two demo records, but they were never released. She died of cancer in 1985 at New York Hospital, aged 83, after a long illness; she was living in Manhattan at that time. Collections of Hanshaw's recordings were released on Audio CD in 1999 by Sensation Records. Another revival of interest occurred in 2008 with the use of Hanshaw's music throughout the full-length indie animated feature Sita Sings the Blues, which retells the Indian epic poem the Ramayana from Sita's perspective by setting scenes from it to performances by Hanshaw.[5] More recently, her 1929 song "Daddy Won't You Please Come Home" was featured in the video game Bioshock 2 in 2010.   By Brink, McDonough & Co.   It is the aim of this work to collect and preserve in enduring and popular form some of the facts of the early settlement and subsequent growth of a great county of a grand State. The families whose ancestors were early on the ground, and whose members have made the county what it is, are worthy of remembrance; end their difficulties and sorrows, customs, labors and patriotism, should not be allowed to fall into oblivion. By a knowledge of those the present generation will be instructed, end the future will be guided. All history, if it is properly written, is interesting; and there is not a country, or a city, or a hamlet,�nay, we might say, not a family or an individual on the globe,�whose history might not be more or less valuable to posterity.     Poor Darby; but it was not in his belief of the "virtue of dreams" that his weakness only lay. He likewise had a most extensive creed as regarded fairies of all sorts and sizes, and was always on the lookout for a Leprechaun. Now a Leprechaun is a fairy of peculiar tastes, properties and powers, which it is necessary to acquaint the reader with. His taste as to occupation is very humble, for he employs himself in making shoes, and he loves retirement, being fond of shady nooks, where he can sit alone and pursue his avocation undisturbed. He is quite a hermit in this respect, for there is no instance on record of two Leprechauns being seen together.     Samuel Lover (February 24, 1797 Dublin � July 6, 1868) was an Anglo-Irish[1] songwriter, novelist, and a painter of portraits, chiefly miniatures. He was the grandfather of Victor Herbert. Lover produced a number of Irish songs, of which several � including The Angel's Whisper, Molly Bawn, and The Four-leaved Shamrock � attained great popularity. He also wrote novels, of which Rory O'Moore (in its first form a ballad), and Handy Andy are the best known, and short Irish sketches which, with his songs, he combined into a popular entertainment called Irish Nights. He joined with Charles Dickens in founding Bentley's Magazine.   Click here to read �Winter� by Henry David Thoreau. Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 � May 6, 1862) was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. Thoreau's books, articles, essays, journals, and poetry total over 20 volumes. Among his lasting contributions were his writings on natural history and philosophy, where he anticipated the methods and findings of ecology and environmental history, two sources of modern day environmentalism. His literary style interweaves close natural observation, personal experience, pointed rhetoric, symbolic meanings, and historical lore, while displaying a poetic sensibility, philosophical austerity, and "Yankee" love of practical detail. He was also deeply interested in the idea of survival in the face of hostile elements, historical change, and natural decay; at the same time he advocated abandoning waste and illusion in order to discover life's true essential needs.   Frank Hamilton Spearman (September 6, 1859 � December 29, 1937) was an American author.   He was known for his books in the Western fiction genre and especially for his fiction and non-fiction works on the topic of railroads.   Although he wrote prolifically about railroads, his actual career was that of a bank president in McCook, Nebraska and did not himself work for a railroad. Spearman was also a devout Roman Catholic convert and held political views best described as proto-libertarian, both of which beliefs are also reflected in his novels.   His western novel Whispering Smith � the title character of which was modeled on real-life Union Pacific Railroad detectives Timothy Keliher and Joe Lefors (though the name of the titular hero was apparently derived from another UPRR policeman, James L. "Whispering" Smith) � was made into a movie on eight separate occasions, four silent films in 1916, 1917, 1926, and 1927, with later versions in 1930, 1935, 1948 and 1952. In 1961, NBC aired twenty episodes of the television series Whispering Smith, starring Audie Murphy, a film star and World War II hero in the title role, and Guy Mitchell as detective George Romack Washington Irving      THERE is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games of former times. They recall the pictures my fancy used to draw in the May morning of life, when as yet I only knew the world through books, and believed it to be all that poets had painted it; and they bring with them the flavour of those honest days of yore, in which, perhaps with equal fallacy, I am apt to think the world was more homebred, social, and joyous than at present.

red badge of courage by stephen crane

September 17, 1859, saw Joshua Norton declare himself Norton 1st, Emperor of what?

