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To most people, UOCAVA sounds like some exotic fruit.  But to those of us working towards free, fair, honest, and transparent elections the term often causes concern due to the enormous opportunity for election fraud in the current implementation of UOCAVA, which is the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. This Act applies to certain U.S. citizens who desire to vote while overseas and provides the legal basis for their absentee voting requirements for federal offices. Linda and her guest, Heather Honey, discuss the importance of protecting the rights of UOCAVA voters while ensuring legal compliance at every stage of the process. Heather is the Executive Director of the Election Research Institute and the co-founder of Verity Vote, a firm that investigates and reports on issues impacting election systems. This issue affects every American citizen. Every election is important. Listen to learn how you can protect UOCAVA voters and the integrity of our elections.  © Copyright 2024, Prosperity 101, LLC __________________________________________________________________ Use code P101 to order your custom flag from www.YourAmericanFlagStore.com. For information about our online course and other resources visit: https://prosperity101.com To order a copy of Prosperity 101 – Job Security Through Business Prosperity® by Linda J. Hansen, click here: https://prosperity101.com/products/ Become a Prosperity Partner: https://prosperity101.com/partner-contribution/ If you would like to be an episode sponsor, please contact us directly at https://prosperity101.com. You can also support this podcast by engaging with our Strategic Partners using the promo codes listed below. Be free to work and free to hire by joining RedBalloon, America's #1 non-woke job board and talent connector. Use Promo Code P101 or go to RedBalloon.work/p101 to join Red Balloon and support Prosperity 101®. Connect with other Kingdom minded business owners by joining the US Christian Chamber of Commerce. Support both organizations by mentioning Prosperity 101, LLC or using code P101 to join. https://uschristianchamber.com Unite for impact by joining Christian Employers Alliance at www.ChristianEmployersAlliance.org and use Promo Code P101. Support Pro-Life Payments and help save babies with every swipe. Visit www.prolifepayments.com/life/p101 for more information. Maximize your podcast by contacting Podcast Town. Contact them today: https://podcasttown.zohothrive.com/affiliateportal/podcasttown/login Thank you to all our guests, listeners, Prosperity Partners, and Strategic Partners. You are appreciated!   The opinions expressed by guests on this podcast do not necessarily represent those held or promoted by Linda J. Hansen or Prosperity 101, LLC.    

In today's podcast Paul does a special report on the Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation (FARM) Act that was introduced in Congress late last week. This Act is passed would make materially large payments to most farmes to help mitigate the revenue losses that most farmers are facing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Day in Legal History: Judiciary Act of 1789On September 24, 1789, Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789, laying the foundation for the federal judiciary as we know it today. This landmark legislation established a three-tiered court system, consisting of district courts, circuit courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court at its pinnacle. The Act also created the position of Attorney General to represent the federal government in legal matters. One of its most critical provisions was the authorization of six justices for the Supreme Court, marking the Court's formal establishment.The Judiciary Act granted the Supreme Court the authority to hear appeals from state courts, ensuring the supremacy of federal law. Additionally, it gave lower federal courts jurisdiction over specific types of cases, including those involving the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties. Perhaps most famously, the Act's Section 25 allowed the Supreme Court to review decisions of state courts when federal issues were at stake, further centralizing federal judicial power.This Act played a pivotal role in shaping the balance of powers between the federal government and the states. It ensured that federal laws would have a uniform interpretation across the country. While it has been amended many times, the Judiciary Act of 1789 remains a cornerstone of U.S. legal history, establishing the basic framework for the judicial branch.In 2021, Eric Adams promised to reform New York City's flawed property tax system, which many blame for exacerbating housing inequality. The current system results in tax disparities, with upscale Manhattan properties often taxed at lower rates than homes in the outer boroughs. Despite Adams' campaign pledges, his administration has yet to introduce significant reforms. Instead, it has fought a 2017 lawsuit filed by Tax Equity Now New York, which argues the system unfairly burdens minority communities and renters. The lawsuit was revived in 2023, and the court ruled that the city has the authority to address these tax inequalities. Adams, however, faces a political dilemma. Any changes would likely increase taxes for many homeowners, threatening key voting blocs. Property taxes are a critical revenue source, generating $32.7 billion in the last fiscal year. City officials prefer state-led reforms, but without a strong push from Adams, the state is unlikely to act. The ongoing lawsuit may force the city to respond more directly. The next court hearing is set for October 2024, where the city will be required to submit documents explaining its tax assessments.Eric Adams Fights Legal Challenge to NYC's ‘Unfair' Property TaxAnd on the subject of NYC and the need to focus on state-based reforms, in my column this week, I discuss New York City's retreat from a proposed partnership tax, emphasizing how it reveals the limitations local governments face in tax policy. Municipalities like New York operate under state control, making meaningful tax reform at the city level nearly impossible. Even when a city attempts to innovate, its tax policies must align with state rules, or risk legal and administrative challenges. In this case, New York City's plan to depart from the state's method of taxing partnership income posed significant compliance difficulties and potential capital flight. Ultimately, the city reverted to the state's tax model, acknowledging the practical benefits of consistency. This outcome reflects broader issues cities face: compliance costs, capital mobility, and state-imposed restrictions all limit local tax initiatives. In states like Wisconsin and Colorado, further limitations on local taxation exist through caps or voter approval requirements. The core message is clear: real tax reform must happen at the state level, as municipalities lack the autonomy to make meaningful changes on their own.NYC Partnership Tax Retreat Shows Change Must Come at State LevelThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit heard arguments in Garfield County v. Biden, a case challenging President Joe Biden's authority to restore the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments. The plaintiffs, including Utah and Garfield County, argue that the monuments, covering over 3 million acres, violate the Antiquities Act by exceeding the “smallest area compatible” for preserving historical sites. The monuments, initially designated by Presidents Clinton and Obama, were reduced in size by President Trump before Biden reinstated them in 2021.The central question before the court is whether presidential actions under the Antiquities Act can be reviewed by courts. A lower court had dismissed the case, ruling that Biden's actions were not subject to judicial review. The Tenth Circuit must now decide if courts can assess the legality of these presidential designations.The case could set a precedent on whether future presidents can use the Antiquities Act to protect vast expanses of land, affecting federal land management and resource development. The lawsuit may ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court, where Chief Justice John Roberts has previously expressed interest in revisiting the scope of the Antiquities Act.Biden's National Monuments Power Set for Tenth Circuit ScrutinyCaroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research and ex-girlfriend of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, is set to be sentenced for her role in the $8 billion fraud linked to FTX's collapse. Ellison, who has pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud and conspiracy, cooperated with prosecutors in Bankman-Fried's trial, where he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ellison's sentencing is expected to be more lenient, as her cooperation was deemed "extraordinary" by prosecutors, who highlighted her remorse.Ellison's cooperation involved meeting with prosecutors around 20 times to assist in building the case against Bankman-Fried, whom she testified had directed her to misuse FTX customer funds to cover losses at Alameda Research. Her testimony revealed she felt relief after the fraud was exposed, lifting a burden of lies. While Ellison could face up to 110 years in prison, her lawyers have argued for no jail time due to her extensive assistance. Two other FTX executives, Nishad Singh and Gary Wang, are also awaiting sentencing later this year.Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend Ellison to be sentenced over crypto fraud | ReutersTaft Stettinius & Hollister, a U.S. law firm with 925 attorneys, announced its merger with Denver-based Sherman & Howard, which has 125 lawyers across the Mountain West region. The merger, effective January 1, 2025, is part of a broader trend of law firm consolidations in 2024. This merger will bring the combined firms' projected revenue to $810 million. Taft has been expanding over the past 16 years, targeting high-growth markets like Denver and Phoenix. Sherman & Howard, facing challenges competing with larger firms, sought the merger to gain broader expertise and ensure long-term business viability. Several other law firm mergers have been announced in September, signaling increased consolidation in the legal industry.US law firm merger streak continues with Taft tie-up | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The long-awaited Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on 9 July 2024. This Act will impact every business in the country which has employees. In this podcast episode, Sarah McCague, Partner, Deirdre Cummins, Of Counsel and Daniel Watters, Senior Associate in our Pensions Group discuss the main changes to the final form legislation when compared to the draft Bill as initially published, and give practical tips on what employers should do next to get ready for AE.