The Red Badge of Courage - Dictionary definition of The Red Badge of Courage | Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary The Red Badge of Courage Children's Literature Review The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane (Full name Stephen Townley Crane; also wrote under the pseudonym Johnston Smith) American short-story writer, novelist, poet, and journalist. The following entry presents criticism of Crane's novel The Red Badge of Courage (1895) through 2006. INTRODUCTION Crane's The Red Badge of Courage (1895) offers a vivid portrait of American Civil War combat through its account of a young Union soldier's first days on the battlefield. Embraced as a hallmark of American literature, the novel is a study of heroism and the complex psychology of the common foot soldier during wartime. Remarkably, Crane's knowledge of the Civil War was culled solely from historical texts and autobiographical accounts, as he had not witnessed military action prior to writing the work. The Red Badge of Courage is commonly approached from two different critical perspectives. One school views it as an essentially realist text documenting an unromanticized account of warfare and a soldier's maturation; proponents of the naturalist school, on the other hand, focus on the social, biological, and psychological forces that shape the youth's experiences. Other critics have examined the novel within the context of several major literary trends of the nineteenth century. A meditation on pride, fear, bravery, humility, and mortality, The Red Badge of Courage is widely regarded as Crane's masterpiece. Given its accessible length, relatable narrative voice, and applicable themes about identity, violence, and the amorphous definition of courage, Crane's novel remains a fixture on school reading lists, enabling Crane's literary influence to affect large segments of adolescent readers. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Crane was born on November 1, 1871, in Newark, New Jersey, the youngest in a family of fourteen children. His desire to write was inspired by his family—his father, a Methodist minister, and his mother, a devout woman dedicated to social concerns, were writers of religious articles, and two of his brothers were journalists. Crane began his higher education in 1888 at the Hudson River Institute and later enrolled at Claverack College, a military school that nurtured his interest in Civil War studies and military training—knowledge he later used in writing The Red Badge of Courage. During two subsequent and respective semesters at Lafayette College and Syracuse University, Crane was distinguished more for his prowess on the baseball diamond and football field than for his ability in the classroom. During his college years, however, Crane also began his writing career. He worked as a "stringer" for a news service managed by one of his brothers. In 1891, deciding that "humanity was a more interesting study" than the college curriculum, Crane quit school to work full time as a reporter with his brother and part-time for the New York Tribune. In 1893, after several publishers had rejected his manuscript of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893) on the grounds that his grim descriptions of slum realities would shock readers, Crane privately published this first novel under a pseudonym. His second novel, The Red Badge of Courage, won him international fame following its publication in 1895. During the mid-1890s, Crane continued to work as a journalist, traveling throughout the American West and Mexico writing for a news syndicate. He later used his experiences as the basis for fictional works, including the stories in his early short fiction collections The Little Regiment and Other Episodes of the American Civil War (1896) and The Open Boat and Other Tales of Adventure (1898). In 1897 Crane met Cora Taylor, proprietor of the dubiously named Hotel de Dream, a combination hotel, nightclub, and brothel. Living together as common-law husband and wife, the couple moved to England, where Crane formed literary friendships with Joseph Conrad, H. G. Wells, and Henry James. By 1900 Crane's health had rapidly deteriorated due to his own general disregard for his physical well-being. After several respiratory attacks, Crane died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-eight on June 5, 1900. PLOT AND MAJOR CHARACTERS The Red Badge of Courage presents a series of episodes that trace the experiences and conflicting emotions of a new Civil War Union Army recruit, Private Henry Fleming, who is referred to as "the youth" throughout the narrative. As the novel opens, the young soldier's regiment is camped along a riverbank, where they have been awaiting orders for several weeks. The narrator describes the young soldier's reminiscences about his departure from home. Though the youth had felt daring and confident upon enlisting, he worries about remaining courageous during his first engagement. Marching orders eventually arrive, and the young soldier's regiment advances to the front line. As the Confederate Army charges toward him, Fleming readies himself and manages to fire a shot as rival troops rush by in pursuit. Yet, when the enemy reappears unexpectedly for another skirmish, Fleming is overtaken with fear and runs away. He thinks his fellow soldiers foolish for not having retreated until he overhears a Union general declare that the enemy has been repulsed. Fleming feels angry and cheated out of his opportunity for valor. He decides to flee into the woods, imagining Nature as a protective goddess. While rationalizing his continued retreat, he stumbles upon the rotting corpse of a Union soldier. Shrieking, he runs back toward the front. Fleming falls in with a group of wounded soldiers and encounters "the tattered man," a mortally wounded compatriot who questions Fleming about his nonexistent injury. Deeply ashamed of his cowardice, Fleming escapes from the tattered man and drifts into the crowd of injured men. Fleming is embarrassed and envious of their wounds and wishes for his own "red badge of courage." Among the crowd, Fleming recognizes his friend, Jim Conklin, "the tall soldier," who is near death. With the help of the tattered man, Fleming carries Conklin to a nearby field where he can rest without being trampled by the artillery. The youth and the tattered man watch as Conklin dies. Enraged by what he has witnessed and agitated by the tattered man's inquiries, Fleming leaves the dying tattered man wandering aimlessly in the field. Contemplating whether to rejoin his regiment, Fleming notices groups of Union infantry retreating in mass confusion from combat. One of the fleeing soldiers hits Fleming on the head with his rifle. Dazed and bleeding, Fleming is led back to his regiment by an anonymous soldier. The youth's injury is misidentified as a battle wound, which his companions interpret as the reason for his absence. Fleming's comrade, Wilson, who early in the novel is the belligerent "loud soldier," dresses his wound. The next day, Fleming demonstrates the skills of a fine, upstanding soldier, fighting bravely alongside Wilson and rescuing the regimental flag. Displaying camaraderie and leadership, Fleming wins the praise of officers. In the final battle charge, Fleming accompanies Wilson as he captures the enemy flag, which signals the regiment's victory. The novel concludes with Fleming's reflections on the past days' events. Though haunted by his abandonment of the tattered man, he is proud of his accomplishments in battle and celebrates his entrance into manhood. MAJOR THEMES The Red Badge of Courage explores notions of bravery and cowardice through the thoughts and actions of an inexperienced soldier on the verge of maturity. The novel contemplates the definition of heroism, illustrating how Fleming's romantic conception of courage evolves into a mature, complex assessment as he transitions from adolescence to adulthood. Critics have analyzed coming-of-age themes in the novel, underscoring the symbolic function of Conklin and Wilson—both of whom exhibit self-assurance and leadership as well as vulnerability—as authentic representations of masculinity. Crane incorporated motifs of noise and silence to signal the maturity of his characters. The sounds of artillery and male bravado that permeate the early chapters turn to quiet reflection at the novel's end. The author also utilized irony to demonstrate the complicated nature of heroism, as evidenced by Fleming's so-called "red badge of courage," which he receives when a retreating Union soldier strikes him on the head with his weapon. In addition to themes concerning valor and maturation, the novel addresses the power and indifference of Nature, emphasizing the relative insignificance of man. By referring to his characters as "the youth," "the loud soldier," "the tattered man," and "the tall soldier," Crane imbued the narrative with allegorical significance reminiscent of the Everyman parable. Scholars have highlighted religious imagery in the book, such as the gathering of foliage which Fleming designates as a "chapel" during his respite in the woods. Fleming's sense of sanctuary, however, is quickly shattered by the discovery of the decomposing Union soldier, which suggests a fatalistic counterpoint to the character's inarticulate spirituality. Other significant motifs include the symbolic use of color, such as Crane's description of the sun at the time of Conklin's death as "a fierce red wafer," and the use of mechanical imagery to depict combat. CRITICAL RECEPTION A major critical debate surrounding The Red Badge of Courage concerns the textual alterations made by Crane just prior to the book's publication. Some scholars have contended that the abrupt changes in Fleming's character at the end of the novel are the result of unwise deletions from the original manuscript, and that these cuts deprive the text of its ironic thrust. Others have viewed these modifications as integral to the streamlined nature of the narrative. The coexistence of naturalism and symbolism throughout the novel has been cited by critics as a significant development in American fiction. Moreover, the basic plot and structure of Crane's book has been frequently analyzed according to Joseph Campbell's concept of the archetypal hero-quest. Though The Red Badge of Courage has been lauded as a masterpiece in its own right, reviewers have favorably compared it to such works as Homer's Iliad and Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," noting its influence upon such renowned authors as Joseph Conrad. Furthermore, the novel has been read by some critics as an indication of prevailing attitudes towards masculinity in late nineteenth-century America. Praised for its narrative technique, artful characterization, and honest depiction of combat, The Red Badge of Courage has been consistently celebrated as a seminal work of war literature. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets—A Story of New York [as Johnston Smith] (novella) 1893 The Black Riders and Other Lines (poetry) 1895 The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War (novel) 1895 George's Mother (novel) 1896 The Little Regiment and Other Episodes of the American Civil War (short stories) 1896 The Third Violet (novel) 1897 The Open Boat, and Other Tales of Adventure (short stories) 1898 Active Service (novel) 1897 The Monster and Other Stories (short stories) 1899 War Is Kind (poetry) 1899 Whilomville Stories (short stories) 1900 Wounds in the Rain: A Collection of Stories Relating to the Spanish-American War of 1898 (short stories) 1900 Last Words (short stories and journalism) 1902 The O'Ruddy: A Romance [with Robert Barr] (unfinished novel) 1903 The Work of Stephen Crane. 12 vols. [edited by Wilson Follett] (novellas, short stories, poetry, and journalism) 1925-1926 The Collected Poems of Stephen Crane [edited by Wilson Follett] (poetry) 1930 The Correspondence of Stephen Crane. 2 vols. [edited by Stanley Wertheim and Paul Sorrentino] (letters) 1988 CRITICISM Harold Frederic (review date 26 January 1896) SOURCE: Frederic, Harold. "Stephen Crane's Triumph." In Critical Essays on Stephen's Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage," edited by Donald Pizer, pp. 35-41. Boston, Mass.: G. K. Hall & Co., 1990. [In the following review, originally published in the January 26, 1896 issue of the New York Times, Frederic hails The Red Badge of Courage as among the finest American novels of his generation.] London, Jan. 15—Who in London knows about Stephen Crane? The question is one of genuine interest here. It happens, annoyingly enough, that the one publishing person who might throw some light on the answer is for the moment absent from town. Other sources yield only the meagre information that the name is believed to be a real, and not an assumed, one, and that its owner is understood to be a very young man, indeed. That he is an American, or, at least, learned to read and write in America, is obvious enough. The mere presence in his vocabulary of the verb "loan" would settle that, if the proof were not otherwise blazoned on every page of his extraordinary book. For this mysteriously unknown youth has really written an extraordinary book. The Red Badge of Courage appeared a couple of months ago, unheralded and unnoticed, in a series which, under the distinctive label of "Pioneer," is popularly supposed to present fiction more or less after the order of The Green Carnation, 1 which was also of that lot. The first one who mentioned in my hearing that this Red Badge was well worth reading happened to be a person whose literary admirations serve me generally as warnings what to avoid, and I remembered the title languidly from that standpoint of self-protection. A little later others began to speak of it. All at once, every bookish person had it at his tongue's end. It was clearly a book to read, and I read it. Even as I did so, reviews burst forth in a dozen different quarters, hailing it as extraordinary. Some were naturally more excited and voluble than others, but all the critics showed, and continue to show, their sense of being in the presence of something not like other things. George Wyndham, M. P., has already written of it in The New Review as "a remarkable book." Other magazine editors have articles about it in preparation, and it is evident that for the next few months it is to be more talked about than anything else in current literature. It seems almost equally certain that it will be kept alive, as one of the deathless books which must be read by everybody who desires to be, or to seem, a connoisseur of modern fiction. If there were in existence any books of a similar character, one could start confidently by saying that it was the best of its kind. But it has no fellows. It is a book outside of all classification. So unlike anything else is it, that the temptation rises to deny that it is a book at all. When one searches for comparisons, they can only be found by culling out selected portions from the trunks of masterpieces, and considering these detached fragments, one by one, with reference to the Red Badge, which is itself a fragment, and yet is complete. Thus one lifts the best battle pictures from Tolstoï's great War and Peace, from Balzac's Chouans, from Hugo's Les Misérables, and the forest fight in '93, from Prosper Mérimée's assault of the redoubt, from Zola's La Débâcle and Attack on the Mill, (it is strange enough that equivalents in the literature of our own language do not suggest themselves,) and studies them side by side with this tremendously effective battle painting by the unknown youngster. Positively they are cold and ineffectual beside it. The praise may sound exaggerated, but really it is inadequate. These renowned battle descriptions of the big men are made to seem all wrong. The Red Badge impels the feeling that the actual truth about a battle has never been guessed before. In construction the book is as original as in its unique grasp of a new grouping of old materials. All the historic and prescribed machinery of the romance is thrust aside. One barely knows the name of the hero; it is only dimly sketched in that he was a farm boy and had a mother when he enlisted. These facts recur to him once or twice; they play no larger part in the reader's mind. Only two other characters are mentioned by name—Jim Conklin and Wilson; more often even they are spoken of as the tall soldier and the loud soldier. Not a word is expended on telling where they come from, or who they are. They pass across the picture, or shift from one posture to another in its moving composition, with the impersonality of one's chance fellow-passengers in a railroad car. There is a lieutenant who swears new oaths all the while, another officer with a red beard, and two or three still vaguer figures, revealed here and there through the smoke. We do not know, or seek to know, their names, or anything about them except what, staring through the eyes of Henry Fleming, we are permitted to see. The regiment itself, the refugees from other regiments in the crowded flight, and the enemy on the other side of the fence, are differentiated only as they wear blue or gray. We never get their color out of our mind's eye. This exhausts the dramatis personae of the book, and yet it is more vehemently alive and heaving with dramatic human action than any other book of our time. The people are all strangers to us, but the sight of them stirs the profoundest emotions of interest in our breasts. What they do appeals as vividly to our consciousness as if we had known them all our life. The central idea of the book is of less importance than the magnificent graft of externals upon it. We begin with the young raw recruit, hearing that at last his regiment is going to see some fighting, and brooding over the problem of his own behavior under fire. We follow his perturbed meditations through thirty pages, which cover a week or so of this menace of action. Then suddenly, with one gray morning, the ordeal breaks abruptly over the youngster's head. We go with him, so close that he is never out of sight, for two terribly crowded days, and then the book is at an end. This cross-section of his experience is made a part of our own. We see with his eyes, think with his mind, quail or thrill with his nerves. He strives to argue himself into the conventional soldier's bravery; he runs ingloriously away; he excuses, defends, and abhors himself in turn; he tremblingly yields to the sinister fascination of creeping near the battle; he basely allows his comrades to ascribe to heroism the wound he received in the frenzied "sauve qui peut" of the fight, he gets at last the fire of combat in his veins, and blindly rushing in, deports himself with such hardy and temerarious valor that even the Colonel notes him, and admits that he is a "jimhickey." These sequent processes, observed with relentless minutiae, are so powerfully and speakingly portrayed that they seem the veritable actions of our own minds. To produce this effect is a notable triumph, but it is commonplace by comparison with the other triumph of making us realize what Henry saw and heard as well as what he felt. The value of the former feat has the limitations of the individual. No two people are absolutely alike; any other young farm boy would have passed through the trial with something different somewhere. Where Henry fluttered, he might have been obtuse; neither the early panic nor the later irrational ferocity would necessarily have been just the same. But the picture of the trial itself seems to me never to have been painted as well before. Oddly enough, The Saturday Review and some other of the commentators take it for granted that the writer of the Red Badge must have seen real warfare. "The extremely vivid touches of detail convince us," says The Review, "that he has had personal experience of the scenes he depicts. Certainly, if his book were altogether a work of imagination, unbased on personal experience, his realism would be nothing short of a miracle." This may strike the reader who has not thought much about it as reasonable, but I believe it to be wholly fallacious. Some years ago I had before me the task of writing some battle chapters in a book I was at work upon. The novel naturally led up to the climax of a battle, and I was excusably anxious that when I finally got to this battle, I should be as fit to handle it as it was possible to make myself. A very considerable literature existed about the actual struggle, which was the Revolutionary battle of Oriskany, fought only a few miles from where I was born. 2 This literature was in part the narratives of survivors of the fight, in part imaginative accounts based on these by later writers. I found to my surprise that the people who were really in the fight gave one much less of an idea of a desperate forest combat than did those who pictured it in fancy. Of course, here it might be that the veterans were inferior in powers of narration to the professional writer. Then I extended the test to writers themselves. I compared the best accounts of Franco-German battles, written for the London newspapers by trained correspondents of distinction who were on the spot, with the choicest imaginative work of novelists, some of them mentioned above, who had never seen a gun fired in anger. There was literally no comparison between the two. The line between journalism and literature obtruded itself steadily. Nor were cases lacking in which some of these war correspondents had in other departments of work showed themselves capable of true literature. I have the instance of David Christie Murray in mind. He saw some of the stiffest fighting that was done in his time, and that, too, at an early stage of his career, but he never tried to put a great battle chapter into one of his subsequent novels, and if he had I don't believe it would have been great. 3 Our own writers of the elder generation illustrate this same truth. Gen. Lew Wallace, Judge Tourgée, Dr. Weir Mitchell, and numbers of others saw tremendous struggles on the battlefield, but to put the reality into type baffles them. The four huge volumes of The Century's Battles and Leaders of the Civil War are written almost exclusively by men who took an active part in the war, and many of them were in addition men of high education and considerable literary talent, but there is not a really moving story of a fight in the whole work. When Warren Lee Goss began his Personal Recollections of a Private, his study of the enlistment, the early marching and drilling, and the new experiences of camp life was so piquant and fresh that I grew quite excited in anticipation. But when he came to the fighting, he fell flat. The same may be said, with more reservations, about the first parts of Judge Tourgée's more recent Story of a Thousand. It seems as if the actual sight of a battle has some dynamic quality in it which overwhelms and crushes the literary faculty in the observer. At best, he gives us a conventional account of what happened; but on analysis you find that this is not what he really saw, but what all his reading has taught him that he must have seen. In the same way battle painters depict horses in motion, not as they actually move, but as it has been agreed by numberless generations of draughtsmen to say that they move. At last, along comes a Muybridge, with his instantaneous camera, and shows that the real motion is entirely different. 4 It is this effect of a photographic revelation which startles and fascinates one in The Red Badge of Courage. The product is breathlessly interesting, but still more so is the suggestion behind it that a novel force has been disclosed, which may do all sorts of other remarkable things. Prophecy is known of old as a tricky and thankless hag, but all the same I cannot close my ears to her hint that a young man who can write such a first book as that will make us all sit up in good time. Notes 1. Robert Hichens's The Green Carnation (1894), a popular novel of fashionable London life. 2. Frederic, the London correspondent of the New York Times, was himself a major novelist, with a number of his works set in the upstate New York area where he was born and raised. He refers here to his Revolutionary War novel In the Valley (1890). 3. Murray was a popular British novelist and travel writer. Early in his career he had reported on the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-78. 4. Earweard Muybridge, a photographer and naturalist, had in the 1870s demonstrated through photography that all four of a running horse's hooves are at times simultaneously off the ground. Donald B. Gibson (essay date 1988) SOURCE: Gibson, Donald B. "Heroism." In The Red Badge of Courage: Redefining the Hero, pp. 45-59. Boston, Mass.: Twayne Publishers, 1988. [In the following essay, Gibson examines how The Red Badge of Courage offers nontraditional reflections on the nature of heroism and how the protagonist's sense of bravery towards the novel's conclusion are not necessarily reflective of Crane's own opinions.] One of the implications of the traditional view of heroism is that its chief motivation is internal, that it springs from resources within the psyche. It is generally believed that the relationship between courage and character is such that the two are not separable. Cowardice, most feel, stems from bad or weak character, and courage from strength of character. These are the assumptions with which we are likely to start reading The Red Badge of Courage, and they underlie the meaning of courage in the culture. Certainly the heroism as defined by implication in Western mythology and fairy tale is of this kind, and Henry Fleming's reference to fairy tale and mythology suggests that his view of the issue is not a different one. It would seem, however, that Crane in his novel calls these assumptions into question. The advocate of the nontraditional reading of the novel would argue that readers who see Henry as the traditional hero are not distinguishing between Henry's perspective and Crane's. Henry is the unknowing, unaware traditionalist, not Crane. The implication of the foregoing is that Henry's sense of heroism is a false sense because, having its roots in myth and fairy tale, it does not derive from experience, but from knowledge transmitted through tradition. He need merely have the model of the courageous actor in order to emulate it. Little does he know that he absolutely cannot act in any way contrary to or unrelated to his personality and his own peculiar history. Heroism does not exist in a vacuum, apart from other aspects of personality. Hence Henry's conviction that heroism is defined by fairy tale and mythology is false, for it does not consider the social nor specifically psychological elements of heroism. Henry does not wish to be a hero for heroism's sake but because he does not want his fellows to regard him scornfully. On the contrary, he sorely desires their respect and high regard. Therefore his character is no better nor worse at the beginning of the novel than at the end because courage, at least the kind of courage brought under scrutiny by Crane's novel, has nothing to do with character. One need not be good in order not to flee from the line of battle. For that reason Henry's moral lapses—as when he conceals the origin of his wound and allows his comrades to infer its source—have no relation to his behavior in battle. His having run from battle can be concealed, for it is, though relevant in Henry's eyes, irrelevant in Crane's eyes and in the eyes of the careful reader. Because he believes that there is a relation between courage and character, Henry's perception of himself is modified. He believes that a conflict exists between his heroism and his flight during the first encounter, for if the exhibition of courage is a manifestation of good character, then exhibition of cowardice manifests bad or weak character. By the same token he believes that his desertion of the tattered man may diminish the significance of his heroism if that act should become known. The text establishes clearly these associations. Immediately after the passage quoted above where Henry refers to his "public deeds" as "performances which … marched now in wide purple and gold," the narrator observes: "He saw that he was good. He recalled with a thrill of joy the respectful comments of his fellows upon his conduct" (131). Undoubtedly Henry feels he is good because he feels himself a hero and that feeling is confirmed by the responses of his comrades. By implication, the lines mean that Henry saw that he was good and they too saw that he was good. Immediately following the passage last quoted, Henry thinks of his flight: "Nevertheless, the ghost of his flight from the first engagement appeared to him and danced…. For a moment he blushed, and the light of his soul flickered with shame" (131-132). The very next line reads: "A specter of reproach came to him. There loomed the dogging memory of the tattered soldier." Clearly the association of these thoughts reveals a connection of some kind among them. But how do we know how to read these lines? How do we know that Henry does not deserve credit for true guilt and remorse for past actions that are less than creditable? There is, first of all, the juxtaposition of ideas that shows that Henry is looking at the question of heroism from a rather unsophisticated perspective, that he thinks it some kind of fairy-tale affair. Beyond that Crane makes clear that the source of any sense of guilt or remorse is Henry's fear that his less-worthwhile deeds will be discovered by his comrades. Henry will go to any length not to be laughed at. There is also the clear irony of the final paragraphs pointed out above. In addition, there is one line appearing in the novel's final chapter, quoted above for other purposes, whose ironic intent cannot be mistaken. The line is: "He saw that he was good." Recall in the account in the Old Testament of Genesis the line that recurs as one of a series of patterned refrains as the creation, step by step, is described: "And God saw that it was good." The rhythm and syntactical structure of the two sentences are nearly identical. Crane, the son of a deeply religious Methodist minister (who was raised as a strict Presbyterian), could not possibly have missed the parallel or created it by chance, especially since the creation myth was probably drilled into his head in Sunday school if not at home as well. Note that Henry Fleming does not speak the sentence. Rather, the narrator attributes the sentiment to Henry. The implication is, then, that the line becomes a comment on Henry, a critical comment suggesting that Henry's pride at this point is so overweening that he would compare himself with God. If so, then we certainly may see him as deluded and his whole assessment of himself and his situation at this crucial juncture in the novel, a few paragraphs from the end, is called into question. This ironic thrust supports the view that though Henry is in a different place, he is not in a better place at the conclusion of the novel than he was at the beginning. An enormous amount of further evidence suggests that Crane is not in sympathy with Henry during the final pages of the novel and that Henry is not seeing things as they are, but since this evidence is external evidence, i.e., excluded from the final version of the text as Crane presented it for publication, it does not have the same standing as evidence drawn from the text as he presented it to his publisher. The material referred to here comes from two manuscript versions of the novel, a shorter version, the first version of the novel as it was serialized in December 1894 for use by the Bacheller syndicate of newspapers, and the expanded version of that manuscript that became after further alteration the novel we know. Crane changed the manuscript version when it was in galley proof and produced the final text. Whether he changed his intentions between the preparation of the final manuscript and the version as printed in 1895 or whether changes in the text were made for some other reason, the expunged passages will give us some sense of how Crane was looking at his materials and will perhaps offer a clue as to how to read the text as it finally emerged. The textual changes were in general made for different reasons. Some were made to sharpen the focus of the narrative, especially in cases where Crane's impressionistic style produced extended vagueness or misdirection of the reader's attention. Most of the names were deleted and the characters identified by attributes, for example, the "tall" soldier, the "loud" soldier, the "youth." A great deal of the change has to do with economy of style. The most significant changes, however, are extremely important changes that are intended to effect the very basic meaning of the novel; these are the ones with which we are primarily concerned. Interestingly enough, they appear in the final chapter where Crane attempts by careful manipulation of his words to handle his closure in such a way as to make the novel mean exactly what he intends it to mean. The modulations of style and meaning occurring there are most carefully wielded. In the paragraph referred to above, where Henry thinks of himself as good, the final sentence, apparently expunged by Crane reads: "It was a little coronation" (131). The reference is to Henry's memory of the lieutenant's compliment to him after his performance during the third encounter: "By heavens, if I had ten thousand wild cats like you, I could tear the stomach outa this war in less'n a week!" (100). The "coronation" reference echoes an earlier passage in the text, also expunged by Crane, that clearly in its context indicates that Henry is not seeing things as they truly are. This passage occurs in chapter 15 after Henry has returned to his regiment and before the third engagement: "He returned to his old belief in the ultimate, astounding success of his life…. It was ordained because he was a fine creation. He saw plainly that he was the chosen of some gods. By fearful and wonderful roads he was to be led to a crown" (90-91). Clearly and severely ironic, this passage suggests that Henry is deluding himself. So does the "coronation" line in the final paragraphs of the text also suggest that Crane wants us to see Henry as deluded, especially as it stood before deletion, juxtaposed against "He saw that he was good." Henry thinks back to his flight during the second encounter and in a heavily ironic passage he attempts to justify his past actions in obviously unintelligent and self-serving ways. For a moment after he recalls his flight, "his soul flickered with shame." The next line reads: "However, he presently procured an explanation and an apology" (132). This makes no literal sense, for there is no agency allowed for in the world of the novel to proffer such explanation or apology. The implication is that the universe explains his flight and apologizes to him for its necessity. Henry is being stringently ridiculed. The expunged passage continues: "He said those tempestuous movements [his flight] were of the wild mistakes and ravings of a novice who did not comprehend. He had been a mere man railing at a condition, but now he was out of it and could see that it had been very proper and just." The suffering occasioned by his fear of death and his fear of discovery are neither proper nor improper, neither just nor unjust; they simply are. But Henry attempts at the novel's end, as he had earlier with fairy tale and mythology, to place his experience within a larger framework in order better to comprehend it. In this case he tries to see things in terms of a partially conceived conception of the relation of his experience to universal process. Thus: "It had been necessary for him to swallow swords that he might have a better throat for grapes" (132). There is nothing in the universe of the novel to account for such a necessity, and Henry is being foolish to account for his experience in such fashion. He simply seems more foolish, as the novel concludes, in his understanding: "Fate had in truth been kind to him; she had stabbed him with benign purpose and diligently cudgelled him for his own sake" (132)—again clearly ironic. When has anyone ever been "benignly" stabbed or "diligently cudgelled" out of kindness? The passage continues: "It was suddenly clear to him that he had been wrong not to kiss the knife and bow to the cudgel." Crane seems here to intimate several things about Henry in this deleted passage. We see Henry structuring the universe as though the process is an exercise in the composition of fiction. He knows nothing about Fate yet in his egotism he is able to imagine that there is such a thing as Fate and that she (note the personalization) takes particular interest in his life. His thinking here probably derives from classical mythology just as his earlier thinking about war and heroism did. On another level, Crane is saying that even if the universe is structured as Henry implies, then he is still foolish to respond as he does. If there is an agency responsible for his fate, he is foolish indeed to see that agency as in any sense whatsoever benevolent. The irony is biting, and Henry seems the butt of sardonic humor. Is it possible to take the person seriously who so understands his experience when he sums it up as Henry does? He is not through philosophizing, and the quality of the thought does not improve: "He was emerged from his struggles with a large sympathy for the machinery of the universe. With his new eyes he could see that the secret and open blows which were being dealt about the world with such heavenly lavishness were in truth blessings. It was a deity laying about him with the bludgeon of correction" (134). The implication here is that whatever misery, pain, and suffering are in the world exist for a purpose, for the purpose of correcting human error. They are blessings in disguise and should be welcomed. He feels in total sympathy with the processes of nature and the universe, and as such, "He could no more stand upon places high and false, and denounce the distant planets" (134). There is nothing obvious in his experience that would justify his conclusions. In fact, his experience should have shown him a quite different universe from that he creates. His belief seems also to express a religious fundamentalism, though we do not know its source. The notion that mankind are sinners and adversity is a sign of God's displeasure and intent to correct behavior and therefore a blessing is hardly enlightened theology. The deleted passage goes on: "He beheld that he was tiny but not inconsequent to the sun. In the spacewide whirl of events no grain like him would be lost" (134). What he learns is that "His [God's] eye is on the sparrow"; what he should have learned is that he is alone in an alien universe, entirely on his own. Crane wrote a poem, which appeared in his volume of poetry, The Black Riders, whose meaning expresses the exact opposite of Henry's thinking. The poem's epigraph, the occasion of the poem, is a biblical quotation: "And the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the heads of the children, even unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." Well, then, I hate Thee, unrighteous picture; Wicked image, I hate thee; So, strike with Thy vengeance The heads of those little men Who come blindly. It will be a brave thing. If we assume, without entering the labyrinth of critical theory that might legislate against it, that the poem (published the same year as The Red Badge, 1895) expresses ideas that Crane held when he wrote it, then that would suggest he uses the ideas professed by Henry to express his own thinking in an obverse way. In other words, we need merely turn Henry's thinking upside down in order to know what Crane thinks. Is, then, Henry "tiny but not inconsequent to the sun?" No. He is tiny but inconsequent to the sun. "In the spacewide whirl of events" would a "grain like him … be lost?" Yes, a grain like him (and like all of us) would be lost. The irony is on the verge of bitterness, and the final excised phrase is no less severe in its tone than the passages so far discussed. Let me put the expunged passage in its context, even though I have quoted the following passage before without the deleted passage, which is placed in brackets below: "He felt a quiet manhood, nonassertive but of sturdy and strong blood. He knew that he would no more quail before his guides wherever they should point. He had been to touch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death [and was for others]. He was a man" (134). The phrase, "and was for others," is a mighty phrase, for it indicates that Henry's vision is so entirely warped that he has come to the point of believing that he cannot die. What is the effect of the irony of the bracketed phrase on the sentence that follows? "He was a man" becomes itself ironic and reflective of a deluded man. Without doubt, Henry is perceiving faultily; his psychological orientation dictates entirely what he sees. He is incapable of the least objectivity because his sense of actuality is governed by an idealism whose force is so great as to prevent him from understanding his experience even on the most basic level. Given the context we have just examined, the final line of the novel cannot but be ironic: "Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds," especially in view of the lines preceding it in the penultimate paragraph: "Yet the youth smiled, for he saw that the world was a world for him, though many discovered it to be made of oaths and walking sticks." And of course, if the final line is ironic, then that means the novel has a completely different meaning than it has if the line is not. Most of the material deleted by Crane from the novel has to do with controlling how we are seeing Henry Fleming. It would seem that Crane expunges for the most part material that is heavily ironic and makes Henry appear to be a fool or deluded. He did not attempt to remove all such signals, but he wanted to alter the effect of the ironic substance on the reader's judgment of Henry. Had Crane left in the text all those deleted passages, the novel would be a different novel indeed. It would have been a confused text; as it is, however, Crane's sense of reality and actuality has left us a far more meaningful piece of work. The deleted material had to be removed in order to prevent our dismissing Henry out of hand. As it is, there are two major perspectives in the novel, the narrator's (Crane's—since there is no evidence that any disparity exists between the narrator's perspective and the author's) and Henry Fleming's. There is no question about which is the more authoritative. The narrator constantly judges Henry, from the moment we meet him until the close of the narration. Henry has no access to the narrator. He does not even know that the narrator exists. The narrator has a far more embracing consciousness than Henry, a far broader capacity to judge. A great deal of the difficulty surrounding the question of how to interpret the novel arises because the narrator's judgment of Henry is variable (not inconsistent), and that is one of the most realistic elements of the novel. Henry can be sympathetic, heroic, and sensitive; he nonetheless is quite capable of being selfish, stupid, and immeasurably cloddish. In other words, we see Henry throughout the novel at his best and at his worst. We have discussed Henry at his best, at those times when the narrator is most sympathetic toward him and less censorious, and we have discussed him when he was not entirely good. We have yet to discuss him at his worst, when he is at his most dreadful, insensitive, and prideful moment. We can forgive Henry for running in the face of what he sees as imminent destruction, for the response is not conscious and intentional, but, rather, as he says, instinctive. It is less easy to forgive him for his handling of the letters of his friend, the loud soldier, Wilson (all one and the same person though the fact is obscured because he is referred to alternately by these appellations). Wilson gives the letters to Henry at the end of the third chapter in anticipation of his death during the forthcoming battle. It is an act of trust and faith. There is about the act an aura of self-pity and there exists something of a desire to have Henry commiserate with him in his fear and trembling. "‘It's my first and last battle, old boy,’ said the latter, with intense gloom. He was quite pale, and his girlish lip was trembling" (35). When Henry returns to his regiment after his flight during the second encounter, the first person he meets is Wilson who is most solicitous toward him. Wilson gives him coffee, binds up his wound, acting toward him as a nurse. "Well, come, now … come on. I must put yeh to bed an' see that yeh git a good night's rest" (83). Finally he covers Henry with his own blankets, leaving himself no covers to sleep on or under. Henry objects. "The loud soldier snarled: ‘Shet up an' go on t' sleep. Don't be makin' a fool 'a yerself,’ he said severely." (83). Crane delivers a strong judgment against Henry in having him decide to use the letters as a potential weapon against Wilson should he raise questions about Henry's whereabouts on the previous day after his running from battle. "He now rejoiced in the possession of a small weapon with which he could prostrate his comrade at the first signs of a cross-examination" (89). The same stringent irony leveled at Henry earlier is directed toward him again. Unlike the loud soldier, "He had performed his mistakes in the dark, so he was still a man. Indeed, when he remembered his fortunes of yesterday, and looked at them from a distance, he began to see something fine there. He had license to be pompous and veteranlike" (89). Henry uses the occasion of the letters and Wilson's shame at having to ask for them back as a means to make him feel superior to Wilson and to justify his atrocious conduct: "As he contemplated him, the youth felt his heart grow more strong and stout. He had never been compelled to blush in such manner for his acts; he was an individual of extraordinary virtues" (92). Chapter 15 concludes with Henry imagining that he is relating heroic tales of war to his mother and the young lady at the seminary who he believes (perhaps ironically because we cannot tell whether his perception of her reaction to him is true) has some romantic interest in him. Between this chapter and the concluding paragraphs of the novel the irony slows somewhat and what there is is comparatively mild. This is an interesting phenomenon, for the question arises, what is happening here? Why does Crane no longer subject Henry to the same degree of ironic treatment, and why does he subject him any longer to ironic treatment at all? Let us first of all identify the irony occurring between the fifteenth chapter and the final paragraphs of the final chapter, the twenty-fourth, and then try to answer the other questions. Henry, after he has found his way back to his regiment, begins to imagine that he has not run from battle and that he may judge his superiors as one might who had been an active participant in the preceding day's battle events. The "sarcastic man," unknown to himself, reminds him of his true role in the events of late: "Mebbe yeh think yeh fit th' hull battle yestirday, Fleming" (95). The effect of the words is chastening: "The significance of the sarcastic man's words took from him all loud moods that would make him appear prominent. He became suddenly a modest person" (95). Thereafter Henry is not treated ironically until the conclusion of the next (the third) encounter with opposing troops. His response after that encounter, during which he fights and is commended by the lieutenant ("If I had ten thousand wildcats like you …"), is markedly similar to his response after the very first encounter where he holds his ground. The manner of his fighting is the same too. In both instances he seems in a trancelike state ("The youth in his battle sleep heard this [the comments of another soldier] as one who dozes hears" (42) and he is enraged. During the first encounter "A burning roar filled his ears. Following this came a red rage. He developed the acute exasperation of a pestered animal, a well-meaning cow worried by dogs" (42). His response during the third encounter is quite the same. "He began to fume with rage and exasperation…. He had a wild hate for the relentless foe…. He was not going to be badgered of his life, like a kitten chased by boys, he said" (98). Many verbal parallels exist between the two scenes, e.g., "His impotency appeared to him, and made his rage into that of a driven beast" (42). This parallels a sentence describing the third encounter: "His knowledge of his inability to take vengeance for it [his feeling that he is taunted] made his rage into a dark and stormy specter" (98). As the first encounter ends, Henry returns to consciousness as one waking from a deep sleep. "The youth awakened slowly. He came gradually back to a position from which he could regard himself. For moments he had been scrutinizing his person in a dazed way as if he had never before seen himself" (45). As he regards the meaning of his experience, he concludes: "So it was all over at last! The supreme trial had been passed. The red, formidable difficulties of war had been vanquished. He went into an ecstasy of self-satisfaction" (45). Henry's conclusion is retrospectively ironic because we know that during the next encounter, shortly after this moment, he flees. At the end of the third encounter, again Henry considers the meaning of his battle experience and his conclusions are essentially the same as after the first. "These incidents made the youth ponder. It was revealed to him that he had been a barbarian, a beast. He had fought like a pagan who defends his religion…. He had been a tremendous figure no doubt…. He had overcome obstacles…. They had fallen like paper peaks and he was now what he called a hero. He had slept, and, awakening, found himself a knight. He lay and basked in the occasional stares of his comrades" (100). The irony of the parallels between the earlier encounter and the later one is multifaceted. First of all, there is irony in the fact that Henry does not recognize that his responses in the two cases have been nearly identical, for if he did, he would not on the second occasion announce to himself that his problem is solved. He would have remembered that, after his first encounter when he believed "the difficulties of war have been vanquished," he fled. He therefore should recognize that the real test is in the next encounter, when he will see how he acts; whether he will run as in the encounter following the first occasion when he felt he was no longer afraid. There is also irony in Henry's casting his inferences in the particular terms he chooses. That "he had slept and, awakening, found himself a knight" finds him using those terms of fairy tale and mythology that he had used when he first began thinking about himself in war. Those terms reflected his innocence and naïveté, and his use of them brings up the possibility that he is deceiving himself once again, not seeing things in a mature and reasonably objective way. We might also wonder whether he is seeing things as they are when he thinks, "He had been a tremendous figure, no doubt." We have seen him time and time again express a warped sense of self, and we may well wonder whether he is doing the same thing again. It seems difficult to tell whether some passages after the fourth encounter and before the fifth should be read as ironic. How, for example, should the following passage be interpreted: "He [Henry] had had very little time previously in which to appreciate himself, so that there was now much satisfaction in quietly thinking of his own actions" (117). Again, before the fifth encounter, when a soldier reports to Henry and his friend that he has overheard the colonel and the lieutenant complimenting them on their courageousness in battle we are told: "They speedily forgot many things. The past held no pictures of error or disappointment. They were happy and their hearts swelled with grateful affection for the colonel and the youthful lieutenant" (120). Is it simply human nature that makes Henry forget that shortly before he was extremely irritated with both officers, or is it that his interpretation and judgment of the world alters with the wind? Whether Crane intends these particular passages to be read ironically, the point remains the same. By his deletions (we have yet to consider his deletion of the whole of an original manuscript chapter 12) and his varying the existence or the intensity of the irony throughout, Crane intends to maintain control of the reader's response to the character of Henry Fleming. Irony serves well in Crane's attempt to modulate the reader's response, for he may withdraw the irony entirely, apply it heavily, or modulate its application through infinitely variable degrees between the two extremes. And this is what Crane, to the consternation of the reader who would have things one way or another, does. Throughout the text Henry appears more or less sympathetic, more or less deserving of blame or censure. This modulation of the reader's response is carefully and intentionally managed, largely through irony—and, as well, through editing of the irony when the negative or positive response elicited toward Henry seems too great or too little. The answer to the questions raised earlier, (why does Crane no longer subject Henry to the same degree of ironic treatment between the chapter in which he proposes to use Wilson's letters as emotional blackmail against him, and why does he subject him any longer to ironic treatment at all) is implicitly answered here. After Henry is at his most despicable moment, during the "letters" episode, he threatens to take over the text, to control the meaning and values expressed therein. It is not Henry alone who threatens to take over the text but a whole complex of values, the values contained within Henry's metaphors describing his own situation and condition. Tradition, the tradition that surrounds Henry on all sides, the iron laws of tradition, of which Henry thinks in chapter 3, also threatens Crane. Crane's counteraction is primarily through irony. That is why Henry is subjected to irony at the same time that he appears most sympathetic, when he seems most heroic and when his activity and behavior seem most acceptable. The irony is intended to counteract other textual movement. During the period when Henry is most positively presented, Crane must make sure that we do not misunderstand his intention. His irony is intended to insure that we interpret other things rightly. We need to see, for example, Henry's quite positive relation to Wilson, his friend, the loud soldier (all one and the same person, as pointed out before), in proper perspective. The irony allows this. John Conder (essay date 1989) SOURCE: Conder, John. "The Red Badge of Courage: Form and Function." In Modern American Fiction: Formand Function, edited by Thomas Daniel Young, pp. 28-38. Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1989. [In the following essay, Conder argues that the figure of Henry Fleming in The Red Badge of Courage is less of a literary character and more of a representation of Crane's interest in determinism and freedom of will.] The function of the form of The Red Badge of Courage remains an especially significant issue because some recent criticism ignores the compelling conclusions that follow from the novel's subject. Those conclusions affect our understanding not only of this novel but of two of the three other crucial works in the Crane canon as well. This criticism might be seen as a continuation of the second of the two stages that criticism of Crane has gone through in the past: an avowal that determinism is a central presence in his work and a denial that it is a central presence or a presence at all. ("The Open Boat" is an exception to Crane's determinism because the story treats a primitive society whose very simplicity permits the existence of freedom.) 1 The basic materials of the novel are the same as those of "The Blue Hotel" and Maggie. They are the conditions that generate the thoughts, emotions, and actions of the characters. This emphasis on conditions governing character, as opposed to an emphasis on character as autonomous agent, emerges because the characters are not individuals. Certainly the youth Henry Fleming is not an individual. What little history we learn of him from the flashback hardly individualizes him. What Bergson would have called "lived time," the growth and development of the inner life of a human being, is not a concern in The Red Badge, because Henry Fleming is not really a person. 2 He is in fact a case study, a psychological type—the complex type called adolescence—and the novel is about the psychological type called adolescence meeting the congeries of conditions called war. If the history of Henry in the flashback does not point to him as an individual, it does point to him as a social type. Though his adolescence is of primary concern in the novel, he is also a farm boy, a hick, and thus a social type recalling the treatment of character as social type in Maggie. (The distinction between social and psychological type in Maggie is not a hard and fast one, of course, but is a matter of emphasis.) The understated treatment of Henry as a social type also forecasts the various social types who constitute the world of "The Blue Hotel" —an Easterner, a cowboy, a hotel keeper, a ne'er-do-well, a gambler, and a host of nameless people of the small town who represent the average person writ large: the community. In these shorter works as well as within the novel, conditions emerge as the dominant basic material precisely because the characters are not individuals, then, but types. And this emphasis on types permits us to see characters as governed rather than as autonomous agents, either because the line between the type and the environment producing it is impossible to draw or because character is treated idiosyncratically so that it acts as condition for behavior. This view of character in general in Crane's world is reinforced by an understanding of the form of The Red Badge. By its form, I mean the nature of the narrator, the special arrangement of materials that produces irony, and the use of the device of a sharp shift in perspective to emphasize the function of the irony. The point of view is third-person limited, and the narrator presents the conditions giving rise to Henry's changing thoughts, emotions, and actions in such minute detail that the clear effect is to see the narrator studying the youth as though this youth were a rabbit or a chicken being put through a series of behavioral tests. The narrator, in other words, is detached, and his is the voice of the behavioral scientist, the voice that says: "The youth cringed as if discovered at a crime." 3 The character of that voice is best captured by a line used in "The Blue Hotel" to describe the Easterner: "The Easterner's mind, like a film, took lasting impressions of three men." It is the voice that opens "The Blue Hotel" with the words, "The Palace Hotel at Fort Romper was painted a light blue, a shade that is on the legs of a kind of heron." It is the voice in Maggie that says, "The girl, Maggie, blossomed in a mud puddle." 4 Such detachment does not deny that a human being is different from other creatures in nature, any more than it denies that there is a difference between a chicken and a heron or between a heron and a panther. So this fact should be kept in mind when objecting that there is a separation between two worlds, the human and the natural, in The Red Badge. The human world is viewed in the same way as the natural world in the novel, and the same narrative angle of vision prevails in these other works as well. The second aspect of form, the internal arrangement of materials producing irony, in fact produces two types of irony. The first, dramatic irony, surfaces when a character, or what passes as a character, is thoroughly ignorant of facts or aspects of reality known to the audience or reader. Both the narrator and the reader are spectators of Henry Fleming's thoughts, feelings, and actions, and through Crane's adroit juxtaposition of details, they see dramatic irony everywhere—in Henry's failing to recognize that a creature pouncing on a fish, for example, does not support his recently adopted view that nature is "a woman with a deep aversion to tragedy" (46). In The Red Badge Henry's failure of recognition is a function of an overwhelming emotional state, guilt, and therefore he is beyond judgment. Likewise, in Maggie, Pete, Jimmie, and Mrs. Johnson are beyond judgment for their ignorance of their behavior as a factor in Maggie's downfall. The reader who has finished Chapter 4 of the novella knows that these characters are types, that as types they are products of an environment, and that these products are incapable of serious or prolonged introspection. If dramatic irony does not imply moral censure but instead exposes ignorance, much the same can be said of the second kind of irony operative in Crane's world: situational irony, in which an event gives birth to an unexpected outcome. Several examples appear in The Red Badge, one of which is at the heart of the action: a deserting soldier gives a wound to a deserter (Henry) that permits Henry to return to his unit with honor. There are other such ironies. The tattered man's expression of concern leads not to Henry's social reinstatement but to his further flight and alienation. Henry's actual reinstatement in his unit leads to his feeling of superiority over Wilson. Henry's uncontrolled, blind fighting earns him the commendation of "wildcat" and leads to his regarding himself as a hero. The sun appears through the clouds as if to confirm Henry's view of benign nature. Like dramatic irony, this second kind exposes ignorance, though in this case the reader must be included among the ranks of the ignorant. Neither reader nor character can foresee the unexpected consequence of an act. Neither dramatic irony nor situational irony, therefore, implies moral censure. Each does imply the weakness of man's mental machinery, so this fact should take care of the view that irony is necessarily moral in its thrust. In The Red Badge of Courage a spatial retreat to a distance appears in references to the sun, but a pronounced shift in perspective of a different kind also appears in the last chapter of the novel. I will reserve full discussion of that chapter till later because I wish to discuss its special change in perspective in tandem with another major point, the novel's determinism. Here I note that the novel's various references to the sun issue collectively in the meaning of the novel's dramatic irony in the most comprehensive way possible. The youth may be astonished "that nature had gone tranquilly on with her golden processes in the midst of so much devilment" (38) when he first sees the sun, and his astonishment may very well change to gratitude that the appearance of the sun, at the end of the Appleton manuscript, confirms his view of a friendly nature, a view appearing in both endings of the novel. 5 But the reader witnesses Henry's (and man's) relation to nature from the true perspective of the sun—that is, from the eye of nature's cosmic indifference, a sight that shows man's place in nature to be pretty much the one exposed by the spatial retreat to a distance found in "The Open Boat." Critics who object to the view that The Red Badge is deterministic fail to see that the novel's form—in this case, the arrangement of those governing conditions that constitute the basic materials of the novel—functions to meet a definition of determinism because they never offer such a definition. I stress this fact because a failure to define determinism handicaps critics of the novel, whether they deny or affirm its determinism or whether they simply ignore the issue by assuming the existence of freedom. Bernard Berofsky has issued a warning to philosophers that should be issued to literary critics as well: "In discussions of human freedom it is not uncommon to omit a definition or clarification of the thesis of determinism, although reference to it may be made. This is quite serious if one considers … the fact that this thesis often plays a fundamental role in conceptions of human freedom." 6 I hasten therefore to offer this definition of determinism, one that in fact is not my own but that seems to me pertinent to discussions of literary naturalism: "Determinism is the general philosophical thesis which states that for everything that ever happens there are conditions such that, given them, nothing else could happen." 7 Traditional novelists assumed human freedom within obvious limitations. Crane's distinctiveness as a novelist depends on his fashioning his work into a coherent vision that forces the reflective reader to question the authenticity of man's freedom. The novel's form forces the reader to see that it advances the definition of determinism I have just provided, and the same form makes the appearance of freedom an illusion. Of the innumerable ways of classifying novels, one can divide them into two groups according to the kind of axis they possess. A nondeterministic novel usually has a moral axis. It rests on the assumption that at some point or other characters could have acted in a way different from the one they did under the same conditions, an assumption that permits moral judgment because it grants freedom to the individual. Crane's novel has what one might call a would-have-been axis. It rests on the assumption that the youth would have behaved differently if—if conditions had been different. And its basic material, the conditions generating the youth's thoughts, emotions, and actions, suggests that given these conditions, he could not behave other than as he does behave, a fact that undermines the possibility of moral judgment because it denies man's freedom. The first skirmish in which the youth participates can demonstrate what I mean about the novel's axis. It divides into two parts that the reader inevitably juxtaposes in his mind. In the first, the youth does not run from battle because conditions permit him to be sustained by his consciousness of "the subtle battle-brotherhood" (35). He would have run from battle if conditions had been different, if he had not been conscious of "the subtle battle-brotherhood." That fact seems the whole point of Crane's having the youth initially hold fast in the first part of this skirmish and then run in the second part. And in the second part, run he does. He would not have run if he had still been conscious of "the subtle battle-brotherhood." But conditions have changed, the youth now sees panic-stricken faces among the brotherhood, and he also sees some men who seem to be running from the brotherhood. Thus he becomes the pawn of that overwhelming fear that earlier had been subdued by his sense of "the subtle battle-brotherhood." These two battle scenes, with their contrasting outcomes, emphasize the dominance of conditions governing thought, emotion, and action throughout the novel. The youth's discovery that his regiment had in fact held fast while he ran then becomes the condition for his guilt and subsequent rationalizations—feelings and thoughts which he would not have been bombarded with if conditions had not changed to induce his uncontrollable panic. This would-have-been axis continues throughout the novel and challenges recent readings that dismiss the issue of the novel's naturalism (or determinism) with a flat, unsupported denial that it belongs in that camp and offer an analysis that simply assumes the existence of freedom in The Red Badge. Since both Donald Pease and William Wasserstrom treat Henry's first blind, wild fighting in battle (Chapter 17) as an expression of rage, it will be useful to focus on their treatment of the way that rage develops in order to illustrate my point. Pease locates the beginning of the rage with Henry's aborted philippic, whereas Wasserstrom locates it later, after Henry's learning "the lesson of yesterday" about retribution. 8 Despite this disparity, the forms of their arguments show the same deficiency, and so they can be treated as types of the same argument. Pease argues that Henry deliberately and freely manipulates his emotions—especially fear and shame—for two related reasons: first, to create an identity for himself based on a rereading of conventional war narratives, though with significant variations to accommodate his own experience; and second, to give coherence to the incoherent. The literal experience of battle, that is, is incoherent, but Henry replaces this incoherence with narratives that by their very nature as narrative possess coherence. Through a "personal act of choice" he develops "an ethos of fear as his basis for a unique personality." By becoming a "‘mental outcast,’" for example, he becomes the star of the show through his special way of handling his fear. The coherence that he gives his experience in this way, breaks down with Jim Conklin's death (and is symbolized by the sun imaged as a wafer). Thereafter, Henry essentially reacts "with rage against the inadequacy of all rationales," and his blind fighting is a part of his waging "war on the discourses" that he used earlier to give coherence to his experience. 9 I cannot go into all the steps in Pease's complicated argument but quote enough to show that he endows Henry with a good deal of self-control. The fact that Pease largely ignores the narrative voice that renders Henry's thoughts and instead makes Henry appear to be creating his own narrative reinforces this impression of autonomy. 10 William Wasserstrom also gives Henry a good deal of autonomy. Reading the book in the light of William James's theory of human behavior in extraordinary situations, he finds Henry's instincts suppressed by a genteel civilization symbolized by his mother, and he thinks Henry escapes such suppression when he discovers that "the lessons of yesterday had been that retribution was a laggard and blind" and that "he could leave much to chance" (86). According to this argument, Henry comes to see through the ethics of an America that promised sure and swift retribution for sin, an America represented by the mother who said, "Don't think of anything 'cept what's right" (7). Seeing the fraud, Wasserstrom writes, Henry "plans to replace this muddle of morals with plain fury." Like Pease, but for a different reason, Wasserstrom gives Henry a good deal of control by seeing his enraged fighting as a response to a lesson in fraud autonomously absorbed by a now-educated Henry. Wasserstrom writes: "Yesterday when his world had buckled he'd ‘imagined the universe to be against him.’ Today he knows that the universe is neutral, that his sole adversary is ‘the army of the foe,’ an enemy against which he now feels a ‘wild hate.’" 11 Both arguments miss the novel's would-have-been axis, the compelling relation between condition and perception or condition and action. Although the novel traces a thorough network of causal conditions leading from Henry's initial fear to his blind fighting, the details that I choose here will be governed by my attempt to show that the arguments that I have just summed up are but variants of Marston LaFrance's treatment of his selection of events leading to Henry Fleming's fighting successfully in battle; that a refutation of LaFrance's treatment can show that determinism is a presence in this sequence of events, as it is throughout the major action of the novel; and that a proper understanding of this sequence of events shows that determinism comes to embrace the novel's controversial ending, which does not initially appear to be deterministic and which Pease treats within a context of will. 12 Marston LaFrance called attention to a "carefully wrought sequence" of "silly illusions," which he says collapse and lead to what he calls Henry's "willed commitment" to fight after his return to his regiment. 13 He had in mind those illusions that make Henry seem so obnoxious when he confronts the "formerly loud soldier" and that are represented by the ironic statement: "He had performed his mistakes in the dark, so he was still a man" (86). Wasserstrom ignores these illusions, and Pease alludes to them in a context of Henry's anticipating and neutralizing judgment against himself. 14 But those illusions are germane here both because they lead to Henry's blind fighting and because Crane treats them in a way that makes conditions of primary importance here as elsewhere. Henry's obnoxiousness, his feeling of superiority to Wilson, it should be stressed, has its condition: his release from his intense fear of exposure as a deserter. Such relief manifests itself through an exaggerated sense of superiority, and that sense in turn acts as the condition for Henry's lesson about retribution, a lesson that is only partly true. If "the lesson of yesterday" was accurate in teaching that "he could leave much to chance," nonetheless chance does not always see to it that "retribution was a laggard and blind." But this illusion is of great importance as a link in the chain of causation leading to Henry's fighting. The illusion permits the youth to gain sufficient confidence, through a chain of psychological causes and effects, to fight the enemy, a chain that terminates in these words: "He had a wild hate for the relentless foe. Yesterday, when he had imagined the universe to be against him, he had hated it, little gods and big gods; to-day he hated the army of the foe with the same great hatred" (94). Crane thereby shows that he understood the meaning of the psychological phenomenon called transference even if he was not aware of the term. For he stresses the youth's unconscious transference of hatred from hatred for a nonhuman universe that threatened him because it would not support his rationalizations for having run, to hatred for a human enemy that now threatens him. The confidence generated by the youth's unwarranted feeling of superiority, though momentarily deflated by the sarcastic man, remains sufficiently strong in his psyche to permit him to redirect his hate. 15 The careful reader thus can see that these illusions in fact are parts of a causal network permitting Henry to fight, and thus the view that they lead to Henry's "willed commitment" to fight is undermined. So, too, is the assumption of freedom and autonomy underlying treatments of Henry's perceptions and thoughts prior to his enraged fighting. Conditions create Henry's fear and shame, conditions permit his reinstatement into his unit, conditions create his illusions, conditions induce his (partly false) education about the nature of retribution, conditions inspire Henry's hatred, his rage against the enemy, and conditions thus permit him to fight. Were the adolescent to have that authentic freedom asserted or implied by all these treatments, one must find somewhere in the novel some evidence that conditions do not dictate, that under the same conditions, this adolescent could behave in a way different from the way he does. To accommodate free-will readings of the novel, in other words, one must find a free-will axis in the work, for its existence implies that a character could act differently under the same conditions. The emphasis on conditions in the major action of the novel seems to me to undermine any free-will axis there, but there does seem to be one in the flashback and in the ending of the novel, both in the version by Henry Binder and in the one that I choose as aesthetically superior, the edition of Fredson Bowers. 16 In this discussion of form and function, my emphasis on the events leading to Henry's enraged fighting makes it pertinent that I discuss the ending rather than the flashback, which is also part of the causal chain of mental and physical events constituting the career of that psychological type named Henry Fleming. 17 In both versions of the ending, we find that Henry is released from "the condition" of the "animal blistered" in war and can now activate his hitherto idle "machines of reflection" to reflect on, among other things, his "sin," and the very word sin thus suggests the presence of a free-will axis, here a moral axis that presupposes freedom (133, 135). Of course the reader knows that when Henry committed his "sin," that sin had no moral status, because it was impelled by his overpowering fear of social censure. Yet that Henry thinks in terms like sin suggests that he has entered a realm in which he can act other than as he does under the same conditions. But in fact the chain of causation that seems clearly deterministic in the major part of the work is related to the ending. In the conclusion, the reflective reader sees that a release from battle becomes the "new condition" (133) that makes the youth feel "that the world was a world for him" (135), and nature now seems distinctly friendly, not indifferent. The reader becomes conscious of conditions existing off the battlefield as well as on, in other words, and he becomes aware that off the battlefield they breed illusions just as they do on it. The major part of the novel and the novel's ending thus share an emphasis on a causal link between condition and illusion, and this shared emphasis deprives the reader of any certainty that the youth has entered the world of could-have-been. The reader is certain only of the existence of a would-have-been axis. And that axis is perfectly consistent with, in fact is an expression of, the thesis of determinism, the thesis that states that "for everything that ever happens there are conditions such that, given them, nothing else could happen." 18 But there is even more to the matter of this novel's form because of what I have tried to show earlier. If the form of The Red Badge of Courage undermines current assumptions about freedom in its pages, then the fact that The Red Badge is a paradigm of two of Crane's three other major works makes it clear that such assumptions cannot be made about those works either. Notes 1. John Conder, Naturalism in American Fiction: The Classic Phase (Lexington, Ky., 1984), 1-2. On "The Open Boat," see pp. 22-30. 2. In describing duration, Bergson called it "the form which the succession of our conscious states assumes when our ego lets itself live." Henri Bergson, Time and Free Will: An Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness, trans. F. L. Pogson (London, 1910), 100. 3. Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, ed. Fredson Bowers (Charlottesville, 1975), 45. Vol. II of The Works of Stephen Crane. Subsequent references to The Red Badge are to this edition and will appear in the text. 4. Stephen Crane, "The Blue Hotel," in Crane, Tales of Adventure, ed. Fredson Bowers (Charlottesville, 1970), 159, 155. Vol. V of The Works of Stephen Crane; Stephen Crane, Maggie, in Crane, Bowery Tales, ed. Fredson Bowers (Charlottesville, 1969), 24. Vol. I of The Works of Stephen Crane. 5. For a discussion of the endings, see the bibliographical essay in Conder, Naturalism in American Fiction, 213-15. 6. Bernard Berofsky, "General Introduction: Determinism," in Berofsky (ed.), Free Will and Determinism (New York, 1966), 1. 7. Richard Taylor, "Determinism," in Paul Edwards (ed.), Encyclopedia of Philosophy (8 vols.; New York, 1967), II, 359. 8. See Donald Pease, "Fear, Rage, and the Mistrials of Representation in The Red Badge of Courage," in Eric J. Sundquist (ed.), American Realism: New Essays (Baltimore, 1982), 155-75. For his denial of Crane's naturalism and also for his analysis of the beginning of Henry's rage, see p. 169. See also William Wasserstrom, "Hydraulics and Heroics: William James, Stephen Crane," in Wasserstrom, The Ironies of Progress: Henry Adams and the American Dream (Carbondale, Ill., 1984), 77-99. For his rejection of Crane's naturalism, see p. 86; for his treatment of the beginning of Henry's rage, see p. 93. 9. Pease, "Fear, Rage, and the Mistrials of Representation," 162-63, 171, 173. 10. For Henry as creating his own narrative, see Ibid., 160, 161, 162, 169. For other examples of emphasis on Henry's will see pp. 163, 165, 174. 11. Wasserstrom, "Hydraulics and Heroics," 93. 12. Marston LaFrance, A Reading of Stephen Crane (London, 1971), 112-17. For will in the ending, see Pease, "Fear, Rage and the Mistrials of Representation," 174. 13. LaFrance, A Reading of Stephen Crane, 116-17. 14. Pease, "Fear, Rage, and the Mistrials of Representation," 172-73. 15. For a fuller discussion of the sequence of events between Henry's meeting Wilson again after his return to camp and the period when he develops his hatred, see Conder, Naturalism in American Fiction, 58-61. 16. See note 5 above. 17. For a discussion of the flashback, see Conder, Naturalism in American Fiction, 53-56. 18. See note 7 above. Karl E. Avery (essay date 1990) SOURCE: Avery, Karl E. "The Red Badge of Courage." In Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Volume 3, edited by Kirk H. Beetz and Suzanne Niemeyer, pp. 1095-103. Washington, D.C.: Beacham Publishing, Inc., 1990. [In the following essay, Avery offers a bio-critical reading of The Red Badge of Courage, emphasizing Crane's intense distaste for war and his belief that war "holds no redemptive qualities."] About the Author Stephen Crane was born on November 1, 1871, in Newark, New Jersey, the youngest child of the Reverend Dr. Jonathan Townley Crane and Mary Helen Peck Crane. The Cranes dated their roots in New Jersey back to 1665, when an ancestor also named Stephen Crane had settled in the area. The Reverend Crane died on February 16, 1880, after a brief illness. After her husband's death, Mrs. Crane moved her family to the nearby town of Roseville. In 1882 the Cranes moved to Asbury Park, a seaside town on the Jersey shore where Crane attended school for the next six years. In 1888 Crane enrolled at Hudson River Institute (also called Claverack College), a semi-military academy. Crane entered Hudson with a less than stellar academic background, but although he failed to post an impressive academic record here, too, he did enjoy the cadet life at the academy. He stayed at Hudson for two years, working summers at his brother's news service in Asbury Park, and it was during these years that he began his lifelong rebellion against religious dogmatism. In 1890 Crane entered Lafayette College, which, like Hudson, was a Methodist school. He rarely attended classes, failed his courses, and dropped out at the end of the semester. His next school was Syracuse University, where again he lasted for only one semester. While there, in 1891, Crane wrote the first draft of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. After returning to New Jersey, he met Hamlin Garland, an established writer of realistic fiction who exerted a strong influence on Crane's writing. In the fall of 1891 Crane moved to New York City, where he lived with art students in a boarding house and explored the slums of the city, particularly the Bowery. Following the advice of his mentor, Garland—who maintained that in order to depict slum life realistically, a writer must experience the pain endured by slum dwellers—Crane visited soup kitchens and other places where poor people congregated. Crane knew genuine deprivation during this period, and his health, never robust, was weakened. For the rest of his life he had a racking cough and a low resistance to disease. The Bowery became the fictional locale for Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, which was privately printed in 1893. The novel won the praise of William Dean Howells, an important writer whom Crane met through Garland. In 1894 an abridged version of The Red Badge of Courage, which Crane had started writing the previous year, was published by the Bacheller Syndicate in its newspapers. Crane traveled in the West and Mexico from January to May 1895, and returned to see a book version of The Red Badge of Courage published by D. Appleton and Company in October. Before going West, Crane had become infatuated with a beautiful young society girl, Nellie Crouse. Some of his most revealing letters were written to her. Largely uninterested in social status, which was very important to Crouse, Crane knew his infatuation was hopeless. Their relationship was limited to the seven letters he sent her. George's Mother, another novel set in the New York slums, and a revised version of Maggie were both published in June 1896. That December, The Little Regiment and Other Episodes of the American Civil War was published. These stories capitalized on the success of The Red Badge of Courage, and Crane was now obsessed with the wish to see a war firsthand. An attempt to reach revolution-torn Cuba failed when his ship sank off the coast of Florida on January 2, 1897. "The Open Boat," published in June, is a fictionalized account of Crane's experiences as he and three others rowed through high seas to shore. Having failed to reach Cuba, Crane decided to go to Greece to cover the Greco-Turkish War. He was accompanied by Cora Taylor, whom he had met while waiting for passage to Cuba in Jacksonville, Florida, where she ran a bordello. Both Crane and Taylor worked as war correspondents in Greece. Twice divorced and five years older than Crane, Taylor was still legally married to an Englishman who refused to grant her a divorce. Nonetheless, Crane and Taylor were married on August 25, 1898. After covering the war in Greece, the couple settled in England, where Crane made friends with many leading writers of the time, including Joseph Conrad, H. G. Wells, Ford Madox Ford, and Henry James. Always short of funds, the Cranes nonetheless entertained lavishly at their elegant house in Ravensbrook. Crane wrote constantly, but could not become solvent. When the United States and Spain went to war in Cuba in 1898, he sailed for New York, having borrowed money from Conrad and other friends. The U.S. Navy would not accept Crane as a seaman, but he was hired by Joseph Pulitzer's New York World as a war correspondent. In Cuba, fellow correspondents were impressed by his courage. In 1897 Crane had been diagnosed with tuberculosis, but the disease seemed to be in remission. While in Cuba, however, he fell ill with malaria, an event that possibly reactivated his tuberculosis. His health deteriorating, Crane still managed to get out his dispatches, some of which rank among his best work as a reporter. Fired by Pulitzer as the result of a misunderstanding, he returned to New York and was hired by William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal as a war correspondent. In all, Crane covered the war from April to November 1898. Meanwhile, several of his better stories had been published, including "The Monster," "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky," and "The Blue Hotel." Crane returned home to England in 1898, and he and Taylor moved to Brede Manor, Sussex. As their extravagance continued, Crane, gravely ill, turned his hand to any kind of writing to pay his debts. He published a novel, Active Service, in 1899, its quality far below his usual standard. A volume of poems, War Is Kind, also appeared in 1899. During a large Christmas week party at Brede, on December 29, 1899, Crane collapsed with a severe pulmonary hemorrhage. He died on June 5, 1900, at a sanatorium in Badenweiler, Germany. The Whilomville Stories and Wounds in the Rain were published posthumously the same year. Overview The Red Badge of Courage attempts to recreate the combat experiences of a young, frightened soldier in the American Civil War. Henry Fleming, the protagonist, has never seen a real battle and worries about how he will behave under pressure. Crane's novel has been praised ever since it first appeared in print as highly realistic in its presentation of the psychology of a young man facing injury and possible death. One of the best American short novels, Crane's work vividly presents some of the horrors, both physical and psychological, that soldiers encounter in battle. Setting The battle of Chancellorsville in northern Virginia, waged from May 1 to May 3, 1863, seems to have been Crane's model for the fictional battle in The Red Badge of Courage. The action of the novel follows that of the original conflict—a Confederate victory—quite closely. Chancellorsville is not mentioned in the novel, nor is General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker, the leader of the Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville. At one point in the novel, though, Crane does name the Rappahannock River, which separates the two armies. The real setting of The Red Badge of Courage, however, is the consciousness of Henry Fleming. The battle, his fellow Union soldiers, and the landscape are all seen through his eyes. His attitudes, which change frequently, determine what he and the reader see. Themes and Characters War, for Crane, was a favorite metaphor for human life, equally applicable to coal miners ("In the Depths of Coal Mine," 1894) or to the people living in the slums of New York (Maggie: A Girl of the Streets ). Courage and heroism come under Crane's scrutiny in his classic book about wartime, The Red Badge of Courage. Henry has read classical tales of heroism, and dreams of performing brave deeds on the battlefield, but he is deeply worried about what will happen when the regiment finally goes into action. He and his regiment have marched into northern Virginia, but since then have done nothing but wait. His concern is not "How will we men of the 304th New York Regiment do when we go into battle" but "How will I do?" In the course of his self-questioning, he has been "forced to admit that as far as war was concerned he knew nothing of himself." Of course, although Henry does not consider it, all the men around him are also worried about the coming battle and how they will behave under fire. Henry, more often referred to as "the youth," has a small circle of friends that includes Jim Conklin, "the tall soldier," whom he has known all his life, and Wilson, "the loud soldier," who constantly struts and brags. Most characters in the novel remain unnamed except for epithets such as these. Henry's identification with his companions is not strong enough to give him a sense of community with them. The regiment is often pictured as a powerful organism breathing, snorting, and shooting flames like a dragon. The regiment goes into action after its long period of inactivity, and although Henry is relieved in a sense, his anxieties soon increase. When the enemy forces make their first charge, Henry's training helps him perform in the accepted manner; he and the regiment stand their ground, and the enemy is repelled. But all too soon a second charge is under way. The tired men of the 304th Regiment resume firing, but soon many of them throw down their rifles and run. Panic-stricken, Henry also heads for the rear, running "like a blindman" and crashing into trees. As his panic subsides, Henry rationalizes his desertion: he has behaved in a highly reasonable fashion; he has saved the U.S. government a piece of valuable equipment, himself; and he has followed the dictate of nature, which bids every creature to protect itself. Guilt-ridden despite his rationalizations, Henry falls in with some wounded men who have been forced to seek shelter in the rear. He finds the company of the wounded preferable to that of his own regiment, which he hopes has been soundly defeated, for its defeat would vindicate him completely. But Henry's conscience undergoes further assault when he notices a man referred to as a "spectral soldier," walking as if he were a dead man looking for a grave. Henry suddenly realizes that this mortally wounded soldier is Jim Conklin, his best friend. Henry, hysterical with grief, promises to take care of his friend, but Jim recognizes Henry only for a moment before he shakes off Henry's hand. In a fit of panic, Jim runs from the road into a field, where he convulses and dies as Henry looks on helplessly. Henry later suffers a head wound when a frightened deserter unexpectedly hits him with the butt of his rifle. An unnamed friendly soldier leads Henry back to his regiment, where Wilson, previously known as the "loud soldier," is on sentinel duty. Henry finds that Wilson has matured from a swaggering braggart to a quietly confident soldier. Wilson and the corporal who examine Henry assume that he has been shot. The wound is Henry's means of entry back into the military society, and he realizes that this is the only society available to him. After Henry's cover story has been accepted, his remorse practically disappears. He still worries that his cowardice will be exposed, but his ego has been restored. No longer an isolated wanderer in the company of the wounded and dying, Henry learns to take pride in his regiment and in his own ability to contribute to the war effort. Going into battle he fights like a madman, firing so furiously that he wins the admiration of his fellow soldiers. Henry becomes less self-centered as he begins to identify with Wilson and the other soldiers, and he finds the strength of purpose to atone for his earlier cowardice. Throughout Henry's transformation, Crane emphasizes that coming of age involves an awareness of and concern for others. Henry learns that he is a person of contradictory impulses and actions, at times brave, at times cowardly, and this knowledge allows him to identify with the society around him. He thinks of others as well as himself; his is no longer an egocentric universe. But Crane is careful not to present war as a simple rite of passage; he emphasizes that war brings out the most horrible aspects of life. War indeed tests souls, but in the process it ruins more men than it converts to higher ideals. Although the survivors of war were sometimes stronger, more compassionate men, Crane could never reconcile this phenomenon with the horror and the suffering of innocent creatures everywhere. Henry is able to change, but Crane himself never came to terms with a God who could tolerate wars. Literary Qualities In preparation for writing The Red Badge of Courage, Crane studied the Civil War photographs of Matthew Brady and illustrations by painter Winslow Homer and drew on his own highly empathic imagination. The writers Joseph Conrad and Ford Madox Ford, Crane's good friends in England, claimed that Crane subscribed to the impressionistic literary movement and strictly observed the canon of impressionism: "render; never report." By means of his sharply etched and poetic images, Crane hoped to help his readers feel as if they were actually on a battlefield. For example, Crane describes the wounded enemy standard-bearer behaving as if he had "invisible ghouls fastened greedily upon his limbs" as he tries to escape with his flag; Crane also renders a vivid image of the dirt and smoke assaulting the regiment: "Wallowing in the fight, they were in an astonishingly short time besmudged…. Moving to and fro with strained exertion, jabbering the while they were, with their swaying bodies, black faces, and glowing eyes, like strange and ugly fiends jigging heavily in the smoke." Ending The Red Badge of Courage was difficult for Crane. The professional writers among his friends marveled at how rapidly he produced his work, whether prose or poetry, and how rarely he revised what he had written. But three attempts to bring his second novel to a close were required, and even then he probably was not satisfied. Although he wrote the first draft of The Red Badge of Courage in nine days, he told Willa Cather that "he had been unconsciously working the detail of the story through most of his boyhood." "It was essential that I should make my battle a type and name no names," Crane said when explaining the overall plan of his book. As several critics have noted, this choice makes The Red Badge of Courage resemble an allegory. What makes it different from typical allegories such as John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (1678) or William Langland's Piers Plowman (c. 1395) is Crane's attitude toward conventional Christianity. Raised in a family of ministers and religious workers, he himself became an agnostic. Some of the imagery of the novel is drawn from religion, such as "the chapel," where Henry hopes to escape from the battle. But throughout the novel, everybody curses, nobody prays, and Crane uses imagery from his religious training to show that, for him, war is demonic; demons and devils abound in his poetic metaphors. Critic R. W. Stallman sees the death of Jim Conklin as a crucifixion and notes that the soldier's initials are the same as those of Jesus Christ. Critic Bettina L. Knapp sees the battle as an initiation similar to the one religious devotees experience before they receive illumination, the knowledge that God is with them and that they are one with him. The novel may well invite such interpretations because of its stark simplicity. The best-drawn characters in Crane's books are usually those from low socioeconomic backgrounds—inner-city residents, soldiers, coal miners, seamen, and farmers. Crane did not romanticize his characters because he recognized that poverty-stricken people are quite capable of making their have-not status a basis for conceit. Crane found this attitude quite prevalent in the Bowery, and he made it as much the target of his ironic barbs as he did the conceit of the rich. Social Sensitivity Crane's novels reflect his basic beliefs about humanity. The chronic misery of the poor aroused his sympathy, as did the plight of common soldiers in wars. Having rejected traditional theological explanations as a boy, Crane never found a philosophy that adequately explained the hardships inherent in the human condition. Because Crane's theme in The Red Badge of Courage is the fear and isolation common to all war, he deliberately avoids all specific references to the Civil War itself. The battle is presumed to be Chancellorsville, but neither its name nor the names of commanding generals are mentioned. Few characters have names or identities, and even Henry is usually referred to simply as "the youth." Crane is not concerned with the causes of the war, the implications of slavery, the tactics of the armies, or even the outcome of his battle. For the purposes of the story, it makes no difference that this is the American Civil War, or that in the real battle of Chancellorsville thirty thousand men were killed. The novel vividly depicts the ravaging emotions that lead Henry to abandon his idealism, reevaluate his conception of bravery, recognize nature as a malevolent force, and repudiate the existence of God. The violence that he experiences holds no redemptive qualities. What he has learned in war—the indifference of death, the folly of valor and patriotism, and the illusion of God—becomes distorted and tangled in his memory by the novel's end, so that even the reality is lost and everything becomes a lie. There is no glory in war, not even for the heroes. There is only death for the victims and confusion for the survivors. James Cox (essay date 1991) SOURCE: Cox, James. "On Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage." In Classics of Civil War Fiction, edited by David Madden and Peggy Bach, pp. 45-62. Jackson, Miss.: University Press of Mississippi, 1991. [In the following essay, Cox highlights the textual originality of The Red Badge of Courage, suggesting that the novel had little in the way of literary antecedents and classifying the text as among the most realistic written accounts of warfare to date.] As I write this essay on The Red Badge of Courage, we are once again at war. It is the fourth war in my lifetime in which this country has engaged in major conflict. I do not of course count the Spanish Civil War in which Americans sent significant volunteer units; nor do I count such recent paltry rehearsals for the present war in Iraq as Grenada, Libya, Panama, in which instant success was inevitable. Our last major war was in Vietnam—the longest though far from the bloodiest war we have ever fought—and the reaction to it was so negative that one would have thought we would never fight a war again. Yet here only a bit more than fifteen years later we are again at war, and many who had opposed the Vietnam war almost to the death now find themselves dusting off theories of just wars by way of explaining their approval of what in their youth appalled them. To review this history with a slight detachment (even I was in World War II) is to know how great a title Hemingway had for his first collection of short stories. In Our Time he named it, quoting from the Book of Common Prayer, yet with an irony that must strike any reader as little short of savage when considered in relation to the contents of those remarkable chapters that lie between the stories, forming the interchapters. The irony is even greater when the title is considered in relation to this now dying century, which seems to have given us more war than peace in our time. Not only that. We might as well realize that war, if it is not necessary, is nonetheless inevitable—that we can't do without it, that we need it, that somewhere and somehow as human beings we want it. Like hate and love, killing and birthing, living and dying, peace and war are a binary axis in the mind and heart of humanity as well as in its language. Hard pressed as we might be to define war, we know what it is. We know that far from being merely savage, it is nothing if not civilized, the civilized form of at once channeling and releasing the instincts of aggression that reside in the heart and soul—yes the soul—of humanity. Milton was well on target when he put his pure war in heaven, not on earth. Seeing war as the process of civilizing aggression is as essential as seeing the family as the civilizing form for the control and release of sexual energy. No wonder the craft of war—the discipline, the codes of conduct, the making of arms—is as much art as science. Any visitor to West Point has to be struck by the evidence on every hand that the institution wants to think of military art as much as it wishes to emphasize military science. Being both civilized and instinctual, both science and art, war is at once dynamic and inertial. It carries with it all the acceleration at the command of civilization to discover new and more powerful forms of weaponry just as it forever retains the possibility of hand to hand combat. The very word arms evokes the development from club to gunpowder to rifle to bomb at the same time that it refers to the aggressive upper limbs of the body. The combination of acceleration and inertia works through the emotions attending war. War is after all a hastening toward death; it is for the young who, whether eager for it or forced into it, whether reckless or afraid, whether angry or appalled, find themselves both rushing and rushed toward an end that by the logic of peace ought to be further in their future. Given such acceleration, no wonder that the emotions of fear and anger, the twin expressions of helplessness, are forever at play beneath the soldier's burden of facing death in the form of an enemy. Given this form, a science and an art at the heart and soul of civilization, we should not be surprised at the fierce reality it holds for our imagination. Since its essence is mortal conflict, it fatally attracts narration. We may deplore the narration we get—the censored presentations from the Pentagon, the lies and shameless exaggerations, the bureaucratic masking of violence, the banal human interest stories, the gamelike accounts of missiles hitting their targets—yet we are both galvanized and magnetized by these reports and wish to read and hear and see more and more of them. Indeed, the technology of communication is equal in its acceleration to the technology of weaponry, as if the processes of war and narration were one vast symbiosis. Here if ever is proof that the technology of language itself is equal to the technology of war; so much so, that we well could wonder whether the technology of language may have preceded the technology of war, whether the origin of language may have been a curse, whether the mouth itself were the prefiguration of the caves our ancestors once occupied. We always come out to such an uncertainty between the primacy of word or world. There is a reason that the acceleration of both communication and weaponry have brought us increasingly disappointing accounts. Even with reporters near the front to relay stories and images instantly to us of soldiers in their trenches, or planes roaring off a runway, or anti-aircraft explosions making a thousand points of light over Baghdad we seem as far as ever from what we know is the truth of war; and so we settle for the observation, now proverbial, that truth is the first casualty of war. Thinking of that truth, we know that it must have at its heart fear, excitement, recklessness, hate, rage, horror, and death. Melville's lines are apt here. In a poem, "The Coming Storm," after claiming that Sanford Gifford's painting of that name served as a prefiguration of the Civil War, he concluded by relating both picture and war to the primary language of Shakespeare: No utter surprise can come to him     Who reaches Shakespeare's core; That which we seek and shun is there—     Man's final lore. Surely, reflecting on the dynamic and inertial nature of war, we might well brood, in this last decade before the millenium, on the fact that the United States, claiming that it possesses the most advanced civilization and the accelerating technological weapons that accompany it, is bombing Baghdad, located at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers—the very place that we learned in our earliest schooling was the Cradle of Civilization. Beyond that, there is the first great image of the war disclosing the incinerated bodies being pulled from the rubble of an air shelter in Baghdad—a building that the Pentagon insists was a command and communications center. Such reflections could lead us to a larger fact: that the Middle East, which sustained the birth of three of the world's great religions, has held beneath its surface the richest oil wells in the world. Facing such a fact we know that the burning bush did indeed burn. As the dynamic force of religion has faded, or been converted, into the secular force of science, the inertial force of oil has been discovered to fuel the "advanced" nations. All of which brings us to the Civil War—the one war that, for all its horror, has come down to us as a just war. Even Bob Dylan in his antiwar song of the Vietnam war significantly omitted it from the list of wars which were brutally conducted with "God on our side." That war, far more than any of our others was surely fought with God on our side. Beside every other war, even World War II, it has to seem to the majority of Americans a just war. At the same time it was the most total and bloody war in our history; its 700,000 dead would, in relation to our current population, be fifteen million. It was also a modern war, replete with great advances in weaponry and communications. If railroads, ironclads, submarines, and breech-loading carbines came into use, so did the telegraph, observation balloons, and hordes of reporters to file their stories. Both during and after the war it was the most written war that had ever been fought anywhere. There were the day to day accounts in hundreds of newspapers, there were the letters home; then came the endless postwar accounts by participants, the 128 volumes of Official Records published by the U. S. Government, the countless histories of the war that continue to be written, and finally the innumerable fictive efforts to capture the "reality" of the war. Of all the fictions, The Red Badge of Courage is without question preeminent. In the almost one hundred years since its publication in 1895 it has incontrovertibly established itself as the greatest Civil War novel and one of the great war novels of world literature. It still seems miraculous that the novel could have been written by a twenty-four year old author who had not even been born until six years after Appomattox. From almost the moment of its publication, its striking power seemed to be grounded on two contradictory categories of life: experience and youth. Since it immediately brought Crane both popularity and notoriety, the compressed authority of its representation of battle experience was belied by the youth and art of its author. If the book brought Crane forward in this country as a Bohemian writer, it brought him recognition, particularly in England (when it was published there in 1896), from the literary establishment. A writer as strong as the young Joseph Conrad and a critic as acute as Edward Garnett immediately recognized that the element that resolved the contradiction between experience and youth was nothing less than the remarkable art of Crane's narrative. The art, in a word, was what made the book new, or we could say young, at the same time that it reorganized the vision of war, one of the oldest subjects to attract the narrative efforts of humanity. After all, what we consider Homer's oldest epic was the Iliad. Those who focused on the youth of the author found themselves at pains to provide a literary precursor from whom Crane had descended, an effort that has continued down the years. Was it Tolstoy, or Zola, or Stendhal? Was it, among American authors, John William De Forest (Miss Ravenel's Conversion) or Wilbur Hinman (Corporal Si Klegg and His Pard)? Or was it Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, a series of articles by former commanders published in the Century magazine? Or could it have been the monumental Official Records? Although these questions, in the form of scholarly claims and contention, have been put forth throughout the century, the stark originality of The Red Badge continues to remain by far the most striking aspect of the book. The originality is, after all, at once the experience of the narrative. Small wonder that it would be classed as a work of realism, since it seemed true to what we now imagine is the reality of war. Or that it would be seen as naturalistic, since that classification places it in an up to date relationship with the sequence of literary movements that followed realism. Or that it would be called impressionistic, since that designation places it in graphic relation to the art of its time. These efforts to locate the book either in relation to its author or in relation to its literary origins or to literary history are but an index to the manner of its originality. What no one would or could doubt is its identity as a war novel—and a war novel not just about any war but about the Civil War. We feel that we would know that much even if its subtitle were not An Episode of the American Civil War. As a matter of fact, the subtitle is usually absent in most editions of the novel. Yet here again, the hunger for more specific references has led to many speculations as to what particular battle of the war is being represented. Of the many interpretive forays in this direction, the battle of Chancellorsville has been the leading candidate, yet the book itself is utterly mute in the matter of naming either battle or state where the action takes place. To see, in what we never doubt is a Civil War novel, just how little there is of what we traditionally associate with the historical Civil War, though it may not tell us what the novel is, will at least impress us with what it is not. Not only are there no actual place names; there are no fictive place names. If there is topography in the form of a small river or an open field or a forest, it remains utterly generalized. There is exactly one mention of Richmond and Washington. There is no Grant or Lee or Hooker or Jackson or Meade or A. P. Hill. There is not even a North or a South. Even the terms Yankee and Rebel appear only once or twice as yank and reb. There is no fight for the union or against slavery. There is not a mention of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis. There is not a hint of states' rights or the protective tariff. Even the characters themselves are barely named; they are a tall soldier, a loud soldier, and a youth before they are Jim Conklin or George Wilson or Henry Fleming. A tattered soldier and a cheery soldier, although they play significant roles in the book, have no names at all. Beyond all this absence, there is no real sense of the technology of war. We know that Henry Fleming has a rifle, that he moves through a world of bullets and exploding artillery shells, that there are horses and wagons and gun carriages, but we get no particular or detailed identity of any of the machinery. We get no mention of supply depots or howitzers. Finally, there is no romance in the book—no real girl left behind or met—no letters from home, no sense of a society behind or outside the society of the battlefield. True there is Henry's mother and a girl schoolmate Henry believes is looking at him as he readies for departure (this all stated in a few paragraphs in the first chapter), but they are left behind as completely as Aunt Charity in Moby Dick when the Pequod makes its plunge into the lone Atlantic. To see what is left out, or better cut away, is to see how Crane achieved both reduction and concentration of his vision to the field of battle and to the single consciousness of a private soldier. He emerged with an incredibly short novel—shorter even than The Scarlet Letter—whose twenty-four short chapters stand at once as reminders of the twenty-four books of the Iliad and as a line of sentinels marking the violently abrupt sequence of war. The very first paragraph of the book sets the scene: The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. As the landscape changed from brown to green, the army awakened, began to tremble with eagerness at the noise of rumors. It cast its eyes upon the roads, which were growing from being troughs of liquid mud to proper thoroughfares. A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.      (5) So much is done here. First there is the pathetic fallacy hard at work throughout the passage: the cold reluctantly passing, the fogs retiring, the river purling by day and sorrowful at night. Nature herself is being psychologized as if it had a human will, and at the end of the paragraph it has become an animated form containing the eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the brows of distant hills. Even more important, the natural process reveals the army stretched out and resting, awakening, and trembling at the noise of rumors. Yet if nature is sufficiently animated by the reportorial narration to reveal the scene, it nonetheless must be invested with the power. In such an exchange we can see at the very outset that the book is neither fully naturalistic nor impressionistic, neither deterministic nor subjective but involved in both worlds even as it is subjected to a reportorial narration that implicates both forces, glaringly mixing them together. Naturalism and impressionism are not the only literary registers brought into focus in the text. There is also realism. No wonder W. D. Howells saw in Crane's early work—he was less enthusiastic about The Red Badge —a writer who was extending the range of realism into the urban streets. In The Red Badge, Crane extends realism down into the society of soldiers. They are invariably middle class soldiers, speaking an American vernacular that could be either urban or rural. The narration is clearly committed to erasing any distinction that could be made between the two. Crane, who had written Maggie, a Girl of the Streets, could clearly have made such a distinction, but here he wants merely to mime an informal language characterized by its deviation from formally "correct" speech yet not individuated to city or region. More important, the language is not discriminated in terms of character. The youth, the tall soldier, the loud soldier all speak alike. If they are privates they nonetheless speak a "general" vernacular—a representative language of their society—an ungrammatical, slightly deviant, and unschooled language, yet not one to evoke sympathy so much as to express a unity, directness, and informal simplicity of background. Just as their designation as tall soldier, loud soldier, and youth takes precedence over their individual names, their language designates their identity as soldiers rather than individuals. For all that they are soldiers, their world is not in any strict sense military. True they are subject to orders from the officers, but there is nothing in this beginning that stresses the abuse and repression so familiar in narratives of military life. Indeed these private soldiers seem wonderfully free in their informality. Instead of being called to attention or suffering under high handed officers, they are subject to the vanity, skepticism, and restiveness that come from the boredom of waiting for action. When the tall solider, whose name is later revealed to be Jim Conklin, brings a new rumor of a military action, he "swells" with the importance of his narration but is greeted with such scoffing disbelief from a loud soldier that their exchange threatens to descend into anger. Then a corporal begins to swear at the thought of moving from the comfortable quarters he has constructed for himself. Finally the company joins in a "spirited debate" replete with arguments about strategy. The entire discussion resembles nothing so much as a small town cracker barrel discussion. What is uppermost in the representation is the ordinariness of the participants. They have no real distinction, yet if their foolishness and pretensions are exposed by the narration, they are not belittled. The informal, unschooled ordinariness of these soldiers is the very stamp of Crane's realism. From this introductory scene and action, accomplished in less than two pages, the narration moves to a "youthful private" who is listening to the "words of the tall soldier," and we are brought abruptly in relation to the consciousness of the central figure of the book. The relation between the narration and Henry Fleming's consciousness is not so much one of invasion as it is of concentrated attachment. The consciousness of Henry Fleming is, after all, his private thoughts. The thoughts of the privates we first see are their public thoughts—what they can say to each other. Upon hearing them, Private Fleming retires through an "intricate hole" into the privacy of his hut—it is not a tent—"to be alone with some new thoughts that had lately come to him" (6). The narrative rarely leaves that consciousness but reports it in such a way that there is always detachment in its attachment. Thus there is always a gap between the report and the thoughts, sensations, and responses of this youth. The essential nature of the gap is one of irony, an irony that results in exposure as much as disclosure. If we see what Henry is thinking and feeling, we also see the illusory nature of his thoughts in relation to the field of battle in which he finds himself. The great force of the narrative rests in its capacity to render the reality of his experience as well as the external nature of battle. His experience of course colors the battle, but the battle colors his experience. His thoughts always at war with each other, he is himself embattled; at the same time, he is in a battle. To see so much is to see both the nature and violence of civil war. The best way to see that violence is to sketch the action from the moment the narrative attaches itself to the consciousness of this youth. First of all there is the fact that Henry had "of course dreamed of battles all his life" and had enlisted in the army. If he had dreamed of war, his waking consciousness had feared that wars, the "crimson splotches on the pages of the past," were the vividly red moments of history that were now as bygone as crowns and castles. "Secular and religious education had effaced the throat-grappling instinct, or else firm finance held in check the passions" (7). Disappointed at his mother's objections to, rather than her support of his enlistment, he had nonetheless volunteered, had then felt a pang at his mother's helpless assent to his departure and her gift of blackberry jam, and had even felt shame at looking back at her tearstained face as she knelt among the potato parings; but he had felt a thrill of self-importance in the village as he thought he saw a feminine schoolmate looking upon him as his company assembled. The narrative gives but the briefest moment to this recapitulation of his boyish fantasies of Homeric battles—as an inner life they are every bit as ordinary as the public language of the solders—before launching its report of the move into battle. Throughout the brief march toward the conflict, replete with the soldiers' inveterate complaints and their continuing arguments about strategy, Henry remains silent with his own continuing doubts. Afraid to reveal them, he is astonished when, at the threshold of battle, Wilson, the outwardly brave and loud soldier, sobbingly announces his belief that he is to die and gives Henry a packet of letters to be sent home. In the ensuing battle, Henry manages to stand his ground against the first attack, forgetting himself in the rage of action; but in the very throes of luxuriating in his accomplishment the enemy attacks again. Seeing men beside him waver and run, Henry joins in a flight as blind as his battle stand had been. His flight brings him to a point behind the lines from which, watching artillerymen mechanically serve their battery, he discovers that the blue line has held. Afflicted with this new knowledge, he feels like a criminal and, rationalizing his behavior, begins to justify his flight as an instinctive effort at self preservation. This line of thought, figured in a full retirement from the field, leads him to the isolated depths of a forest, where "the high arching boughs made a chapel" (41-42). Pushing the boughs aside and entering, he confronts the eyes of a rotting corpse. Recoiling from this ultimate reach of his retreat, he stumbles into a column of wounded soldiers making their way to the rear amid the rush of horse teams bringing reinforcements to the front. Two figures, a spectral soldier and a tattered soldier, galvanize his attention, and, in a true shock of recognition, he realizes the spectral soldier to be Jim Conklin. Stricken with anguish, he listens to Jim's supplications for protection and then watches him spectacularly die. When the wounded tattered soldier, who has reappeared to watch Conklin die, renews his questions about where Henry is wounded (questions which had made Henry try to escape him), Henry feels his questions like knife thrusts. Fearing that he is about to witness another death and distraught at the tattered soldier's delirium, he tears himself away from such a gruesome possibility. He then finds himself rounding a little hillock, from which he can see retreating soldiers coming from the front in disarray and being met by another column advancing toward the front. That scene, an objective correlative of his conflicted state of mind, mirrors his wish that the army will be defeated so as to hide his cowardice as well as his shame at his own flight. When the advancing column suddenly bursts upon him in full retreat, he accosts a fleeing soldier with the all but inarticulate question of "Why—why—" only to be smashed in the head with the impetuous soldier's gun. Stunned and bloodied, he struggles through the littered battlefield in confusion until a cheery soldier, whose face he never sees, miraculously leads him back to his regiment. Reunited with his company, he is treated with great solicitation by Wilson, who, after a time, sheepishly asks for his bundle of letters. If Wilson's kindness lacerates the inner sore beneath Henry's wound, his shamed request for the letters gives Henry a privileged stance of superiority. The battle continuing on the following day, he and Wilson—both goaded to rage at an officer's referring to the company as mule drivers—perform with distinction not only in a first but also in a second engagement. So the battle ends on a successful note for Henry Fleming, and he once again indulgently luxuriates in his achievements. This brief summary of the action provides what we might call a dead line along which to chart the sequence of Henry's emotions. Out of the most basic adolescent fantasies that bring him to the ground of battle, there are first the private doubts that isolate him, then the helpless rage of battle, then the pride of having survived without fleeing, then abject fear and flight, then a shame that produces defensive rationalizing, then the recoil from the ultimate horror of death (the images of the rotting dead soldier and the dying Jim Conklin), then more rationalization combining fear, shame, doubt; then the blow, the wound—both false and true—reducing him to a hopeless, helpless, and lost wanderer whose one instinct is to keep on his feet; then the reunion with his company, bringing with it a mixture of relief and guilt; then Wilson's shamefaced request for a return of the letters, producing a triumphant superiority and aggression; then the rage of battle once more and a fuller sense of triumph when his actions receive praise, and finally a self-satisfied pride in accomplishment resting yet uneasily on the lie of his wound, his red badge of courage. This abrupt sequence of emotions forms the ground of Henry's action, determining his behavior more than the orders of his officers. Crane's achievement is to displace the technology of war, its accelerating machinery, with an acceleration of emotions running between the poles of fear and rage. Fear is flight from death, rage the assault upon it. Death is, of course, the enemy, at once the feared and fated end of the natural process of living, and, in battle, the hated and feared living enemy determined to kill. It is no accident that the word courage—designating the chief virtue of the soldier—contains within it the word rage, the aggression of the heart and mind. Both fear and rage are all but blind, instinctual, and both generate the lines of energy that society—in this instance civilian society at war with itself—transforms into shame and honor, cowardice and courage, with all the feelings that attend them. Henry Fleming's inner civil war is his violent experience of these emotions at war within himself. Crowded together in the closest proximity, they are always at the point of conflict and collision. But there is the outer war, whose external reality we never doubt. If it is an expression of Henry's inner conflicts, he is equally an expression of its intensity. It is, as I have noted, the objective correlative of his inner turbulence, but the point is that it is objective. Its essential nature is violent civil disorder—a melee of discordant sounds, as if civil society and speech were themselves dissolving into roars and curses even as the machinery of war assumes the role of civil discussion. Thus artillery opens with a "furious debate," musketry "sputters," cannons "enter the dispute," guns "argue with abrupt violence," shells hurtle overhead in "long wild screams," cannon are engaged in a "stupendous wrangle," artillery "assembles as if for a conference." At the same time the speech of soldiers increasingly descends into incoherence, emanating in curses, oaths, screams, bellowing, yells, roars. Chapter XI concludes with this description of Henry Fleming: "He was a slang phrase" (58). Battle utterances are characterized by incomplete utterances. A good example—one among many—occurs late in the book when the lieutenant rallies his men: As they halted thus the lieutenant again began to bellow profanely. Regardless of the vindictive threats of the bullets, he went about coaxing, berating, and bedamning. His lips, that were habitually in a soft and childlike curve, were now writhed into unholy contortions. He swore by all possible deities. Once he grabbed the youth by the arm. "Come on, yeh lunkhead!" he roared. "Come on! We'll all git killed if we stay here. We've on'y got t' go across that lot. An' then"—the remainder of his idea disappeared in a blue haze of curses.      (88-89) That blue haze of curses brings us to the matter of color. Just as Crane's sounds of war veer always between curses and roars, his colors are boldly primary. The brown and green of the opening paragraph set the tone. There we see the process of nature revealed not in gradual but bold change. And we see that process again startlingly shown in the description of the dead soldier in the green forest chapel: He was being looked at by a dead man who was seated with his back against a columnlike tree. The corpse was dressed in a uniform that once had been blue, but was now faded to a melancholy shade of green. The eyes, staring at the youth, had changed to the dull hue to be seen on the side of a dead fish. The mouth was open. Its red had changed to an appalling yellow. Over the gray skin of the face ran little ants. One was trundling some sort of bundle along the upper lip.      (41) The strength of the passage gives the corpse a life of its own, which indeed it has, since it is still in the process of nature's change; the youth is the one who is arrested in the face of those startling eyes. But the more memorable presence of color comes about when Crane seems to have almost violently asserted it by abruptly and visibly thrusting it on objects. A sort of index to the process is disclosed in the final battle sequence when Henry, resting on the laurels he feels he has won, recalls "bits of color that in the flurry had stamped themselves unawares upon his engaged senses" (95). This stamping of color is evident in the very title of the book. Even more telling are the "crimson splotches" that, in Henry's mind, constitute the wars on the pages of history. Then there is the red god of battle. Rage, like new blood, is red, though like old blood it can also be black. Flames of musketry are seen as yellow tongues. This flash and splash of color is seen in the red badge itself that Henry wishes for when he enters the column of wounded men; and later, angry at being called a mule driver, he pictures "red letters of revenge" to be written to the insulting officer. Though a search for color will actually disclose that sound is actually much more present in the prose, the instances of color have a vivid force. The title of the book has its own finality, reminding us almost helplessly of those other American titles, The Scarlet Letter and "The Masque of the Red Death," and reminding us too that Hawthorne and Poe are deeply inscribed in this book. Given other Crane titles—"The Blue Hotel," "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky," Black Riders and The Third Violet —possibilities of color begin to haunt the mind. It is possible, of course, to pursue these colors into patterns of meaning and symbolism, yet such pursuits inevitably evade the much more important fact that the violent presence of color abruptly converts meaning into vivid images that annihilate prior symbolic reference. Henry Fleming is both enacting and fulfilling this instantaneous process of conversion when, in his triumphant red rage of charging the enemy lines, he becomes the color bearer of his company. Finally there is the primary quality of form itself. The images in The Red Badge violently assert deformity. Corpses are twisted, bodies writhe, faces are contorted, dead soldiers lie upon the field as if they had been dumped from the sky, a dying soldier is seen "thrashing about in the grass, twisting his shuddering body into many strange postures," soldiers in battle are stretched on the ground or on their knees "as if they had been stricken by bolts from the sky." All the qualities of sound, color, and deformity are concentrated, at almost the exact center of the book, in the description of Jim Conklin's death: His spare figure was erect; his bloody hands were quietly at his side. He was waiting with patience for something he had come to meet. He was at the rendezvous. They [Henry and the tattered soldier] paused and stood, expectant. There was a silence. Finally, the chest of the doomed soldier began to heave with a strained motion. It increased in violence until it was as if an animal was within and kicking and tumbling furiously to be free. This spectacle of gradual strangulation made the youth writhe, and once as his friend rolled his eyes, he saw something in them that made him sink wailing to the ground. He raised his voice in a last supreme call. "Jim—Jim—Jim—" The tall soldier opened his lips and spoke. He made a gesture. "Leave me be—don't tech me—leave me be—" There was another silence while he waited. Suddenly, his form stiffened and straightened. Then it was shaken by a prolonged ague. He stared into space. To the two watchers there was a curious and profound dignity in the firm lines of his awful face. He was invaded by a creeping strangeness that slowly enveloped him. For a moment the tremor of his legs caused him to dance a sort of hideous hornpipe. His arms beat wildly about his head in expression of implike enthusiasm. His tall figure stretched itself to its full height. There was a slight rending sound. Then it began to swing forward, slow and straight, in the manner of a falling tree. A swift muscular contortion made the left shoulder strike the ground first. The body seemed to bounce a little way from the earth. "God!" said the tattered soldier. The youth had watched, spellbound, this ceremony at the place of meeting. His face had been twisted into an expression of every agony he had imagined for his friend. He now sprang to his feet, and, going closer, gazed upon the pastelike face. The mouth was open and the teeth showed in a laugh. As the flap of the blue jacket fell away from the body, he could see that the side looked as if it had been chewed by wolves. The youth turned, with sudden, livid rage, toward the battlefield. He shook his fist. He seemed about to deliver a philippic. "Hell—" The red sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer.      (49-50) There it all is. The violent heaving, the strained motion, the animal action, Henry's sinking wail and unfinished supreme call, the muscular contortion, the pastelike face fixed in a frozen laugh, the wolf-like wound, the truncated philippic, and the final sentence sealing the passage in the color of the red sun. It is hardly surprising that this striking final sentence of the chapter has arrested critics in search of meaning. Robert Wooster Stallman took the wafer to refer to communion and Jim Conklin—with his initials, his wound in the side, and the tattered soldier's accompanying passionate cry, "God"—to be the Christ. Stallman has been sufficiently flogged for his interpretation, so I shall not join the host of his detractors other than to note that he, like those seeking for literary precursors, actual battle sites, and color symbolism as literary, historical and symbolic subtexts of the narrative, was yearning for a religious subtext. The point is that all these subtexts have been blown away by the violence of battle. Henry's philippic breaks off with but one word—hell. Hell in this text has utterly lost its theological sense; it, like all the other curses, is but the expression of present rage springing from the annihilation of traditional religious meaning. The wafer of the final sentence is, as others have seen, like the molten wafer of wax used to seal a letter. Whether it comes from Kipling's The Light that Failed, which Crane had surely read, is beside the point. Just as a wax wafer is pasted on a letter to seal it, so is the sun, as if it had been passed over Conklin's pastelike dead face, pasted in the sky. The force that pastes the sun in the sky is of course the sentence itself. The entire passage shows just how, even as Henry's voice is unable to complete sentences, the narrative does nothing but complete them. Sentences in this book are the units of force effacing and displacing the author behind them with their own authority. They both report and execute the action. They literally sentence Henry Fleming to the war he has dreamed of all his life. They boldly and visibly stand forth, in the manner that Emerson spoke of his own sentences, as infinitely repellent particles. They all but annihilate paragraphs in their determination to stand alone. Of course they are in sequence, but they expose the discontinuity as much as the continuity of sequence. Their conclusiveness has sufficient finality to transform the silence between them into an abrupt gap of stillness as astonishing as the grotesque images they assert. That astonishment is really the ultimate emotion of battle—more violent than mere surprise. It is an emotion that excessively fulfills the anxiety and curiosity of suspense, those emotions on which novelistic narration so much depends. That is why these sentences not only threaten to annihilate paragraphs; they threaten the plot and suspense of traditional novelistic narrative. They are as determined to conclude action as they are to continue it. All but equal to each other in their declarative brevity, they have a genuinely democratic order, transforming turning points and climaxes of narrative into a continuum of violent intensity and at the same time annihilating the distinctions of military hierarchy and rank. The officers speak the same informal, ordinary, and violent language as the privates; Henry and the lieutenant are utterly equal in their united bellowing appeals for the men to charge. Higher battle strategy, like the battle lines that dissolve in the violence of battle, disintegrates into the soldiers' arguments about strategy. Still, this book is a narrative, and the conventions of narrative, like all the traditional meaning and symbols of history and religion are, like the enemy, threatening a counterattack. That threat indicates that there is also a civil war in the very form of the book. That pressure is very much in evidence as the concluding movement of the novel. In the midst of Henry's heroic charge when men, "punched by bullets, fell in grotesque agonies," and the regiment "left a coherent trail of bodies," we are given this passage: It seemed to the youth that he saw everything. Each blade of grass was bold and clear. He thought that he was even aware of every change in the thin, transparent vapor that floated idly in sheets. The brown or gray trunks of the trees showed each roughness of their surfaces. And the men of the regiment, with their staring eyes and sweating faces, running madly, or falling, as if thrown headlong, to queer, heaped-up corpses—all were comprehended. His mind took mechanical but firm impression, so that afterward everything was pictured and explained to him, save why he himself was there. But there was a frenzy made from this furious rush. The men, pitching forward insanely, had burst into cheerings, moblike and barbaric, but tuned in strange keys that can arouse the dullard and stoic. It made a mad enthusiasm that, it seemed, would be incapable of checking itself before granite and brass. There was the delirium that encounters despair and death, and is heedless and blind to the odds. It is a temporary but sublime absence of selfishness. And because it was of this order was the reason, perhaps, why the youth wondered, afterward, what reasons he could have had for being there.      (86-87) The delirium that encounters despair and death is, then, the sublime absence of selfishness. Here the novel hovers at the threshold of ennobling Henry's "heroism" and we might well be lulled into seeing the narrative, which is so much in the convention of the bildungsroman, as a register of Henry Fleming's moral growth toward maturity. The book's conclusion, with the regiment retiring from the battlefield and Henry once more luxuriating in a feeling of accomplishment, can be seen to reinforce such a vision of growth. Nearing its end, the narrative boldly asserts, "He was a man." Yet to conclude moral growth and maturity from this sentence is to displace the iron irony of the narrative with blatant sentimentality. Although Crane cut some passages from the concluding chapter which expose the same complacent self satisfaction, there is sufficient irony remaining to indicate that his asserted manhood is no more secured than it was after his first battle when the narrative asserted the same thing. He is really no better or worse than he was then nor is there evidence he is better or worse than all the men who were killed or who survived. He could just as well have been killed, but that end would truly have made the book sentimental. Crane did better to keep him alive, letting all that selfishness, which had been for a moment sublimely absent, return in the form of pride. This does not mean that there was nothing to Henry's bravery. He did fight as blindly as he ran, and presumably he killed some of the enemy when he kept blindly firing after his company had retreated, though we are spared actually seeing him in the act of killing. His distinction in battle comes from the excessive rage that is within him if it comes from anything. He had of course dreamed of battles all his life, and he just as arbitrarily of course fought out of the rage and dream that was in him. If war is an expression of death and grotesque disorder, it is nonetheless the sentence of existence, as near as the rage and dream that are always in us. The sentence of war was always in Crane, evident in the violence of Maggie with its opening on a street fight and in George's Mother opening with a woman battling with pots and pans in a kitchen. In The Red Badge he made it fully and exclusively present, so present that he could do little afterward except pursue it over the world as a reporter. Grotesque and terrible as war may be, Crane does not write against war; he writes through it. His sentences, flattening perspective in their bold and visible presence, have the strength of line and form that we see in a Cezanne painting. They possess the "curious and profound dignity in the firm lines of [Jim Conklin's] awful face." If George Wyndham, who reviewed the book when it appeared in England and who himself had been a soldier, felt that it perfectly expressed his past experience of battle action, Ford Madox Ford, who fought in World War I, felt that it perfectly foretold the experience of that war too. It retains to this day a remarkable modernity. Joseph Conrad was good, in his memoir of Crane, to leave us his remembered image of Crane sitting at a table with a half-empty glass of beer gone flat, writing by hand in a steady deliberation. No one who reads The Red Badge can doubt that that hand—the inertial hand that writes writing about the hand that fights—was possessed of true courage. Alfred Habegger (essay date 1994) SOURCE: Habegger, Alfred. "Fighting Words: The Talk of Men at War in The Red Badge of Courage." In Fictions of Masculinity: Crossing Cultures, Crossing Sexualities, edited by Peter F. Murphy, pp. 185-203. New York, N.Y.: New York University Press, 1994. [In the following essay, Habegger asserts that Henry's progression as a soldier in The Red Badge of Courage comes at a cost to his individuality and debates whether or not this evolution can be regarded as an "improvement."] Much of Stephen Crane's work, especially his perplexing novel The Red Badge of Courage, constitutes an intense inquiry, simultaneously sardonic and passionately involved, into what it means to negotiate the transition from youth to manhood. From the moment Crane introduces his main character, Henry Fleming, as "a youthful private," our attention is directed to his innocence, the private fears of battle that he dare not utter, and his anxiety at not measuring up to the standards of courage and performance he is afraid his fellow soldiers take for granted. Clearly introduced as someone about to be tested in combat, the youth passes through a cascading sequence of extreme experiences and states of mind, ranging from elation at repulsing the enemy's charge to panic-stricken flight and a strenuous effort to avoid seeing himself as a coward. Rather than encouraging us to share the youth's point of view, Crane's narrator sneeringly calls attention to the callowness of his daydreams and self-exculpating rationalizations, particularly when he is wandering in isolation. Once he is back with his regiment, the youth's initiatory experience culminates in "the enthusiasm of unselfishness" as he participates in a frenzied charge, which the narrator calls, almost at one and the same time, mad, savage, and sublime. At the end, though the youth is troubled by his two desertions—of his regiment and of a dying soldier who had tried to assist him—he manages to feel more comfortable about himself. In addition, his "tupenny fury" 1 at the heavens has not only been dispelled, but he feels convinced that, in the nature of things, he will be looked after: With this conviction came a store of assurance. He felt a quiet manhood, non-assertive but of sturdy and strong blood. He knew that he would no more quail before his guides wherever they should point. He had been to touch the great death and found that, after all, it was but the great death and was for others. He was a man. Those readers who emphasize the irony with which the youth is regarded, and who tend to prefer the manuscript-based edition of the novel, read the "quiet manhood" passage as the height of sarcasm. For them, the youth's conviction that the great death "was for others" is a sign he has not succeeded in growing up. 2 On the other hand, those who feel the youth has completed the passage into manhood (with whatever qualifications) are uneasy about the quoted phrase, which was in fact dropped in the first (Appleton) edition. 3 "And was for others": These four words are like a rude interruption in the ennobling ceremonial language climaxing in the terse assertion, "He was a man." The Red Badge turns out to be a test not just of Henry but of us as readers. We too are in danger, either of being lulled by the resonant organ tones of the "he was a man" paragraph or of encasing ourselves in a bristling and prophylactic irony. The problem is to reach an understanding of the changes the youth has undergone. In some ways he has improved. He is less anxious and defensive. He has attained the inner stability required of an effective soldier. He has learned how to take orders without quailing, and he no longer dreams of becoming a heroic leader. Given the great appeal of this foolish dream, the young man's achievement deserves respect. But it is an achievement that comes at a high cost—a loss of individuality and an illusory sense of being the darling of the universe. Fleming has learned how to follow, how to work with others, how to be a strong and sturdy member of his outfit, but these adjustments seem to entail the comforting illusion that there is a great friendliness out there. The passage says that to become a man is to become one with a group in a rather thoroughgoing sense: you don't speak up, you don't make a fool of yourself any longer, you do what you've got to do, and you've got the heavens on your side. It is all summed up in the honorific cliché, "quiet manhood," which I would imagine was a cliché in 1895. But why is manhood quiet? The Red Badge is about, not grace, but silence under pressure—about the need felt by men fighting for their lives to refrain from expressing themselves and to stifle other men's more open self-expression. Crane was profoundly concerned with the competing claims of individual self-assertion and solidarity with a team. In The Red Badge he undertook an exploration of the costs and rewards of turning one's back on the team, and the costs and rewards of merging with it. One of the discoveries Fleming makes is that he is more afraid of being isolated from his group than of facing combat as a part of it. To be engaged in a joint battle for survival is to undergo an extreme test of the value of individual self-expression. You're going to have to learn to button up, to keep to yourself much of what you think, if you want to have the group's respect and get out alive. How much do you suppress? If learning how to become a nonassertive but effective member of a fighting team is what becoming a man is all about, then, judging from The Red Badge, there is good reason to feel uneasy about that hard-won quietness. One of the reasons Crane is of interest is that the uneasiness not only pervades his writing but flagrantly calls attention to itself in his style. His bitter intensity, the conspicuously sardonic tone, and the strained diction emphatically proclaim that he is not one with Henry and the other fighting men. Yet few writers have shown such obsessive interest in the pleasures and pains of being on a fighting team (Crane himself was an expert baseball player). It is the writer's own radical instability (his Civil War) that drives readers to try to reach an integrated understanding of his only important novel. What I have in mind is a thematic interpretation of The Red Badge that neither explains away its disharmonies nor ignores the existence of different textual versions. I. To see what is at issue in Crane's treatment of men's reluctance or willingness to express themselves, we must pay particular attention to those scenes in which a band of men respond to an individual's loose speech. This kind of scene, which frequently reappears in Crane's work, is a powerful and defining moment for him. I would like to look at one such scene in "The Open Boat" before considering what we can learn from the characters' speech in The Red Badge. Survival through solidarity is perhaps the most important lesson learned by the correspondent in "The Open Boat." Well before the conclusion of the story, this character, who is clearly a version of the author (Crane had already partly exploited the adventure in a syndicated story), 4 realizes that the experience of selfless mutual assistance is the best thing that has ever happened to him. But of course he does not express this to the three other men. Throughout the story he and they are all suitably laconic. There is one moment, however, where they all break into excited and un-self-conscious speech. At this moment the author's narrative method also changes. As the castaways observe and comment on the tantalizing movements of a group on a beach, Crane shifts to a very intriguing sort of direct discourse. The speakers are not identified; the speeches seem much more unpremeditated than the rest of what gets uttered on the tiny dinghy; and the conversation, if this is the correct word, seems to represent a group thinking out loud rather than four individual speakers voicing their separate thoughts. Each line of dialogue (again, the term is not quite right) responds to the preceding lines, yet the attention of all four men is not on one another but on people who are obviously out of earshot. The prevailing decorum that rules self-expression on the boat has been set aside, with great relief, and the men happily enter into a cascade of eager collective commentary, a kind of prose choral ode that slowly shifts in tone from excited hope to sullen resentment. The latter feeling is directed at the man on shore whose attention-getting signal, the whirled jacket, remains maddeningly indecipherable, and of course ineffective. At the time banners and hand positions were widely used to convey messages over great distances or loud noises. This man is a loose speaker, as one of the shipwrecked men concludes: "No! He thinks we're fishing. Just giving us a merry hand. See? Ah, there, Willie." 5 Those three last words have not drawn comment, even though their meaning seems no clearer than that of the rotated garment. Nearly everyone whom I have approached for an explanation has told me that the speaker is addressing Billie the oiler. When I proposed a query about the passage to a respected journal devoted to the elucidation of American speech, I received the same clarification from the editor: Since Willie is an alternative diminutive for William isn't it most reasonable to assume that "Willie" is a vocative address to Billie the oiler? Also, my memory is that Crane was pretty sloppy about details; even if he wasn't thinking of the "Willie" as a variant of "Billie," he may well have been thinking of the same character. In any case, for one of the men to call Billie "Willie" would be a perfectly natural thing, it seems to me. This, evidently the "natural" explanation, is unsatisfactory for many reasons. In my own experience of American speech, "Billie" and "Willie" are not at all interchangeable. Within the scene, not only the speakers' names but their very identities are unguessable: so why is one of them now singled out as a listener? Why would the speaker of the three mysterious words suddenly abandon ordinary functional speech, and why would he do so in addressing a working man? Surely, we may presume that Billie already has his eye on the shore. There is no need to say "Behold!" to this man. The mysterious exclamation must mean something well beyond the signification of the individual words. If we look at an essay written fifty years later by one of the masters of American speech, "The Secret Life of James Thurber," the general meaning of the phrase becomes apparent. This sketch, a fine put-down of Salvador Dali, exposed the vain pretensions of the artist's memoir of childhood by contrasting it with Thurber's own homely upbringing in the Midwest. Dali had known girls named Galuchka and Dullita and recollected the comforts of his mother's womb. Thurber's first memory was of accompanying his "father to a polling booth in Columbus, Ohio, where he voted for William McKinley." The only romance in Thurber's childhood came from his fascination with idioms not to be taken literally—skeleton key, leaving town under a cloud, crying one's heart out, all ears. In his conclusion, after having vindicated his "secret world of idiom" in the face of Dali's affected glamour, Thurber taunted his rival with the idiom that was now (in 1943) as antiquated and homely as Thurber's boyhood in Columbus—"Ah there, Salvador!" 6 Evidently, at one time "Ah there" or "Ah, there, Willie" was an immediately recognizable formula expressing derision and defiance. I am not sure whether "Willie," by itself an insulting term for a homosexual man, a "Willie-boy," was part of the phrase. Neither do I know just when it was in vogue, how it got started, or even precisely what it meant. It may have served as a challenge to fight, a taunt directed at someone not considered a proper man, a victorious crowing at a rival, or something else. Perhaps it was accompanied by a gesture or movement that could not be alluded to in print. (This might explain why a distinguished expert on American speech is not familiar with the phrase.) But it was definitely an expression of rude, personal defiance. That is why the phrase forms the culminating moment of the men's excited commentary on the mystifying signal from shore. "Ah, there, Willie" epitomizes Crane's great interest in representing hoots, jeers, catcalls, threats, surly challenges, and similar utterances. But it was not just the colloquial expression of insults that caught his ear. What primarily concerned him were the social and moral aspects of jeering speech. Rude put-downs were worth recording because they articulated one of the most important means by which groups of men define, defend, and maintain themselves. What makes Crane complicated and interesting is that he doesn't automatically say the group is always in the wrong whenever it declares a nonmember to be an outcast or a deviant. In "The Open Boat," where the group is itself in the outcast position and we as readers are made to feel that we are in the same boat, the man on shore really does look like a fool who deserves to be insulted. (But then, thinking of the gay-bashing possibly implied by "Willie," one feels uneasy.) Another story, "The Blue Hotel," is a profound investigation of the social process by which a man is defined/defines himself as a pariah. It is characteristic of Crane that this individual, a ham- handed and suspicious Swede, belongs to an ethnic group reputed not to understand the tonal intricacies (in humor, insult, tall tales) of American language. The question of responsibility, raised by two characters at the end of the story, cannot be solved precisely because the operative dynamics are sociological. And yet the story also insists that the question of responsibility is not to be evaded, as the cowboy would like. It's the reader who is left to worry about the problem. Leaving the reader to his or her anxiety, let us now turn to Crane's most sustained exploration of the relation between a beleaguered group and the disdained outsider, The Red Badge of Courage, whose very title, we note, designates an insignia of attested manhood. II. In discussing the representation of speech in this novel, 7 I will not be concerned with talk that is metaphorical rather than literal—"the courageous words of the artillery and the spiteful sentences of the musketry." Neither will I have much to say about the many passages in which Henry Fleming's unarticulated thoughts are rendered in language and imagery he himself would not have used. "Minds, he said, were not made all with one stamp and colored green" (54). "He had been out among the dragons, he said" (72). The diction, the absence of quotation marks, and the familiarity of the narrative convention these sentences follow all announce that "said" does not mean "spoke." (Tacit though the convention may be, Crane himself called attention to it in one sentence: "But [Henry] said, in substance, to himself that if the earth and the moon were about to clash, many persons would doubtless plan to get upon roofs to witness the collision," 38; italics mine.) I am confining my attention to those passages that represent spoken language, whether that language is recorded in direct discourse or summarized by Crane in indirect discourse. Although I will also ignore the much-discussed problem of dialect, using the term to refer to the presentation of regional or uncultivated speech through nonstandard orthography, it will be necessary to comment briefly on the generalized countrified traditionalism of the soldiers' talk. Some of their statements—"Well, I swan" (104), "I'm a gone coon" (21), "Be keerful, honey, you'll be a-ketchin' flies" (41)—probably had an old-timey feel for Crane's first readers. Perhaps the same was true for "kit-an'-boodle" (8, 68), "jim-hickey" (96), "chin-music" (77), "skedaddle" (14, 16), "fresh fish" (7), "fight like hell-roosters" (75), and "smart as a steel trap" (47). Most of the mild oaths and curses probably had an old-fashioned flavor by 1895—"make way, dickens [i.e., devil] take it all" (40), "by ginger [i.e., Jesus]" (62), "Great Jerusalem" (63). That Crane was able to introduce undisguised profanity into the next-to-last charge—"Where in hell yeh goin'" and "Gawd damn their souls" (89)—suggests the various euphemistic oaths were not simply an evasive concession to standards of taste. They also contributed to the general representation of how the 1890s thought the 1860s spoke. The character with the strongest rural twang is the tattered man, whose speech—"a reg'lar jim-dandy" (46), "there's a bat'try comin' helitywhoop" (44), "first thing that feller knowed he was dead" (47)—shows none of Henry's anxiety at being taken for a greenhorn. Even so, as the last quotation shows, humor and irony are well within the tattered man's range: "Oh, I'm not goin' t' die yit. There too much dependin' on me fer me t' die yit. No, sir! Nary die! I can't! Ye'd oughta see th' swad a' chil'ren I've got, an' all like that." The youth glancing at his companion could see by the shadow of a smile that he was making some kind of fun.      (47) Here the bitter countrified drollery with which Crane's yokel speaks is beyond Henry's appreciation. One could cite a few other expressions that may have struck readers in 1895 as colorful and old-fashioned—"a hull string of rifle-pits" (22), "sore feet an' damn' short rations" (23), "could tear th' stomach outa this war" (80, 106), "sech stomachs aint alastin' long" (7), "Gee-rod [Jesus God], how we will thump 'em" (14). Framed by the narrator's own terse, up-to-date, and highly individualized prose, these and other locutions and speeches helped give the soldiers' talk a slightly quaint, historical feel. The novel had an overwhelming historical authenticity for readers, not because it revived the history of battles and leaders and official rhetoric, but because it revived, or seemed to revive, the unofficial voices and the unexpressed experiences. The book seemed to disclose what went on behind—and in this sense resembles the new social history of our own time (which also uses smoke and mirrors at times). It was the illusion of factual excavation and reconstitution that Crane was appar- ently after. The glaring disparities between his language as narrator and the way his characters speak helped turn the trick. To single out the more colorful speeches for attention, however, is to convey a misleading impression of Crane's soldiers' talk, which is flat and inexpressive and on the whole rather dull. "Billie—keep off m' feet. Yeh run—like a cow" (16). We're allus bein' chased around like rats. It makes me sick" (77). "Mebbe yeh think yeh fit th' hull battle yestirday, Flemin'." "Why, no, … I don't think I fit th' hull battle yestirday" (76). A general, elated that the center of his line has held, repetitiously gloats, "Yes—by Heavens—they have! … Yes, by Heavens, they've held 'im! They've held 'im" (34). A sort of shapeless ordinariness characterizes the language of all the speakers, ranging from the garrulous cheery-voiced man who guides Henry to his regiment to tongue-tied Henry himself. In fact, rather than trying to make his characters sound interesting, Crane deliberately spotlights their inexpressiveness. Again and again he shows how poorly their words match their thoughts and feelings. After Henry's regiment has repulsed the first charge, he preens himself on having lived up to his ideals; all he says, however, is "Gee, aint it hot, hay?" (30). When he seems "about to deliver a philippic" (one of the narrator's many references to classical oratory), he can only say, "Hell—" (45-46). His intense effort to deliver a "rallying speech" only produces "Why—why—what—what's th' matter?" (57). 8 It is striking how often what we hear the characters saying doesn't match in interest what we are told about their speeches. When a young girl prevents a fat soldier from stealing her horse, we hear the men saying "Gin' him thunder" and "Hit him with a stick," but the "crows and cat-calls" (12-13) that assail him when he runs off are not reported. When "a black procession of curious oaths" comes from Jim Conklin's lips, we hear nothing but another man's not very interesting questions: "Well, why don't they support us? Why don't they send supports? Do they think—" (27). In Chapter 1, it is reported that Jim Conklin and Wilson "had a rapid altercation, in which they fastened upon each other various strange epithets"; the only speeches that get reported, however, are on the order of "Oh, you think you know—" and "Huh" (9). Similarly, there is often a disparity between the claimed and the apparent tone in which speeches are delivered. When we are informed that Henry "yells in a savage voice," the spoken words hardly live up to this advance billing: "Well, yeh needn't git mad about it" (15). The cumulative impression is that, although there may be interesting language somewhere, practically everything we overhear is marked by an all-pervading dullness. This flagrant inarticulateness, so pervasive and obvious in the novel, of course contributes to its realism of speech, but, more important, it contributes to an ambitious inquiry into the social and moral constraints on self-expression. From the second paragraph on, Crane makes it clear that unrestrained speech carries real risks. In fact, it is an incautious speech that gets the story moving: A soldier identified at first only as tall returns to camp "swelled with a tale" to the effect that the army is about to move. He is immediately contradicted by a sulking soldier who is tagged with the epithet "loud." Before long the two characters are given names, Jim Conklin and Wilson, and as the narrative develops, each one's changing habits of speech reflect what he has learned in battle. For now, though, they are only two different kinds of loose speakers, an expansive tall-talker and a hectoring loud-mouth. At this early stage Conklin is another version of the jacket-whirling man on shore in "The Open Boat," whose signalling turns out to be without significance. Jim carries a garment that he waves "banner-like," and he adopts "the important air of a herald." When he speaks, it is "pompously" and "with a mighty emphasis" (1, 9). He seems to be the sort who is never at a loss for answers, as when he produces "a heavy explanation" (19) of troop movements: "I s'pose we must go reconnoiterin' 'round th' kentry jest t' keep 'em from gittin' too clost, or t'develope'm, or something" (20). The sentence makes it clear that this great windbag doesn't know the meaning of reconnoiter or the technical military sense of develop. Later, after Conklin has sustained a mortal wound in the abdomen, he no longer talks like a blowhard. When he says to Henry, "I thought mebbe yeh got keeled over. There's been thunder t' pay t'day. I was worryin' about it a good deal" (42-43), his words ring pathetically true. His newfound gift for honest speech seems connected, paradoxically, to his effort to conceal his mortal wound. There is a grim humor, in fact, in the revelation that his abdomen has the appearance of being "chewed by wolves" (45). Crane, always aware of parallels with ancient Greece, wants us to recall the Spartan boy who was chewed to death by a fox hidden under his cloak. Conklin now knows how to govern his tongue, having learned Laconic speech the hard way. Wilson also develops for the better as a result of his combat experience. Although he begins by ordering Conklin to shut up, he soon learns to express himself more gently. What changes him is the knowledge that others, Henry in particular, have witnessed his fear and cowardice. Wilson's secret is out, and with it his loud defensiveness. His comrades are still liable to be "stung" by "language," but Wilson can no longer be "pricked" by the "little words" that "other men aimed at him" like bullets (68). This invulnerability is what chiefly distinguishes him from Henry, who remains fearful that his shameful acts will come to light. Henry's "tender flesh" is repeatedly "stung" (93) by taunts, and when he and Wilson hear themselves dismissed as "mule-driver" and "mud-digger" by an officer, it is Henry alone who sustains a wound: "arrows of scorn … had buried themselves in his heart" (100). Ironically, Wilson has acquired his armored immunity by rashly disclosing his fear of combat. Henry, by contrast, feels compelled by the accidents of war and his own moral weakness to conceal his desertion of the regiment and of the tattered soldier. Thus, as far as the capacity to speak moral and emotional truth is concerned, Henry develops in an opposite way from Conklin and Wilson. At first the loud talk of these two men masks their real fears. Then they learn to express themselves: "I was worryin' about it a good deal." Henry, on the other hand, remains alternately tongue-tied and dishonest. At the beginning he does not dare give voice to his "outcry" (19) that the stupid generals are marching the men into ambush. Near the end, recalling his shameful treatment of the tattered man, he can only utter "a cry of sharp irritation and agony" followed by a covering "outburst of crimson oaths" (107). In the few instances when his tongue seems unloosed his speech is notably hollow, as when he finally expresses the thoughts that have been on his mind from the beginning and delivers "a long and intricate denunciation of the commander" (75). Such talk is foolish as well as dangerous, and he lapses back into his uneasy state of silence after being "pierced" by the "words" of a "sarcastic" voice (76). What we follow in The Red Badge is an account of incomplete development, an explanation, partly moral and partly circumstantial, of how a youth loses the capacity to express himself in speech. He grows up to be the kind of man who is chronically unable to speak his mind. To say that Henry's development is incomplete is not, however, to say that he remains unchanged, as he does succeed in losing the callow daydreams, fantasies, and aspirations that are a product of his untested egotism. In some of the longer passages that were dropped from the manuscript, Henry's lofty philosophizing allows him to feel great disdain for those who do not see how nature tricks men into the risky pursuit of glory. Wandering alone away from his outfit, unable to endure the prospect of being turned into a "slang-phrase" at whom others "crowed and cackled," he sees himself alone on "the bitter pinnacle of his wisdom." He feels called to become the "prophet of a world-reconstruction." "Far down in the untouched depths of his being, among the hidden currents of his soul, he saw born a voice." This voice, grandiloquent and self-honoring, never finds an occasion to express itself in speech, for once Fleming is safely back with his regiment he begins to distance himself from his "foolish compositions." (The manuscript presents Henry as a bad writer—and thus an alternative version of the author—much more so than does the Appleton edition.) In the end he feels contempt for these "earlier gospels" and is glad to know he does not have to be a prophet: "he would no more stand upon places high and false, and denounce the distant planets." As one who has not only survived but who has shown himself capable of heroic deeds in battle, he feels "a large sympathy for the machinery of the universe." The universe is on his side after all, and it is this comforting conviction that introduces the quiet manhood paragraph. 9 He is somehow at one with the powers that be: this is the illusion on which his manhood is founded. He has grown up to the extent that he has renounced the megalomania of lonely and unhappy adolescence. But he is very far from the correspondent's wisdom at the end of "The Open Boat." Because Wilson develops in such a different way from Henry, it is a serious mistake to take Henry's maturation as universal and inevitable. Some readers have made The Red Badge out to be a systemic account of war or struggle or language. In fact, it is close to being a traditional narrative of an individual's moral and social bildung. 10 One of its traditional elements is its use of significant contrasts that establish a context for judging the central character. The chapter in which Henry returns Wilson's packet of letters makes the key differences clear. This packet, like Wilson's original "melancholy oration" (one of the novel's countless references to forms of studied speech), constitutes a "small weapon" in Henry's hands. To use this weapon would be "to knock his friend on the head" (70-71). Henry imagines he is acting with magnanimous forbearance by saying nothing about the letters, but in actual fact he is hu- miliating his friend by extorting an embarrassing speech from him. In effect he has wounded Wilson on the head, so that "dark, prickling blood had flushed into his cheeks and brow." Wilson now has his own red badge, except that his shame is public in a way that Henry's will never be. Simultaneously, Henry quietly enjoys a daydream about "the stories of war" (73) he will tell his mother and the schoolgirl back home. The contrast is richly significant: while Wilson makes himself engage in a painful act of communication, Henry indulges a solitary fantasy about the self-flattering speeches he will make elsewhere. The scene brilliantly exposes the evasions of "quiet manhood." It is surprising how many soldiers are wounded in the head in Crane's novel, and how often their head injuries are linked to the capacity for speech. When the babbling man is grazed on the head by a bullet, he responds by saying, "Oh" (28). Another man has his jaw supports shot away, "disclosing in the wide cavern of his mouth, a pulsing mass of blood and teeth. And, with it all, he made attempts to cry out. In his endeavor there was a dreadful earnestness as if he conceived that one great shriek would make him well" (100). The tattered man apparently gets his mortal wound after a friend, Tom Jamison, blurts out that his head is bleeding. Another man in the tattered man's regiment dies after being shot "plum in the head": Everybody yelled out t' 'im: ‘Hurt, John? Are yeh hurt much?’ ‘No,’ ses he. He looked kinder surprised an' he went on tellin' 'em how he felt. He sed he didn't feel nothin'. But, by dad, th' first thing that feller knowed he was dead…. So, yeh wanta watch out. Yeh might have some queer kind 'a hurt yerself.      (47; italics mine) Finally there is the cheery-voiced man's comrade, Jack, who answers a stranger's question at the wrong time: "Say, where's th' road t' th' river?" An' Jack, he never paid no attention an' th' feller kept on a-peckin' at his elbow an' sayin': "Say, where's th' road t' th' river?" Jack was a-lookin' ahead all th' time tryin' t' see th' Johnnies comin' through th' woods an' he never paid no attention t' this big fat feller fer a long time but at last he turned 'round an' he ses: "Ah, go t' hell an' find th' road t' th' river." An' jest then a shot slapped him bang on th' side th' head.      (61) In all these accounts there is an association between a terrible head wound and the articulation of thought through speech. Whether to speak up and what to say are extremely delicate questions in combat. How you resolve them may well determine whether you emerge dead or alive. Henry himself is struck and injured on the crown of his head while confusedly attempting to declare himself, though whether he is trying "to make a rallying speech, to sing a battle-hymn," or simply to ask a question is not clear: "‘Why—Why—’ stammered the youth struggling with his balking tongue." What counts is that he gets his wound while struggling unsuccessfully to express his thoughts, and, strangely, from then on his red badge marks a permanent incapacity to speak the truth about his experience in war. The tattered man has it right: Henry has sustained "some queer kind 'a hurt" in his ability to communicate through speech. The Red Badge is the circumstantial account of an odd injury to the central character's capacity to utter moral truth about himself. Because we cannot know exactly what goes on in the minds of the other soldiers, it is difficult to say whether they share Henry's systematic untruth. (The question is similar to the one that bothers Henry in Chapter 1.) But there are certain features of the narrative that invite us to see him as representative of a large class of men, though not of all men. He is identified as "the youth," first of all, and the deceptive silence that characterizes him at the end seems to be the new order of the day. Significantly, the final instances of direct discourse in the novel are all rude putdowns intended to reduce others to silence: "Oh, shet yer mouth." "G'home, yeh fool."      (107-8) The Appleton edition kept only the first of these, the command to shut one's mouth. This and the two following commands, and also the immediately preceding speeches, all by unnamed members of the regiment, are placed within the frame of Henry's agonized reflections on his abandonment of the tattered man. Evidently, the other men also feel it is best not to engage in public postmortems. Indirectly, they are telling Henry to keep his shame to himself. Confession would be sickening. The way to be a man among men is to refrain from telling what you have done or how you feel about it. Wilson is the significant exception. The concluding exchanges between him and Henry imply that Wilson has become an outsider by virtue of his newly devel- oped ability to talk. Like Crane's own father (whose profession was defined by formalized talk, that is, the sermon), Wilson is now "a dog-hanged parson" (77). One particular exchange establishes the final positions of the two young men relative to speech. "Well, Henry, I guess this is goodbye-John," says Wilson, and Henry answers, "Oh, shet up, yeh damn' fool" (91). Wilson's speech is not notably mawkish or embarrassing. Indeed, his use of a humorous colloquialism serves to keep his sentiment at a safe enough distance. Even so, Henry orders him to cease speaking, in this way expressing his solidarity with the final sentiment of the other men: whatever it is you have to say, keep it to yourself. One of the most horrifying moments in the novel occurs when Jimmie Rogers, mortally wounded, is noticed by his fellows: When their eyes first encountered him there was a sudden halt as if they feared to go near. He was thrashing about in the grass, twisting his shuddering body into many strange postures. He was screaming loudly. This instant's hesitation seemed to fill him with a tremendous, fantastic contempt and he damned them in shrieked sentences.      (81-82) A very minor character, Jimmie is forgotten as the battle continues. In the final chapter, however, in a passage excised from the Appleton edition, Wilson remembers him: [H]e suddenly gestured and said: "Good Lord!" "What?" asked the youth. "Good Lord!" repeated his friend. "Yeh know Jimmie Rogers? Well, he—gosh, when he was hurt I started t' git some water fer'im an', thunder, I aint seen'im from that time 'til this. I clean forgot what I—say, has anybody seen Jimmie Rogers?" "Seen'im? No! He's dead," they told him. His friend swore.      (106) Before being deleted, this passage served to interrupt a sequence in which Henry reflects on his performance and seeks to overcome his sense of private shame. Just before the passage Henry struggles "to marshall" (106) his acts and make them "march" (106) in front of him. There follows the transition to Wilson's act of recollection: "His friend, too, seemed engaged with some retrospection" (106). Then, immediately after the Jimmie Rogers passage, our attention is called to the contrast between Wilson's act of memory and the triumphal procession that Henry is privately staging for his own benefit: "But the youth, regarding his procession of memory, felt gleeful and unregretting, for, in it, his public deeds were paraded in great and shining prominence," (106) figuratively marching "in wide purple and gold" (106) and culminating in a glorious "coronation" (106). There is an obvious contrast between Wilson's public act of recollection and the private march of triumph Henry indulges in. Curiously, the difference between Wilson's and Henry's ways of recalling scenes of battle matches the difference between the manuscript and the Appleton edition. In suppressing the imagery of the triumphant procession along with Wilson's recollection of Jimmie Rogers (and in combination with other deletions), the latter version largely prevents us from getting a purchase on Henry's self-deceptions. Indeed, Crane even added a final sentence that closely parallels the self-flattering coronation: "Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds." In replacing the private and ironic coronation with an external and quasi divine endorsement of Henry's new faith and confidence, Crane in effect rewrote the ending as Henry might have written it. The private self-solacing deception in the manuscript becomes objective reality in the version of the novel that all readers regarded as authoritative until 1982, when Binder's edition first became available. It is not necessary to explain such major alterations in the text and meaning of the novel by blaming them on Crane's editor or publisher. 11 The fact that the altered sense of the last chapter is so closely entangled with the questions at issue in the book suggests that Crane himself may well have been responsible. Belonging to a band of men was no less vital for him than was the need to go off on one's own, whether in a social or philosophical sense. The Red Badge emerged from a battle waged within himself, and the battle was still being fought as he moved from the manuscript to the version finally brought out by Appleton. The instability in Crane is epitomized by a curious opposition between the way The Red Badge (both editions in this case) and "The Open Boat" treat the sort of scene in which a man becomes the butt of others' derisive laughter. In Henry's eyes, the worst social injury a man can sustain is to be turned into a "slangphrase" by another man uttering "a humorous remark in a low tone" (54) to a group of men. After alternating between an incommunicable anxiety about his proven treachery and a sense of satisfaction at his public image, Henry joins the group whose identifying speech-act is the silencing jeer directed at the outsider. Wilson, however, seems to be well on his way to becoming the butt of someone's "Ah, there, Willie." We have very different feelings for the man who painfully acquires a decent kind of honesty in The Red Badge and for the loose signaler of "The Open Boat." Yet, as the similarity in their names suggest, it would not be completely absurd to see them as the same man. But if they are the same man, then Crane himself must have been two very different men. Notes 1. The quotation comes from the end of Chapter 10 of Henry Binder's edition (New York: Norton, 1982). Based on the manuscript, this edition gives considerably more attention to the pessimistic philosophy Henry Fleming indulges in while isolated from his regiment. The passages, later excised, in which he mentally labors on his new "gospels" originally constituted the conclusions of Chapters 10 and 15 (Chapter 14 in the Appleton edition), a long section in the middle of Chapter 16 (Chapter 15), and all of Chapter 12. These segments are repetitious and overwritten and are narrated with heavy sarcasm, and it is understandable that they would have been dropped. Unfortunately, they are necessary in order to make sense of certain key passages in the concluding chapter, as Hershel Parker was the first to notice. For that reason alone, my text is the one first assembled by Binder. The virtue of this text is that it gives us an idea of what the author originally had in mind in composing the novel. But there will never be an adequate final text. Space and time forbid any consideration of the third version of the novel, the abridgement published by a newspaper syndicate, which emphasized action over reflection and concluded with the successful capture of the rebel colors. 2. See Henry Binder, "The Red Badge of Courage Nobody Knows," in Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, ed. Henry Binder (New York: Avon, 1987), 150. 3. See Donald Pizer, "‘The Red Badge of Courage Nobody Knows’: A Brief Rejoinder," Studies in the Novel 11 (Spring 1979): 77-81, and "The Red Badge of Courage: Text, Theme, and Form," South Atlantic Quarterly 84 (Summer 1985): 302-13. 4. "Stephen Crane's Own Story," in Prose and Poetry (New York: Library of America, 1984), 875-84. 5. Stephen Crane, Prose and Poetry (New York: Library of America, 1984), 897. 6. James Thurber, "The Secret Life of James Thurber," New Yorker 19 (27 February 1943): 15-17. 7. Of those who have considered the representation of speech in the novel, W. M. Frohock, "The Red Badge and the Limits of Parody," Southern Review 6 (1970): 137-48, comments on Crane's use of free indirect discourse and Fleming's "bucolic" speech. Robert L. Hough, "Crane's Henry Fleming: Speech and Vision," Forum (Houston) 3 (1962): 41-42, shows that the inconsistencies in Crane's reproduction of Fleming's colloquial speech testify to Crane's lack of interest in the accurate recording of actual talk. I wish to thank Donald Pizer for calling these articles to my attention and for providing the impetus to pay closer attention to Crane. 8. See Amy Kaplan's treatment of the inadequacy of storytelling in "The Spectacle of War in Crane's Revision of History," New Essays on the Red Badge of Courage, ed. Lee Clark Mitchell (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986), 91-94. 9. Hershel Parker first pointed out that the deletion of the two paragraphs preceding the sentence, "With this conviction came a store of assurance," removes the referent of "this conviction." 10. For a recent example, see Christine Brooke-Rose's deconstructive reading, which maintains that "The hero/the monster, running to/running from, separation/membership, and spectator/spectacle … are intertwined with each other and caught up in the opposition that subsumes them-that of courage/cowardice" ("Ill Logics of Irony," in New Essays on The Red Badge of Courage, ed. Lee Clark Mitchell [Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986], 129). This essay relies on Paul de Man's claim that "a narrative endlessly tells the story of its own denominational aberration" (141). Brooke-Rose's dependence on a thinker known to have con- cealed his Nazi collaborationism in order to construct her argument that Fleming's cowardice and savagery are exemplary for all men ravages her claim that the distinction between cowardice and courage may be safely collapsed. 11. In any case this argument has not held up to critical scrutiny. See James Colvert, "Crane, Hitchcock, and the Binder Edition of The Red Badge of Courage," in Critical Essays on Stephen Crane's "Red Badge of Courage" (Boston: G. K. Hall, 1990), 238-63. Daniel Shanahan (essay date fall 1996) SOURCE: Shanahan, Daniel. "The Army Motif in The Red Badge of Courage as a Response to Industrial Capitalism." Papers on Language and Literature 32, no. 4 (fall 1996): 399-409. [In the following essay, Shanahan examines the roles of contention, competition, and capitalism in Crane's The Red Badge of Courage.] In 1904, four years after the death of his friend Stephen Crane, Henry James returned to the United States for the first time in twenty-one years. He describes his approach to New York City this way: … the monster grows and grows … becoming … some colossal set of clockworks, some steel-souled machine room of brandished arms and hammering fists and opening and closing jaws. The immeasurable bridges are but as the horizontal sheaths of pistons working at high pressure, day and night …      (75) This was the New York which, in the two short decades of James's absence, had replaced the prosaic city of James's youth; this new city of motion and machines was the New York Crane had lived in as he wrote The Red Badge of Courage. It was a city that, like the country it represented, had been "seized by change" (Martin 361). Indeed, probably nothing could better characterize the period of James's absence than the overwhelming transformation and retransformation that America underwent from 1880 to 1900. 1 And the forces behind the changes which took place in those years were largely those which underlie James's description of New York: the impetus of capitalism and industrialization, of the competitive drive to succeed and the machine which helped make success possible. As Larzer Ziff points out, the early literary response to the social upheaval created in America by capitalism and industrialization was ambiguous—and weak. The problem was not lack of talent: it was lack of vision. As Ziff suggests of the architectural establishment of the time, writers who had grown up in pre-Civil War America "yearned to impose upon the whirl of late-nineteenth-century-America the dream of stasis, an ideal and all-covering beauty … Static idealization of the human condition seemed to be the answer to the impossibly unaesthetic whirl of social conditions" (22). But what was needed was a vision which would unify the "unaesthetic whirl" without confining it, and to achieve that vision a writer would have to be willing to allow the whirl to emerge without bending it to his own purposes. Didacticism, ideal or apocalyptic, could easily betray the integrity of any attempt to distill the temper of the times into a literary work. "Static idealization" was not, however, the only response to the turmoil and confusion. There had been one fairly recent instance in which an overriding national spirit had been forged into a purposive and intensely satisfying—at least for some—raison d'etre: the American Civil War. In the face of the rapid transformation of American social, political and even moral life, what had been to some a national tragedy of overwhelming proportions became for others a touchstone upon which they tried to base a new sense of national character, a national pride, and, above all, national direction. By the 1880s, the Civil War was close enough in time to have been the most formative national experience in the lives of men of letters, and far enough distant to have become ripe for mythologizing. As John L. Thomas says, it was common in the 1880s for social observers, many of them New Englanders, to prescribe martial virtue as a cure for the ills of society or to recommend the lessons of the Civil War as a means of renewing national vigor … In the years after 1880 Francis A. Walker, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.—all veterans of the Civil War and sons of New England acutely conscious of its heritage of nationalism—elaborated new concepts of the "useful citizen" and the "soldier's faith" derived from experiences on Civil War battlefields.      (61) Two of the more popularly successful attempts to draw on aspects of the "martial" experience of the Civil War as a way of addressing the social convulsions of a society hurtling into capitalism and industrialization did not actually portray the War itself, but both rely on an army motif to evoke the social climates of nascent competition and mechanization in the fictional worlds they create. Edward Bellamy's utopian Looking Backward: 2000-1887 envisions a future society in which mechanization has been tamed and competition transformed into cooperation, largely through the aegis of a huge "industrial army" into which society, now harmonious and productive, has been organized. Looking Backward was the third most popular novel of its time, it produced a wave of nationalism in the country, and thus became a social event in its own right. 2 But it also spawned a series of responses and rebuttals, one of the more apocalyptic of which was Ignatius Donnelly's anti-utopian Caesar's Column. In Donnelly's dystopian work, an oligarchical dictatorship which has harnessed the miracles of modern mechanization to perpetuate an Orwellian-style slave state is overthrown by an underground army of loosely organized rebels; but because the rebel chiefs cannot harness the fury of the subjugated masses that erupts once the insurrection begins, civilization as we know it is destroyed. Despite the contrasting nature of their respective visions, both Bellamy and Donnelly seem to use the army motif because it evoked for them the importance of social organization in an age beset by the "unaesthetic whirl" of social transformation. As Thomas puts it, The time in Bellamy's own experience when Americans had massed and marched as armies was the Civil War, and to that "grand object-lesson in solidarity," as he called it, he instinctively returned for the organizational principle of his utopia.      (2) However, their didactic purposes—Bellamy's determination to show how American society could transform itself into a humanistic utopia, and Donnelly's equally determined attempt to prove Bellamy wrong—kept either man from using the army motif as powerfully as they might have. Neither of their novels captures the unsettling vibrancy of the 1880s and 90s, and neither is a work of lasting fictional importance. While there is no direct evidence that Stephen Crane read either Bellamy or Donnelly, it is hard to imagine that anyone who lived and traveled, as Crane did, in the literary circles of the 1890s could have avoided reading Looking Backward. Indeed, the novel's popularity was such that almost any college student of the late eighties or early nineties is likely to have read and discussed both Bellamy and Donnelly. But whether or not Crane read either, it can hardly be mere coincidence that he, like the others, chose the army as one of the overriding images with which he develops his most important work. More importantly, because The Red Badge of Courage brings the themes of capitalistic competition and technological advancement into play without subordinating them to a didactic purpose such as Bellamy's or Donnelly's, Crane was able to use a motif similar to theirs to create one of the major literary works of his time. Crane wrote The Red Badge of Courage immediately after Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, a novel which presents a vision of contemporary society as a ruthlessly competitive domain in which all men—and women—are reduced to their predatory instincts and all of their distinguishing characteristics are effaced by the brutality to which they themselves become subject. The effects of emergent capitalism on American society are never far from view in Maggie, and given the novel's highly competitive social environment, it comes as no surprise that the theme of competition so thoroughly informs Red Badge. From the opening moments of the book, in which Crane portrays two soldiers arguing over rumors about troop movements, to the near-brawl that erupts before the first chapter closes—this time about how well the regiment will fight—contention is the dominant mode of social interaction. In the world Crane creates, the army is rife with internal contention even before it enters into the grand competition by which, Marx had argued only a few years before, industrial capitalism sustains itself. But throughout the first half of the novel, the main character, Henry Fleming, is an exception to the rule of contention and competition as the dominant mode of behavior, and while it is common to see Henry as a character taken from romantic idealism about war to a tempered bravery, it is less common to see how Henry's reluctance to compete, and his later willingness to do so, punctuate his change in character. Because he seems to lack the innate competitive instincts of the other men in the regiment, Henry never takes part in any of the arguing, sparring or contending that goes on between his fellows. In short, he fails to communicate with them on the terms in which they most frequently seem to communicate with one another, so he remains an outsider, and only nominally a member of the army. Only after he witnesses the death of his friend, Jim Conklin, does Henry begin to show signs of adopting the aggressiveness he will need to face the realities of war. Moments after Jim's violent death, Henry makes "a furious motion" in response to the tattered soldier's questions about Henry's non-existent wound; Henry became "as one at bay" (55) and he feels "the quiver of war desire." This is the first competitive flicker in Henry's character, and its appearance marks his readiness for the "red badge" which will initiate him into the fellowship of his social environment. Surprisingly little has been made of the fact that Henry's "wound," the red badge of "courage" which marks the turning point in his character development, comes neither from the enemy nor even from a random unidentifiable bullet: it comes from one of his own men, a soldier fleeing wildly, as Henry did, and who perceives Henry as merely another opposing force, another competitor. In this pivotal moment, Henry is attempting to communicate; however, he cannot see that his attempt has only one meaning in the lexicon of men each battling for his own survival: he is a threat to the soldier. And as a consequence, Henry receives the one response which makes sense: the man floors him with a single, vicious blow from his rifle—used, by a man in his most primitively competitive frame of mind, as a club. Ironically, but not surprisingly, given that from the outset of the novel contention has been the currency of social communication, it is this blow from a comrade that punctuates the end of Henry's isolation from his fellows and initiates him into their ranks. Hence-forth he is truly a member of the army, and as time goes on he reveals the effect of that initiation by becoming supremely competitive. Markedly contentious on several occasions during the night and morning after his return to the regiment, Henry enters battle with "his teeth set in a curlike snarl" (80); "he lost everything but his hate, his desire to smash into pulp the glittering smile of victory which he could feel upon the faces of his enemies." Not surprisingly, Henry shines in battle, possessed by "the spirit of a savage religion-mad," engulfed in "wild battle madness," and awaiting "the crushing blow that would prostrate the resistance." In short, by the end of the novel Henry has reached the apotheosis of competition: he has become a true predator, and as such he demonstrates William Graham Sumner's belief "that the struggle for existence and the competition of life … draw out the highest achievements" (85). Congratulated by his fellows for his performance and complemented by his superiors, Henry ultimately finds himself a deeply different person for his experience. "He was," Crane tells us, "a man" (109) and, of course, he has also become "one of the men" in a way he could not previously. He has joined the army—that motif which seemed to carry such potency for writers trying to deal with the "unaesthetic whirl" of the late 19th century—he has found membership in society, and the catalyst of that discovery has been his acquiescence to the competitive spirit shared by his fellows. There is another way in which The Red Badge of Courage echoes Looking Backward and Caesar's Column, but here again Crane's achievement is one of lasting importance, where those of Bellamy and Donnelly are of rather passing interest. Like the other two, Crane uses mechanical imagery to position his novel on the pivot of the change wrought by the technological transformation of America wrought by industrialization, but because he does so without any overt didactic purposes, he comes much closer to making of the "unaesthetic whirl" what Tolstoy had made of national pride in War and Peace and what Kafka would make of faceless bureaucracy in The Trial: a vibrant undercurrent which transforms social realities into a lasting vision of the human condition. Early on, in the first battle scene, machine imagery begins to appear after Henry has fired his first wild shot: "Directly," Crane says, "he was working at his weapon like an automatic affair" (31); soon the entire regiment "wheezed and banged with a mighty power" (31). Before long both Henry and the regiment are described in assembly-line images: clanking and clanging become the dominant sounds of the battle. This imagery pervades the novel. In the battle in which Henry flees, he imagines that the enemy "must be machines of steel" (36); the men who fail to run Henry calls "methodical idiots! Machine-like fools!" (37). As he wanders aimlessly, Henry finds the battle "like the grinding of an immense and terrible machine" (43), the purpose of which is to "produce corpses," and when he joins the wounded column he reflects how the "torn bodies expressed the awful machinery in which the men had been entangled" (45). Even the death of his friend, Jim Conklin, takes on a machine-like quality: as it goes into its final death spasms, Conklin's body is like some engine wheezing and sputtering jerkily to a final halt, its broken gears causing the grotesque and halting dance of death. Indeed, in a later battle in which the regiment seems near its own death, Crane calls it "a machine run down" (91). Machine imagery does not, however, account for the powerful evocation of turmoil Crane achieves. As R. W. Stallman long ago pointed out, "motion and change [are] … the dominant leitmotif of the book and a miniature form of its structure" (xxiv). Henry's initiation into the regiment's competitive, contentious mode of life is the consequence of having plunged himself into the motion of the battle; joining in the surging "blue demonstration," he becomes part of it and thereby achieves cog-like membership in his social environment. Similarly, when the flux of battle begins to dominate the novel, the battlefield itself takes on the appearance of a giant engine in which the armies are like pistons crashing to and fro in a wild orgy of mechanical power. For example, late in the novel, as Henry and his comrades watch the battle from a distance, Crane describes the sound of the artillery as "the whirring and thumping of giant machinery"; then On an incline over which a road wound he saw wild and desperate rushes of men perpetually backward and forward in riotous surges. These parts of the opposing armies pitched upon each other madly at dictated points. To and fro they swelled.      (100) While overtly the natural image of the sea, the to and fro motion, coupled with the "whirring and thumping of machinery" and the pitching of armies upon each other at "dictated points" make this passage strongly suggestive of piston motion. Unlike Henry Adams, who finds the steam engine and its mechanics too spiritless when compared to the dynamo, Crane finds in them the essence of the world of his time, plunging his readers headlong into the piston-like fury of the mechanical age—as his friend Henry James would when he returned to America four years after Crane's death. This riot of motion continues as Henry and his regiment enter the final engagement of the battle. Twice Crane describes them as moving "to and fro" (100, 101); they begin to fire automatically, "without waiting for word of command." And as they approach the climactic confrontation with the enemy, Henry anticipates the moment this way: As he ran a thought of the shock of contact gleamed in his mind. He expected a great concussion when the two bodies of troops crashed together. This became a part of his wild battle madness. He could feel the onwards swing of the regiment about him and he conceived of a thunderous, crushing blow that would prostrate the resistance and spread consternation and amazement for miles. The flying regiment was going to have a catapultian effect.      (103) Here Crane reaches his crescendo: Henry has immersed himself in the regiment, the regiment plunges itself piston-like into the fray, and as they become caught up in the furious motion of battle, both Henry and his regiment, as we have seen, take on the attributes of predatory animals as Crane brings together the two churning forces which have created his world's "unaesthetic whirl": competition and technological change. The question of whether Crane's vision of Henry is ironic has elicited a great deal of discussion among readers of the novel. 3 But perhaps a passage Crane deleted from the final paragraphs of the novel's final version holds the key to understanding both Crane's attitude towards Henry and the world he creates for him and his comrades to inhabit. In the deleted passage, Crane says of Henry: He was emerged from his struggles, with a large sympathy for the machinery of the universe. It was a deity laying about him with the bludgeon of correction … He would no more stand upon places high and false, and denounce the distant planets. He beheld that he was tiny but not inconsequent to the sun. In the space-wide whirl of events no grain like him would be lost.      (116) To look for Crane to approve or disapprove of Henry, or of the society of which he becomes a part, would be to attribute to Crane a didactic purpose which he did not have. His aim was to distill the essence of his time, not to show its potential, like Bellamy, or warn of its horror, like Donnelly. As an artist, Crane set out to capture the "unaesthetic whirl" in an aesthetic rendering that would preserve the dark tension of its beauty, and Red Badge is entirely consistent with that aim. Unquestionably, Henry has changed by the novel's end; unquestionably, he has become more courageous and more selfless. He has even become more humble. But he has done so within a context that deals bludgeoning blows to its creatures. He has reacted involuntarily to those blows where one might prefer measured response; he has even learned to deal them himself, where one might hope he would refuse to do so; and he has given up the one thing which might have allowed him responsible refusal: his individuality. Yet at the same time he has matured over the course of the novel, he has become broader and more tested than he was at the novel's outset, and he no longer lives life as an alienated onlooker: he has jumped with both feet into his social context. In other words, by the end of the novel not only has Henry become, as Crane tells us, "a man" (109), he has become a man of his time. In that sense, Crane is much closer to Kafka than to Tolstoy. Just as Kafka takes one aspect of his own experience of contemporary life and uses the underlying purposelessness he finds there to portray the larger vacuity to which we may all be susceptible, Crane takes one aspect of his contemporary experience and uses it to develop a broader picture of the human condition. Crane uses the army and the war to portray the mass mentality which has begun to replace individualism in his time, to evoke the spirit of predatory competition which has begun to dominate the American landscape, and, at the same time, it affords him the opportunity to expose the powerful engines of change and motion which underlie this new, predatory mass society. And by avoiding the didacticism of a Bellamy or Donnelly, Crane creates for his readers a novel which is both of its time and at a distance from it, a vision which confronts the "unaesthetic whirl" and makes of it a truthful symmetry. Notes 1. The titles of some of the works which deal with the period reflect its temper very aptly: Martin's Harvest of Change; "The Shock of Change," Chapter 2 of Samuel Hays's Response to Industrialism; The Big Change, by Frederick Lewis Allen—to name but three. 2. See also Eric Fromm's introduction to the Signet edition of Looking Backward (New York, 1960). 3. Milne Holton's Cylinder of Vision still contains the best summary of the positions taken in this discussion. See 114-15. Works Cited Allen, Frederick Lewis. The Big Change. New York: Harper, 1952. Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. Eds. Bradley, Beatty, Long and Pizer. New York: Norton, 1976. Fromm, Erich. Introduction. Looking Backward. By Edward Bellamy. New York: Signet, 1960. Hays, Samuel. Response to Industrialism. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1957. Holton, Milne. Cylinder of Vision. Baton Rouge: Louisiana UP, 1972. James, Henry. The American Scene. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1968. Martin, Jay. Harvests of Change. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice, 1967. Sumner, William Graham. "Sociology." American Thought: Civil War to World War I. Ed. Perry Miller. New York: Holt, 1954. Stallman, R. W. Introduction. The Red Badge of Courage. By Stephen Crane. New York: Random, 1951. Thomas, John L. Introduction. Looking Backward. By Edward Bellamy. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1967. Ziff, Larzer. The American 1890s. New York: Viking, 1966. Perry Lentz (essay date 2006) SOURCE: Lentz, Perry. "‘He Was a Man’: ‘Manhood’ in The Red Badge of Courage." In Private Fleming at Chancellorsville: "The Red Badge of Courage" and the Civil War, pp. 237-67. Columbia, Mo.: University of Missouri Press, 2006. [In the following essay, Lentz analyzes Crane's subtle criticisms of the often stereotypical definitions of manhood and heroism in The Red Badge of Courage.] Our central endeavor in this book has been to study The Red Badge of Courage in terms of the historical realities upon which it is based and in which it is set, to the end of seeing it as clearly, fully, and accurately as possible. The last chapter focused upon the events on the morning of the second day of the battle, both as they actually unfolded on the western face of the Union army's deployment in the Wilderness of Virginia on May 3, 1863, and as Crane depicted Private Henry Fleming and his fellow soldiers in the 304th New York experiencing them, showing how these soldiers judged themselves, how others judged them, and how a reader enabled by the historical record could perhaps achieve a sophisticated judgment upon these judgments. The Red Badge of Courage then brings us, finally, to two paragraphs showing Private Henry Fleming coming to a profound final judgment of himself. Yet gradually he mustered force to put the sin at a distance. And at last his eyes seemed to open to some new ways. He found that he could look back upon the brass and bombast of his earlier gospels and see them truly. He was gleeful when he discovered that he now despised them. With this conviction came a store of assurance. He felt a quiet manhood, nonassertive but of sturdy and strong blood. He knew that he would no more quail before his guides wherever they should point. He had been to touch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death. He was a man.      (RBC [The Red Badge of Courage ] 231-32) Yet again, then, and with the end of the book before us, we are confronted with a compelling self-assessment; the frequency with which such self-assessments appear constitutes one of the most significant strategies in this "Episode of the American Civil War." Crane's development of these moments is consistent. He never contradicts or confirms them with overt, direct authorial intrusions. It is up to the reader to judge whether such self-assessments are accurate. This is the consistent end of Crane's method. But what follows such moments elsewhere in the book—what Private Fleming then goes on to do or what superior officers or experienced witnesses then say—should warn a reader against the error of unreflectively accepting such self-assessments as accurate, self-evident, or justified. Nothing of a similarly "objective" or cautionary quality follows this last self-assessment. Only three paragraphs remain in the book, and the first two of them, still set firmly within Private Fleming's thoughts, respond to this critical moment with lyrical, positive images. The book's final paragraph presents a flat but seemingly confirmatory meteorological statement. Then the novel ends. The penultimate paragraphs of any fictional narrative hold a powerful tyranny over a reader's imagination. These two paragraphs surely seem typical of such penultimate moments. They surely seem typically right: appropriate, and hence persuasive. "He was a man": we are powerfully tempted to assign this critical sentence to the "author," the "book," or the "truth." But there is no compelling rhetorical reason not to locate it also—if indeed not entirely—in Private Fleming's own conscious perception of himself, at the moment. The crucial passage consists of four monosyllabic words and is understated in its simplicity. If we credit this thought to Private Fleming's own conscious perception, its rhetorical quality alone compellingly suggests that the matter of its essential accuracy is as closed as the book is about to be. Do we not instinctively assume that the use of understatement is, itself, a sign of maturity? Because the category of "manhood" implies more at this moment than virtues involved in infantry combat, the gender exclusivity of the language must be acknowledged. I wonder, though, if the narrative pattern described in Chapter 6 does not predominately focus upon male characters, and if the conceptions about "reality" and "maturity" we will shortly be considering are not those especially involved in masculine self-assessment. It is beyond both the scope of this study and my own capacity to do more than suggest this, but it seems to me that the great majority of narratives centering upon the disillusionment of a hero are centered upon male heroes. Were Shakespeare's great tragedy the tragedy of Cordelia rather than of Lear, its pattern and its climax and, above all, the psychological trajectory of its central character would be entirely different. Even when a work attends particularly to the disillusionment of a female character, as in the story of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter, or of Jane Eyre, or of Dorothea Casaubon in Middlemarch, the lines of force do not lead to the moment of disillusionment, but from it and into the ways in which the heroine then deals with life. It is certainly the case that the single female figure of consequence in The Red Badge of Courage would find it no consolation at all, in her wise, mature, loving agony of concern for her son, to learn that Private Fleming is now considering himself to be a "man." To return, though, to Private Fleming's situation at this moment, the stylistic simplicity in this moment of self-assessment does seem to reflect a new maturity. We surely ascribe this style—unconsciously, but correctly: "This is the way the youth himself is thinking, right now"—to the mind that is asserting herein that it is now mature. So the temptation to accept Private Fleming's self-assessment at face value is almost overwhelming. But is this the most insightful and informed response? The 304th New York: "And They Were Men" The crucial assertion "He was a man" in this final self-assessment exactly echoes the one, "And they were men," assumed by the 304th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment at an earlier moment of self-assessment. It was powerfully tempting, then, to assign that assertion to "the author" or to "the truth of the book," and that assertion also consisted of four monosyllabic words. These two assertions of "manhood" are so exactly analogous that the novel teases the attentive reader to recall the first when finally confronting the second, and the first assertion was produced quite some time before the book was to be either literally or figuratively closed. Having driven off the first rebel advance against them earlier on the morning of May 3, the 304th New York Volunteers had been grimly exultant: "‘By thunder, I bet this army'll never see another new reg'ment like us!’ ‘You bet!’" (RBC 169-70). This regimental pride was swiftly undercut for privates Fleming and Wilson and for the reader when their new brigade commander assessed the 304th as "a lot 'a mule drivers" (175). But the two privates did not report this insult (178), so the regiment proceeded into their counterattack unaware of how their previous performance had been assessed professionally, and thus with their illusions intact. The regiment's blundering failure then ensued, but as they fell back from the woods, they vanquished a rebel attacking formation; and they reacted to this minor but unmistakable victory with "joy" and "a hoarse cheer of elation" (197). The two paragraphs summarizing this portion of the 304th New York's experience that morning are strikingly similar to the two penultimate paragraphs summarizing the entirety of Private Fleming's experience throughout these two days of battle: It had begun to seem to them that events were trying to prove that they were impotent. These little battles had evidently endeavored to demonstrate that the men could not fight well. When on the verge of submission to these opinions, the small duel had showed them that the proportions were not impossible, and by it they had revenged themselves upon their misgivings and upon the foe. The impetus of enthusiasm was theirs again. They gazed about them with looks of uplifted pride, feeling new trust in the grim, always confident weapons in their hands. And they were men.      (RBC 197-98) These paragraphs also seemed somehow right, both in the way they addressed the large issues and in the way the rhetoric resolved itself into that short conclusion, so persuasive precisely because so short. Its brevity and understatement also seemed to replicate the quality of "manhood" being ascribed—or rather, self-ascribed—to the regiment: "Yes, that is the way," something urges the reader to acknowledge, "that is just the way ‘men’ conceive of themselves, once they have genuinely achieved manhood." So "manhood" in this context implies a particular quality, one that has emerged from a particular kind of experience, and we find ourselves caught up in quick agreement. We may or may not agree that "manhood" is indeed a genuine quality, or virtue, but if we disagree, our disagreement is—we viscerally feel, we instantly assume—not with these soldiers' assessment of themselves, but with "Crane," or "the book," or "the patriarchal culture that celebrates such barbarous, or gender-specific, or chauvinistic virtues." What do these critical paragraphs exactly mean, then? Why have we agreed with them so readily, as summing up a profound truth as the novel understands the truth? What exactly is that truth? The first critical point that these paragraphs claim is that the soldiers have been through a chastening ordeal, of a specific kind. This ordeal explicitly introduced them to—it was indeed even administered by—the essential hostility of the reality surrounding them: "events were trying to prove" their helplessness, "little battles had evidently endeavored" to demonstrate their weakness; they had been brought to "the verge of submission to these opinions" generated in them by the apparent malevolence of their circumambient world. This experience was emotionally painful; it created profound psychological "misgivings," of course; but it also led them (it is more than suggested) to come to know the painful truth that the universe is actively malevolent and that we will suffer in it. Assuming such a malevolent "reality" is the way we instantly make sense of the claim that, because they won a "small duel," they "had revenged themselves upon their misgivings [that is, they had proved themselves, in some critical way] and upon their foe." After all, the passage is far too portentous to permit us to think that this "small duel" merely "showed" how the five hundred men of the 304th New York were capable of outshooting the two hundred men of the Twelfth North Carolina Infantry Regiment, say (OR 390). It never occurs to a reader to make only this of the experience. You cannot even assume that "the foe" means only the Army of Northern Virginia: to do so would also belie the rhetorical sweep of the paragraph and would be manifestly illogical, because their "small" victory over a rebel unit hardly meant they had "revenged themselves" upon R. E. Lee's entire army (which by the way was still relentlessly attacking their brigade's position). We understand instead, and instinctively agree, that this "small" victory has much wider significance. We understand that the men demonstrated thereby their ability to face the harsh reality of their existence, to continue to function despite that harsh reality, and even to seize small victories from it. What finally is implicit immediately and persuasively, I think, for most readers is that this "small duel" was a combat against a manifestation of the malevolent structure of the world around them. Thus, then, their "manhood": it is a "new trust" in their weapons and in their own abilities, and one that will "always" be resident in the weapons in their hands, a self-confidence upon which they know they can always rely, and a new "pride" that is thoroughly warranted, because both the self-confidence and the pride are based upon their sure knowledge that they have faced and overcome the ultimately "grim" truths of the world. "And they were men": at last capable, through the new knowledge garnered through this brutal experience, of facing and dealing with whatever else "reality" may yet have in store for them. And they are modest, to boot, because childish notions based upon delusions of human importance in a felicitous world are firmly and forever shorn from them. Why does it seem so unnecessary, even so tedious, to offer this exegesis? Even the explanation of what it means to capture an enemy regiment's flag (see Chapter 8) probably seemed less unnecessary and redundant. Why, again, do these paragraphs seem so inherently and immediately right? Why have they brought us to agree so readily with this last assertion, believing without even a moment's reflection that it sums up a profound "truth as the novel understands the truth"? Do these paragraphs seem so right because of literary tradition? Granted, the exegesis above is in one way a reprise of that most pervasive of all literary patterns (see Chapter 6), wherein a hero such as Achilles or Lear, or a group of people such as Christ's disciples or the "Seven Samurai," possessed by some sort of illusion, undergoes or undergo a shattering disillusionment, and thence, after suffering, achieves or achieve a final triumph that, because of the new wisdom generated thereby, is altogether different from that which was first sought. But while the issue of "manhood," of masculine maturity or of human maturity irrespective of gender, may indeed be a part of this final triumph, it is not necessarily central to the pervasive pattern: "manhood" or "maturity" seems not necessarily or even particularly relevant to the ultimate personal triumphs achieved by Sophocles' Oedipus, or Shakespeare's King Lear, or Duke Prospero in The Tempest, or Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre in the novel of that name, or Ahab in Melville's Moby-Dick, or Hemingway's Tenente Frederic Henry, or the Japanese warriors in "The Seven Samurai," or for that matter even Achilles himself—all of whom entered their shaping experiences with considerable and in some cases even wizened familiarity with the realities of their worlds. The Chorus at the end of "Oedipus the King" would not say "And he was a man," would it? Do these paragraphs seem so right because of the more recent, post-World War I tradition about literature and war? At first glance, this exegesis may seem something of a reprise of that pattern of literature about war wherein individuals are transformed completely and forever by contact with the random, meaningless obscenity of modern combat (see Chapter 5). But the transformation undergone by the soldiers of the 304th New York is clearly a positive one, no matter how brutal the experience that engendered it or how "grim" the new attitudes characteristic of it. The rudimentary plot device shared by most all of such works is simply not present. There is no single devastating wound shared by the entire regiment, nor are there any wounds administered by soldiers on the same side. Had that red-bearded officer followed through with his cries and managed to have a volley pumped into his own retreating soldiers; failing that, had some of them followed through with their "dangerous" glares and murdered him during their panic-stricken moments in the woods; then we would have had a pivotal moment to place alongside the pivotal moments in A Farewell to Arms or Paths of Glory, or "Paths of Glory," or "Attack." 1 But no such thing actually occurred. So we have to look elsewhere, away from these two possibilities, to answer our question. It is worth rephrasing the question here. Why does it make such instant sense, why does the meaning of it seem beyond doubt when, at the end of their abortive counterattack, it is written "And they were men"? When the claim about the regiment's "manhood" was made, the novel was not yet nearing its end. So let us put it back in the context of the moment of its utterance, and remark what then followed (see Chapter 8). Whatever the phrase meant to the soldiers of the 304th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and whatever a reader may assume it means more generally, it meant nothing at all to the "gaunt and bronzed" soldiers of the "veteran" regiments who witnessed the New Yorkers' performance and who mocked them in terms insisting upon their callow- ness: "Was it warm out there, sonny?" (RBC 200). The claim meant nothing to their new color-bearer, perhaps the best individual private soldier in their ranks, who, given the chance to reflect, looked at his fellows with veiled "disdain." And the claim obviously would mean less than nothing, would be utterly ridiculous, to the commander of their brigade (no "Grandpa" Henderson he) who upbraided them publicly in terms that remind a reader—as "mule drivers" now became "mud diggers" in his stuttering rage—of his previous estimation of them. Nor did Colonel MacChesnay think to advance this claim on their behalf—"Well at least, Sir, they are now men." Crucial to this claim "And they were men"—again, it seems rather silly to spell this out—is the understanding that they were now at last capable of effectively dealing with "reality" no matter how it would challenge them. The claim implies that they now know the true nature of "reality," and the truth of their own abilities. But, thinking again about the analysis of their final actions on May 3, 1863, is this the case? The immediate challenge that "reality" next presented them this morning was one they had faced twice before, viz. a rebel infantry attack of regimental size or less. Their response seems in fact no different—in particular, no more capable—than yesterday afternoon, before their "transformation" into "manhood." At the beginning of this final action, "There had been no order given; the men, upon recognizing the menace, had immediately let drive their flock of bullets without waiting for word of command" (RBC 214). This may suggest they have gained a new sense of battlefield reality. But remember that yesterday afternoon Private Fleming himself "got the one glance at the foe-swarming field" and blazed away "before he was ready to begin" and obviously before he was ordered to open fire, and remember too that the regiment joined him instantly (see Chapter 3). The most salient "fact" about their defensive fire then was their lack of poise and a consequent failure to do much damage to the rebels. Their quick response on this third occasion may reveal some new instinct for battle, but the result was the same and "their flock of bullets" did not at all arrest the rebel rush. Yesterday afternoon they had suffered casualties all out of proportion to their situation, given all the advantages the rifled musket should have bestowed upon them as infantrymen in a defensive posture. They had failed then to provide themselves with effective field fortifications (despite ample opportunity to do so), or to discipline themselves to take advantage of such. This morning, they likewise "bled extravagantly" (RBC 216), and were so badly positioned or so ineptly entrenched that they found themselves being "sliced up" by rebel infantrymen who had achieved "the protection of the wandering line of fence"—an obvious feature of the terrain immediately before them that they still had not had the wisdom to recognize as a menace to their own line. Judging from the officers' conduct on this occasion, nothing in the phrase "and they were men" would seem to apply quite yet to the regimental officers of the 304th New York. There was nothing newly competent or confident in the officers' conduct, either, no matter their experience during the regiment's counterattack. They did order their men to erase the rebels' superior position with a counterattack, but they seemed just as "resentful" and mistrustful of their men as they had been yesterday. Colonel MacChesnay was still leading from the rear (RBC 217). Private Fleming's own response to this predicament may have been his alone, but its placement suggests that it can to some degree be credited to his fellow soldiers. "He saw that to be firm soldiers they must go forward. It would be death to stay in the present place, and with all the circumstances to go backward would be to exalt too many others" (RBC 217). Clearly he had in mind the stinging criticisms just visited upon the regiment. But is such motivation a part of what it means to be a "man"? To allow the criticism of others—even in cases where you do not believe it to be true—to direct your own actions even to your own death? Here, as in much else, A Farewell to Arms provides an interesting counterpoint: after he has deserted from the Italian army, Frederic Henry, in civilian clothes, is scorned by some aviators: "They avoided looking at me and were very scornful of a civilian my age. I did not feel insulted. In the old days I would have insulted them and picked a fight" (FTA [A Farewell to Arms] 243). Private Fleming "expected that his companions, weary and stiffened, would have to be driven to this assault, but as he turned toward them he perceived with a certain surprise that they were giving quick and unqualified expressions of assent" (RBC 217). Is this response indicative of some new maturity? Perhaps. But in essence they were "assenting" to following the orders they had been given. The further description of their motivation suggests not maturity of some toughened kind but an altogether different psychological state. Their "rush" was explicitly "blind and despairing" at the outset, though as they rush forward, they "were again grown suddenly wild with an enthusiasm of unselfishness." This last, the "unselfishness" bit, has a noble sound, but one that seems rather dissonant with the tone of the assertion ("And they were men") with which we are wrestling. In any case, Crane immediately goes on to stress not the nobility of their effort here, but the frenzy; and to suggest, startlingly, that the main source of their wild emotion, now that they were bodily committed to the attack, might lie in those "vanities" we (and surely they) assumed they had put well behind them in the "grim" process of becoming "men": "they were in a state of frenzy, perhaps because of forgotten vanities, and it made an exhibition of sublime recklessness" (RBC 218-19). Blindness, despair, recklessness, frenzy based upon childish vanities—are these constituent, central elements in the state of being "men"? In any case, all these psychological states were surely true of them in their first encounter with the rebels the previous afternoon. Their responses to their "successes" yesterday and today are similar. Yesterday, when the first rebel probe was blunted, Private Fleming had gone "into an ecstasy of self-satisfaction," and "There were some handshakings and deep speeches with men whose features were familiar, but with whom the youth now felt the bonds of tied hearts" (RBC 64-65). Today, after they had successfully driven away this rebel threat, "there began more wild clamorings of cheers. The men gesticulated and bellowed in an ecstasy. When they spoke it was as if they considered their listener to be a mile away." Privates Fleming and Wilson—the latter "jubilant and glorified"—"sat side by side and congratulated each other" (RBC 223-25). With their captured rebel soldiers and their captured rebel flag they were (understandably) far more exhilarated this morning. But there is no hint of any more wise, experienced, or chastened awareness in any of this second celebration; the men seem as innocently joyful now as they were then. It is striking that even their conversation after their "conversion" into "manhood" is identical to their conversation before. As the campaign opened for them, they had argued about whether the Army of the Potomac was being committed to a turning movement against the rebels (RBC 2). In the battle line they had discussed officers (the lamentable Captain Carrott, at least) knowledgeably enough and talked about the accident that befell Bill Smithers when his hand was crushed by a fellow soldier (RBC 47-48). This is exactly the substance of their conversation as they march away from the field at the end: "Oh, hush, with your comin' in behint 'em. I've seen all 'a that I wanta. Don't tell me about comin' in behint—" "Bill Smithers, he ses he'd rather been in ten hundred battles than been in that heluva hospital. He ses they got shootin' in th' nighttime, an' shells dropped plum among 'em in th' hospital. He ses sech hollerin' he never see." "Hasbrouck? He's th' best off'cer in this here reg'ment. He's a whale." "Didn't I tell yeh we'd come aroun' in behint 'em? Didn't I tell yeh so? We—" "Oh, shet yeh mouth!"      (RBC 231) Is this being too critical? After all, the sequence of events seems so clear: they failed, yet established in the process their ability to face "reality"; given a second chance, they succeeded handsomely, capturing a rebel flag in the process. What could be clearer confirmation that they have indeed undergone a significant transformation, one that has rendered them "men"? But refer back to a close consideration of this sequence (see Chapter 8), which reveals that it has no inherent significance at all. Given a chance to achieve something of real tactical importance on this narrow part of the front, they failed, through a lack of leadership, battlefield discipline, experience, and courage. Thereafter the rebels, directed by superior leadership, battlefield discipline, and experience, confronted them with the necessity to secure their own defensive position, at which they succeeded with that "rush"—a success modest enough in itself, and which manifestly had no significance at all, even to this even narrower part of the front. No sooner had they driven the rebels off than they abandoned the position themselves. In this latter process, through an overabundance of courage, the rebels virtually gave them a handful of prisoners and a regimental flag. The sequence itself is ludicrous enough. To find therein a significant confirmation of some quality about the soldiers of the 304th New York Infantry Regiment clearly is an act not of clarification or of analysis, but of imposition. This is an act most readers automatically make, and this is the key to the nested sequence of questions posed above. This is the human (perhaps particularly the masculine) response to the blank, meaningless chaos of our condition: to impose an imaginary and preconceived order upon it. And when such an imaginary and preconceived order is widely shared within a culture, it is known as a "myth." Return again to the claim that "they were men," and to its precipitating moment. Their new brigade commander characterized their abortive counterattack as, in general, "an awful mess," which is fair enough. In both military and experiential terms, it was an instance of sheer chaos. Their battle line instantly lost cohesion; the only thing "coherent" about their attack was the "trail of bodies" it left behind; time and distance lost definition, and the landscape seemed "new and unknown"; bewildered emotional states succeeded each other in stupefying sequence, "mad enthusiasm" becoming "dazed and stupid" paralysis, prideful competence becoming abject despair; their flag appeared to be both "hating and loving"; and a dead man "obstinately" fought in "ludicrous and awful ways" for that flag's possession. Then, right at the apex of utter catastrophe, when the soldiers were "panic stricken" and "beset" with "hysterical fear and dismay," they were presented with a neat little victory. What the 304th New York actually experienced was an extraordinarily heightened instance of the raw, meaningless chaos that, Crane believes, is the ultimate truth of our predicament in the universe. But what they make of the experience is something quite other. They "interpret" it as an example of perhaps the most widely shared and widely held myth of their (and our) culture. Look again at their response: "It had begun to seem to them that events were trying to prove that they were impotent. These little battles had evidently endeavored to demonstrate that the men could not fight well. When on the verge of submission to these opinions, the small duel had showed them that the proportions were not impossible, and by it they had revenged themselves upon their misgivings and upon the foe" (RBC 197). They are imposing intentionality, consciousness, perhaps even "opinion," upon what is, in fact, raw chaos. They assume that this intentionality, this consciousness, is malevolent, but compared to the truth of the matter (that we are utterly alone in a flatly indifferent, chaotic universe), there is considerable comfort in a belief that the universe is guided by a principle of active, conscious malevolence. What such a belief does is to see the world as a kind of cosmic boot camp, wherein benign illusions will inevitably be stripped away by experience, wherein experience itself will inevitably (the adverb is critical) be chastening. Those who endure and survive such experience will be "men," demonstrably proof against the capacity of "reality" to surprise them any more. Their newfound knowledge of the malevolence of the world may be a harsh knowledge, but it is indeed knowledge, and not everyone has it. There are always plenty of "Fresh fish," the "new" boys (RBC 16-17) who have not yet learned the truth of reality. Indeed, there are people who never do see the "truth." Such facts actually make it a very pleasant thing, to be burdened with this awful knowledge. Once again, A Farewell to Arms is immediately apposite. Frederic Henry and his friend Rinaldi and his lover Catherine Barkley manifestly "know"—in dramatic contrast to Helen Ferguson, who believes in old verities, and Gino, who is a patriot, and Ettore Moretti, who is "a legitimate hero who bore[s] everyone he [meets]" (FTA 124). No matter how ghastly this knowledge, in that novel it surely does enable its holders to consider themselves a veritable aristocracy. They speak to each other with the clipped language of members of an elite club, they are smugly superior to the kinds of mores and enthusiasms that dominate nonmembers, they enjoy lavish personalized service from the lower orders—headwaiters, bartenders, paper-cutters—who recognize their superiority. And if you are interested in further apposite examples, remember Lemuel Gulliver. He manages to readjust his perspective after his first and second voyages, but after his fourth voyage—where he alone among the Yahoos was privileged to benefit from the company of the Houyhnhnms and hence was endowed with a special knowledge that made him superior to all the rest of Yahoo-kind, which is to say, all the rest of humanity—he never recovers: "My horses understand me tolerably well; I converse with them at least four hours every day." 2 To be the one who "knows" the truth, or to be among the select few who "know" the truth—the appeal to one's pride is overwhelming. Yet the very fact that the knowledge is so grim can obscure the truth of that appeal from the possessor. He (or she) may become a monster of vanity while remaining blessedly unaware of the fact. So thus: "And they were men" (RBC 198). The reason my exegesis about this claim probably seemed so unnecessary, so self-evident and redundant, is probably because this myth—that "reality" is malevolent and will inevitably strip away benign illusions through chastening experience, and that the condition of "manhood" awaits the survivors at the end of this process—is so prevalent in the modern world. To put it simply, the myth assumes that the devil exists, but God does not. It is not even Gnostic, this myth. It is not even new: it is as old as human despair, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" is a wonderfully sardonic treatment of it. 3 But the prevalence of the myth (assisted hugely by folding any sense of an afterlife into those illusions that will inevitably be stripped from us by "experience"), and the striking way that this prevalence is so treasured by the modern sophisticated imagination—these seem to me to be the "modern" ramifications of it. Under its away, we just assume, we take for granted, that "experience" will sooner or later savage us and strip away our illusions, that this is what it means to "face reality." Hence the happy cynicism so prevalent among American undergraduates, especially undergraduate males. To assume this stance in advance of experience—American undergraduates currently being among the most generously and fortuitously endowed people in the history of the world—is, in a way, a sort of inoculation, and in another way a sort of one-upmanship. Hence the reiterated claim, to be found in most forms of art that seek wide public audience (popular fiction, film, television), that "everybody knows that everything is full of—, that everything is all—." And hence, too, the thematic justification for the ritualistic use of such debased, obscene language in such works currently. Such language suggests that the user thereof is one who "knows." According to Crane's fiction all this is, finally, a myth. A belief about the "universe" that is entirely unsupported by any evidence is assumed to be an immutable and unchallengeable fact. The clearest single point to emerge from Crane's mature fiction is that the "universe" is not hostile—not "cruel," which he puts first in his clearest statement of its reality, "nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise"—but that it is "indifferent, flatly indifferent." 4 The mythic belief that the universe is malevolent validates certain egocentric attitudes and stances, such as cynicism, and offers us certain genuine comforts: among them, that some category called "manhood" exists, which, once achieved, renders a person invulnerable to further surprise, and confident, competent, and capable to face whatever life may hold. But the history of the 304th New York Infantry Regiment on the morning of May 3, 1863, shows that this, in itself, is an illusion. The history of the 304th New York shows that circumambient reality is utterly chaotic and unpredictable, and that the human mind, a creature of this reality, is likewise chaotic and unpredictable, an organ endlessly capable of reverting back to "forgotten vanities" whatever intervening experience may seem to teach or whatever states of supposed maturity may seemingly have been achieved. This is a myth especially for survivors, it should be noted; it tends to put them in a category superior to those who do not survive. It tends, further, to imply that having survived is somehow a guarantor of further survival. It ignores the raw fact that a chaotic universe distributes death chaotically. The world's great literature has always insisted upon this fact, needless to say: "How dies the wise man? As the fool" (Ecclesiastes 2:16). It rains upon the just and the unjust alike. Death claims Cordelia as well as her two sisters; the sea swallows the hero Ahab and the coward Pip. It follows that devout cynicism is surely no more "effective" or "protective" than devout belief, in facing the ultimate fact of our morality. It follows that the fact that the soldiers of the 304th New York consider themselves to be "men" after their failed counterattack will be of no consequence whatever in the distribution of death along their battle line in any future fighting. Rather than the superior knowledge of themselves and the world that is implicit in this claim, the soldiers of the 304th would have been far better served, in the fighting immediately before them and the campaigns yet to come, had their experience led them instead to some mundane and specific perceptions about the Civil War battlefield: about the way to secure effective field fortifications for themselves, and about the value of disciplined, coolly aimed rifle fire that could take advantage of the new military technology they have in their hands. "And they were men." By thus ending a two-chapter sequence in which they 304th New York has undergone a brutalizing experience and then enjoyed a modest success, Crane is taking a considerable risk; especially when he then goes on, in an ensuing three-chapter sequence, to "reward" the regiment with that rebel battle flag. The risk is that his readers themselves will see in this sequence just another confirmation of the widespread myth about the universe and human (or at least masculine) experience in it. The reason he takes this risk is that his subject is not, after all, how the experience of combat affects those who undergo it but, rather, how the human mind reacts to the world in which it finds itself. To make his point in a more facile way, to check this perception about "manhood" with an immediate and overt authorial confirmation would not serve his final end, for it would spare the reader the experience of discovering just how much that myth does indeed shape his or her own instinctive, unreflective, immutable, immediate conception of circumambient reality. My assumption is that most readers' immediate response to this assertion about the regiment's new "manhood" is to agree, simply and quickly (not even pausing to consider its implications), and to move on: making themselves thereby the freshest possible examples of Crane's point. Confronted by a vicarious experience that is utterly chaotic in nature, readers nonetheless instantly seize upon and agree with this imposed mythic interpretation. Crane himself assumed that this would happen, and that reflective readers, pondering the actual details of these chapters more thoughtfully after having themselves submitted momentarily to the myth, would thereby come to understand the subtle, omnipresent, and compelling nature of this human instinct to make over our world into a more comfortable, because a more comprehensible, place, even at the price of assuming that we are surrounded by a consciously malevolent reality. But the risk would probably not have appeared all that considerable to Crane, at the hour of his writing his novel. He instantly follows this claim with contradictory challenges from veteran soldiers, from his own central figure, and from an experienced superior officer. He displays the 304th New York's next engagement, where they revert to the incompetence they displayed the previous day, and thereafter revert to old "vanities" as they seek to recover the tactical integrity of their position. He displays all their efforts (and all their celebrations) as rendered irrelevant when they are almost immediately withdrawn from the field. He counts upon a reader's general awareness of the actualities of Civil War combat to assess the progress of the regiment's performance and offers the rebels' successes in constant counterpoint to their blunderings. He must have assumed that, however much the broad outlines of his plot would encourage his readers to see this "Episode" (initially) as just another example of a group of raw soldiers achieving "manhood" through toughening "experience," the constant play of such details would compel intelligent readers to ponder the sequence with some attention and finally to come to the conclusion that whatever the readers' first assumptions, this myth is (in this instance at least) ridiculous, given the amassed and amassing contradictions and complexities of the situation. What Crane might not have foreseen is the submerging of his audience's knowledge of the realities of Civil War combat in the gigantic "testimony" of fiction about subsequent wars: how the ridiculous therein becomes the norm, and proof in itself of the malevolence of general reality. Nothing in The Red Badge of Courage is more percipient or more forward-looking than Crane's awareness that this sense of the malevolence of reality would come to dominate the human mind as it sought to make sense of the world in the very late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. I do not have the expertise, resources, time, or space to consider why this has been so, other than to note the obvious fact that religious beliefs gave way during the nineteenth century in much of the Western world—and in particular, in those parts of the world in which Crane would have found his audience—and that "the abdication of belief," as Emily Dickinson put it, not only makes "The behavior small" but surely leads to a profound—even if (especially if) illogical—sense that something horrible has become regnant in the universe. In the Western world, a belief in God came to be replaced by a powerful belief in human existentialist progress, which, when the fruit of that progress proved rancid, generated in its own turn the ominous figure of Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Kurtz can at least say "The horror! The horror!" while Marlow finds himself—as Crane believed that a genuinely insightful hero in the "new ignorance of the grave-edge" would indeed find himself—"with nothing to say" as a summary of our human predicament. 5 Whatever the reason, echoes of this myth, that "manhood" involves a brutalizing and transforming experience with the malevolence of the universe, can be found in writers of the time as distinct as Twain and Kipling, and this myth comes into its post-World War I own with Fitzgerald and Hemingway. A close reading of The Red Badge of Courage reveals that there is a quality within this myth that is profoundly dehumanizing. Not to look too closely, to discipline oneself not to look too closely, at the horror that this myth posits as lying at the center of human existence is one thing. Both Frederic Henry in A Farewell to Arms and Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby have absorbed this well. But there is also a tendency for the myth's adherents to look upon those who are not of this particular "elect"—to look upon those who are not burdened with this knowledge and who do not belong among the people who "know"—with indifference, if not contempt. This is always the problem with any "elect," Calvinist, Communist, or any other individual or group that believes it enjoys a particular status or a particular knowledge making it superior to other people. Kurtz's notorious last injunction to "exterminate all the brutes" is finally not so different in kind from Frederic Henry's gust of contempt for Helen Ferguson; or from Nick Carraway's admiration for Jay Gatsby, which forgives—thanks to Gatsby's "dream" and his final awakening therefrom—the brutal fact that Gatsby established himself in business "‘gonnegion’" with Wolfsheim by employing on the whilom home front his experience as a machine-gun officer in World War I. 6 This dehumanizing quality, this sense of a great personal superiority, in these works becomes surprisingly explicit. It is even more so in the popular fictions of our current time: think not only of the treatment of all those by-the-book police captains in the thousands of detective films and television shows of today, but also the treatment of those lesser beings who do not share the central figures' ethos in the television series "M*A*S*H." In The Red Badge of Courage this dehumanizing quality lies not so much in the attitudes toward the living that the myth generates in its hero as in his attitudes toward the wounded and the dead. If the assumption is that ultimate knowledge is scarifying and is produced by scarifying experience, the death of others can be considered as just a part of one's own education. The pain that is or should be felt in witnessing their suffering can be felt or registered as the price one pays for one's toughening experience in the world, and thus the raw facts of their individual suffering and extinction can be ignored. Private Fleming presented a splendid example of this tendency as he witnessed the death of his hutmate and "friend," Private Conklin. Recall that his first response was to shake his first "toward the battlefield" and say "Hell—" (RBC 99). This might possibly be an expression of regret for the extraordinary suffering and final death of a friend, but more likely it is his own reaction to a particularly harsh lesson placed before him. Most likely it is a purely histrionic gesture akin to a student's groan when the subject of the final examination is announced. Within a few short minutes, as the tattered soldier from the Third Corps was entering his own death agonies, Jim Conklin was already reduced in Private Fleming's mind to "that other one," just another "part player" (104) in the process whereby Private Henry Fleming was destined to become a "man." We know nothing equivalent about how the minds of other soldiers in the regiment worked, as they noticed or ignored their unfortunate fellow soldiers being transformed from "men" into "bundles of blue" (RBC 216). From the moment the 304th New York Volunteers were committed to their final "rush" through to its successful completion and thence on to the end of the novel, not much attention is given any additional casualties the regiment must have taken when they exposed themselves fully to the rebel rifle fire (218). But then, this portion of the novel is attributed almost completely to Private Fleming's mind. With the prestige of his regiment uppermost in his mind, and the "craved treasure" (221) of that rebel battle flag before him as a target and then as a possession, at this point in the novel we are hardly surprised at Private Fleming's utter lack of interest in his slain or wounded comrades. Considering their corporate claim that they were "men" and in light of the casualties suffered by the 304th New York Infantry down to that moment, we have to recognize that their claim is based upon a colossal self-absorption. Do they really mean that the captain of Private Fleming's company was not a man because he was killed at the outset, before he could partake of this valuably chastening experience? What of Private Conklin, with his unspeakable agonies of the previous afternoon? Did he die not yet a man? What of Private Jimmie Rogers, "shot through the body" during their first exchange this morning? He did not experience their abortive counterattack either—is he likewise not yet a man, for all the suffering his (doubtless mortal) wound causes to him in his single human (and mortal) existence? Again, this is a myth that particularly celebrates survivors. If these New Yorkers' corporate claim about themselves is correct, the logic that must follow concerning all these casualties is inescapable: they were all less than "men" because they did not survive until the end of the lesson. And as with Private Fleming, so with the 304th New York: does their corporate happy discovery of their own manhood mean that those dead and wounded—including those "Wounded men" they "left crying" behind them in the fire-stung wilderness during their panicked retreat—are finally to be registered as instances, objects, integers essential to the education of the survivors? Private Henry Fleming: "He Was a Man" Needless to say, it seems to me that this consideration of the implications of the regiment's belief that "they were men" bears directly upon Private Fleming's ultimate belief that "He was a man." If it seems unwise to accept the former without question, why would it be wise to so accept the latter? The risk Crane runs (see the beginning of this chapter)—that this final claim will nonetheless be taken at face value—is immeasurably greater than the risk he ran in presenting, unchallenged by any authorial comment, the regiment's own assertion of their manhood. So one of the ways Crane cautions a reader against understanding this to be the final and only "truth" of his novel is to present the regiment's claim first and to proceed immediately to assert a sequence of challenges to it; then to present Fleming's claim in ex- actly the same language and exactly the same rhetorical posture (at the end of a very portentousseeming paragraph). There is a second way the reader has been warned—and repeatedly. This claim that Private Fleming "was a man" is the last in a sequence of similar self-assertions, at least three of which a reader has been compelled to decide were untrue. Perhaps the earliest: "On the way to Washington his spirit had soared. The regiment was fed and caressed at station after station until the youth had believed that he must be a hero" (RBC 10). Literary tradition itself, indeed the entire narrative tradition of Western culture, precludes us from accepting this moment at face value (see Chapter 6). But since we are considering the novel here in light of a current mythology that informs no small part of our current literature and our current narrative tradition, we can here add yet another reason this first moment all but defies us to believe in its validity. The very use of the word "hero" renders it invalid. Modern heroes, given (or "cursed with") the knowledge of the malevolence of the circumambient world, consciously avoid using the word to refer to themselves, because to use it suggests a naivete about reality. There are surely figures in Western culture to whom the nonliterary version of the term has been applied fully and without irony. Such are the historic heroes in the pantheons of nations, who have generally died in inspirationally heroic ways, such as Nathan Hale or Horatio Nelson, or the fictional heroes enshrined in the heroic songs and tales of Western culture, such as Galahad or Roland or William Tell. Such are more modern heroes who have been elevated to that status because of nobility or intrepidity, such as the arctic explorer Robert Scott who sacrificed himself to try to spare his companions, or Charles Lindbergh or Amelia Earhart. The category is amorphous, but these are all figures whose heroism is regularly introduced into the instruction of a nation's children, and who seem to us to have been innocent about the horrific truth of human existence. These were heroes who permitted others to celebrate their victories over mundane foes such as enemy warriors, the weather at the polar extremities of the globe, the reaches of the North Atlantic while flying solo across it in a small monoplane, or who occasioned others to celebrate their heroic deaths, but who never came face-to-face with what is truly horrific according to the dominant mythology of our day; who never came face-to-face with the true malevolence of the universe. There may indeed be a prudential quality in consciously refusing the term "hero." Given a consciously malevolent universe, the first people it would seek to destroy would be those who thrust themselves forward as "heroes," of the very race that is its primary prey. (Think here of the inevitable quick doom that befalls any character in a popular film who proclaims "the bullet with my number on it hasn't been made yet," or the like.) See again A Farewell to Arms for a classic treatment of such a hero according to the current mythology. Tenente Ettore Moretti has in fact been wounded three times, and one wound, suffered in close combat, refuses to heal. His enthusiastic belief in old military verities—in the significance of wound stripes, medals, and rank, in the respect due to officers of field grade, and in the shibboleths important to soldiers in the line—culminates in the application of the word "hero" to him, which accolade he seems to accept, and happily. This warrants contemptuous dismissal of him by those (including Tenente Frederic Henry, wounded by a trench mortar while eating pasta and cheese) who truly "know." Moretti is the "legitimate hero who bored everyone he met," and so the wound in his foot that steadily extrudes rotten bone is a source of aesthetic revulsion rather than common compassion (FTA 124). This is not, though, to suggest that the central figure in the novel is an "antihero," quite the opposite. Frederic Henry is obviously to be admired throughout the course of the novel, most especially for his escape from a Carabiniere firing squad on the banks of the Tagliamento, for declaring his own "separate peace" when he deserts from the Italian army, and for his feat in small-boat navigation when he rows his pregnant mistress from Stresa up Lake Garda to the safety of neutral Switzerland during a late autumn night. Above all, he is to be admired for knowing the malevolent truth about the universe—"But they killed you in the end. You could count on that. Stay around and they would kill you" (FTA 327)—and yet still knowing how to live, for instance, how to order beer ("A light demi") in a café in Lausanne while his mistress is enduring protracted labor in the hospital. Frederic Henry is indeed a hero because he will not be called one. Real heroes do not call themselves heroes. It is a matter of style ("they're much quieter," says Catherine) and terminology (FTA 124). And so it is with readers following the experience of Private Henry Fleming of the 304th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. We, too, await the moment when Fleming will finally adopt the style and terminology our myth teaches us is "true." When Tenente Ettore Moretti touches his officer's collar badges at the mention of his getting killed, it seems to us a groundless and ludicrous gesture, because we do not share the myth that produces it. But when we instantly and unquestioningly accept Private Fleming's claim that "he is a man," is it not because we do unquestioningly accept the myth, without even recognizing it is a myth (but then, this is Crane's whole point), in which such terminology and, above all, such understatement validate the true heroism of the person (the man?) who utters it? Private Fleming's next happy understanding of his own condition came immediately after the regiment's initiation into combat, after they had resisted that initial rebel probe: "He perceived that the man who had fought thus [he himself] was magnificent. He felt that he was a fine fellow. He saw himself even with those ideals which he had considered as far beyond him" (RBC 64). This claim is instantly undone by the behavior that almost immediately followed it, when he fled "like a proverbial chicken" from the rebels' second probe. But still, such rhetoric strikes a reader as inappropriate: true heroes eschew applying words to themselves such as "magnificent" for the same reasons they eschew the word "hero"; even "fine fellow" seems a little arcane ("fine boy" would pass Catherine Barkley's muster, though). True heroes know that in a malevolent universe "ideals" are ridiculous. There may be things worth cherishing—love, friendship, the taste of red wine with cheese and apples even during a major military disaster—but the term "ideals" implies that there is some system of nonmaterialistic value that the cosmos will validate; a ludicrous notion in a world where in fact "they will kill you in the end." After he had been safely returned (though not through his own exertions) to his regiment, Private Fleming began to reassemble his vanity and self-esteem and in the process fumbled his way into the first explicit use of the formula that confronts us so imperiously at the end: "His self-pride was now entirely restored. In the shade of its flourishing growth he stood with braced and self-confident legs, and since nothing could now be discovered he did not shrink from an encounter with the eyes of judges, and allowed no thoughts of his own to keep him from an attitude of manfulness. He had performed his mistakes in the dark, so he was still a man" (RBC 149-50). A reader surely shrinks from accepting this claim at face value. Private Fleming has (as yet) demonstrated no capacity for facing a renewal of combat, so in terms of the narrative itself the confidence this reveals is ludicrous enough. But worse: the myth of manhood achieved through illusion-shattering experience is a myth that insists upon a process of internal, interior growth. Fleming's claim implicitly refutes this myth: it obviously argues that being a "man" has to do completely with one's standing in the "eyes of judges" in the surrounding world. It cannot be, we think, that the novel or the author could possibly be affirming Private Fleming in this ludicrous belief that he is still "a man" because his mistakes were not observed. But in dumbfounding fact, this positive self-assessment may actually be more plausible than the one Private Fleming will reach at the end of the novel. The issue of whether Private Fleming has finally developed in some crucially "mature" way at the end of the battle of Chancellorsville is very much open to doubt, but that he does still enjoy the respect of his fellows at this moment early on the morning of May 3, 1863, is obviously true. In their eyes, sure enough, "he was a man," in the sense that he was not categorized in any other way—as a coward or a "chicken" or a "boy" or a "mother's boy" or someone who deserves to be called "sonny" (RBC 200). That this is true is of crucial importance in this volatile mixture of self-delusion and self-confidence that motivates him to perform with unquestionable heroism—combat-influencing, unit-leading, reputation-winning heroism—when the rebels close in upon the 304th New York a short while later. Consider the self-assessment that follows this moment (it is even presented as a separate paragraph): "And, furthermore, how could they kill him who was the chosen of gods and doomed to greatness?" (RBC 151). Fleming's belief here seems manifestly ridiculous, and so much so it cannot be taken seriously. If a reader notes this paragraph at all, it is probably with a whimsical glance: "There goes that youth again, can you believe it?" or the like. Why, though, is the claim at the end of the novel—that "he was a man"—any more necessarily or self-evidently true than the claim here that "he was chosen of the gods and doomed to greatness"? As the critical record reveals (see Chapter 6), the question of whether Fleming develops in any significant way is far from closed, while a surprisingly strong case can be made for his belief that he is "doomed to greatness." Private Fleming's failures have been miraculously masked from his immediate comrades and superiors, he will be rocketed upward in their esteem without conscious intention or even awareness, and by the end of the book he will have made it untouched through two engagements as color-bearer of his regiment. His next self-assertion is likewise problematic for those who believe in the myth of cosmic malevolence and all that this entails, or it would be problematic except this instance carries its own scarcely veiled disclaimers. After they repulsed the first rebel assault of the morning and Private Fleming garnered the praise of Lieutenant Hasbrouck, he mused: "He had fought like a pagan who defends his religion. Regarding it, he saw that it was fine, wild, and, in some ways, easy. He had been a tremendous figure, no doubt. By this struggle he had overcome obstacles which he had admitted to be mountains. They had fallen like paper peaks, and he was now what he called a hero. And he had not been aware of the process. He had slept and, awakening, found himself a knight" (RBC 169). To the troublesome term "hero" has been added the antiquated term "knight"—neither at all appropriate according to the myth that Crane is enticing his readers to project upon this fundamentally chaotic episode of the American Civil War. The ease of their achievement implicitly loosens the appropriateness of such terms: "fine, wild, and, in some ways easy"; "paper peaks"; "he had slept." These terms confirm what is implied by the rhetorical patterns—"tremendous figure, no doubt"; "what he called a hero"—that these terms are rendered meaningless because they were earned by worthless conduct. Seeing these unfashionable terms swathed in faintly ludicrous contexts and aware that the novel still has some pages to run, a reader assumes that the "hero," Private Fleming, will see his way (with more experience) to something more true. While our myth of the malevolent universe may have rendered "hero" and "knight" unfashionable, is it necessarily the case that they are somehow less "true" about Private Henry Fleming than the ultimate word "man"? Is it truly the case that it is inappropriate for Fleming to conceive of himself in these ways? Some associations clustered around the image of the "knight" may be archaic in themselves and so may tinge the knight image with an implication of innocence concerning the nature of reality, an innocence that no self-respecting believer in the myth would ever wish to be accused of. But when the term does appear in popular culture, it is typically applied to people—such as Richard Boone's Paladin in "Have Gun Will Travel" or Joseph Wambaugh's burned-out policemen—who are devoid of chivalric optimism. The image of the knight is not exactly ironic nowadays, but it seems safely remote from romantic or traditional connotations and hence such innocence. Insofar as it implies merely a warrior who has at last proved his capacity for combat, it seems appropriate for Private Fleming to apply it to himself. Private Henry Fleming is, beyond question, a "hero." During the course of the morning of May 3, 1863, he proved himself completely fearless in combat and ferocious on the firing line, earning the praise of his company commander. At a moment of crisis, he stepped forward from the enlisted ranks to join Lieutenant Hasbrouck in providing exemplary leadership—an amazing act for a young private soldier. When the regiment's color sergeant was slain, he unhesitatingly seized the colors and thereafter kept them steadily to the front, showing again his fearlessness. These qualities brought him to the attention of his regimental commander, who praised him lavishly. His example and his leadership evidently played a major part in the action when the 304th New York captured a rebel banner. Such behavior on a field of battle surely qualifies as "heroic" by any standards of any age. Yet most readers probably do not assess him thus and are vaguely surprised to see the claim thus validated. Again, several reasons probably conspire. The strong tendency to see Private Fleming as "Everysoldier" masks the outstanding nature of his performance for many initial readers of the novel (see Chapter 5). So too does the portrayal of the experiences of central figures in the overwhelming majority of subsequent post-World War I fiction, where martial heroism at once both conventional and triumphant never appears anymore, so readers are not prepared to see it or register it in The Red Badge of Courage. The myth under which we mostly live and move and have our being nowadays ridicules exactly this kind of heroism. The myth teaches us to expect that characters endowed with this type of heroism will get blown away instantly, or will be figures of ridicule (see Tenente Moretti) to those who really know the score. Insofar as the vividness of The Red Badge of Courage and the plausibility of Private Fleming's character draw us to him, we discount this moment, assuming that he will come to see things more accurately by the end—indeed, that this process of discovery will actually constitute the end and his coming into his true "manhood," which at first glance seems to be the case. But there is a final twist. Even readers cautioned by the constant play of the novel, and who believe that no such process of discovery has taken place, even readers who do not believe he is at last "a man," are often surprised to discover that Private Fleming must nonetheless be recognized as an authentic "hero." How can someone who so consistently fails to recognize the truth about himself or the reality surrounding him become, or be called, a "hero"? But then, also, why not? What we actually see in the novel is a central character who tries on a number of titles, as if they were various items in a wardrobe. With splendid and mordant irony the titles we tend to ridicule, ignore, or discount are in fact the ones most applicable, whereas the title we tend to accept and rest happiest with—that at last "he was a man"—is, of all, the least accurate. In this process we ourselves replicate Crane's central thesis, the profound, unreflecting, elementally self-deceptive human tendency to impose a myth upon the chaos of human experience. Our steady close consideration of Private Fleming has revealed that he undergoes no essential transformation at all in the course of these two days. The same characteristics that marked him at the beginning of the campaign mark him at the end: a vivid visual imagination, devoid of sympathy for others; an absolute and impenetrable solipsism; a profound ignorance concerning mortality, and his own mortal condition in particular. Given every opportunity hallowed by literary convention to achieve a fundamental recognition concerning himself, he never does so. Given extraordinary, even cataclysmic object lessons about reality, he easily ignores their implications. This is not at all to say that his responses to various challenges are coherent or consistent. His unchanging personal characteristics shield him from any genuine contact with elemental factual realities and thus cause him to respond to events with quite extraordinary (although quite "believable") conceptions about how they may affect him, and with quite extraordinary swings of emotion. The actual conduct of General Hooker, commanding the Army of the Potomac during those days in the Wilderness, provides a historical correlative to Crane's psychological portrait of his hero. 7 So those characteristics at first work to plunge him into panic; subsequently, they conspire to propel him into glorious success, and by the novel's end, they have convinced him he has achieved the status of manhood. Reconsider, in light of this study, the last pages of the novel. As they withdraw from the Chancellorsville vicinity into the new defensive lines shielding the army's remaining Rappahannock bridgehead at the United States Ford, Private Fleming's mind "was undergoing a subtle change," casting "off its battleful ways" and resuming "its accustomed course of thought." With the distorted emotions of combat behind him, "at last he was enabled to more closely comprehend himself and circumstance" (RBC 228). This sounds promising, and quite in keeping with our most elemental narrative tradition: only a few pages are left, the action is over, we (supposedly) will see that our hero is at last "enabled" to "comprehend himself and circumstance" somewhat "more closely" (228). His first new "comprehension" could not possibly be wider of the mark, however. "He understood then that the existence of shot and counter-shot was in the past. He had dwelt in a land of strange, squalling upheavals and had come forth. He had been where there was red of blood and black of passion, and he was escaped. His first thoughts were given to rejoicings at this fact" (RBC 229). The most immediately apparent objective fact is that the Army of the Potomac is retiring, it had been defeated; there is no suggestion that the war is any closer to its conclusion than before. Rather than a "closer comprehension of himself and circumstances," he is displaying that same solipsistic tendency to conceive of himself as at the center of the world and the only "real" thing in it. His language betrays his colossal illusion: phenomena of battle are not, in his current imagination, things to which as an enlisted soldier he must become wearily inured but, rather, bizarrely disembodied sensations produced by a "strange" unreal land from which he had permanently emerged. Since he has passed the test and has profited by the experience, he cannot conceive that it is not altogether concluded, that the circus tent or house of horrors is not gone for good. He is back exactly where he was at the end of his first experience of combat the previous afternoon: "So it was all over at last! The supreme trial had been passed," and so on (RBC 64). The raw fact is that these experiences are not at all "in the past," nor has he "come forth" or "escaped" from them: they await him and his fellows at a small Pennsylvania town just two months hence. If he survives that (no sure thing at all), he will return to exactly this same landscape next year at this time, for a campaign of unparalleled slaughter. Reflection upon his past actions then follows: "he began to study his deeds, his failures, and his achievements," using the relative tranquillity of the moment to "marshal all his acts" for review. "At last they marched before him clearly. From this present view point he was enabled to look upon them in spectator fashion and to criticise them with some correctness, for his new condition had already defeated certain sympathies" (RBC 228-29). As with that "closer comprehension" three paragraphs earlier, so here: another last-chapter paragraph with portentous claims. As in the previous paragraph, Private Fleming is crediting himself with having achieved a "new condition." Now he believes he is no longer infected by "certain sympathies" (presumably immature passions, beliefs, and the like that experience has stripped from him) so that he is now capable of criticizing himself and his past actions correctly. There is no doubt that Private Fleming has been through an altogether extraordinary and cataclysmic two days of battle, exactly such an experience—the myth assures him (and us)—as will strip a "youth" of immature "sympathies" and enable him to understand himself and the world more accurately. Crane knows how exhilarating it is to believe we have undergone this transformation and are not as we were before, and Private Fleming is "gleeful" as he brings his "new" and more correct judgment to bear upon his past conduct. A moment earlier, however, Fleming's belief that his "brain" was no longer "clogged" was immediately undercut by the inaccuracy of his assessment of his future. The same undercutting pattern obtains again, as he assesses his past. The assessment itself reveals that, despite his belief that he has been stripped of illusions, his mind is in fact unchanged, or if it has changed at all, it has in fact become more infatuated with immature "sympathies" than it was before. "Regarding his procession of memory he felt gleeful and unregretting, for in it his public deeds were paraded in great and shining prominence. Those performances which had been witnessed by his fellows marched now in wide purple and gold, having various deflections. They went gayly with music. It was pleasure to watch these things. He spent delightful minutes viewing the gilded images of memory" (RBC 229). The controlling image is that of the most conventional martial pomp and ceremony: a victorious military march-past complete with bands and outfitted in the specific colors (purple dyes being rare and expensive in the classical Mediterranean world) of Greco-Roman triumph. Those classical references to purple, gold, and "gilded images" suggest those "old ideas" Fleming used to hold, before his enlistment and subsequent experiences (supposedly) outfitted him with this "new condition," which he assumes is maturely purged of "certain sympathies." Back then, he at least believed that "Greeklike struggles would be no more. Men were better, or more timid" (11). Now his imagination is no longer constrained by such precocious cynicism. What we come to realize is that now, thanks to his belief that he has achieved some mature "new condition" of understanding, he is completely free to apply the most immature, conventional, traditional, and heroic terminology to himself and his conduct. Now that he is a "man," he obviously can no longer believe in childish things. Thus if he now believes he is a hero in the classical mold, it must be true. (If you believe in the modern myth, you cannot be mistaken even if you apply chunks of other myths to yourself.) Indeed, "He saw that he was good. He recalled with a thrill of joy the respectful comments of his fellows upon his conduct" (RBC 229). Then "the ghost of his flight from the first engagement appeared to him and danced," and "For a moment he blushed, and the light of his soul flickered with shame" (RBC 229). Yet again, we encounter what the narrative tradition in our world teaches us to expect to encounter: a hero's ultimate confrontation with his own past failures, and some placing of them in the context of his current situation. Private Fleming then goes on to remember what most readers (appropriately) find far more damning in his conduct than his panic-stricken flight: he is suddenly beset by "A specter of reproach," the "dogging memory of the tattered soldier" who "had loaned his last of strength and intellect for the tall soldier" and who, "blind with weariness and pain, had been deserted in the field" (RBC 229-30). These are certainly appropriate occasions for shame and regret. But something about the language in which they are cast is not quite right. In both cases, Private Fleming evidently conceives of these occasions as personified, slightly unreal figures—"ghost" and "specter"—who seem mostly intent upon embarrassing him. He does not remember them as occasions in which he committed acts of treachery with consequences for other real human beings, actions requiring some kind of sincere penitence or expiation. Note the passive construction with which his recollection of the tattered soldier is brought to its conclusion: who "had been deserted," not whom "he had deserted." The profoundly immature, self-centered quality of his seeming "shame" and self-reproach is confirmed in the very next sentence: "For an instant a wretched chill of sweat was upon him at the thought that he might be detected in the thing" (RBC 230). We are reminded of Twain's mordant comment in "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg": "a sin takes on new and real terrors when there seems a chance that it is going to be found out." 8 Even more are we reminded of Private Fleming's concern of the previous afternoon, when another seemingly promising moment of self-reproach turned out in fact to be only a concern for his personal prestige among his fellows: "A moral vindication was regarded by the youth as a very important thing. Without salve, he could not, he thought, wear the sore badge of his dishonor through life. With his heart continually assuring him that he was despicable, he could not exist without making it, through his actions, apparent to all men" (RBC 114). As he now stands "persistently" before this "vision" of shameful acts that could just possibly cost him all his public adulation, he reacts with a spontaneous gesture surely familiar to most of his readers: "he [gives] vent to a cry of sharp irritation and agony," and when Wilson asks him, "What's the matter," he gives "an outburst of crimson oaths" (230). His actions and reactions are utterly typical, enough so (Twain would agree) as to appeal to almost any reader. But the reader must recognize the truth of the matter. Far from a "new" ability to "criticise" his own actions "with some correctness," his "sympathies" (remaining completely, relentlessly only for himself), his concerns, and his attitudes are exactly as they were before. For some minutes, "this vision" of his own "cruelty brooded over him," because, understanding himself to be at the very center of the world, he feels "sure that" his fellow soldiers "must discern in his face evidences" of "the somber phantom" that is haunting him. Despite the characteristically banal discussion going on in the plodding, "ragged array" around him, he has a "sudden suspicion that they were seeing his thoughts and scrutinizing each detail of the scene with the tattered soldier" (RBC 231), so his solipsism remains as complete as ever. "Yet gradually he mustered force to put the sin at a distance" (231-32). His secret, not surprisingly, remains undiscovered. Twain again: our "consciences" readily enough "quiet down," when they become "discouraged." 9 This, then, is the specific buildup toward those critical paragraphs that will deposit the final claim, "He was a man." The single word "seemed" leaps into enormous significance—"at last his eyes seemed to open to some new ways"—and in fact it is hard to see what "earlier gospels" he now "despises." The current myth teaches him, and us, that our "new manhood" must be "quiet" and "nonassertive," for the myth denies and devalues an overt hero. But the accolades that so confirmed his profound, happy belief in his new manhood were garnered because he first "bawled," "danced and gyrated" in front of the regiment when its counterattack faltered, and moments later asserted himself by seizing the colors when the bearer was killed. As its color-bearer, he is now the single most prominent enlisted man in the 304th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He is so completely possessed by the myth of his own new "manhood" (exactly as when, on the way to battle, he had been completely possessed by his own new self-pity) that he completely misunderstands and misrepresents his own most recent personal history. The myth also insists upon his (and our) new capacity to meet any challenge that reality might hit us with; possessing such a new capacity is critical to being "a man." And so with Private Fleming: "He knew that he would no more quail before his guides wherever they should point." But no such confidence is warranted, according to Crane's most basic and consistent vision. The chaotic universe is not at all predictable: the very image of having "guides" to or within it is a product of a monstrous illusion about it. Nor is the human mind predictable. Refer back to privates Wilson and Fleming themselves, after the soldiers of the regiment had found themselves transformed into "men" during the waning moments of their counterattack. Responding to the new brigade commander's violent criticism of their regiment, Wilson angrily criticized the man, but Private Fleming had "developed a tranquil philosophy" that enabled him to respond "soothingly." And then in the length of three paragraphs, that "philosophy" had been replaced in Fleming's mind by "sudden," furious "exasperation" (RBC 205-6). "He had been to touch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death" (RBC 232). This is a paradoxical statement but, loosely considered, it seems potentially plausible, and the kind of statement that professors are paid to explain. But when it is closely considered in the context of the novel and we recall Private Fleming's manifest inability to conceive of his own mortal condition, it becomes no longer paradoxical but fatuous. And when we recall Fleming's self-centered reduction of the dead Jim Conklin to "that other one," the statement becomes appalling. It is surely the case, however, that Private Fleming, who has been widely and publicly praised and now finds himself on his way to comfort and rest, is quite comfortable about death because he still has no conception of it as a real fact of human (and his own) existence: he has never in fact "been to touch it" (or been touched by it) at all. The paragraphs that follow the statement "He was a man" develop a sequence of stereotypical images of peace: "He came from hot plowshares"—his unconscious confusion about the truth of his situation as an enlisted soldier in the Army of the Potomac in May 1863 is reflected in the unconscious confusion of the biblical imagery of swords and plowshares—"to prospects of clover tranquilly [sic], and it was as if hot plowshares were not" (RBC 232). 10 These and other images lead to the triumphant last claim that "an existence of soft and eternal peace" extends before Private Fleming (232). This is absolutely contradicted by the most massive and immediate physical evidence before him at this midmorning moment: infantrymen of a defeated army retreating down muddy roads. Richly contented with himself, publicly praised, with the prospects of camp and rest before him, carrying the regimental colors, it may indeed seem to him "that the world was a world for him" (RBC 232). The totality of Crane's fiction and poetry bear witness, however, that absolutely no human claim could be further from the truth. The world is not a world for Private Henry Fleming nor, given its blank indifference toward the creatures that inhabit it and its own inherently chaotic nature, is it a world "for" any human being within it. These penultimate paragraphs cannot, then, be taken at face value. They are not speaking accurately or truly about his actual circumstances and prospects. How then, can the claim that Private Henry Fleming "was a man" be so taken? If we thus recognize that he has not been transformed into "a man" in any significant or essential way, can we see him in any significant or essential way as a hero? The word "hero" in literary contexts is a tricky one, implying as it does a figure worthy of respect and emulation on the one hand, and the central figure in a narrative work on the other. For example, how can you call Macbeth a hero? The issue is more complicated here, because Private Fleming's conduct on the morning of May 3, 1863, surely deserves the accolade: he is as much a "hero" as one could expect to find in the enlisted ranks of an army. Yet, unquestionably, his "manhood"—in the sense of admirable full maturity, wisdom, or humanity—is radically deficient. To assume he cannot be a "hero" until he is a "man" is to return again to the imposition of a human mythology upon a chaotic reality; it is to assume that true rewards for valor and the like befall only those who have passed the boot camp run by "reality." But there is no such structure in the universe surrounding us; nor is there any such structure even in our own constantly fluctuating human minds. The universe around us is disjointed and discontinuous—as are, by their very natures, our own minds. Crane's conception of his hero is even more mordantly good-humored than is implied here. It is precisely because Private Henry Fleming fails so hugely to acquire anything resembling true "manhood" that he succeeds so hugely as a genuine military hero. The same characteristics that sent him pelting from the battle line on the afternoon of May 2 promoted him to prominence and success on the morning of May 3 (see Chapter 7). Private John Wilson evidently did undergo some kind of transformation, but this transformation seems to have produced in him qualities that led to moments of more rounded and hence less concentrated perception, to moments of hesitation and self-doubt. At that telling moment when the 304th New York was paralyzed with confusion and close to collapse, Wilson joined in the general despair, earning Fleming's contempt ("Oh, shut up, you damned fool!" [RBC 194]). And although, before that moment and then especially after it, Private Wilson proved himself a superior soldier in his own right, at each critical moment he followed Private Fleming's spontaneous lead. It is absolutely consistent with Crane's general understanding of the ridiculousness of the human predicament in the universe that Private Fleming's worst qualities and his severest limitations as a human being were the very things that conspired to make him a superb and admired combat soldier during the second day of the battle of Chancellorsville. Notes 1. Humphrey Cobb, Paths of Glory; "Attack" (1956). 2. Jonathan Swift, "A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms," chapter 11, in Swift, Gulliver's Travels and Other Writings. 3. Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Young Goodman Brown," in Young Goodman Brown and Other Tales. 4. Stephen Crane, "The Open Boat," in The Red Badge of Courage and Other Writings, 309. 5. Emily Dickinson, "Those-dying, then," in Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson; Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, 71-72; Crane, "The Open Boat," Other Writings, 309. 6. Conrad, Heart of Darkness, 51; Fitzgerald, Great Gatsby, 70, 179. 7. For an absolutely contrary example, consider how Benjamin Franklin shaped his Autobiography to persuade people against such solipsistic behavior, to the end of achieving what Private Fleming never does: a "uniform rectitude of conduct." Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography and Other Writings, 75. 8. Mark Twain, "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg," in Selected Shorter Writings of Mark Twain, 286. FURTHER READING Criticism Covici, Jr., Pascal. "Introduction: The Universe and Stephen Crane." In The Red Badge of Courage, pp. 7-34. Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1983. Assesses both Crane's biographical influences and thematic intentions in authoring The Red Badge of Courage. Dooley, Patrick K. "The Humanism of Stephen Crane." Humanist 56, no. 1 (January 1996): 14-17. Discusses the humanist influences in Crane's The Red Badge of Courage. Hattenhauer, Darryl. "Crane's The Red Badge of Courage." Explicator 50, no. 3 (spring 1992): 160-61. Notes the symbolism surrounding the colors blue and gray in The Red Badge of Courage. Mariani, Giorgio. "The Horrors of War: The Red Badge of Courage, the Spectacle of Ideology, and the Ideology of Spectacle." In Spectacular Narratives: Representations of Class and War in Stephen Crane and the American 1890s, pp. 139-66. New York, N.Y.: Peter Lang, 1992. Explores Crane's evocation of spectacle in The Red Badge of Courage. Pizer, Donald. "The Red Badge of Courage: Text, Theme, and Form." In Critical Essays on Stephen Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage," edited by Donald Pizer, pp. 217-28. Boston, Mass.: G. K. Hall & Co., 1990. Offers a study of the effect of Crane's editorial deletions and alteration of the novel's original conclusion in The Red Badge of Courage. Additional coverage of Crane's life and career is contained in the following sources published by Gale: American Writers; American Writers: The Classics, Vol. 1; Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Vol. 21; Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: Biography & Resources, Vol. 1; Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Vol. 3; Concise Dictionary of American Literary Biography, 1865-1917; Contemporary Authors, Vols. 109, 140; Contemporary Authors New Revision Series, Vol. 84; Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vols. 12, 54, 78; DISCovering Authors; DISCovering Authors: British Edition; DISCovering Authors: Canadian Edition; DISCovering Authors Modules: Most-studied Authors, Novelists, Popular Fiction and Genre Authors; DISCovering Authors 3.0; Exploring Novels; Exploring Short Stories; Literary Movements for Students, Vol. 2; Literature and Its Times, Vol. 2; Literature Resource Center; Modern American Literature, Ed. 5; Novels for Students, Vols. 4, 20; Poetry Criticism, Vol. 80; Poetry for Students, Vol. 9; Reference Guide to American Literature, Ed. 4; Reference Guide to Short Fiction, Ed. 2; Short Stories for Students, Vol. 4; Short Story Criticism, Vols. 7, 56, 70; Twayne's United States Authors; Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism, Vols. 11, 17, 32; World Literature Criticism, Vol. 2; Writers for Young Adults; and Yesterday's Authors of Books for Children, Vol. 2. Cite this article Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Therefore, it’s best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publication’s requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: Modern Language Association

i don't know

Each star on the US flag has how many points?

How many stars are on the American flag? | Reference.com How many stars are on the American flag? A: Quick Answer As of 2014, there are 50 five-pointed stars on the flag of the United States of America, one for each state. The stars represent the stars in the heavens, symbolic of the aspirations of the United States. Full Answer A new white star is added to the blue field every time a new state joins the union. In today's flag, these stars are arranged in nine rows, alternating six and five stars in each row. However, earlier arrangements of the stars varied. The original flag of the United States held a circle of 13 stars, one for each original state. When new states join the United States, the flag is officially changed on July 4 of the year after the state is added. As of 2014, there have been 39 versions of the flag, and almost all of the changes made have been to the star field.

five

A gosling is the young of what animal?

The History of the American Flag: A Timeline The History of the American Flag: A Timeline The History of the American Flag:  A Timeline Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue – but does every heart know the interesting history of the stars and stripes?  While the modern American flag has become a symbol around the world for freedom, justice, and prosperity, it has actually changed sixty three times over the past two hundred and thirty five years.  Some early designs of the flag would be unrecognizable to most modern Americans, and some even featured the British Union Jack. Brush up on the fascinating story of our beloved Star-Spangled Banner and how she became the shining beacon of hope that she is today with in the following timeline! 1775 – As revolutionary fever starts to swelter, several iterations of a flag representing the independence and discontent of the colonists begin to surface.  The Continental Navy starts to fly a flag with a red striped background featuring a snake, along with the inscription “Don’t Tread on Me.”  This sentiment and symbol will later be associated with the United States Marine Corps. In New England, the “Liberty Tree” symbol becomes increasingly popular and appears on several flags.  The green pine tree shape was used on board New England ships with the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven,” while the flag for New England featured the Liberty tree in the upper left corner set bordered by red, white and blue stripes. 1776 – On the first of January, The Grand Union Flag is flown on Prospect Hill and adopted as a symbol of the rebelling colonists.  The flag, originally designed in 1775, features the British Union Jack in the upper left corner surrounded by thirteen white and red stripes, symbolizing the thirteen colonies. Five months later, Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, sews what is remembered as the first “American Flag,” featuring thirteen white stars laid in a circle on a blue background surrounded by thirteen red and white stripes.  Modern historians have called the validity of the Ross story into question; however, the story has become American folklore and is unlikely to be overruled in the public mind. 1777 – After myriad variations of Ross’s design are sewn and utilized around the colonies during early Revolutionary battles, the Continental Congress officially adopts Ross’s original design as the first official flag of the fledgling country on June 14th. 1778-1794 – Alternative versions of the American flag continue to be produced and used by various prominent military outfits and sailing vessels in spite of the official adoption of the Ross design.  All versions utilize the red, white, and blue theme.  Different designs were likely used due to slow and inconsistent communication as well as the gradual transition of the thirteen colonies into states.  The last of the thirteen colonies to officially join The United States was Rhode Island in 1790. 1795 – The official design is modified and updated to include two more states into the Union:  Kentucky and Vermont. The stars pattern has now shifted away from the circle to five staggered rows. 1814 – Inspired by the majesty of the flag and its visual impact during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key pens a tune he titles “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  The song’s patriotic message earns it national recognition.  It is officially adopted in 1931 as the national anthem. 1818 – The official flag is modified and updated to showcase five additional stars on the blue field in honor of Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi and Indiana receiving state status.  The stars are now arranged in four rows of five across. 1819 – The flag is updated at the end of the year when Illinois is added into the Union.  The 21 stars are now arranged with one row of four with one row of five on top and two rows of five below. 1820 – Two more stars are added with the inclusion of Alabama and Maine.  The 23 stars are now arranged with one row of five with one row of six on top and two rows of six below. 1822-1867 – Fourteen more stars are added to the flag with the inclusion of Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada and Nebraska.  There are now thirty seven stars on the American Flag.   1861-1865 – The rival of the Stars and Stripes, the official flag of the Confederate States of America, is created.  This flag goes through three major iterations before the South falls to General Grant in 1865, including the “Stars and Bars,” which played off of Ross’s original design, “The Stainless Banner,” which featured the Confederate battle symbol (the blue starred “X” pattern on the red background) in the upper left corner of a white field, and “The Blood Stained Banner,” which added a red bar onto the right side of the second iteration.  There was also a popular though unofficial “Bonnie Blue Flag” that featured a deep blue field with one large white star on it. In popular memory, the Confederate Battle Flag is remembered as the flag of the confederacy, even though it was never officially considered that. 1886 – The centennial flag is created, replacing the traditional star field with stars shaped into the number “1776” above the number “1876.” 1877-1896 – Seven more stars are added for Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. 1897 – State Flag Desecration Statutes begin to be adopted in states around the country to outlaw altering or abusing the flag for commercial and political purposes.  Among the specifics of the statutes were marking the flag, trampling the flag or talking negatively about the flag.  Also outlawed was the creation of flags that could be mistaken as the official American Flag. 1912 – The specific measurements, orientation, and details of the flag are officially established in a presidential executive order.  Three more stars are added for Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma (that was included as a state in 1908).  There are now 48 stars on the flag. 1949 – Flag Day, to be observed on June 14th, is established. 1959-1960 – Alaska and Hawaii are added to the Union and the final two stars are added to the flag.  The modern American Flag is officially complete, with five rows of alternating five and six stars staggered for visual appeal. 2013 – The United States Flag continues to be a symbol of hope and freedom to billions of people around the world. For more information on the American Flag, check out the following resources: History of the American Flag - http://www.usa-flag-site.org/history.shtml Flag of the United States - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States#History

i don't know

Newspaper editor Horace Greeley famously advised young men to do what "and grow up with the country" in an 1865 editorial?