This Day in Legal History: Federal Housing Act PassedOn this day in legal history, July 15, 1949, Congress passed the Federal Housing Act, a pivotal piece of legislation that aimed to address the nation's post-war housing crisis. This Act, also known as the Housing Act of 1949, was a key component of President Harry S. Truman's Fair Deal program. It marked a significant federal commitment to improving living conditions for low-income Americans. The Act provided federal funding for slum clearance, urban renewal projects, and the construction of low-rent public housing. Title I of the Act focused on urban renewal, authorizing the use of federal funds to clear blighted areas in cities. Title II aimed to increase the availability of low-rent public housing by providing subsidies for the construction of new units. The legislation intended not only to address the housing shortage but also to stimulate the economy by creating construction jobs.The passage of the Federal Housing Act of 1949 reflected a growing recognition of the government's role in ensuring decent housing for all citizens. However, its implementation also sparked controversy and criticism, particularly regarding the displacement of communities and the effectiveness of urban renewal efforts. Despite these challenges, the Act laid the groundwork for subsequent federal housing policies and programs, shaping the landscape of American cities and the lives of countless families. This landmark legislation underscored the ongoing struggle to balance development, equity, and community preservation in urban policy.A federal judge in Florida, Aileen Cannon, dismissed the criminal case against Donald Trump concerning his alleged illegal retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The ruling followed a hearing where Trump's legal team argued for dismissal, citing selective prosecution and political targeting by Democrats as Trump seeks the presidency again. They also referenced a Supreme Court decision granting the president immunity for official acts. In contrast, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence faced no criminal charges for their mishandling of classified documents, as both cooperated with investigators. Prosecutors had argued Trump's case was different due to allegations he obstructed the investigation by moving documents and discussing deceit with investigators. The dismissed charges had included 40 counts related to national security issues like nuclear capabilities and military vulnerabilities.Florida judge dismisses criminal classified documents case against TrumpFollowing the Supreme Court's decision to limit federal regulators' powers, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association and two show horse owners filed a lawsuit against a new USDA rule aimed at preventing horse soring. The case was strategically filed in Amarillo, Texas, to be heard by US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, known for rulings against Biden administration policies. Plaintiffs argue the USDA rule, which bans devices and practices that can mask evidence of soring, will significantly devalue their horses, leading to a regulatory taking. The rule specifically targets Tennessee Walking Horses and Racking Horses, prohibiting chains, pads, wedges, and lubricants used to enhance their gait.The lawsuit comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's June 28 decision to end Chevron deference, which had required courts to defer to an agency's reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous law. This case exemplifies the swift actions taken by anti-regulation groups to leverage the new regulatory landscape. Despite not explicitly mentioning Chevron or Loper Bright, the lawsuit challenges the USDA's authority under the Horse Protection Act, claiming the banned equipment does not cause soring based on scientific evidence.Legal experts note the potential implications of this case, suggesting it could influence future regulatory policymaking. Critics argue the association is engaging in judge shopping to secure a favorable outcome. The plaintiffs seek to invalidate the rule and claim compensation for the anticipated loss in their horses' value, arguing the rule constitutes a regulatory taking. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent in the context of administrative law and regulatory challenges.The concept of regulatory taking is central to this case. It refers to a situation where a government regulation limits the use of private property to such an extent that it effectively deprives the owners of its value, warranting compensation. This claim, if accepted by the court, could complicate future regulatory efforts by requiring compensation for loss in property value due to regulatory changes.Tennessee Horse Show Picks Texas to Challenge Rule Post ChevronA divided federal appeals court upheld Tennessee's longstanding policy prohibiting changes to the sex listed on birth certificates, rejecting a constitutional challenge by four transgender women. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the U.S. Constitution does not mandate Tennessee to amend birth certificates to reflect gender identity. The court concluded that Tennessee has the discretion to maintain records based on biological sex. The plaintiffs argued that the policy violated their due process and equal protection rights under the 14th Amendment by discriminating based on sex and transgender status. However, Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton, representing the majority, stated that there is no fundamental right to have a birth certificate reflect gender identity over biological sex. Tennessee's Republican attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, supported the ruling, emphasizing that any policy change must come from the state's residents.The plaintiffs' lawyer, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan from Lambda Legal, expressed disappointment and indicated potential further actions. He highlighted that the ruling conflicts with a recent decision by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which revived a similar lawsuit in Oklahoma. Judge Helene White, who dissented, argued that Tennessee's policy relies on outdated generalizations about sex and gender, infringing on the plaintiffs' rights by forcing them to disclose their transgender status in situations requiring birth certificates.Court upholds Tennessee ban on changing sex in birth certificates | ReutersOpenAI whistleblowers have filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), urging an investigation into the company's non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). These agreements allegedly required employees to waive their federal rights to whistleblower compensation. The whistleblowers, supported by Sen. Chuck Grassley's office, claim that OpenAI's policies suppress employees' rights to report concerns and receive compensation for protected disclosures. The complaint requests the SEC to impose fines on OpenAI for each improper NDA and to inspect all contracts containing such agreements. The whistleblowers also highlight that OpenAI's NDAs lacked exemptions for disclosing securities violations and required prior company consent to disclose information to federal regulators.Sen. Grassley emphasized the importance of whistleblower protections, especially as artificial intelligence continues to advance rapidly. The SEC has not commented on the existence of the whistleblower submission, and OpenAI has not responded to requests for comment. The complaint highlights concerns about OpenAI's restrictive practices amidst growing scrutiny over the safety and ethical deployment of AI technologies.OpenAI whistleblowers ask SEC to investigate alleged restrictive non-disclosure agreements | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Welcome back to THE IAS COMPANION. Today's lecture delves into the intricacies of urban local government in India, highlighting its evolution, constitutionalization, and salient features. Originating during British rule, urban local governance saw significant milestones such as Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1882 and the Royal Commission on decentralization in 1907. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 formalized urban local governments, introducing provisions for municipalities and adding the Twelfth Schedule to the Constitution. This Act revitalized urban governance, ensuring financial autonomy and reservations for marginalized groups. India's urban governance includes various types of bodies, each catering to specific urban administrative needs, supported by diverse revenue sources. Training institutions like the All-India Institute of Local Self-Government play a crucial role in enhancing municipal staff efficiency. Additionally, the Central Council of Local Government advises on urban governance matters, shaping urban development strategies and ensuring effective governance at the local level. Understanding the complexities of urban local government is essential for sustainable urban development in India. #UPSC #IASprep #civilserviceexam #IASexamination #IASaspirants #UPSCjourney #IASexam #civilservice #IASgoals #UPSC2024 #IAS2024 #civilservant #IAScoaching #aUPSCmotivation #IASmotivation #UPSCpreparation #IASpreparation #UPSCguide #IASguide #UPSCtips #IAStips #UPSCbooks #IASbooks #UPSCexamstrategy #IASexamstrategy #UPSCmentorship #IASmentorship #UPSCcommunity #IAScommunity #UPSCpreparation #IASpreparation #UPSCguide #IASguide #UPSCtips #IAStips #UPSCbooks #IASbooks #UPSCexamstrategy #IASexamstrategy #UPSCmentorship #IASmentorship #UPSCcommunity #IAScommunity --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theiascompanion/message

This Day in Legal History: Standard Oil DissolvedOn this day in legal history, May 15, 1911, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision that significantly altered the landscape of American business practices. The case in question was Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States, where the Court found Standard Oil guilty of monopolistic practices in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. This Act, passed in 1890, was designed to combat anti-competitive practices, reduce market domination by individual corporations, and preserve fair competition.The decision to break up John D. Rockefeller's oil empire was pivotal in the enforcement of antitrust laws in the United States. The Court's ruling declared that Standard Oil had restrained trade and maintained monopolistic power through unfair and unethical business practices, including predatory pricing and collusive dealings. The verdict mandated the dissolution of Standard Oil into 34 independent companies, some of which have since evolved into major players in today's oil industry, such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips.The significance of this ruling extended beyond the immediate impact on Standard Oil. It set a precedent for the interpretation of the Sherman Act, introducing the "rule of reason" doctrine. This doctrine asserts that only those combinations and contracts that unreasonably restrain trade are subject to actions under the antitrust laws. This nuanced approach allowed for greater flexibility in the application of the law, acknowledging that some business combinations might enhance competition.The case also highlighted the growing public and governmental concern over the power wielded by large corporations, which led to increased regulation and oversight over monopolies. The ruling was a crucial step in defining the boundaries of lawful conduct for businesses, emphasizing that large size and monopoly were not inherently illegal, but that harmful, anti-competitive practices would not be tolerated.The Standard Oil decision remains one of the most important in the annals of American legal and economic history, symbolizing the struggle between corporate power and public interest. It underscores the ongoing challenges and complexities of balancing economic power with the need to preserve free market competition, a concept still very much at the heart of American antitrust enforcement today.The bankruptcy case of Rudolph Giuliani, managed by Judge Sean H. Lane, is facing significant delays, primarily due to Giuliani's challenges against a $148 million defamation judgment. At a recent hearing, Judge Lane expressed his concern over the slow progress and considered major changes to expedite the case. Giuliani has failed to meet deadlines for submitting required financial disclosures, and his legal team reported difficulties in obtaining necessary information from him.The possibility of appointing a trustee to oversee the case or dismissing it entirely was discussed by creditors' lawyers. Additionally, Giuliani's focus on appealing the defamation judgment—related to false accusations made against two Georgia poll workers—has hindered advancements in other aspects of his bankruptcy proceedings. This focus on the appeal has also been criticized for potentially causing indefinite delays. The financial strain is evident as Giuliani has not made moves to sell his properties or settle the defamation judgment, which prompted his Chapter 11 filing. The situation is further complicated by recent derogatory remarks Giuliani made on his radio show, resulting in his suspension. Concerns about the case's stagnation were also voiced by the Justice Department's bankruptcy watchdog, indicating minimal reorganizational activity. The judge has yet to make a decision regarding Giuliani's request to hire special litigation counsel, given the lack of progress on the appeal.Giuliani Bankruptcy Nears Turning Point as Judge Rues Slow PaceLandlords in the commercial real estate sector are bracing for further challenges as an increasing number of retailers file for bankruptcy amidst persistent economic difficulties. The recent Chapter 11 filings by companies such as teen clothing retailer rue21, Express Inc., and Joann Inc. are indicative of the broader issues facing retailers, including high inflation and rising interest rates. While companies like rue21 are opting for liquidation, others like Express are using bankruptcy proceedings to shed unprofitable leases and attempt a turnaround.Bankruptcy laws enable retailers to terminate leases relatively inexpensively, which has become a critical tool for distressed businesses looking to streamline operations. This trend has led to landlords frequently engaging in bankruptcy cases, with larger landlords often having more influence and even purchasing companies out of bankruptcy to maintain continuity in mall spaces.The economic backdrop for these bankruptcies includes the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which initially pushed retailers like J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus into bankruptcy in 2020. Current economic pressures such as inflation and higher interest rates have exacerbated the situation, making it difficult for retailers to pass increased costs onto consumers who are also feeling the financial pinch.For instance, rue21 has been particularly impacted, with its core customer base facing significant financial stress due to inflation. Joann has struggled with increased costs from tariffs on Chinese imports and rising interest expenses, which have doubled in the past two years due to higher interest rates. These challenges are prompting concerns that more businesses may face bankruptcy as the benefits of previous federal aid diminish and the costs of refinancing grow under the current economic conditions.Retail Bankruptcies Pose Pain for Landlords as Headwinds PersistIn Delaware, the corporate legal community is divided over a proposed legislative response to a court decision that challenged long-standing corporate strategies involving stockholder agreements. This legislative move, viewed by some as an overreaction, aims to counteract a February ruling by Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster, which curtailed the powers granted to founders and certain investors through stockholder agreements in corporate governance. Critics argue that the rush to amend the law could undermine legal coherence and bypass the appellate process, potentially leading to a loss of confidence in Delaware as a prime jurisdiction for corporate charters.Meanwhile, Elon Musk has been ordered by a U.S. federal court to provide further testimony in the Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation into his acquisition of Twitter. The investigation examines whether Musk violated federal securities laws during his takeover of the social media company. This court decision continues a longstanding conflict between Musk and the SEC, which includes previous disputes over Musk's communications about his business ventures. The SEC's ongoing scrutiny of Musk's actions reflects its role in overseeing transparency and legality in corporate executives' maneuvers in the securities markets.Elon Musk ordered to testify again in US SEC probe of Twitter takeover | ReutersMove to Change Delaware Law After Musk Attacks Called Knee-JerkDuring the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump, his former fixer Michael Cohen was subjected to intense scrutiny by Trump's defense attorneys. They aimed to discredit his testimony, highlighting his transformation from a staunch Trump supporter to a harsh critic, and questioning his motivations, suggesting they were driven by financial gain and revenge. Cohen, having already testified for approximately nine hours, claimed that Trump had directed him to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from disclosing an alleged encounter that could harm his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's lawyers did not focus on the $130,000 payment directly but instead on Cohen's credibility, citing his previous prison sentence for related offenses and his admitted history of lying under oath.During his testimony, Cohen highlighted several key points:* Cohen claimed that Trump had given him the green light to proceed with the payment to Daniels, emphasizing that Trump saw the $130,000 as trivial compared to his wealth, and urged Cohen to just make the payment.* Cohen depicted the payment as a crisis for Trump's 2016 campaign, asserting that Trump believed the disclosure of Daniels' story would be disastrous, particularly because he was already polling poorly with women voters.* In discussions about how the payment might affect his marriage, Trump indicated to Cohen that he was not concerned about the potential impact on his relationship with Melania Trump, suggesting his focus was solely on the electoral implications.* Prosecutors played a recording where Trump can be heard discussing the payment method for a related silence agreement involving Playboy model Karen McDougal, which supports allegations of a "catch and kill" strategy used to suppress damaging stories during the campaign.* Cohen also recounted a meeting with Trump at the White House where Trump reassured him about the financial arrangements for covering the payment to Daniels.The trial, which has been ongoing since April 15, saw Cohen as the prosecution's final witness, with his cross-examination set to continue. The defense presented evidence of Cohen's financial endeavors post-allegations, including profits from memoirs and a podcast critical of Trump, as well as Trump-themed merchandise he sold online. The case hinges on accusations that Trump falsified business records to disguise reimbursements to Cohen for the hush money as legal fees, contributing to the 34 counts he faces. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, denies any encounter with Daniels and claims the case is politically motivated. The trial also includes a backdrop of Trump defending Cohen publicly, even as federal investigations closed in, which Cohen described as part of a "pressure campaign" to keep him aligned with Trump. This case is one of several legal challenges Trump faces, with others involving allegations of trying to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents.Trump's lawyers assail estranged fixer Michael Cohen's credibility at hush money trial | Reuters Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