Horace Greeley H Horace Greeley Horace Greeley (February 3, 1811 – November 29, 1872) was an American editor of a leading newspaper, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, and a politician. His New York Tribune was America's most influential newspaper from the 1840s to the 1870s and "established Greeley's reputation as the greatest editor of his day." Greeley used it to promote the Whig and Republican parties, as well as opposition to slavery and a host of reforms. Crusading against the corruption of Ulysses S. Grant 's Republican administration, he was the new Liberal Republican Party's candidate in the 1872 U.S. presidential election. Despite having the additional support of the Democratic Party, he lost in a landslide. He is currently the only presidential candidate who has died during the electoral process. Early life Greeley was born on February 3, 1811, in Amherst, New Hampshire, the son of poor farmers Zaccheus and Mary Greeley. He declined a scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy and left school at the age of 14; he apprenticed as a printer in Poultney, Vermont, at The Northern Star, moving to New York City in 1831. In 1834 he founded the weekly the New Yorker, which consisted mostly of clippings from other magazines. On July 5, 1836 Greeley married Mary Cheney Greeley, an intermittent suffragette , in Warrenton, North Carolina. Horace Greeley spent as little time as possible with his wife and would sleep in a boarding house when in New York City rather than be with her. Only two of their seven children survived into adulthood. Whig In 1838 leading Whig politicians selected him to edit a major national campaign newspaper, the Jeffersonian, which reached 15,000 circulation. Whig leader William Seward found him "rather unmindful of social usages, yet singularly clear, original, and decided, in his political views and theories." In 1840 he edited a major campaign newspaper, the Log Cabin, which reached 90,000 subscribers nationwide, and helped elect William Henry Harrison president on the Whig ticket. In 1841 he merged his papers into the New York Tribune. It soon was a success as the leading Whig paper in the metropolis; its weekly edition reached tens of thousands of subscribers across the country. Greeley was editor of the Tribune for the rest of his life, using it as a platform for advocacy of all his causes. As historian Allan Nevins explains: The Tribune set a new standard in American journalism by its combination of energy in news gathering with good taste, high moral standards, and intellectual appeal. Police reports, scandals, dubious medical advertisements, and flippant personalities were barred from its pages; the editorials were vigorous but usually temperate; the political news was the most exact in the city; book reviews and book-extracts were numerous; and as an inveterate lecturer Greeley gave generous space to lectures. The paper appealed to substantial and thoughtful people. —Dictionary of American Biography (1931) Greeley prided himself in taking radical positions on all sorts of social issues; few readers followed his suggestions. Utopia fascinated him; influenced by Albert Brisbane he promoted Fourierism. His journal had Karl Marx (as well as Friedrich Engels ) as European correspondent in the early 1850s (although most of his views sharply contrasted with the ones promoted by marxism).[http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/subject/newspapers/new-york-tribune.htm] He promoted all sorts of agrarian reforms, including homestead laws . He was elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the unseating of David S. Jackson and served from December 4, 1848, to March 3, 1849. Greeley supported liberal policies towards settlers; in a July 13, 1865 editorial, he famously advised "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country." Some have claimed that the phrase was originally written by John Soule in the Terre Haute Express in 1851, but it is most often attributed to Greeley. Historian Walter A. McDougall quotes Josiah Grinnell, the founder of Iowa's Grinnell College, as saying, "I was the young man to whom Greeley first said it, and I went." Researcher Fred R. Shapiro questions whether Greeley ever used the term at all and cites, instead, an occurrence of Greeley writing "If any young man is about to commence the world, we say to him, publicly and privately, Go to the West" in the Aug. 25, 1838, issue of the newspaper New Yorker. A champion of the working man, he attacked monopolies of all sorts and rejected land grants to railroads. Industry would make everyone rich, he insisted, as he promoted high tariffs. He supported vegetarianism, opposed liquor and paid serious attention to any "-ism" anyone proposed. What made the ‘’Tribune’‘ such a success were the extensive news stories, very well written by brilliant reporters, together with feature articles by fine writers. He was an excellent judge of newsworthiness and quality of reporting. His editorials and news reports explaining the policies and candidates of the Whig Party were reprinted and discussed throughout the country. Many small newspapers relied heavily on the reporting and editorials of the Tribune. Greeley was noted for his eccentricities. His attire in even the hottest weather included a full-length coat, and he was never without an umbrella; his interests included spiritualism and phrenology . He considered the word 'news' to be a plural word, and habitually corrected his staff when they asked, "Is there any news?" He once cabled a Tribune reporter: “ARE THERE ANY NEWS?” The employee cabled back: "NOT A NEW." He served as Congressman for three months, 1848–1849, but failed in numerous other attempts to win elective office. Republican When the new Republican Party was founded in 1854, Greeley made the Tribune its unofficial national organ, and fought slavery extension and the slave power on many pages. On the eve of the Civil War circulation nationwide approached 300,000. In 1860 he supported the ex-Whig Edward Bates of Missouri for the Republican nomination for president, an action that weakened Greeley's old ally Seward.[Van Dusen 241-44] Greeley made the Tribune the leading newspaper opposing the Slave Power, that is, what he considered the conspiracy by slave owners to seize control of the federal government and block the progress of liberty. In the secession crisis of 1861 he took a hard line against the Confederacy. Theoretically, he agreed, the South could declare independence; but in reality he said there was "a violent, unscrupulous, desperate minority, who have conspired to clutch power"—secession was an illegitimate conspiracy that had to be crushed by federal power. He took a Radical Republican position during the war, in opposition to Lincoln’s moderation. In the summer of 1862, he wrote a famous editorial entitled "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" demanding a more aggressive attack on the Confederacy and faster emancipation of the slaves. A month later he hailed Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Although after 1860 he increasingly lost control of the Tribune’s operations, and wrote fewer editorials, in 1864 he expressed defeatism regarding Lincoln’s chances of reelection, an attitude that was echoed across the country when his editorials were reprinted. Oddly he also pursued a peace policy in 1863–64 that involved discussions with Copperheads and opened the possibility of a compromise with the Confederacy. Lincoln was aghast, but outsmarted Greeley by appointing him to a peace commission he knew the Confederates would repudiate. Reconstruction In Reconstruction he took an erratic course, mostly favoring the Radicals and opposing president Andrew Johnson in 1865–66. In 1867, Greeley was one of 21 men who signed a $100,000 bond for the release of former president of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis . The move was controversial, and many Northerners thought Greeley a traitor and canceled subscriptions to the Weekly Tribune by the thousands. In 1869, he ran on the Republican ticket for New York State Comptroller but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat William F. Allen. Election of 1872 After supporting Ulysses Grant in the 1868 election, Greeley broke from Grant and the Radicals. Opposing Grant's re-election bid, he joined the Liberal Republican Party in 1872. To everyone’s astonishment, that new party nominated Greeley as their presidential candidate. Even more surprisingly, he was officially endorsed by the Democrats, whose party he had denounced for decades. As a candidate, Greeley argued that the war was over, the Confederacy was destroyed, and slavery was dead—and that Reconstruction was a success, so it was time to pull Federal troops out of the South and let the people there run their own affairs. A weak campaigner, he was mercilessly ridiculed by the Republicans as a fool, an extremist, a turncoat, and a crazy man who could not be trusted. The most vicious attacks came in cartoons by Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly. Greeley ultimately ran far behind Grant, winning only 43% of the vote. This crushing defeat was not Greeley's only misfortune in 1872. Greeley was among several high-profile investors who were defrauded by Philip Arnold in a famous diamond and gemstone hoax. Meanwhile, as Greeley had been pursuing his political career, Whitelaw Reid, owner of the New York Herald, had gained control of the Tribune. Death Not long after the election, Greeley's wife died. He descended into madness and died before the electoral votes could be cast. In his final illness, allegedly Greeley spotted Reid and cried out, "You son of a bitch, you stole my newspaper." Greeley died at 6:50 p.m. on Friday, November 29, 1872, in Pleasantville, New York at Dr. George C. S. Choate’s private hospital. Greeley would have received 66 electoral votes, which, because of his death, were scattered among others. However, three of Georgia's electoral votes were left blank in honor of him. (Other sources report Greeley receiving 3 electoral votes posthumously, with those votes being disallowed by Congress.) Although Greeley had requested a simple funeral, his daughters ignored his wishes and arranged a grand affair. He is buried in New York's Green-Wood Cemetery. The Greeley home in Chappaqua, New York, now houses the New Castle Historical Society. The local high school is named for him. Paying homage to the 19th-century paper owned by Greeley, the high school named its newspaper the Greeley Tribune. Legacy and cultural references The New York Tribune building was the first home of Pace University. Today, the site where the building stood is now the One Pace Plaza complex of Pace's New York City campus. Dr. Choate’s residence and private hospital, where Horace Greeley died, today is part of Pace's campus in Pleasantville. There is a bas-relief of Greeley in the lobby of the Columbia Journalism School. Several places are named after him, including: Greeley, Pennsylvania, Greeley, Colorado, Greeley, Texas, Greeley County, Kansas (where there is also a city of Horace, and the county seat is Tribune), and Greeley County, Nebraska (which also has a town named Horace). Horace Greeley Square is a small park in the Herald Square area of Manhattan featuring a seated statue of Greeley. The park is next to the site of the former New York Herald building. Another seated statue is in City Hall Park. Horace Greeley High School in Westchester, New York is named for him. Greeley Park in Nashua, New Hampshire is named for him. Mount Horace Greeley is one of the highest points in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan . Greeley Avenue in Grant City, Staten Island is named for Horace Greeley The portion of New Hampshire Route 101 that runs through Amherst, is named Horace Greeley Highway. Hjalmar Schacht, Adolf Hitler's "financial magician" and Reichbank President during Weimar Republic and Third Reich , later a defendant at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg (acquitted), was named after Greeley (Schacht's full name was Horace Greeley Hjalmar Schacht). Greeley's endorsement of frontier economics was satirized in the environmentalist cartoon series Captain Planet and the Planeteers, which featured the antagonist and polluter Hoggish Greedly. Horace Greeley is depicted in the film Gangs of New York in his capacity as publisher of the Tribune. Greeley is quoted and mentioned in an inspirational light in both John Ford 's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Samuel Fuller's Park Row. Horace Greeley is a main character in the episode The Daily Star of the Franco-Belgian comics series Lucky Luke Quotes “It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.” "Go west, young man." Horace Greeley is the one who misquoted President Andrew Jackson as saying, after the Supreme Court ruling in Worcester v. Georgia, " John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" (Wikipedia)

Go West

White dwarfs, red giants, and blue stragglers are all types of what?

The Greeley Statue, John Quincy Adams Ward John Quincy Adams Ward Horace Greeley (February 3, 1811 – November 29, 1872) was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, and a politician. His New York Tribune was America's most influential newspaper from the 1840s to the 1870s and "established Greeley's reputation as the greatest editor of his day."[1] Greeley used it to promote the Whig and Republican parties, as well as opposition to slavery and a host of reforms ranging from vegetarianism to socialism. Crusading against the corruption of Ulysses S. Grant's Republican administration, he was the new Liberal Republican Party's candidate in the 1872 U.S. presidential election. Despite having the additional support of the Democratic Party, he lost in a landslide. He is currently the only presidential candidate to have died prior to the counting of electoral votes. Early life Greeley was born on February 3, 1811,[2] in Amherst, New Hampshire, the son of poor farmers Zaccheus and Mary Greeley. He declined a scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy and left school at the age of 14; he apprenticed as a printer in Poultney, Vermont, at The Northern Spectator, and moved to New York City in 1831. In 1834 he founded The Weekly New Yorker, which consisted mostly of clippings from other magazines. On July 5, 1836, Greeley married Mary Cheney Greeley, an intermittent suffragette, in Warrenton, North Carolina. Horace Greeley spent as little time as possible with his wife and would sleep in a boarding house when in New York City rather than be with her. Only two of their seven children survived into adulthood. New York Tribune editorial staff. Greeley is third from the left in the front row. Whig In 1838 leading Whig politicians selected him to edit a major national campaign newspaper, the Jeffersonian, which reached 15,000 circulation. Whig leader William Seward found him "rather unmindful of social usages, yet singularly clear, original, and decided, in his political views and theories". In 1840 he edited a major campaign newspaper, the Log Cabin which reached 90,000 subscribers nationwide, and helped elect William Henry Harrison president on the Whig ticket. In 1841 he merged his papers into the New York Tribune, which became known as the "Great Moral Organ." It soon was a success as the leading Whig paper in the metropolis; its weekly edition reached tens of thousands of subscribers across the country. Greeley was editor of the Tribune for the rest of his life, using it as a platform for advocacy of all his causes. As historian Allan Nevins explains:     The Tribune set a new standard in American journalism by its combination of energy in news gathering with good taste, high moral standards, and intellectual appeal. Police reports, scandals, dubious medical advertisements, and flippant personalities were barred from its pages; the editorials were vigorous but usually temperate; the political news was the most exact in the city; book reviews and book-extracts were numerous; and as an inveterate lecturer Greeley gave generous space to lectures. The paper appealed to substantial and thoughtful people.     —Nevins, Dictionary of American Biography (1931)   Greeley prided himself in taking radical positions on all sorts of social issues; few readers followed his suggestions. Utopia fascinated him; influenced by Albert Brisbane he promoted Fourierism. His journal had Karl Marx (as well as Friedrich Engels) as European correspondent in the early 1850s (although most of his views sharply contrasted with the ones promoted by Marxism).[2] He promoted all sorts of agrarian reforms, including homestead laws. He was elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the unseating of David S. Jackson and served from December 4, 1848 – March 3, 1849, but failed in numerous other attempts to win elective office. Greeley supported liberal policies towards settlers; in a July 13, 1865 editorial, he famously advised "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country." Some have claimed that the phrase was originally written by John Soule in the Terre Haute Express in 1851,[3] but it is most often attributed to Greeley. Historian Walter A. McDougall quotes Josiah Grinnell, the founder of Iowa's Grinnell College, as saying, "I was the young man to whom Greeley first said it, and I went." Researcher Fred R. Shapiro questions whether Greeley ever used the term at all and cites, instead, an occurrence of Greeley writing "If any young man is about to commence the world, we say to him, publicly and privately, Go to the West" in the Aug. 25, 1838 issue of the newspaper New Yorker.[4] A champion of the working man, he attacked monopolies of all sorts and rejected land grants to railroads. Industry would make everyone rich, he insisted, as he promoted high tariffs. He supported vegetarianism, opposed liquor, and paid serious attention to any "-ism" anyone proposed. What made the Tribune such a success were the extensive news stories, very well written by brilliant reporters, together with feature articles by fine writers. He was an excellent judge of newsworthiness and quality of reporting. His editorials and news reports explaining the policies and candidates of the Whig Party were reprinted and discussed throughout the country. Many small newspapers relied heavily on the reporting and editorials of the Tribune. Greeley was noted for his eccentricities. His attire in even the hottest weather included a full-length coat, and he was never without an umbrella; his interests included spiritualism and phrenology.[5] Horace Greeley Republican When the new Republican Party was founded in 1854, Greeley made the Tribune its unofficial national organ, and fought slavery extension and the slave power on many pages. On the eve of the Civil War, circulation nationwide approached 300,000. In 1860 he supported the ex-Whig Edward Bates of Missouri for the Republican nomination for president, an action that weakened Greeley's old ally Seward.[Van Dusen 241-44] Greeley made the Tribune the leading newspaper opposing the Slave Power, that is, what he considered the conspiracy by slave owners to seize control of the federal government and block the progress of liberty. In the secession crisis of 1861 he took a hard line against the Confederacy. Theoretically, he agreed, the South could declare independence; but in reality he said there was "a violent, unscrupulous, desperate minority, who have conspired to clutch power"—secession was an illegitimate conspiracy that had to be crushed by federal power. He took a Radical Republican position during the war, in opposition to Lincoln’s moderation. In the summer of 1862, he wrote a famous editorial entitled "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" demanding a more aggressive attack on the Confederacy and faster emancipation of the slaves. One month later he hailed Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Although after 1860 he increasingly lost control of the Tribune’s operations, and wrote fewer editorials, in 1864 he expressed defeatism regarding Lincoln’s chances of reelection, an attitude that was echoed across the country when his editorials were reprinted. Oddly he also pursued a peace policy in 1863–64 that involved discussions with Copperheads and opened the possibility of a compromise with the Confederacy. Lincoln was aghast, but outsmarted Greeley by appointing him to a peace commission he knew the Confederates would repudiate. Reconstruction In Reconstruction he took an erratic course, mostly favoring the Radicals and opposing president Andrew Johnson in 1865–66. In 1867 Greeley was one of 21 men who signed a $100,000 bond for the release of former president of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis. The move was controversial, and many Northerners thought Greeley a traitor and canceled subscriptions to the Weekly Tribune by the thousands.[6] In 1869, he ran on the Republican ticket for New York State Comptroller but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat William F. Allen. Election of 1872 Main article: United States presidential election, 1872 Greeley/Brown campaign poster Greeley helps murder blacks in an 1872 Thomas Nast cartoon After supporting Ulysses Grant in the 1868 election, Greeley broke from Grant and the Radicals. Opposing Grant's re-election bid, he joined the Liberal Republican Party in 1872. To everyone’s astonishment, that new party nominated Greeley as their presidential candidate. Even more surprisingly, he was officially endorsed by the Democrats, whose party he had denounced for decades. As a candidate, Greeley argued that the war was over, the Confederacy was destroyed, and slavery was dead–and that Reconstruction was a success, so it was time to pull Federal troops out of the South and let the people there run their own affairs. A weak campaigner, he was mercilessly ridiculed by the Republicans as a fool, an extremist, a turncoat, and a crank who could not be trusted. The most vicious attacks came in cartoons by Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly. Greeley ultimately ran far behind Grant, winning only 43% of the vote. This crushing defeat was not Greeley's only misfortune in 1872. Greeley was among several high-profile investors who were defrauded by Philip Arnold in a famous diamond and gemstone hoax. Meanwhile, as Greeley had been pursuing his political career, Whitelaw Reid, owner of the New York Herald, had gained control of the Tribune. Death Not long after the election, Greeley's wife died. He descended into madness and died before the electoral votes could be cast. In his final illness, allegedly Greeley spotted Reid and cried out, "You son of a bitch, you stole my newspaper."[citation needed] Greeley died at 6:50 p.m. on Friday, November 29, 1872, in Pleasantville, New York at Dr. George C. S. Choate’s private hospital. Greeley would have received 66 electoral votes; they were scattered among others because of his death. However, three of Georgia's electoral votes were left blank in honor of him. (Other sources report Greeley receiving three electoral votes posthumously, with those votes being disallowed by Congress.) Although Greeley had requested a simple funeral, his daughters ignored his wishes and arranged a grand affair. He is buried in New York's Green-Wood Cemetery. The Greeley home in Chappaqua, New York, now houses the New Castle Historical Society. The local high school is named for him. Paying homage to the 19th-century paper owned by Greeley, the high school named its newspaper the Greeley Tribune. Legacy and cultural references       * Johnson's New Universal Cyclopaedia is dedicated to Greeley. In the Publisher's Announcement in Volume I, A.J. Johnson stated that Horace Greeley suggested the plan for the work and urged its publication, and was a primary advisor. Greeley is listed as an associate editor.     * The New York Tribune building was the first home of Pace University. Today, the site where the building stood is now the One Pace Plaza complex of Pace's New York City campus. Dr. Choate’s residence and private hospital, where Horace Greeley died, today is part of Pace's campus in Pleasantville.     * Several places are named after him, including: Greeley, Pennsylvania, Greeley, Colorado, Greeley, Texas, Greeley County, Kansas (where there is also a city of Horace, and the county seat is Tribune), and Greeley County, Nebraska (which also has a town named Horace).     * Horace Greeley Square is a small park in the Herald Square area of Manhattan featuring a seated statue of Greeley. The park is next to the site of the former New York Herald building. There is a second seated statue of Greeley in Manhattan, this one in City Hall Park downtown.     * Mount Horace Greeley is one of the highest points in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan.     * Hjalmar Schacht, Adolf Hitler's "financial magician" and Reichsbank President during Weimar Republic and Third Reich, later a defendant at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg (acquitted), was named after Greeley (Schacht's full name was Hjalmar Horace Greeley Schacht).     * Horace Greeley is depicted in the film Gangs of New York in his capacity as publisher of the Tribune. Chappaqua Farm, West Chester County, N.Y., The Residence of Hon. Horace Greeley, Currier & Ives, c. 1870 Quotes     * “It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.”     * "Go west, young man."     * Horace Greeley is the one who misquoted President Andrew Jackson as saying, after the Supreme Court ruling in Worcester v. Georgia, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" [7] Notes    1. ^ Emery, Michael; Emery, Edwin, The Press and America (1988) 124-6.    2. ^ Nelson, Randy F. The Almanac of American Letters. Los Altos, California: William Kaufmann, Inc., 1981: 39. ISBN 086576008X    3. ^ Skagit River Journal: "Go West , young man" Who wrote it? Greeley or Soule?    4. ^ [1]    5. ^ www.u-s-history.com    6. ^ Turner, Hy B. When Giants Ruled: The Story of Park Row, New York's Great Newspaper Street. New York: Fordham University Press, 1999: 79. ISBN 0-8232-1943-7    7. ^ Brands, H. W. Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times, p. 492. References Primary sources     * An Address on Success in Business (1867)     * Greeley, Horace. The American Conflict: A History of the Great Rebellion in the United States of America, 1860-64 Vol. I (1864) Vol. II (1866)     * Greeley, Horace. Recollections of a Busy Life (1868)     * Greeley, Horace. Essays Designed to Elucidate The Science of Political Economy, While Serving To Explain and Defend The Policy of Protection to Home Industry, As a System of National Cooperation For True Elevation of Labor, Boston: Fields, Osgood a Co., 1870 Secondary sources     * Cross, Coy F., II. Go West Young Man! Horace Greeley's Vision for America. U. of Mexico Press, 1995. 165 pp. online edition     * Downey, Matthew T. "Horace Greeley and the Politicians: The Liberal Republican Convention in 1872," The Journal of American History, Vol. 53, No. 4. (March, 1967), pp. 727–750. in JSTOR     * Durante, Dianne, Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide (New York University Press, 2007): discussion of Greeley and the 2 memorials to him in New York.     * Lunde, Erik S. Horace Greeley (Twayne's United States Authors Series, no. 413.) Twayne, 1981. 138 pp.     * Lunde, Erik S. "The Ambiguity of the National Idea: the Presidential Campaign of 1872" Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism 1978 5(1): 1-23. ISSN 0317-7904     * McDougall, Walter A. Throes of Democracy: The American Civil War Era, 1829-1877 (Harper Collins, 2008)     * Nevins, Allan. "Horace Greeley" in Dictionary of American Biography (1931).     * Parrington, Vernon L. Main Currents in American Thought (1927), II, pp. 247–57. online edition     * Robbins, Roy M., "Horace Greeley: Land Reform and Unemployment, 1837-1862," Agricultural History, VII, 18 (January, 1933).     * Rourke, Constance Mayfield ; Trumpets of Jubilee: Henry Ward Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lyman Beecher, Horace Greeley, P.T. Barnum (1927). online edition     * Schulze, Suzanne. Horace Greeley: A Bio-Bibliography. Greenwood, 1992. 240 pp.     * Seitz, Don C. Horace Greeley: Founder of the New York Tribune (1926) online edition     * Van Deusen, Glyndon G. Horace Greeley, Nineteenth-Century Crusader (1953), standard biography online edition     * Weisberger, Bernard A. "Horace Greeley: Reformer as Republican" . Civil War History 1977 23(1): 5-25. ISSN 0009-8078     * Robert C. Williams. Horace Greeley: Champion of American Freedom (2006)     * Lauren Keach Lessing (2006). Presiding Divinities: Ideal Sculpture in Nineteenth-Century American Domestic Interiors. Ph.D. dissertation: Indiana University. 

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Which nautical term is used to describe the width of a vessel at its widest point?

Appendix:Glossary of nautical terms - Wiktionary Appendix:Glossary of nautical terms This is a glossary of nautical terms; some remain current, many date from the 17th-19th century. Contents: A[ edit ] above board - On or above the deck, in plain view, not hiding anything. act of pardon / act of grace - A letter from a state or power authorising action by a privateer . Also see letter of marque . abaft - Towards the stern, relative to some object ("abaft the fore hatch") abaft the beam - A relative bearing of greater than 90 degrees from the bow. e.g. "two points abaft the port beam." abandon ship - An imperative to leave the vessel immediately, usually in the face of some imminent danger. abeam - 'On the beam', a relative bearing at right angles to the centerline of the ship's keel . Abel Brown - A sea song (shanty) about a young sailor trying to sleep with a maiden. [1] . aboard - On or in a vessel. - Close aboard means near a ship. absentee pennant - Special pennant flown to indicate absence of commanding officer, admiral, his chief of staff, or officer whose flag is flying (division, squadron, or flotilla commander). accommodation ladder - A portable flight of steps down a ship's side. admiralty - a high naval authority in charge of a state's Navy or a major territorial component. In the Royal Navy (UK) the Board of Admiralty, executing the office of the Lord High Admiral, promulgates Naval law in the form of Queen's (or King's) Regulations and Admiralty Instructions. admiralty law - Body of law that deals with maritime cases. In UK administered by the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice. adrift - Afloat and unattached in any way to the shore or seabed. It may also imply that a vessel is not anchored and not under control, therefore goes where the wind and current take her, (Loose from moorings, or out of place). advance note - A note for one month's wages issued to sailors on their signing a ship's articles. aft - Towards the stern (of the vessel) afternoon watch - The 1200-1600 watch. aground - Resting on or touching the ground or bottom. ahead - Forward of the bow. ahoy - A cry to draw attention. Term used to hail a boat or a ship, as "Boat ahoy!" aid to navigation - (ATON) Any device external to a vessel or aircraft specifically intended to assist navigators in determining their position or safe course, or to warn them of dangers or obstructions to navigation. all hands - Entire ship's company, both officers and enlisted personnel. all night in - Having no night watches. aloft - Above the ship's uppermost solid structure; overhead or high above. Alongside - By the side of a ship or pier. amidships (or midships ) - In the middle portion of ship, along the line of the keel. anchor - An object designed to prevent or slow the drift of a ship, attached to the ship by a line or chain; typically a metal , hook like, object designed to grip the bottom under the body of water. anchorage - A suitable place for a ship to anchor. Area of a port or harbor. anchor's aweigh - Said of an anchor when just clear of the bottom. anchor ball - Black shape hoisted in forepart of a ship to show that ship is anchored in a fairway. anchor buoy - A small buoy secured by a light line to anchor to indicate position of anchor on bottom. anchor cable - Wire or line running between anchor and ship. anchor chain - Heavy stud-linked chain running between anchor and ship. anchor detail - Group of men who handle ground tackle when the ship is anchoring or getting underway. anchor light - White light displayed by a ship at anchor. Two such lights are displayed by a ship over 150 feet in length. anchor watch - Making sure that the anchor is holding and the vessel is not drifting. Important during rough weather and at night. Most marine GPS units have an Anchor Watch alarm capability. arc of visibility - The portion of the horizon over which a lighted aid to navigation is visible from seaward. armament - A ship's weapons. articles of war - Regulations governing the military and naval forces of UK and USA ; read to every ship's company on commissioning and at specified intervals during the commission. ashore - On the beach, shore or land. astern - Toward the stern; an object or vessel that is abaft another vessel or object. ASW - Anti-submarine warfare. B[ edit ] back and fill - To use the advantage of the tide being with you when the wind is not. backstays - Long lines or cables, reaching from the rear of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast. baggywrinkle - A soft covering for cables (or any other obstructions) that prevents sail chafing from occurring. bank - A large area of elevated sea floor. bar - Large mass of sand or earth, formed by the surge of the sea. They are mostly found at the entrances of great rivers or havens, and often render navigation extremely dangerous, but confer tranquility once inside. See also: Touch and go, grounding. Alfred Lord Tenneyson's poem 'Crossing the bar' an allegory for death. bar pilot - A bar pilot guides ships over the dangerous sandbars at the mouth of rivers and bays. beacon - A lighted or unlighted fixed aid to navigation attached directly to the earth’s surface. (Lights and daybeacons both constitute beacons.) beam - The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point, or a point alongside the ship at the mid-point of its length. bear - Large squared off stone used for scraping clean the deck of a sailing man-of-war. bear down - Turn away from the wind, often with reference to a transit. bearing - The horizontal direction of a line of sight between two objects on the surface of the earth. before the mast - Literally, the area of a ship before the foremast (the forecastle). Most often used to describe men whose living quarters are located here, officers being housed behind (abaft) the mast and enlisted men before the mast. This was because the midships area where the officers were berthed is more stable, being closer to the center of gravity, and thus more comfortable. It is less subject to the up and down movement resulting from the ship's pitching. belaying pins - Bars of iron or hard wood to which running rigging may be secured, or belayed. berth - A bed on a boat, or a space in a port or harbour where a vessel can be tied up. between the Devil and the deep blue sea - See Devil seam. bilged on her anchor - A ship that has run upon her own anchor. bimini - Weather-resistant fabric stretched over a stainless steel frame, fastened above the cockpit of a sailboat or flybridge of a power yacht which serves as a rain or sun shade. bimmy - A punitive instrument binnacle - The stand on which the ship's compass is mounted. binnacle list - A ship's sick list. The list of men unable to report for duty was given to the officer or mate of the watch by the ship's surgeon. The list was kept at the binnacle. bitt, plural bitts - Posts mounted on the ship's bow, merely comprising two wooden uprights supporting a crossbar, for fastening ropes or cables; also used on various ships to tie boys over for painful (posterior) discipline, more informally then kissing the gunner's daughter . bitter end - The anchor cable is tied to the bitts, when the cable is fully paid out, the bitter end has been reached. The last part of a rope or cable. bloody - An intensive derived from the substantive 'blood', a name applied to the Bucks, Scrowers, and Mohocks of the seventeenth centuries. Blue Peter - A blue and white flag hoisted at the foretrucks of ships about to sail. boat - A craft or vessel designed to float on, and provide transport over, water. boatswain or bosun - A non-commissioned officer responsible for the sails, ropes and boats on a ship who issues "piped" commands to seamen. bollard - From 'bol' or 'bole', the round trunk of a tree. A substantial vertical pillar to which lines may be made fast. Generally on the quayside rather than the ship. Bombay runner - Large cockroach. Bonded Jacky - A type of tobacco or sweet cake. booby - A type of bird that has little fear and therefore is particularly easy to catch, hence booby prize. booby hatch - A sliding hatch or cover. boom - A spar used to extend the foot of a sail. booms - Masts or yards, lying on board in reserve. boom vang (vang) - A sail control that lets one apply downward tension on the boom, countering the upward tension provided by the mainsail . The boom vang adds an element of control to mainsail shape when the mainsheet is let out enough that it no longer pulls the boom down. Boom vang tension helps control leech twist, a primary component of sail power. buoy - A floating object of defined shape and color, which is anchored at a given position and serves as an aid to navigation. bow - The front of a ship. bow-chaser, chase or chase-piece - A long gun with a relatively small bore, placed in the bow-port to fire directly ahead. Used especially while chasing an enemy vessel to damage its sails and rigging. (quoted from A Sea of Words) bowline - A type of knot, producing a strong loop of a fixed size, topologically similar to a sheet bend. Also a rope attached to the side of a sail to pull it towards the bow (for keeping the windward edge of the sail steady). bowse - To pull or hoist. bowsprit - A spar projecting from the bow used as an anchor for the forestay and other rigging. boy seaman - a young sailor, still in training brail - To furl or truss a sail by pulling it in towards the mast, or the ropes used to do so. brake - The handle of the pump, by which it is worked. brass monkeys or brass monkey weather - Very cold weather. The origin is unknown, though various folk etymologies exist. bridge - A structure above the weather deck, extending the full width of the vessel, which houses a command centre, itself called by association, the bridge. bring to - Cause a ship to be stationary by arranging the sails. broaching-to - A sudden movement in navigation, when the ship, while scudding before the wind, accidentally turns her leeward side to windward, also use to describe the point when water starts to come over the gunwhale due to this turn. buffer - The chief bosun's mate (in the Royal Navy), responsible for discipline. bulkhead - An upright wall within the hull of a ship. Bull of Barney - A beast mentioned in an obscene sea proverb. bulwark - The extension of the ship's side above the level of the weather deck. bumboat - A private boat selling goods. bumpkin - An iron bar (projecting out-board from a ship's side) to which the lower and topsail brace blocks are sometimes hooked. Chains supporting/stabilising the bowsprit. bunked - One's afflicted disposition after being talked to by a driveling idiot. buntline - One of the lines tied to the bottom of a square sail and used to haul it up to the yard when furling. bunting tosser - A signalman who prepares and flys flag hoists . buoyed up - Lifted by a buoy, especially a cable that has been lifted to prevent it from trailing on the bottom. by and large - By means into the wind, while large means with the wind. By and large is used to indicate all possible situations "the ship handles well both by and large". by the board - Anything that has gone overboard. E[ edit ] earrings - Small lines, by which the uppermost corners of the largest sails are secured to the yardarms. embayed - The condition where a sailing vessel is confined between two capes or headlands, typically where the wind is blowing directly onshore. extremis – (also known as “in extremis”) the point under International Rules of the Road ( Navigation Rules ) at which the privileged (or stand-on) vessel on collision course with a burdened (or give-way) vessel determines it must maneuver to avoid a collision. Prior to extremis, the privileged vessel must maintain course and speed and the burdened vessel must maneuver to avoid collision. F[ edit ] fathom - A unit of length equal to 6 feet, roughly measured as the distance between a man's outstretched hands. fender - An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other. figurehead - symbolic image at the head of a traditional sailing ship or early steamer. fireship - A ship loaded with flammable materials and explosives and sailed into an enemy port or fleet either already burning or ready to be set alight by its crew (who would then abandon it) in order to collide with and set fire to enemy ships. first rate - The classification for the largest sailing warships of the 17th through 19th centuries. They had 3 masts, 850+ crew and 100+ guns. fish - 1. To repair a mast or spar with a fillet of wood. 2. To secure an anchor on the side of the ship for sea (otherwise known as "catting".) first lieutenant - In the Royal Navy, the senior lieutenant on board; responsible to the commander for the domestic affairs of the ship's company. Also known as 'Jimmy the One' or 'Number One'. Removes his cap when visiting the mess decks as token of respect for the privacy of the crew in those quarters. Officer i/c cables on the forecastle . first mate - The Second in command of a ship flag hoist - A number of signal flags strung together to convey a message, e.g. 'England expects...'. flank - The maximum speed of a ship. Faster than "full speed". flatback -A Great Lakes slang term for a vessel without any self unloading equipment. fluke - The wedge-shaped part of an anchor's arms that digs into the bottom. fly-by-night - A large sail used only for sailing downwind, requiring little attention. foot - The bottom of a sail. footloose - If the foot of a sail is not secured properly, it is footloose, blowing around in the wind. footrope - Each yard on a square rigged sailing ship is equipped with a footrope for sailors to stand on while setting or stowing the sails forecastle - A partial deck, above the upper deck and at the head of the vessel; traditionally the sailors' living quarters. founder - To fill with water and sink → Wiktionary fore - Towards the bow (of the vessel). foremast jack - An enlisted sailor, one who is housed before the foremast. forestays - Long lines or cables, reaching from the front of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast. freeboard - The height of a ship's hull (excluding superstructure) above the waterline. The vertical distance from the current waterline to the lowest point on the highest continuous watertight deck. This usually varies from one part to another. furl - To roll or wrap a sail around the mast or spar to which it is attached. G[ edit ] gaff - The spar that holds the upper edge of a sail. Also a long hook with a sharp point to haul fish in. galley - the kitchen of the ship garbled - Garbling was the (illegal) practice of mixing cargo with garbage. global positioning system - (GPS) A satellite based radionavigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users. grapeshot - Small balls of lead fired from a cannon , similar to shotgun shot on a larger scale. Used to hurt people, rather than cause structural damage. grog - Watered-down Pusser's rum - half a gill with equal part of water issued to all seamen over twenty. (CPOs and POs were issued with neat rum) From the British Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men's ration of rum to be watered down. He was called "Old Grogram" because he often wore a grogram coat), and the watered rum came to be called 'grog'. Often used (illegally) as currency in exchange for favours in quantities prescribed as 'sippers' and 'gulpers'. Additional issues of grog were made on the command ' splice the mainbrace ' for celebrations or as a reward for performing especially onerous duties. The RN discontinued the practice of issuing rum in 1970. groggy - Drunk from having consumed a lot of grog. gunner's daughter - see Kissing the G.'s D. gunwale - Upper edge of the hull. H[ edit ] halyard or Halliard - Originally, ropes used for hoisting a spar with a sail attached; today, a line used to raise the head of any sail. hammock - Canvas sheets, slung from the deckhead in messdecks , in which seamen slept. "Lash up and stow" a piped command to tie up hammocks and stow them (typically) in racks inboard of the ship's side to protect crew from splinters from shot and provide a ready means of preventing flooding caused by damage. hand bomber - A ship whose boilers are fueled by coal shoveled in by hand. hand over fist - To climb steadily upwards, from the motion of a sailor climbing shrouds on a sailing ship (originally "hand over hand"). hank - A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay . Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener. harbor - A harbor or harbour, or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbours can be man-made or natural. haul wind - To point the ship so as to be heading in the same direction as the wind, to maximise speed. hawse-hole - A hole in a ship's bow for a cable, such as for an anchor, to pass through. hawsepiper - An informal maritime industry term used to refer to a merchant ship’s officer who began his or her career as an unlicensed merchant seaman and did not attend a traditional maritime college/academy to earn the officer license. head - The toilet or latrine of a vessel, which for sailing ships projected from the bows head of navigation - A term used to describe the farthest point above the mouth of a river that can be navigated by ships. headsail - Any sail flown in front of the most forward mast . heave - A vessel's transient up-and-down motion. heaving to - To stop a sailing vessel by lashing the helm in opposition to the sails. The vessel will gradually drift to leeward, the speed of the drift depending on the vessel's design. heave down - Turn a ship on its side (for cleaning). helmsman - A person who steers a ship hogging or hog - The distortion of the hull where the ends of the keel are lower than the center. hold - In earlier use, below the orlop deck, the lower part of the interior of a ship's hull, especially when considered as storage space, as for cargo. In later merchant vessels it extended up through the decks to the underside of the weather deck. holiday - A gap in the coverage of newly applied paint, slush, tar or other preservative. holystone - A chunk of sandstone used to scrub the decks. The name comes from both the kneeling position sailors adopt to scrub the deck (reminiscent of genuflection for prayer), and the stone itself (which resembled a Bible in shape and size). horn - A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to vibrate a disc diaphragm. horse - Attachment of sheets to deck of vessel ('Main-sheet horse). hounds - Attachments of stays to masts. hull - The shell and framework of the basic flotation-oriented part of a ship hydrofoil - A boat with wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull. I[ edit ] icing - A serious hazard where cold temperatures (below about -10°C) combined with high wind speed (typically force 8 or above on the Beaufort scale) result in spray blown off the sea freezing immediately on contact with the ship in the offing - In the water visible from on board a ship, now used to mean something imminent. in transit – When one object is directly in front of the other, they are said to be `in transit'. Used in sailing as a navigation aid, especially in ports when the 'transit-line' from two 'leading lights' is used to guide vessels along the safe channel to port. J[ edit ] Jack - Either a flag, or a sailor. Typically the flag was talked about as if it were a member of the crew. Jacklines or Jack Stays - Lines, often steel wire with a plastic jacket, from the bow to the stern on both port and starboard. The Jack Lines are used to clip on the safety harness to secure the crew to the vessel while giving them the freedom to walk on the deck. Jack Tar - A sailor dressed in 'square rig' - (now) with square collar - (formerly) with tarred pigtail. jib - A triangular staysail at the front of a ship. K[ edit ] killick - A small anchor. A fouled killick is the substantive badge of non-commissioned officers in the RN. Seamen promoted to the first step in the promotion ladder are called 'Killick'. The badge signifies that here is an Able Seaman skilled to cope with the awkward job of dealing with a fouled anchor. keel - The central structural basis of the hull keelhauling - Maritime punishment: to punish by dragging under the keel of a ship. kelson - The timber immediately above the keel of a wooden ship. kissing the gunner's daughter - bend over the barrel of a gun for punitive spanking with a cane or cat know the ropes - A sailor who 'knows the ropes' is familiar with the miles of cordage and ropes involved in running a ship. L[ edit ] ladder - On board a ship, all "stairs" are called ladders, except for literal staircases aboard passenger ships. Most "stairs" on a ship are narrow and nearly vertical, hence the name. Believed to be from the Anglo-Saxon word hiaeder, meaning ladder. Laker -Great Lakes slang for a vessel who spends all its time on the 5 Great Lakes. Land lubber - A person unfamiliar with being on the sea. lanyard - A rope that ties something off. larboard - The left side of the ship (archaic, see port)- cf. starboard . large - See By and large. lateral System - A system of aids to navigation in which characteristics of buoys and beacons indicate the sides of the channel or route relative to a conventional direction of buoyage (usually upstream). lay - To come and go, used in giving orders to the crew, such as "lay forward" or "lay aloft". To direct the course of vessel. Also, to twist the strands of a rope together. lay down - To lay a ship down is to begin construction in a shipyard . league - A unit of length, normally equal to three nautical miles . leech - The aft or trailing edge of a fore-and-aft sail; the leeward edge of a spinnaker; a vertical edge of a square sail. The leech is susceptible to twist, which is controlled by the boom vang and mainsheet. lee side - The side of a ship sheltered from the wind (cf. weather side). lee shore - A shore downwind of a ship. A ship which cannot sail well to windward risks being blown onto a lee shore and grounded. leeway - The amount that a ship is blown leeward by the wind. See also weatherly. leeward - In the direction that the wind is blowing towards. let go and haul - An order indicating that the ship is in line with the wind. let the cat out of the bag - To break bad news (the "cat o' nine tails" being taken out of the bag by the bosun was bad news, announcing a flogging). letter of marque and reprisal - A warrant granted to a privateer condoning specific acts of piracy against a target as a redress for grievances. lifeboat - A small steel or wood boat located near the stern of a vessel. Used to get the crew to saftey if something happens to the mothership. line - the correct nautical term for the majority of the cordage or "ropes" used on a vessel. A line will always have a more specific name, such as mizzen topsail halyard , which describes its use. liner - Ship of The Line: a major warship capable of taking its place in the main (battle) line of fighting ships. Hence modern term for most prestigious passenger vessel: liner. list - The vessel's angle of lean or tilt to one side, in the direction called roll. Loaded to the gunwales - Literally, having cargo loaded as high as the ship's rail; also means extremely drunk. loggerhead - An iron ball attached to a long handle, used for driving caulking into seams and (occasionally) in a fight. Hence: 'at loggerheads'. lubber's line - A vertical line inside a compass case indicating the direction of the ship's head. luff - 1. The foreward edge of a sail. 2. To head a sailing vessel more towards the direction of the wind. luffing 1. When a sailing vessel is steered more to windward . 2. Loosening a sheet past optimal trim. 3. The flapping of the sail(s) which results. lying ahull - Waiting out a storm by dousing all sails and simply letting the boat drift. N[ edit ] navigation rules - Regulations that provide guidance on how to avoid collision and also used to assign blame when a collision does occur. nipper - Short rope used to bind a cable to the "messenger" (a moving line propelled by the capstan) so that the cable is dragged along too (Used because the cable is too large to be wrapped round the capstan itself). During the raising of an anchor the nippers were attached and detached from the (endless) messenger by the ship's boys. Hence the term for small boys: 'nippers'. no room to swing a cat - The entire ship's company was expected to witness floggings, assembled on deck. If it was very crowded, the bosun might not have room to swing the 'cat o' nine tails' (the whip). P[ edit ] painter - A rope attached to the bow of a boat for tethering it to a mooring, wharf. dock, etc. parrel - A movable loop, used to fasten the yard to its respective mast. part brass rags - Fall out with a friend. From the days when cleaning materials were shared between sailors. pay - Fill a seam (with caulking or pitch); see 'The Devil to Pay', or to lubricate the running rigging: 'pay' with slush (qv) or protect from the weather by covering with slush. paymaster - The officer responsible for all money matters in RN ships including the paying and provisioning of the crew, all stores, tools and spare parts. pilot - Navigator. A specially knowledgeable person qualified to navigate a vessel through difficult waters, e.g harbour pilot etc. pipe (Bos'n's) - or a Bos'n's Call - A whistle used by Boatswains (bosuns or bos'ns) to issue commands. Consisting of a metal tube which directs the breath over an aperture on the top of a hollow ball to produce high pitched notes. The pitch of the notes can be changed by partly covering the aperture with the finger of the hand in which the pipe is held. The shape of the instrument is similar to that of a smoking pipe. pipe down - A signal on the bosun's pipe to signal the end of the day, requiring lights (and smoking pipes) to be extinguished and silence from the crew. piping the side - A salute on the bos'n's pipe(s) performed in the company of the deck watch on the starboard side of the quarterdeck or at the head of the gangway, to welcome or bid farewell to the ship's captain , senior officers and honoured visitors. pitch - A vessel's motion, rotating about the beam axis, so the bow pitches up and down. pontoon - A flat-bottomed vessel used as a ferry or a barge or float moored alongside a jetty or a ship to facilitate boarding. poop deck - A high deck on the aft superstructure of a ship. pooped - 1. Swamped by a high, following sea. 2. Exhausted. port - Towards the left-hand side of the ship facing forward (formerly Larboard). Denoted with a red light at night. press gang - Formed body of personnel from a ship of the Royal Navy (either a ship seeking personnel for its own crew or from a 'press tender' seeking men for a number of ships) that would identify and force (press) men, usually merchant sailors into service on naval ships usually against their will. preventer (Gybe preventer, Jibe preventer) - A sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat's deck or rail (usually a cleat or pad eye) used to prevent an accidental jibe while sailing downwind. privateer - A privately-owned ship authorised by a national power (by means of a Letter of Marque ) to conduct hostilities against an enemy. Also called a private man of war. prow - a poetical alternative term for bows. pusser - Purser, the one who is buys, stores and sells all stores on board RN ships, including victuals, rum and tobacco. originally a private merchant, latterly a warrant officer. Q[ edit ] Queen's King's]] Regulations - The standing orders governing the Royal Navy of UK issued in the name of the current monarch . R[ edit ] radar - An electronic system designed to transmit radio signals and receive reflected images of those signals from a "target" in order to determine the bearing and distance to the "target". radar reflector - A special fixture fitted to a vessel or incorporated into the design of certain aids to navigation to enhance their ability to reflect radar energy. In general, these fixtures will materially improve the visibility for use by vessels with radar. range lights - Two lights associated to form a range (a line formed by the extension of a line connecting two charted points) which often, but not necessarily, indicates the channel centerline. The front range light is the lower of the two, and nearer to the mariner using the range. The rear light is higher and further from the mariner. ratlines - Rope ladders permanently rigged from bulwarks and tops to the mast to enable access to top masts and yards . Also serve to provide lateral stability to the masts. reach - A point of sail from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of "close reaching" (about 60° to 80°), "beam reaching" (about 90°) and "broad reaching" (about 120° to 160°) reduced cat - A light version on the cat o'nine tails for use on boys; also called "boys' pussy". reef 1. reef : To temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind, usually to guard against adverse effects of strong wind or to slow the vessel. 2. reef : Rock or coral, possibly only revealed at low tide, shallow enough that the vessel will at least touch if not go aground. reef points - Small lengths of cord attached to a sail, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing. reef-bands - Long pieces of rough canvas sewed across the sails to give them additional strength. reef-tackles - Ropes employed in the operation of reefing. Rigging - The system of masts and lines on ships and other sailing vessels. roll - A vessel's motion rotating from side to side, about the fore-aft axis. List (qv) is a lasting tilt in the roll direction. rolling-tackle - A number of pulleys, engaged to confine the yard to the weather side of the mast; this tackle is much used in a rough sea. the ropes' refers to the lines in the rigging. rope's end A summary punishment device. rummage sale - A sale of damaged cargo (from French arrimage). running rigging - Rigging used to manipulate sails, spars, etc. in order to control the movement of the ship. Cf. standing rigging. T[ edit ] tailshaft - a kind of metallic shafting (a rod of metal) to hold the propeller and connected to the power engine. When the tailshaft is moved, the propeller may also be moved for propulsion. taken aback - An inattentive helmsmen might allow the dangerous situation to arise where the wind is blowing into the sails 'backwards', causing a sudden (and possibly dangerous) shift in the position of the sails. taking the wind out of his sails - To sail in a way that steals the wind from another ship. cf. overbear. tally - The operation of hauling aft the sheets, or drawing them in the direction of the ship's stern. teazer - A rope used as a punitive device. three sheets to the wind - On a three-masted ship, having the sheets of the three lower courses loose will result in the ship meandering aimlessly downwind. Also, a sailor who has drunk strong spirits beyond his capacity. timoneer - From the French timonnier, is a name given, on particular occasions, to the steersman of a ship. toe the line or Toe the mark - At parade, sailors and soldiers were required to stand in line, their toes in line with a seam of the deck. togey - A rope used as a punitive device topsail - The second sail (counting from the bottom) up a mast. These may be either square sails or fore-and-aft ones, in which case they often "fill in" between the mast and the gaff of the sail below. topmast - The second section of the mast above the deck; formerly the upper mast, later surmounted by the topgallant mast; carrying the topsails. topgallant - the mast or sails above the tops. touch and go - The bottom of the ship touching the bottom, but not grounding. towing - The operation of drawing a vessel forward by means of long lines. travellers - Small fittings that slide on a rod or line. The most common use is for the inboard end of the mainsheet; a more esoteric form of traveller consists of "slight iron rings, encircling the backstays, which are used for hoisting the top-gallant yards, and confining them to the backstays". traffic separation scheme - Shipping corridors marked by buoys which separate incoming from outgoing vessels. Improperly called Sea Lanes. trick - A period of time spent at the wheel ("my trick's over"). turtling - When a sailboat (in particular a dinghy) capsizes to a point where the mast is pointed straight down and the hull is on the surface resembling a turtle shell. U[ edit ] under the weather - Serving a watch on the weather side of the ship, exposed to wind and spray. underway - A vessel that is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground. upper-yardmen - Specially selected personnel destined for high office. W[ edit ] wales - A number of strong and thick planks running length-wise along the ship, covering the lower part of the ship's side. watch - A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell.

Beam

What moderately famous ship, a Dutch cargo fluyt, set sail from Plymouth, England on Sep 16, 1620, with 102 passengers and 40 crew?

Glossary of Nautical Terms - GetFeetWet Navigation BV5 GetFeetWet Navigation BV5 A Above board – On or above the deck, in plain view, not hiding anything. Act of Pardon / Act of Grace – A letter from a state or power authorising action by a privateer. Also see Letter of Marque. Abaft – Toward the stern, relative to some object ("abaft the fore hatch") Abaft the beam – A relative bearing of greater than 90 degrees from the bow. e.g. "two points abaft the port beam." Abandon Ship – An imperative to leave the vessel immediately, usually in the face of some imminent danger. Abeam – 'On the beam', a relative bearing at right angles to the centerline of the ship's keel. Abel Brown – A sea song (shanty) about a young sailor trying to sleep with a maiden. [1]. Aboard – On or in a vessel. Close aboard means near a ship. Absentee pennant – Special pennant flown to indicate absence of commanding officer, admiral, his chief of staff, or officer whose flag is flying (division, squadron, or flotilla commander). Accommodation ladder – A portable flight of steps down a ship's side. Admiralty – A high naval authority in charge of a state's Navy or a major territorial component. In the Royal Navy (UK) the Board of Admiralty, executing the office of the Lord High Admiral, promulgates Naval law in the form of Queen's (or King's) Regulations and Admiralty Instructions. Admiralty law – Body of law that deals with maritime cases. In UK administered by the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice. Adrift – Afloat and unattached in any way to the shore or seabed. It may also imply that a vessel is not anchored and not under control, therefore goes where the wind and current take her, (Loose from moorings, or out of place). Advance note – A note for one month's wages issued to sailors on their signing a ship's articles. Aft – Towards the stern (of the vessel) Afternoon watch – The 1200-1600 watch. Aground – Resting on or touching the ground or bottom. Ahead – Forward of the bow. Ahoy – A cry to draw attention. Term used to hail a boat or a ship, as "Boat ahoy!" Aid to Navigation – (ATON) Any device external to a vessel or aircraft specifically intended to assist navigators in determining their position or safe course, or to warn them of dangers or obstructions to navigation. All hands – Entire ship's company, both officers and enlisted personnel. All night in – Having no night watches. Aloft – Above the ship's uppermost solid structure; overhead or high above. Alongside – By the side of a ship or pier. Amidships (or midships) – In the middle portion of ship, along the line of the keel. Anchor – An object designed to prevent or slow the drift of a ship, attached to the ship by a line or chain; typically a metal, hook like, object designed to grip the bottom under the body of water. Anchorage – A suitable place for a ship to anchor. Area of a port or harbor. Anchor's aweigh – Said of an anchor when just clear of the bottom. Anchor ball – Black shape hoisted in forepart of a ship to show that ship is anchored in a fairway. Anchor buoy – A small buoy secured by a light line to anchor to indicate position of anchor on bottom. Anchor chain or cable – Chain connecting the ship to the anchor. Anchor detail – Group of men who handle ground tackle when the ship is anchoring or getting underway. Anchor light – White light displayed by a ship at anchor. Two such lights are displayed by a ship over 150 feet in length. Anchor watch – Making sure that the anchor is holding and the vessel is not drifting. Important during rough weather and at night. Most marine GPS units have an Anchor Watch alarm capability. Arc of Visibility – The portion of the horizon over which a lighted aid to navigation is visible from seaward. Armament – A ship's weapons. Articles of War – Regulations governing the military and naval forces of UK and USA; read to every ship's company on commissioning and at specified intervals during the commission. Ashore – On the beach, shore or land. Astern – Toward the stern; an object or vessel that is abaft another vessel or object. ASW – Anti-submarine warfare. Athwart, athwartships – At right angles to the fore and aft or centerline of a ship Avast – Stop! Cease or desist from whatever is being done. Awash – So low in the water that the water is constantly washing across the surface. Aweigh – Position of an anchor just clear of the bottom. Aye, aye – Reply to an order or command to indicate that it first heard, and second is understood and will be carried out. ("Aye, aye, sir" to officers) Azimuth compass – An instrument employed for ascertaining position of the sun with respect to magnetic north. The azimuth of an object is its bearing from the observer measured as an angle clockwise from true north. Azimuth circle – Instrument used to take bearings of celestial objects. B Back and fill – To use the advantage of the tide being with you when the wind is not. Backstays – Long lines or cables, reaching from the rear of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast. Baggywrinkle – A soft covering for cables (or any other obstructions) that prevents sail chafing from occurring. Bank (sea floor) – A large area of elevated sea floor Bar – Large mass of sand or earth, formed by the surge of the sea. They are mostly found at the entrances of great rivers or havens, and often render navigation extremely dangerous, but confer tranquility once inside. See also: Touch and go, grounding. Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem 'Crossing the bar' an allegory for death. Barrelman – A sailor that was stationed in the crow's nest. Bar pilot – A bar pilot guides ships over the dangerous sandbars at the mouth of rivers and bays. Beacon – A lighted or unlighted fixed aid to navigation attached directly to the earth’s surface. (Lights and daybeacons both constitute beacons.) Beam – The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point, or a point alongside the ship at the mid-point of its length. Beam ends– The sides of a ship. "On her beam ends" may mean the vessel is literally on her side and possibly about to capsize; more often, the phrase means the vessel is listing 45 degrees or more. Bear – Large squared off stone used for scraping clean the deck of a sailing man-of-war. Bear down – Turn away from the wind, often with reference to a transit. Bearing – The horizontal direction of a line of sight between two objects on the surface of the earth. Before the mast – Literally, the area of a ship before the foremast (the forecastle). Most often used to describe men whose living quarters are located here, officers being housed behind (abaft) the mast and enlisted men before the mast. This was because the midships area where the officers were berthed is more stable, being closer to the center of gravity, and thus more comfortable. It is less subject to the up and down movement resulting from the ship's pitching. Belaying pins – Bars of iron or hard wood to which running rigging may be secured, or belayed. Berth – A bed on a boat, or a space in a port or harbour where a vessel can be tied up. Between the Devil and the deep blue sea – See Devil seam. Bilge – The bilge is the compartment at the bottom of the hull of a ship or boat where water collects so that it may be pumped out of the vessel at a later time. Bilged on her anchor – A ship that has run upon her own anchor. Bimini – Weather-resistant fabric stretched over a stainless steel frame, fastened above the cockpit of a sailboat or flybridge of a power yacht which serves as a rain or sun shade. Bimmy – A punitive instrument Binnacle – The stand on which the ship's compass is mounted. Binnacle list – A ship's sick list. The list of men unable to report for duty was given to the officer or mate of the watch by the ship's surgeon. The list was kept at the binnacle. Bitt, plural Bitts – Posts mounted on the ship's bow, merely comprising two wooden uprights supporting a crossbar, for fastening ropes or cables; also used on various ships to tie boys over for painful (posterior) discipline, more informally than kissing the gunner's daughter. Bitter end – The anchor cable is tied to the bitts, when the cable is fully paid out, the bitter end has been reached. The last part of a rope or cable. Bloody – An intensive derived from the substantive 'blood', a name applied to the Bucks, Scrowers, and Mohocks of the seventeenth centuries. Blue Peter – A blue and white flag hoisted at the foretrucks of ships about to sail. Boat – A craft or vessel designed to float on, and provide transport over, water. Boatswain or bosun – A non-commissioned officer responsible for the sails, ropes and boats on a ship who issues "piped" commands to seamen. Bollard – From 'bol' or 'bole', the round trunk of a tree. A substantial vertical pillar to which lines may be made fast. Generally on the quayside rather than the ship. Bombay runner – Large cockroach. Bonded Jacky – A type of tobacco or sweet cake. Booby – A type of bird that has little fear and therefore is particularly easy to catch, hence booby prize. Booby hatch – A sliding hatch or cover. Boom – A spar used to extend the foot of a sail. Booms – Masts or yards, lying on board in reserve. Boom vang (vang) – A sail control that lets one apply downward tension on the boom, countering the upward tension provided by the mainsail. The boom vang adds an element of control to mainsail shape when the mainsheet is let out enough that it no longer pulls the boom down. Boom vang tension helps control leech twist, a primary component of sail power. Buoy – A floating object of defined shape and color, which is anchored at a given position and serves as an aid to navigation. Bow – The front of a ship. Bow-chaser, chase or chase-piece – A long gun with a relatively small bore, placed in the bow-port to fire directly ahead. Used especially while chasing an enemy vessel to damage its sails and rigging. (quoted from A Sea of Words) Bowline – A type of knot, producing a strong loop of a fixed size, topologically similar to a sheet bend. Also a rope attached to the side of a sail to pull it towards the bow (for keeping the windward edge of the sail steady). Bowse – To pull or hoist. Bowsprit – A spar projecting from the bow used as an anchor for the forestay and other rigging. Boy seaman – a young sailor, still in training Brail – To furl or truss a sail by pulling it in towards the mast, or the ropes used to do so. Brake – The handle of the pump, by which it is worked. Brass monkeys or brass monkey weather – Very cold weather, origin unknown. A widely circulated folk etymology claiming to explain what a brass monkey is has been discredited by several people including Snopes [2] and the Oxford English Dictionary. Bridge – A structure above the weather deck, extending the full width of the vessel, which houses a command centre, itself called by association, the bridge. Bring to – Cause a ship to be stationary by arranging the sails. Broaching-to – A sudden movement in navigation, when the ship, while scudding before the wind, accidentally turns her leeward side to windward, also use to describe the point when water starts to come over the gunwhale due to this turn. Buffer – The chief bosun's mate (in the Royal Navy), responsible for discipline. Bulkhead – An upright wall within the hull of a ship. Particularly a load bearing wall. Bull of Barney – A beast mentioned in an obscene sea proverb. Bulwark – The extension of the ship's side above the level of the weather deck. Bumboat – A private boat selling goods. Bumpkin – An iron bar (projecting out-board from a ship's side) to which the lower and topsail brace blocks are sometimes hooked. Chains supporting/stabilising the bowsprit. Buntline – One of the lines tied to the bottom of a square sail and used to haul it up to the yard when furling. Bunting Tosser – A signalman who prepares and flies flag hoists. Buoyed Up – Lifted by a buoy, especially a cable that has been lifted to prevent it from trailing on the bottom. By and Large – By means into the wind, while large means with the wind. By and large is used to indicate all possible situations "the ship handles well both by and large". By the board – Anything that has gone overboard. C Cabin – an enclosed room on a deck or flat. Cabin boy – attendant on passengers and crew. Cable – A large rope; also a measure of length or distance. Equivalent to (UK) 1/10 nautical mile, approx. 600 feet; (USA) 120 fathoms, 720 feet (219 m); other countries use different values. Canister – a type of anti personnel cannon load in which lead balls or other loose metallic items were enclosed in a tin or iron shell. On firing the shell would disintegrate releasing the smaller metal objects. Cape Horn fever – The name of the fake illness a malingerer is pretending to suffer from. Capsize – When a ship or boat lists too far and rolls over, exposing the keel. On large vessels, this often results in the sinking of the ship. Capstan – A rotating wheel mounted vertically, used to wind in anchors or other heavy objects; and sometimes to administer flogging over. Captain's daughter – The cat o' nine tails, which in principle is only used on board on the captain's (or a court martial's) personal orders. Careening – Cause the ship to tilt on its side, usually to clean or repair the hull below the water line. Cat – 1. To prepare an anchor, after raising it by lifting it with a tackle to the Cat Head, prior to securing (fishing) it alongside for sea. (An anchor raised to the Cat Head is said to be catted). 2. The Cat o' Nine Tails (see below). 3. A cat-rigged boat or catboat. Catamaran – A vessel with two hulls. Catboat – A cat-rigged vessel with only one sail, usually on a gaff. Cat o' nine tails – A short nine-tailed whip kept by the bosun's mate to flog sailors (and soldiers in the Army). Cat Head – A beam extending out from the hull used to support an anchor when raised in order to secure or 'fish' it. Centreboard – A removable keel used to resist leeway. Chafing – Wear on line or sail caused by constant rubbing against another surface. Chafing Gear – Material applied to a line or spar to prevent or reduce chafing. See Baggywrinkle. Chain shot – Cannon balls linked with chain used to damage rigging and masts. Chain-wale or channel – A broad, thick plank that projects horizontally from each of a ship's sides abreast a mast, distinguished as the fore, main, or mizzen channel accordingly, serving to extend the base for the shrouds, which supports the mast. Chase guns – Cannons mounted on the bow or stern. Those on the bow could be used to fire upon a ship ahead, while those on the rear could be used to ward off pursuing vessels. Chine – A relatively sharp angle in the hull, as compared to the rounded bottoms of most traditional boat hulls. Chock-a-block – Rigging blocks that are so tight against one another that they cannot be further tightened. Clean bill of health – A certificate issued by a port indicating that the ship carries no infectious diseases. Clean slate – At the helm, the watch keeper would record details of speed, distances, headings, etc. on a slate. At the beginning of a new watch the slate would be wiped clean. Cleat – A stationary device used to secure a rope aboard a vessel. Clew-lines – Used to truss up the clews, the lower corners of square sails. Club hauling The ship drops one of its anchors at high speed to turn abruptly. This was sometimes used as a means to get a good firing angle on a pursuing vessel. Coaming – The raised edge of a hatchway used to help keep out water. Compass – Navigational instrument that revolutionised travel. Corrector – a device to correct the ship's compass. Courses – The mainsail, foresail, and the mizzen. Coxswain or cockswain – The helmsman or crew member in command of a boat. As the crow flies – A direct line between two points (which might cross land) which is the way crows travel rather than ships which must go around land. Crow's nest – Specifically a masthead constructed with sides and sometimes a roof to shelter the lookouts from the weather, generally by whaling vessels, this term has become a generic term for what is properly called masthead. See masthead. Cuddy – A small cabin in a boat. Cunningham – A line invented by Briggs Cunningham, used to control the shape of a sail. Cunt splice – A join between two lines, similar to an eye-splice, where each rope end is joined to the other a short distance along, making an opening which closes under tension. Cuntline – The "valley" between the strands of a rope or cable. Before serving a section of laid rope e.g. to protect it from chafing, it may be "wormed" by laying yarns in the cuntlines, giving that section an even cylindrical shape. Cut and run – When wanting to make a quick escape, a ship might cut lashings to sails or cables for anchors, causing damage to the rigging, or losing an anchor, but shortening the time needed to make ready by bypassing the proper procedures. Cut of his jib – The "cut" of a sail refers to its shape. Since this would vary between ships, it could be used both to identify a familiar vessel at a distance, and to judge the possible sailing qualities of an unknown one. D Daggerboard – A type of centerboard that is removed vertically. Davy Jones’ Locker – An idiom for the bottom of the sea Daybeacon – An unlighted fixed structure which is equipped with a dayboard for daytime identification. Dayboard – The daytime identifier of an aid to navigation presenting one of several standard shapes (square, triangle, rectangle) and colors (red, green, white, orange, yellow, or black). Decks – the structures forming the approximately horizontal surfaces in the ship's general structure. Unlike flats, they are a structural part of the ship. Deck hand – A person whose job involves aiding the deck supervisor in (un)mooring, anchoring, maintenance, and general evolutions on deck. Deck supervisor – The person in charge of all evolutions and maintenance on deck; sometimes split into two groups: forward deck supervisor, aft deck supervisor. Deckhead – The under-side of the deck above. Sometimes panelled over to hide the pipe work. This panelling, like that lining the bottom and sides of the holds, is the ceiling. Deadeye – A round wooden plank which serves a similar purpose to a block in the standing rigging of large sailing vessels. Deadrise – The design angle between the keel (q.v.) and horizontal. Derrick – A lifting device composed of one mast or pole and a boom or jib which is hinged freely at the bottom. Devil seam – The curved seam in the hull planking closest to the waterline when the ship is level. The seam between these two planks, set at a nominal right angle to each other, is the devil seam. This seam is particularly difficult to pay (and caulk) because there is little support in the direction of the compression created during caulking and expansion of the wood when wet. Hence, this seam "works" a lot. A sailor sealing this seam must first cause the ship to list (lean) toward the side opposite of the seam. This allows the salior access to the seam by hanging below it, "between the Devil and the deep blue sea". Devil to pay (or Devil to pay, and no pitch hot) – 'Paying' the Devil is sealing the devil seam. It is a difficult and unpleasant job (with no resources) because of the shape of the seam (closest to the waterline) and because you are positioned below the natural waterline. Directional Light – A light illuminating a sector or very narrow angle and intended to mark a direction to be followed. Dog watch – A short watch period, generally half the usual time (eg a two hour watch between two four hour ones). Such a watch might be included in order to slowly rotate the system over several days for fairness, or to allow both watches to eat their meals at approximately normal times. Dolphin – A structure consisting of a number of piles driven into the seabed or riverbed in a circular pattern and drawn together with wire rope. Downhaul – A line used to control either a mobile spar, or the shape of a sail. Draft – The depth of a ship's keel below the waterline. Draught – See draft. Dressing down – Treating old sails with oil or wax to renew them, or a verbal reprimand. Driver – The large sail flown from the mizzen gaff. Dunnage – Loose packing material used to protect a ship's cargo from damage during transport. Personal baggage. E Earrings – Small lines, by which the uppermost corners of the largest sails are secured to the yardarms. Embayed – The condition where a sailing vessel is confined between two capes or headlands, typically where the wind is blowing directly onshore. Extremis – (also known as “in extremis”) the point under International Rules of the Road (Navigation Rules) at which the privileged (or stand-on) vessel on collision course with a burdened (or give-way) vessel determines it must maneuver to avoid a collision. Prior to extremis, the privileged vessel must maintain course and speed and the burdened vessel must maneuver to avoid collision. F Fathom – A unit of length equal to 6 feet, roughly measured as the distance between a man's outstretched hands. Fender – An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other. Figurehead – symbolic image at the head of a traditional sailing ship or early steamer. Fireship – A ship loaded with flammable materials and explosives and sailed into an enemy port or fleet either already burning or ready to be set alight by its crew (who would then abandon it) in order to collide with and set fire to enemy ships. First rate – The classification for the largest sailing warships of the 17th through 19th centuries. They had 3 masts, 850+ crew and 100+ guns. Fish – 1. To repair a mast or spar with a fillet of wood. 2. To secure an anchor on the side of the ship for sea (otherwise known as "catting".) First Lieutenant – In the Royal Navy, the senior lieutenant on board; responsible to the Commander for the domestic affairs of the ship's company. Also known as 'Jimmy the One' or 'Number One'. Removes his cap when visiting the mess decks as token of respect for the privacy of the crew in those quarters. Officer i/c cables on the forecastle. In the U.S. Navy the senior person in charge of all Deck hands. First Mate – The Second in command of a ship Flag hoist – A number of signal flags strung together to convey a message, e.g. 'England expects...'. Flank – The maximum speed of a ship. Faster than "full speed". Flatback – A Great Lakes slang term for a vessel without any self unloading equipment. Fluke – The wedge-shaped part of an anchor's arms that digs into the bottom. Fly by night – A large sail used only for sailing downwind, requiring little attention. Following sea – Wave or tidal movement going in the same direction as a ship Foot – The bottom of a sail. Footloose – If the foot of a sail is not secured properly, it is footloose, blowing around in the wind. Footrope – Each yard on a square rigged sailing ship is equipped with a footrope for sailors to stand on while setting or stowing the sails Forecastle – A partial deck, above the upper deck and at the head of the vessel; traditionally the sailors' living quarters. Founder – To fill with water and sink ? Wiktionary Fore – Towards the bow (of the vessel). Foremast jack – An enlisted sailor, one who is housed before the foremast. Forestays – Long lines or cables, reaching from the front of the vessel to the mast heads, used to support the mast. Freeboard – The height of a ship's hull (excluding superstructure) above the waterline. The vertical distance from the current waterline to the lowest point on the highest continuous watertight deck. This usually varies from one part to another. Full and by – Sailing into the wind (by), but not as close-hauled as might be possible, so as to make sure the sails are kept full. This provides a margin for error to avoid being taken aback (a serious risk for square-rigged vessels) in a tricky sea. Figuratively it implies getting on with the job but in a steady, relaxed way, without undue urgency or strain. Furl – To roll or wrap a sail around the mast or spar to which it is attached. G Gaff – The spar that holds the upper edge of a sail. Also a long hook with a sharp point to haul fish in. Galley – the kitchen of the ship Gangplank – a movable bridge used in boarding or leaving a ship at a pier; also known as a "brow". Garbled – Garbling was the (illegal) practice of mixing cargo with garbage. Garboard – The strake closest to the keel (from Dutch gaarboard). Global Positioning System – (GPS) A satellite based radionavigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users. Grapeshot – Small balls of lead fired from a cannon, similar to shotgun shot on a larger scale. Used to hurt people, rather than cause structural damage. Grog – Watered-down pusser's rum consisting of half a gill with equal part of water, issued to all seamen over twenty. (CPOs and POs were issued with neat rum) From the British Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men's ration of rum to be watered down. He was called "Old Grogram" because he often wore a grogram coat), and the watered rum came to be called 'grog'. Often used (illegally) as currency in exchange for favours in quantities prescribed as 'sippers' and 'gulpers'. Additional issues of grog were made on the command 'splice the mainbrace' for celebrations or as a reward for performing especially onerous duties. The RN discontinued the practice of issuing rum in 1970. Groggy – Drunk from having consumed a lot of grog. Gunner's daughter – see Kissing the G.'s D. Gunwale – Upper edge of the hull. H Halyard or Halliard – Originally, ropes used for hoisting a spar with a sail attached; today, a line used to raise the head of any sail. Hammock – Canvas sheets, slung from the deckhead in messdecks, in which seamen slept. "Lash up and stow" a piped command to tie up hammocks and stow them (typically) in racks inboard of the ship's side to protect crew from splinters from shot and provide a ready means of preventing flooding caused by damage. Hand Bomber – A ship using coal-fired boilers shoveled in by hand. Hand over fist – To climb steadily upwards, from the motion of a sailor climbing shrouds on a sailing ship (originally "hand over hand"). Handsomely – With a slow even motion, as when hauling on a line "handsomely." Hank – A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay. Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener. Harbor – A harbor or harbour, or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbours can be man-made or natural. Haul wind – To point the ship so as to be heading in the same direction as the wind, generally not the fastest point of travel on a sailing vessel. Hawse-hole – A hole in a ship's bow for a cable, such as for an anchor, to pass through. Hawsepiper – An informal maritime industry term used to refer to a merchant ship’s officer who began his or her career as an unlicensed merchant seaman and did not attend a traditional maritime college/academy to earn the officer license. Head – The toilet or latrine of a vessel, which for sailing ships projected from the bows Head of navigation – A term used to describe the farthest point above the mouth of a river that can be navigated by ships. Headsail – Any sail flown in front of the most forward mast. Heave – A vessel's transient up-and-down motion. Heaving to – To stop a sailing vessel by lashing the helm in opposition to the sails. The vessel will gradually drift to leeward, the speed of the drift depending on the vessel's design. Heave down – Turn a ship on its side (for cleaning). Helmsman – A person who steers a ship Hogging or hog – The distortion of the hull where the ends of the keel are lower than the center. Hold – In earlier use, below the orlop deck, the lower part of the interior of a ship's hull, especially when considered as storage space, as for cargo. In later merchant vessels it extended up through the decks to the underside of the weather deck. Holiday – A gap in the coverage of newly applied paint, slush, tar or other preservative. Holystone – A chunk of sandstone used to scrub the decks. The name comes from both the kneeling position sailors adopt to scrub the deck (reminiscent of genuflection for prayer), and the stone itself (which resembled a Bible in shape and size). Horn – A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to vibrate a disc diaphragm. Horse – Attachment of sheets to deck of vessel ('Main-sheet horse). Hounds – Attachments of stays to masts. Hull – The shell and framework of the basic flotation-oriented part of a ship Hydrofoil – A boat with wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull. I Icing – A serious hazard where cold temperatures (below about -10°C) combined with high wind speed (typically force 8 or above on the Beaufort scale) result in spray blown off the sea freezing immediately on contact with the ship In Irons – When the bow of a sailboat is headed into the wind and the boat has stalled and is unable to maneuver In the offing – In the water visible from on board a ship, now used to mean something imminent. Inboard-Outboard drive system – A larger Power Boating alternative drive system to transom mounted outboard motors. J Jack – Either a flag, or a sailor. Typically the flag was talked about as if it were a member of the crew. Jacklines or Jack Stays – Lines, often steel wire with a plastic jacket, from the bow to the stern on both port and starboard. The Jack Lines are used to clip on the safety harness to secure the crew to the vessel while giving them the freedom to walk on the deck. Jack Tar – A sailor dressed in 'square rig' with square collar. Formerly with a tarred pigtail. Jib – A triangular staysail at the front of a ship. Junk - Old cordage past its useful service life as lines aboard ship. The strands of old junk were teased apart in the process called picking oakum. K Killick – A small anchor. A fouled killick is the substantive badge of non-commissioned officers in the RN. Seamen promoted to the first step in the promotion ladder are called 'Killick'. The badge signifies that here is an Able Seaman skilled to cope with the awkward job of dealing with a fouled anchor. Keel – The central structural basis of the hull Keelhauling – Maritime punishment: to punish by dragging under the keel of a ship. Kelson – The timber immediately above the keel of a wooden ship. Kissing the gunner's daughter – bend over the barrel of a gun for punitive spanking with a cane or cat Know the ropes – A sailor who 'knows the ropes' is familiar with the miles of cordage and ropes involved in running a ship. L Ladder – On board a ship, all "stairs" are called ladders, except for literal staircases aboard passenger ships. Most "stairs" on a ship are narrow and nearly vertical, hence the name. Believed to be from the Anglo-Saxon word hiaeder, meaning ladder. Laker –Great Lakes slang for a vessel who spends all its time on the 5 Great Lakes. Land lubber – A person unfamiliar with being on the sea. Lanyard – A rope that ties something off. Larboard – The left side of the ship (archaic, see port). cf. starboard. Large – See By and large. Lateral System – A system of aids to navigation in which characteristics of buoys and beacons indicate the sides of the channel or route relative to a conventional direction of buoyage (usually upstream). Lay – To come and go, used in giving orders to the crew, such as "lay forward" or "lay aloft". To direct the course of vessel. Also, to twist the strands of a rope together. Lay down – To lay a ship down is to begin construction in a shipyard. League – A unit of length, normally equal to three nautical miles. Leech – The aft or trailing edge of a fore-and-aft sail; the leeward edge of a spinnaker; a vertical edge of a square sail. The leech is susceptible to twist, which is controlled by the boom vang and mainsheet. Lee side – The side of a ship sheltered from the wind (cf. weather side). Lee shore – A shore downwind of a ship. A ship which cannot sail well to windward risks being blown onto a lee shore and grounded. Leeway – The amount that a ship is blown leeward by the wind. See also weatherly. Leeward – In the direction that the wind is blowing towards. Let go and haul – An order indicating that the ship is in line with the wind. Letter of marque and reprisal – A warrant granted to a privateer condoning specific acts of piracy against a target as a redress for grievances. Lifeboat – A small steel or wood boat located near the stern of a vessel. Used to get the crew to safety if something happens to the mothership. Line – the correct nautical term for the majority of the cordage or "ropes" used on a vessel. A line will always have a more specific name, such as mizzen topsail halyard, which describes its use. Liner – Ship of The Line: a major warship capable of taking its place in the main (battle) line of fighting ships. Hence modern term for most prestigious passenger vessel: Liner. List – The vessel's angle of lean or tilt to one side, in the direction called roll. Loaded to the gunwales – Literally, having cargo loaded as high as the ship's rail; also means extremely drunk. Loggerhead – An iron ball attached to a long handle, used for driving caulking into seams and (occasionally) in a fight. Hence: 'at loggerheads'. Lubber's line – A vertical line inside a compass case indicating the direction of the ship's head. Luff – 1. The forward edge of a sail. 2. To head a sailing vessel more towards the direction of the wind. Luffing 1. When a sailing vessel is steered far enough to windward that the sail is no longer completely filled with wind (the luff of the sail is usually where this first becomes evident). 2. Loosening a sheet so far past optimal trim that the sail is no longer completely filled with wind. 3. The flapping of the sail(s) which results from having no wind in the sail at all. Lying ahull – Waiting out a storm by dousing all sails and simply letting the boat drift. M Mainbrace – The brace attached to the mainmast. Mainmast (or Main) – The tallest mast on a ship. Mainsheet – Sail control line that allows the most obvious effect on mainsail trim. Primarily used to control the angle of the boom, and thereby the mainsail, this control can also increase or decrease downward tension on the boom while sailing upwind, significantly affecting sail shape. For more control over downward tension on the boom, use a boom vang. Man of war – a warship from the age of sail Man overboard! – A cry let out when a seaman has gone overboard Marina – a docking facility for small ships and yachts. Marines Soldiers afloat. Royal Marines formed as the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot in 1664 with many and varied duties including providing guard to ship's officers should there be mutiny aboard. Sometimes thought by seamen to be rather gullible, hence the phrase "tell it to the marines". Mast – A vertical pole on a ship which supports sails or rigging. Masthead – A small platform partway up the mast, just above the height of the mast's main yard. A lookout is stationed here, and men who are working on the main yard will embark from here. See also Crow's Nest. Master – Either the commander of commercial vessel, or a senior officer of a naval sailing ship in charge of routine seamanship and navigation but not in command during combat. Master-at-Arms – A non-commissioned officer responsible for discipline on a naval ship. Standing between the officers and the crew, commonly known in the Royal Navy as 'the Buffer'. Mess – An eating place aboard ship. A group of crew who live and feed together, Mess deck catering – A system of catering in which a standard ration is issued to a mess supplemented by a money allowance which may be used by the mess to buy additional victuals from the pusser's stores or elsewhere. Each mess was autonomous and self-regulating. Seaman cooks, often members of the mess, prepared the meals and took them, in a tin canteen, to the galley to be cooked by the ship's cooks. As distinct from "cafeteria messing" where food is issued to the individual hand, which now the general practice. Midshipman – A non-commissioned officer below the rank of Lieutenant. Usually regarded as being "in training" to some degree. Also known as 'Snotty'. 'The lowest form of animal life in the Royal Navy' where he has authority over and responsibility for more junior ranks, yet, at the same time, relying on their experience and learning his trade from them. Mizzenmast (or Mizzen) – The third mast on a ship. Mizzen staysail – Sail on a ketch or yawl, usually lightweight, set from, and forward of, the mizzen mast while reaching in light to moderate air. Monkey fist – a ball woven out of line used to provide heft to heave the line to another location. The monkey fist and other heaving-line knots were sometimes weighted with lead (easily available in the form of foil used to seal e.g. tea chests from dampness) although Clifford W. Ashley notes that there was a "definite sporting limit" to the weight thus added. Moor – to attach a boat to a mooring buoy or post. Also, to a dock a ship. N Navigation rules – Rules of the road that provide guidance on how to avoid collision and also used to assign blame when a collision does occur. Nipper – Short rope used to bind a cable to the "messenger" (a moving line propelled by the capstan) so that the cable is dragged along too (Used because the cable is too large to be wrapped round the capstan itself). During the raising of an anchor the nippers were attached and detached from the (endless) messenger by the ship's boys. Hence the term for small boys: 'nippers'. No room to swing a cat – The entire ship's company was expected to witness floggings, assembled on deck. If it was very crowded, the bosun might not have room to swing the 'cat o' nine tails' (the whip). O Oilskin Foul-weather gear worn by sailors. Oreboat –Great Lakes Term for a vessel primarily used in the transport of iron ore. Orlop deck The lowest deck of a ship of the line. The deck covering in the hold. Outhaul – A line used to control the shape of a sail. Overbear – To sail downwind directly at another ship, stealing the wind from its sails. Overhaul – Hauling the buntline ropes over the sails to prevent them from chaffing. Overhead – The "ceiling," or, essentially, the bottom of the deck above you. Overreach – When tacking, to hold a course too long. Over the barrel – Adult sailors were flogged on the back or shoulders while tied to a grating, but boys were beaten instead on the posterior (often bared), with a cane or cat, while bending, often tied down, over the barrel of a gun, known as (kissing) the gunner's daughter. Overwhelmed – Capsized or foundered. Ox-Eye – A cloud or other weather phenomenon that may be indicative of an upcoming storm. P Parrel – A movable loop, used to fasten the yard to its respective mast. Part brass rags – Fall out with a friend. From the days when cleaning materials were shared between sailors. Pay – Fill a seam (with caulking or pitch), or to lubricate the running rigging; pay with slush (q.v.), or protect from the weather by covering with slush. See also: The Devil to pay. (French from paix, pitch) Paymaster – The officer responsible for all money matters in RN ships including the paying and provisioning of the crew, all stores, tools and spare parts. See also: purser. Pilot – Navigator. A specially knowledgeable person qualified to navigate a vessel through difficult waters, e.g harbour pilot etc. Pipe (Bos'n's), or a Bos'n's Call – A whistle used by Boatswains (bosuns or bos'ns) to issue commands. Consisting of a metal tube which directs the breath over an aperture on the top of a hollow ball to produce high pitched notes. The pitch of the notes can be changed by partly covering the aperture with the finger of the hand in which the pipe is held. The shape of the instrument is similar to that of a smoking pipe. Pipe down – A signal on the bosun's pipe to signal the end of the day, requiring lights (and smoking pipes) to be extinguished and silence from the crew. Piping the side – A salute on the bos'n's pipe(s) performed in the company of the deck watch on the starboard side of the quarterdeck or at the head of the gangway, to welcome or bid farewell to the ship's Captain, senior officers and honoured visitors. Pitch – A vessel's motion, rotating about the beam axis, so the bow pitches up and down. Pitchpole – To capsize a boat end over end, rather than by rolling over. Pontoon – A flat-bottomed vessel used as a ferry or a barge or float moored alongside a jetty or a ship to facilitate boarding. Poop deck – A high deck on the aft superstructure of a ship. Pooped – 1. Swamped by a high, following sea. 2. Exhausted. Port – Towards the left-hand side of the ship facing forward (formerly Larboard). Denoted with a red light at night. Press gang – Formed body of personnel from a ship of the Royal Navy (either a ship seeking personnel for its own crew or from a 'press tender' seeking men for a number of ships) that would identify and force (press) men, usually merchant sailors into service on naval ships usually against their will. Preventer (Gybe preventer, Jibe preventer) – A sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat's deck or rail (usually a cleat or pad eye) used to prevent or moderate the effects of an accidental jibe. Privateer – A privately-owned ship authorised by a national power (by means of a Letter of Marque) to conduct hostilities against an enemy. Also called a private man of war. Prow – a poetical alternative term for bows. Pusser – Purser, the one who is buys, stores and sells all stores on board ships, including victuals, rum and tobacco. originally a private merchant, latterly a warrant officer. Also, in modern use, a term for the Navy in general (pussers) or a sailor in particular (a pusser). Principal Warfare Officer – PWO, one of a number of Warfare branch specialist officers. Q Queen's (King's) Regulations – The standing orders governing the Royal Navy of UK issued in the name of the current Monarch. Quayside – Refers to the dock or platform used to fasten a vessel to R Radar – Acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. An electronic system designed to transmit radio signals and receive reflected images of those signals from a "target" in order to determine the bearing and distance to the "target". Radar reflector – A special fixture fitted to a vessel or incorporated into the design of certain aids to navigation to enhance their ability to reflect radar energy. In general, these fixtures will materially improve the visibility for use by vessels with radar. Range lights – Two lights associated to form a range (a line formed by the extension of a line connecting two charted points) which often, but not necessarily, indicates the channel centerline. The front range light is the lower of the two, and nearer to the mariner using the range. The rear light is higher and further from the mariner. Ratlines – Rope ladders permanently rigged from bulwarks and tops to the mast to enable access to top masts and yards. Also serve to provide lateral stability to the masts. Reach – A point of sail from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of "close reaching" (about 60° to 80°), "beam reaching" (about 90°) and "broad reaching" (about 120° to 160°) Reduced cat – A light version on the cat o'nine tails for use on boys; also called "boys' pussy". Reef 1. Reef: To temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind, usually to guard against adverse effects of strong wind or to slow the vessel. 2. Reef: Rock or coral, possibly only revealed at low tide, shallow enough that the vessel will at least touch if not go aground. Reef points – Small lengths of cord attached to a sail, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing. Reef-bands – Long pieces of rough canvas sewed across the sails to give them additional strength. Reef-tackles – Ropes employed in the operation of reefing. Rigging – The system of masts and lines on ships and other sailing vessels. Roll – A vessel's motion rotating from side to side, about the fore-aft axis. List (qv) is a lasting tilt in the roll direction. Rolling-tackle – A number of pulleys, engaged to confine the yard to the weather side of the mast; this tackle is much used in a rough sea. the Ropes' refers to the lines in the rigging. Rope's end A summary punishment device. Rummage sale – A sale of damaged cargo (from French arrimage). Running rigging – Rigging used to manipulate sails, spars, etc. in order to control the movement of the ship. Cf. standing rigging. S Sagging – When a trough of a wave is amidship. Sail-plan – A set of drawings showing various sail combinations recommended for use in various situations. Saltie – Great Lakes term for a vessel that sails the oceans. Scandalize – To reduce the area of a sail by expedient means (slacking the peak and tricing up the tack) without properly reefing it. Scud – A name given by sailors to the lowest clouds, which are mostly observed in squally weather. Scudding – A term applied to a vessel when carried furiously along by a tempest. Scuppers – An opening on the side rail that allows water to run off the deck. Scuttle – A small opening, or lid thereof, in a ship's deck or hull. To cut a hole in, or sink something. Scuttlebutt – A barrel with a hole in used to hold water that sailors would drink from. Also: gossip. Sea anchor – A stabilizer deployed in the water for heaving to in heavy weather. It acts as a brake and keeps the hull in line with the wind and perpendicular to waves. Seaman – Generic term for sailor, or (part of) a low naval rank Seaworthy – Certified for, and capable of, safely sailing at sea. Self-Unloader – Great Lakes slang term for a vessel with a conveyor or some other method of unloading the cargo without shoreside equipment. Sennet whip – A summary punitive implement Shakes – Pieces of barrels or casks broken down to save space. They are worth very little, leading to the phrase "no great shakes". Sheer – The upward curve of a vessel's longitudinal lines as viewed from the side. Sheet – A rope used to control the setting of a sail in relation to the direction of the wind. Ship's bell – Striking the ship's bell is the traditional method of marking time and regulating the crew's watches. Ship's company – The crew of a ship. Shoal – Shallow water that is a hazard to navigation. Shrouds– Standing rigging running from a mast to the sides of a ships. Siren – A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to actuate either a disc or a cup shaped rotor. Skysail – A sail set very high, above the royals. Only carried by a few ships. Skyscraper – A small, triangular sail, above the skysail. Used in light winds on a few ships. Slop chest – A ship's store of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc., maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew. Slush – Greasy substance obtained by boiling or scraping the fat from empty salted meat storage barrels, or the floating fat residue after boiling the crew's meal. In the Royal Navy the perquisite of the cook who could sell it or exchange it (usually for alcohol) with other members of the crew. Used for greasing parts of the running rigging of the ship and therefore valuable to the master and bosun. Slush fund – The money obtained by the cook selling slush ashore. Used for the benefit of the crew (or the cook). Son of a gun – The space between the guns was used as a semi-private place for trysts with prostitutes and wives, which sometimes led to birth of children with disputed parentage. Another claim is that the origin the term resulted from firing a ship's guns to hasten a difficult birth. Sonar – A sound-based device used to detect and range underwater targets and obstacles. Formerly known as ASDIC. Spanker – A fore and aft, gaff-rigged sail on the aft-most mast of a square-rigged vessel. Spar – A wooden pole used to support various pieces of rigging and sails. Spindrift – Finely-divided water swept from crest of waves by strong winds. Spinnaker – A large sail flown in front of the vessel while heading downwind. Spinnaker pole – A spar used to help control a spinnaker or other headsail. Splice – To join lines (ropes, cables etc.) by unravelling their ends and intertwining them to form a continuous line. To form an eye or a knot by splicing. Square meal – A sufficient quantity of food. Meals on board ship were served to the crew on a square wooden plate in harbor or at sea in good weather. Food in the Royal Navy was invariably better or at least in greater quantity than that available to the average landsman. However, while square wooden plates were indeed used on board ship, there is no established link between them and this particular term. The OED gives the earliest reference from the U.S. in the mid 19th century. Squared away – Yards held rigidly perpendicular to their masts and parallel to the deck. This was rarely the best trim of the yards for efficiency but made a pretty sight for inspections and in harbor. The term is applied to situations and to people figuratively to mean that all difficulties have been resolved or that the person is performing well and is mentally and physically prepared. Standing rigging – Rigging which is used to support masts and spars, and is not normally manipulated during normal operations. Cf. running rigging. Starboard – Towards the right-hand side of a vessel facing forward. Denoted with a green light at night. Starter – A rope used as a punitive device. See teazer, togey. Stay – Rigging running fore (forestay) and aft (backstay) from a mast to the hull. Staysail – A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay. Steering oar or steering board – A long, flat board or oar that went from the stern to well underwater, used to control the vessel in the absence of a rudder. Stem – the extension of keel at the forward of a ship. Stern – The rear part of a ship, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter to the taffrail. Stern tube – the tube under the hull to bear the tailshaft for propulsion (usually at stern). Stonnacky – a punitive device Strake – One of the overlapping boards in a clinker built hull. Studding-sails (pronounced 'stunsail') – Long and narrow sails, used only in fine weather, on the outside of the large square sails. Surge – A vessel's transient motion in a fore and aft direction. Sway – A vessel's motion from side to side. Also used as a verb meaning to hoist. "Sway up my dunnage." Swinging the compass – Measuring the accuracy in a ship's magnetic compass so its readings can be adjusted – often by turning the ship and taking bearings on reference points. Swinging the lamp – Telling sea stories. Referring to lamps slung from the deckhead which swing while at sea. Often used to indicate that the story teller is exaggerating. Swinging the lead – Measuring the depth of water beneath a ship using a lead-weighted sounding line. A sailor who was feigning illness etc to avoid a hard job was said to be 'swinging the lead'. T Tailshaft – a kind of metallic shafting (a rod of metal) to hold the propeller and connected to the power engine. When the tailshaft is moved, the propeller may also be moved for propulsion. Taken aback – An inattentive helmsmen might allow the dangerous situation to arise where the wind is blowing into the sails 'backwards', causing a sudden (and possibly dangerous) shift in the position of the sails. Taking the wind out of his sails – To sail in a way that steals the wind from another ship. cf. overbear. Tally – The operation of hauling aft the sheets, or drawing them in the direction of the ship's stern. Teazer – A rope used as a punitive device. Three sheets to the wind – On a three-masted ship, having the sheets of the three lower courses loose will result in the ship meandering aimlessly downwind. Also, a sailor who has drunk strong spirits beyond his capacity. Timoneer – From the French timonnier, is a name given, on particular occasions, to the steersman of a ship. Toe the line or Toe the mark – At parade, sailors and soldiers were required to stand in line, their toes in line with a seam of the deck. Togey – A rope used as a punitive device Topsail – The second sail (counting from the bottom) up a mast. These may be either square sails or fore-and-aft ones, in which case they often "fill in" between the mast and the gaff of the sail below. Topmast – The second section of the mast above the deck; formerly the upper mast, later surmounted by the topgallant mast; carrying the topsails. Topgallant – the mast or sails above the tops. Touch and go – The bottom of the ship touching the bottom, but not grounding. Towing – The operation of drawing a vessel forward by means of long lines. Travellers – Small fittings that slide on a rod or line. The most common use is for the inboard end of the mainsheet; a more esoteric form of traveller consists of "slight iron rings, encircling the backstays, which are used for hoisting the top-gallant yards, and confining them to the backstays". Traffic Separation Scheme – Shipping corridors marked by buoys which separate incoming from outgoing vessels. Improperly called Sea Lanes. Transom – a more or less flat surface across the stern of a vessel. Trick – A period of time spent at the wheel ("my trick's over"). Trim – Relationship of ship's hull to waterline. Turtling – When a sailboat (in particular a dinghy) capsizes to a point where the mast is pointed straight down and the hull is on the surface resembling a turtle shell. U Under the weather – Serving a watch on the weather side of the ship, exposed to wind and spray. Under way – A vessel that is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground. Upper-yardmen – Specially selected personnel destined for high office. W Wake – Turbulence behind a ship Wales – A number of strong and thick planks running length-wise along the ship, covering the lower part of the ship's side. Watch – A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell. Watercraft – Water transport vessels. Ships, boats, personal water craft. Weather gage – Favorable position over another sailing vessel to with respect to the wind. Weather deck – Whichever deck is that exposed to the weather – usually either the main deck or, in larger vessels, the upper deck. Weather side – The weather side of a ship is the side exposed to the wind. Weatherly – A ship that is easily sailed and maneuvered; makes little leeway when sailing to windward. Weigh anchor – To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing. Wells – Places in the ship's hold for the pumps. White Horses – Waves in wind strong enough to produce foam or spray on the wave tops. Wheelhouse – Location on a ship where the steering wheel is located, often interchanged with pilothouse and bridge. Wide berth – To leave room between two ships moored (berthed) to allow space for maneuver. Windage – Wind resistance of the boat. Windbound – A condition wherein the ship is detained in one particular station by contrary winds. Windward – In the direction that the wind is coming from. Windlass – A winch mechanism, usually with a horizontal axis. Used where mechanical advantage greater than that obtainable by block and tackle was needed (such as raising the anchor on small ships). Y Yard – The horizontal spar from which a square sail is suspended. Yardarm – The very end of a yard. Often mistaken for a "yard", which refers to the entire spar. As in to hang "from the yardarm" and the sun being "over the yardarm" (late enough to have a drink). Yarr – Acknowledgement of an order, or agreement Yaw – A vessel's motion rotating about the vertical axis, so the bow yaws from side to side.  

i don't know

Someone described as mendacious has a habit of what?

Mendacious | Definition of Mendacious by Merriam-Webster You Won't Believe These 7 Words for Lying Examples of mendacious in a sentence Indeed, the racist and Malthusian elements in Darwin's work are subjects on which the new secularists are either silent, delicate, or mendacious. —Eugene McCarraher, Commonweal, 15 June 2007 A choice item in the collection of mendacious stories that were circulated about Columbus after his death is this. Columbus lost himself on the way to Hispaniola, and only by virtue of letters and pilots sent by Martín Alonso did he manage to find the island and join Pinta. —Samuel Eliot Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea, 1942 Mildred had become great friends with her and had given her an elaborate but mendacious account of the circumstances which had brought her to the pass she was in. —W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage, 1915 The newspaper story was mendacious and hurtful. <that tabloid routinely publishes the most moronically mendacious stories about celebrities> Origin and Etymology of mendacious Latin mendac-, mendax — more at amend First Known Use: 1616

Lying

The act of prestidigitation is also known as what?

14 Bad Habits That Can Cost You Your Job 14 Bad Habits That Can Cost You Your Job {{article.article.images.featured.caption}} Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Full Bio The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. Loading ... This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe Click here to see the 14 Bad Habits That Can Cost You Your Job We all have bad habits. Perhaps you procrastinate, gossip, or lack punctuality.  These negative behaviors don’t necessarily make you a terrible person—but as an employee they can reflect poorly upon you, and even cost you your job. “A single bad habit is not likely to get you fired immediately, but the cumulative effect of the bad habit over time can,” says Dr. Katharine Brooks , director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin and author of You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career . “People might notice one bad habit, and it preps them to notice other faults or problems.” Also, she adds, a bad habit can lead to isolation or shunning in the office, which can affect everything from your performance evaluation to your ability to do your job. Rick Myers, the founder and chief executive of Talent Zoo , a site for marketing, advertising, and digital professionals, agrees that bad habits can destroy one’s career—but he says the “most unfortunate part is that people rarely realize they have these habits.” “One of the best pieces of advice to give to someone who wants to advance in their company is to become more self-aware and be sure they are practicing habits that will be of value to the company,” he says. Here are 14 bad habits that can cost you your job: 14 images Procrastination.  “This habit can seriously hurt you in a work setting,” Brooks says.  “If you’re one of those folks who believes that you do your best work at the last minute and put off projects or assignments until the day (or hour) before they’re due, you may not be aware of the impact your habit is having on your co-workers.”  If your last-minute rush requires others to work quickly, you will likely anger them, and you’ll be the first one blamed when a project fails or isn’t completed on time. Lying.  Misrepresenting your credentials or intentionally plagiarizing, lying on time sheets or billable hours, misusing expense accounts or abusing company credit cards, stealing the kudos for a co-workers' accomplishments, or otherwise robbing your employers blind can all cost you your job. “The surest way for any of us to bring our career to a sudden and miserable end is to have the habit of hedging the truth and lying in ways small and large,” says Ann Kaiser Stearns, Ph.D., psychologist and best-selling author of Living Through Personal Crisis (Idyll Arbor Press, 2010). “Dishonesty is a slippery slope with a devastating crash waiting at the end,” she adds. “Whether we work in business or banking, academia or the army, publishing or philanthropy, housing or health care, the marketplace or the ministry, if we lack integrity and betray our employer, we don't deserve to keep our jobs.” Negativity. So many of us habitually gossip, whine or complain. But do any of these too often and your job could be on the line. “These all lead to the same end result: you become a headache for your manager,” says Amy Hoover, president of Talent Zoo. “Your boss is likely responsible for ensuring her teams are contributing to positive morale and anyone on the team who is counterproductive to that reflects poorly on her," she adds. "Negative employees are often referred to as 'cancer' by upper management for good reason: they will eventually be cut out.” A good approach if you have a complaint is to speak with your manager directly, in private.  Never drum up your co-workers for support first. Tardiness. If you constantly arrive late to work, or return late from breaks, it displays an attitude of complacency and carelessness, says Roxanne Peplow, business career program instructor and student services advisor at Computer Systems Institute . “So be prompt or even a bit early to show that you are time conscious and that you do care about your job and other people’s time, as well.” Hoover agrees. “Whether you intend to or not, arriving late shows disrespect to the social contract of the office place, as well as your co-workers who do make an effort to arrive one time.” Poor e-mail communication.  This can involve everything from not responding to e-mails to not being aware of how you come across in an e-mail.  “You might be perceived as abrupt or rude, or too long-winded or wordy,” Brooks says. If you have a bad habit of taking too long to check or respond to e-mails, you could miss important meetings or deadlines, cause delays or confusion, or come off as unprofessional. In Pictures: 14 Bad Habits That Can Cost You Your Job Social media addiction. Another common path to job loss is the habitual obsession that many employees have with social media, Stearns says. “If you said going on Facebook 20 times a day doesn’t interfere with your work, you'd be lying.” Some companies have taken measures to monitor or limit their employees’ social media use, while others have blocked these sites completely. So beware: spending too much time on social media or other websites not related to your work can cost you your job. Bad body language habits. Do you routinely roll your eyes? Do you have a weak handshake? Do you avoid making eye contact? These could all be career killers. “People must understand that actions speak louder than words,” Peplow says. “And the majority of our communication is done through non-verbal cues.” Co-workers, managers or clients may perceive some of your non-verbal communication habits as rude or unprofessional—and these things could eventually have a significant impact on the advancement of your career. Inattentiveness.  If you’re always distracted—a bad habit that plenty of employees possess—you might fail to properly assess the culture of the workplace, which can be damaging to your career.  “Each workplace has its own culture and style, whether it’s the official or unofficial dress code, the social atmosphere, or the official and unofficial hierarchy,” Brooks says. “Failure to observe the culture and fit in can create tension or mark you as different, and potentially less desirable.” You’ll also want to be aware of personal habits that might be offensive or distracting to co-workers. “Working in an office setting demands that you be sensitive to co-workers and not behave in a manner which distracts them from their work or makes their work setting uncomfortable,” she adds. “This can run the range from body odor, bringing strong-smelling food to your cubicle, playing music too loudly, telling inappropriate jokes, or using your speaker-phone to make calls.” Poor grammar. “When you hear someone using poor grammar, slang, or profanity, it translates into believing that person to be uneducated,” says Peplow. Remind yourself that you are not at home, or speaking with friends at a social gathering.  Be on point by always assuming that your boss is in earshot. Lone wolf syndrome.  Have a habit of always wanting to do things on your own? That won't work in the office. "While independence is good in some situations or when concentration is needed to get a project done, generally people who are team players experience more success at work," Brooks says. “Team-playing involves a lot of positive behaviors including giving credit where it is due (that is, not taking credit for work which a colleague did), helping others when possible, doing tasks that aren’t necessarily in your job description, et cetera.” If you’re not seen as a team player, you won’t have the support of your colleagues when problems arise. Temper tantrums. If you lose your temper, it is assumed that you cannot work well under pressure or handle responsibilities well, Peplow says. “Practice stress reduction techniques like mediation or deep breathing exercises, and never bring personal problems to work.” Inefficiency. Bad habits like disorganization, wasting time, and being too talkative can make you an extremely inefficient worker. “You may not realize it, but many of your co-workers are there to work, not socialize, and they may not want to be rude to you by breaking off from personal conversations,” Hoover says. You don’t want to become the person your colleagues avoid working with--so, keep the water cooler talk to a minimum, keep your desk organized and don't spend too much time on non-work-related tasks. Speaking without thinking. If you’ve got ‘foot-in-mouth’ syndrome, you must control it in the workplace. Saying something inappropriate in a meeting or an e-mail can be detrimental to your career. Lack of manners. “The most important things are what we learned when we were little,” Peplow says. When you ask for something, say ‘please.’  When someone gives you something, say ‘thank you.’ If you don’t know someone, introduce yourself.  If you need to interrupt someone, say ‘excuse me.’  “Manners are important, so don’t be rude.  And above all, if you don’t have something nice to say…don’t say anything at all,” she says. These are just a few bad habits that can cause you to be fired, turned down for a job offer, or looked over for that promotion, Peplow says. “Take a look at yourself and ask others about your habits.” And if you do receive any feedback, take it seriously, Brooks adds. “Try to listen to the concern, and take some time to own it without defensively dismissing it.” “Much of this comes down to communication,” Hoover concludes. “We all have little annoying habits, and top-down communication is really key [in making employees aware of their bad habits]. From there, it’s up to the individual to correct them.” –

i don't know

Covering about 46% of the earth's surface, what is the largest of the oceans?

8(o) Introduction to the Oceans 5,426,000   The spatial distribution of ocean regions and continents is unevenly arranged across the Earth's surface. In the Northern Hemisphere, the ratio of land to ocean is about 1 to 1.5. The ratio of land to ocean in the Southern Hemisphere is 1 to 4. This greater abundance of ocean surface has some fascinating effects on the environment of the southern half of our planet. For example, climate of Southern Hemisphere locations is often more moderate when compared to similar places in the Northern Hemisphere. This fact is primarily due to the presence of large amounts of heat energy stored in the oceans. The International Hydrographic Organization has divided and named the interconnected oceans of the world into five main regions: Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Southern Ocean. Each one of these regions is different from the others in some specific ways.   Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is a relatively narrow body of water that snakes between nearly parallel continental masses covering about 21% of the Earth’s total surface area (Figure 8o-1). This ocean body contains most of our planet’s shallow seas, but it has relatively few islands. Some of the shallow seas found in the Atlantic Ocean include the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Baltic, Black, North, Baltic, and the Gulf of Mexico. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean (including its adjacent seas) is about 3300 meters (10,800 feet). The deepest point, 8605 meters (28,232 feet), occurs in the Puerto Rico Trench. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, running roughly down the center of this ocean region, separates the Atlantic Ocean into two large basins. Figure 8o-1: Atlantic Ocean region (Image Source: CIA World Factbook ).   Many streams empty their fresh water discharge into the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean receives more freshwater from terrestrial runoff than any other ocean region. This ocean region also drains some of the Earth’s largest rivers including the Amazon, Mississippi, St. Lawrence, and Congo. The surface area of the Atlantic Ocean is about 1.6 times greater than the terrestrial area providing runoff.   Arctic Ocean  The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world’s five ocean regions, covering about 3% of the Earth’s total surface area. Most of this nearly landlocked ocean region is located north of the Arctic Circle (Figure 8o-2).  The Arctic Ocean is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Greenland Sea, and the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait. The Arctic Ocean is also the shallowest ocean region with an average depth of 1050 meters (3450 feet).  The center of the Arctic Ocean is covered by a drifting persistent icepack that has an average thickness of about 3 meters (10 feet).  During the winter months, this sea ice covers much of the Arctic Ocean surface. Higher temperatures in the summer months cause the icepack to seasonally shrink in extent by about 50%. Figure 8o-2: Arctic Ocean region (Image Source: CIA World Factbook ).   Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean covers about 14% of the Earth’s surface area. This ocean region is enclosed on three sides by the landmasses of Africa, Asia, and Australia (Figure 8o-3). The Indian Ocean’s southern border is open to water exchange with the much colder Southern Ocean. Average depth of the Indian Ocean is 3900 meters (12,800 feet). The deepest point in this ocean region occurs in the Java Trench with a depth of 7258 meters (23,812 feet) below sea level. The Indian Ocean region has relatively few islands. Continental shelf areas tend to be quite narrow and not many shallow seas exist.  Relative to the Atlantic Ocean, only a small number of streams drain into the Indian Ocean. Consequently, the surface area of the Indian Ocean is approximately 400% larger than the land area supply runoff into it. Some of the major rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean include the Zambezi, Arvandrud/Shatt-al-Arab, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, and the Irrawaddy. Sea water salinity ranges between 32 and 37 parts per 1000. Because much of the Indian Ocean lies within the tropics, this basin has the warmest surface ocean temperatures. Figure 8o-3: Indian Ocean region (Image Source: CIA World Factbook ).   Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean region (Figure 8o-4) covering about 30% of the Earth’s surface area (about 15 times the size of the United States). The ocean floor of the Pacific is quite uniform in depth having an average elevation of 4300 meters (14,100 feet) below sea level. This fact makes it the deepest ocean region on average. The Pacific Ocean is also home to the lowest elevation on our planet. The deepest point in the Mariana Trench lies some 10,911 meters (35,840 feet) below sea level as recorded by the Japanese probe, Kaiko, on March 24, 1995. About 25,000 islands can be found in the Pacific Ocean region. This is more than the number for the other four ocean regions combined. Many of these islands are actually the tops of volcanic mountains created by the release of molten rock from beneath the ocean floor. Figure 8o-4: Pacific Ocean region (Image Source: CIA World Factbook ).   Relative to the Atlantic Ocean, only a small number of rivers add terrestrial freshwater runoff to the Pacific Ocean. In fact, the surface area of the Pacific is about 1000% greater than the land area that drains into it. Some of the major rivers flowing into this ocean region include the Colorado, Columbia, Fraser, Mekong, Río Grande de Santiago, San Joaquin, Shinano, Skeena, Stikine, Xi Jiang, and Yukon. Some of larger adjacent seas connected to the Pacific are Celebes, Tasman, Coral, East China, Sulu, South China, Yellow, and the Sea of Japan.   Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica extending to the latitude 60° South (Figure 8o-5). This ocean region occupies about 4% of the Earth’s surface or about 20,327,000 square kilometers (7,846,000 square miles).  Relative to the other ocean regions, the floor of the Southern Ocean is quite deep ranging from 4000 to 5000 meters (13,100 to 16,400 feet) below sea level over most of the area it occupies. Continental shelf areas are very limited and are mainly found around Antarctica. But even these areas are quite deep with an elevation between 400 to 800 meters (1300 to 2600 feet) below sea level. For comparison, the average depth of the continental shelf for the entire planet is about 130 meters (425 feet). The Southern Ocean’s deepest point is in the South Sandwich Trench at 7235 meters (23,737 feet) sea level. Seas adjacent to this ocean region include the Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Ross Sea, Scotia Sea, and the Weddell Sea. By about September of each year, a mobile icepack situated around Antarctic reaches its greatest seasonal extent covering about 19 million square kilometers (7 million square miles). This icepack shrinks by around 85% six months later in March. Figure 8o-5: Southern Ocean region (Image Source: CIA World Factbook ).  

Pacific Ocean

Name the 2009 animated movie from the IMDB plot summary: “The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the beloved children’s book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain.”

What is the largest ocean basin on Earth? Home Ocean Facts What is the largest ocean basin on Earth? What is the largest ocean basin on Earth? The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of the world ocean basins. The ' Ring of Fire ' is defined by a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, island arcs, and volcanic mountain ranges and/or boundaries of several plates. It encircles the periphery of the Pacific Ocean Basin. (image courtesy of COMET® program) Covering approximately 59 million square miles and containing more than half of the free water on Earth, the Pacific is by far the largest of the world’s ocean basins. All of the world’s continents could fit into the Pacific basin. The Pacific is the oldest of the existing ocean basins. Its oldest rocks have been dated at about 200 million years. The Pacific basin is referred to as the “Ring of Fire” due to intense earthquake and volcanic activity occurring near areas of tectonic plate subduction (where one tectonic plate is forced under another). The Atlantic basin is the second largest basin, followed by the Indian Ocean basin, the Southern Ocean, and finally the Arctic Ocean basin. Search Our Facts

i don't know

What is the name for electronic toll collection system implemented by the WADOT for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, SR-167, and the 520 floating bridge?

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Good To Go!

The 16th Amendment to the US constitution, ratified in 1913, authorizes the US Congress to levy what?

By Representatives Clibborn, Orcutt, Fey, and McBride; by request of Office of Financial Management Read first time 01/14/16. Referred to Committee on Transportation. AN ACT Relating to transportation funding and appropriations; amending RCW 46.20.202 and 81.53.281 ; amending 2015 1st sp.s. c 10 ss 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 201-211, 213-223, 301-311, and 401-407 (uncodified); amending 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 606 (uncodified); amending 2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 ss 728-735 (uncodified); adding new sections to 2015 1st sp.s. c 10 (uncodified); repealing 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 ss 201-207, 301-309, and 401 (uncodified); making appropriations and authorizing expenditures for capital improvements; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: 2015-2017 FISCAL BIENNIUM GENERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES—OPERATING Sec. 101.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 101 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($476,000))       $488,000 Sec. 102.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 102 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Grade Crossing Protective Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($504,000))       $1,604,000 Sec. 103.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 103 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($2,268,000))       $2,296,000 Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($110,000))       $2,411,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (((2))) (1) $835,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of financial management, from amounts set aside out of statewide fuel taxes distributed to counties according to RCW 46.68.120 (3), to contract with the Washington state association of counties to develop, implement, and report on transportation metrics associated with transportation system policy goals outlined in RCW 47.04.280 . The Washington state association of counties, in cooperation with state agencies, must: Evaluate and implement opportunities to streamline reporting of county transportation financial data; expand reporting and collection of short-span bridge and culvert data; evaluate and report on the impact of increased freight and rail traffic on county roads; and to evaluate, implement, and report on the opportunities for improved capital project management and delivery. (((3))) (2) $100,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of financial management, from funds set aside out of statewide fuel taxes distributed to counties according to RCW 46.68.120 (3), to contract with the Washington state association of counties to work with the department of fish and wildlife to develop voluntary programmatic agreements for the maintenance, preservation, rehabilitation, and replacement of water crossing structures. A report must be presented to the legislature by December 31, 2016, on the implementation of developed voluntary programmatic agreements. Sec. 104.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 105 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($1,212,000))      $1,240,000 Sec. 105.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 106 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM COMMITTEE Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($563,000))       $582,000 NEW SECTION.  Sec. 106.  A new section is added to 2015 1st sp.s. c 10 (uncodified) to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE SERVICES The department must provide a detailed accounting of the revenues and expenditures of the self-insurance fund to the transportation committees of the legislature on December 31st and June 30th of each year. TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES—OPERATING Sec. 201.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 201 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE WASHINGTON TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($3,154,000))       $3,183,000 Highway Safety Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .(($27,383,000))       $21,644,000 Highway Safety Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .$118,000 School Zone Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .$850,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($31,505,000))       $25,795,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) The commission may continue to oversee pilot projects implementing the use of automated traffic safety cameras to detect speed violations within cities west of the Cascade mountains that have a population of more than one hundred ninety-five thousand and that are located in a county with a population of fewer than one million five hundred thousand. For the purposes of pilot projects in this subsection, no more than one automated traffic safety camera may be used to detect speed violations within any one jurisdiction. (a) The commission shall comply with RCW 46.63.170 in administering the pilot projects. (b) By January 1, 2017, any local authority that is operating an automated traffic safety camera to detect speed violations must provide a summary to the transportation committees of the legislature concerning the use of the cameras and data regarding infractions, revenues, and costs. (2) $99,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of chapter ((. . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5957))) 243, Laws of 2015 (pedestrian safety reviews). ((If chapter . . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5957), Laws of 2015 is not enacted by June 30, 2015, the amount provided in this subsection lapses.)) (3) $6,500,000 of the highway safety account—federal appropriation is provided solely for federal funds that may be obligated to the commission pursuant to 23 U.S.C. Sec. 164 during the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium. (4) Within current resources, the commission must examine the declining revenue going to the school zone safety account with the goal of identifying factors contributing to the decline. By December 31, 2015, the commission must provide a report to the transportation committees of the legislature that summarizes its findings and provides recommendations designed to ensure that the account is receiving all amounts that should be deposited into the account. Sec. 202.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 202 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE COUNTY ROAD ADMINISTRATION BOARD Rural Arterial Trust Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($969,000))       $1,000,000 Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($2,283,000))      $2,459,000 County Arterial Preservation Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($1,481,000)) TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($4,733,000))      $4,977,000 Sec. 203.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 203 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT BOARD Transportation Improvement Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($3,915,000))       $4,063,000 Sec. 204.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 204 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE JOINT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($1,727,000))       $2,222,000 The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1)(a) $250,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is for a consultant study of Washington state patrol recruitment and retention of troopers. The study must identify barriers to effective candidate recruitment, candidates' successful completion of training, and retention of trained troopers of various tenure. The study must provide: (i) An overview of current attrition rates; (ii) Options and strategies on reducing the average number of trooper positions that are vacant; (iii) Identification of best practices for recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers; (iv) Recommendations to improve existing recruitment and selection programs; (v) Recommendations for where salary and benefit adjustments should be targeted to most effectively address recruitment and retention challenges; (vi) Recommendations regarding changes to the training and education program; and (vii) Other recommendations for cost-effective personnel strategies. (b) The joint transportation committee shall issue a report of its findings to the house and senate transportation committees by December 14, 2015. The Washington state patrol shall work with the consultant to identify costs for each recommendation. (2)(a) $125,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is for a study of Washington state weigh station planning, placement, and operations by the Washington state patrol and department of transportation as they relate to roadway safety and preservation. The study must: (i) Provide a high-level overview of commercial vehicle enforcement programs, with a focus on weigh stations, including both state and federal funding programs. This overview must include a description of how the Washington state patrol and department of transportation allocate these state and federal funds. (ii) Review Washington state patrol and department of transportation planning related to weigh station location and operation, and the extent to which their efforts complement, coordinate with, or overlap each other; (iii) Identify best practices in the funding, placement, and operation of weigh stations; (iv) Review plans by the department of transportation and Washington state patrol to reopen a Federal Way area southbound weigh station; (v) Recommend changes in state statutes, policy, or agency practices and rules to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of weigh station funding, placement, and operation, including potential savings to be achieved by adopting the changes; and (vi) Review whether it is cost-effective or more efficient to place future weigh stations in the median of a highway instead of placing two individual weigh stations on either side of a highway. (b) The joint transportation committee must issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the house of representatives and senate transportation committees by December 14, 2015. (3) $250,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation, from the cities' statewide fuel tax distributions under RCW 46.68.110 (2), is for a study to be conducted in 2016 to identify prominent road-rail conflicts, recommend a corridor-based prioritization process for addressing the impacts of projected increases in rail traffic, and identify areas of state public policy interest, such as the critical role of freight movement to the Washington economy and the state's competitiveness in world trade. The study must consider the results of the updated marine cargo forecast due to be delivered to the joint transportation committee on December 1, 2015. In conducting the study, the joint transportation committee must consult with the department of transportation, the freight mobility strategic investment board, the utilities and transportation commission, local governments, and other relevant stakeholders. The joint transportation committee must issue a report of its recommendations and findings by December 1, 2016. (4) The legislature intends for the joint transportation committee to undertake a study during the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium of consolidating rail employee safety and regulatory functions in the utilities and transportation commission. The joint transportation committee should review the information provided by the utilities and transportation commission ((as required under section 102 of this act)) and should provide recommendations to the transportation committees of the legislature regarding such a consolidation of rail employee safety and regulatory functions. (5) Within existing resources, during the interim periods between regular sessions of the legislature, the joint transportation committee shall include on its agendas work sessions on the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project. These work sessions must include a report on current progress of the project, timelines for completion, outstanding claims, the financial status of the project, and any other information necessary for the legislature to maintain appropriate oversight of the project. The parties invited to present may include the department of transportation, the Seattle tunnel partners, and other appropriate stakeholders. The joint transportation committee shall have at least two such work sessions before December 31, 2015. (6) $450,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is for the joint transportation committee for the design-build contracting review study established in chapter 18, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. The department of transportation must provide technical assistance, as necessary. (7) The joint transportation committee must study the issues surrounding minority and women-owned business contracting related to the transportation sector. The study should identify any best practices adopted in other states that encourage participation by minority and women-owned businesses. The joint transportation committee, with direction from the executive committee, may form a legislative task force at the conclusion of the study to help to inform the legislature of any best practices identified from other states that encourage minority and women-owned businesses' participation in the transportation sector. Sec. 205.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 205 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($2,452,000))       $2,517,000      $2,629,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $300,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely to continue evaluating a road usage charge as an alternative to the motor vehicle fuel tax to fund investments in transportation. The evaluation must include monitoring and reviewing work that is underway in other states and nationally. The commission may coordinate with the department of transportation to jointly pursue any federal or other funds that are or might become available and eligible for road usage charge pilot projects. The commission must reconvene the road usage charge steering committee, with the same membership authorized in chapter 222, Laws of 2014, and report to the governor's office and the transportation committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 15, 2015. (2) $150,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commission to use an outside survey firm to conduct three transportation surveys during the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium. The commission must consult with the joint transportation committee when deciding on the survey topics and design to ensure the survey results will deliver the data, information, and analysis for future transportation policy and strategic planning decisions in a manner useful to the legislature. Sec. 206. 2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 206 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE FREIGHT MOBILITY STRATEGIC INVESTMENT BOARD Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation . . . .(($979,000))       $1,024,000 The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: $250,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely to conduct a study of freight infrastructure needs, including an update of the long-term marine cargo forecast. The board must work with the Washington public ports association to evaluate: (1) Forecasted cargo movement by commodity, type, and mode of land transport; and (2) current and projected freight infrastructure capacity needs. A report on the study must be delivered to the joint transportation committee by December 1, 2015. Sec. 207.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 207 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE PATROL State Patrol Highway Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($407,771,000)) State Patrol Highway Account—Federal      Appropriation. . . .(($12,779,000)) State Patrol Highway Account—Private/Local      Appropriation. . . .(($3,631,000)) Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($1,323,000))       $1,304,000      $431,264,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) Washington state patrol officers engaged in off-duty uniformed employment providing traffic control services to the department of transportation or other state agencies may use state patrol vehicles for the purpose of that employment, subject to guidelines adopted by the chief of the Washington state patrol. The Washington state patrol must be reimbursed for the use of the vehicle at the prevailing state employee rate for mileage and hours of usage, subject to guidelines developed by the chief of the Washington state patrol. (2) $510,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation is provided solely for the ignition interlock program at the Washington state patrol to provide funding for two staff to work and provide support for the program in working with manufacturers, service centers, technicians, and participants in the program. (3) $23,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of chapter ((. . . (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1276))) 3, Laws of 2015 2nd sp. sess. (impaired driving). ((If chapter . . . (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1276), Laws of 2015 is not enacted by June 30, 2015, the amount provided in this subsection lapses.)) Sec. 208.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 208 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING Marine Fuel Tax Refund Account—State      Appropriation. . . .$34,000 License Plate Technology Account—State Appropriation. . . .$3,200,000 Motorcycle Safety Education Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($4,442,000)) State Wildlife Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($949,000))       $1,001,000 Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($183,610,000))       $212,127,000 Highway Safety Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$3,573,000 Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($86,014,000))       $91,952,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$362,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .$1,544,000 Ignition Interlock Device Revolving Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($5,133,000)) Department of Licensing Services Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($6,575,000))      $330,095,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) (($24,212,000)) $30,954,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation and $3,200,000 of the license plate technology account—state appropriation are provided solely for business and technology modernization. The department and the state chief information officer or his or her designee must provide a joint project status report to the transportation committees of the legislature on at least a calendar quarter basis. The report must include, but is not limited to: Detailed information about the planned and actual scope, schedule, and budget; status of key vendor and other project deliverables; and a description of significant changes to planned deliverables or system functions over the life of the project. Project staff will periodically brief the committees or the committees' staff on system security and data protection measures. (2) $5,059,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for replacing prorate and fuel tax computer systems used to administer interstate licensing and the collection of fuel tax revenues. (3) $3,714,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of an updated central issuance system. (4) $3,082,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation is provided solely for exam and licensing activities, including the workload associated with providing driver record abstracts, and is subject to the following additional conditions and limitations: (a) The department may furnish driving record abstracts only to those persons or entities expressly authorized to receive the abstracts under Title 46 RCW; (b) The department may furnish driving record abstracts only for an amount that does not exceed the specified fee amounts in RCW 46.52.130 (2)(e)(v) and (4); and (c) The department may not enter into a contract, or otherwise participate in any arrangement, with a third party or other state agency for any service that results in an additional cost, in excess of the fee amounts specified in RCW 46.52.130 (2)(e)(v) and (4), to statutorily authorized persons or entities purchasing a driving record abstract. (5) The department when modernizing its computer systems must place personal and company data elements in separate data fields to allow the department to select discrete data elements when providing information or data to persons or entities outside the department. This requirement must be included as part of the systems design in the department's business and technology modernization. A person's photo, social security number, or medical information must not be made available through public disclosure or data being provided under RCW 46.12.630 or 46.12.635 . (6) Within existing resources and in consultation with the traffic safety commission, the Washington state patrol, and a representative of the insurance industry and the professional driving school association, the department must review options and make recommendations on strategies for addressing young and high-risk drivers. The recommendations must consider the findings of Washington state's strategic highway safety plan, Target Zero, and must include an analysis of expanding traffic safety education to eighteen to twenty-four year olds that have not taken a traffic safety course and drivers that have been convicted of high-risk behavior, such as driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and reckless driving. An overview of the work conducted and the recommendations are due to the transportation committees of the legislature and the governor by December 31, 2015. (7) $57,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of chapter ((. . . (Substitute House Bill No. 1157))) 1, Laws of 2015 ((or chapter . . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5025), Laws of 2015)) 2nd sp. sess. (quick title service fees). ((If both chapter . . . (Substitute House Bill No. 1157), Laws of 2015 and chapter . . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5025), Laws of 2015 are not enacted by June 30, 2015, the amount provided in this subsection lapses.)) (8) $283,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation and $33,000 of the ignition interlock device revolving account—state appropriation are provided solely for the implementation of chapter ((. . . (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1276))) 3, Laws of 2015 2nd sp. sess. (impaired driving). ((If chapter . . . (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1276), Laws of 2015 is not enacted by June 30, 2015, the amount provided in this subsection lapses. (9) $63,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of chapter . . . (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5656), Laws of 2015 (distracted driving). If chapter . . . (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5656), Laws of 2015 is not enacted by June 30, 2015, the amount provided in this subsection lapses.)) (9) $4,000,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 44, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. (10) $13,270,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation is provided solely for costs necessary to accommodate increased demand for enhanced drivers' licenses and enhanced identicards. The office of financial management shall place the entire amount provided in this subsection in unallotted status. The office of financial management may release portions of the funds only when it determines that average wait times have increased by more than two minutes per transaction based on wait time and volume data provided by the department compared to average wait times and volume during the month of December 2015. The department and the office shall evaluate the release of funds on a monthly basis. Sec. 209.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 209 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—TOLL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE—PROGRAM B High Occupancy Toll Lanes Operations Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($2,688,000)) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($503,000))       $510,000 State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($39,543,000)) State Route Number 520 Civil Penalties Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($6,703,000)) Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($25,660,000)) Interstate 405 Express Toll Lanes Operations      Account—State Appropriation. . . .$9,931,000      $86,301,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $1,300,000 of the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account—state appropriation and $8,157,000 of the state route number 520 corridor account—state appropriation are provided solely for the purposes of addressing unforeseen operations and maintenance costs on the Tacoma Narrows bridge and the state route number 520 bridge, respectively. The office of financial management shall place the amounts provided in this section, which represent a portion of the required minimum fund balance under the policy of the state treasurer, in unallotted status. The office may release the funds only when it determines that all other funds designated for operations and maintenance purposes have been exhausted. (2) $4,778,000 of the state route number 520 civil penalties account—state appropriation and $2,065,000 of the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account—state appropriation are provided solely for expenditures related to the toll adjudication process. The department shall report on the civil penalty process to the office of financial management and the house of representatives and senate transportation committees by the end of each calendar quarter. The reports must include a summary table for each toll facility that includes: The number of notices of civil penalty issued; the number of recipients who pay before the notice becomes a penalty; the number of recipients who request a hearing and the number who do not respond; workload costs related to hearings; the cost and effectiveness of debt collection activities; and revenues generated from notices of civil penalty. (3) The department shall make detailed quarterly expenditure reports available to the transportation commission and to the public on the department's web site using current department resources. The reports must include a summary of toll revenue by facility on all operating toll facilities and high occupancy toll lane systems, and an itemized depiction of the use of that revenue. (4) $3,100,000 of the Interstate 405 express toll lanes operations account—state appropriation, $1,498,000 of the state route number 520 corridor account—state appropriation, and $1,291,000 of the high occupancy toll lanes operations account—state appropriation are provided solely for the operation and maintenance of roadside toll collection systems. (5) $6,831,000 of the Interstate 405 express toll lanes operations account—state appropriation is provided solely for operational costs related to the express toll lane facility, including the customer service center vendor, transponders, credit card fees, printing and postage, rent, office supplies, telephone and communications equipment, computers, and vehicle operations. (6) $56,000 of the high occupancy toll lanes operations account—state appropriation, $1,124,000 of the state route number 520 corridor account—state appropriation, and $596,000 of the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account—state appropriation are provided solely for the department to develop a request for proposals for a new tolling customer service center. The department must address the replacement of the Wave2Go ferry ticketing system that is reaching the end of its useful life by developing functional and technical requirements that integrate Washington state ferries ticketing into the new tolling division customer service center toll collection system. The department shall continue to report quarterly to the governor, legislature, and state auditor on: (a) The department's effort to mitigate risk to the state, (b) the development of a request for proposals, and (c) the overall progress towards procuring a new tolling customer service center. The department shall release a request for proposals for a new tolling customer service toll collection system by December 1, 2016. As part of its 2017-2019 biennial budget submittal, the department shall include a request for funds to procure and implement the new tolling customer service toll collection system. (7) The department shall make detailed quarterly reports to the governor and the transportation committees of the legislature on the following: (a) The use of consultants in the tolling program, including the name of the contractor, the scope of work, the type of contract, timelines, deliverables, any new task orders, and any extensions to existing consultant contracts; (b) The nonvendor costs of administering toll operations, including the costs of staffing the division, consultants and other personal service contracts required for technical oversight and management assistance, insurance, payments related to credit card processing, transponder purchases and inventory management, facility operations and maintenance, and other miscellaneous nonvendor costs; and (c) The vendor-related costs of operating tolled facilities, including the costs of the customer service center, cash collections on the Tacoma Narrows bridge, electronic payment processing, and toll collection equipment maintenance, renewal, and replacement. (8) $5,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for membership dues for the alliance for toll interoperability. (9) (($1,925,000)) $1,230,000 of the state route number 520 civil penalties account—state appropriation ((is)) and $695,000 of the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account—state appropriation are provided solely to implement chapter ((. . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5481))) 292, Laws of 2015 (tolling customer service reform) to improve integration between the Good to Go! electronic tolling system with the pay-by-mail system through increased communication with customers and improvements to the Good to Go! web site allowing customers to manage all of their toll accounts regardless of method of payment. Within the amounts provided, the department must include in the request for proposals for a new customer service center the requirement that the new tolling customer service center link to the vehicle records system of the department of licensing to enable vehicle record updates that relate to tolling customer accounts to occur between the two systems seamlessly. The department must work with the department of licensing to develop the appropriate specifications to include in the request for proposals to allow the new tolling customer service center to link to the vehicle records system without cost to the department of licensing and report to the transportation committees of the legislature when the appropriate specifications have been completed. By June 30, 2017, the department shall report how many people with Good to Go! accounts were issued civil penalties for each toll facility and whether the number was reduced each fiscal year in the biennium. The department shall also report on the number of customer contacts that occur, number of civil penalties reduced or waived, the amount of the total civil penalties that are waived, and the number of customers that are referred to the administrative law judge process during the biennium. Sec. 210.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 210 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY—PROGRAM C Transportation Partnership Account—State      Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($67,458,000))       $71,108,000 Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Account)—State      Appropriation. . . .$1,460,000 Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State      Appropriation. . . .$263,000      $77,276,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $1,460,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation and $1,460,000 of the transportation 2003 account (nickel account)—state appropriation are provided solely for maintaining the department's project management reporting system. (2) $2,062,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation and $102,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation are provided solely for the labor system replacement project and is subject to the same conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 705 (4) through (6), chapter 4, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. The office of financial management shall place $1,372,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation in unallotted status. The office of financial management may release the funds after the department has submitted a draft timeline and funding plan for integrating marine employees into the new labor system. Sec. 211.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 211 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—FACILITY MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS, AND CONSTRUCTION—PROGRAM D—OPERATING Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($27,098,000))       $27,634,000 State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .$34,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($27,132,000))      $27,668,000 Sec. 212.  2015 3rd sp.s c 43 s 606 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—AVIATION—PROGRAM F Aeronautics Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($8,143,000))       $8,629,000 Aeronautics Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$4,100,000 Aeronautics Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .$60,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($12,303,000))      $12,789,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $4,137,000 of the aeronautics account—state appropriation is provided solely for airport investment studies and the airport aid grant program, which provides competitive grants to public airports for pavement, safety, maintenance, planning, and security. ((Of this amount, $637,000 lapses if chapter . . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5324), Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. (aircraft excise taxes) is not enacted by July 31, 2015, chapter . . . (Substitute Senate Bill No. 6057) Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. (relating to revenue) is not enacted by July 31, 2015, and an expenditure to the aeronautics account is not provided in the 2015-2017 omnibus appropriations act by July 31, 2015.)) Sec. 213.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 213 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—PROGRAM DELIVERY MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT—PROGRAM H Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($52,070,000))       $53,674,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$500,000 Multimodal Transportation Account—State           $54,424,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) The real estate services division of the department must recover the cost of its efforts from sale proceeds and fund additional future sales from those proceeds. (2) The legislature recognizes that the trail known as the Rocky Reach Trail, and its extensions, serve to separate motor vehicle traffic from pedestrians and bicyclists, increasing motor vehicle safety on state route number 2 and the coincident section of state route number 97. Consistent with chapter 47.30 RCW and pursuant to RCW 47.12.080 , the legislature declares that transferring portions of WSDOT Inventory Control (IC) No. 2-09-04686 containing the trail and associated buffer areas to the Washington state parks and recreation commission is consistent with the public interest. The legislature directs the department to transfer the property to the Washington state parks and recreation commission. (a) The department must be paid fair market value for any portions of the transferred real property that is later abandoned, vacated, or ceases to be publicly maintained for trail purposes. (b) Prior to completing the transfer in this subsection (2), the department must ensure that provisions are made to accommodate private and public utilities and any facilities that predate the department's acquisition of the property, at no cost to those entities. Prior to completing the transfer, the department shall also ensure that provisions, by fair market assessment, are made to accommodate other private and public utilities and any facilities that have been legally allowed by permit or other instrument. (c) The department may sell any adjoining property that is not necessary to support the Rocky Reach Trail and adjacent buffer areas only after the transfer of trail-related property to the Washington state parks and recreation commission is complete. Adjoining property owners must be given the first opportunity to acquire such property that abuts their property, and applicable boundary line or other adjustments must be made to the legal descriptions for recording purposes. Sec. 214.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 214 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS—PROGRAM K Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($582,000))       $600,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .$1,600,000 The appropriations in this section ((is)) are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) The economic partnerships program must continue to explore retail partnerships at state-owned park and ride facilities, as authorized in RCW 47.04.295 . (2) Within the amounts provided in this section, the economic partnership program shall consult with the department's tolling division and participate in the division's ongoing efforts to reduce the costs associated with the Tacoma Narrows bridge. This participation must include examining opportunities for the state to contract with one or more private sector partners to collect tolls and provide services to drivers crossing the bridge. (3) $1,000,000 of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure account—state appropriation is provided solely for the purpose of capitalizing the Washington electric vehicle infrastructure bank as provided in chapter 44, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. Sec. 215.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 215 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE—PROGRAM M Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($397,329,000))       $420,023,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$7,000,000 Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($1,768,000)) State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .$4,448,000      $432,706,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $2,605,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for utility fees assessed by local governments as authorized under RCW 90.03.525 for the mitigation of storm water runoff from state highways. (2) $4,448,000 of the state route number 520 corridor account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain the state route number 520 floating bridge. These funds must be used in accordance with RCW 47.56.830 (3). (3) (($1,768,000)) $1,235,000 of the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain the new Tacoma Narrows bridge. These funds must be used in accordance with RCW 47.56.830 (3). (4) When regional transit authority construction activities are visible from a state highway, the department shall allow the regional transit authority to place safe and appropriate signage informing the public of the purpose of the construction activity. (5) The department must make signage for low-height bridges a high priority. Sec. 216.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 216 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—TRAFFIC OPERATIONS—PROGRAM Q—OPERATING Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($51,572,000))       $57,678,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$2,050,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .$250,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($53,872,000))      $59,978,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $6,000,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for low-cost enhancements. The department shall give priority to low-cost enhancement projects that improve safety or provide congestion relief. The department shall prioritize low-cost enhancement projects on a statewide rather than regional basis. By September 1st of each even-numbered year, the department shall provide a report to the legislature listing all low-cost enhancement projects prioritized on a statewide rather than regional basis completed in the prior year. (2) During the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the department shall continue a pilot program that expands private transportation providers' access to high occupancy vehicle lanes. Under the pilot program, when the department reserves a portion of a highway based on the number of passengers in a vehicle, the following vehicles must be authorized to use the reserved portion of the highway if the vehicle has the capacity to carry eight or more passengers, regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle: (a) Auto transportation company vehicles regulated under chapter 81.68 RCW; (b) passenger charter carrier vehicles regulated under chapter 81.70 RCW, except marked or unmarked stretch limousines and stretch sport utility vehicles as defined under department of licensing rules; (c) private nonprofit transportation provider vehicles regulated under chapter 81.66 RCW; and (d) private employer transportation service vehicles. For purposes of this subsection, "private employer transportation service" means regularly scheduled, fixed-route transportation service that is offered by an employer for the benefit of its employees. Nothing in this subsection is intended to authorize the conversion of public infrastructure to private, for-profit purposes or to otherwise create an entitlement or other claim by private users to public infrastructure. Sec. 217.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 217 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT—PROGRAM S Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($27,842,000))       $29,626,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .(($280,000))       $330,000      $31,087,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $288,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for enhanced disadvantaged business enterprise outreach to increase the pool of disadvantaged businesses available for department contracts and to collaborate with the department of labor and industries to recruit women and persons of color to participate in existing transportation apprenticeship programs. The department must submit a status report on disadvantaged business enterprise outreach and apprenticeship recruitment to the transportation committees of the legislature by November 15, 2015. (2) $3,000,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the headquarters communications office. Within the amount provided in this subsection, the department shall complete the web content management system and upgrade the department's web site. (3) $750,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for a grant program that makes awards for the following: (a) Support for nonproject agencies, churches, and other entities to help provide outreach to populations underrepresented in the current apprenticeship programs; (b) preapprenticeship training; and (c) child care, transportation, and other supports that are needed to help women and minorities enter and succeed in apprenticeship. The department must report on grants that have been awarded and the amount of funds disbursed by December 1, 2016, and annually thereafter. Sec. 218.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 218 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, DATA, AND RESEARCH—PROGRAM T Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($21,374,000))       $22,581,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .(($24,885,000))       $26,342,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($49,830,000))      $52,494,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $368,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the purchase of an economic impact model. The department shall work with appropriate local jurisdictions to improve consistency between existing and planned transportation demand models. The department shall report back to the transportation committees of the legislature and the office of financial management by December 31, 2015, with any recommendations requiring legislative action. Sec. 219.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 219 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—CHARGES FROM OTHER AGENCIES—PROGRAM U Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($75,700,000))       $74,666,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$500,000 Multimodal Transportation Account—State      TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($79,443,000))      $78,281,000 ((The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The department of enterprise services must provide a detailed accounting of the revenues and expenditures of the self-insurance fund to the transportation committees of the legislature on December 31st and June 30th of each year.)) Sec. 220.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 220 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION—PROGRAM V State Vehicle Parking Account—State Appropriation. . . .$754,000 Regional Mobility Grant Program Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($60,000,000)) Rural Mobility Grant Program Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($17,000,000))      $171,962,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) (($35,000,000)) $41,250,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for a grant program for special needs transportation provided by transit agencies and nonprofit providers of transportation. Of this amount: (a) (($7,500,000)) $8,750,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for grants to nonprofit providers of special needs transportation. Grants for nonprofit providers must be based on need, including the availability of other providers of service in the area, efforts to coordinate trips among providers and riders, and the cost effectiveness of trips provided. (b) (($27,500,000)) $32,500,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for grants to transit agencies to transport persons with special transportation needs. To receive a grant, the transit agency must, to the greatest extent practicable, have a maintenance of effort for special needs transportation that is no less than the previous year's maintenance of effort for special needs transportation. Grants for transit agencies must be prorated based on the amount expended for demand response service and route deviated service in calendar year 2013 as reported in the "Summary of Public Transportation - 2013" published by the department of transportation. No transit agency may receive more than thirty percent of these distributions. (2) (($17,000,000)) $20,438,000 of the rural mobility grant program account—state appropriation is provided solely for grants to aid small cities in rural areas as prescribed in RCW 47.66.100 . (3)(a) (($6,000,000)) $6,969,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for a vanpool grant program for: (i) Public transit agencies to add vanpools or replace vans; and (ii) incentives for employers to increase employee vanpool use. The grant program for public transit agencies will cover capital costs only; operating costs for public transit agencies are not eligible for funding under this grant program. Additional employees may not be hired from the funds provided in this section for the vanpool grant program, and supplanting of transit funds currently funding vanpools is not allowed. The department shall encourage grant applicants and recipients to leverage funds other than state funds. (b) At least $1,600,000 of the amount provided in this subsection must be used for vanpool grants in congested corridors. (c) $400,000 of the amount provided in this subsection is provided solely for the purchase of additional vans for use by vanpools serving or traveling through the Joint Base Lewis-McChord I-5 corridor between mile post 116 and 127. (4) (($10,000,000 of the regional mobility grant program account—state appropriation is reappropriated and provided solely for the regional mobility grant projects identified in LEAP Transportation Document 2015-2 ALL PROJECTS as developed May 26, 2015, Program - Public Transportation Program (V). (5)))(a) (($50,000,000)) $74,251,000 of the regional mobility grant program account—state appropriation is provided solely for the regional mobility grant projects identified in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-2 ALL PROJECTS)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Public Transportation Program (V). The department shall review all projects receiving grant awards under this program at least semiannually to determine whether the projects are making satisfactory progress. Any project that has been awarded funds, but does not report activity on the project within one year of the grant award, must be reviewed by the department to determine whether the grant should be terminated. The department shall promptly close out grants when projects have been completed, and any remaining funds must be used only to fund projects identified in the ((LEAP)) OFM transportation document referenced in this subsection. The department shall provide annual status reports on December 15, 2015, and December 15, 2016, to the office of financial management and the transportation committees of the legislature regarding the projects receiving the grants. It is the intent of the legislature to appropriate funds through the regional mobility grant program only for projects that will be completed on schedule. A grantee may not receive more than twenty-five percent of the amount appropriated in this subsection. The department shall not approve any increases or changes to the scope of a project for the purpose of a grantee expending remaining funds on an awarded grant. (b) In order to be eligible to receive a grant under (a) of this subsection during the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, a transit agency must establish a process for private transportation providers to apply for the use of park and ride facilities. For purposes of this subsection, (i) "private transportation provider" means: An auto transportation company regulated under chapter 81.68 RCW; a passenger charter carrier regulated under chapter 81.70 RCW, except marked or unmarked stretch limousines and stretch sport utility vehicles as defined under department of licensing rules; a private nonprofit transportation provider regulated under chapter 81.66 RCW; or a private employer transportation service provider; and (ii) "private employer transportation service" means regularly scheduled, fixed-route transportation service that is offered by an employer for the benefit of its employees. (((6))) (5) Funds provided for the commute trip reduction (CTR) program may also be used for the growth and transportation efficiency center program. (((7))) (6) $5,670,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation and $754,000 of the state vehicle parking account—state appropriation are provided solely for CTR grants and activities. (((8))) (7) $200,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is contingent on the timely development of an annual report summarizing the status of public transportation systems as identified under RCW 35.58.2796 . (((9))) (8)(a) $1,000,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Everett connector service for Island and Skagit transit agencies. The amount provided in this subsection is contingent on Island Transit charging fares that achieve a farebox recovery ratio similar to comparable transit systems. (b) The amount provided in (a) of this subsection must be held in unallotted status until the office of financial management determines that fares have been both adopted and implemented by Island Transit that achieve a farebox recovery ratio similar to comparable transit systems. Island Transit must notify the office of financial management when it has met the requirements of this subsection. (9)(a) $13,890,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for projects identified in OFM Transportation Document 16GOV003 as developed December 17, 2015. Except as provided otherwise in this subsection, funds must first be used for projects that are identified as priority one projects. As additional funds become available or if a priority one project is delayed, funding must be provided to priority two projects. If a higher priority project is bypassed, it must be funded when the project is ready. The department must submit a report annually with its budget submittal that, at a minimum, includes information about the listed transit projects that have been funded and projects that have been bypassed, including an estimated time frame for when the bypassed project will be funded. (b) $831,000 of the amount provided in (a) of this subsection is provided solely for Skagit transit system enhancements for expenditure in 2015-2017. (c) $2,300,000 of the amount provided in (a) of this subsection is provided solely for Island transit's tri-county connector service for expenditure in 2015-2017. (10) $1,000,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for transit coordination grants. Sec. 221.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 221 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—MARINE—PROGRAM X Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($483,637,000)) Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$5,908,000 Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—Private/Local      Appropriation. . . .$121,000      $489,844,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) The office of financial management budget instructions require agencies to recast enacted budgets into activities. The Washington state ferries shall include a greater level of detail in its 2015-2017 supplemental and 2017-2019 omnibus transportation appropriations act requests, as determined jointly by the office of financial management, the Washington state ferries, and the transportation committees of the legislature. This level of detail must include the administrative functions in the operating as well as capital programs. (2) Until a reservation system is operational on the San Juan islands inter-island route, the department shall provide the same priority loading benefits on the San Juan islands inter-island route to home health care workers as are currently provided to patients traveling for purposes of receiving medical treatment. (3) For the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the department may enter into a distributor controlled fuel hedging program and other methods of hedging approved by the fuel hedging committee. (4) (($87,036,000)) $82,627,000 of the Puget Sound ferry operations account—state appropriation is provided solely for auto ferry vessel operating fuel in the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, which reflect cost savings from a reduced biodiesel fuel requirement and, therefore, is contingent upon the enactment of section 701 ((of this act)), c 10, Laws of 2015 1st sp. sess. The amount provided in this subsection represents the fuel budget for the purposes of calculating any ferry fare fuel surcharge. (5) When purchasing uniforms that are required by collective bargaining agreements, the department shall contract with the lowest cost provider. (6) During the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the department shall not operate a winter sailing schedule for a time period longer than twelve weeks. (7) $496,000 of the Puget Sound ferry operations account—state appropriation is provided solely for ferry terminal traffic control at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. The department shall utilize existing contracts to provide a uniformed officer to assist with ferry terminal traffic control at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. (8) (($1,151,000)) $1,902,000 of the Puget Sound ferry operations account—state appropriation is provided solely for improvements to the reservation system. The department shall actively encourage ferry reservation customers to use the online option for making and changing reservations. (9) $30,000 of the Puget Sound ferry operations account—state appropriation is provided solely for the marine division assistant secretary's designee to the board of pilotage commissioners, who serves as the board chair. As the agency chairing the board, the department shall direct the board chair, in his or her capacity as chair, to require that the report to the governor and chairs of the transportation committees required under RCW 88.16.035 (1)(f) be filed by September 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, and that the report include the establishment of policies and procedures necessary to increase the diversity of pilots, trainees, and applicants, including a diversity action plan. The diversity action plan must articulate a comprehensive vision of the board's diversity goals and the steps it will take to reach those goals. (10) $5,908,000 of the Puget Sound ferry operations account—federal appropriation is provided solely for vessel maintenance. Sec. 222.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 222 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—RAIL—PROGRAM Y—OPERATING Multimodal Transportation Account—State      TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($58,789,000))      $59,520,000 Sec. 223.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 223 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—LOCAL PROGRAMS—PROGRAM Z—OPERATING Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($8,986,000))       $9,327,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$2,567,000 Multiuse Roadway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .$131,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($11,684,000))      $12,025,000 TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES—CAPITAL Sec. 301.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 301 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE FREIGHT MOBILITY STRATEGIC INVESTMENT BOARD Freight Mobility Investment Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($8,852,000)) Freight Mobility Multimodal Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($9,937,000)) Freight Mobility Multimodal Account—Private/Local      Appropriation. . . .$1,320,000 Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($2,250,000))       $2,765,000 Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation . . . .$83,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$3,250,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($25,692,000))      $30,054,000 Sec. 302.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 302 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE PATROL State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($5,310,000))       $5,990,000 The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $250,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for unforeseen emergency repairs on facilities. (2) $560,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for the replacement of the roofs of the Shelton academy multipurpose building, Tacoma district office building, Kennewick detachment building, and Ridgefield and Plymouth weigh station buildings. (3) $150,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for upgrades to scales at Goldendale required to meet current certification requirements. (4) $2,350,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for funding to repair and replace the academy asphalt emergency vehicle operation course. (5) $500,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for replacement of generators at Marysville, Baw Faw, Gardner, Pilot Rock, and Ridpath. (6) $150,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for painting and caulking in several locations. (7) $350,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for pavement preservation at the Wenatchee district office and the Spokane district office. (8) $700,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for energy upgrades at two district offices and two detachments. (9) $300,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for repair of the academy training tank. (10) $130,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for communication site roof repair to reroof equipment shelters at radio communication sites statewide. (11) $275,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for the replacement of the broadcast tower at the Steptoe Butte radio communications site. (12) $100,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for the dry-pipe fire suppression system rebuild at the Marysville district office. (13) $175,000 of the state patrol highway account—state appropriation is provided solely for the construction of the weatherproof enclosure of the emergency generator at the Whiskey Ridge radio communications site. Sec. 303.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 303 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE COUNTY ROAD ADMINISTRATION BOARD Rural Arterial Trust Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($46,000,000)) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .$10,706,000 County Arterial Preservation Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($31,250,000)) TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($87,956,000))      $99,144,000 Sec. 304.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 304 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT BOARD Small City Pavement and Sidewalk Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($3,931,000)) Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .$10,000,000 Transportation Improvement Account—State      The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) The highway safety account—state appropriation is provided solely for: (((1))) (a) The arterial preservation program to help low tax-based, medium-sized cities preserve arterial pavements; (((2))) (b) The small city pavement program to help cities meet urgent preservation needs; and (((3))) (c) The small city low-energy street light retrofit demonstration program. (2) $3,313,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for the complete streets program. Sec. 305.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 305 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—FACILITIES—PROGRAM D—(DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION-ONLY PROJECTS)—CAPITAL Transportation Partnership Account—State      Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($4,270,000))       $6,801,000 Connecting Washington Account—State Appropriation. . . .$20,000,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($4,481,000))      $27,844,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) $211,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation is provided solely for completion of a new traffic management center in Shoreline, Washington. By September 30, 2015, the department shall report to the transportation committees of the legislature and the office of financial management on the resulting vacancy rate of the existing regional headquarters building in Shoreline, plans to consolidate department staff into the building, and the schedule for terminating the current lease of the Goldsmith building in Seattle, and provide an update on future plans to consolidate agency staff within the region. (2) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire connecting Washington account appropriation is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by fund, project, and amount in OFM Transportation Document 16GOV001 as developed December 17, 2015, Program - Highway Management and Facilities Program (D). (3) $10,000,000 of the connecting Washington account—state appropriation is provided solely for a new Olympic region maintenance and administration facility to be located on the department-owned site at the intersection of Marvin Road and 32nd Avenue. The property purchase was approved by the 2005 legislature for the site of the new Olympic region and the land was acquired by the department in August 2005. The department must work with the office of financial management's facilities oversight program to develop a revised predesign for a new Olympic region facility, with an estimated total cost of no more than forty million dollars. Priority must be given to accommodating the maintenance and operations functions of the Olympic region. The department must provide a copy of the revised predesign to the transportation committees of the legislature by December 2015. The department must also provide an analysis of the state-owned Lacey campus site on Martin Way as an option for the Olympic region headquarters replacement project to the office of financial management and the transportation committees of the legislature to determine the best location for the Olympic region headquarters replacement project. The analysis must seek to define the least cost, highest benefit option between Marvin Road and Martin Way. Sec. 306.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 306 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—IMPROVEMENTS—PROGRAM I Multimodal Transportation Account—State      Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($64,991,000))       $70,339,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .(($251,313,000))       $315,453,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .(($167,259,000))       $177,023,000 Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Account)—State      Appropriation. . . .(($104,366,000)) State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($367,792,000)) State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—Federal      Appropriation. . . .$104,801,000 State Route Number 520 Civil Penalties Account— State Appropriation. . . .(($15,000,000)) ((Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Account— State Appropriation. . . .$50,110,000)) Special Category C Account—State Appropriation. . . .$6,000,000 Connecting Washington Account—State Appropriation. . . .$228,410,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($2,228,329,000))      $2,448,144,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire transportation 2003 account (nickel account) appropriation and the entire transportation partnership account appropriation are provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by fund, project, and amount in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-1)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Highway Improvements Program (I). However, limited transfers of specific line-item project appropriations may occur between projects for those amounts listed subject to the conditions and limitations in section 601 ((of this act)), c 10, Laws of 2015 1st sp. sess. (2) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire motor vehicle account—state appropriation and motor vehicle account—federal appropriation are provided solely for the projects and activities listed in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-2 ALL PROJECTS)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Highway Improvements Program (I). Any federal funds gained through efficiencies, adjustments to the federal funds forecast, additional congressional action not related to a specific project or purpose, or the federal funds redistribution process must then be applied to highway and bridge preservation activities. However, no additional federal funds may be allocated to the I-5/Columbia River Crossing project (400506A). (3) Within the motor vehicle account—state appropriation and motor vehicle account—federal appropriation, the department may transfer funds between programs I and P, except for funds that are otherwise restricted in this act. (4) The transportation 2003 account (nickel account)—state appropriation includes up to (($104,366,000)) $76,977,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by RCW 47.10.861 . (5) The transportation partnership account—state appropriation includes up to (($508,793,000)) $612,048,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized in RCW 47.10.873 . (6) (($3,700,000)) $4,359,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the I-5/JBLM Early Corridor Design project (300596S) to complete an environmental impact statement for a project that creates additional general purpose lanes on Interstate 5 in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord corridor. The design of this project must be high occupancy vehicle lane ready for a future connection to the Interstate 5 high occupancy vehicle lane system that currently terminates in Tacoma. (7) (($346,263,000)) $267,071,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation, (($15,300,000)) $55,389,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation, (($154,263,000)) $156,423,000 of the motor vehicle account—private/local appropriation, (($69,479,000)) $45,400,000 of the transportation 2003 account (nickel account)—state appropriation, (($50,110,000 of the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project account—state appropriation,)) and (($4,346,000)) $2,139,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation are provided solely for the SR 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement project (809936Z). (8) $17,000,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation ((is)) and $1,676,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation are provided solely for transit mitigation for the SR 99/Viaduct Project - Construction Mitigation project (809940B). The transportation partnership account—state appropriation must be placed in unallotted status and may only be released by the office of financial management for unpaid invoices from the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium. (9) Within existing resources, during the regular sessions of the legislature, the department of transportation shall participate in work sessions, before the transportation committees of the house of representatives and senate, on the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project. These work sessions must include a report on current progress of the project, timelines for completion, outstanding claims, the financial status of the project, and any other information necessary for the legislature to maintain appropriate oversight of the project. The parties invited to present may include the department of transportation, the Seattle tunnel partners, and other appropriate stakeholders. (10) (($13,881,000)) $22,191,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation, (($9,753,000)) $5,576,000 of the transportation 2003 account (nickel account)—state appropriation, $42,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation, $6,000,000 of the special category C account—state appropriation, $368,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation, $13,000 of the motor vehicle account—private/local appropriation, and (($6,348,000)) $12,976,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation are provided solely for the US 395/North Spokane Corridor project (600010A). Any future savings on the project must stay on the US 395/Interstate 90 corridor and be made available to the current phase of the North Spokane corridor project or any future phase of the project in 2015-2017. (11) (($46,894,000)) $34,732,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation, (($10,317,000)) $7,329,000 of the transportation 2003 account (nickel account)—state appropriation, and (($1,000)) $56,000 of the motor vehicle account—private/local appropriation are provided solely for the I-405/Kirkland Vicinity Stage 2 - Widening project (8BI1002). This project must be completed as soon as practicable as a design-build project. Any future savings on this project or other Interstate 405 corridor projects must stay on the Interstate 405 corridor and be made available to either the I-405/SR 167 Interchange - Direct Connector project (140504C) or the I-405 Renton to Bellevue project in the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium. (12)(a) The SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV project (8BI1003) is supported over time from multiple sources, including a $300,000,000 TIFIA loan, $923,000,000 in Garvee bonds, toll revenues, state bonds, interest earnings, and other miscellaneous sources. (b) The state route number 520 corridor account—state appropriation includes up to (($343,505,000)) $343,834,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized in RCW 47.10.879 and 47.10.886 . (c) The state route number 520 corridor account—federal appropriation includes up to $104,801,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized in RCW 47.10.879 and 47.10.886 . (d) (($82,195,000)) $126,938,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation, $104,801,000 of the state route number 520 corridor account—federal appropriation, and (($367,792,000)) $368,121,000 of the state route number 520 corridor account—state appropriation are provided solely for the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV project (8BI1003). Of the amounts appropriated in this subsection (12)(d), (($232,598,000)) $233,085,000 of the state route number 520 corridor account—state appropriation must be put into unallotted status and is subject to review by the office of financial management. The director of the office of financial management shall consult with the joint transportation committee prior to making a decision to allot these funds. (e) When developing the financial plan for the project, the department shall assume that all maintenance and operation costs for the new facility are to be covered by tolls collected on the toll facility and not by the motor vehicle account. (13) (($15,000,000)) $14,000,000 of the state route number 520 civil penalties account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to continue to work with the Seattle department of transportation in their joint planning, design, right-of-way acquisition, outreach, and operation of the remaining west side elements including, but not limited to, the Montlake lid, the bicycle/pedestrian path, the effective network of transit connections, and the Portage Bay bridge of the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV project. (14) (($548,000)) $1,056,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation and (($19,000)) $38,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation are provided solely for the 31st Ave SW Overpass Widening and Improvement project (L1100048). (15) The legislature finds that there are sixteen companies involved in wood preserving in the state that employ four hundred workers and have an annual payroll of fifteen million dollars. Prior to the department's switch to steel guardrails, ninety percent of the twenty-five hundred mile guardrail system was constructed of preserved wood and one hundred ten thousand wood guardrail posts were produced annually for state use. Moreover, the policy of using steel posts requires the state to use imported steel. Given these findings, where practicable, and until June 30, 2017, the department shall include the design option to use wood guardrail posts, in addition to steel posts, in new guardrail installations. The selection of posts must be consistent with the agency design manual policy that existed before December 2009. (16) For urban corridors that are all or partially within a metropolitan planning organization boundary, for which the department has not initiated environmental review, and that require an environmental impact statement, at least one alternative must be consistent with the goals set out in RCW 47.01.440 . (17) The department shall itemize all future requests for the construction of buildings on a project list and submit them through the transportation executive information system as part of the department's 2016 budget submittal. It is the intent of the legislature that new facility construction must be transparent and not appropriated within larger highway construction projects. (18) (($59,438,000)) $52,869,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation, (($572,000)) $4,439,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation, and (($388,000)) $1,085,000 of the motor vehicle account—private/local appropriation are provided solely for fish passage barrier and chronic deficiency improvements (0BI4001). (19) Any new advisory group that the department convenes during the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium must consider the interests of the entire state of Washington. (20) ((Practical design offers targeted benefits to a state transportation system within available fiscal resources. This delivers value not just for individual projects, but for the entire system. Applying practical design standards will also preserve and enhance safety and mobility. The department shall implement a practical design strategy for transportation design standards. By June 30, 2016, the department shall report to the governor and the house of representatives and senate transportation committees on where practical design has been applied or is intended to be applied in the department and the cost savings resulting from the use of practical design. This subsection takes effect if chapter . . . (Substitute House Bill No. 2012), Laws of 2015 is not enacted by June 30, 2015.)) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire connecting Washington account appropriation is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by fund, project, and amount in OFM Transportation Document 16GOV001 as developed December 17, 2015, Program - Highway Improvements Program (I). (21) It is the intent of the legislature that for the I-5 JBLM Corridor Improvements project (M00100R), the department shall actively pursue $50,000,000 in federal funds to pay for this project to supplant state funds in the future. $50,000,000 in connecting Washington account funding must be held in unallotted status during the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium. These funds may only be used after the department has provided notice to the office of financial management that it has exhausted all efforts to secure federal funds from the federal highway administration and the department of defense. (22) Of the amounts allocated to the Puget Sound Gateway project (M00600R) in OFM Transportation Document 16GOV001 as developed December 17, 2015, $4,000,000 must be used to complete the bridge connection at 28th/24th Street over state route number 509 in the city of SeaTac. The bridge connection must be completed prior to other construction on the state route number 509 segment of the project. (23) In making budget allocations to the Puget Sound Gateway project, the department shall implement the project's construction as a single corridor investment. The department shall develop a coordinated corridor construction and implementation plan for state route number 167 and state route number 509 in collaboration with affected stakeholders. Specific funding allocations must be based on where and when specific project segments are ready for construction to move forward and investments can be best optimized for timely project completion. Emphasis must be placed on avoiding gaps in fund expenditures for either project. (24) It is the intent of the legislature that, for the I-5/North Lewis County Interchange project (L2000204), the department develop and design the project with the objective of significantly improving access to the industrially zoned properties in north Lewis county. The design must consider the county's process of investigating alternatives to improve such access from Interstate 5 that began in March 2015. Sec. 307.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 307 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—PRESERVATION—PROGRAM P Transportation Partnership Account—State      Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($56,024,000))      $70,909,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .(($391,681,000))      $451,629,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .(($8,104,000))      $8,648,000 Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Account)—State      Appropriation. . . .(($40,457,000)) Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .$4,564,000 Recreational Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($1,509,000))      $2,194,000 High Occupancy Toll Lanes Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($800,000)) State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($720,000)) Connecting Washington Account—State Appropriation. . . .$79,963,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($515,916,000))      $655,157,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire transportation 2003 account (nickel account) appropriation and the entire transportation partnership account appropriation are provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by fund, project, and amount in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-1)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Highway Preservation Program (P). However, limited transfers of specific line-item project appropriations may occur between projects for those amounts listed subject to the conditions and limitations in section 601 ((of this act)), c 10, Laws of 2015 1st sp. sess. (2) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire motor vehicle account—state appropriation and motor vehicle account—federal appropriation are provided solely for the projects and activities listed in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-2 ALL PROJECTS)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Highway Preservation Program (P). Any federal funds gained through efficiencies, adjustments to the federal funds forecast, additional congressional action not related to a specific project or purpose, or the federal funds redistribution process must then be applied to highway and bridge preservation activities. However, no additional federal funds may be allocated to the I-5/Columbia River Crossing project (400506A). (3) Within the motor vehicle account—state appropriation and motor vehicle account—federal appropriation, the department may transfer funds between programs I and P, except for funds that are otherwise restricted in this act. (4) The transportation 2003 account (nickel account)—state appropriation includes up to $38,492,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized in RCW 47.10.861 . (5) The department shall examine the use of electric arc furnace slag for use as an aggregate for new roads and paving projects in high traffic areas and report back to the legislature by December 1, 2015, on its current use in other areas of the country and any characteristics that can provide greater wear resistance and skid resistance in new pavement construction. (6) $39,000,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation is provided solely for the preservation of structurally deficient bridges or bridges that are at risk of becoming structurally deficient. These funds must be used widely around the state of Washington. The department shall provide a report that identifies the scope, cost, and benefit of each project funded in this subsection as part of its 2016 agency budget request. (7) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire connecting Washington account appropriation in this section is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed in OFM Transportation Document 16GOV001 as developed December 17, 2015, Program – Highway Preservation Program (P). (8) It is the intent of the legislature that, with respect to the amounts provided for highway preservation from the connecting Washington account, the department consider the preservation and rehabilitation of concrete roadway on Interstate 5 from the Canadian border to the Oregon border to be a priority within the preservation program. (9) $5,000,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for extraordinary costs incurred from litigation awards, settlements, or dispute mitigation activities not eligible for funding from the self-insurance fund. The amount provided in this subsection must be held in unallotted status until the department submits a request to the office of financial management that includes documentation detailing litigation-related expenses. The office of financial management may release the funds only when it determines that all other funds designated for litigation awards, settlements, and dispute mitigation activities have been exhausted. Sec. 308.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 308 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—TRAFFIC OPERATIONS—PROGRAM Q—CAPITAL Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($5,898,000))      $7,192,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .(($6,132,000))      $7,564,000 Motor Vehicle Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .$200,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($12,230,000))       $14,956,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (($791,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for project 000005Q as state matching funds for federally selected competitive grants or congressional earmark projects. These moneys must be placed into reserve status until such time as federal funds are secured that require a state match.)) The department shall set aside a sufficient portion of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation for federally selected competitive grants or congressional earmark projects that require matching state funds. State funds set aside as matching funds for federal projects must be accounted for in project 000005Q and remain in unallotted status until needed for those federal projects. Sec. 309.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 309 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES CONSTRUCTION—PROGRAM W Puget Sound Capital Construction Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($40,347,000)) Puget Sound Capital Construction Account—Federal      Appropriation. . . .(($126,515,000)) Puget Sound Capital Construction Account—Private/Local      Appropriation. . . .(($10,331,000)) Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Account)—State      Appropriation. . . .(($81,583,000)) Connecting Washington Account—State Appropriation. . . .$41,805,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($261,510,000))      $367,904,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire appropriations in this section are provided solely for the projects and activities as listed in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-2 ALL PROJECTS)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Washington State Ferries Capital Program (W). (2) (($73,000,000)) $90,545,000 of the transportation 2003 account (nickel account)—state appropriation is provided solely for the acquisition of a 144-car vessel (L1000063). The department shall use as much already procured equipment as practicable on the 144-car vessels. (3) (($40,617,000)) $41,989,000 of the Puget Sound capital construction account—federal appropriation and (($608,000)) $1,430,000 of the Puget Sound capital construction account—state appropriation are provided solely for the Mukilteo ferry terminal (952515P). (4) (($4,000,000)) $7,000,000 of the Puget Sound capital construction account—state appropriation is provided solely for emergency capital repair costs (999910K). Funds may only be spent after approval by the office of financial management. (5) Consistent with RCW 47.60.662 , which requires the Washington state ferry system to collaborate with passenger-only ferry and transit providers to provide service at existing terminals, the department shall ensure that multimodal access, including for passenger-only ferries and transit service providers, is not precluded by any future terminal modifications. (6) If the department pursues a conversion of the existing diesel powered Issaquah class fleet to a different fuel source or engine technology or the construction of a new vessel powered by a fuel source or engine technology that is not diesel powered, the department must use a design-build procurement process. (7) Funding is included in the future biennia of the ((LEAP)) OFM transportation document referenced in subsection (1) of this section for future vessel purchases. Given that the recent purchase of new vessels varies from the current long range plan, the department shall include in its updated long range plan revised estimates for new vessel costs, size, and purchase time frames. (8) $325,000 of the Puget Sound capital construction account—state appropriation is provided solely for the ferry system to participate in the development of one account-based system for customers of both the ferry system and tolling system. The current Wave2Go ferry ticketing system is reaching the end of its useful life and the department is expected to develop a replacement account-based system as part of the new tolling division customer service center toll collection system. As part of the system development, the department shall evaluate the feasibility of including a credit for customers that drive electric vehicles on ferry vessels. (9) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire connecting Washington account appropriation in this section is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed in OFM Transportation Document 16GOV001 as developed December 17, 2015, Program - Washington State Ferries Capital Program (W). (10) Within existing resources, the department must evaluate the feasibility of utilizing the federal EB-5 immigrant investor program for financing the construction of a safety of life at sea (SOLAS) certificated vessel for the Anacortes-Sidney ferry route. The department must establish a group that includes, but is not limited to, the department of commerce and entities or individuals experienced with vessel engineering and EB-5 financing for assistance in evaluating the applicability of the EB-5 immigrant investor program. The department must deliver a report containing the results of the evaluation to the transportation committees of the legislature and the office of financial management by December 1, 2015. (11) It is the intent of the legislature, over the sixteen-year new investment program, to provide $96,052,000 in state funds to complete the Seattle Terminal Replacement project (900010L), including: (a) Design work and selection of a preferred plan, (b) replacing timber pilings with pilings sufficient to support a selected terminal design, (c) replacing the timber portion of the dock with a new and reconfigured steel and concrete dock, and (d) other staging and construction work as the amount allows. These funds are identified in the OFM transportation document referenced in subsection (9) of this section. (12) It is the intent of the legislature, over the sixteen-year new investment program, to provide $122,000,000 in state funds to complete the acquisition of a fourth 144-car vessel (L2000109). These funds are identified in the OFM transportation document referenced in subsection (9) of this section. (13) It is the intent of the legislature, over the sixteen-year new investment program, to provide $68,600,000 in state funds to complete the Mukilteo Terminal Replacement project (952515P). These funds are identified in the OFM transportation document referenced in subsection (9) of this section. To the greatest extent practicable and within available resources, the department shall design the new terminal to be a net zero energy building. To achieve this goal, the department shall evaluate using highly energy efficient equipment and systems, and the most appropriate renewable energy systems for the needs and location of the terminal. (14) $300,000 of the Puget Sound capital construction account—state appropriation is provided solely to purchase customer counting equipment. By June 30, 2017, the department must report to the governor and the transportation committees of the legislature on the most effective way to use technology to count ferry passengers. Sec. 310.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 310 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—RAIL—PROGRAM Y—CAPITAL Essential Rail Assistance Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($820,000))      $537,735,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire appropriations in this section are provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by project and amount in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-2 ALL PROJECTS)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Rail Program (Y). (2) $5,000,000 of the transportation infrastructure account—state appropriation is provided solely for new low-interest loans approved by the department through the freight rail investment bank (FRIB) program. The department shall issue FRIB program loans with a repayment period of no more than ten years, and charge only so much interest as is necessary to recoup the department's costs to administer the loans. For the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the department shall first award loans to 2015-2017 FRIB loan applicants in priority order, and then offer loans to 2015-2017 unsuccessful freight rail assistance program grant applicants, if eligible. If any funds remain in the FRIB program, the department may reopen the loan program and shall evaluate new applications in a manner consistent with past practices as specified in section 309, chapter 367, Laws of 2011. The department shall report annually to the transportation committees of the legislature and the office of financial management on all FRIB loans issued. (3)(a) (($4,514,000)) $4,439,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation, (($270,000)) $345,000 of the essential rail assistance account—state appropriation, and (($455,000)) $506,000 of the transportation infrastructure account—state appropriation are provided solely for new statewide emergent freight rail assistance projects identified in the ((LEAP)) OFM transportation document referenced in subsection (1) of this section. (b) Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $367,000 of the transportation infrastructure account—state appropriation and $1,100,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation are provided solely to reimburse Highline Grain, LLC for approved work completed on Palouse River and Coulee City (PCC) railroad track in Spokane county between the BNSF Railway Interchange at Cheney and Geiger Junction and must be administered in a manner consistent with freight rail assistance program projects. The value of the public benefit of this project is expected to meet or exceed the cost of this project in: Shipper savings on transportation costs; jobs saved in rail-dependent industries; and/or reduced future costs to repair wear and tear on state and local highways due to fewer annual truck trips (reduced vehicle miles traveled). The amounts provided in this subsection are not a commitment for future legislatures, but it is the legislature's intent that future legislatures will work to approve biennial appropriations until the full $7,337,000 cost of this project is reimbursed. (4) (($363,191,000)) $487,297,000 of the multimodal transportation account—federal appropriation and (($5,740,000)) $13,679,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation are provided solely for expenditures related to passenger high-speed rail grants. Except for the Mount Vernon project (P01101A), the multimodal transportation account—state funds reflect no more than one and one-half percent of the total project funds, and are provided solely for expenditures that are not eligible for federal reimbursement. (5)(a) (($550,000)) $1,114,000 of the essential rail assistance account—state appropriation ((and $305,000)), $766,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation, and $68,000 of the transportation infrastructure account—state appropriation are provided solely for the purpose of the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Palouse river and Coulee City railroad line (F01111B). (b) Expenditures from the essential rail assistance account—state in this subsection may not exceed the combined total of: (i) Revenues deposited into the essential rail assistance account from leases and sale of property pursuant to RCW 47.76.290 ; and (ii) Revenues transferred from the miscellaneous program account to the essential rail assistance account, pursuant to RCW 47.76.360 , for the purpose of sustaining the grain train program by maintaining the Palouse river and Coulee City railroad. (6) $970,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for freight rail assistance program grants (L1000143). The department shall issue a call for projects for the program, and shall evaluate the applications in a manner consistent with past practices as specified in section 309, chapter 367, Laws of 2011. By December 1, 2015, the department shall submit a prioritized list of recommended projects to the office of financial management and the transportation committees of the legislature. Sec. 311.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 311 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION—LOCAL PROGRAMS—PROGRAM Z—CAPITAL Highway Infrastructure Account—State Appropriation. . . .(($782,000))       $790,000 Connecting Washington Account—State Appropriation. . . .$48,969,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($46,116,000))      $128,408,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1) Except as provided otherwise in this section, the entire appropriations in this section are provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by project and amount in ((LEAP)) OFM Transportation Document ((2015-2 ALL PROJECTS)) 16GOV001 as developed ((May 26)) December 17, 2015, Program - Local Programs Program (Z). (2) The amounts identified in the ((LEAP)) OFM transportation document referenced under subsection (1) of this section for pedestrian safety/safe routes to school are as follows: (a) (($13,820,000)) $20,653,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation and (($1,507,000)) $3,579,000 of the transportation partnership account—state appropriation are provided solely for pedestrian and bicycle safety program projects. (b) $6,100,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation and $6,750,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation are provided solely for newly selected safe routes to school projects. (($6,794,000)) $8,782,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation, (($1,133,000)) $124,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation, and (($3,215,000)) $4,897,000 of the highway safety account—state appropriation are reappropriated for safe routes to school projects selected in the previous biennia. (3) The department shall submit a report to the transportation committees of the legislature by December 1, 2015, and December 1, 2016, on the status of projects funded as part of the pedestrian safety/safe routes to school grant program (0LP600P). The report must include, but is not limited to, a list of projects selected and a brief description of each project's status. (4) $500,000 of the motor vehicle account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Edmonds waterfront at-grade train crossings alternatives analysis project (L2000135). The department shall work with the city of Edmonds and provide a preliminary report of key findings to the transportation committees of the legislature and the office of financial management by December 1, 2015. (5) $1,750,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation and $5,300,000 of the motor vehicle account—federal appropriation are provided solely for newly selected safe routes to schools projects (L2000189). The department may consider the special situations facing high-need areas, as defined by schools or project areas in which the percentage of the children eligible to receive free and reduced-price meals under the national school lunch program is equal to, or greater than, the state average as determined by the department, when evaluating project proposals against established funding criteria while ensuring continued compliance with federal eligibility requirements. (6) $9,400,000 of the multimodal transportation account—state appropriation is provided solely for bicycle and pedestrian projects listed in OFM Transportation Document 16GOV004 as developed December 17, 2015. Funds must first be used for projects that are identified as priority one projects. As additional funds become available or if a priority one project is delayed, funding must be provided to priority two projects and then to priority three projects. If a higher priority project is bypassed, it must be funded in the first round after the project is ready. If funds become available as a result of projects being removed from this list or completed under budget, the department may submit additional bicycle and pedestrian safety projects for consideration by the legislature. The department must submit a report annually with its budget submittal that, at a minimum, includes information about the listed bicycle and pedestrian projects that have been funded and projects that have been bypassed, including an estimated time frame for when the project will be funded. TRANSFERS AND DISTRIBUTIONS Sec. 401.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 401 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR BOND SALES DISCOUNTS AND DEBT TO BE PAID BY MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNT AND TRANSPORTATION FUND REVENUE Transportation Partnership Account—State      Highway Bond Retirement Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($1,169,927,000)) Ferry Bond Retirement Account—State Appropriation. . . .$29,230,000 Transportation Improvement Board Bond Retirement      Account—State Appropriation. . . .$16,129,000 State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .$559,000 Nondebt-Limit Reimbursable Bond Retirement Account—      State Appropriation. . . .$25,837,000 Toll Facility Bond Retirement Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($62,885,000)) Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Account)—State      Appropriation. . . .(($719,000)) TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($1,307,286,000))      $1,320,418,000 Sec. 402.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 402 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR BOND SALE EXPENSES AND FISCAL AGENT CHARGES Transportation Partnership Account—State      Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Account)—State      Appropriation. . . .(($143,000)) TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($655,000))      $625,000 Sec. 403.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 403 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR DEBT TO BE PAID BY STATUTORILY PRESCRIBED REVENUE Toll Facility Bond Retirement Account—Federal      Appropriation. . . .(($200,637,000)) Toll Facility Bond Retirement Account—State      Appropriation. . . .(($12,455,000)) TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .(($213,092,000))      $212,224,000 Sec. 404.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 404 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE STATE TREASURER—STATE REVENUES FOR DISTRIBUTION Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For motor vehicle fuel tax distributions to cities and counties. . . .(($489,359,000))      $493,497,000 NEW SECTION.  Sec. 405.  A new section is added to 2015 1st sp.s. c 10 (uncodified) to read as follows: FOR THE STATE TREASURER—STATE REVENUES FOR DISTRIBUTION Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For distributions to cities and counties. . . .$12,500,000 Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For distributions to cities and counties. . . .$10,938,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .$23,438,000 Sec. 406.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 405 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE STATE TREASURER—TRANSFERS Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For motor vehicle fuel tax refunds and statutory transfers. . . .(($1,269,319,000))       $1,814,996,400 Sec. 407.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 406 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING—TRANSFERS Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For motor vehicle fuel tax refunds and transfers. . . .(($143,664,000))       $190,168,000 Sec. 408.  2015 1st sp.s. c 10 s 407 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: FOR THE STATE TREASURER—ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFERS (1) Multimodal Transportation Account—State      Appropriation: For transfer to the Puget Sound      Ferry Operations Account—State. . . .$10,000,000 (2) Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Puget Sound Capital Construction Account—State. . . .$12,000,000 (3) State Route Number 520 Civil Penalties      Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the      State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State. . . .$916,000 (4) Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation:      For transfer to the State Patrol Highway      Account—State. . . .$20,000,000 (5) Highway Safety Account—State      Appropriation: For transfer to the Puget Sound Ferry      Operations Account—State. . . .$10,000,000 (6) Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State      Appropriation: For transfer to the Motor Vehicle      Account—State. . . .$950,000 (7) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Puget Sound Capital Construction Account—State. . . .(($12,000,000)) (8) Rural Mobility Grant Program Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Multimodal Transportation Account—State. . . .$3,000,000 (9) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State. . . .$10,000,000 (10) State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Connecting Washington Account—State. . . .$9,690,000 (11) Transportation Partnership Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Connecting Washington Account—State. . . .$4,998,000 (12) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Connecting Washington Account— State. . . .$25,781,000 (13) Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Connecting Washington Account—State. . . .$596,000 (14) Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Account)—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Connecting Washington Account—State. . . .$2,270,000 (15) Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Multimodal Transportation Account—State. . . .$5,000,000 (16) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Freight Mobility Investment Account—State. . . .$1,922,000 (17) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Transportation Improvement Account—State. . . .$2,188,000 (18) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Rural Arterial Trust Account—State. . . .$1,094,000 (19) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the County Arterial Preservation Account—State. . . .$1,094,000 (20) Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Freight Mobility Multimodal Account—State. . . .$1,922,000 (21) Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Regional Mobility Grant Program Account—State. . . .$6,250,000 (22) Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Rural Mobility Grant Program Account—State. . . .$3,438,000 (23) Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Account—State. . . .$1,000,000 (24) Capital Vessel Replacement Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Connecting Washington Account—State. . . .$59,000,000 (25) Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Connecting Washington Account—State. . . .$8,000,000 (26) Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation: For transfer to the Aeronautics Account—State. . . .$1,000,000 COMPENSATION Sec. 501.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 728 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES ((Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .$13,990,000 State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .$1,093,000 State Patrol Highway Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$23,000 Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .$55,000 Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .$2,273,000 Motorcycle Safety Education Account—State Appropriation. . . .$41,000 State Wildlife Account—State Appropriation. . . .$34,000 Ignition Interlock Device Revolving Account—State Appropriation. . . .$9,000 Department of Licensing Services Account—State Appropriation. . . .$74,000 Aeronautics Account—State Appropriation. . . .$11,000 High Occupancy Toll Lanes Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .$8,000 State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .$86,000 Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .$42,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .$17,765,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) (1) An agreement has been reached between the governor and the Washington federation of state employees general government under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium. Funding is provided for employees funded in the 2015-2017 omnibus transportation appropriations act, a three percent general wage increase effective July 1, 2015, and a one and eight-tenths percent general wage increase or a one percent general wage increase plus twenty dollars per month, whichever is greater, effective ((January)) July 1, 2016. The agreement also includes and funding is provided for salary adjustments for targeted job classifications, assignment pay for targeted job classifications, hazard pay for designated night crews, and geographic pay for designed areas. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. (2) This section represents the results of the 2015-2017 collective bargaining process required under chapter 41.80 RCW. Provisions of the collective bargaining agreement contained in this section are described in general terms. Only major economic terms are included in the descriptions. These descriptions do not contain the complete contents of the agreement. The collective bargaining agreement contained in this section may also be funded by expenditures from nonappropriated accounts. If positions are funded with lidded grants or dedicated fund sources with insufficient revenue, additional funding from other sources is not provided. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. Sec. 502.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 729 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—GENERAL WAGE INCREASE—STATE EMPLOYEES ((Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .$5,854,000 State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .$819,000 State Patrol Highway Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$22,000 State Patrol Highway Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .$5,000 Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .$488,000 Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .$696,000 Highway Safety Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$128,000 Motorcycle Safety Education Account—State Appropriation. . . .$8,000 State Wildlife Account—State Appropriation. . . .$21,000 Department of Licensing Services Account—State Appropriation. . . .$13,000 Aeronautics Account—State Appropriation. . . .$48,000 High Occupancy Toll Lanes Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .$15,000 State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .$13,000 Multimodal Transportation Account—State Appropriation. . . .$237,000 Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .$42,000 Rural Arterial Trust Account—State Appropriation. . . .$32,000 County Arterial Preservation Account—State Appropriation. . . .$38,000 Transportation Improvement Account—State Appropriation. . . .$87,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .$8,566,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) (1) Funding provided for state agency employee compensation for employees funded in the 2015-2017 omnibus transportation appropriations act who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapter 41.80 or 47.64 RCW or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475 is sufficient for general wage increases. (2) Funding is provided for a three percent general wage increase effective July 1, 2015, for all classified employees, as specified in subsection (1) of this section. Also included are employees in the Washington management service and exempt employees under the jurisdiction of the director of the office of financial management. The appropriations are also sufficient to fund a three percent salary increase effective July 1, 2015, for executive, legislative, and judicial branch employees exempt from merit system rules whose maximum salaries are not set by the commission on salaries for elected officials. (3) Funding is provided for a general wage increase of one and eight-tenths percent or a one percent general wage increase plus twenty dollars per month, whichever is greater, effective July 1, 2016, for all classified employees, as specified in subsection (1) of this section. Also included are employees in the Washington management service and exempt employees under the jurisdiction of the director of the office of financial management. The appropriations are also sufficient to fund a one and eight-tenths percent salary increase effective July 1, 2016, for executive, legislative, and judicial branch employees exempt from merit system rules whose maximum salaries are not set by the commission on salaries for elected officials. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this section. Sec. 503.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 730 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—WPEA GENERAL GOVERNMENT ((Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .$64,000 State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .$867,000 State Patrol Highway Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$103,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .$1,034,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) (1) An agreement has been reached between the governor and the Washington public employees association under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium and funded in the 2015-2017 omnibus transportation appropriations act. Funding is provided for employees funded in the 2015-2017 omnibus transportation appropriations act, a three percent general wage increase effective July 1, 2015, and a one and eight-tenths percent general wage increase or a one percent general wage increase plus twenty dollars per month, whichever is greater, effective ((January)) July 1, 2016. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. (2) This section represents the results of the 2015-2017 collective bargaining process required under chapter 41.80 RCW. Provisions of the collective bargaining agreement contained in this section are described in general terms. Only major economic terms are included in the descriptions. These descriptions do not contain the complete contents of the agreement. The collective bargaining agreement contained in this section may also be funded by expenditures from nonappropriated accounts. If positions are funded with lidded grants or dedicated fund sources with insufficient revenue, additional funding from other sources is not provided. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. Sec. 504.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 731 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—THE COALITION OF UNIONS AGREEMENT ((State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .$181,000 The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. Sec. 505.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 732 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—TARGETED COMPENSATION INCREASES—NONREPRESENTED JOB CLASS SPECIFIC ((Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .$36,000 State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .$26,000 State Patrol Highway Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$14,000 Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .$12,000 Highway Safety Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$4,000 Aeronautics Account—State Appropriation. . . .$4,000 Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .$8,000 Transportation Improvement Account—State Appropriation. . . .$4,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .$108,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) Funding is provided for salary adjustments for targeted job classifications for employees funded in the 2015-2017 omnibus transportation appropriations act, as specified by the office of financial management, of classified state employees, except those represented by a collective bargaining unit under chapters 41.80 and 47.64 RCW and RCW 41.56.473 and 41.56.475 . Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. Sec. 506.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 733 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS—PTE LOCAL 17 ((State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .$3,973,000 State Patrol Highway Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .$361,000 State Patrol Highway Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .$192,000 Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .$1,567,000 Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .$1,019,000 Aeronautics Account—State Appropriation. . . .$7,000 Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .$42,000 State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .$5,000 Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .$16,000 TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .$7,279,000 The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) (1) An agreement has been reached between the governor and the professional and technical employees local seventeen under chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium. Funding is provided for the negotiated three percent general wage increase effective July 1, 2015, and a one and eight-tenths percent general wage increase or a one percent general wage increase plus a flat twenty dollars per month, whichever is greater, effective July 1, 2016. The agreement also includes targeted job classification specific increases. (2) This section represents the results of the 2015-2017 collective bargaining process required under chapter 41.80 RCW. Provisions of the collective bargaining agreement contained in this section are described in general terms. Only major economic terms are included in the descriptions. These descriptions do not contain the complete contents of the agreement. The collective bargaining agreement contained in this section may also be funded by expenditures from nonappropriated accounts. If positions are funded with lidded grants or dedicated fund sources with insufficient revenue, additional funding from other sources is not provided. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. Sec. 507.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 734 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—COMPENSATION—REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES—INSURANCE BENEFITS ((Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .($771,000) State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .($481,000) State Patrol Highway Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .($11,000) State Patrol Highway Account—Private/Local Appropriation. . . .($5,000) Motorcycle Safety Education Account—State Appropriation. . . .($3,000) High Occupancy Toll Lanes Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .($1,000) State Wildlife Account—State Appropriation. . . .($3,000) Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .($263,000) Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .($471,000) State Route Number 520 Corridor Account—State Appropriation. . . .($4,000) Department of Licensing Services Account—State Appropriation. . . .($3,000) Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .($3,000) TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .($2,025,000) The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) Collective bargaining agreements were reached for the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium between the governor and the employee representatives under the provisions of chapters 41.80 and 41.56 RCW. Appropriations in this act for state agencies are sufficient to implement the provisions of the 2015-2017 collective bargaining agreements and are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1)(a) The monthly employer funding rate for insurance benefit premiums, public employees' benefits board administration, and the uniform medical plan must not exceed $840 per eligible employee for fiscal year 2016. For fiscal year 2017, the monthly employer funding rate must not exceed $894 per eligible employee. (b) Except as provided by the parties' health care agreement, in order to achieve the level of funding provided for health benefits, the public employees' benefits board must require any or all of the following: Employee premium copayments, increases in point-of-service cost sharing, the implementation of managed competition, or other changes to benefits consistent with RCW 41.05.065 . The board shall collect a twenty-five dollar per month surcharge payment from members who use tobacco products and a surcharge payment of not less than fifty dollars per month from members who cover a spouse or domestic partner where the spouse or domestic partner has chosen not to enroll in another employer-based group health insurance that has benefits and premiums with an actuarial value of not less than 95 percent of the actuarial value of the public employees' benefits board plan with the largest enrollment. The surcharge payments shall be collected in addition to the member premium payment. (c) The health care authority must deposit any moneys received on behalf of the uniform medical plan as a result of rebates on prescription drugs, audits of hospitals, subrogation payments, or any other moneys recovered as a result of prior uniform medical plan claims payments into the public employees' and retirees' insurance account to be used for insurance benefits. Such receipts must not be used for administrative expenditures. (2) The health care authority, subject to the approval of the public employees' benefits board, must provide subsidies for health benefit premiums to eligible retired or disabled public employees and school district employees who are eligible for medicare, pursuant to RCW 41.05.085 . For calendar years 2016 and 2017, the subsidy must be up to $150.00 per month. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 – 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. (3) All savings resulting from reduced claim costs or other factors identified after June 1, 2015, must be reserved for funding employee health benefits in the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium. Sec. 508.  2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 735 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows: TRANSPORTATION—COMPENSATION—NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES—INSURANCE BENEFITS ((Aeronautics Account—State Appropriation. . . .($3,000) Motor Vehicle Account—State Appropriation. . . .($241,000) State Patrol Highway Account—State Appropriation. . . .($55,000) High Occupancy Toll Lanes Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .($1,000) Rural Arterial Trust Account—State Appropriation. . . .($1,000) Highway Safety Account—State Appropriation. . . .($29,000) Highway Safety Account—Federal Appropriation. . . .($7,000) Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account—State Appropriation. . . .($18,000) Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account—State Appropriation. . . .($1,000) TOTAL APPROPRIATION. . . .($370,000) The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:)) Appropriations for state agencies in this act are sufficient for nonrepresented state employee health benefits for state agencies, including institutions of higher education, and are subject to the following conditions and limitations: (1)(a) The monthly employer funding rate for insurance benefit premiums, public employees' benefits board administration, and the uniform medical plan must not exceed $840 per eligible employee for fiscal year 2016. For fiscal year 2017, the monthly employer funding rate must not exceed $894 per eligible employee. (b) In order to achieve the level of funding provided for health benefits, the public employees' benefits board must require any of the following: Employee premium copayments, increases in point-of-service cost sharing, the implementation of managed competition, or other changes to benefits consistent with RCW 41.05.065 . The board shall collect a twenty-five dollar per month surcharge payment from members who use tobacco products and a surcharge payment of not less than fifty dollars per month from members who cover a spouse or domestic partner where the spouse or domestic partner has chosen not to enroll in another employer-based group health insurance that has benefits and premiums with an actuarial value of not less than 95 percent of the actuarial value of the public employees' benefits board plan with the largest enrollment. The surcharge payments shall be collected in addition to the member premium payment. (c) The health care authority must deposit any moneys received on behalf of the uniform medical plan as a result of rebates on prescription drugs, audits of hospitals, subrogation payments, or any other moneys recovered as a result of prior uniform medical plan claims payments into the public employees' and retirees' insurance account to be used for insurance benefits. Such receipts must not be used for administrative expenditures. (2) The health care authority, subject to the approval of the public employees' benefits board, must provide subsidies for health benefit premiums to eligible retired or disabled public employees and school district employees who are eligible for medicare, pursuant to RCW 41.05.085 . For calendar years 2016 and 2017, the subsidy must be up to $150.00 per month. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in ((LEAP Transportation Document 713 - 2015T)) chapter . . ., Laws of 2016 (this act) to fund the provisions of this agreement. (3) All savings resulting from reduced claim costs or other factors identified after June 1, 2015, must be reserved for funding employee health benefits in the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium. IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS NEW SECTION.  Sec. 601.  A new section is added to 2015 1st sp.s. c 10 (uncodified) to read as follows: BELATED CLAIMS The agencies and institutions of the state may expend moneys appropriated in this act, upon approval of the office of financial management, for the payment of supplies and services furnished to the agency or institution in prior fiscal biennia. MISCELLANEOUS 2015-2017 FISCAL BIENNIUM Sec. 701.  RCW 46.20.202 and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 44 s 209 are each amended to read as follows: (1) The department may enter into a memorandum of understanding with any federal agency for the purposes of facilitating the crossing of the border between the state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia. (2) The department may enter into an agreement with the Canadian province of British Columbia for the purposes of implementing a border-crossing initiative. (3)(a) The department may issue an enhanced driver's license or identicard for the purposes of crossing the border between the state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia to an applicant who provides the department with proof of: United States citizenship, identity, and state residency. The department shall continue to offer a standard driver's license and identicard. If the department chooses to issue an enhanced driver's license, the department must allow each applicant to choose between a standard driver's license or identicard, or an enhanced driver's license or identicard. (b) The department shall implement a one-to-many biometric matching system for the enhanced driver's license or identicard. An applicant for an enhanced driver's license or identicard shall submit a biometric identifier as designated by the department. The biometric identifier must be used solely for the purpose of verifying the identity of the holders and for any purpose set out in RCW 46.20.037 . Applicants are required to sign a declaration acknowledging their understanding of the one-to-many biometric match. (c) The enhanced driver's license or identicard must include reasonable security measures to protect the privacy of Washington state residents, including reasonable safeguards to protect against unauthorized disclosure of data about Washington state residents. If the enhanced driver's license or identicard includes a radio frequency identification chip, or similar technology, the department shall ensure that the technology is encrypted or otherwise secure from unauthorized data access. (d) The requirements of this subsection are in addition to the requirements otherwise imposed on applicants for a driver's license or identicard. The department shall adopt such rules as necessary to meet the requirements of this subsection. From time to time the department shall review technological innovations related to the security of identity cards and amend the rules related to enhanced driver's licenses and identicards as the director deems consistent with this section and appropriate to protect the privacy of Washington state residents. (e) Notwithstanding RCW 46.20.118 , the department may make images associated with enhanced drivers' licenses or identicards from the negative file available to United States customs and border agents for the purposes of verifying identity. (4) Beginning ((July 1, 2016)) June 30, 2017, the fee for an enhanced driver's license or enhanced identicard is fifty-four dollars, which is in addition to the fees for any regular driver's license or identicard. If the enhanced driver's license or enhanced identicard is issued, renewed, or extended for a period other than six years, the fee for each class is nine dollars for each year that the enhanced driver's license or enhanced identicard is issued, renewed, or extended. (5) The enhanced driver's license and enhanced identicard fee under this section must be deposited into the highway safety fund unless prior to July 1, 2023, the actions described in (a) or (b) of this subsection occur, in which case the portion of the revenue that is the result of the fee increased in section 209, chapter 44, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. must be distributed to the connecting Washington account created under RCW 46.68.395 . (a) Any state agency files a notice of rule making under chapter 34.05 RCW for a rule regarding a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard. (b) Any state agency otherwise enacts, adopts, orders, or in any way implements a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard. (c) Nothing in this subsection acknowledges, establishes, or creates legal authority for the department of ecology or any other state agency to enact, adopt, order, or in any way implement a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard. Sec. 702.  RCW 81.53.281 and 2014 c 222 s 702 are each amended to read as follows: There is hereby created in the state treasury a "grade crossing protective fund" to carry out the provisions of RCW 81.53.261 , 81.53.271 , 81.53.281 , 81.53.291 , and 81.53.295 ; for grants and/or subsidies to public, private, and nonprofit entities for rail safety projects authorized or ordered by the commission; and for personnel and associated costs related to supervising and administering rail safety grants and/or subsidies. During the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, funds in this account may also be used to conduct the study required under section 102, chapter 222, Laws of 2014. The commission shall transfer from the public service revolving fund's miscellaneous fees and penalties accounts moneys appropriated for these purposes as needed. At the time the commission makes each allocation of cost to said grade crossing protective fund, it shall certify that such cost shall be payable out of said fund. When federal-aid highway funds are involved, the department of transportation shall, upon entry of an order by the commission requiring the installation or upgrading of a grade crossing protective device, submit to the commission an estimate for the cost of the proposed installation and related work. Upon receipt of the estimate the commission shall pay to the department of transportation the percentage of the estimate specified in RCW 81.53.295 , as now or hereafter amended, to be used as the grade crossing protective fund portion of the cost of the installation and related work. The commission may adopt rules for the allocation of money from the grade crossing protective fund. During the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the commission may waive rules regarding local matching fund requirements, maximum awards for individual projects, and other application requirements as necessary to expedite the allocation of money from the grade crossing protective fund to address under-protected grade crossings as identified by the commission. NEW SECTION.  Sec. 703.  The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed: (1) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 201 (uncodified); (2) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 202 (uncodified); (3) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 203 (uncodified); (4) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 204 (uncodified); (5) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 205 (uncodified); (6) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 206 (uncodified); (7) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 207 (uncodified); (8) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 301 (uncodified); (9) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 302 (uncodified); (10) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 303 (uncodified); (11) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 304 (uncodified); (12) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 305 (uncodified); (13) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 306 (uncodified); (14) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 307 (uncodified); (15) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 308 (uncodified); (16) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 309 (uncodified); and (17) 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 401 (uncodified). MISCELLANEOUS NEW SECTION.  Sec. 801.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. NEW SECTION.  Sec. 802.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately. --- END ---