This Day in Legal History:On May 6, 1882, a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration history occurred with the signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act by President Chester A. Arthur. This federal law marked the first and only time that the United States explicitly barred a specific ethnic or national group from immigrating to the country, specifically targeting Chinese laborers. The Act not only prevented Chinese workers from entering the U.S. but also prohibited them from becoming U.S. citizens, denying them the legal rights and protections afforded to citizens.The enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act was driven by widespread anti-Chinese sentiment in the Western U.S., where economic competition, racial prejudice, and cultural misunderstandings had stoked public and political pressure against Chinese immigrants. Labor movements, particularly on the Pacific Coast, rallied against Chinese laborers, who were often scapegoated for low wages and economic hardships experienced by white workers.Senator Joseph Hawley of Connecticut stood as a vocal opponent of the Act, predicting its harsh judgment by future generations. His prophetic criticism highlighted the injustice embedded in the legislation, foreseeing its negative historical assessment. Indeed, the Act was seen in hindsight as a significant breach of American ideals regarding immigration and equality.The Chinese Exclusion Act laid the groundwork for subsequent restrictive immigration policies. It was not until December 17, 1943, amid World War II and shifting geopolitical alliances, that the Magnuson Act was passed by Congress at the behest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This Act repealed the Chinese Exclusion laws, albeit with limited Chinese immigration still imposed, and allowed Chinese residents in the U.S. to become naturalized citizens, signaling a slow transformation in American immigration policy towards inclusivity. Today, the Chinese Exclusion Act is often studied as a stark example of racially discriminatory legislation, reminding us of the ongoing journey toward broader civil rights and equality in America.The U.S. Labor Department has introduced a new rule to expand overtime protections, which is causing concern among employers about potential legal challenges similar to those experienced in 2016. Previously, an attempt to increase overtime eligibility was halted by federal courts just days before its implementation, causing confusion for businesses that had already adjusted pay and staffing. The current rule aims to increase the salary threshold for overtime eligibility among "white collar" workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Starting July 1, employees making less than $43,888 annually will be eligible for overtime, expanding to less than $58,656 by January 1, capturing an additional 4 million workers.Employers face the choice of either raising salaries to maintain exemption or restructuring staffing to manage overtime costs. The new rule represents a significant increase from the current threshold of $35,568, with a projected economic impact including a $1.5 billion annual income shift from employers to workers. This change not only increases wages through overtime but also by encouraging salary raises to keep certain employees exempt. Despite the risk of legal setbacks, businesses are advised to prepare for the changes, assessing their economic and cultural impacts and making necessary adjustments. This rule is also expected to positively affect the workforce by potentially increasing hiring and converting part-time jobs to full-time positions.The substantial changes in salary thresholds affect millions of workers, making it a crucial legal and economic issue.Employers Mull OT Rule Compliance Strategy Despite Legal Déjà VuIn Massachusetts, the practice of using six-person juries in civil cases, initially a necessity during the pandemic, is finding continued favor among litigants, lawyers, and judges due to its efficiency. The state's Supreme Judicial Court had mandated smaller juries as a temporary measure but reverted to the standard twelve-person juries in January. Despite this, the legal community is less insistent on the larger jury size, recognizing the speed and cost-effectiveness of smaller juries, especially given the ongoing backlog of cases caused by court closures during the pandemic.Judges and attorneys have observed that smaller juries expedite the trial process, from jury selection to trial proceedings, as they reduce logistical complications like scheduling conflicts among jurors. For example, Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Peter Krupp noted his positive experiences with juries of six to eight members, highlighting their efficiency in managing cases. Additionally, the flexibility in jury size is seen as a tool to help clear the dockets and maintain the flow of judicial processes.While there is some concern about the potential impact of smaller juries on trial outcomes, with opinions varying depending on whether a party has the burden of proof, the consensus is that smaller juries do not inherently disadvantage either side. They also minimize the risk of a hung jury by reducing the number of jurors who might disagree. Nonetheless, the importance of preserving critical jury selection processes, like peremptory challenges and thorough voir dire, is emphasized to ensure that smaller juries remain fair and unbiased.Overall, the shift towards smaller juries is seen as a practical adaptation that balances judicial efficiency with the need for fairness in the legal process, suggesting that this practice may continue to be utilized to manage the caseload effectively while addressing the constraints of the judicial system.Massachusetts Judges, Trial Bar Embrace Six-Person JuriesBerkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate headed by Warren Buffett, faces significant legal challenges regarding its utility business, particularly with wildfires in Oregon. Greg Abel, recognized as Buffett's likely successor, stated during Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting that all litigation against the utility, specifically targeting PacifiCorp, is baseless and will be contested. This statement follows a recent lawsuit where 1,000 victims claimed $30 billion in damages, alleging PacifiCorp's responsibility for the 2020 Oregon wildfires. This comes in addition to $825 million already paid or owed by PacifiCorp for other related wildfire claims.Abel acknowledged that managing wildfire risks has been a substantial challenge, marking the first time such issues have caused considerable financial strain on one of Berkshire's utilities. Despite methods available to utilities to mitigate wildfire risks—such as insulating wires, managing vegetation, and burying transmission lines—the practice of shutting off power during high-risk scenarios was not initially adopted by PacifiCorp. Abel noted that the cultural focus at Berkshire's utility companies had been on maintaining power supply, especially to critical services like hospitals and fire stations, even during the wildfires.Recently, legislative actions in Utah have allowed utilities to impose surcharges to fund wildfire prevention and limit liability on certain claims, which Abel referred to as the "gold standard." Moving forward, Berkshire is adjusting its policies to shut off power proactively during wildfires and is investing cautiously in its utility operations to enhance their safety and reliability without unnecessary expenditure. Abel emphasized the importance of disciplined investment in this area, reflecting Buffett's philosophy of avoiding further loss by not investing additional resources unwisely.Berkshire executive calls wildfire claims against its utility business unfounded | ReutersThe United Auto Workers (UAW) successfully ratified a new labor agreement with Daimler Truck, continuing its recent series of successful negotiations that began with the Detroit Three automakers last fall. This progress in labor negotiations underscores a significant period of union activity aimed at expanding UAW's influence within the auto industry, especially targeting non-union U.S. factories primarily owned by foreign automakers.A significant milestone was achieved when workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant in Tennessee voted to join the UAW, an effort led by UAW President Shawn Fain to unionize American factories operated by overseas companies. This victory is part of a broader strategy to address worker conditions and wages across the industry, notably as the UAW sets its sights on upcoming union votes, such as the one at the Mercedes assembly plant in Alabama scheduled between May 13 and May 17.The timeline of UAW activities highlights aggressive organizing efforts and strategic negotiations over the past year, marked by notable wage increases across various companies and successful contract negotiations impacting around 150,000 U.S. workers. These efforts are part of a larger UAW campaign to enhance worker rights and compensation in the traditionally non-union sectors of the U.S. auto industry, signaling a potentially transformative period for labor relations in this sector.UAW workers ratify deal with Daimler as focus shifts to voting at Mercedes | Reuters Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

RR The Wire 2030Z December 11, 2023PRECEDENCE: ROUTINE RRDTG: 203011Z DEC 23ICOD: 193011Z DEC 23CONTROLS: Public ReleaseQQQQBLUF: TENSIONS INCREASE IN THE RED SEA. UKRAINE PEACE TALKS LIKELY TO BEGIN IN JANUARY. -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Red Sea: Yemen announces what amounts to a blockade of the Red Sea for all Israeli-affiliated shipping. Yemeni forces have claimed that they will target all commercial shipping owned by or affiliated with Israeli companies. AC: It is unclear as to what Yemen's standards are for shipping being “Israeli affiliated”. Throughout this conflict so far, many groups opposed to Israel have targeted American forces (such as American military bases in Iraq and Syria), or other nations that are in some way linked to Israel. Adding in international shipping norms complicates the situation further. Commercial shipping, on any given day, is a grand shell game. It is rare for a ship to be registered in the nation that it supplies. For instance, the M/V GALAXY LEADER (the first ship captured by Yemeni forces) has a rather confusing history. The vessel itself physically carries the flag of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, a former British colony. This vessel was chartered by a Japanese company (NYK) to transport vehicles. However, the vessel is owned by Ray Car Carriers, which despite being registered as a business in the Isle of Man, was founded by an Israeli business magnate. Regarding the crew physically operating the vessel, 17 members of the crew are Filipino, and the rest are from an assortment of nations such as Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and so on. In the case of this one ship, at least a dozen nations are involved at some point regarding the operation of this vessel. This means that it's rather difficult to determine what Yemen's criteria is for a vessel being “Israeli-affiliated”, which in turn increases the risk for virtually all commercial shipping transiting the Red Sea.Europe: In Switzerland, several media groups have announced the scheduling of peace talks regarding the Ukrainian war. During his visit to Argentina, Ukrainian President Zelensky floated the idea that peace talks will begin at the World Economic Forum, the day before that event gets underway in January. AC: If these claims are true, the peace talks taking place at such an infamous organization clearly sends a message as to the controlling interests at play regarding a post-war Ukraine.-Homefront-USA: The DoD announces the implementation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) to send arms to Israel. This Act allows the DoD to bypass the normal process and send arms to Israel without Congressional approval. In this case, this law is allegedly being used to send tank shells to Israel, though without Congressional oversight there is little confirmation of any of these details.