i don't know

The countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden all share a border with what large body of water?

Political Map of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark - Atlapedia® Online Lithuania Lithuania is a former republic of the USSR. It is bound by the Baltic Sea to the west, Latvia to the north, Poland and the Kalinigrad Oblast of Russia to the southwest as well as Belarus to the south and east.... Norway Norway is located on the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula in North West Europe. It is bound by the Arctic Ocean to the north, Sweden, Finland and Russia to the east, the Norwegian Sea to the west and the Skagerrak Strait to the south.... Sweden Sweden is located on the east side of the Scandinavian Peninsula in North Europe. It is bound by Finland, the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea to the east, Kattegat to the southwest and Norway to the west and northwest....

Baltic Sea

According to The Drifter’s 1964 hit, where will we be “out of the sun, having fun, people walking above, We’ll be making love”?

Kingdoms of Eastern Europe - Prussia   Prussia The Prussians were Western Balts who were closely related to the Eastern Balt tribes of Lithuania and many of those in Latvia . Baltic people have lived around the shores of Mare Suebicum, the Baltic Sea, and as far east as Moscow for several thousand years, arriving as Indo-European proto-Baltic peoples around 3000-2500 BC. They initially formed part of a general westwards migration of Indo-Europeans until splitting off around that time. They further divided from the closely-related Slavic group around 2500 BC and went on to form the ancestors of the Latvians, Lithuanians and Old Prussians. The Old Prussians were also neighboured by the Venedi in the last few centuries BC and perhaps AD. Various tribes made up the peoples of Prussia, including (from east to west) the Skalvs, the Nadruvs or Nadruvians, the Sambians , the Natangians (all now within Kaliningrad ), the Warmians , the Bartians (all but the northern area of each is now in Poland ), the Galindians, the Sasna, the Pogesanians , the Lubavians, and the Pomesanians (all now completely within Poland), with the Yatvyags further to the south and east. The Skalvs and Yatvyags were almost completely annihilated by the Teutonic Knights in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and uninhabited areas appeared on the borderlands between the Order and Lithuania. The Zembs were another group of ancient Prussians, but parts of Zhemait territory such as Zhasino later became part of Lithuania. Kulmerland was a south-western tip of Prussian territory which was encircled by the River Vistula to the west and the Drewenz to the east. This later became the bishopric of Culm . The Bartians are remembered in the name of the modern city of Bartoszyce. To all intents and purposes the Prussians were destroyed as a recognisable people by the Teutonic Knights, although some survived by crossing the eastern border and merging with the Lithuanians. By the seventeenth century, East Prussia was an entirely Germanic state, while West Prussia remained a Polish possession until 1772. (Additional information from The History of the Baltic Countries, various authors, from Kr�lestwo rowerowe Warmia i okolice (Cycling Kingdom, Warmia and Surroundings), Green Velo tourist publication, 2015, and from The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World, David W Anthony.) 9000s BC By this date, Estonia , Finland , Latvia , Lithuania , and Prussia are settled by proto-Baltic hunter-gather tribes which all share the same cultural traces. They belong to two groups, one being the regionally-dominant Baltic Kunda culture, which is a development of the earlier Swiderian culture which itself is located on the eastern edges of the later Prussian territory. The other is the Magdalen-Ahrensburg culture located in north-western Germany and Denmark, which probably enriches the Kunda culture. Traditional scholarly belief has these hunter-gatherers migrating from the southern Baltics and further east, but a more recent idea suggests that while this is correct for the Baltics, Finland and northern Scandinavia are also first inhabited via the sweeping grass plains of Doggerland (now under the North Sea). The retreat of the glacial ice sheet allowed first plants and then animals to migrate into the region, closely followed by the first hunter-gatherers c.8200 BC The waters of the ice-damned Baltic Ice Lake penetrate the region of the Billingen Mountains to form a link with the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, the Yoldia Sea drops rapidly, by about thirty metres. This retreat is so sudden, and probably has such a profound effect on the early inhabitants of the Baltic area, that it is known as the Billingen Catastrophe. 8000 - 7100 BC The Preboreal period sees the climate become significantly warmer in the Baltics. Birch and pine forests start to spread, and elk, bears, beavers, and various species of water birds migrate into the region from the south. 7100 - 5800 BC The Boreal period sees the climate continue to warm and become drier. Pine forests decrease, allowing deciduous trees to gain a firmer foothold and become prevalent. The animal population thrives, with red deer, roe deer, and hares increasing considerably. 5800 - 2800 BC The Atlantic period is characterised by a climate that is warmer than that of the present day. New species migrate into the Baltic region, including Baltic aurochs and wild boar, which inhabit forests of broad-leaved trees. Water chestnuts grow in the many lakes, and the bountiful life draws hunter-gatherers into the area. The warmness fails towards the end of this period, causing the disappearance of aurochs, wild horses, and water chestnuts. c.3000 BC The Comb Ceramic culture reaches Prussia, Latvia , Estonia and Finland as new peoples arrive from the east, almost certainly the Finno-Ugric tribes who form the later core of Finland and Estonia (Estonians, Finns, Livonians, Karelians, Wots, Weps, and Ingrians). This Neolithic culture seems to form on the basis of the previous Mesolithic cultures, but uses a greater variety of bone, antler and stone implements, and employs boring, drilling, and abrading skills. The Mesolithic Nemunas culture of southern Lithuania is replaced by the Neolithic Nemunas culture. The pottery of the Comb Ceramic culture (also known as Pit-Comb Ware) - a widespread cultural expression of far north-eastern Europe's foragers between the Baltic Sea and the Ural Mountains - shows the typical comb imprints that gave the its name c.2500 BC The Corded Ware culture (or Boat Axe culture) arrives in southern Finland , along the coastal regions, as well as in Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania , Belarus, western Russia , Poland , northern Germany, Denmark , and southern Sweden . These new, probably early Indo-European , arrivals also have some domesticated animals and bring agriculture with them, although it continues to exist alongside universally-practised hunter-gather activities for some time. Both these people form the proto-Baltic ancestors of the later Latvians and Lithuanians. 7th century AD In this century Swedish forces establish strongholds at Truso and Viskiautias, in the territory of the Prussians. According to some sagas, Scandinavian kings are likely to rule over all the countries on the eastern shores of the Baltic, although in reality this probably means various strongholds and trading centres along the coastline. 997 St Adalbert of Prague, sent by the Pope into Prussian lands to convert the pagans, is escorted by soldiers granted to him by Boleslaw I the Brave, duke of Poland . He refuses to heed warnings to stay away from the sacred oak trees (it is customary for sacred oaks to be cut down by missionaries to show that Christianity is stronger than any spirits they are supposed to contain). Instead, Adalbert is executed for sacrilege. Boleslaw begins a series of unsuccessful attempts at conquering the Prussians. fl 999 Semi-legendary chieftain of the Prussians. fl 999 Bruteno the Priest 1009 The annals of the town of Quedlinburg in Germany report the arrival of Saint Brunon, known more normally as Bonifatius, on missionary work among the Prussians. His attempt ends in failure, and it is believed he is killed together with his eighteen companions somewhere in the vicinity of the Lithuanian border (the first mention of 'Lithuania' in written sources). The border lands of Mazovia, which today form over a tenth of Poland, were hotly contested between the Poles and the Prussians in the thirteenth century 1147 Boleslaw IV of Poland attacks the Prussians with the aid of Russian troops, but is unable to conquer them. 1187 The 'pagans of the Eastern Sea' ( Estonians of Saaremaa , Couronians , and Zembs of Prussia) conquer Sigtuna, the most important town of the Swedes , which they then burn down. The Swedish Eric's Chronicle of 1335 blames the Finnish Karelians for the attack. More recently, Professor Kustaa Vilkuna has suggested that the raid is in revenge for Sigtuna's merchants having intruded upon Kven fisheries on the River Kemijoki and the hunting grounds of the Karelians. The medieval naming of a settlement in the village of Liedakkala by the River Kemijoki as 'Sihtuuna' may be additional confirmation of this. 1209 - 1222 Under the Polish Prince Konrad of Mazovia , attempts to conquer the Prussians are intensified, with large battles and crusades taking place in 1209, 1219, 1220, and 1222. 1226 The Golden Bull of Rimini is issued by Frederick II, giving the Teutonic Knights wide-ranging powers in the name of the Holy Roman empire in Prussia. 1228 - 1238 Prince Konrad of Mazovia in Poland invites the Teutonic Knights to settle in the Lower Vistula on the border with the Prussians, who have been ravaging Mazovia, part of which occasionally includes their region of Chelmno . Over the following decade, the Prussian lands are swallowed piecemeal, as the Order uses its successful tactic of building a stronghold, pacifying the immediate territory, and then advancing to repeat the process. The dispersed and tiny lands of the Prussian tribes are an easy conquest. 1241 The conquered and newly baptised Prussians, no longer able to stand the oppression of the conquerors, rise up but are defeated by 1249. The Order continues its advance to the north, intent on forming its own military-religious state (known as the Ordenstaat) which it governs for the next three hundred years. 1243 The Papal legate, William of Modena, oversees the creation of the four dioceses of Culm , Ermland , Pomesania , and Samland within the recently conquered Prussian territories. Bishops of Ermland AD 1243 - 1356 Emland became a diocese within the Prussia of the Teutonic Knights . The Papal legate, William of Modena, oversaw the creation of the diocese in 1243, along with those of Culm , Pomesania , and Samland . It was a semi-independent ecclesiastical state which fell under the jurisdiction of the archbishop of Riga . During this period, while the native peoples of Livonia and Lithuania were consolidating into recognisable modern peoples, the inhabitants of Prussia were in a dismal state. Treaties signed between the Prussians and the Teutonic Knights had not been fulfilled; the Prussians were forbidden to live in towns, and they were driven out of their native areas and moved to the eastern districts of the state. Large numbers of Prussians died and their farms were destroyed during the crusade and the revolts of 1260-1274. The Knights ordered the colonisation of Prussia by German peasants with the result that the few Prussians who survived found themselves surrounded by Germans and were gradually assimilated. It was only in Samland that they constituted a majority. 1249 - 1250 Heinrich von Strateich 1250 Heinrich von Strateich is elected to be the first bishop of Ermland, but he does not take up the office. Instead, his replacement, Anselm, becomes the first bishop of Ermland to enter the region and perform the duties of his office. 1250 - 1274 Anselm of Meissen 1252 The Teutonic Knights take northern Prussia, with the result that the bishopric of Samland is formed there, comprising the Frisches Haff (Vislinskii Zaliv) and Kurisches Haff (Kurskii Zaliv), with K�nigsberg serving as the administrative headquarters 1260 - 1274 The Livonian Knights , along with the Teutonic Knights , are abandoned by their Estonian and Couronian vassals and defeated again, this time severely, at the Battle of Durbe in Livonia by the Samogitians . As a result, numerous rebellions break out against the Teutonic Knights all across the Baltics, including a general uprising throughout Prussia. The Prussians win several battles against the hard-pressed Knights and by 1264 the situation is critical. Reinforcements arrive from Germany and the Order launches an attack against the rebels led by Henrich Mantas, with final defeat of the Prussians coming in 1274. Several uprisings occur in the thirteenth century, but none as serious as this. fl 1270s Henryk / Heinrich Fleming 1283 The Order continues to advance north, and having conquered the lands of the Skalvs and part of that of the Yatvyags, it drives the Nadruvians to the River Nemunas in 1283, right on the border with Lithuania . The population of these areas is killed off, with only a few managing to escape across the border. 1290 The bishop of Courland re-enters his territory following the successful suppression of the Baltic rebellions. However, in the same year the cathedral chapter is incorporated into the territory belonging to the Teutonic Knights , resulting in the bishopric being subject to the Order, and many of its incumbents being members of the Order. The same process has already been forced upon the dioceses of Prussia, with the exception of Ermland which maintains its independence. 1301 - 1326 Eberhard von Nei�e Nei�e is Nysa in Poland . 1327 - 1328 Heinrich Wogenap 1334 - 1337 The position is vacant for over two years. Coincidentally, perhaps, at the end of this period, in 1337, Duke Otto IV of Carinthia founds the Societas Templois Order of knights to play a part in the suppression of the Prussians and the conquest of the Lithuanians . Allenstein (now Olsztyn) was located in the south of Warmia, and construction on its castle began in 1346, with the later city growing up around it 1337 - 1349 Herman of Prague. 1341 - 1351 The seat of the bishop of Emland is moved temporarily to the medieval town of Orneta. The town had only been incorporated in 1313 and it includes the Gothic parish church of St John the Baptist near the main square. This is built in the same century and is later expanded in the fifteenth century. It has a basilica construction that is seldom seen in Warmia, which means that its main nave is twice the height of the side naves. Attached to the main nave is a ring of chapels, and the church's interior is richly decorated, mostly in the Baroque style, but the south nave also contains medieval paintings. 1350 - 1355 Prince-Bishops of Warmia AD 1356 - 1512 In 1356, the bishops of Ermland became imperial prince-bishops under Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The prince-bishopric was, in practice, semi-independent, although it covered only about a third of the entire diocese. The rest of the diocese was under the control of the Teutonic Knights until 1525 and then the dukes of East Prussia . By now, Ermland in its German form was being written as Warmia, a more Polish Latinised form of the name. (Additional information from Kr�lestwo rowerowe Warmia i okolice (Cycling Kingdom, Warmia and Surroundings), Green Velo tourist publication, 2015.) 1355 - 1373 The line of bishops of Warmia continues during the Swedish period in Prussia. Swedish Prussia AD 1626 - 1635 Hostilities between Poland and Sweden flared up in 1617, but this time the reorganised Swedish forces were unstoppable, taking Riga and pushing into Lithuanian and Polish territories. The Treaty of Altmark in 1629 concluded the First Polish-Swedish War by recognising the Swedish capture of most of Poland's southern Estonian and Livonian territories, with Poland retaining just Latgallia in the east of Livonia. Poland was also forced to temporarily cede the port cities of Braunsberg (Braniewo in Ermland), Elbing (Elblag), Memel (Klaipeda), and Pillau (Baltiysk). The territory was termed Swedish Prussia, and Swedish governors-general were appointed to manage it (shown in red). They became part of the front line during the Thirty Years' War, which began in 1630, often commanding large swathes of Sweden's forces outside Scandinavia. The bishops of Warmia continued to hold their own post, and the list of them continues here from 1635 onwards. (Additional information from Kr�lestwo rowerowe Warmia i okolice (Cycling Kingdom, Warmia and Surroundings), Green Velo tourist publication, 2015.) 1626 - 1629 Lord High Chancellor of Sweden . Regent (1632-1644). 1630 - 1632 Sweden enters the Thirty Years' War in summer 1630. As part of the military funding, tolls and food supplies secured in Swedish Prussia are pivotal assets. The first major victory of the Protestant forces in the war is at the Battle of Breitenfeld in September 1631, which ensures that the northern German Protestant states will not be forced to reconvert to Catholicism. The forces of Sweden and Saxony force the Catholic League's line to collapse, and serious casualty numbers are inflicted on the armies of the Holy Roman empire, Hungary and Croatia . Tragically for Sweden, the king is killed at the Battle of L�tzen on 6 November 1632. Axel Gustafson Oxenstierna, governor-general of Swedish Prussia, becomes supreme commander of the Swedish troops in Germany and then regent for the king's daughter, Christina. 1631 - 1632 Acting governor-general for the second time, Apr-Aug only. 1632 - 1635 Later governor of Livonia (1643). 1635 Acting governor-general. 1635 Poland regains Swedish Prussia, first with Memel in July and then the remainder in September. The line of bishops of Warmia has continued in the meantime without interruption. 1633 - 1643 Successor to Prince-Bishop John Albert Vasa. 1641 The village of Stoczek Klasztorny (also known as Stoczek Warmiński) had been established in the mid-fourteenth century. Bishop Mikołaj Szyszkowski now builds a rotunda there as a votive offering for the Polish victory in the war against Sweden . Around this is built a Sanctuary of the Holy Mary. 1643 - 1644 The diocese is elevated to an archdiocese. 2006 - Present Duchy of East Prussia AD 1525 - 1618 The Teutonic Knights ' Ordenstaat was secularised and converted to Lutheran Protestantism in 1525, with the new name of the state, Prussia , being selected after the name of the indigenous people. Unfortunately, that indigenous people, the Prussians, were fast becoming extinct. By the end of the seventeenth century, Prussian as a spoken language had disappeared completely and the Prussians as an ethnic group had also disappeared. Albrecht von Hohenzollern, margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, was closely related by birth to the Hohenzollern electors of Brandenburg , and for a while the two territories were separately run by these two main branches of the family. East Prussia remained under the control of first Albrecht and then Albert Frederick of Hohenzollern, but unification of the two states followed in 1618. The Teutonic Knights, ousted entirely from power, remained as mere titular administrators, supported by the Holy Roman Emperor who continued to hold a claim on Prussia. 1525 - 1568 Former grand master of the Teutonic Knights . 1568 - 1618 The bishopric of Samland is dissolved and the territory is submerged within East Prussia. 1587 The bishopric of Pomesania is dissolved and the secularised territory is submerged within East Prussia. 1618 - 1945 Albert Frederick dies without an heir and the territory is inherited by the senior Hohenzollern line in Brandenburg . The two are united, and East Prussia remains under German control. In 1773 the now totally-Germanised state is reorganised as the province of East Prussia within the kingdom of Prussia . Following the conclusion of the First World War, West Prussia is absorbed by Poland , but East Prussia remains an internationally-recognised German enclave until the end of the Second World War, when it is occupied by the Soviet Russians. Modern Kaliningrad (East Prussia) AD 1945 - Present Day Kaliningrad is an enclave of territory on the eastern Baltic coast which is sandwiched between Poland to the south and west, and Lithuania to the north and east. It was annexed from Germany following the conclusion of the Second World War by the victorious Soviet Russians and was turned into a military zone. For seven hundred years before that it had been a German possession, carved out of the lands of the former pagan Prussians and other related tribes by the Teutonic Knights . Now, the region is administered by Russian governors who are appointed by Moscow. 1945 - 1991 The victorious Soviet Russians take the northern section of East Prussia , including the region of Samland , and annexe it directly to the state. The southern half, which includes the regions of Culm and Pomesania go to Poland . The German population either flees or is expelled and is replaced by an imported Russian and Belarusian population. The capital is renamed from K�nigsberg to Kaliningrad, and the entire region remains a closed military zone throughout the Soviet period. Memel (Klaipeda), to the north, is incorporated into Soviet Lithuania . 1991 The Soviet empire collapses, and neighbouring Poland and Lithuania become independent states. Kaliningrad remains directly part of Russia, but the reason for its existence as a heavily fortified military base of massive proportions is ended and it becomes an isolated enclave and an almost forgotten backwater in Europe. The fourteenth century K�nigsberg Cathedral was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, but was rebuilt in the early 1990s 1991 - 1996 Born in the village of Simskoe in 1931. 2001 - 2005 Born in Moscow in 1938. Former admiral of Baltic Sea Fleet. 2004 - 2006 Lithuania joining the European Union in 2004 means it is impossible to travel overland between the Russian enclave in Europe and the rest of Russia without crossing the territory of at least one EU state. This causes friction, particularly with Lithuania, over transit regulations. As an attempt to take its travel needs out of EU hands, Russia inaugurates a new sea route linking the region with Ust-Luga, near St Petersburg, in 2006. 2005 - Present Born in Moscow in 1963. 2007

i don't know

In flight training, what is it called when the student pilot lands on a runway and takes off again without coming to a full stop, and repeats this circuit multiple times to allow for many landing practices?