On this day in legal history, November 16, 1973, a pivotal moment in U.S. energy and environmental law occurred when President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act. This Act marked a significant shift in the nation's approach to energy resource development and environmental policy. By sanctioning the construction of an 800-mile oil pipeline from Prudhoe Bay in the north of Alaska to Valdez in the south, the Act aimed to alleviate the 1973 oil crisis by tapping into the vast oil reserves of Alaska's North Slope.Notably, the Act contained a controversial provision that effectively bypassed standard environmental legal processes. This provision expedited the pipeline's construction by limiting judicial review and effectively quashing existing legal challenges related to environmental concerns. It reflected the tension between the nation's growing energy demands and the emerging environmental consciousness of the 1970s.The pipeline's construction, completed in 1977, was an engineering feat, traversing some of the most challenging and pristine terrains in Alaska. However, it also raised substantial environmental concerns, such as the impact on the permafrost, wildlife, and the indigenous peoples' way of life. The project became a case study in balancing economic development with environmental preservation, a debate that continues in modern environmental law.The Act's legal implications were far-reaching. It set a precedent for how Congress could intervene in ongoing environmental legal disputes. This aspect of the law has been a point of debate among legal scholars, with discussions focusing on the balance between legislative action and judicial independence. Additionally, the Act sparked a wave of environmental activism and legal challenges, contributing to the strengthening of environmental legislation in the subsequent years.In retrospect, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 remains a landmark in U.S. legal history. It not only transformed Alaska's economy and the U.S. energy landscape but also played a crucial role in shaping the discourse around environmental law and policy. This legislation represents a unique intersection of energy, environment, and law, encapsulating the complexities and challenges of the era.The U.S. Senate has successfully passed a stopgap funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, with the bill now heading to President Joe Biden for approval before the weekend deadline. This action marks the resolution of the third fiscal standoff in Congress this year, which previously brought the government close to defaulting on its over $31 trillion debt and nearly led to shutdowns affecting pay for approximately 4 million federal workers. The recent crisis was closely followed by the ousting of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on October 3, leaving the House leaderless for three weeks.The bill, which received bipartisan support, extends funding for key areas such as military construction, veterans benefits, and various other federal programs until January 19, 2023. This date is notably close to the start of the 2024 presidential campaign season, marked by the Iowa caucuses. Democrats expressed satisfaction with the bill for adhering to previously agreed spending levels and avoiding controversial provisions. In contrast, some Republicans, while keen to avoid a shutdown, voiced frustration with the compromise, vowing to push for reduced federal spending when the current funding expires.The repeated confrontations over government funding have hindered Congress from addressing other significant issues, including President Biden's request for substantial aid for Israel, Ukraine, and U.S. border security. The bill's passage provides a temporary respite, but it also sets the stage for further political negotiations and potential conflicts as new deadlines loom.US Senate passes stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown | ReutersRight-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is seeking court permission to sell an array of personal items—including firearms, jewelry, cars, boats, and a cryogenic chamber—to fund his personal bankruptcy costs. This move follows his filing for bankruptcy protection last year after being ordered to pay over $1 billion in judgments for falsely claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. Jones plans to promote these sales on his Infowars radio and video talk shows, believing this will increase the items' value due to supporter demand. The proceeds from the sales are intended for legal fees and any remaining funds will be used for payments as part of a Chapter 11 plan. This request comes amidst criticisms of Jones' lavish spending habits and follows a court ruling that about $1.1 billion of his debt from defamation judgments cannot be discharged under bankruptcy laws due to his intentional and malicious conduct.Alex Jones Aims to Sell Guns, Boats, Cars to Fund Bankruptcy (1)A recent study has revealed that GPT-4, a sophisticated AI chatbot developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, has surpassed the average performance of human test-takers on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), a legal ethics exam required in nearly every U.S. state for law practice. GPT-4 achieved a 74% accuracy rate on a simulated MPRE, compared to the estimated 68% average among human examinees. This study, conducted by LegalOn Technologies, suggests the potential for AI to assist lawyers in ethical compliance and align with professional responsibilities.This finding adds to a growing body of research exploring the role of AI in legal education and attorney licensure. Previous studies showed that an earlier version of GPT-4 scored passably on law school final exams and that GPT-4 could pass the bar exam. Additionally, access to GPT-4 was found to increase speed in legal writing assignments but did not improve the quality of law students' work.Despite GPT-4's impressive performance, particularly in areas like conflicts of interest and lawyer-client relationships, its accuracy was lower in questions about communications regarding legal services and the safekeeping of funds. The National Conference of Bar Examiners, responsible for developing the MPRE, has not assessed the claims of GPT-4's ability to pass its ethics test. A spokesperson emphasized that attorneys possess unique skills that AI cannot currently replicate.The study underscores the evolving role of technology in the legal profession and suggests that advanced AI models like GPT-4 can effectively apply ethical rules, marking a significant milestone in the intersection of AI and legal ethics.AI chatbot can pass national lawyer ethics exam, study finds | ReutersThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which reduced the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, promised to stimulate economic growth and curb global tax evasion by discouraging offshore profit shifting. However, six years later, evidence suggests its impact on reducing the use of tax havens has been minimal. The constant offshoring of about 35% of foreign profits and the consistent booking of about 50% of these profits in tax havens indicate the TCJA's limited effectiveness.Some positive effects of the TCJA are observed in the actions of six major companies, including Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Meta Platforms, Inc., which repatriated intellectual property to the U.S. This movement coincided with changes in the Irish tax code, making it difficult to attribute the repatriation solely to the TCJA.A potential solution to the unresolved issues of the TCJA is a global minimum tax, as suggested by the EU Tax Observatory in the 2024 Global Tax Evasion Report. This tax would create a global tax liability based on a corporation's engagement with different markets, irrespective of where profits are geographically distributed. Over 140 countries agreed to a global minimum tax of 15% on multinational profits under a 2021 G20 and OECD initiative, but the effectiveness of this tax has been weakened due to modifications like the economic substance carve-out.A more robust global minimum tax could provide a cohesive strategy to protect individual countries' tax bases, highlighting the need for a unified approach to combat tax avoidance. The TCJA's limitations underscore the importance of a global, interlinked system of policies to effectively address offshore profit shifting. The resolution to this issue lies in the collective action of the global community to pursue fiscal fairness.An example will bring this into clearer view. Consider a multinational that has profits logged in three jurisdictions: Country A, Country B and Country C. In Country A, they have $10 billion in profits taxed at 10%; in Country B, $10 billion in profits taxed at 5%; and in Country C, $10 billion in profits, taxed at 0%. The global minimum tax in this hypothetical scenario is 15%. The multinational company has $30 billion in profits across three countries—if they all uniformly taxed at 15%, the multinational would owe $4.5 billion in taxes. However, owing to none of the countries reaching that 15% threshold, there are deficits in the percentage each country has collected—in Country A, $500 million has been left on the table, in B the gap is $1 billion and in C all $1.5 billion has been left uncollected. The overall deficit, therefore, is $3 billion.The most straightforward way to apportion that deficit among the three jurisdictions is to mirror the percentage of global sales the company makes in each jurisdiction. So, assuming 25% of sales went to Country A, they would be entitled to collect 25% of the $3 billion deficit—or $750 million. All three jurisdictions would be incentivized to close that uncollected gap by raising their tax rate to the global minimum of 15% and leave as little on the table for distribution through the sales-apportionment mechanism.In this way, the multinational is taxed at the global minimum amount and each individual country is incentivized to “get on board” and collect as much as they are entitled to. Its a relatively simple solution to a complex problem, and it would need a lot of fine tuning–but to my mind it is infinitely closer to a true solution than anything currently in force or proposed. State Global Minimum Taxes Would Combat Offshore Profit Shifting Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

RR The Wire 2030Z November 14, 2023PRECEDENCE: ROUTINE RRDTG: 203014Z NOV 23ICOD: 193014Z NOV 23CONTROLS: Public ReleaseQQQQBLUF: WAR CONTINUES IN GAZA. DEMONSTRATIONS COMPLICATE HISTORIC TRENDS. -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East Front: Israel continues invasion of Gaza. Israeli forces continue to push south along the coast, and are expected link up with forces in Central Gaza soon.European Front: Protests and demonstrations continue related to a variety of issues. Pro-Palestine protests continue in opposition to the Israeli invasion of Gaza. These events have resulted in thousands of Arab/Africans taking to the streets, the sheer number of which has prompted Anti-Immigration protests. AC: In Europe, some protests are leading to other protests, as social issues snowball into much larger problems, and as individuals seek to occupy opposing political viewpoints.-HomeFront-USA: Much consternation abounds following the realization that the Corporate Transparency Act comes into fruition on January 1, 2024. This Act, passed with bipartisan support, was quietly placed into the National Defense Authorization Act for FY21. An estimated 80 million small businesses are affected by this law. All public companies and corporations that employ more than 20 people are exempt from this law. AC: As many people finally finish reading the thousands of pages of budgetary laws passed over the past few years, Acts like this one are being discovered. This Act requires most small business LLCs to register with the U.S. Treasury department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), providing identification documents and ownership data. This is used to create a Law Enforcement registry of all small business owners in the U.S.CA: In San Fransisco, a Czech news crew covering the preparations for the upcoming APEC summit was robbed at gunpoint on the street as they were filming B roll for an upcoming newscast. The three armed assailants stole their camera equipment and so far have evaded capture.-Analyst Comments-As many demonstrations continue around the world, complex social issues dominate and confuse the situation. The “enemy of my enemy” mindset is not accurate in describing the social concerns that are resulting in protests around Europe. Pro-Palestine protests draw both extreme-left, and extreme-right protestors. For instance, both ANTIFA and Far-Right groups have demonstrated support for Palestine…two groups that have historically had an adversarial relationship. Likewise, some Pro-Palestine protests draw significant Anti-Immigration groups, which also do not support Israel. As strange and sometimes cognitively dissonant demonstrations continue, these will likely continue to be high-risk events, as current events complicate traditional and historical rivalries.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst: S2AEND REPORTNNNN

Governor Pritzker has announced he will sign Senate Bill 208 after the Illinois legislature passed the Paid Leave for All Workers Act on January 10, 2023. This Act will go into effect on January 1, 2024, and grants almost all Illinois workers 40 hours of paid leave in any 12-month period. Illinois would be the third state, after Nevada and Maine, to have mandatory paid time off .Read the full article here: www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-la…ve-for-workers O'Flaherty Law now serves over 105 counties across Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. If you have any questions regarding a case or would like to speak to one of our attorneys after watching a #LearnAboutLaw video, give us a call at (630) 324-6666 or send us an email at info@oflaherty-law.com to get in contact with someone from our team. Subscribe to our channel for daily videos dedicated to all things law and leave a comment with any questions about this topic. Find us online for more legal content and to stay connected with our team - Website: www.oflaherty-law.com/ - LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/oflahertylaw - Instagram: www.instagram.com/oflahertylaw - Facebook: www.facebook.com/oflahertylawGroup/ **None of the content in this series is intended as paid legal advice.

Traitors Around the World podcast host Pooya (@pooyaism) welcomes you to the latest iteration of the world's ultimate murder mystery party series! This time around, we're headed north to witness the series premiere of The Traitors: Canada. Twenty contestants, a mix of reality TV stars, Canadian icons and ordinary folks, move into a mansion and are split into two groups: the Faithful, and the Traitors. As the mystery plays out, contestants are eliminated until just one is left to claim to prize of up to $250,000! Today, Pooya and Brian Scally team up to recap The Traitors Canada season 1, episode 3, "This Act is to Die For." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Step into a realm where history's dark secrets resurface, and the spectral world confronts the tangible. In this episode, we delve into the unsettling cases of Helen Duncan and Charles Walton, two individuals ensnared by the lingering grip of witchcraft, even in the 20th century. Helen Duncan, a gifted spiritual medium, found herself accused of witchcraft, espionage, and fraud during World War II. Her story blurs the line between the ethereal and the rational, offering a disquieting glimpse into the enduring power of supernatural beliefs. Meanwhile, in a tranquil English village in 1945, a gruesome murder shocked the world. Charles Walton's brutal demise begs unsettling questions about the persistent influence of witchcraft beliefs, even in the modern age. The Witchcraft Act 1735 The Witchcraft Act of 1735 stands as a pivotal moment in the history of witch trials in Great Britain. This historic legislation, passed by the Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1735, brought an end to the dark era of hunting and executing individuals accused of practicing witchcraft. Unlike its predecessors, the Act introduced a significant shift in perspective, assuming that there were no real witches with genuine magical powers but rather individuals who claimed such powers to deceive and exploit the vulnerable. The maximum penalty under this new law was a year's imprisonment, marking a stark departure from the earlier belief that witches derived their abilities from pacts with Satan. Instead, the Act embraced a more primitive and medieval view, in line with the early Christian Church's position, which had been contested over the centuries by witch-phobic Inquisitors. This Act, aligning with the broader European trend, led to the decline of witch trials in the 18th century after reaching a peak around 1600 and a series of outbursts in the late 17th century. It signaled a significant step toward the modern legal history of witchcraft and ultimately put an end to the persecution of those accused of being witches in Great Britain. The last execution for witchcraft in the region occurred in 1727 when Janet Horne met a tragic fate. The Last Convictions In England In September 1943, Helen Duncan found herself behind bars, a peculiar victim of the Witchcraft Act 1735. Her alleged crime? Claiming the ability to summon spirits, a practice that led to her arrest and imprisonment. However, her followers have long argued that her incarceration was not just a matter of supernatural beliefs but rather a sinister scheme concocted by superstitious military intelligence officers. The pivotal moment that drew the authorities' attention occurred when she purportedly made contact with the spirit of a sailor from the ill-fated HMS Barham, a sinking that was concealed from the public at the time. Helen faced a litany of charges, including conspiracy to contravene the Witchcraft Act 1735, obtaining money by false pretences, and public mischief. Duncan's nine-month prison term marked her as often described as the last person convicted under this archaic Act. However, Jane Rebecca Yorke, from Forest Gate in east London, shares this dubious distinction, convicted in September 1944 for similar offenses. The Witchcraft Act 1735 met its end in 1951 with the enactment of the Fraudulent Mediums Act, championed by Spiritualists and Thomas Brooks MP. In this episode, you will be able to: 1. Explore the life of Helen Duncan, her arrest and prosecution. 2. Explore the last witchcraft murder case in England. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hauntedchronicles/message

The past week has been momentous for those awaiting the enactment of a legal framework for data protection in India. India's parliament passed the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the law has now also received the assent of the President of India. This law has been enacted after multiple rounds of deliberations and consultations. Multiple committees have submitted reports on the proposed legislation, and three previous drafts of the legislation have been circulated for public consultation. What changes has this law undergone? How will the cost of data protection and privacy compliance impact Indian businesses?In this episode of Interpreting India, Rahul Matthan joins Anirudh Burman to give us insights into these questions and more.Episode ContributorsRahul Matthan is a partner at Trilegal, one of India's leading law firms, and heads the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) practice of the firm. He has extensive experience advising on high-value TMT transactions in the country. Rahul's expertise spans several sectors in the technology space, including data protection, digital finance, cryptocurrencies, e-commerce, and more. Rahul has advised the government on the data privacy law and has served on the Kris Gopalakrishnan Committee on Non-Personal Data. He has authored numerous articles and thought pieces on various topical issues relating to computers, the internet, and other new technologies.Anirudh Burman is an associate research director and fellow at Carnegie India. He works on key issues relating to public institutions, public administration, the administrative and regulatory state, and state capacity.  He has also worked extensively on financial regulation and regulatory governance.He has published works related to parliamentary oversight in India, the freedom of movement and residence, measuring the responsiveness of independent regulators in India, the design of insolvency professionals as a regulated profession, and the right to information.Additional ReadingsGet On with Data Protection Now That the Law's Enacted by Rahul MatthanCompanies Must Work Hard to Ensure Data Protection by Rahul MatthanResisting the Leviathan: The Key Change in India's New Proposal to Protect Personal Data by Anirudh BurmanWill India's Proposed Data Protection Law Protect Privacy and Promote Growth? by Anirudh Burman—-Key Moments:(0:00); Introduction (3:00); Chapter 1: The Journey of This Act(7:03); Chapter 2: Data Protection in India(10:58); Chapter 3: Key Components of the Data Protection Act (14:19); Chapter 4: Applying GDPR Compliance in India(22:00); Chapter 5: Right to Data Portability(27:57); Chapter 6: Consent Manager Framework (32:44); Chapter 7: The Indian Government's Data Accessing Powers(37:30); Chapter 8: Restrictions on Data Fiduciaries(42:46); Chapter 9: Blocking Data Fiduciaries' Access to Public Information  (45:18); Chapter 10: Data Localization(46:56); Chapter 11: Establishing a Data Protection Board(49:48); Closing Comments(52:40); Outro