Learn from the mistakes of others; you'll not live long enough to make them all yourself... Copyright and Credits The Aviation Safety Letter is published quarterly by Transport Canada, Civil Aviation. It is distributed to all holders of a valid Canadian pilot licence or permit, to all holders of a valid Canadian aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licence and to other interested individuals free of charge. The contents do not necessarily reflect official government policy and, unless stated, should not be construed as regulations or directives. Letters with comments and suggestions are invited. All correspondence should include the author’s name, address and telephone number. The editor reserves the right to edit all published articles. The author’s name and address will be withheld from publication upon request. Please address your correspondence to: Paul Marquis, Editor Internet: Aviation Safety Letter Copyright: Some of the articles, photographs and graphics that appear in the Aviation Safety Letter are subject to copyrights held by other individuals and organizations. In such cases, some restrictions on the reproduction of the material may apply, and it may be necessary to seek permission from the rights holder prior to reproducing it. To obtain information concerning copyright ownership and restrictions on reproduction of the material, please contact: Public Works and Government Services Canada Publishing and Depository Services 350 Albert Street, 4th Floor, Ottawa ON K1A 0S5 Fax: 613-998-1450 E-mail: copyright.droitdauteur@pwgsc.gc.ca Note: Reprints of original Aviation Safety Letter material are encouraged, but credit must be given to Transport Canada’s Aviation Safety Letter. Please forward one copy of the reprinted article to the editor. Change of address or format: To notify us of a change of address, to receive the Aviation Safety Letter by e-Bulletin instead of a paper copy, or for any related mailing issue (i.e. duplication, request to be removed from our distribution list, language profile change, etc.), please contact: The Order Desk Toll-free number (North America): 1-888-830-4911 Local number: 613-991-4071 Sécurité aérienne — Nouvelles est la version française de cette publication. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Transport (2011). ISSN:0709-8103 Publication Mail Agreement Number 40063845 GUEST EDITORIAL Shelley Chambers The International Civil Aviation Organization and its Impacts on Canadian Aviation As aviation professionals, you have no doubt heard of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). One of my roles as Director, International Operations, is to be Transport Canada Civil Aviation’s (TCCA) official liaison with ICAO on matters pertaining to aviation safety. In writing this article, my objective is to expand awareness of the influence and impact that ICAO has on our aviation safety activities within the aviation community. Let me begin with some background on this multilateral organization, its headquarters located in Montreal. ICAO is a Specialized Agency of the United Nations. It resulted from a meeting in Chicago, the Chicago Conference of 1944, when planning for peace was already underway in the middle of the Second World War. In 1944, 52 states signed the Convention and today, 190 states have become parties. As a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, otherwise known as the Chicago Convention, Canada has agreed to certain principles so that international civil aviation may be developed in a safe and orderly manner. These principles are translated into Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), which regulate international civil aviation. TCCA has always been a major contributor to the development of the ICAO SARPs. We do this by providing technical experts to participate on the various panels, study groups, regional planning groups, task forces, etc., that propose, discuss and make recommendations on new standards. I am very proud of the contributions these individuals make to the establishment of international standards. As I meet with my ICAO and international counterparts, I get to see first-hand how they contribute to the international recognition of Canada in matters of aviation safety. Once all of the technical analysis is complete, ICAO asks contracting states for comments on the new SARPS through official state letters. This is one of Canada’s best opportunities to provide final input in the establishment of ICAO SARPs. You may be wondering how your interests are represented at ICAO. Many of you will be associated with your own national organization. Many of these national organizations have international representation at ICAO. For example, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Airports Council International (ACI), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA), the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) are observers on the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) and are able to contribute to the development of the SARPs. As you may be operating internationally, it is important to understand that under the Chicago Convention, every state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory. This means that to fly to or over another state’s territory, you need the state’s permission and, just as importantly, you need to follow their aviation rules. This means that operating internationally requires you do your homework in case the state you are flying into has filed a difference to an ICAO SARP. Article 38 of the Convention requires contracting states to notify ICAO of any differences between its own national regulations and practices and the international standards contained in the eighteen (18) Annexes to the Chicago Convention. Differences filed by all contracting states are located in the supplements to the Annexes, which can be purchased directly from ICAO. Canada’s differences are also published in the Aeronautical Information Publication [AIP Canada (ICAO)], which can be found on the NAV CANADA Web site. Canada is very proud to be host country to ICAO. Canada maintains a Permanent Mission located within ICAO. Leading the Mission is Canada’s representative on the Council. Canada is one of 36 contracting states elected to this executive body. Also within the Mission is Canada’s nominee to the ICAO ANC. The ANC comprises of 18 nominees from contracting states and directs and oversees the development of ICAO SARPs. The ANC reviews all new SARPS and recommends them to the Council for approval. Presently, Canada’s nominee to the ANC is Mr. Jim Dow. ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. Another important role of ICAO is to audit its contracting states’ compliance to the SARPs. Not all contracting states have the same resources to direct to the development of a safe and efficient national aviation system. However, operators of all nations fly citizens of all nations all around the world. Through its audit program, ICAO establishes a baseline for safety in each state and where there is both a need and desire, assists them through technical cooperation activities to raise their level of compliance to ICAO’s SARPs. Canada has been audited twice and ICAO considers this country as having one of the safest national aviation systems in the world. As a contracting state of ICAO, Canada also recognizes the need to provide subject matter experts (SME) to participate in ICAO technical cooperation activities. TCCA regularly releases SMEs to work with contracting states to raise their level of safety. Through ICAO, TCCA also provides SMEs to deliver training on technical subjects and hosts foreign inspectors for an on-the-job training activity. It is my hope that from this article you will gain a better appreciation of the fact that decisions made at the ICAO level can have a significant impact on Canadian civil aviation. TCCA remains actively involved at ICAO to make sure Canada’s interests and positions are represented on the international stage. TCCA is proud to work with ICAO and is eager to continue its leading role in promoting aviation safety worldwide. For more information on ICAO, please visit: www.icao.int/ . Shelley Chambers An Ounce of Prevention: Developing a Safety Case by Cliff Marshall, Civil Aviation Safety Inspector, Technical and National Programs, Standards, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada When it comes to managing risks associated with an operational change, the adage “an ounce of prevention” is certainly appropriate. A safety case acts as a proactive prevention tool. Safety cases are developed when a major change occurs in your organization. They help the organization anticipate hazards that can result from operational change, and help ensure the successful management of risk during that change. This allows your organization to demonstrate to all stakeholders how you have managed the associated risks. A safety case is developed in much the same way as a business case. Some common examples requiring the use of a safety case are: when a major operational change is planned; when a major organizational change is planned; when key personnel change; when a new route structure is contemplated; when a new aircraft is introduced into the fleet; when a new airport is being considered for use; when a new control tower or terminal or other facility is contemplated; or when an extension or resurfacing of an existing runway is planned. Building the safety case involves identifying the hazards associated with major change. Consideration should be given to hazards arising as a result of a change in management, facilities, routes, or operating equipment. Once the hazards have been identified, an assessment of the related risks and a plan for managing these risks should be developed. When we talk about safety cases, two key words, hazard and risk, should be clearly understood: hazard: a source of potential harm or a situation with a potential to cause loss. risk: the chance of injury or loss measured as the probability and severity of an adverse effect on health, property, the environment, or other things of value. It is management’s responsibility to manage the risk associated with a project. Since all projects involve some degree of risk, a safety case is necessary to define and document procedures that will be used to manage risk throughout the life of a project. Therefore, it follows that by recognizing potential problems, organizations can develop options to manage risk to an acceptable level using the four methods of controlling risk: transfer the risk, eliminate the risk, accept the risk and mitigate the impact of the risk. The procedures used to manage risks are documented in the safety case, and then executed throughout the life of a project. Risk management is the process of thinking systematically about all potential undesirable outcomes before they happen and determining procedures that will minimize their likelihood and impact if they were to occur. There are four stages to risk management planning: Risk Identification: “What could go wrong?” Risk Quantification: “How likely is it to happen and how bad would it be if it did happen?” Risk Response: “How do we prevent or reduce the effect of that happening, or is it an acceptable risk?” Risk Monitoring and Control Assessment: “How do we know if our plan is working?” A safety case should also specify who is responsible for managing the different areas of risk, how risks will be tracked through the project life cycle, and how monitoring risk control effectiveness will be addressed. Project size also has an effect on the safety case. Large projects normally require more detailed risk planning than smaller projects due to the volume and complexity of potential risks. Quite often, this requires developing and analyzing alternative risk control strategies and evaluation criteria. In summary, a safety case helps you increase your chances of success by assessing risk occurrence and defining clear strategies, techniques, and control mechanisms to deal with risk and move forward with your planned change.   Eyes Wide Open: Operating VMC in Class C and D Airspace by Jeff MacDonald, Director, Operations Planning and Programs, NAV CANADA Recent discussion in safety forums and with the pilot community have revealed a lack of understanding of NAV CANADA services in Class C and D airspace under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), for both IFR and VFR aircraft. This article aims to clarify this, as well as address both ATC and pilot responsibilities. The following paragraphs describe the terminology and specifically the collision risk management methods available today. See and Avoid: The oldest risk mitigation strategy, it provides the foundation for the Rules of the Air. It is applicable to any situation where the individual flight operators: are responsible for their own collision avoidance; can detect emerging conflicts; and, can negotiate and apply solutions based on an established rule structure. The effectiveness of this strategy declines as traffic levels, airspace compression, aircraft mix, and speeds increase. When augmented by traffic alerting or emerging sense and avoid systems, however, it is still a valid risk mitigation strategy. Traffic Information: Information issued by Air Traffic Services (ATS) to pilots regarding other known or observed traffic that may be in such proximity to their position or intended route as to warrant their attention. Conflict Resolution: The resolution of potential conflicts between IFR/VFR and VFR/VFR aircraft that are radar-identified and in communication with ATC (Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual [TC AIM] RAC 2.8.3). Conflict resolution or visual separation implies a collaborative environment between pilot and controller. The ultimate responsibility for collision avoidance rests with the pilot; however, in certain types of airspace and under particular conditions, ATC is responsible for detecting conflicts, providing traffic information, and suggesting avoidance actions. Separation: The spacing between aircraft, altitude, or tracks. A separation minimum is a statement of the least allowable amount of lateral, longitudinal, or vertical separation to be applied by ATC between aircraft and between aircraft and obstacles. Separation standards are published in CARs, Standard 821- Canadian Domestic Air Traffic Control Separation. Runway Separation: The separation of aircraft operating on the runway. Using the preceding definitions, the required ATC services for each class of airspace, in accordance with CAR 801.02, are summarized below. Table 1 – Required ATC Services – ATS Airspace Airspace No Specified ATC Service No Specified ATC Service NAV CANADA also provides service in Class D airspace beyond what is required under CAR 801.02, as follows (TC AIM RAC 2.8.4): Equipment and workload permitting, conflict resolution will be provided between VFR and IFR aircraft, and upon request between VFR aircraft. So, how do pilots operating in Class D airspace know whether conflict resolution will be provided? The simple answer is, they don’t, because the service depends on workload and equipment. Pilots are therefore urged to remain vigilant under VMC conditions. Other important facts to remember when operating in Class C and D airspace are (TC AIM RAC 2.83 and 2.84): Both IFR and VFR flights are permitted in Class C and D airspace; an ATC clearance is required to enter Class C airspace; two-way communication must be established with ATC before entering Class D airspace; and, a continuous listening watch on the assigned ATC frequency must be maintained by the flight crew while in Class C and D airspace. The aircraft must be equipped with both: radio equipment capable of two-way communication with the appropriate ATC unit; and, a transponder and automatic pressure altitude reporting equipment (for all Class C and D airspace that is designated transponder-required). In summary, it is important to understand what ATC services are provided in each airspace classification. While NAV CANADA may provide conflict resolution and traffic information in Class C and D airspace, the ultimate responsibility for collision avoidance under VMC rests with the pilot. We're Watching and Planning by Civil Aviation Contingency Operations (CACO) Division, National Operations Branch, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada Did you know that Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) monitors the National Civil Air Transportation System (NCATS) 24/7? This function is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Contingency Operations (CACO) Division of the National Operations Branch in Ottawa. CACO is the Civil Aviation focal point for all emergency preparedness activities, operational communications with NAV CANADA concerning incident and occurrence reports, and has national responsibilities for coordinating operational response, contingency planning, exercises and training. So, what does this mean? CACO manages and operates an Aviation Operations Centre and provides a 24/7 operational response capability. CACO is responsible for monitoring and tracking aviation-related accidents, incidents and high profile events, including aviation security incidents, for the purpose of keeping senior managers apprised of operations in the NCATS and, where applicable, triggering operational responses and activations of the Transport Canada Situation Centre (TCSC) in Ottawa and Regional Transport Canada Situation Centres (RTCSC). Why is monitoring and tracking necessary? It is the first step in the process of identifying potential hazards in the NCATS. For example, if multiple incidents are reported involving the same air operator, airport, air traffic services unit or aircraft, there may be a potential danger to the public requiring intervention by Transport Canada (TC), using the regulatory tools available to its inspectors. NAV CANADA is CACO’s primary source of information on aviation incidents; however, information can be received from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), local law enforcement agencies, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB), an air operator, pilot or member of the public. Aviation and security incidents that do not require immediate intervention or are not extremely time sensitive can be reported to CACO online: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/emergencies-incidentreporting-menu.htm . In practical terms, a response to an accident or incident would be as follows: CACO receives a call from NAV CANADA advising of an in-flight emergency involving an air operator: the pilot has advised Air Traffic Control that the landing gear is not indicating down and locked. The pilot has declared an emergency and has requested that airport rescue fire fighters be on standby. The gear collapses on landing. There are no injuries. CACO’s role in this situation would be to gather as much preliminary information as possible and immediately advise the region where the incident took place, the Transport Canada Marketing and Communications Group, Civil Aviation management and external partners such as the TSB. CACO would then monitor the situation and provide updates as required. Incidents that are more complex require a large, coordinated response by Headquarters and the region(s) and may necessitate the activation of the main TCSC in Ottawa and those in each affected region. Upon triggering an activation, CACO would assume the role of Director of the TCSC, coordinate the gathering of information and brief senior management. Using the TCSC allows CACO to focus on the response to an event and coordinate with stakeholders, while permitting normal daily operations to continue in the Aviation Operations Centre. Examples of previous activations by CACO include: September 11, 2001, the SwissAir 111 crash at Peggy’s Cove, the Air France 358 crash at Toronto Pearson, the Y2K (Year 2000) transition, the 2010 Icelandic volcanic eruption, and H1N1 Influenza. CACO was activated to assist in the recovery of airliners affected by the events of September 11, 2001. This photo shows Halifax Airport around 3:30 pm on 9/11. In order to respond to incidents efficiently and effectively, plans and procedures must be developed in advance, they need to be validated through exercises and maintained. In fact, the Emergency Management Act requires the Minister of Transport to do exactly this for risks identified within or related to his area of responsibility. Within TCCA, CACO has been delegated the responsibility of developing, maintaining and implementing contingency plans for use by personnel at Headquarters and in the regions. CACO also provides input, from a Civil Aviation perspective, regarding other departments’ plans and participates in multi-modal, multi-departmental and international exercises that help confirm plans, procedures, communication and cooperation between stakeholders. All this contributes to CACO’s state of readiness and enables it to respond to accidents, incidents and other major events that occur within Canada or affect Canadian interests. Additionally, CACO partners with TC Intelligence in order to maintain current situational awareness on threats to aviation safety and security. It has state of the art facilities and equipment that enable secure communications with other government departments, agencies and/or stakeholders, and the ability to monitor and track aircraft. In dealing with potential aviation threats, or to prepare for major events such as the Vancouver 2010 Olympics or the G8/G20 Summits, CACO routinely exercises scenarios with the Department of National Defence, RCMP, TC Aviation Security, NAV CANADA, Canadian North America Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Homeland Security and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. To carry out the many and varied duties, the staff of CACO undergo extensive, structured, on-the-job training in addition to TC mandatory courses. CACO staff have been delegated a Ministerial Authority which, in part, allows them to restrict airspace, divert or detain aircraft or to authorize a person to give an interception signal or an instruction to land, if such authorization is in the public interest and is not likely to affect aviation safety. That’s CACO in a nutshell; however, did you know that CACO also: Provides support to NASA shuttle launches and the 5 Canadian East Coast emergency landing sites? Coordinates the authorization of over-flight and technical landing permits for foreign air operators after hours? Distributes Emergency Airworthiness Directives after hours? Coordinates activities related to space launches or space junk re-entry? Represents Canada on the NATO Civil Aviation Planning Committee and provides guidance and input to the NATO Transportation Group – Aviation working groups? Provides Technical Advisors to the ICAO Cooperative Arrangement for the Prevention of the Spread of Communicable Disease Through Air Travel (CAPSCA) Program? Acts as the emergency point of contact for Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada aircraft? Acts as emergency point of contact should Civil Aviation Inspectors become incapacitated while travelling on government business? Contributes to the government-wide coordination of activities for VIP visits such as Queen Elizabeth, or President Obama? In undertaking all of the above, CACO is doing its bit to contribute to an Aviation Safety Program in which the public can have a high level of confidence and to the continued improvement of aviation safety in Canada. More information on CACO is available on the following Web site: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/nationalops-caco-menu.htm . St. Clair McColl: 2011 Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award Recipient St. Clair McColl of Salt Spring Island, B.C., has become the twenty-third recipient of the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award. Brian Jean, then Parliament Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Community, presented the award to Mr. McColl on February 23, 2011, during a reception to celebrate the third annual National Aviation Day. "I would like to congratulate Mr. McColl for his tremendous contribution to aviation safety and for being such an excellent role model to other aviation professionals and those considering a future career in this field." said Mr. Jean while presenting Mr. McColl with the award. Mr. Brian Jean (left) presenting the award to Mr. St. Clair McColl on February 23, 2011. The selection committee unanimously selected Mr. McColl as this year's winner for his commitment to excellence in aviation safety in Canada. The founder of Saltspring Air, Mr. McColl has been a pilot and an air operator owner on the British Columbia coast for over 30 years, offering safe transportation to thousands of passengers to a wide variety of locations under all conditions imaginable. In his earlier years, St. Clair realized the need for safety and the constant vigilance required to mitigate one's exposure to hazards. He felt a compelling drive to keep the safety of his flight foremost in his operations. It should come as no surprise that he insists that all his pilots be trained in Underwater Egress and that he constantly upgrades his training programs to ensure his flight crew not only meets the standards, but also exceeds them. McColl has acquired a team of dedicated partners and employees who embrace his mantra: "If it's not safe, we aren't flying. If it's not fun, we are not interested." In the fall of 2009, a tragic accident involving another operator prompted McColl's to become the first operator in North America to outfit his entire fleet of de Havilland Beaver floatplanes with emergency push out windows, which provide an alternate exit to the main cabin doors in case of an emergency. When asked about this decision, McColl replied, "It just made common sense. If I need to be the first to install these windows in order to get the rest of industry on board then so be it." This process involved expense and down time for each aircraft, but that did not deter him from making safety his top priority. As someone who demonstrates industry leadership and who prides himself on his company's safety record, it should come as no surprise that Mr. McColl was recently elected vice-president of the newly formed Floatplane Operators Association. More recently, St. Clair developed his own "Pre-Boarding Safety Video", which he hopes the rest of the industry will use to adopt their own. Those who know McColl know him not only as a leader, but also as a hero. During what began as a routine flight, St. Clair rescued a father and son from the frigid waters of the Strait of Georgia after a sharp-eyed passenger noticed a capsized boat and notified McColl. Despite choppy seas, McColl successfully landed the de Havilland Beaver and, using a rope he was able to pull them close enough to his aircraft so they could jump aboard. In 2007, the Lifesaving Society of British Columbia honoured McColl and his two passengers for the rescue. A leader and a hero, St. Clair is undoubtedly worthy of this award and the excellent reputation he enjoys in the industry is well deserved. To quote St. Clair: "The pursuit and dream of flying is constantly kept alive and supported by ALL of us. Therefore before we entertain our dreams, we must first attend to our primary goal: the safety of flight." To date, St. Clair has not rested. He spends countless hours at work, as his wife and three sons can attest to. He continues to passionately pursue his dream of "running his own airline." The Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award recognizes persons, groups, companies, organizations, agencies or departments that have contributed, in an exceptional way, to aviation safety in Canada. Visit Aviation Safety Award to learn more about this prestigious award or to find out how to submit a nomination. In 2009, February 23 was designated as National Aviation Day in Canada. This occasion highlights the federal government's role in the safety and security of all Canadians and celebrates the successes of the aviation industry in Canada. The Canada Aviation and Space Museum hosted a career day for students. Transport Canada joined industry and education leaders to showcase the many aviation career opportunities. "This day is about inspiring our youth to pursue rewarding careers in aviation and highlighting the progress we've made toward safe, efficient and sustainable aviation in Canada," said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, then Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "The men and women in the Canadian aviation sector keep Canadian skies safe for travellers, giving us a safety record that is the envy of the world."  Snowbirds' Canadair CT-114 Tutor On February 23, 2011, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum unveiled the Snowbirds’ Canadair CT-114 Tutor to celebrate the official inauguration of their new wing. In the glassed-in entrance of the museum, the Tutor dangles upside down from the exposed trusses of the ceiling—a suitable way to showcase an aircraft that’s renowned worldwide for its skyward acrobatics. Ballistic Recovery Systems: What First Responders Need to Know This article is based on Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) Final Report A10O0101, and on Aerodrome Safety Circular ASC 2006-28, Ballistic Recovery Systems Info For First Responders. On May 25, 2010, a Cirrus SR20 aircraft departed from the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport on a flight to the Burlington Airpark in Ontario. Shortly after takeoff from Runway 15, the pilot reported a problem and initiated a left turn to return to the airport. It is estimated that the aircraft did not reach an altitude of more than 500 ft above ground level (AGL). The aircraft’s bank angle increased and its nose dropped suddenly. The aircraft entered a spin and crashed on the roof of a nearby building. A post-crash fire broke out shortly after impact and consumed most of the aircraft. The two occupants were fatally injured. Fire and emergency services arrived within 10 minutes. As a result of the accident investigation, the TSB determined that the number 3 cylinder head failed due to fatigue and separated from the cylinder during takeoff, resulting in reduced power from the engine. This article focuses on the risk posed by an undeployed airframe-mounted ballistic emergency parachute system in aircraft wreckage. The Cirrus SR20 aircraft is equipped with an airframe-mounted emergency parachute system, which had not been deployed in this occurrence. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) is designed to lower the aircraft and its passengers to the ground in the event of a life-threatening emergency. Approximately 15 minutes after impact, there was an explosion as the rocket from the CAPS ignited from the heat of the fire. Still partially tethered to the airframe by stainless steel cables, the rocket ricocheted across the roof before breaking free of the cables and landing in the street approximately 165 ft from the crash site. Picture of the accident scene when the ballistic parachute system deployed from within the aircraft wreckage. In its final report, the TSB made the following finding: “The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System activated post impact as a result of the post-crash fire and the rocket projectile landed in the street. Unless first responders are aware that some aircraft may be equipped with ballistic projectiles, and are trained in how best to deal with them, they will be placed at risk if there is ignition.” Back in 2006, Transport Canada (TC) published Aerodrome Safety Circular ASC 2006-028 on this issue. In the interest of making this information better known, we are reprinting the information found in ASC 2006-028 below, as well as some current links. This advisory circular can also be found on the Transport Canada Web site at: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/nationalops-audinspmon-program-safetycirculars-2006028-871.htm . The following is based on Aerodrome Safety Circular (ASC) 2006-028. (Note: links have been updated and may change over time.) Subject Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) safety information on rocket-deployed aircraft emergency parachute systems. Purpose This circular is to provide information for the ARFF to respond safely to incidents or accidents involving aircraft equipped with rocket-deployed aircraft recovery parachutes. Background Following the crash of a small aircraft equipped with a rocket-deployed recovery parachute that had not been deployed, the emergency responders reported that some of the existing warning labels did not provide sufficient information on safety precautions for handling such systems when responding to an emergency. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a safety recommendation to provide emergency responders with training and information on such systems. Application To this date, only a small number of these systems are in use in Canada. However, as the use of these systems received significant interest in the U.S., their use in Canada is expected to grow. It is important for airport operators to obtain and disseminate information regarding rocket-deployed emergency parachutes to the on-site and off-site responding agencies to allow them to introduce pertinent information in their site-specific ARFF training and emergency response plan procedures. The following Web sites include information that is currently available on rocket-deployed parachute systems: www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/first_responders/media/mod4/mod4.htm Summary Awareness and training information should be provided to emergency responders. They must first identify the presence of an un-deployed emergency rocket-deployed parachute system and then de-activate it to render it harmless. The information and pictures provided in the document published by the manufacturer, Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS), entitled BRS Ballistic Parachutes: Information for Emergency Personnel, available at the BRS Web site , should be used as reference for the development of response procedures to maximize the safety of emergency responders. For additional information, please contact the Aerodromes and Air Navigation Services Division, Standards Branch, at 613 990-2201, or by e-mail at services@tc.gc.ca . Aerodromes and Air Navigation Circulars are available electronically at: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/nationalops-audinspmon-program-safetycirculars-menu-273.htm .  FLIGHT OPERATIONS Webster Memorial Trophy Competition Develops Safer Pilots Mid-Air Collisions—CASA's Prevention Campaign by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia. The following article on mid-air collision prevention was published in the July-August 2009 Issue of Flight Safety Australia, and is reprinted with permission. In the 35 years leading up to 2003, there was an average of one mid-air collision per year. However, since December 2007 there have been seven mid-air collisions, resulting in nine fatalities. This is a concerning increase. The majority of mid-air collisions occurred in the circuit area. Additionally, there have been a number of 'near misses' at busy aerodromes. Detailed are some key safety factors and practical recommendations to assist pilots in avoiding mid-air collisions. This list is not exhaustive, nor are these recommendations the only factors a pilot should consider. Example of a near-miss in the circuit: always know what is going on around you. Situational awareness Maintaining situational awareness can save your life know what is going on around you; predict what could happen. High cockpit workload is a significant factor in a pilot losing situational awareness. High traffic density, radio congestion, instructional flights and inexperience can increase cockpit workload. Make sure you: prepare and plan your flight; prioritize your tasks and remain alert; listen for other radio calls to identify other aircraft positions; consider re-scheduling if traffic density or radio congestion increase to an uncomfortable level. You need heightened situational awareness during diverse and complex circuit operations at busy aerodromes. Infringement of opposite circuit flight paths during contra circuit operations 1 and management of different aircraft speeds and performance in the circuit are especially important factors. To minimize these risks, you should: remain clear of the opposite circuit, don't drift after takeoff and don't overshoot turning onto finals; maintain an active lookout for traffic in the other circuit; familiarize yourself with the speed and performance of other aircraft. Lookout The first and last line of defence An effective lookout is essential—always assume that you are not alone. 'See and avoid' principles are commonly used, but have limitations. 'Alerted see and avoid' can be more effective, but is not always possible. Most mid-air collisions occur when one aircraft collides with another from behind, or both aircraft converge from a similar direction. You should: maintain an effective lookout in all directions, including behind; not become complacent, even if you are familiar with an aerodrome; increase vigilance in high-risk areas, including inbound reporting points and in the circuit area; ensure you sight any preceding aircraft before turning finals, otherwise consider going around; be aware of, and manage blind spots as part of your lookout technique; use strobes, beacons and landing lights to increase aircraft visibility; turn your transponder on, code 1200, ALT mode. Radio procedures Talk is not cheap Aviate, navigate and communicate—they're your priority. Effective communication assists situational awareness. Incident reports show pilots sometimes do not follow or understand instructions given by air traffic control (ATC). When ATC gives you an instruction, you should: acknowledge ATC in a timely manner; think about what is required and then action the instruction; tell ATC if you do not think you can comply with an instruction; advise ATC if you do not understand an instruction; not be afraid to ask ATC for assistance 2 . When an aircraft is equipped with dual radios, incorrect selection of frequencies or transmission mode may create communication difficulties. To avoid these: always confirm that the frequency, transmit selector and volume control are set for the radio in use; ensure you have received and understood the ATIS well before the approach point. Pilots can become confused when they receive an unexpected instruction from ATC, or are unable to make a planned radio call. To avoid confusion: have an alternative plan if you are unable to make your inbound call to ATC due to frequency congestion; monitor radio communications, and do not transmit during ATC instruction and responses with other aircraft; make radio calls brief, clear, to the point and use standard phraseology. Often pilots do not have a contingency plan for frequency congestion. Common congestion problems occur at approach points and on final approach. Remember: if the frequency is congested, have a 'plan B'; consider specific risks at your location; consider re-scheduling if traffic density or radio congestion increase to an uncomfortable level. The publication of this CASA article was planned before the February 9, 2011 mid-air collision between two Cessna 150 aircraft flying formation in British Columbia. We will report on that collision in a future issue of the ASL, but in the meantime, we are republishing the following article from Issue 4/1996 of the Aviation Safety Vortex on some of the hidden hazards of formation flying. Since we tend to repeat accidents, it makes sense to repeat the lessons learned. —Ed.   1 “Contra circuit operations” (or contra-rotating circuit patterns) is a terminology used in Australia. In cases where two or more parallel runways are in operation concurrently, the aircraft operating on the outermost runways are required to perform their patterns in a direction which will not conflict with the other runways. Thus, one runway may be operating with a left-hand pattern direction, and the other one will be operating with a right-hand pattern direction. This allows aircraft to maintain maximum separation during their patterns, however it is important that the aircraft do not stray past the centreline of the runway when joining the final leg, so as to avoid potential collisions. 2 Over the years we received a lot of mail from pilots who are intimidated by ATC, for having been scolded on the air due to a variety of honest mistakes, resulting in a fear of controllers. Pilots must get over this and not be afraid to call, question, ask for repeats, etc. Similarly, controllers must be patient and understanding of pilots who do request or require assistance. —Ed. Hey, Let's Do The Next Leg Together! Article previously published in Aviation Safety Vortex issue 4/1996. It is republished in ASL 3/2011 for the enduring lessons it conveys. Beware of this phrase! For many reasons, even the simplest of “same way same day” flights can go wrong. Uncertain decision-making, poor formation skills and discipline, and lack of communications between aircraft, are just a few. The military recognizes that formation flying can be hazardous; they authorize it only when necessary, and then, only after the pilots meet stringent requirements. In the civilian world, formation flying is at least as hazardous and probably more so (most commercial pilots aren’t trained to fly formation), and it’s totally unnecessary. Despite this, we have seen, since 1993 1 , four formation or “same way same day” related helicopter accidents, two of them resulting in six deaths. MD 500D involved in mid-air with a second MD 500 near Yellowknife, N.W.T. The Transport Canada definition of “formation flight” is: “More than one aircraft which, by prior arrangement between the pilots, normally operate as a single aircraft with regard to navigation and position reporting.” The Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM) Section RAC 12.13 2 adds: “Formation flight is considered to be more than one aircraft which, by prior arrangement between each of the pilots involved within the formation, operates as a single aircraft with regard to navigation and ATC procedures. Separation between aircraft within the formation is the responsibility of the flight leader and the pilots of the other aircraft within the formation. This includes transition periods when aircraft within the formation are manoeuvring to attain separation from each other to effect individual control, and during join-up and breakaway.” You might think you aren’t in formation if you aren’t welded to lead like a Snowbird (Canadian military formation demonstration team). However, if you’re on the same flight plan and are flying within 1 mi. and 100 ft of the lead’s altitude, you are. ATC considers any formation to be 1 NM wide, 1 mi. long, and 100 ft thick, and they protect airspace accordingly for CVFR and VFR flights. Question: If you can be a mile away and still be in “formation”, why is this “formation” flying considered hazardous? Answer: Because you surrender some of your decision-making ability. Consider the following: Two helicopters are being ferried cross-country. You toss a coin to choose lead and “win” the toss. You turn your brain off and have another coffee while lead files the flight plan. The first legs are uneventful, lead is half a mile ahead and there are good tunes on the ADF. Midway through the third leg, the weather starts to close in. You move up a little to keep lead in sight. The visibility drops gradually and you tuck it in. Better turn off that darned music! You’re now concentrating on lead. You can’t get too close, but can’t afford to lose him in the goo. He must be thinking about turning around because you sure are! But you’re not sure just how you would do it. He better not turn into you. You’re thinking you should land but there are no suitable spots and right now, your only “situational awareness” is that you don’t like this situation one bit. You don’t know where you are, you don’t know where to go, or even where the maps are. You’d better hang on to lead. It’s odd that he hasn’t called lately, but he does have his hands full. Suddenly, a wire flashes by the chin bubble. Lead flares, you haul back on the cyclic and it’s too late. Does this all sound far-fetched? After all, it’s just a bit of fiction, isn’t it? You would never follow someone into adverse conditions, would you? Consider the following: “The wreckage trail is consistent with a mid-air collision of two helicopters flying in formation. This is also compatible with eyewitness reports of the helicopters flying in formation on their route of flight earlier that afternoon. It could not be determined why the pilots involved in this occurrence elected to fly in formation. There were no apparent operational or technical reasons to do so. The specific cause of the collision could not be determined. In light of the rain and isolated thunderstorms reported in the Edmundston area during the afternoon of the occurrence, it is possible that the aircraft entered localized adverse weather conditions. The limited burn damage to the vegetation surrounding the wreckage, despite the presence of an obviously intense fire, is also consistent with moderate to heavy rain occurring at the time, which would have confined the spread of the fire. This rain would have degraded the pilots’ visibility and possibly contributed to the collision.” TSB Report A93Q0157 “A Bell 206B helicopter was the second in a flight of six helicopters transporting passengers out to the ice-covered Gulf of St. Lawrence to observe seals. Approximately 40 minutes into the flight, the helicopter entered a whiteout condition and the pilot lost all visual reference. The pilot reduced speed and started a slow descent but was unable to pick out any visual cues. Just prior to the Bell 206B striking the ice, the pilot of the third helicopter advised the pilot of the Bell 206B to pull up. The pilot then pulled full up collective pitch but was unable to stop the descent in time to prevent the impact with the ice. The impact tore off the floats and the helicopter spun around coming to rest in an upright attitude facing 180 degrees to the direction of flight. The occupants were picked up by the other helicopters and transported to Charlottetown.” TSB Report A93A0060 Six helicopters, full of passengers, nearly rolled it up on the sea-ice in whiteout conditions. Did the five wingmen surrender their free will and become so lemming-like they were willing to follow lead anywhere? Hardly. It can be a difficult decision to abandon a pre-planned flight route, even when you have been able to carefully assess all of the factors and have good “situational awareness”. However, it’s even tougher to let go of lead and strike out on a new track when you don’t know which way is up. If you’re following someone, you’re not in a leadership position. Decisions become more difficult. Not because you are suddenly a less capable pilot, but because you are not in a decision-making role. You aren’t collecting the information you need to make decisions. True, there’s safety in numbers, and it’s nice to know your pal is just a radio call away, but don’t surrender your decision-making ability. File your own flight plan. Fly your own trip. Paul Traversy, Ottawa Except for aerial photography or other like activities, including authorized air show performances, there is no reason for civil aircraft to fly formation. When helicopters fly in formation, the lead pilot assumes responsibility for a number of flight decisions, including navigation and communication. The trail pilot must concentrate on maintaining position, at the exclusion of normal decision-making. When the weather turns sour, stress levels rise. Both pilots suffer heightened anxiety: the lead pilot in developing and modifying a game plan for two, and the trail pilot attempting to keep the lead in sight. Any bad decision by the lead has more than twice the normal potential for an accident due to the proximity and dependency of the second aircraft. Rob Freeman, Ottawa   1 As of the date of the original article (1996). 2 The original article referred to Aeronautical Information Publication (A.I.P.), Rules of The Air and Air Traffic Services (RAC)12.8 COPA Corner: Night Flying Primer The following article was published in the December 2010 issue of COPA Flight under the “Pilot’s Primer” column, and is reprinted with permission. Night flight can be a whole lot of fun, especially on a clear moon-lit night, but night flight also presents additional hazards to the pilot over that of daytime flying. These hazards mostly pertain to the reduced environmental cueing in darkness; cues that are heavily relied on by VFR pilots during daylight hours. This month I’ll go over night flying in terms of the pilot and the aircraft equipment. Psychologically, nighttime flying doesn’t usually present new problems for the pilot to deal with. However, physiologically speaking, the pilot will experience a few changes that can significantly impact flight safety. Without a doubt, these changes all revolve around the eyes. Nighttime flying presents new challenges for the eyes in several ways: 1) the eye is less adept (less visual acuity) at seeing objects at a distance, 2) the best area for viewing is no longer straight ahead (foveal view), 3) adapting to dark conditions takes time, and 4) there are several new illusions at night that can disorient the pilot. Awareness of these limitations is the first step to improving nighttime vision capability. Vision is made possible by the light and colour receptors located on the retina at the back of the eye. Located more centrally near the optic nerve are the cones. The cones' primary job is colour detection, but they also facilitate seeing distant objects and can focus to sharp detail. The rods are located mainly in the periphery of the optic nerve, in a band around the cones and are most useful for locating peripheral movement. Fine detail and colour are not detected by the rods, so only shades of gray are seen. As a result of the characteristics of the rods and cones, a lack of normal light means that the rods are almost entirely responsible for visual identification of objects. But this presents a problem since the centre of viewing, right behind the pupil, does not support nighttime viewing, when the rods are doing most of the work. Most people grow up being unaware that their eyes are not well designed to see straight ahead in dark or poorly lit environments. In fact, most people probably never figure out that nighttime vision can be measurably enhanced by using slightly off-centred viewing. While an object can be best seen during the daytime by looking straight-ahead at it, at nighttime, it is best seen by moving the head slightly away from the object so that the image falls off-centre in the back of the eye (hence making better use of the rods). Ignoring for a moment that everyone has a anatomical blind spot due to the location of the optical nerve precluding the existence of rods and cones at that location of the retina (rarely a problem due to there being two eyes), it is entirely possible to not see an object directly ahead if it is dark. A slight shift of the head while keeping the eyes focused to the original area of interest will then allow the object to be seen. Clearly, off-centred viewing is an important practice to keep in mind for effective night time viewing. Although the rods are much more capable of facilitating vision in dark conditions, they do not adjust to the lack of light as fast as the cones. The cones will adjust to dim lighting in five to 10 minutes and be about 100 times more sensitive to light than prior to experiencing dark condition. The rods on the other hand take up to 30 minutes to fully adapt to the dark, but the end result is sensitivity 100,000 times better than in lit conditions. This process of adaptation can be experienced by walking into a dark room and sitting down; initially, very little if anything will be visible in the room around you. Within about 10 minutes a noticeable improvement in acuity will have occurred. Continue to sit for another 20 minutes and you’ll generally be able to see shapes and objects well enough to navigate around them. Once the eyes adjust, the process can be quickly reversed by entering a well-lit area. Re-entering a dark environment will then cause the adaptation process to start all over again. The nature of this process, and its reversal, requires the pilot to be careful about exposure to bright lights once the dark adaptation has begun. Temporary blindness is possible if exposed to a short burst of bright light (such as accidentally staring into a flashlight). While the eyes are recovering from a flash of light, visual illusions may occur, further exacerbating the recovery. Recognizing that illusions may occur is the only way to combat this potentially dangerous phenomenon. If you think you might be exposed to a bright light during night flight, sometimes closing one eye will help. This way, you still have one eye adapted while the other is recovering. There are several common nighttime illusions that pilots might experience. One such illusion is referred to as the autokinesis effect. If a pilot stares too long at a light (such as a lit object on the horizon) it will appear to move. The apparent movement might then distract the pilot and lead to spatial disorientation. Likewise, even distant stationary lights can be confused with stars or other aircraft when seen on a clear night. Darker, lower visibility nights eliminate the horizon from view. As a result of these problems, reliance on the instruments for attitude orientation is often required. One very dangerous illusion is referred to as the black-hole approach. This type of approach occurs when approaching a well-lit airport from non-lighted terrain. With the runway as the primary source of visual cues, disorientation is common. Typically, the pilot will perceive their glide path to be too high and adjust to a lower than safe glide path and impact terrain or land short of the runway. Clearly, electronic or visual approach slope indications need to be followed when approaching a runway under these conditions. An additional problem, regardless of the terrain lighting on approach, is that bright airport or runway lighting will make the runway appear closer than it actually is. The obvious ramification of this is that the pilot might let down too early. Again, rely on the electronic or visual approach slope indicators. In the absence of those devices, preplan your approach profile by noting 1) the airport touchdown zone elevation, 2) terrain clearance information, and 3) how far out a standard decent should be started to arrive at the runway safely. If possible, at controlled airports, ask the controller to turn down the runway lights to the lowest step that still allows you to adequately see the dimensions of the runway. One last illusion is called the moth effect. This effect is exactly what it sounds like: flying towards light! Since runway edge lighting is the key visual cue for runway alignment, more attention is given to the lights than where the centreline should be (unless the centreline is lit as well). Under these conditions the pilot will have the tendency to drift off centreline towards the lights. Extra care should be taken to assure that the airplane evenly bisects the edge lights on the runway (i.e. on centreline!), and the best way to accomplish this is by looking farther down field during landing and takeoff (You can try this in your car on a road with no traffic; try to stay in the middle of your lane by looking just over the hood at the roadside edge line. I’ll bet you have a hard time keeping the car centred! Now if you drive while looking farther ahead toward the centre of your lane, you’ll be better able to keep the car centred). Beyond the limitations of the human eye, the aircraft can present additional nighttime challenges if not properly equipped. Aircraft lighting is probably the most important equipment to consider. If you’ve ever tried landing without a landing light at night, you know how tricky it can be. In airplanes that have both a taxi light and a landing light, I’ll try to use only the taxi light until I absolutely need the landing light for takeoff and landing. This preserves the landing light for when it is needed most. But in a pinch, most taxi lights can double for a landing light should it burn out unexpectedly. Although the landing light may not be specifically required for certain flights (as is the case in the United States) it also provides the benefit of adding visibility of your aircraft to others who might need to see and avoid. Likewise, operating position lights is a must when it’s dark. Since most position lights are difficult to see from the cockpit, a lights-on walk-around is necessary prior to night flight. Finally, some sort of anti-collision light is also a must. Either strobes or a rotating beacon, depending on how your aircraft was originally certified, can suffice for anti-collision. My family’s aircraft had both for added safety! In addition to aircraft lighting, consider the regulatory requirements that may exist for your aircraft and/or your type of mission. For instance, in some cases, spare fuses (for older aircraft) may be required. The pilot should also have two hand-held light sources available. A D-cell white-light flashlight for the preflight inspection and a red-light flashlight for cockpit use are recommended. Be sure to always check battery condition prior to intended use! And remember that red markings on charts will not show up well under red lighting so you may want a small white- or blue-light flashlight with an adjustable aperture so you can limit the amount of light and reduce the risk of destroying your night vision. Finally, consider using supplemental oxygen (if equipped) for night flights above 5 000 MSL. Studies have shown that there is a significant reduction in visual capability above this altitude at night, and since the cones are already down for the count, you can’t really afford any additional vision losses. And since the eyes are extremely sensitive to reductions in oxygen, consider that anything that reduces the availability or transportation of oxygen will have an equally deleterious effect on night vision. Included in the list of ways to reduce oxygen to the eyes are smoking, drinking, and certain drug use. Pilots don’t drink and fly, so we can safely rule out that as a troublemaker (I hope!), but smoking can easily raise the physiological altitude of the pilot several thousand feet. Drug use, prescription and non-prescription alike, can also limit or inhibit oxygen transportation to the eyes. A little research online will generally yield good information on side-effect and adverse reactions to common drugs, but please consult your aeromedical doctor prior to flying with any new drugs. Avoiding the problems of nighttime illusions is mainly accomplished by being aware of their existence, and the limitations of sight in dark conditions. Having the right aircraft lighting equipment and personal lighting equipment is also a must. This month’s Pilot Primer is written by Donald Anders Talleur, an Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at the University of Illinois, Institute of Aviation. He holds a joint appointment with the Professional Pilot Division and Human Factors Division. He has been flying since 1984 and in addition to flight instructing since 1990, he has worked on numerous research contracts for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Air Force, the Navy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the U.S. Army. He has authored or co-authored over 200 aviation-related papers and articles and has an M.S. in Engineering Psychology, specializing in Aviation Human Factors. Risk Profile of Floatplane Operations by Jim McMenemy, Manager, Safety Intelligence, Regulatory Branch, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada You can read, download or order the above brochure titled TP 12365 Seaplanes/Floatplanes - A Passenger's Guide by visiting Floatplanes After a fatal accident in the Pacific Region in late 2009, the Aviation Safety Analysis Division examined the risk profile of floatplane operations. The last comprehensive look at floatplane safety was the Transportation Safety Board Safety Study, A Safety Study of Survivability in Seaplane Accidents, published in 1994. That study analyzed over 1 400 floatplane accidents that occurred between 1976 and 1990. There were 103 fatal accidents on the water, accounting for 168 fatalities. Transport Canada's (TC) safety analysts examined the seaplane accidents during the twenty-year period from 1990 to the end of 2009 to determine what had changed, to confirm the hazards, and to understand the dynamics by which those hazards manifest as risk. Using the Transportation Safety Board's Aviation Safety Information System (ASIS) database, we found 134 accidents on water accounting for 72 confirmed fatalities and five missing persons. The accident rate appears to be declining, but examination of investigation reports indicates that the survival issues remain unchanged. In this edition, the ASL hopes to shed some light on the survival issues and give some advice on how to protect yourself in case of an accident. An accident on the water presents survival challenges above and beyond accidents on land. Most of those who perished in floatplane accidents survived the impact, but drowned inside the aircraft. Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) analysts concluded that the major survival issues in floatplane accidents are: egress, use of the shoulder restraint by front seat occupants and use of personal floatation devices. As an aircraft settles after a water crash, the pressure of the water on the exterior surfaces can make it impossible to open doors or exits. The shock from sudden immersion in cold water can be incapacitating and make it impossible to hold your breath. The situation is further complicated in over half of the floatplane accidents because the aircraft ends up inverted in the water. To help people get out, knockout windows and new door handles have been designed and certified for the de Havilland Beaver and some operators have adopted them. In situations when passengers did get out, investigation reports often cited that pilots helping passengers is the main factor in successful egress and survival. However, a significant number of reports indicated that pilots and front seat passengers who were not using available shoulder restraints were incapacitated on impact. Not only were they unable to assist passengers, it is very likely that they blocked the way out for others. The most important thing to think about in the event of an accident is getting out of the aircraft. Start thinking about that before you take your seat. Take a look around. If you are a passenger, listen to the pre-flight briefing. Ask questions if you are uncertain about anything.What are the ways out? Windows may not be marked as exits, but sometimes they are the only way out. Often people focus on the door they entered when they would be better off using another route. What if the aircraft is upside down? How will you find your way out? If you are the pilot, do a thorough job. Make sure your passengers understand what you tell them. This is probably the only chance you will have to prepare yourself. If you are in the front seat, wear the shoulder restraint. It can protect you from being incapacitated and might allow you and others to escape. This is probably the easiest and most cost-effective enhancement to seaplane safety available. The shoulder belts are there but do not do any good unless you use them. You should know where your personal floatation device (PFD) is located. Make sure it is within reach. Know how to put it on and how to inflate it. The investigation reports consistently showed that donning a PFD in the water is very difficult. Regulations do not require the wearing of a PFD in flight. Operator practices vary. If you do wear a PFD, never inflate it inside the aircraft. Accident prevention is the best way to reduce injury and damage and TC will continue work at prevention in cooperation with the aviation community. Always remember that the floatplane operational environment presents significant risks so crew and passengers alike should be conscious of things that can save their lives if an accident occurs. For more tips on survival, see TC's Seaplane/Floatplane: A passenger's Guide. Many operators have copies for their passengers. Download yours at: Floatplanes . There is also a short video on floatplane safety and survival at: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/video-menu.htm . Webster Memorial Trophy Competition Develops Safer Pilots The John C. Webster Memorial Trophy Competition was established in 1932 by the late Dr. J. C. Webster of Shediac, New Brunswick, who wished to honour the memory of his son, John, who lost his life at St. Hubert, Que., in an aircraft accident, while practising to represent Canada in the Trans-Canada Air Pageant, an aerobatic flying competition. This annual event is intended to declare the "top amateur pilot in Canada", and is open to any Canadian citizen or landed immigrant holding a valid Canadian pilot's licence. To be eligible, applicants must never have received pilot training from the Armed Forces, excluding Air Cadet flight training, or have used their pilot licences for hire or reward within the five years prior to the final competition month, and they must never have been declared a winner of the Webster Trophy. Regional finalists undergo two separate flight tests covering various phases of their pilot navigation skills and flying abilities and a practical written examination and a navigation planning exercise are administered. The winner, runner-up and all finalists receive a large number of prizes (products and/or services) from the competition sponsors as additional incentives to participate. Past experience has shown that pilots enthusiastic to enter this prestigious and rewarding competition have determined that extra attention to detail in their flying abilities is necessary; consequently, most have endeavoured to receive additional flight training in order to develop more precise flying skills. In the past few years, the program has achieved a greater national awareness; its support has grown through involvement from all sectors of the aviation community, thus making it more a more attractive event to participate in. In fact, organizers claim that flight test report marks submitted by applicants have increased significantly with every passing year, indicating that a higher standard of pilots are competing, which results in safer pilots. In 2010, out of all of the competitors who entered, approximately 40% had submitted flight test marks in the high 90s percentile, whereas the lowest received was still an admirable 76%. In addition, flight test reports received were very consistent from one region to the next. This indicates to the Webster Team that training across Canada is at a very high level. The incentive of possibly becoming a national finalist and perhaps acquiring the title of top amateur pilot in Canada definitely encourages competitors to work harder in their training. The results are extremely impressive. Every year, the National Finals take place in a different location in Canada. In 2010, they were held in Calgary, Alta., hosted by the Calgary Flying Club. In 2011, the event is being hosted by Grondair in Saint-Frédéric, Que., from August 17–20. For more information, please visit www.webstertrophy.ca .   Editor's note: In the Repair and Modification of Amateur-built Aircraft article that appeared in Issue 2/2011 of the Aviation Safety Letter, the "General Rule" section that provided definitions of "acceptable data" should have included the following: "drawings and methods found appropriate by a delegate in conformity with paragraph 4.2(o) and subsection 4.3(1) of the Aeronautics Act". MAINTENANCE AND CERTIFICATION Maintenance Schedule Approval: What is it and how do you get one? by Dan Haughton, Civil Aviation Safety Inspector, Operational Airworthiness, Standards Branch, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada Introduction Section 605.86 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) requires that all aircraft, other than ultra-light or hang-gliders, be maintained in accordance with a maintenance schedule that is approved by the Minister and that meets the requirements of Standard 625—Aircraft Equipment and Maintenance Standard. Standard 625.86 and Standard 625 Appendices B, C and D contain the specific requirements pertaining to the differing aircraft types and operations. Standard 625 Appendix B contains a useful and convenient chart that summarizes the requirements for the various aircraft types and operations. There are essentially two types of maintenance schedules established by CAR 605.86. The first type, authorized by paragraph 605.86(1)(a) of the CARs, is considered to be “pre-approved” by the Minister and may be used without the need to submit any further documentation. The second type of maintenance schedule requires review by, and approval from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) under subsection 605.86(2) of the CARs. This article will focus more on the second type. The process for developing this type of maintenance schedule and obtaining a Maintenance Schedule Approval (MSA) from TCCA will also be described. Pre-Approved Schedules Owners of small non-commercial aircraft and balloons (excluding pressurized turbine-powered aircraft) may choose to use the maintenance inspection schedule described in Standard 625 Appendix B, Part I or II, as applicable. The aircraft must undergo a complete inspection, as described by Appendix B, every 12 calendar months and the owner must also comply with Appendix C with respect to the out of phase tasks and equipment maintenance requirements. The aircraft owner is required by CAR 605.94(1) to make an entry in the technical record stating that the aircraft is maintained pursuant to the requirements in Appendix B, Part I or II. Schedules that require Transport Canada Approval All other aircraft operators require an MSA, approved by the Minister under subsection 625.86(2) of the CARs. Depending on the aircraft type and operation, operators may chose to use either Appendices B and C or Appendices C and D of Standard 625 to develop their respective schedules. The Appendix C items are out of phase tasks and equipment maintenance tasks, while Appendices B and D pertain to scheduled inspection tasks. The proposed maintenance schedule must contain the instructions and procedures for the performance of maintenance on the particular make and model of aircraft in the form of a checklist. The checklist will contain the items to be maintained, the nature or type of inspection or maintenance task to be performed, the proposed interval for the task and any tolerances applicable to the task. Developing a maintenance schedule When developing the aircraft maintenance schedule, the operator must consider all tasks from the manufacturer’s recommendations and include any additional items necessary to ensure compliance with airworthiness limitations, such as component life limits, etc. The schedule must also take into account the aircraft’s operational environment. For example, aircraft engaged in agricultural operations may require additional engine, landing gear and corrosion inspection tasks or increased task intervals. In addition, specific operational requirements, such as those for Instrument Flight Rules, Extended Range Operations, Category II & III approach minima, etc., may necessitate additional equipment maintenance requirements. The applicant must review and evaluate any type certificate holder’s recommendations and all maintenance requirements resulting from any modifications or repairs. This includes the recommendations issued by the type certificate holder (airframe, engine, or propeller), in the form of Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA), Service Bulletins, and Service Letters, etc. The applicant must also consider any additional maintenance task recommendations issued by the holders of type design change approval documents, such as Supplementary Type Certificates (STC), Repair Design Approvals (RDA), etc. The development of the maintenance schedule must be based on a Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR), where one exists. Only when no MRBR exists for the aircraft can the owner base the development of the aircraft’ s maintenance schedule on an alternative basis, such as the aircraft manufacturer’s recommendations or on another Canadian operator’s approved program, provided there are significant similarities between the types of operations. It may also be approved based on other data, such as schedules approved by other airworthiness authorities. When the owner or operator wishes to base the maintenance schedule on data other than the aircraft manufacturer’s recommendations, the onus is on the owner to satisfy the Minister that the proposed basis is more appropriate for its particular operation. Transport Canada (TC) has published TP 13094E as guidance material in order to assist owners and operators to develop maintenance schedules and it is available at no cost on the TC Web site at: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/menu.htm . The Application Procedure The applicant submits the appropriate completed application form to their Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) or to the local TC Centre (TCC), along with the fee prescribed by CAR 104 Schedule IV. Form 24-0055A is applicable to small aircraft and Form 24-0055B is applicable to large aircraft. The forms are available on the TC Web site at the following link. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Corp-Serv-Gen/5/Forms-Formulaires/search.aspx . The forms contain an expanding checklist for adding tasks; however, the data cannot be saved using the on-line form. The applicant would therefore have to re-type the data each time they sought to make revisions to the schedule. For that reason, it may be advisable for the applicant to create their own Table 1 and 3 checklist documents for attachment to the application form, in order to facilitate future amendments. The first part of the form is used to record basic information, such as operator information, aircraft type and model, type of operation, annual utilization and it contains a section reserved for recording the applicant’s signature and another for recording the maintenance schedule revision status. The next section, Table 1, records the details of any required inspections, the schedule interval and any applicable tolerance to the interval. This section also records the details of the aircraft scheduled check cycle and an explanation of how the checks or series of checks are applied and interact with each other. The operator must also complete Table 3, which describes the out of phase tasks and any equipment maintenance requirements. The applicant must review the list of out of phase items required by Standard 625 Appendix C for applicability and include those that are applicable. The applicant must ensure to include all required aircraft and component inspections, component overhaul times, engine and propeller overhaul in Table 3 and any other inspections that are not included in the scheduled inspections in Table 1. In Table 2, the operator must provide a list of reference documents that were used as source documents to develop the maintenance schedule. Finally, in the last section, the applicant must specify if it is a new or experienced operator of the aircraft type and what basis was chosen for the development of the maintenance schedule. Approval and Revisions Upon receipt of a maintenance schedule approval request, TC will perform a review of the application and supporting documentation. The depth of review required for TC approval will depend on the applicant’s individual circumstances and the basis that was used to develop the applicant’s maintenance schedule. TC will also advise the applicant if any additional documents are required and or if a site visit will be necessary. The items that will be considered during the approval process include: the type of operation, environmental factors, the aircraft maintenance history, the age of the aircraft, the experience of the operating personnel, any maintenance schedules for similar aircraft types already in use by the operator, any additional equipment required by regulations, any airworthiness limitations, Supplemental Inspection Documents (SID), Corrosion Prevention Control Programs (CPCP) and any previous repairs to damaged tolerant structures. In addition to the airframe and systems, the schedule must also consider the engines, propellers, appliances, survival equipment, emergency equipment, etc., and must take into account any modifications made to the aircraft. TC must approve the initial maintenance schedule and all subsequent amendments to the schedule. Except where specifically authorized in the operator’s MCM, TC must approve all maintenance schedule amendments that relate to changes in the aircraft’s operational role, for deletion of tasks, increase in task intervals, or any other significant changes. Prior approval is not required, however, for the addition of tasks or reductions of task intervals, the operator must notify TC at the earliest convenient opportunity. Emergency Locator Transmitter Programmable Dongle The following article was prepared by the National Aircraft Certification Branch of Transport Canada Civil Aviation as a result of an Aviation Safety Information letter from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). On November 12, 2009, a privately owned and operated Robinson helicopter R44II took off from a worksite in Baie Trinité with a pilot and two passengers on board on a return flight to Baie Comeau, Qué. At 12:49 Eastern Standard Time (EST), the helicopter collided with one of two ground wires on top of a transmission line over the Franquelin River, 10 NM from Baie Comeau. The helicopter crashed on the riverbank and was destroyed. The pilot did not survive and both passengers were seriously injured. A passerby discovered the wreckage and sought help. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT), manufactured in France by Kannad, model 406 AF-Compact (part number S1840501-01, serial number 2619976-0123), was installed in the helicopter. The ELT was capable of transmitting data on a 406 Mhz carrier frequency and audio on a 121.5 MHz carrier frequency. Upon acquiring the helicopter, the owner ensured the ELT was programmed and registered, as required. The unit was tested and found to be serviceable in January 2009. During the accident investigation, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) tested the helicopter’s ELT in order to verify its serviceability. Although the unit was serviceable and had activated on impact, the ELT unit antenna had been severed.The COSPAS-SARSAT Canadian Mission Control Centre (CMCC) confirmed that no ELT signal had been detected by the satellite following the time of the accident. This likely explained the severed antenna, which rendered the signal weak, and the wreckage or surrounding terrain possibly shielded the localized signal. It was also determined that the occurrence ELT was transmitting on the ‘Test User Protocol’ mode, a country code of 227 (France) and an identification code different from the beacon identification code included in the Canadian Beacon Registry (CBR) database. Upon further investigation, it was found that this ELT was coupled with an out-of-factory programmable dongle containing a default manufacturer’s code. A dongle is a connector plug, which contains a microchip. Refer to Figure 1. Dongles are useful in fleets when a company needs to service an aircraft ELT. When a dongle is installed, it allows the ELT to be easily repaired or replaced without putting the aircraft out of service. Figure 1, ELT & programmable dongle Information specific to an ELT, such as the owner and aircraft, is programmed and stored in the dongle’s non-volatile memory (NVM). When a new or replaced ELT is connected to the dongle, and the ELT is switched from the ‘OFF’ to the ‘ARM’ position, the dongle will automatically reprogram the ELT with the information stored in its NVM, including the ELT’s 15 digits hexadecimal identification code (if the dongle is programmed correctly). Dongle with three wires connector In this particular accident, although the ELT was properly registered, programmed and tested serviceable in January 2009, the dongle had not been reprogrammed with the helicopter’s specific information. Maintenance personnel did not know the dongle was programmable and the avionic shop was not aware that this particular ELT installation included a programmable dongle. Any transmission on the Test User Protocol mode, if received by the COSPAS-SARSAT CMCC may not be treated as though it had been received in the normal mode. Since 406 MHz ELTs are new to the industry altogether, Transport Canada (TC) and the TSB recommend that aircraft operators, owners, maintenance and avionics facilities be aware of the purpose of the programmable dongle and the importance of ensuring that the programmed information is correct. Dongles need to be reprogrammed when the aircraft country of registration changes. TC recommends checking if a dongle is installed and programmed correctly at the next ELT servicing. Elementary Work Entries in the Journey Log by Steve McLeod, Civil Aviation Safety Inspector, Aircraft Maintenance and Manufacturing, Sudbury Transport Canada Centre, Ontario Region, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada During ramp inspections of CAR 703 commercial floatplane operators by Transport Canada inspectors, one issue was prevalent with each aircraft inspected. All the pilots interviewed during the ramp inspection of their aircraft acknowledged that they removed and installed passenger seats, but none of them made the corresponding journey log entry for the work completed. Of the elementary work tasks listed in CAR 625, Appendix A, "the removal and replacement of role equipment designed for rapid removal and replacement", in this case aircraft passenger seats, is one of the most common tasks performed by commercial floatplane operators. Depending on the nature of the flight, the aircraft will either be configured for cargo, passengers or both. Aircraft like the DHC-2 Beaver use seats that have a quick disconnect, allowing them to be removed from the aircraft, while the DHC-3 Otter and the Beech 18 have seats that fold up along the side of the fuselage. Regardless of the aircraft and seat attachment means, the performance of any task designated as elementary work shall be entered in the journey log of the aircraft in accordance with CAR 605.94, Schedule I. This entry is required as soon as it is practical to do so, once the elementary work is performed, before the next flight, at the latest. Seat installation becomes more of an issue when we refer to Airworthiness Directive (AD) CF-85-03R1, applicable to the DHC-3 Otter cabin utility seats. This AD addresses the disengagement of the front leg of the seat from the keyhole slot in the floor, which creates a hazard to the occupants. There is a check of the forward seat leg associated with this AD that ensures the front leg is secure; it is carried out at intervals not to exceed 100 hr time in service and after each time the seats are moved from the stowed position to the deployed position. If, during the check, the seat leg can be released from the keyhole slot, the seat must be removed from service. A pilot briefed on the procedure can carry out this inspection. A modification from the manufacturer, adding a positive lock to the front leg of the seat, provides relief from the check outlined in the AD. However, should the forward lock become unserviceable, the check outlined in the AD must be carried out. In addition to the seat removal and installation, there is a requirement to indicate the correct aircraft configuration for weight and balance purposes. Typically an aircraft is weighed with the seats installed and are therefore included in the basic empty weight of the aircraft. If the seats are removed to change the configuration of the aircraft, the weight and balance have to be amended. Operators who frequently take seats in and out will have different aircraft configurations already calculated, complete with the required maintenance release. When the aircraft configuration is changed, the applicable weight and balance addendum is used to indicate the basic empty weight and centre of gravity for that configuration. In addition to the elementary task entry, CAR 571, Appendix C (3)(b) requires the current applicable addendum to be identified in the aircraft journey log. CAR 703 operators include the policies and procedures for the training and authorization to perform elementary work and servicing in their Maintenance Control Manuals. Initial and recurrent training should include the recording requirements of the performance of elementary work and servicing and the corresponding weight and balance requirements as applicable. The person responsible for maintenance during their review of aircraft journey logbooks will be able to determine if the required elementary work and applicable weight and balance addendum entries are being made. RECENTLY RELEASED TSB REPORTS The following summaries are extracted from Final Reports issued by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). They have been de-identified and include the TSB’s synopsis and selected findings. Some excerpts from the analysis section may be included, where needed, to better understand the findings. For more information, contact the TSB or visit their Web site at www.tsb.gc.ca . —Ed. TSB Final Report A09P0156—Engine Power Loss-Forced Landing TSB Final Report A07W0138—Loss of Control and Collision with Terrain On July 23, 2007, an Aerospatiale AS350BA helicopter was en route from a staging site at Johnson Lake to Fort McMurray, Alta., with the pilot and four heli-tack firefighters on board. About 20 minutes into the flight, as the helicopter was cruising at about 1 500 ft above ground level (AGL), the pilot initiated a rapid descent to just above the tree tops, and lost control of the helicopter when he attempted to level off. The helicopter rolled right, nosed down, struck the marshy terrain, and rolled over onto its left side. One passenger was fatally injured, and the other occupants were seriously injured. One of the passengers manually switched on the emergency locator transmitter, while another passenger contacted the forestry radio dispatcher on his radio. Rescue helicopters were dispatched immediately and arrived at the accident site within an hour. The time of occurrence was about 20:00 Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). Other factual information The flight initially climbed to, and cruised at, an altitude of about 1 500 ft AGL. About 20 minutes later, the pilot descended to a lower altitude to observe wildlife. He did not notify the unit leader or consult with the passengers. Instead of lowering the collective to descend, the pilot pushed the cyclic forward to lower the nose of the helicopter and increase the airspeed. On reaching an altitude just above the treetops, the pilot attempted to level off by raising the collective slightly and pulling back on the cyclic. However, the cyclic control could not be moved. As the pilot continued to pull back on the cyclic with both hands, the helicopter rolled to the right, pitched up, then dove into the ground and came to rest on its left side. The passenger in the left rear seat was ejected from the helicopter when his inboard seat belt attachment failed and he became trapped under the fuselage. Servo transparency Awareness of servo transparency and recovery was part of the pilot’s initial and recurrent ground training on the AS350 series helicopters. It was reported that the pilot had previously flown in a similar manner on other flights when transiting between bases, with sudden climbs, descents, and pull-ups. Some of the passengers reportedly were discomforted by the manoeuvres; however, no complaints were submitted. The terms servo transparency, servo reversibility, and jack stall all refer to the phenomenon whereby the aerodynamic forces on the rotor blades can exceed the opposing power of the hydraulic servos to control the blade pitch. This phenomenon can occur in any helicopter that has hydraulically actuated flight controls. Factors that affect servo transparency are as follows: high airspeed, high collective pitch, high gross weight, high g loads, and high density altitudes. The maximum force the servo actuators can produce is constant, and is a function of hydraulic pressure, the servo characteristics, and possibly the level of maintenance of the system. All components of the hydraulic system, with emphasis on the servos, were examined after the wreckage was recovered to Fort McMurray. No anomalies were found. The manufacturer has stated that the transparency phenomenon in AS350s is non-violent and transitory, and normally lasts for a period of two to three seconds. The controls are fully operable throughout the event. However, the force required to move the controls increases significantly, to the extent that an unknowing pilot may think that the controls are jammed. On AS350s with a clockwise main rotor rotation (as viewed from above), the right servo receives the highest load; therefore, servo transparency will result in an uncommanded cyclic movement to the right and aft. This will cause the aircraft to roll to the right and pitch up. Normal recovery procedure is to decrease the aerodynamic load on the main rotor by lowering the collective. Depending on the aircraft weight, speed, and atmospheric conditions, the manufacturer has calculated that servo transparency can occur at g loads as low as 1.5 g. On May 14, 2007, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued Airworthiness Bulletin (AWB) 27-008, based on Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Bulletin (SAIB) SW-04-35 issued on December 19, 2002. These bulletins reference Eurocopter Service Letters 1648-29-03 for the Astar (AS350) family and 1649-29-03 for the Colibri (EC120) family, and provide detailed information on servo transparency, as well as recommendations to reduce the possibility of encountering the phenomenon. Analysis The atmospheric conditions, aircraft weight, and the pilot’s manoeuvres at the time of the occurrence were conducive to the onset of servo transparency, a phenomenon the pilot was aware of, and had been trained to recognize. He was not able to translate his training into a conditioned response: to lower the collective instead of fighting the cyclic, when the event occurred. The altitude and proximity to the trees at which the pull-up was initiated did not allow sufficient time for the pilot to correct his initial reaction. Servo transparency in AS350s is a well-known phenomenon and the recent service letters and airworthiness bulletins emphasize the need for operators and pilots to be more actively aware of the onset conditions and recovery procedures. The passengers were not weighed, nor were the weights recorded or presented to the pilot, who did not complete an accurate weight and balance report before departure. These actions created the potential for the weight and balance to be outside allowable limits. This in turn introduces a risk that the helicopter performance could be affected. The gross weight, one of the factors affecting the onset of servo transparency, needs to be closely monitored by the pilot. Findings as to causes and contributing factors The pilot initiated a sudden high-speed descent, and experienced a loss of control due to servo transparency when he attempted to level off at the bottom of the descent. The pilot did not initiate the correct recovery procedure when servo transparency was experienced and, due to the proximity to the trees, insufficient time remained for the pilot to correct his initial reaction. Findings as to risk The pilot had previously initiated sudden climbs and high-speed descents that were not standard operating procedures. These manoeuvres had not been reported to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) or to the helicopter operator. The pilot did not complete a weight and balance report before departure. Therefore, the pilot could not confirm if the helicopter was being operated within allowable limits. Safety action taken Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) amended its Representative Responsibility Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with the addition of several detailed criteria regarding passenger and cargo weights (see final report on TSB Web site for more details). TSB Final Report A07W0186—Engine Failure and Collision with Terrain On October 26, 2007, a privately operated Piper Malibu PA46-310P was en route from Salem, OR, to Springbank, Alta., on an instrument flight rules flight plan. During the descent through 17 000 ft at approximately 55 NM southwest of Calgary, the pilot declared an emergency with the Edmonton Area Control Centre, indicating that the engine had failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing at the Fairmont Hot Springs airport in B.C., but crashed at night at about 19:12 MDT, 11 NM east of Invermere, B.C., at approximately 3 633 ft ASL in wooded terrain in the Rocky Mountain ranges. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The aircraft was certified, equipped, and maintained in accordance with existing regulations and approved procedures. In the summer preceding the accident, the engine developed a knocking sound that was audible when power was reduced for landing. This had not been entered into logbooks nor reported to any maintenance facility. All flights on the day of the accident were carried out without the oil filler cap in place, as it was found at the hangar where the aircraft was kept. The absence of the oil filler cap could have resulted in the loss of engine oil, but its absence did not result in any loss of oil through that opening. The crankcase oil breather has a tube running from the dipstick opening to the breather canister. There was no evidence of oil accumulation here or at the bottom of the cowling. Two alternators generate electrical power, one belt-driven and one gear-driven. The gear-driven alternator derives its rotational power from a gear bolted to the crankshaft between the number four and five main journals. This in turn drives the alternator coupler. This coupler consists of a sleeve with an attached cup, locked to the alternator shaft. The cup is driven by a formed rubber ring on the inner surface of the cup outer wall, which is then attached to the gear on the alternator shaft. The alternator drive hub is designed to slip when abnormal torque is required to rotate the alternator shaft. This prevents engine damage or loss of power in the event of an alternator seizure. In the months before the occurrence, a number of maintenance actions were performed on the gear-driven alternator as a result of alternator failure indication. The alternator drive coupling was replaced approximately five flight hours prior to the accident flight. The coupling that was removed had a substantial amount of rubber material missing from both the front and back surfaces. This allowed the slip joint to spin and not lock to the cup as is normally the case. The coupling also made use of a handmade unapproved flat washer inside the cup that had a number of very rough edges and markings. This type of alternator is not designed to be used with such a washer, nor is it approved as a repair for continued airworthiness of the engine. This washer was found to have forced the rubber ring further out of the cup and engage the gear teeth of the crankshaft alternator drive gear. This resulted in the destruction of the rubber portion of the coupling. Rubber particles of various sizes found their way into the engine sump (see Photo 1). The rubber particles found in the engine sump matched those of the old coupling. In addition, several of the lifters contained rubber debris, indicating that the oil filter had been in a bypass state, allowing debris to flow into the system. The oil filter was also found to contain a large amount of rubber and metal debris. When the coupling was changed, the engine oil and filter were not changed, nor was the engine oil system flushed. The engine maintenance manual recommends checking the oil filter for metal debris during oil changes, but does not specify checking for other types of debris during other forms of maintenance. The engine manufacturer issued Service Bulletin M84-5 in 1984 that addressed gear-driven alternator malfunctions on all of its 520 series engines. It specifies that if any contamination is found upon removal of the alternator, the oil sump must be removed, the pick up cleaned or replaced, and, if anything further is found, a Teledyne Continental service representative should be contacted. This service bulletin does not apply to the 550 series engines even though they are equipped with gear-driven alternators. Standard industry practice is to check oil systems when contamination of any kind is found or known about, to flush the system, and to ascertain the source before releasing the aircraft for flight. Photo 1. Gear damage to rubber material The top of the engine at centreline had a large hole over the number two connecting rod. The crankshaft and the number two connecting rod had indications of extreme heat, which was localized to this area (see Photos 2 and 3). The number two main bearing on one side was broken due to low-cycle pounding stresses. The number two piston had been making contact over time with its cylinder head and valves. Photo 2. Heat and contact damage to connecting rod 2 Photo 3. Crankshaft showing heated area Analysis Examination of the airframe wreckage and its components found no indication of any mechanical malfunction that may have initiated or contributed to the accident. Weather was also not considered to be a factor, though the darkness in the valley floor may have contributed to the pilot’s inability to find a better location to conduct the forced landing. The wreckage trail and the evidence of impact forces indicate that the aircraft crashed in a stalled flight condition. An unapproved, shop-made washer that had been installed in the alternator drive coupling contributed to a quantity of rubber debris entering the engine. The presence of the washer in the coupling also caused the rubber disc to contact the alternator spur gear on the crankshaft, causing more debris to enter the sump. This debris then restricted oil flow in the failed area of the engine. The industry standard check of oil systems when contamination is found or known to exist was not carried out. The company performing the maintenance did not benefit from guidance developed in Service Bulletin M84-5 as the bulletin did not include this series of engine even though it had a gear-driven alternator. It is highly probable that the engine failure was initiated by a partial blockage of oil flow, caused by debris in the oil, to the number two connecting rod journal and bearing. This resulted in a progressive loosening of the clearances at that location, which allowed a gradual increase in piston stroke and increasing contact between the piston and the cylinder/valves. This looseness caused repeated reaction forces on the number two main bearing, pounding it until fatigue cracking broke up the left bearing shell. The connecting rod journal continued to overheat and elongate the bearing area until the lower connecting rod end cap nut came apart. Total engine failure and seizure then occurred. The engine knocking that occurred during the summer prior to the accident was not noted in the journey log book nor mentioned to maintenance personnel. Early detection of the loosening and overheating parts might have prompted preventative maintenance. Findings as to causes and contributing factors An unapproved part was installed in the alternator coupling. This resulted in debris from the coupling causing a partial blockage of oil flow to the number two connecting rod bearing. This low oil flow caused overheating and failure of the bearings, connecting rod cap bolts and nuts, and the subsequent engine failure. The engine failure occurred after sunset and the low-lighting conditions in the valley would have made selecting a suitable landing area difficult. The engine knocking was not reported to maintenance personnel which prevented an opportunity to discover the deteriorating engine condition. Finding as to risk All flights on the day of the accident were carried out without the oil filler cap in place. The absence of the oil filler cap could have resulted in the loss of engine oil. Other findings There were no current instrument flight rules charts or approach plates on board the aircraft for the intended flight. The Teledyne Continental Motors Service Bulletin M84-5 addressed only the 520 series engines and did not include other gear-driven alternator equipped engines. Safety action taken Teledyne Continental Motors states that it will update Service Bulletin M84-5 to include the 550 series engines. The Teledyne Continental Motors Instructions for Continued Airworthiness will also be updated to reflect the content of Service Bulletin M84-5 as periodic updates to that document are performed. TSB Final Report A08C0124— Fuel Starvation/Forced Landing On June 13, 2008, a Cessna 337D was returning to Buffalo Narrows, Sask., from Stony Rapids, Sask., after having dropped off a passenger. Approximately 14 mi. northeast of the airport, the pilot declared an emergency due to a double engine power loss. The pilot completed a forced landing in a swampy area on the east shore of Churchill Lake, Sask. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The pilot was transported to hospital in Île-à-la-Crosse, Sask., and was subsequently released with minor injuries. The accident occurred at about 11:40 Central Standard Time (CST). Analysis The pilot did not use any auxiliary tank fuel prior to completely exhausting the fuel in the main tanks. This procedure prevented a successful restart of either engine and is contrary to the procedures outlined in the C-337D owner’s manual. The pilot’s departure from the specified procedures and incorrect fuel estimate indicated that he did not fully understand the aircraft’s fuel system. The fuel selectors are located overhead on the cockpit ceiling, which requires that the pilot divert his attention from monitoring primary flight information when changing fuel selections. In a high-workload situation such as dealing with a dual-engine power loss, this cockpit configuration could complicate the management of the fuel system. The overhead location and tandem layout of the fuel selectors, along with the nomenclature of the system, which includes “aux” pumps that do not pump fuel from the “aux” tanks, can make operation of the C-337’s fuel system confusing to pilots who are not totally familiar with its operation. The higher rate of fuel consumption for the training flight as compared to cruise power fuel consumption contributed to the exhaustion of the fuel remaining in the main tanks. Findings as to causes and contributing factors The pilot’s estimates of the fuel remaining in the main tanks and the amount required to complete a round trip to Stony Rapids were inaccurate. Consequently, both engines stopped operating when the fuel in the aircraft’s main tanks was depleted. The pilot did not have a full understanding of the aircraft’s fuel system and was unaware of the method and sequence for accessing the fuel in the aircraft’s auxiliary fuel tanks. As a result, the pilot’s operation of the fuel system rendered the fuel in the auxiliary tanks unusable after the fuel in the main tanks was depleted and the engines could not be restarted. The operator’s training program for the C-337D did not establish or test the pilot’s knowledge on how to operate the C-337D’s fuel system. Finding as to risk The design and nomenclature of the C-337D fuel system complicates its operation during periods of high cockpit workload, thus increasing the risk of confusion. Safety action taken The operator has added questions to the C-337D training exam which test for knowledge of the operation of the fuel selectors, fuel management, and the auxiliary boost pumps. TSB Final Report A09P0156—Engine Power Loss-Forced Landing On June 12, 2009, an amateur-built Glastar was on a recreational flight from Yellowknife, N.W.T., to Kelowna, B.C., with two pilots on board. At approximately 14:01 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), shortly after passing Chetwynd, B.C., a severe powerplant vibration and loss of power was experienced. The engine power was reduced to 1 000 RPM and a forced landing into a field was attempted. On short final, the aircraft struck a power line and veered off course to the right, where it struck trees and rising terrain. The pilot in the left seat received non-life threatening injuries. The pilot in the right seat was fatally injured. There was no emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal and no fire. The switch on the ELT was found in the OFF position. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the No. 2 cylinder head had separated from the base (see Photo 1) and the crankshaft was severed at the propeller flange. The engine had 212 hr total time since new (TTSN) when the failure occurred. Photo 1: No. 2 cylinder head The engine crankshaft sheared at the propeller hub and the propeller was found embedded in a tree at the accident site (see Photo 2). The propeller was nicked and scuffed in a manner consistent with striking the severed power line. Photo 2: Propeller from the Glastar The Aero Sport Power O-360-A2A engine is assembled by Aero Sport Power based in Kamloops, B.C. These engines are built using parts purchased from various suppliers who hold parts manufacturing authority (PMA) granted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Aero Sport Power O-360-A2A can be described as a non-certificated clone of the Avco Lycoming O-360-A2A engine, which holds type certificate number E-286 issued by the FAA. PMA parts may be sold with certification for use on type-certificated engines. The Aero Sport Power O-360-A2A engine is sold to amateur builders as an experimental engine, and no certification is required for this category by Transport Canada. Aero Sport Power used cylinders manufactured by Engine Components Inc. (ECi). At the time of the build-up, Aero Sport Power installed pistons that increased the engine compression ratio from 8.5:1 to 9.2:1. The failed cylinder assembly was sent to the TSB laboratory for examination. A fracture surface analysis of the No. 2 cylinder and sheared crankshaft was completed. The crankshaft propeller flange showed signs of minor hydrogen embrittlement. The sheared crankshaft was determined to be from overload fracturing due to impact. The minor hydrogen embrittlement was not causal to the accident. In the fall of 2008, the FAA issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-19-05 regarding ECi cylinder assemblies installed on the Lycoming engines. The AD addressed a manufacturing defect that caused the cylinder head to separate from the base. It did not, however, address engines with increased compression ratios. Engines that are not type-certificated, such as the Aero Sport Power engines, were not mentioned in the AD. The cylinder head failure fracture surfaces were typical of fatigue failures addressed by this AD. Prior to the issuance of AD 2008-19-05, ECi issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 08-1. This MSB called for the inspection and replacement of the faulty cylinders by 350 hr total time in service. On April 29, 2009, Aero Sport Power advised the owners of the occurrence aircraft by e-mail that three of their cylinders were affected by the ECi MSB. The surviving owner/pilot was not aware of AD 2008-19-05 or the MSB regarding the faulty cylinders. He also was not involved with the building of the aircraft. The deceased owner/pilot had built the aircraft. Aircraft records do not indicate compliance with the AD or MSB. However, records do show that differential pressure checks, required by the AD, were carried out. None of the differential pressure checks resulted in values that would have required further inspection and action in accordance with the AD. These checks were carried out 22 hr prior to the failure, during the last annual inspection and service. Analysis The failure of the cylinder head occurred at 212 TTSN, well in advance of the 350-hr limit set out in the AD. Compression checks completed 22 hr prior to the accident failed to detect a problem. This is not uncommon because compression tests will not necessarily detect an impending failure. It is possible that the premature failure of the cylinder head was due to the increased compression ratio of the engine. The surviving owner/pilot was unaware that there was a critical AD that affected their engine. The deceased partner was notified by e-mail of the MSB, which was referenced in the AD, and he performed the required differential checks. There was plenty of time remaining before reaching the 350-hr limit on the cylinder head. Transport Canada does not issue ADs for non-type-certificated aircraft, propellers, engines, and equipment; nor do they notify the owners of these aircraft of ADs that could adversely affect them. The number of amateur-built, owner-maintained, and ultralight aircraft is growing. The onus is on the owners of these aircraft to ensure airworthiness. Without additional system safeguards, there is a greater risk that these aircraft will not be properly built and maintained. These aircraft often operate in the vicinity of populated areas, thereby increasing the risk to the public and to property. Findings as to causes and contributing factors The failure of the No. 2 cylinder caused the engine to lose power. During the attempted forced landing, the aircraft struck power lines, control was lost, and the aircraft collided with trees and terrain. Finding as to risk Non-type-certificated aircraft owners are not advised of, nor are the owners required to comply with, ADs that are potentially critical to aviation safety. This greatly increases the risk that important airworthiness issues may go unaddressed by the amateur-built community. Other findings The population of amateur-built, owner-maintained, and ultralight aircraft is growing. This increases the risk to the public and to property if they are not properly designed, produced, and maintained. Evidence of minor hydrogen embrittlement was found in the crankshaft. While not causal to the accident, it increases the risk of material failure over time. Safety action taken Aero Sport Power Aero Sport Power has notified all engine owners potentially affected by AD 2008-19-05 and those who have increased the compression ratio. Recreational Aircraft Association of Canada The Recreational Aircraft Association of Canada issued a notification to its members regarding AD 2008-19-05 and the possible effect of the increased compression ratio. This notification also reminded members how to search for ADs by aircraft registration using the Transport Canada Continuing Airworthiness Web Information System (CAWIS). Danbury Aerospace Danbury Aerospace, the parent company of Engine Components Inc. (ECi), has elected to limit the compression ratio of cylinders sold in engine kits.  Coming soon in www.floatplaneoperators.org . ACCIDENT SYNOPSES Note: The following accident synopses are Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) Class 5 events, which occurred between November 1, 2010, and January 31, 2011. These occurrences do not meet the criteria of classes 1 through 4, and are recorded by the TSB for possible safety analysis, statistical reporting, or archival purposes. The narratives may have been updated by the TSB since publication. For more information on any individual event, please contact the TSB. — On November 4, 2010, an ATR 42-300 was parked on the ramp at Arviat, Nun. The #2 engine was running on speed with the parking brake set. As the #1 engine was brought out of feather during the start procedure, the landing gear unsafe chime rang. The nose gear lights (both upper and lower) indicated unsafe. The aircraft slowly settled to rest on the collapsed nose gear and gear doors. Maintenance action: replacement of nose gear and nose gear doors. TSB File A10C0198. — On November 8, 2010, an ultralight Challenger II was carrying out touch-and-go landings at the airport in Lachute, Que. When the aircraft was landing on Runway 10, a wind squall carried it southward just before touchdown. The student pilot pulled up. The aircraft hit some trees about 75 m south of the runway. The aircraft sustained significant damage. The pilot was not injured. TSB File A10Q0195. — On November 12, 2010, an amateur-built Kitfox IV 1200 was on the ramp at Brantford, Ont., with the engine (Rotax 912UL) running. The passenger approached the aircraft to enter from the right side and inadvertently turned towards the propeller. Before the pilot could shut down the engine, the propeller struck the passenger’s right shoulder resulting in serious injury. One propeller blade broke as a result of the impact. Emergency medical services responded and the passenger was taken to hospital for surgery. TSB File A10O0239. — On November 12, 2010, an advanced ultralight Quad City Challenger II/A was carrying out touch-and-go landings on Runway 09 at the airport in Gatineau, Que. (CYND). During the initial climb, a wind squall carried the aircraft to the right about 20 ft above the ground. The right wing hit the grass and the aircraft turned before coming to a stop. The pilot, who was alone on board, was not injured. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the right wing, the front wheel and the nose. TSB File A10Q0199. — On November 13, 2010, an unregistered motorized parachute was flying in the Sorel/Tracy area, above the town. The engine failed while the aircraft was at a low altitude and it struck the ground a few ft from a cycling path. The pilot was seriously injured. TSB File A10Q0200. — On November 13, 2010, an ultralight float-equipped Teratorn Tierra II was on a VFR flight in the Luskville, Que., area. When landing on the glassy water of the Ottawa River, the aircraft struck the water hard and flipped over. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft sustained significant damage. TSB File A10Q0201. — On November 18, 2010, a float-equipped DHC-3T aircraft was taking off at Kingcome Inlet, B.C., for a flight to Campbell River, B.C. Takeoff into the 8-10 kt wind was considered impractical because of a sandbar and rising terrain, so the takeoff was being made downwind. As the aircraft came up on the step, it was struck by a strong gust of wind, which caused a complete loss of rudder authority and the aircraft began to turn to the left. Full right rudder and a reduction of power could not arrest the left turn and the left wing struck a dolphin (marine structure). The aircraft was substantially damaged but the two occupants were not injured. TSB File A10P0371. — On November 24, 2010, an amateur-built Cyclone 180 was on a VFR flight to a water aerodrome in the Montréal area when it struck the ground approximately 4 NM southeast of Lake Simon, Que., its point of departure. The pilot, who was alone on board, sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact, after which it burst into flames. Two TSB investigators were deployed to the accident site. TSB File A10Q0208. — On November 28, 2010, a Lancair IV-P had departed from Edmonton City Centre, Alta. (CYXD) on an IFR flight plan for Wetaskiwin, Alta. (CEX3). Near the airport, the pilot cancelled IFR in favour of a VFR approach. The aircraft struck the ground approximately ½ mi. southwest of the threshold of Runway 30 on a track of 210 degrees. The aircraft bounced and skidded for 1 000 ft, losing the empennage, right wing and engine before coming to a rest. Both occupants walked away with minor injuries. TSB File A10W0191. — On November 28, 2010, a amateur-built Zenair CH200 was on approach to the Saugeen Municipal Airport (CPN4), Ont., when the engine (Continental O-200-A) lost power. The pilot conducted a forced approach and ditched the aircraft in Lake Rosalind, Ont. The landing on the lake surface caused substantial damage to the left wing, landing gear and engine. The aircraft sank shortly after it came to rest. The pilot drowned, as he was unable to evacuate the aircraft before it sank. TSB File A10O0244. — On November 30, 2010, a Piper PA-31 was conducting geographical surveys in the La Grande Rivière, Que., area when the right engine (a Lycoming TIO-540-A1A) surged significantly. The pilot secured the engine and declared an emergency when he saw that the aircraft could not maintain its altitude of about 1 200 ft. The pilot made an emergency landing about 12 mi. north of the La Grande Rivière airport (CYGL). The two occupants were uninjured. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. The pilot was able to make an emergency call with a cell phone and the two occupants were rescued a few minutes later by a helicopter that was in the area. The aircraft was equipped with a 406 MHz ELT, which activated on impact and sent a distress signal to the search and rescue centre. The two engines were dismantled. TSB File A10Q0212. — On January 3, 2011, a Beech B200 was landing on Runway 24 at Maple Creek (CJQ4), Sask. The runway was covered in snow. During the landing roll, the left main gear contacted deeper snow and the aircraft veered to the left. The left main gear caught a 14 in. windrow along the south edge of the runway and the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft departed the runway surface to the left and the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose and propellers. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. TSB File A11C0002. — On January 4, 2011, an Aerospatiale AS332L1 Super Puma helicopter was undergoing ground runs for tail rotor balancing adjustments at Boundary Bay, B.C., after maintenance. A pilot was operating the helicopter, seated in the right seat, accompanied by three aircraft maintenance engineers (AME): one was seated at the left front next to the ground power unit (GPU), one was seated at the right front outside the rotor disc, and one was operating the balancing equipment at the rear. The #1 engine was started and moved to 97%, rotors turning. As the #2 engine was started, the helicopter began to rise off its right wheel and tilt to the left. It was assumed there was a flat tire, but confirmed not to be so. The pilot ensured the collective was down but the helicopter continued to roll to the left, ending up on its left side. Both engines were shut off and the three AMEs exited the immediate area. The pilot released himself from his harness, switched off electrical power and exited the helicopter from the right rear cabin door. The pilot sustained minor injuries. There was no fire but the helicopter was substantially damaged. TSB File A11P0004. Super Puma resting on its side after rollover Photo: Mr. Brad Jorgenson — On January 6, 2011, a Cessna 172RG was returning to Regina, Sask., from Assiniboia, Sask., when the aircraft encountered deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot requested special VFR flight clearance into Regina, but the weather was below limits. The pilot requested a diversion to Moose Jaw, Sask., but the runway was closed. The pilot turned towards a private airstrip located near Lumsden, Sask., and at low altitude, lost visual reference with the ground. The aircraft struck the ground at a level attitude and bounced back into the air. The engine began to run rough and the pilot elected to land in a snow-covered field ahead. The pilot extended the landing gear and flaps and upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed. The pilot escaped uninjured; however, the aircraft’s propeller and nose gear were damaged. A subsequent examination of the aircraft revealed that the nose gear may have failed to extend due to gear door damage caused by the initial contact with the ground. TSB File A11C0003. — On January 31, 2011, the pilot was starting a basic ultralight Spectrum Beaver for an intended local flight at the Welland/Niagara Central Airport (CNQ3), Ont. The aircraft is powered by a pusher propeller and is fitted with ski landing gear. The aircraft was equipped with a manual pull-starter that is operated from outside the aircraft. After the engine started, the aircraft moved forward and the pilot was struck by the propeller resulting in serious injury. TSB File A11O0011. REGULATIONS AND YOU Update on Passenger-Carrying Commercial Balloon Operations in Canada by Flight Standards Division, Standards Branch, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada Prior to the implementation of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) in 1996, balloon operators offering rides to fare-paying passengers were not subject to the requirements of Air Regulations, Part 700. In 1993, Transport Canada formally recognized the operation of balloons in Canada for the purpose of carrying fare-paying passengers. Following direct consultation with members of the ballooning community, a series of exemptions to the affected sections of the Air Regulations and an authorization were issued. The authorization contained a series of schedules that formed part of the exemption, with specific conditions that a balloon operator had to meet to ensure compliance with the exemptions. With the implementation of the CARs in 1996, the conditions of the exemptions and authorization issued in 1993 were formalized in Part VI, Subpart 3 – Special Flight Operations, Division II – Balloons with Fare-paying Passengers. Under this regulatory structure, balloon operators carrying fare-paying passengers are required to obtain a Special Flight Operations Certificate and comply with the applicable standards. The standards outline requirements for balloon maintenance, crew member qualifications and passenger briefings. Presently there are approximately 92 holders of Special Flight Operations Certificates – Balloons with Fare-paying passengers in Canada. There is no requirement to track the number of passengers carried, thus the estimated annual number of passengers carried, obtained unofficially from operators, varies from 12 000 to over 20 000. From 1996 to 2008, there were a total of 84 incidents and 21 accidents involving balloons recorded in the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS) database. Following two serious balloon accidents in August 2007, Transport Canada, in 2008, carried out a risk assessment (RA) of the current regulatory structure pertaining to the carriage of fare-paying passengers in balloons. The main objectives of the RA, as outlined in the Terms of Reference (TOR) were: To assess the adequacy of Transport Canada’s current safety oversight program for this activity. To examine all risks associated with fare-paying balloon operations. To identify an appropriate strategy and responsibility center for oversight of this activity to improve safety and reduce risks in the operation. The RA team determined that the current regulatory structure “[...]was adequate but the departmental direction for monitoring the activity, albeit low risk, is somewhat lacking.” The RA also contained recommendations that the team felt could improve safety and reduce risks in the operation of balloons with fare-paying passengers. Upon completion of their investigation into the accidents, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada recommended that, “the Department of Transport ensure that passenger-carrying commercial balloon operations provide a level of safety equivalent to that established for other aircraft of equal passenger-carrying capacity.” An issue paper, Regulation of Balloons with Fare Paying Passengers, was presented at the Civil Aviation Regulation Advisory Council Technical Committee meeting November 2-6, 2009. Valuable information was heard from stakeholders to determine the way forward. A proposal to approve the formation of a CARAC Working Group was presented at the June 2010 Civil Aviation Regulatory Committee (CARC) meeting. At the Civil Aviation Regulation Advisory Council Technical Committee meeting in November 2010, the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Balloons with Fare-paying Passengers Working Group was finalized and the members were confirmed. The Working Group will use the 2008 risk assessment findings, in addition to examining industry best practices to make recommendations to the Technical Committee for regulatory changes or make recommendations to utilize any non-regulatory instruments to promote the safe operation of balloons with fare-paying passengers. The TOR for the working group outlines the purpose of the group as: “The purpose of this new Balloons with Fare-Paying Passengers Working Group is to make recommendations on how to best provide an adequate level of safety to the public involved in sightseeing activities. This may include recommending amendments to existing regulations and standards and introducing new regulations and standards for balloon operations. These recommendations will require justifications since they will ultimately serve as the basis for Transport Canada to develop the Notices of Proposed Amendments (NPAs) that will be presented to the CARAC Technical Committee.” The TOR further defines the working group’s direction with the following: “Deliverables The Working Group will make recommendations on topics including, but not limited to: Conditions for issuance of a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC); Safety Management System (SMS); Flight information (altitude, airspace, weather information limitations); Safety equipment on board; and Any other topic identified by the Working Group that needs to be addressed to promote the safe operation of balloons with fare-paying passengers.” To date, the Working Group has held two meetings via teleconference. The Working Group will present an interim report/update at the September 2011 CARAC Technical Committee meeting. The final report will be presented at the following CARAC Technical Committee meeting.  Business Aviation: Transport Canada Taking Back Certification and Surveillance Authority by Arlo Speer, Chief, Commercial Flight Standards, Standards, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada On March 16, 2010, Transport Canada (TC) announced that as of April 1, 2011, it would take back all responsibility for the certification and oversight of business aviation in Canada from the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA). TC has always been responsible for regulatory safety oversight of the CBAA Private Operator Certificate (POC) program and the CBAA. Because certification and oversight of air operators is a core responsibility of TC, it was confirmed, after review, that these activities should not be conducted by the private sector for business aviation. This transfer brings together all aspects of business aviation regulation, certification and safety monitoring into one organization: TC. This means greater consistency and an opportunity to identify common strategies to improve the already high level of safety found across the aviation industry. The Transition Process To facilitate this transition, a Transport Canada Civil Aviation Private Operator Program Steering Committee was created to coordinate and direct all activities required to ensure a straightforward transition from the Canada Business Aviation Association Private Operator Certificate program to a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)-managed program, and to design and implement a framework for the new TCCA private operator program for the oversight of Canadian private operators. To formalize the transition between CBAA and TCCA, the department issued, at no charge, Transport Canada Private Operator Certificates to operators who hold a valid CBAA Private Operator Certificate and comply with the conditions specified in that CBAA certificate. This allowed TC to provide operators with a Temporary Operator Certificate in April 2011. On April 1, 2011, an interim order issued by the Minister of Transport came into effect. The interim order replaced current regulations found in Subpart 604 (624) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and addressed only those operators holding a CBAA Private Operator Certificate. The development of new regulations for the long-term operation of aircraft under Subpart 604 of the CARs has continued and will be published, for consultation, in Canada Gazette, Part I, later this year. The transition will progress until March 31, 2013, at which time the new regulations will replace the interim order and address all aspects of private aircraft operations. At this time, all private operators will need to hold Transport Canada Private Operator Certificates and comply with the Subpart 604. Throughout this transition process, business aviation operators continue to be responsible for compliance with existing regulatory requirements and certifications. Although business air operations are not available to the public at large, this sector is regulated under sections of the CARs due to the sophistication of the aircraft being operated. Canada is the only country that requires business aviation operators to hold an operator certificate for business aviation. The regulatory requirements for business aircraft in Canada have been in place since 1983. The new regulations in Subpart 604 are patterned after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for corporate aviation operations. Contact Information Transport Canada Regional Offices are responsible for ongoing certification and surveillance. For specific service or oversight questions, please contact the regional office closest to your company headquarters. Atlantic Region   Treaty Training Coming Soon The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)/ Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) Treaty is an agreement on civil aviation safety between the European Community and Canada, primarily focused on issues related to the certification of aeronautical products, design approvals, continued airworthiness, and maintenance. With ratification of the new TCCA/EASA Treaty expected to happen soon, Transport Canada is planning on offering training to introduce the changes. To find out more, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/training-courses-menu-747.htm . Click to enlarge image. Toe the CORRECT Line: Airport Vehicle Corridors by Currie Russell, Safety and Security Supervisor, Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) At many airports, particularly those with commercial air service, vehicle corridors are painted on the aprons to allow for the safe and orderly flow of service vehicles on airside. These corridors are painted to resemble roadways, with solid white lines on either side, and a dashed line down the middle to separate them into two opposing lanes. The primary role of vehicle corridors is to help ensure adequate separation of service vehicles from aircraft on parking stands. On a number of occasions, I have observed small aircraft taxiing along the vehicle corridor while transiting our main terminal apron. I have also witnessed aircraft parked so close to our vehicle corridors that their wingtips were over the solid white line. These practices defeat the safety factor that vehicle corridors seek to provide. This safety factor is determined by the code or class of aircraft the airport is designed to handle. In Canada, the Manual of Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices (TP312E) specifies the distance required from the centreline of a taxilane to any object in order to ensure adequate clearance for taxiing aircraft. This distance is related to the airport’s design aircraft code number. For example, as shown in the table below, which uses the specifications listed in TP312E, airports that are designed to handle Code C aircraft (aircraft with a wing span of 24 m up to but not including 36 m, and an outer main gear wheel span of 6 m up to but not including 9 m, such as the Airbus A320 or the Boeing 737) must provide separation of 24.5 m from the centreline of a taxilane to an object. Recommendation: the following minimum separation distances should be provided between the centre line of an aircraft stand taxilane and an object: Code 52 m up to but not including 65 m 9 m up to but not including 14 m Airbus A330, 340 Boeing 747, 777, 787 Aircraft should always taxi along the solid yellow taxi lines and should never use a vehicle corridor to pass another aircraft. The vehicle corridors are to be used only by vehicles that don’t take to the air. When driving in the corridors, vehicle operators should remember never to pass behind an aircraft that has its anti-collision lights operating and engines running, unless the marshaller grants permission by waving them on. The speed limits, as specified in an airport’s local traffic directives, must always be respected. A vigilant watch for moving aircraft and other vehicles must be kept and attention to weather conditions is required when driving. Vehicle operators should ensure that they have received proper training and that they are certified to operate the class of vehicle they are required to drive in the course of their duties. Airports will likely require operators to possess a permit (usually an Airside Vehicle Operators Permit [AVOP]) for driving on airside. Vehicle operators must verify that their rotating beacon is operating and that they are in contact with ground or apron control, as applicable at their respective airports. Hazards are everywhere on airside. Vehicle operators must be airside aware, exercise vigilance at all times and report hazardous conditions or activities to a supervisor or airport operator. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Don’t give accidents the opportunity to occur. Be proactive! Click on image to enlarge. To receive a PDF full-size (11" x 17") version of this poster, e-mail crussel@regionofwaterloo.ca   Click on image to enlarge. Date modified:

Touch and Go

September 17 of what year saw the Constitutional Convention adopt the US Constitution?