In this informative episode of our educational podcast for parents and children, we have the privilege of hosting Jumtum Minga, a dedicated Member of the APSCPCR (Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights), who brings years of experience from working in a child helpline. If you have a child at home, it's essential to be aware of the rules and laws that protect them, and this episode is a must-listen. One crucial law discussed is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) of 2012. This Act strengthens legal provisions to safeguard children under the age of 18 from sexual abuse, exploitation, harassment, and pornography. Its implementation aims to ensure their safety and well-being. Recently, an article from 'The Arunachal Times' reported that 26 cases have been recorded under the POCSO Act. Notably, two individuals in Arunachal's Lower Subansiri district have been sentenced to 20 years in jail under this Act, emphasizing the seriousness of child protection. Children represent the backbone of our society, and protecting them is paramount to securing a better future. This episode serves as a valuable resource for understanding and upholding the rights of children, contributing to a safer environment for all. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smalltalk28/message

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nealkatyal.substack.comI cannot tell you in words how excited I am for you to hear this episode. I've been struck by John Mulaney for years — his delivery, his unique understanding of the world, his deep empathy for the human condition. I didn't know until last year he is also a Constitutional Law nerd. I mean, seriously, he texts me all sorts of questions about random Supreme Court cases. All the time. And they are damn good questions.John's questions are really what launched me on this podcast Courtside, because it occurred to me that Constitutional Law should not be the province of a bunch of lawyers — it belongs to all of us.You are about to get treated (whether a paying subscriber or not) for what I've had the privilege of seeing with John, an absolutely first rate mind who brings joy and playfulness to everything he encounters. He picked Morrison v. Olson (1988), one of the most important cases in constitutional law. The case concerns how to prosecute Presidential or high level Executive Branch wrongdoing. When he picked it, we didn't know Donald Trump would be getting a target letter for the January 6 events at the same time, but the imminent criminal indictment of Donald Trump raises the importance of this episode even more.Morrison v. Olson was a sweeping Supreme Court decision, decided in 1988, that found the Independent Counsel Act of 1978 constitutional. This Act was responsible for the appointment of independent prosecutors such as Ken Starr, who kickstarted the sprawling and viciously partisan investigation of Monica Lewinsky, and Lawrence Walsh, who was tasked with investigating the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan Administration. While the Court issued a 7-1 ruling in favor of the Act (with Chief Justice Rehnquist writing for the majority), the decision is widely thought to have been a mistake. Most believe that Justice Scalia's lone dissent was ultimately correct, and some even argue that it is the finest dissent he ever wrote.John is pinpoint accurate in describing Morrison, and the ways in which it matters. Paid subscribers are also going to get a bunch of bonus material from John, including the ways in which he thinks Supreme Court argumentation is similar to comedy, and its differences. It's a remarkable discussion, and I can't wait for you to hear it.We also spend some time describing the different models for prosecuting a President. Ultimately, the big problem is that the Constitution vests the prosecution power in the President. And if it's the President (or his friends or family) who are the ones accused of wrongdoing, there is an inherent conflict of interest in the investigation. Yet the Constitution doesn't provide for any alternative. This is a problem of governance that goes back millenia — to Juvenal's query Who Guards the Guardians? (Or, as Dr. Seuss put it, bee-watchers watching the bees, and bee-watcher-watchers watching the watchers.)Regardless, the American public is about to see one model, the Special Counsel regulations, come into force as Jack Smith prosecutes former President Donald Trump. Understanding Morrison v. Olson is essential to understanding the constitutional architecture of this prosecution, and what we can expect. Enjoy this remarkable discussion with John Mulaney.Paid subscribers will have access to the full interview and some bonus material, along with information and writeups about Morrison v. Olson, all on the substack website. https://nealkatyal.substack.com/. Sign up there for all the goodies.

Here is my conversation with my son Dave asking him to take me back to his learnings from George Herbert Meade.  As you will hear, all there is about Practice happens at the moment we ACT. Picture holding your finger above the Send key. Then, send it! This ACT commits us to know what happens now and not know what will come next. The thrill of figuring out how to ACT upon what comes next energizes the associated Practice. Like it or not, we are 'caught in the ACT' and must change.   

The construction mafia, or so-called ‘business forums', first reared its head in KwaZulu-Natal in 2014 and 2015, invading construction sites to demand a share of projects, or that companies employ specific people or subcontractors. By 2018 and 2019 this practice also emerged in other provinces, with these forums often touting heavy-calibre weapons as they made their demands. A similar model of extortion has since spread to other industries, most notably mining. Much of the violence has subsided in KwaZulu-Natal, says Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane, a researcher at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime. However, this is not a sign that the illegal activities have stopped, she notes, but rather that extortion has become normalised, and yet another cost of doing business in South Africa. Ayabonga Cawe, chief commissioner at the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa, says extortion is compromising government's infrastructure rollout, which affects the entire economy. He explains that conflicts such as these often arise when there are different interpretations of laws and regulations. “The problem lies in how preferential procurement has unfolded, and this opens up the way for opportunistic criminals,” he says. Irish-Qhobosheane agrees. “We do need to recognise that economic exclusion and a lack of economic transformation creates fertile ground for extortion in construction. “However, it is important to distinguish between genuine community concerns and criminals involved in extortion for their own gain.” Business forums typically demand 30% of the contract value be allocated to forum members, or directly to the forum itself. This figure appears to be derived from National Treasury's Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act. This Act states that 30% of public procurement contracts should be contracted to designated groups, as provided for in the Preferential Procurement Regulations, with the forums' demands then painted with the veneer of transformation. National Treasury has strongly condemned this practice as illegal, and as a blow to government's attempts to advance the interests of historically disadvantaged individuals and small businesses. Irish-Qhobosheane and Cawe spoke at Human Sciences Research Council events. Where to Now? It can hardly be emphasised enough that business has to put in place comprehensive directives for dealing with extortion attempts, says Corobrik director Musa Shangase. “The first principle should be to afford the business forum the opportunity for dialogue; to present their demands. “I advise sharing with them the terms of the contract and what the obligations are for advancing transformation goals,” notes Shangase. “They need to be informed whether the project is a public or private one, and what the implications are in each case.” Shangase also advises companies to request a database of the business forum's constituents, and to employ a community liaison officer who can act as a mediator between the community and the company. The duties of the community liaison officer include negotiating, and developing and fostering relationships. In public sector projects, the community liaison officer acts as the link between the main contractor and the business forum. In the case of private sector projects, if a business forum insists on participation, the matter should be reported to the police, says Shangase. Business Against Crime's Guidelines Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa) has, as part of the work of the National Priority Committee on Extortion and Violence at Economic Sites, authored a set of guidelines to help companies deal with extortion. Bacsa national project manager Roelof Viljoen says it is important for companies and their employees to understand what extortion is, so that they can identify and report it as and when required. Also, successful prosecution is vital to reducing extortion. Extortion as a crime requires two elements: the demand...