ATC Humour (Merged) [Archive] - Page 5 - PPRuNe Forums Aerohooligan 12th Jan 2008, 06:57 A C172 inbound to Archerfield Airport (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) a couple of months back seemed to be a little confused about the location of the inbound reporting points to the south. Normal procedure is to report inbound at Park Ridge Water Tower (about 6-8 miles south) with callsign, type, altitude and ATIS received; and again at Logan Motorway (2-3 miles south) to receive circuit joining instructions. The following was heard on tower frequency: A/C: 'Archer tower, ABC, logan motorway.' TWR: 'ABC, you're currently two miles south of the motorway. Join downwind 10R.' A/C: 'Downwind 28R, ABC.' after a brief pause as the A/C covers the remaining couple of miles: TWR: 'ABC, Archer tower: see that big arterial road running East-West, the one you're passing over now? That's the Logan Motorway.' A/C: 'ABC.' TWR: 'ABC, do you have an instructor on board?' A/C: 'I am the instructor.' The controllers at YBAF create these gems with hilarious regularity. And one that happened to me: I was flying a C172RG out of YBAF outside of tower hours. I was planning a departure into controlled airspace so called BN radar to request area QNH: Me: 'Brisbane Radar, ABC, request.' RDR (obviously in a good mood): 'ABC...request away!' FougaMagister 12th Jan 2008, 23:51 25 June 2001, while on a VFR nav flight from Ft. Pierce (KFPR) to Naples (KAPF) in Florida: Me: "Naples Tower, Cessna 623PA, is now 5 miles West, visual with the field, joining downwind". TWR: "623PA, roger, report over the courthouse". Me: "Er... :confused: where is the courthouse, for 623PA?" TWR: "First time in Naples, eh? OK, 623PA, report left base runway 14" :ok: niknak 14th Jan 2008, 16:11 Gentleman of Bavarian extraction is booking out over the 'phone: ATC: .......and finally, could you give me the souls on board, time enroute and fuel endurance. Pilot: 2 pob, 4 hours and vot else vos it? ATC: the fuel endurance. ATC: Fuel endurance, how much fuel do you have on board - hours? Pilot: hours? no my name is Hanz... harrier666 17th Jan 2008, 00:28 This was a few years ago, I was a new CFI at a new airfield in a plane I'd only flown 2 or 3 times before with the Chief Pilot. I was teaching the students a takeoff at a very busy airfield (Busiest single runway airport in the U.S. last time I checked). "We use the rudder pedals to align ourself with the centerline, when we reach .. " etc etc through rotate. At this point I realized the normally very congested freq was silent... Me: (release PTT) ATC: Thank you for the wonderful takeoff lesson Nxxx Me: You'll receive my bill at the end of the month. Please pay cash. They still make fun of me for that one. ChampChump Heard at PHF, Va recently. N..xx: 'Thanks for your help, guys...' Tower: 'No trouble, N...xx. Tell all your friends. Both of them.' Although it wasn't meant to be funny at the time; 28 August 2003, flying a PA-28 to Chalons-Vatry (LFOK) in France: Me: "Vatry Tower, good afternoon. Cherokee F-GIEQ, 15 nm south, inbound from Troyes at 3,000 ft, QNH 1023, request rejoin for one touch and go". Chalons TWR: "Good afternoon F-EQ. Runway 10 is in use, RH circuit, report downwind for touch and go. One Air France 777 doing circuit practice, caution wake turbulence". No sh!t... 31st Jan 2008, 20:42 Somebody sent this in an email to me btw. Rookie (dripping with sarcasm): "Okay, hotshot -- if you think you can take her that high, GO FOR IT!!" Pilot of the SR-71 on the other end of the radio: "Roger Control; now DESCENDING from 100,000 feet to FL 800...." From Luke Wray, August 2007 - From NAS Fallon NV, last week: A recently qualified Clearance Delivery operator was working a moderately busy period when a Navy DC-9 called, requesting clearance back to NAS Jacksonville, FL. The controller responded back to the pilot that the flight plan was not in the system. The controller hammered away at the FDIO with no success. The next transmission to the DC-9 was: "VVJV�, clearance, Mam your flight plan is not in the system, would you like to go back to Jax VFR? The pilot responded (while laughing) "No thanks, we'll file a flight plan.." From Dr Hugh David, June 2007 - Some years ago I was checking the record of simulated air-ground communication in a Real-Time simulation at the Eurocontrol Experimental Centre. Towards the end of one simulation I came across the following: French Simulator 'Pilot': "AF302 over NTM now." German Controller "AF302 Roger. Report names of stewardesses." FSP: "Claudette Colbert and Caroline Chose." GC: "Colbert I know, but who is Chose?" FSP: "You must know her, she was Alan Delon's third wife, between Truc and Nimporte!" GC: "Ach, these French actors, they marry and unmarry, I cannot keep track!" FSP: "Well, at least, the French actors, they marry VIMMEN!" ... (long pause) ... GC: "AF302 continue descent as planned." A story from a friend in BA. He was overflying Aden, and saw an Aeroflot freighter climbing out. Heavily accented voice on frequency: "Hey, English, you used to have Aden?" BA: "Yes, we did. Why?" HAV: "Ve have had to overnight there, and you can have it back!" Light aircraft pilot asked Heathrow for the current cloudbase over Bristol. London relayed the question to an Air France flight near Bristol and got the reply: "Ve are at fifteen thousand, in and out the bottom." Anonymous voice on frequency: "Vive le sport!" Lufhansa Pilot to co-pilot, forgetting that the frequency was open: "We used to come up the Thames, and turn over here for the docks...." Voice on frequency: "ACHTUNG SPITFEUR" Novice female military controller to US bomber leaving radar coverage, forgetting the correct terminology... "You are entering my dark area" USB: "WHOOPEE!" Tower Controller: "BA356, proceed to stand 69" BA: "Yes, Sir, Nose in or Nose out?" "Mumbai, what number am I in the landing sequence?" "By the time you land, sir, you will be number one." And (another) hoary old chestnut: QANTAS pilot to copilot landing at Sydney, forgetting the cabin intercom was live: "What I need now is a cold beer and a hot shiela" Stewardess hurries forward lest worse befall. Chorus of passengers "Hey, you forgot the beer!" (Ack Dr Hugh David for the above) From Brad White, June 2007 - One to share, from an uncle who was in the USAF until retiring several years ago. No other attribution unfortunately but here it is. A near miss occurred outside of Dulles International. The conversation went along these lines... Pilot: "DAMN! That was close..." IAD Tower: "Delta 560, what seems to be the problem?" Pilot (catching his breath), "Near miss- was he ever close!" IAD Tower: "Delta 560, how close was it?" Pilot: "Well, I can tell you one thing, it was a white boy flying it." niknak 6th Feb 2008, 14:45 I suspect that this may be old and probably re written but this is how it was told to me: Chinese gentleman is doing his ATPL in the USA with an established operator prior to going on to fly Air China B747s or similar: "xxx tower, N123 Rocariser estbrished" "N123 tower roger, continue approach, request your intentions..." "xxx tower loger, contnue apploach and say rast bit again?" "N123 request your intentions..." Experienced U.S pilot intervenes and trys to assist.... "N123 from United 234, the tower want to know what you are going to next..." "Ah loger! When I finished, I go home and fry big jet for Air China!...":p tggzzz GA plane joining Kemble from the NW last week, A/C "Confirm by your threshold you have gliders"? FISO "Last time I looked they were 747s" A/C "Ahh Roger ..............I ll reposition for your overhead again" Plane making approach to a nearby gliding site NM Flying at that glider site (Aston Down) I can confirm that, and worse, happens only too frequently. Point of confusion is that the two fields have vaguely similar runways and are only 4 miles apart. A couple of weeks ago a helicopter approached the control tower (i.e. the clubhouse) and buzzed around it like a wasp around a jam jar. He had the decency to phone up and apologise. I've watched a GA plane line up and overfly the double decker bus, then realise Something Isn't Right, and do a circuit of the field rolling their wings left and right. Clearly the mental process is "where the hell am I". Club legend has it that a B52 once lined up on the 6000' runway, before realising its mistake. However, the photo of the A320 parked outside the hangers is definitely a fake :) The worst-case scenario is that a glider is going up on the winch on runway 21, when a GA plane overflies runway 09. As long as there isn't a collision, we theorise the glider would be OK; the GA plane might be sliced in two by the cable, but that's another issue. Lee_Strong Haha Nik! good one :P Lon More 20th Feb 2008, 06:54 A Polish controller applied for one of the conversion courses at Eurocontrol. First, of course, he had to take an eye sight test. The optician showed him a card with the letters: 'C Z W I X N O S T A C Z.' "Can you read this?" the optician asked. "Read it?" the Pole replied, "He was my Supervisor in Warsaw!" good luck with the transfer guys Aviator_IT Lon More, you made my day. :D justlearning 23rd Feb 2008, 04:53 While working on my PPL(H), I was flying mostly in the early mornings, and got in a habit when I made my initial calls. Trying to be polite/pleasant with the controllers, I would start my call with a quick "Good Morning, Hillsboro Tower.....". This was all fine and good, until I started to fly some later blocks in the day. At first it was just somewhat humorous, take off in the morning, my instructor would spend the next hour turning me around, challenging me, and sometimes I would forget that we were returning and it was afternoon. I was still making my calls "Good Morning Hillsboro Tower.....". Occasionally, the tower would make a quick correction, and a quick laugh was had by all. Anyways, just after I had gotten my PPL(H), and was back after a couple weeks off, my instructor and I went out for a quick flight. I proceeded to our spot on the ramp, and finished my checks. Just as I am about to make my call, my instructor looks over, and jokingly says, "just remember, it's afternoon already". Right. Me: "Good Afternoon Hillsboro Tower, Helicopter XXXX at HAI with Bravo, requesting a south departure." Tower (sounded like he was almost laughing): "Good Morning Helicopter XXXX, cleared for a south departure." My instructor and I just looked at each other, and I tried not to chuckle while giving me readback. I think they are making fun of me. :ouch: Orographic ABC : ABC request taxi Rotorua, with information India, 1014, POB 1 I missed the rest , due to nearby laughter Callsign changed to protect the distracted ( after all, while the humor deserves to be shared, there is no point slamming the poor guy too much ) Sweet Potatos 26th Feb 2008, 08:21 Heard today... Heli calls up low level and as usual due to a bloody great big hill, we can't talk to him .... ATC: Heli803 Could you relay traffic on yourself to low level company traffic G-XXXC (Heli Relays - sterling effort, even got the QNH in, and then does it again off his own back to another A/C) ATC: Heli803, thanks for that, if you would take a pay cut we could get you a job :ok: :} HEATHROW DIRECTOR 26th Feb 2008, 08:36 Lon More. No doubt you know Les West?? On the day of his last medical just before retirement he popped downstairs to the medical centre and had a mooch around. When the doc came to give him his eye test he asked Les to read to lowest line and Les said "10CA 234567". He'd mugged up the reference number of the sight test box and "read" the numbers, which were about 1/4" high!!! The doc was initially amazed.... but he knew Les and soon fell about! matsATC 27th Feb 2008, 19:02 Brussels east controller calling to Maastricht Brussels south sector, where a female controller picks up the phone: "SWR123 is requesting FL250 only for the cruise. Do you accept him at this level, it will be quite a pain in the ass?" The lady, giggling: "yes of course, I'll take it!" And that's when my colleague realised what he had just said... You got to love the new instant replay function on our phone system! pdcta 28th Feb 2008, 10:39 Happens to me few weeks ago... Me: AircraftABC climb to and maintain FL330, further climb in 4 minutes due to opposite traffic above. Pil: Climb to FL330, AircraftABC. ... (STCA advisory on my radar due to high rate of climb) Me: AircraftABC maintain FL330 when reaching opposit traffic above. Pil: Maintain FL330 when reaching, AircraftABC. ... (C Mode on my radar display FL320) Pil: Approaching FL330 for higher, AircraftABC. :ugh: Me: I SAY AGAIN, MAINTAIN! Traffic above, 12 o'clock, 6 miles opposite direction. Pil: ...Traffic in sight and on TCAS... AircraftABC! Other Pil on frequency: You're damn stupid! Another different voice: Oh, yes you are! :D:D Darren999 2nd Mar 2008, 19:36 I am not a controller, but heard this chap in Philly, then found this. I think he has a wonderful sense of humor.. Hope you enjoy. Furthermore, click on the New York grd controller, thats funny too.. http://youtube.com/watch?v=j2z0ZwI4bwE Skyjuggler 18th Mar 2008, 00:28 I was under dual on tower having reloacted to a new station, a DH8C just completing his landing roll reported a bird strike on landing, an A319 hot on his heels on final approach. Wild life control was on the ball and immediately called me and said the aircraft had struck a stork, but it was lying clear of the runway. ATC: "ABC123 the preceeding DH8C had a birdstrike on landing, there may be some remains on the runway, are you happy to continue?" "ABC123, that all depends, are the remains from the bird or the DH8C?" :D anychanceofanupgrade 18th Mar 2008, 20:45 Sitting in the bowels of the ATC centre, but gin clear day outside, BA flight calls up but not yet seen on radar. When he eventually appears on radar: ATC: I can see you now, squawk**** BA: Roger, **** coming down, I can see you too ATC: Is that you wearing a white shirt? BA: No, I'm wearing a jumper - that's my mate you can see Darren999 Now that's bloody funny!!!!!!! I cracked up!!! :ok: :) The Nr Fairy 19th Mar 2008, 06:49 Qn A-model Jetranger (i.e. underpowered at best of times) without a rotor brake (i.e. wait for ages for everything to stop spinning on shutdown) at a South of England aerodrome, on their Air Day, on the hottest day of the year (even less power !). Calling for start, having been turned down on several occasions due to various things: "XXX Tower - JetRanger would like to request callsign change to 'Optimist' and then request a start". Lobby Ludd 20th Mar 2008, 21:29 Heathrow Director - that's a goodun, never knew that happened! I'll mention it to Les when I see him next (son of Les) :ok: Lon More Bren, the name is familiar, but can't place him. Wish I'd thought of that on my last medical though hank delmonte happened today a small cherokee with student pilot just after touchdown ATC: 9***** where are you parking? 9****: I don't know, just to tie up. anywhere ATC: 9***** taxi to anywhere on starting again "Tower 9***** is at anywhere request taxi to active" aviatcoin lucky u for getting away scotfree:D:D richatom 10th Apr 2008, 13:28 I am not a controller, but heard this chap in Philly, then found this. I think he has a wonderful sense of humor.. Hope you enjoy. Furthermore, click on the New York grd controller, thats funny too.. http://youtube.com/watch?v=j2z0ZwI4bwE (http://youtube.com/watch?v=j2z0ZwI4bwE) Listeining to that it is hardly surprising that US controllers complain about foreign pilots not understanding them! chaka534 Female controller somewhere in the south. On landline to me (for traffic info).... "Has anyone seen my Beaver"???? Was on a quiet friday afternoon and the speaker was on--much laughter was heard from the approach room!! Also a landline call from approach to tower... Whats the Basset doing ?? They dont make um like that any more lol:D Defruiter "X, Stand Y, Request push and start" "X, Push and start approved, stand Y" "Push and start approved, we may be a little slow pushing back, it's a women tug driver, X" :} jb2_86_uk 18th Apr 2008, 20:09 spent the last 3 days (on and off) reading all 52 pages and ive had some good laughs! Of course it would only be 32 pages if there werent 15 reposts of the Frankfurt 1944 joke and the scottish air traffic controllers video!!!! Looking forward to posting some of my own experiences in a few months when I start training! Keep it up guys and gals :ok: JB thanks guys some really funny stuff keep them coming:D 26th Apr 2008, 14:34 Heard recently at work: Pilot: "Good morning XXXX Approach, XXX with you level 160. Request your latest surface data please?" App/Twr: "XXX, XXXX Approach good morning. Descend to 7000', QNH 1013. Current surface data; (controller procedes to read out the METAR) Once the acft had landed and off loaded pax, etc. The pilot called for start again. Pilot: "XXXX Twr, XXX requesting start and your latest surface data please?" Stumped, the cotroller turned to me to confirm the ATIS was working. And yes, the ATIS was fully fuctional. Twr: "XXX, are you not picking up the ATIS?" Pilot: "Oh:ooh:...haven't tried that one yet:rolleyes:!" vectorz090 LOL .. Good stuff.. :ok: kepp them coming. GENEX69 28th Apr 2008, 13:15 In the old days reporting points had real names! In Eire we had Eagle Island and another on a route was Blackwater. A/C report 'Flightxxx reporting over Eagle Island time yy Fl330 next position Blackwater' Controller 'Roger Flight xxx next report passing Blackwater' Flightxxx ' Mister if I pass blackwater I'll holler' Skyjuggler 29th Apr 2008, 17:25 Happened to me a number of years ago. I was posted at a quiet procedural station. Pilot: first contact "TWR.......... er... Reportmy postion" Me: "Last caller say your callsign" Pilot: "Er ..ABC, request my position" I explained that as a procedural staion I was unable to see him on radar however I'd give the nearby sector a call and see if they could and get back to him. Me: "ABC, adjacent sector advises they have to on radar 25nm SE of my field, 5 500feet... Do you need some assistance?" Pilot: "copied..." Pilot: "TWR, report YOUR position!" I had to bite my tongue... whoseroundisit 4th May 2008, 00:39 overheard on radio several years ago, a PPL doing a jaunt around the area after requesting clearance back to Dublin airport and answering a query re his location by saying he was overhead Dublin port and lining up for RW34. (The 'chimneys' are in Dublin port and are a marker for RW34.) ATC; Have you the chimneys in sight? PPL; I have the 2 chimneys in sight. ATC then got him to do 2 right turns and announced 'Those chimneys you see are the Drogheda Cement works' ( Drogheda cement works is 50 odd km north of Dublin and their chimneys are about 200m shorter and 80m wider than the power station in Dublin port) adverse-bump 12th May 2008, 22:26 Aircraft X calls for push at lgw. told to hold by atc for a 737 with a tech prob, 737 says he needs 30 secs to clear it. about a minute latter, aircraft X calls up once again "im not been funny but how much longer do i need to wait" 737 "about 10 seconds" airline x eventually cleared to push, but moans "that was 5 minutes we have been waiting" unknown (prob airline x) - lots of moaning unknown "someone needs a cuddle!" SNovotny86 Pilot: "Praha Radar, BAW1023 requesting further descent!" ATC: "BAW1023, expect TCAS descent in 2 minutes." TAVLA Northbound 15th May 2008, 10:24 A light aircraft inbound, IFR, to Rand Airport, south west of Johannesburg Intl. Hoping that he would see the field and continue his descent VFR, clear of the final approach vectoring area for Jo'burg, I ask him ... "ZS-xxx, what are your in flight conditions?" A/C responds, "Everything is hunky dory thank you" :ugh: Friends, I thought that 1st of April was a few weeks ago. http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/05/swiss-man-strap.html I can recall the voice of an instructor: "What is the name of this separation, sir?" SV_741_India_Bravo XXX traffic, cessna XXX entering downfield for midwind one niner........ just did that one today! Darren999 Now that made me chuckle!!! :ok: Lorie Coffey 22nd May 2008, 13:06 There is a lot of stuff here that I would love to use in my forthcoming book on LATCC. If any of you would like to contact me direct with your stories for inclusion in this publication. If you look at the thread further down entitle Book on LATCC it will give more idea of what I am trying to achieve. These are exactly the bits and pieces I feel should go down in print for posterity! Lorie Coffey 28th May 2008, 01:39 Too busy talking to my passenger, obviousily not paying attention to the ATIS... Me: Glos Tower, G-XX with information err, um, err... whatever it was, Rwy 27, QNH 1015 (not even close) for taxi TWR: G-XX, Glos Tower, whatever it was has now changed to Mike, QNH is now 1005 and the Rynway is still 27, so one out of three correct! Me: Unable to replay as I was laughing so much.... am765 30th May 2008, 20:25 I'm currently flying light aircraft a lot around Sydney and typically encounter a lot of indian students from the bankstown pilot factories. One time after one of these indian pilots made a departure call a comedian in the circuit came over the radio, simpsons style, with 'thank-you. Come again'. Rightly or wrongly it still made me laugh. Lon More Almost as old as me; apologies if it's been posted before. "JAL nnn resume own navigation to Pole Hill." "Dilec whea?" Following several inbound calls made by students with heavy accents "Tower, XYZ, tomahawk, inbound with information PAPADOM....":} white_elephant Heathrow Ground and BA pilot................ HG - SpeedbirdXXX are you fully parked? BA - Errrr about another 4" sir........ HG - Roger thats good enough for me BA - My wife says the same....... Cue laughter from ground!! :D kooim 9th Jun 2008, 08:59 Some years ago I worked in a major Centre in Australia.The weather was exceptionally bad, and there were jets all over the place. I was doing an arrivals sector, and the controller sitting beside me had the airspace with the one hole in the weather. After copping nearly everyone's traffic that afternoon the final straw had come. He looked at the mess coming towards him, and remarked .. "I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but for f$cks sake, keep that Virgin away from me" !!!! MMEMatty 19th Jun 2008, 15:56 When i was a lowly PPL bashing the circuit at Teesside, had the ultimate feeder line... ATC "G-KV you are number 2 to a Fokker 100 on a 4 mile final, report visual" [Pause for effect...] Me "G-KV Visual... I have the fokker in sight" ATC "You've always wanted to say that haven't you?" Me "Oh Yes" 24th Jun 2008, 15:03 Last Thursday 19 June, about 1600 local .. very efficient sounding G- XXXX " Filton Approach, G-XXX with you at XXXX on XXXX, out of XXXXX for XXXX, waffle waffle,....... and we have information Victor" Filton Approach " Ah, that's interesting, we don't have an ATIS...." Well, it made me chuckle. Ian Brooks Heard a couple of weeks back at Lands End on a very blustery day Microlight G-** just passing Pendeen ground speed 15 Knts Controller Roger hope you have bought some sandwiches with you Just made me laugh gotta_love_P28A 25th Jun 2008, 11:28 Me on my 2nd solo nav training for PPL, after slightly bouncy crosswind landing and flustered taxi call I took off again and was departing Essendon via Yan Yean (a massive lake/reservoir) EN TWR in a very -I'm talking to an idiot- kind of voice "XYZ Yan Yean is at your 12 oclock, 1 mile, clear to close this frequency" (Yan yean was filling about 3/4 of my windscreen at this point!) :} Slo Moe Excellent story! LoL! Rima Alpha... Skyjuggler 3rd Jul 2008, 05:51 The other day there was a distinctly new lady pilot on frequency with an exceptionally nice voice... She calls me up on ground for the clearance with I give (with absolute pleasure). She finishes up the read back and before I can say anything someone else cuts in and says: "My apologies, I didn't catch that, say again..." Again, before I could say anything, she starts off and gives me the whole thing again... When she finishes our anonymous hero steps in again, "Thanks, I'm not ground and I heard it all the first time. But I just wanted to hear you say it again!":O Good job that man!!:D YouTube - JFK ATC Bad Day at the office - Funny (http://youtube.com/watch?v=eyO-bWGxWBU) Made me smile 11th Jul 2008, 20:08 (Don't know whether or not this has already been posted so apologies if it has) Was crossing the north sea a while ago and heard (and recognised) a colleagues (anonymous) voice say to London: "I'm bored!!" Silence from London et al. Then: "Correction; i'm f**king bored!!" London: "Who said that?" Stunned silence on a normally busy frequency, followed by: "I said i'm f**king bored, not f**king stupid!!" Could not string two coherent words together for some minutes! Lon More Don't know whether or not this has already been posted back when Pontius was a Pilot:) Bindook 14th Jul 2008, 04:40 An Aussie version of the same story posted by Captainsmiffy- About 20 something years ago a sector north of Melbourne was being worked at night by a Flight Service Officer (a sort of poor man's air traffic controller using procedural separation before there was decent radar coverage) Unidentified aircraft: "Jeez I'm f***ing bored!" The FSO operating the sector, who was probaby a bit bored himself, nevertheless felt it was his duty to protect the airways so he called up individually each of the aircraft known to be in the sector: Melbourne: "ABC, did you make an obsene transmission?" ABC: "Negative" Melbourne: "DEF, did you make an obsene transmission?" DEF: "Negative" And so on until all aircraft had responded. Silence on the frequency until a few minutes later comes a transmission: "Jeez I wan't that f***ing bored" Uncle Chop Chop 14th Jul 2008, 06:17 We were on a radar heading from the north after asking for visual appproach into NZWN, waiting to sight a 737 joining a long final from the south and going slow. The 73 is going very slowly as ATC keeps asking me can I see it yet to which I finally reply "ah......think so got some lights about 1 oclock but seems a long way off" to which the controller replies with tone in voice "yes thats him if I'd known he was going to join finals via the sub-antarctic I'd have made you no.1". Ouch. FougaMagister 15th Jul 2008, 14:54 Evening approach into Milan-MXP last week; ATC clears us for the approach while still way out and descending through FL130... The CPT (I was PF) then radios: "xxxxx 8SA, fully established ILS 35R at 37 miles" :p Without missing a beat, our friendly ATCO answers "roger, keep the speed!" First time I've ever been on the glide at 240 kts :ok: Scooby Don't Fouga - I guess you don't fly for Ryanair then.... :E lederhosen Heard last night over the dark continent, Atc. xxxx report your speed in knots xxxx 294 knots Atc. 293 knots or less xxxx reducing 293 knots adverse-bump 19th Jul 2008, 22:22 GATWICK GROUND: XX01 contact tower and report ready on 124.225 should be able to get you away immediate. XX01: Tower 124.22 XX01: Gatwick Tower XX01 taxiing C1, and we are fully ready SIR GATWICK TOWER: (Very pissed off, and very female controller) Rodger hold C1. Silence! lizplt 23rd Jul 2008, 22:50 To set the scene this was at Heathrow and where the British Airways Flying Club used to get their planes repainted in the same BA livery as the big jets. Waiting to take off was a British Airways 747, then a BritishAirwaysFlyingClub Piper Warrior and following that an American Airlines Jet. American Airlines pilot watching whats ahead of him and in a very thick American accent: "Hey Speedybird, looks like you've given birth!" :D:D:D:D This is another great story I was told by a BA Captain. Unknown aircraft: "SHIT!" ATC: "Who was that?? Identify yourself" Long pause.... American Airlines pilot: "We didn't say shit" BA Pilot: "We didn't say shit" Air Canada Pilot: "We didn't say shit" Followed by just about every other pilot on frequency! :D:D:D:D 'HXX5060, ready for a quicky 27L ?!' Pilot 'Sure thing, just let me fly to XXX first, we'll be back in an hour!' TWR 'Excellent, cleared for T/O 27L...' :ok: chrisbl 28th Jul 2008, 18:45 Flying from Cambridge to Elstree a week ago, were listening out on the Luton Approach frequency. An agitated controller was urging an aircraft away from the Stansted runway centreline. Eventually the aircraft seemed to understand what was going on and got out of the zone. A couple of minutes later a sheepish PIC came on air to apologise for the incursion. Pilot: �Sorry about that � we are on an IMC training detail and thought we were at Royston and got a bit lost.� ATC: �Well you failed that then didn�t you.� msr001 5th Aug 2008, 04:28 Apologies if this has already been posted. Virgin 737 has just been cleared for take-off and is rolling. QANTAS 737 is instructed to "line up and wait, there'll be a short delay while the Virgin gets a bit ahead". Hmmm, sounds funnier when you hear it rather than read it. lido_master I hope that not too much will be lost in translation. Story told by one colleague about another one. Training IFR inbound EPWA: ATC: Do you have Raszyn in sight? (short explanation: Raszyn (sounds like "Russian") place near EPWA with some radio masts) xxx: No, I don't. ATC: Do you have Raszyn in sight? xxx: Negative. Now the guy tries to ensure himself, that no one, especially any Russian is on board but he and his instructor. again: ATC:Do you have Raszyn in sight? Now our hero is imaging not very well shaved man, with fur hat, smelling vodka, with big bag on his laps - just Russian from far Siberia inside his plane. xxx: Negative. ATC: Dou you have Raszyn in sight... oh disregard, you have just passed it. after landing: Why they were asked us if we have Russian inside? Story which always make me laughing. Hope you too. Fighter Controller, not too long ago... F3, "Boulmer, Export 1, any news on my playmate?" FC, "He's working a slag on the ground for the next ten minutes." I think she meant to say 'SNAG'... kristofvi 26th Aug 2008, 15:06 This happened a few years ago at Maastricht UAC shortly after CPDLC (Controller-Pilot Data Link Connection) had been introduced. Not many airlines were Data Link equipped so we reckoned this new cockpit feature would be tempting to play with. A United Airlines flight from Frankfurt to the States entered our airspace, still climbing to FL320. Suddenly this particular flight requests FL380 via Data Link, much to our surprise as it is quite a high cruising level to start with for a long haul flight. So the radar controller asks him via voice transmission: Maastricht: "UAL123, we've just received your request via CPDLC... uhm... confirm you are actually looking for FL380? Or are you just trying out the Data Link system?" UAL123 (without missing a beat): "Sir if I'd be testing the Data Link system I would ask for a tall Scandinavian blonde, don't you think?" Maastricht (with an amused voice and laughter in the background): "Haha, I guess!" After a brief pauze a deep male Scandinavian voice came on: "What can I do for you?" UAL123: "Uhm... uhm... well, it's not for me - it's for the co-pilot..." At Maastricht we were on the floor laughing! :D kristofvi 26th Aug 2008, 15:22 A classic one perhaps... A KLM flight bound for Amsterdam was descending abeam Eelde (EEL) in the Dutch FIR, coming from somewhere up North. Our radar showed the aircraft had initiated a significant turn hence the radar controller investigated... Maastricht: "KLM1234, confirm you are making a right turn?" KLM1234: "Affirm! Turning back shortly!" Maastricht: "KLM1234, what is the reason for the turn?" KLM1234: "Oh uhm, it's a very clear day today, and banking the aircraft allowed me to see my house from up here..." Maastricht: "Roger... next time please report before turning" This is when another pilot stepped in and said: "Hey KLM, can you also see the car on the driveway?" ;) kristofvi 26th Aug 2008, 17:36 By now this story has become a classic anecdote at Maastricht UAC. Imagine the scene in the Ops Room... Traffic was fairly busy with a lot of chatting on the frequency. Earlier a US-bound Lufthansa had asked for a better direct routing, which had to be co-ordinated with the colleagues at Copenhagen ACC first. Right after the Lufthansa's request the radar controller got too busy for him to ask his planning controller what direct routing had been offered by Copenhagen (as this is not a priority in busy times). Nevertheless the Lufthansa pilot reminded us about his request. Fair enough. The radar controller - still busy - quickly turns to his planner and asks: "What direct routing did Copenhagen give us for the Lufthansa?" At the same time another colleague was standing right behind these two controllers, getting the coffee and tea orders for everyone. It so happened he posed his coffee question at the same time the radar was shouting for the direct routing. Lazy as controllers tend to be, the planner only picked up the drink request and answered: "Mint tea!" The coffee guy wrote it down, but our meanwhile hectic radar controller had also taken this for an answer and asked, slightly confused: "MINTI??". The planner - now looking at his tube again - took it for granted the coffee guy just asked him for confirmation (and obviously did not realise that the radar had been asking him something as well) so he simply replied: "Yes, yes! Mint tea!". The phone rings, the planner picks it up and misses that the radar clears the Lufthansa as follows: Maastricht: "DLH123, proceed direct to MINTI" DLH123: "Uhrrrr... roger... direct to MINTI, confirm?" Maastricht: "Affirm, sir. MINTI" 2 minutes pass, and finally the Lufthansa comes back... DLH123: "Maastricht, I'm sorry but can you spell MINTI for me please? I cannot seem to find it" Maastricht: "Standby" The radar turns to his planner and asks: "How do you spell MINTI? Is it mike india november tango india??" Planner: "Huh? What?" Radar: "Well, you gave me MINTI for that Lufthansa before, right? How do you spell it??" At this point the planner realised what had happened and bursted out in manic laughter: "No! I ordered a MINT TEA!!". The radar immediately caught up with the silly situation and could not stop himself from laughing. He was unable to say anything for at least half a minute or so. Situations like this one just get so much more momentum when they are preceded by tense moments. And that is when I like to job the most! :) :ok: wire12 yeah that is right only the first part foxyankee 27th Aug 2008, 22:32 Really nice story! But another example for certain situations for a lack of communication between co and radar-ATCO when working withou paper-strips....especially in busy situation like those. Uhh.....bad times... 28th Aug 2008, 17:14 a lack of communication between co and radar-ATCO when working withou paper-strips.... 1. This is a humour thread. Don't let the truth get in the way of a good joke. 2. just how would little pieces of paper have prevented this misunderstanding? FWIW most of the controllers at Maastricht nowadays have never worked live traffic with strips. foxyankee Veeeeery easy: CO writes down the given and coordinated dircet clearance onto the strip It happened at Maastricht UAC; Flight Data mini strips were updated by a Co-ordinator who was not sat next to the executive. The strips were about 14 cm long and had no place to put this info on. What if the pilots had found an intersection with sounds like MINTI and had selected a heading towards this unknwown fix......uhhhh... not a lot, The controllers at Maastricht concentrate on a dynamic display, not a collection of scraps of paper which may, or may not, represent the actual situation, Again, this is a thread for humour - to quote something often heard there in the past, "German humour is not a laughing matter.":) Let's just drop it. David Horn 1st Sep 2008, 02:40 Some time ago: "Ah, tower, I think there is something wrong with your PAPIs. They are all showing red..." niknak 9th Sep 2008, 20:01 To the airline pilot who recently told me, "personally I would have used the word arse, but you're far politer then I am..." I salute you Sir! :p:):D Katamarino 17th Sep 2008, 14:45 Another time, cleared to land with the advisory "traffic on the runway is a turtle crossing right to left, advise in sight".... Was this at Fort Pierce in May/June 2005? If so, I was flying that day too - "Report the Turtle in sight" :O Katamarino 17th Sep 2008, 16:02 And to chip in with my own experience from flying round the US last summer.. 1) En route from Crystal River to Sarasota, we decide to check in for flight following. Me: Miami Centre (I think it was), Skyhawk N961MC... MC: Skyhawk 1MC, go ahead Me: Blah blah... MC: 1MC, I have you on radar, squa.......(silence) 10 or 15 seconds later he comes back on frequency MC: Sorry about that 1MC, we're having a bit of fun here today, and somebody unplugged me :eek: Simonblaine Scooby Don't 19th Sep 2008, 18:12 Air Blue XXX, Bavarian captain: ahh departures, is zer some kind of strange, funny noise coming through viss my transmissions? Departures: I would never say that about your accent, sir! Luckily, he had a SOH. ChampChump The usual fairly busy comms at Headcorn. G-XXXX good afternoon, inbound from yyy request joining information G-XXXX 11 left QFE 1030 etc All measured and pleasant, vaguely as per the book. Then, equally pleasant, but a shock to all sensitive ears: HEADCORN RADIO, G-ZZZZ RADIO CHECK G-ZZZZ readability 6 Thanks Pat, I enjoyed that. Lon More Better than 2 by 2 Too loud New student with instructor onboard strayed into the TMA, TWR: S-XX you are penetrating my TMA Student: Penetrating your TMA, S-XX Happily unaware of what he just did :\ Guess the instructor had to sort out the paperwork. Skyjuggler Aircraft on 4nm final approach, just been issued clearance to land. Pilot: Tower, is there going to be a delay for our outbound flight to XXX Tower: Affirm, they need 15 minutes between departures. Pilot: Uh, copied..... Request push back and start!:D Surferboy As told by a now pensioned controller: Controller: 'ABCxxx, confirm visual with traffic on righthand side' ABCxxx: 'Ehh, negative..' Controller: 'Roger, juuuuust keep looking right' (Hint, this was before TCAS :E) jetstar1 18th Oct 2008, 10:46 To the Camden Tower controller today who told a Twin Commanche that his inbound call was 'about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike': I am still wiping the tears from my eyes! I salute you! chiglet 18th Oct 2008, 13:09 Funny as it may seem, but I did have an ashtray on my BMW K100 motorcycle :ok: aermacchi We were simulating some unusual occurances: Pilot (a girl...): Maastricht, mayday, we have smell of co%k in the cockpit!!" ATC: -no comment- Instructor: Laughing his head off.. timelapse An american pilot flying over southern england atc: xxx report your position a/c: currently 10miles west of Looga burooga ATC: Ah that will be Loughborough sir fyrefli ITYF it makes more sense if you spell "Loughborough" correctly :D smith 20th Oct 2008, 23:42 sorry I am Scottish, thought it was the same way as Edinburgh was spelt or Edinboro as the yanks say Lon More 21st Oct 2008, 09:16 The American cousins found a few new places in days gone by; Saint Rumble = Strumble was a favouritr undervaluedATC 21st Oct 2008, 09:32 I had an American VFR pilot call up and ask for the weather at (phonetically) "Mara - Ka - Dor - e" had me scratching my head until I figured out he meant Maroochydore. (Ma-roo-chee-door):ok: Scooby Don't I believe the old story was of a flight of F-111s on a navex. ATC - "what's your next waypoint and estimate" F-111 - "St Rumble at xxxx" ATC - "you must mean Strumble, and where after that?" F-111 - "then Stabbs at time xxxx" ATC - "that would be St Abbs...." Lon More Scooby - pretty good navs then. Two TACANs about 350nm apart. in different countries:hmm: Farmer 1 21st Oct 2008, 16:14 Not that it ever came up as regards ATC, but just down the road from St Rumble, sorry, Strumble, is Stan's, sorry, St Annes. Storminnorm Wasn't he a seaman in Captain Pugwash? :ok: Scooby Don't 22nd Oct 2008, 04:21 Lon - if an F-111 can fly all the way from Lakenheath to Libya with multiple inflight refuels, and still find the French embassy, I'm pretty sure 350 nm was no problem for them at all. And I did say it was a story. Search under "life: getting a". :E Atcham Tower 22nd Oct 2008, 09:01 Walls-eye was a common one from Americans, maybe still is. And I once heard Cree-wee for Crewe! Ian Brooks And of course there was always Dodger Bank in the middle of the North Sea ( that is going back a few years ) Ian ATIS recording at Gillespie the other day: "...advice on initial contact you have information Echooo... Echooo... Echooo" Gotta cheer those Yankees for some brilliant humour in between all screaming and shouting!! smith American B52 on a training flight and Instructor pulls an engine on approach B-52: 30miles out, simulated engine failure for the ILS ATC: Ah the dreaded seven engine landing, cleared for the approach. dagowly On PAR - "4 miles, Cxxxx to roll and join" tower - "call by 2" PAR - "2 1/4 miles, Cxxxx to roll and join" tower - "break off the approach, idiot on the runway" i just started laughing, probably one of those situations you just had to be there :ouch: Skyjuggler Overheard the other day by one of our more experienced controllers... "ABC123, maintain 210kts, standby for the reduction!":eek: I can only imagine what the pilot thought I must add quickly, that although his R/T is somewhat less than standard, the old guy can still move traffic:) generalspecific 30th Oct 2008, 04:52 flying along in the mighty R22 at all of 90kts.. HK's airspace split into reporting "Zones" and the route was New Town - Tolo - Port Shelter. I call New Town and then have a brain fart and call entering Port Shelter. Controller says "fastest 22 i've ever seen" .... :D flightsearch DLH XXX, turn left heading 315, report new heading :D:D:D DC-ATE 9th Nov 2008, 17:58 I've read through many, many pages here but must confess I have not read ALL 57 pages...yet. So, I hope something similar has not been posted already. One of my favorites, and, true: Years ago when the transition from (Statute) Miles per Hour to (Nautical) Miles per Hour was taking place in the aviation industry there were obviously airplanes with the "older" MPH Airspeed gauges still installed. One such airplane was Twin Bonanza 5636D. Seems like 36 Delta was enroute somewhere and the Center asked him for his airspeed. 36 Delta replied, "150 Miles Per Hour, Sir." The Controller came back with, "What is that in Knots?" 36 Delta replied: "I dunno, this is a Beechcraft, not a Chris Craft, you figure it out!" GhostUK 10th Nov 2008, 11:26 I hope one day I'll understand atleast one of these ATC jokes.. fingers crossed anyway. Stage one coming soon. :) hvogt 10th Nov 2008, 14:52 Heard this one in Hamburg the other day. Female controller with gorgeous voice on the tower. Number one on departure goes: "Air France two two one zero, runway three three, cleared for take-off. Au revoir, madame." Next one on departure with mock french accent: "Lufthansa deux deux juliette, runway trois trois, cleared for take-off. Au revoir, madame." Cyclopps Its 08 and it sitll happens at vero beach. visibility3miles Not a dialog, but an amusing ATC video on YouTube: Highly Skilled Air Traffic Controllers for FedEx route airplanes around a thunderstorm approaching the terminal. YouTube - Highly Skilled Air Traffic Controller (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdrSBzy8NwQ) Lurking123 G-AB - "Tower, what time are you closing?" Tower [laconic] - "When you land" G-AB - "G-AB final, touch and go" Tower - "G-AB cleared to land, surface wind..." zesheriff I should have come on this topic earlier... I'll start with a cheater... Tower (me) : "ABC, continue ILS Approach, reduce to minimal approach speed" ABC : "We have already minimal speed" Tower : "For information, you have two heavy lined up ahead for departure on the rwy..." ABC : "Roger, reducing speed" 15th Nov 2008, 18:47 Had a bit of a mess up today on the RT with Scottish Information! I was flying an aircraft G-ABCD then another aircraft G-AFCD came on to the same frequency also. I was aware of this and was told by ATC "G-ABCD, please use full call-sign whilst transimitting, another very similar call-sign is on the frequency&quot; My reply was &quot;Will use full call-sign G-ABCD when transmitting, G-CD *pause* err G-ABCD!!!" Thought i would share it with you all! The Jolly Roger Indian Carrier (say it again airlines!!), transiting the airspace the other day... ATC - "ABC123 cleared x,y and z" Pilot - "Roger sir, cleared direct z" ATC - "Negative, cleared x, y, and z" Pilot - "Affirm Sir, cleared x, then z" ATC - "Negative, cleared x, y then z" Pilot - "Roger, cleared x, ....eeerrrrr...say again pleez"..... Approx 5 transmissions later......we got it..... Local Pilot in southern american drawl comes on and says..."did you guys just launch to the moon!!!!!"......:D:D:D By the way...anyone see the moon wobble last night????....Gulfnews: Moon landing sparks celebrations in India (http://www.gulfnews.com/world/India/10260003.html) andrijander 16th Nov 2008, 09:03 Expecting a departure from Leipzig which needed to be cleared in the upper airspace, callsign World WOAxxxx, I receive a call from the Bremen radar: Bremen: hello, something for the world? me:...peace, love and understanding? me: you mean the world xxxx? bremen: affirm (not very amused, I must add) cheers, Sudden Stop 16th Nov 2008, 13:00 I was recently asked if I wouldn't mind awfully taking a 40% pay cut and doing some extra hours? := Made me laugh anyway.... London City's new Controller rest room has been designed to comply with SCRATCOH requirements... Photon85 Man, I've read all 57 pages. Took me like 3 days! haha Good ones! :):D wazzer1976 25th Nov 2008, 13:17 Received in my inbox today, some are on here already, I'm sure some are urban myths but hey lets not allow the truth to spoil the fun :ok: Actual exchanges between pilots and control towers 11/2008 Tower:"Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o'clock, 6 miles!" Delta 351:"Give us another hint! We have digital watches!"**************************************************************************************************Tower:"TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 Degrees."TWA 2341:"Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?" Tower: "Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?" **************************************************************************************************O'Hare Approach Control to a 747:"United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o'clock, three miles, Eastbound."United 329:"Approach, I've always wanted to say this..I've got the little Fokker in sight."************************************************************************************A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked,"What was your last known position?"Student:"When I was number one for takeoff."***************************************************************************************************A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down. San Jose Tower Noted: "American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadeloupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport."**************************************************************************************************** A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich , overheard the following: Lufthansa (in German):" Ground, what is our start clearance time?"Ground (in English):"If you want an answer you must speak in English."Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany . Why must I speak English?"Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent):"Because you lost the bloody war!"*****************************************************************************************************One day the pilot of a Cherokee 180 was told by the tower to hold short of the active runway while a DC-8 landed. The DC-8 landed, rolled out, turned around, and taxied back past the Cherokee. Some quick-witted comedian in the DC-8 crew got on the radio and said,"What a cute little plane. Did you make it all by yourself?" The Cherokee pilot, not about to let the insult go by, came back with a real zinger:"I made it out of DC-8 parts. Another landing like yours and I'll have enough parts for another one."**************************************************************************************************** The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurtground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206. Speedbird 206:" Frankfurt , Speedbird 206 clear of active runway."Ground:"Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven."The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop. Ground:"Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"Speedbird 206:"Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."Ground round (with quite arrogant impatience):"Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?" Speedbird 206 (coolly):"Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, -- And I didn't land." ************************************************************************************************* While taxiing at London 's Gatwick Airport , the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727. An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming:"US Air 2771, where the hell are you going? I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it's difficult for you to tell the difference between C and D, but get it right!" Continuing her rage to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically:"God! Now you've screwed everything up! It'll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don't move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?" "Yes, ma'am,"the humbled crew responded.Naturally, the ground control communications frequency fell terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to chance engaging the i rate ground controller in her current state of mind. Tension in every cockpit out around Gatwick was definitely running high. Just then an unknown pilot broke the silence and keyed his microphone, asking:"Wasn't I married to you once?" Have briefs 25th Nov 2008, 14:01 Loving this thread. Takes me back many, many years to when I used to man co.freq. 131.8 (Bealine London)for the then BEA flight ops. This was operated by both a button on the mike and, for hands free, a floor switch. How many times was I caught out by someone asking me some very personal question about my sex life and wondering why they were giggling, till I saw the red TX light on the set glowing and shoved their foot off the floor switch !!!!! :\ rodan Only posted about 20 times before. Have briefs Anonymous voice: "You could suck my eggs anytime". RMarvin86 2nd Dec 2008, 17:01 A couple of months ago after my first solo x-country flight in Italy I did use English phraseology for practice, which is not really appreciated by ATCOs as I increase their workload. After landing TWR came over with the following: "I-IABS on ground at xx..ehm are you a military pilot?" "Ehm.. on ground at xx ... and negative just a student!!" I had a good laugh and did smile for some time. (had only 17 flight hours at the time) :) lucavettu 2nd Dec 2008, 17:34 A couple of months ago after my first solo x-country flight in Italy I did use English phraseology for practice, which is not really appreciated by ATCOs as I increase their workload. After landing TWR came over with the following: "I-IABS on ground at xx..ehm are you a military pilot?" "Ehm.. on ground at xx ... and negative just a student!!" I had a good laugh and did smile for some time. (had only 17 flight hours at the time) Sorry to ask, but... ...what's the funny part of it? :suspect: RMarvin86 Sorry to ask, but... ...what's the funny part of it? http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/cwm13.gif It was funny at the time as I just achieved an important step of my flight training and I was asked with such a strange question. I still don't understand why, but I guess it was because I was using English phraseology and they were not used to! (it's an intl airport). Probably it's more funny when I fly VFR in Italy using English RT and the guys at the other side of the mike get annoyed and switch to italian :ugh: I was just sharing my personal experience :p You don't like it? you skip it. chephy 8th Dec 2008, 03:09 As a student pilot, I had my share of radio blunders. Here is one. I'm returning to my home base on the last leg of my first solo cross-country. Due to stronger winds than predicted, later start than anticipated, and lower a/c performance than published, the flight has taken longer than I thought it would. I realize that I might end up cutting it a little too fine with respect to the search and rescue time, so I decide to call up a flight information centre, give them a position report and a new ETA. Me: London Radio, this is C-XXXX, position report. London Radio: C-XXXX, go ahead. Me: London Radio, C-XXXX is on a VFR flight plan, en route to so-and-so airport, at such-and-such altitude, over such-and-such town, yada-yada-yada (where yada-yada-yada is the rest of the relevant details) London Radio: Roger. So far so good, and I should have just stopped there, of course, but because this is the first time I strayed any distance from my controlled homebase, that exchange just didn't feel right. Before this flight, talking to someone on the ground equalled talking to the ATC, and the voice on the other end always gave me instructions at the end! Plus, that last "Roger" didn't sound like an end to a conversation; the intonation seemed to be implying that there was more for me to say... and I already said everything I thought I was supposed to. So, knowing full well that I'm doing something kinda dumb, I keyed the mike and meekly asked: Me: Um, London radio... is there anything you would like me to do? If I were London radio people, I probably would have said something along the lines of "draw me a bath". But they seemed perplexed, not amused, by my silly question, and just mumbled something along the lines of "Um, no, C-XXXX, it's all good, have a good flight". Opinel At a glider site's take-off position. Take-off supervisor to winch driver. Supervisor: "ASK-21 heavy at the northern rope. Start pulling." Driver: "ASK-21 heavy...???" Supervisor: "Yeah. My missis is on board." Reported by Klaus Nuss pax britanica 10th Dec 2008, 17:17 More humorous than intentional humour although the BA captains' comments are shall we say tinged with a hint of sarcasm. Both times I am listening to ATC as family on board and want to be sure they get away ok. It�s late at night about 2330 in Bermuda in the 1980s. Kindley Field (BDA was a US Naval Air Station doubling as a civil airport had US Military controllers handling the civil fights. The 5 times a week BA Tri-Star is the last (only) night departure and has just pushed back. 'BA 2233 ready for taxi ' says a very British voice No answer Again BA 2233 etc etc .....repeats 4 times in fact Fifth time a very exasperated BA 'Captain Speaking' voice calls the tower frequency to complain that he is the only aircraft on the field and why isn't he being answered. Tower explains � �Oh we did not answer as we have flashed you a green signal light�. You can sense the stunned reaction on the flight deck and several seconds elapse before before, �Well , I am afraid we Brits have moved on a bit since signal lights and I would like a proper taxi clearance please!!!' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the other hand people can talk a little too much (though there was not much to do on the nightshift in Bermuda Tower) BA Tri Star 'Bermuda Tower BA2233 for Airways clearance please' (excuse me if I have the reporting points wrong) Tower 'BA2233 is cleared to London Heathrow Airport climbing ahead to 2000ft then enroute via FLANN, TARGA 35N 50W ( then all the Oceanic reports are listed) Lands End ,Sampton, Midhur..... at which point BA interrupts with � errr Yes I think we can just about manage to find our own way from there thank you' PB from personal experienece just few meeks ago. TWR: set squawk 6747 TWR: If u'll manage to set squawk 6748, just leave it looooooong silence max1 10th Jan 2009, 10:34 Asked outbound United today for his estimate for the FIR boundary (approximately 500nm to the boundary). Pilot needs to check and comes back with 'United XXX ahh ....one second (while he looks it up) Qantas wit dives in " Jeez thats quick" Semu An American tramp freighter departing Rome some years ago: ATC: Freightdog 123, president. A/C: Um say again? <franticly reviewing NOTAMs during climb> ATC: Freightdog 123, president. ATC: On your transponder, press ident. matsATC 15th Jan 2009, 19:17 In a complex airspace as the Belgian east sectors, things sometimes get even more complicated by the fact that Flemish and French speaking controllers are working together... Situation: Three French speaking controllers (trainee, instructor and planning) at the sector, trainee is holding the mike. Flight ANE8283 comes up on the radar, and since we don't see those very often, he asks the planning controller if he knows the callsign. Planning controller, helpful as he is, sais: 'oh, that's "EZEL"' (since ANE is French for donkey, and donkey in Flemish is EZEL). On first contact, the trainee replies with: 'EZEL 8283, radar contact!' It only took him a few extra seconds to realize his mistake...:rolleyes: DAL208 19th Jan 2009, 17:22 One from my own personal experience. EZY a/c departs early morning. Routine runway insection finds the departing a/c hit a bird on departure. I relay message to pilot through neighbouring sector, he seems fine. Later on in day whilst on Ground the same a/c came in taxiing back to stand. Pilot informs me he was pilot of bird stike flight from earlier in the day and asked me: Pilot: 'Ground, EZYxxx, hi, we were the ones who struck the bird on departure this morning, dont suppose you know what type of bird it was do you? For form-filling' Me (having found out a few hours earlier it was a very strange sounding bird that i'd never heard of): 'Ezyxxx, affirm, it was called a "xxxxxx' (cant remember name anymore) Pilot: 'oooh sounds rare..' I thought was funny...thats all that matters EltorroLoco 22nd Jan 2009, 01:33 It's cruel I know, but one should never pass up the opportunity to welcome an FNG (... new guy) by taking advantage of their lack of experience. Twr calls approach at Jhb International (it's name has changed several times, but at least this one had a location in it) and says some guy wants to join VFR, what would I like them to squawk. I naturally answer 2909. "But M'am it's too high" "Ok, squawk 2908" She didn't find it as amusing as me, I suppose it's also 'cos I bring it up after a few libations, which is after morning shifts, most evenings and weekends. Also, British Global freighters fly in from time to time, their designator being BGB. Again the Tower FNG asks what their callsign is, and I reply, "It's BUGBEAR". I'm sure you can guess the rest. Betablockeruk Heard on Amsterdam delivery. Delta pilot attempting to readback clearance: Delta XX: "That's a BERGI....er....um......can't read my writing" ATC: "That's ok, as long as you can fly the plane, that's what's important! Call ground for pushback [etc, etc]" Doug E Style 28th Jan 2009, 10:52 I love the Dutch approach to ATC; heard an inbound aircraft one day ask if there was any speed restriction to which the controller replied, "No Sir, you can go as fast as you dare!" ron83 28th Jan 2009, 12:37 yeah I like dutch as well,the other day, ACFT: Turkish xxx maintaining 300 kt fl 070. ATC: Turkish xxx very good:p RMarvin86 dutch controllers are well funny! YouTube - Funny ATC - Air Traffic Controller at Amsterdam Schiphol (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KFU1GKQNNU) ron83 a/p disconnected:pyeah we'll try to stop it:D Ollie268 heard this recently when talking to Scottish.... ATC - "Ryanair123 cleared direct XXXX" RYR - "Cleared...erm did you mean to say XXX?" ATC - "Yes sir, well done your great and im just rubbish!! Your cleared direct XXX!" Curious Pax 29th Jan 2009, 13:26 Always enjoyed listening to the Amsterdam approach controllers on a rough day, as they manoevered everyone round buildups etc - impressively cool to listen to - probably a bit more stressful for the guy doing it. Was listening the day after Raymond van Barneveld won the world title - a slightly startled sounding Northwest flight was cleared onto heading 'one hundred and eighhhhhhhhhhhhhhty'. 'err, say again?'. Don't think the pilot was a darts afficianado! Geezers of Nazareth 29th Jan 2009, 15:50 One for the Heathrow controllers ... any chance of a copy of the recording of the "Who's Ollie" from a few weeks ago in the snow? (Some people went to collect an aircraft from a remote stand, and wrote something in the snow. When they called-up to request clearance the Controller wanted to know who Ollie was! UAC48 29th Jan 2009, 16:58 Today on Maastricht UAC : Pilot checking in from Germany, destination EGLL : "XXXXXX XXX, may we maintain this level as long as possible" ATCo : "Of course, you can maintain till London if you like" FinalVectors Hi! Did hear a story at work today which made me laugh a lot :} Oslo ATCC/Oslo APP is currently in the process of redesigning our airspace. The "Point merge" system is currently running simulations in Paris. One of my collegues did have some problem with AMAN(arrival manager, which we don't have today in Oslo TMA..we do it the old manual stoneage way still), so on the debrief of the sim run he said as follows: "I got fu:mad::mad:ed by AMAN today" :} :} Well..not the most evolved humor, but just perfect for me :ok: Regards Dumbledor 19th Feb 2009, 10:04 A German gas balloon past majestically through the STN ATZ on 28.12.08 at around 1045. It would be great to get hold of a recording of the R/T on STN DIR 126.95. Would that be possible? Sorry if this has been covered before. It would not do it justice if I tried to remember it all. We were falling about in our little cockpit... FougaMagister Heard Friday evening around 2130Z in a (Southern) London sector: ATC: "- City-Ireland 5xxx, what is your speed?" Avro RJ85: "- Mach 0.65, but we can increase a bit" ATC: "- Probably not enough!" A bit harsh of the ATCO... :E NaFenn Grob: "XXX overhead XYZ, will make number 1 to the cessna" Tower: "XXX, Will you now" Grob: "That was the plan" Tower: "ABC, you got the grob 11 o'clock?" Cessna: "We've got him, ABC" Tower: "He is about to cut you off, have fun" Cessna: "greeeeeeeeat" AAA737300BF 17th Mar 2009, 13:05 Some years ago it was required in General Aviation in Germany to call Info at small airfields and report the name of PIC + persons on board prior to departure. At big airports, the PIC had to fill out a form at the terminal before departure. One day, this was heard on the ground frequency at DUS: Pilot 1: "D�sseldorf Ground, ehh, this is D-EABC, ehh, Cessna 172, emm, Muller + 3 to M�nchengladbach, emm, request taxi." ATC: "D-EABC, taxi runway 24 via M, cross runway 31." Pilot 1: "D-EABC, ehm, taxi runway 24, emm, via M." Pilot 2: "D�sseldorf Ground, ehh, this is Lufthansa 123, ehmm, Boeing 737, Huber and Schmitz + 125 to Berlin, ehmmm, request start and push..." I16 18th Mar 2009, 21:35 In January working Oslo back to Scottish. The Norwegian controller had a great accent, every time he handed somebody over he finished with a "So Long". However with his accent it sounded more like "Shalom"...The Hebrew for Peace. Sounded very relaxed and made us both smirk. Then a couple of minutes later we got a request to descend, earlier then planned. The call went "Corporate XYZ, descend FL 280, DUE traffic". Some moments later an EL AL passed infront of us 2000' above. I nearly wet my kecks... FougaMagister Heard last Thursday evening (20th March) on Brest frequency 125.500 (in French): - "Brest, bonsoir, French Post xxx, passing FL080 for FL180, Direct Pontoise" - "Bonsoir French Post xxx, are you happy to cruise at FL180?" - "Yeah, the flight is only so long" - "Roger, maintain FL180 on reaching. Call Paris on 128.8" - "128.8, French Post xxx. See you next time" - "There might not be a next time - I'm retiring in September. Don't even like to work at night anymore!" :zzz: mayday.call Two years back in Aqaba, a student going for his first solo, S: "MAx ready for departure" T: "Line up and wait MAx" Few minutes later T: "MAx wind is calm cleared for takeoff" S: "MAx Downwind for full stop" jangler909 Has this been here already? It's Land or Hold! Ace stuff! YouTube - Land or Hold FINAL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKO7fW9R-SA) Lon More 27th Mar 2009, 21:12 Back in the 1970s , before Euroccontrol moved to Maastricht and when we still used paper strips, blue for Westbound, buff for Eastbound (and red for dangerous according to our PR expert) a few of us were taking our break in the terminal building at Zaventem when a couple of Sabena CC walked past, one in beige and one in blue. their then current uniforms. Someone wondered out loud why two different uniforms. "Easy," answered a French colleague. "Blue for westbound flights, beige for eastbound." 1000tintoys 2nd Apr 2009, 21:25 Having just read through the past two years pages of whimsical 'real' recollections and jokes, all I can say is that I am relieved I have never flown, chaps.:ooh: I am surprised that fingers crossed repetitive strain injury isn't an epidemic in the aviation industry!!:cool: Mshamba 5th Apr 2009, 09:36 Years ago as i was practicing my first solo t&g during my PPL at EDSB. They just finished construction works expanding buildings including the tower. A RYR taxied into the normal takeoff position but didn't reported ready yet. I was asked for an immediate takeoff out of an intersection infront of the RYR which i affirmed. TWR: "D-Exxx your traffic pattern is a right hand circuit, when airborne turn immediate to the right there is a departure behind you, wind xxx/xx, runway 03 cleared for immediate takeoff." Having in mind the "big" 737 of RYR behind me, 50 feet under my wheels i turned my C150 immediately to the right, just as being told. Infront of my windscreen the tower itself was rising as i was heading straight into it. TWR: "D-Exxx, not that much to the right, take care the tower is quite new..." The RYR pilots just laughed into their mics... Phase A couple whilst training at headcorn Ac: Loverair356 request transit through your overhead. twr: Loverair, whats that an airline or a bloody dating agency!:D Islander lands after an engine faliure: Ac: We must have forgot to do somthing Twr: Yeah carb heat, tw*t :E Captain-Random 5th Apr 2009, 23:42 Had a nice pair of sarcastic controllers at Humberside.. Just made a bumpy landing in nil wind on my QXC to Humberside and over the radio i hear.. TWR- G-## must be blowing a gail out there with that landing And another one today on my skills test... Me - G-#### pa28 ......to ..... via Binsbrook and sheffield city currently at 3100 ft for basic service Humber Radar - G-## where is Binsbrook located Me- 10 nm SE of Humberside. Humber Radar- Ah you mean Binbrook, why didn't you say All i got from the examminer was "This guys a sarcastic wa:mad:ker, carry on" Farmer 1 No sense of humour, some people. nick14 Heard whilst waiting for taxi at EMA: ac:East mids twr, XXX1234, stand 21, request push and start with kilo. Twr:XXX1234, push and start approved, face east. ac: push and start approved, which way is east...... I didnt catch the last few comments as my passenger was laughing too hard. I on the other hand was a little worried about the people sat behind this fella.....:ooh: rogerk 6th Apr 2009, 14:18 Middle of the night in a room at the top of an Army Barracks building in Germany that the fledgling Brit Army Air Corps called "The Tower" when the radio squawks and a thick American voice announces - "Mornin xxxx tower this is xxxx xxx on 121.5" "Good morning xxxx xxx are you aware that 121.5 is an emergency frequency ?" "Sure do xxxx tower and as I am ferrying the biggest load of crap you have ever seen all the way back to the States I'm stayin on there" davart 13th Apr 2009, 23:39 There aren't many sites that keep me reading more than a few minutes these days, but I've read all 60 pages of this thread over the last couple of days! Priceless...! Nice to see the P.C. brigade haven't taken over ATC just yet! Boom, boom, tsch! Keep 'em coming! transmission was a bit broken: ac: rhein...airforce...15...maintaining 370 atc: airforce calling rhein radar, this is munich south, please go back to previous channel and check the correct one. ac: wilco 2 min later ac: hallo again, we now realised that our callsign might be missleading. we are RYR(ryanair)4715 at 370, but if you like call us ryanairforce 15 and we`ll feel honored and be happy about any priority handling. atc: roger, ryanairforce 15 identified,direct XXX ac: never thought that this will work. lilflyboy262 21st Apr 2009, 03:03 Overheard while flying through the NZTG control zone. A/C: TG TWR, ABC at XXX, 3000ft, 2 POB, Requesting joining instructions in receipt of golf 1019 TWR: ABC, TG TWR, Make a XXX Arrival, traffic is a XXX at 2500ft, Heading XXX A/C: Roger the Traffic, ABC Traffic: Rather you didn't. macbe327 13th May 2009, 14:49 From a controller at Queenstown NZ (Queenstown has an 1800m RWY 23/05 and an 800m crossing Grass RWY 14/32): An ATR72 is taxiing out for departure QN TWR: Mount CookXXX short delay at the holding point a couple of light aircraft to land runway 23 ahead. Mount CookXXX(sounding rather pissed at having to wait for a few 207s): What about the Grass Rwy!!?? QN TWR: Sorry didn't realise you would accept that... Grass 14 cleared for takeoff Darkrampage 18th May 2009, 07:31 Best one I have heard so far was about 4 weeks ago in the morning. Adelaide approach has an American working for them that always seems to be quite funny. He has to be the most casual and relaxed ATC'r that I have ever heard. ADLAPP: "Singapore XXX, cleared ILS 23 approach, contact tower at 5 miles" Two seconds pass with him still transmitting (can hear him moving around) ADLAPP: "Virgin XXX, decend to 3000, track direct to Modbury" Another 5 seconds pass, he hasnt realised that he's still transmitting ADLAPP: "Singapore XXX, did you recieve my last transmission?" Then you hear him go "hang on" and some russling around before a panic'd "oh shi*" and finally the transmission cuts. SING: "Cleared ILS approach, tower at 5 miles, Singapore XXX" VIRGIN: "Decent to 3000, track to Modbury and thanks for the entertainment, Virgin XXX". StillDark&Hungry Me "Thomson 5BP contact London 132.860" Him "132.860 Thomson 5BP, Goodnight" North American voice "Who was that last call for?" (Before I could reply) "Morning London Cactus 758, 370" Me "Cactus 758 good morning route direct MID" "Direct MID thanks 758" Only had 2 other Americans on frequency so thought i'd check they were still with me - "United 944 you still on?" Reply "944 Negative" Really didn't know how to answer that one! perhaps I should have said please come back! troff 19th May 2009, 10:22 After taxiing clear of the active at the far end of the airfield at oh-dark 30, there appeared to be an animal trotting along the taxiway, right on the centerline, like it was a path. I said to my Captain: "Careful Pat, it looks as if there is a dog on the centerline up ahead." It was comical. We watched him trot along for a while, watching him on the screens we use to taxi with, seemingly oblivious to the huge jet behind him. Captain Pat:"That's not a dog, it's a goat!" I advised ATC: "Mumbai ground it's ABCXXX on taxiway bravo proceeding to our gate. We are behind a -uh- goat that is walking on the taxiway... also heading for the terminal..." Without any hesitation the Mumbai ground controller stated: "Very well, follow the goat!" Unbeleiveable- but true. Some airports have official looking "Follow Me" cars or trucks. Mumbai has a follow me GOAT! Atcham Tower 19th May 2009, 10:38 That throwaway reply from the Mumbai controller reminds me of something that happened long ago at Edinburgh. A BEA Vanguard had just arrived and the crew had been made aware that they were the subject of a telephoned bomb threat. "Tower, Speedbird XX where would you like me to park?" ATC: "As far away from the tower as possible!" These things were not taken so seriously in those days but there was a complaint and the culprit was admonished by the boss. TODALDA 20th May 2009, 11:36 I struggled to get my radio technique up to scratch while doing my PPL. I was flying with my instructor and he was tuning me into various ATC establishments and making me practice pasing messages to 'real people' - not busy stations however. Anyway I heard one aircraft and station have a pefect exchange of information - the exchange was crisp, the information flowed at a good rate, in the right order and was completed efficiently and very little 'er, erring' in the messages. After they'd finished I turned to my instructor and said, slightly patronisingly, "ooo didn't he do that well" - with my thumb on the PPT. Change frequencey, move on... code 7600 26th May 2009, 10:50 ambo xx: ambulance xx an i.f.rrrrrr king air at the eastern park, two p.o.b. in receipt of whiskey and requesting taxi.:ok: ground: (pause)..... yes... taxi holding short delta.....(you could hear the smile):D TiPwEiGhT lucky he didn't ask why there were holes in the hill next to the RWY. :p code 7600 ... & direct vectors for finals :D DrPepper rome: "xxx contact Roberto on 127.35..." a/c: roberto 127.35 a/c: ciao Roberto xxx FL350 rome2: .....silence.......radard contact xxxx INNflight 31st May 2009, 12:16 Shooting a practise ILS into Wichita Mid-Continent Intl on a quiet night some months ago with another pilot on the right seat who flew into that airport for the last 30 years: ICT Approach just handed us over to tower, we called up and TWR came back: Apache xxx did you receive your climb out instructions? The pilot with me pushed the button and went off: "Nope, approach was too lazy as usual, but I guess it's hdg 070 and 3000 ft." I was kinda stunned about the response, especially the lazy part, but tower came back with "climb out instructions correct, you should work here part time" M.sjoberg 4th Jun 2009, 07:59 Im currently working as a CFI in california and get to hear a whole bunch of funny things from both students and ATC. A couple of weeks ago after landing on Victorvilles 15000ft of runway with our C172 my student contacted ground once of the runway. "Victorville ground Cessna xx at E3 request taxi to the active" "Cessna XX Victorville ground ehhhhh okey so do you need the taxi back for the full 15000 ft or is an intersection takeoff okey?" My student started looking around and after a short pause "Well sir we wont need the full distance, could we depart from where we came instead?" Ended up with a nice 270 departure over the boneyard of old airplanes :) Another one was when I was heading back home with a student that had some troubles with the radio. At this point we were cruising along with our BE76 at 6000 ft at approximately 120kts direct to Mission Bay VOR when an Alaskan 737 checks in with similiar numbers on their callsign. ATC: Alaskan 509 maintain 16000 ft, 180kts until mission bay expect the visual 27. Radio scrambles a bit but before I hear a response from the Alaskan I hear a familiar voice reading back the clearence. I turn around and see my student looking at me with a confused face just as he finished replying to the clearence. "He said mission bay but... now what?" Haha I laughed, the controller laughed and the alaskan laughed. Made my day anyways. :p BradG YouTube - Funny KVNY (Van Nuys, CA) ATIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDnXqC2603Y) Why can't the guys at my airport do this sometime? Silencium Heard on Maastricht when Viking XXX called in. Viking: Maastricht good day Viking XXX FL 290 inbound (point) ATC: Hello Viking XXX continue climb FL 350 be level within 8 minutes. Viking: Climb FL 350 level within 8 Viking XXX Pause Viking: Maastricht Viking XXX it will be hard for us to reach 350 in 8 ATC: You can�t climb 6000 feet in 8 minutes? You are a 320 aren�t you Viking: Yes but we are full ATC: And confirm you have 2 engines? Then there was just silence on the frequency for 1 minute until everything went back to normal. /S etsd0001 13th Jun 2009, 02:27 In the early '80's after a Junkers 52 was rebuilt it did a tour of European countries. I was watching on appr to LGW wnen the tower said "Caledonian XXX cleared to line up after the landing Junkers" Quick as a flash someone was on the radio with "Now that isn't something hear often these days" BradG Someone posted this on studentpilot.com today. I completed a flight review yesterday, but that's not really the subject. We went from KAPA to KFTG for some takeoffs and landings. If you look at KFTG on a chart (or skyvector.com) you'll see how close it is to KDEN. If you zoom in on Google maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=kftg&i...h&z=15&iwloc=A (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=kftg&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=39.791094,-104.573793&spn=0.012003,0.029612&t=h&z=15&iwloc=A)) the Class B surface area begins at Imboden Road. I think it's a bit less than a mile from the end of the runway. So anyway, we're doing full-stop-taxi-backs on runway 8. There's also an experimental in the pattern. During one of our taxi-backs: Tower: Experimental XXXXX. Turn toward the runway now. You're inside the Class B. Exp: It was that last half mile. Tom and I looked at each other. The pilot's voice sounded surprising casual about it to both of us. During our next taxi back: Tower: Experimental XXXX. Turn base now. You're inside the Class B.We didn't hear the response if there was one. During our last taxiback, we heard the Experimental trying to talk but the radio was a bit garbled: Ground: Transmission garbled. Experimental XXXX, is that you heading east on the taxiway? Exp: Yes. Ground: Are your radios working now? Exp: Yes. Tower: I have a number for you to call...We switched to Tower for takeoff. Tom and I were expecting it. He turned to me and said, "He'll probably be calling you on Monday..." Cave Troll 22nd Jun 2009, 20:50 Was flying around Angola a few years back. We were with Luanda control who were trying thier utmost to control various russian aircraft who's english was not great. Luanda CTL : RA**** say your DME. RA****: Luanda my DME 1000 rate of foot. On another occasion flying from FAGG to FACT we were in a 727 at FL280 going into a 40knot Head wind. SAA 737 at FL 260 same routeand just behind us. Capetown ATC ask us our ground speed: Me: 450 kts Cpt ATC: Springbok *** say your ground speed SAA: 380 kts so don't worry we will not catch the 727. {said with attitude} Me: Capetown would you like me to start my number 3 engine to increase our separation. SAA was very quiet after that but the ATC thaught it was funny. ct John Hill 3rd Jul 2009, 00:20 There must be a thousand variation on the 'phantom aircraft prank' but the one I saw was very nicely done from the comfort of the runway inspection vehicle. The pranksters sat in the parked vehicle with the engine roaring (for that authentic aircraft sound) while they used the vehicle VHF and watched the confusion in the tower through binoculars. They gave a couple of position reports and watched as the assistant went across to the teletype looking for the missing flight plan, they asked for clearance to land which they got, then asked for taxi clearance which they got while watching 3 or 4 people in the tower scan the runways looking for the aircraft. They asked if it was "OK to park here?" and watched as people came out of the tower and walked all around the outer balcony searching for the aircraft. They got an answer along the lines of "Park any of the marked positions". The ATCOs said nothing about the incident to anyone but for months afterwards the callsign of the phantom aircraft could be heard wispered in bars and parties. Murphy_Dog 3rd Jul 2009, 11:55 I had recently got my PPL at a non-ATC airfield. I went on to do my night rating at Bournemouth, it was getting closer to summer and Bournmouth closed at 9pm. I had to do 5 more full stop landings to get my night rating, and it was only getting dark later and later, each flight I did, I only got in one Stop n go due to other traffic. On the last possible night of flying (sun set was 20:40 and curfew was 9pm) I managed to taxi and get airbourne just on darkness, with my instructors words ringing in my ears 'Make sure you are on the deck before 9pm, if 400 pounds a minute after 9pm', which shouldn't have been a problem as I only had one more landing to go to get the endorsement. Anyway, as i was about to turn base, ATC asked me to orbit while they bought in an RPT, fine, it was a nice night and the lights of Bournemouth and the Solent spreadout were a pleasant site. Something must have happened at Southhampton, because suddenly he kept moving other aircraft from southhampton into Bournemouth ahead of me saying 'Sorry G-XYZ, you are now number two...then sorry XYZ, now number three..'. No problem all this orbiting at night is probably a good experience right? It gets to 20:58, and its all gone quite on the RT, 20:59..Bournemouth says 'XYZ are you coming down tonight or are you staying up there until morning?' Oops, I make like a stuka and get on the ground a minute or so past 9pm, remembering that I was actually allowed to contine the approach after all the other aircraft had landed. Quintilian 3rd Jul 2009, 19:21 This one is all fresh out of the tower (and it's even my own mistake!): "LN-XXX make a LEFT three-sixty to the RIGHT!.... My instructor almost fell to the floor laughing :D /TH Speedbird is on her way to terminal after landing. Then ATC calls: GND: Speedbird XXX hold position at [...], your gate is still occupied. A/C: Roger, holding position. A/C: Do you have any idea how long it may take? GND: They reported to be ready in two minutes. A/C: Ok, thanks. GND: But you never know - these are pilot's minutes... ArthurBorges 20th Jul 2009, 03:13 Madame is the French and equivalent of Madam, with the stress on the other syllable. Over beer, wine and/or whiskey, just tell them the ladies would be flattered to be called "Madame". Once you've jumpstarted the process, the stress will shift to the right syllable and then you could nudge it along later on in the camaraderie by using Ma'am in their presence. Then all you have to do is wait until their look of confusion transmutes into a question. You can then impress them with the word "elision" which is the techie term for skipping the "d" (or other bits and pieces of words and phrases). Enjoy! High 6 21st Jul 2009, 18:40 Flying through Syrian airspace used to require pilots to advise ATC of aircraft type and registration.. for the purposes of overflight charges. Story goes, an American carrier overflying at 0200 in the morning Syrian Controller - A/c XXXX confirm you are a B767, registration N12345A? A/C - (Slow American Drawl)..... Man, you got good eyes. :cool: nishant chander A quiet time in North Queensland, Australia ATC "FKG advise intended cruise speed" VH-FKG ".70 Mach" Long pause, then a Twin Otter pilot on the frequency who obviously knows the controller comes in with the unsolicited information, "Centre, TGC, we're cruising at Mach .255" ATC "Ah, ... TCG, thanks very much. How long did that take you to work out?" TGC "A little while, but we've got plenty of time to contemplate such things up here in the 'Otter!" flying_highover Heard on Dublin Freq. today. Midland: "Eh, we're getting some music on the freq. here." Dub: "Yeah, we've been getting reports of that alright. The music any better?" Few mins later>>> Midland: (very serious tone) "It seems like choir music or church music." Dub: (mocking) "Eh, yeah, you'll be hitting Motown in a minute." allrounder99 16th Aug 2009, 08:30 Yesterday, I Had an Air Baltic come on frequency and as a Direct I asked him if he had XXX further along in his flight plan. me: "Airbaltic yyy do you have the point XXX further along after DETNI?" "standby.....(pause) ah negative, no XXX" "Ok what about ZZZ"? "Standby.....ah no we don't have that either sorry" "Ok maybe you have AAA(sounding hopeful)"? "Standby.....(excitement from the cockpit) AH YES we are having that point!" "Oh thank goodness, we could have been here all night! proceed now to AAA" "(amidst laughs) Direct AAA thank you very much!" Grum 16th Aug 2009, 09:53 Vnukovo ground: " VJ-XXX taxi holding point 24 via taxi-way 14, M1, follow the leader van." VJ-XXX: " Ok vee vill taxi point 24 via 14, M1 and vee vill follow ze LITTLE van." smith ATC: "What is your height and position" A/C: "I'm 6'2" and I'm sitting in the cock-pit" HEATHROW DIRECTOR Jeeezz, smith, I think I first heard that in the 60s!! Lon More I think Wilbur said it to Orville.:) HEATHROW DIRECTOR Pontius may well have said it to Mortus. I see the Paddy Factor at work again, Abz217.:8 ChrisEmerson 18th Aug 2009, 14:12 Sort of fits in this thread... Exchange between NASA controllers and Apollo 11 just before the Eagle takes off from the moon to come home: NASA: "Our guidance recommendation is PNGCS, and you're cleared for take off" Buzz Aldrin: "Roger, understand we are number one on the runway" smith Jeeezz, smith, I think I first heard that in the 60s!! HD, I think you need to freak out too :ok: Was watching Airplane last week and that was one of the jokes. Made me chuckle anyway, so thought I'd share it with the pprune faithful. I know its an old joke but as far as I know its not been used on this thread and the title of the thread is NOT "New or current ATC humour" anyway. :D He he 19th Aug 2009, 09:08 Not really my experience, but I heard it at work... The atco was vectoring for ILS. The ac was given the intercept heading with instructions to report established on the loc. The ac went straight through and the pilot reported: "We are going through the loc, but correcting" Apparantly too much, he overshoots again. Finally when established the atco asks: "What happened there?" Pilot: "I'm sorry, I am a bit high on speed". Wookey 19th Aug 2009, 16:06 Apologies if this has been posted before but dont have time to check every page !! An old one I remember being reported I think in the Daily Telegraph. BA (BEA?) Trident inbound to Heathrow running low on fuel requests priority approach. Controller: BA XXX confirm your endurance Trident (mishearing the request): Well I'm with the Prudential and the Trident is with Lloyds I think. Katamarino 20th Aug 2009, 13:14 Flying back to Rotterdam from Biggin Hill in my little 152 on Sunday, I overheard another SEP informing London Info that he'd be climbing to FL1000. We all wish him luck. newtownards Air traffic to jet about to establish on the localiser:- ATC- Speedbird XXX can i turn you on at 3 miles? Jet- Madam, you may certainly try.. --- ATC- piper can you turn left and report your heading? Piper- 340, 341, 342, 343... --- ATC- Speedbird XXX, you are number 3 of 2 for the approach.. Jet- thats ok, 5 out of 3 pilots cant count! --- ATC- Globemaster, can you just confirm the reg/callsign of your wingman? Globemaster- erm.. Sir we are a 1 aircraft flight... Silence... ATC- Ooh you have traffic :) --- On a more serious note i know of a pilot who called up Manston tower asking to land immediately, when asked to elaborate he said there was 17 tons of TNT onboard, and the aircraft was on fire! Scooby Don't I see the Piper pilot also can't tell left from right.... Moira Attentive as always, Scooby Don't! :E:D Jwscud 24th Aug 2009, 17:42 Apparently the Qantas flight from EGLL yesterday was allocated squawk 2121 and asked to repeat it at every handover...:D (And before anyone complains, shamelessly ripped from a post on Flyer...) PPRuNe Radar 25th Aug 2009, 19:10 Apparently the Qantas flight from EGLL yesterday was allocated squawk 2121 and asked to repeat it at every handover... Nice try, but this squawk is allocated to Amsterdam :) rdg102 26th Aug 2009, 12:35 they had to specially request it be reallocated for the day, but this did happen :ok: Lon More they had to specially request it be reallocated for the day Probably all the way to the London FIR boundary Code allocation is computer generated, google ORCAM if you want to know more; anyway, apart from a few tossers:suspect: who gives a :mad: for cricket? wiccan ALL of Oz....rather "more" than a few......... bb Me: "Lethbridge Radio, this is Charlie Fox Uniform Charlie Hotel" Lethbridge (female operator): "Charlie Fox Uniform Charlie Kilo, Lethbridge" Me "Was that a Feudian slip madam?" Lethbridge: Silence. Me: "Palm Beach Departure, Charlie Fox Uniform Charlie Hotel with you out of two thousand" PBI: "Charlie Fox Uniform Charlie Kilo, roger, climb an maintain 5 thousand" Me: "Charlie Fox Uniform Charlie HOTEL, up to 5" PBI: "Charlie Fox Uniform Charlie Kilo, proceed direct Freeport" Me: "Direct Freeport, and before we part company, I'm determined you're going to get my callsign right" PBI: "Uniform Charlie Kilo, roger" Female voice on PBI frequency: "I'm his supervisor, and he sure is going to get it right Sir" ahepburn ATC: "Lufthansa 123, Preston" (Yes, it wasn't yesterday) Silence ATC: "Lufthansa 123, Preston Airways, do you read?" Silence ATC: "Lefthansa 123, this is Preston Airways on 123 decimal 4, how do you read?" Silence, then Unknown: "Vi haff vays off making you tokk" YRP 31st Aug 2009, 02:44 Apparently the Qantas flight from EGLL yesterday was allocated squawk 2121 and asked to repeat it at every handover... (And before anyone complains, shamelessly ripped from a post on Flyer...) Okay, Google didn't help me with this one, so I gotta ask... ex-EGLL 31st Aug 2009, 03:24 Something to do with Cricket and a bowl of ashes I think. England won the series 2-1 ex-egll Whilst on the topic of Qantas... ''Speedbird XXX, give way to the Qantas A380 right to left'' ''Roger, we'll give way to the block of flats... Speedbird XXX'' Rogdabbit 11th Sep 2009, 23:36 Last month I was doing MACC North Tac when Leeds ring, the Planners busy so I answered: " Hi Leeds, Manch North" " Hi Manch, can you tell BEExxx thats just departed that after him we did a runway inspection and found a dead plumber on the runway! We think its him thats done it" - I just laughed, then they say "Its a bird by the way" So, I try and collect myself for 4000ft of the BEE's climb before saying: "BEExxx message from Leeds, they've found a dead plumber on the runway and they think its you thats killed him" "Ahhhhh BEExxx roger, we'll take a look when we land", then 5 seconds later he goes "I'd have expected a Sparkie but not a plumber" By this time we're all laughing so I reply: "That'll teach him for digging up the drains at the wrong time" Few minutes later its time to chuck him "BEExx contact manchester, 128.050" "Roger, 128.050, we'll try not to kill anymore tradesmen enroute" Im pissing myself by now and squeek out something along the lines of "It's the chippies you've got to watch, they're lethal" Then 30 secs later Leeds ring: "Tell the BEE it wasn't him that killed the plumber it was someone else" We tried explaining it to West but it all got too much Atcham Tower Watch out for joiners at Wallasey ... HEATHROW DIRECTOR What's a plumber? Never heard that in a lifetime of birding!! Atcham Tower What's a plumber? Never heard that in a lifetime of birding It's what she said - I just passed on the message :) lamix1w It probably was a plumber!!! I mean maximum runway utilisation and all that!!!:ugh: NaFenn 22nd Sep 2009, 13:42 From a few weeks ago: (Side Notes: a Cessna 152 Cruises at 95 knots, a Cherokee 6 cruises at about 145 knots) ABC"Jandakot Tower, ABC, Cessna, is 6 miles south, 1500 inbound received Delta" Tower "ABC" ZYX"Jandakot Tower, ZYX, Cherokee 6, is 6 miles south 1500 inbound received Delta, we have ABC in sight, and are manouvering to pass him" Tower "ZYX" Tower "ABC, overfly 1500 follow the preceding Cherokee ABC "What Cherokee?" ZXY "I'ma comin, i'ma comin... ZXY Forrestdale Lake" low n' slow 22nd Sep 2009, 18:28 Heard this one from a friend who flew a ferryflight up north in Sweden. A company flight was also northbound for a different airport and being in the middle of the night, they were more or less the only two aircraft on the frequency. ATC 1- "X-jet 123, contact Sweden 132.150" X-jet 123 - "Sweden 132.150, good evening" ATC 1- "X-jet 321, also over to Sweden 132.150, evening" X-jet 321 - "Sweden 132.150, evening" Both switch to the new frequency but there's no room for both at the same time on the next frequency. They both block each other on 132.150. A very bored female controller who probably hasn't handled any flights for the past hour asks: ATC 2 "okay, who was first" X-jet 123 "pick me, pick me, pick me!" The controller apparantly breaks down in laughter. Sorry if I didn't do the story justice if anyone who was there reads this, but I thought it was funny... /LnS

i don't know