Dr Anna Volkmer, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a legislation that aims to protect the rights of people who may lack capacity to make decisions. This Act provides guidance to professionals to decide whether someone has decision-making capacity. It also offers practical examples of how to judge if a person can understand, retain, weigh up, and express a decision. The Act also provides guidance to researchers on gaining consent from research participants. However, researchers often find this legislation and code of practice complicated and difficult to follow, which leads to people with communication difficulties being excluded from studies. In this blog Anna goes through the issues and makes suggestions on how to address the issues. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-does-my-patient-understand-what-my-research-study-is-about/ -- Dr Anna Volkmer is a Speech and Language Therapist and researcher in Language and Cognition, Department of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London. Anna is researching Speech and language therapy interventions in language led dementia and was once voted scariest speech and language therapist (even her children agree). -- If you would like to write your own blog drop us a line, we're always on the look out for new contributors to write about their research, careers + more dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

The first step to solving the problem of teacher attrition is to admit that there is a problem. Some groups have already taken this step, and they are listening to teachers in order to create solutions that will retain teachers. These programs make a big difference, but their approach isn't the norm. In this episode, we hear about successful efforts to keep teachers in education, and we'll ask the question: Who should have the responsibility of keeping teachers in education?  Music:  Theme Song By Julian Saporiti  “Sunlight” by Nul Tiel Records is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA license. “I'm Fat” by Blanket Music is licensed under a CC BY-NC license. “Keep The Prices Down” by Blanket Music is licensed under a CC BY-NC license. “Kaptan Hayvanlar Alemi” by Hayvanlar Alemi  is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA license. “Grab a Bargain” by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a CC  BY license. “Place on my Bonfire” by Lobo Loco is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA license. “Your Paradigm Dial” by Origami Repetika  is licensed under a CC  BY license.  Transcipt My third grade teacher had a phone booth in his classroom. It was a full size, glass booth that was mostly sound-proof. The phone booth was the choice place to spend any indoor recess, but during class, it was used as the equivalent of a time-out. Our teacher was a mustachioed man who called his facial hair his “cookie duster” and wore tinted-glasses and thick collared polyester shirts,  If a student was misbehaving, he would point that student to the phone booth, and that's where the student would remain for the rest of the lesson.  Discipline reigned in his class. I'm not sure if this is a quality of 3rd grade teachers in general, but both of the 3rd grade teachers at my school at the time were strict, and my parents loved it. I appreciate  some of it now, but at the time I thought it was downright oppressive - especially disciplining groups of kids together, which I'm still not a fan of.  There was a week-stretch in particular where our class lost out on several recesses because a core group of kids were acting out. I don't remember what they were doing, but I remember the sinking feeling of losing out on the chance to play tetherball or football or to climb on those tractor tires that were half buried in the ground and always had a faint smell of urine. We were stuck indoors.  I complained to my dad about the injustice when he picked me up from school. I ranted about inequity and being punished for something I didn't do. And I remember his response clearly. He asked me if I was part of the problem or part of the solution. He had to explain what “solution”meant, and then he told me that I needed to think about whether I was helping or hurting the situation.  I realized that even if I wasn't doing anything wrong, I still might not be part of the solution. Like a whole gaggle of my parents' other truisms that I didn't want to hear at the time, this has stuck with me. We've spent the last 5 episodes looking at what factors, what problems, might be contributing to teachers leaving education. Over half of all teachers are considering leaving the profession, but there are teachers who are staying, some of them stay thanks to efforts made by organizations to convince teachers to remain in education. So, today, we're going to think about solutions that keep brilliant teachers in education, but we'll also ask the question, whose responsibility is it to keep teachers in education? This is Those Who Can't Teach Anymore, a 7-part podcast series exploring why teachers are leaving education and what can be done to stop the exodus. I'm Charles Fournier. Here is part 6: “Those Who Stay” Elizabeth Smith: I brought mimosas. I hope you don't mind. I met Elizabeth on the back patio of the Middle Fork restaurant in Lander, Wyoming. If her voice sounds familiar, it's because we heard from her earlier in the series. She wore a blue dress with flower print and she carried a binder and a tote bag. The binder had a copy of her research thesis about retention of teachers on reservations and from the bag she pulled two flute champagne glasses, a jug of orange juice, and a bottle of champagne. Elizabeth is a veteran teacher, she loves teaching, and part of why she loves it might have to do some with her background. As we drank mimosas under the shade of a tree, she told me about her unique upbringing. Elizabeth Smith: I have a very, very crazy back story. I was raised in a cult. And I dropped out of school in seventh grade. And I never went to high school. And we were raised in a situation in which we didn't have television or outside influence. So I was very isolated and programmed to believe a certain way. And so I got my GED when I was 19, the same year, I got my driver's license, I ran away from home twice, and was successfully out of the house and the religion, the high control, the second time that I left, and so my understanding of educators is completely different.   A quality of early American education that we learned about in the second episode was the idea that teachers would be taught in the education system themselves and so the education hierarchy would be ingrained into them – it was almost a pre-teacher training. Elizabeth didn't go to public school, so some of these stereotypical expectations aren't perpetuated in her teaching practice, which might contribute to why she loves it. Elizabeth Smith: I love what I do. I love teaching, I have high respect for myself, in the work that I do. I know the mistakes that I make, in reflection, for the most part, I'm sure there's some that I'm unaware of, but I enjoy helping people understand themselves, you know, because it's been a huge chore of mine to be able to get to the point where I have undone all the programming that I have experienced in life. And because of her youth, she was drawn to a sense of spirituality she found in teaching. Elizabeth Smith: Coming from a really hardcore, high control, religious background. I feel like I suffered spiritual abuse. And so disconnected me from myself, in a lot of ways. And so my whole life, like I told you has been spent trying to figure out who I am. And one of the things in teaching that you'll, especially if you read my research, you'll see that the spiritual connection with making relationships with other people and knowing that what you're doing is valued is a big part of spirituality. The research Elizabeth points to was tied to her Masters Thesis. She focused on why teachers stay, especially non-native teachers, in reservation schools. What Elizabeth found is that those who stay feel a sense of acceptance, a sense of appreciation that what they bring to a community is valuable. And this is why Elizabeth stays too. She feels like what she does matters. She feels a connection to her students and, for the most part, she feels valued as a teacher.  Elizabeth Smith: I've only taught on reservation schools. So I've only taught in Indian country and there is a cultural perception from Native communities that really value teachers. So that's one of the reasons why non-native teachers decided to stay and have such longevity in reservation country because there is an old school respect for teachers.  I want to be transparent here. Elizabeth isn't totally satisfied with her job - we're drinking mimosas because she just finished up the school day and wanted to wind down. During our conversation, Elizabeth pointed out her frustrations, which echo many of the frustrations that we've heard in this podcast. She explained situations where she felt devalued or not listened to or stretched thin. She admitted that after teaching for 20 years, the thought of leaving education has crossed her mind, but she said that as long as this year feels like things are getting better, she plans on staying in education. And this is worth pointing out - even teachers that are staying in education by choice have frustrations. I say by choice because there are the teachers that feel stuck because they are close to retirement, need the insurance, or need the immediate income. Part of what's keeping Elizabeth, even when she has frustrations, is the fact that she feels like what she does matters and that she feels valued in her community.  Those things might seem small, but we're at a point where many teachers are frustrated and feel neither value nor purpose.  I have felt that. The past few years especially - it didn't feel like anything I did in my classroom mattered, and too often when I met someone new and told them I was a teacher, they'd tell me a story about how bad their kid's teachers were or how they had chewed out some teacher for something that, when they explained it to me, was just a terrible reason. They acted righteous and I felt devalued by association.  What picked me up was this project - the one that you're listening to right now. A podcast that explores why teachers were leaving education was a thought I have talked with my wife about since she left teaching, but I never pursued it. Not until I saw and applied for a Fund for Teachers Fellowship, which is a grant for teachers who want to create their own form of professional development. This seems small, but it's kind of mind-blowing and has made a world of difference for me. Stephanie Ascherl:  Teachers don't usually get a lot of choice. Professional development is determined for them, it's very top down.  This is Stephanie Ascherl, she is the Chief of Staff at Fund for Teachers, and she's worked for the organization going on 18 years.  Stephanie Ascherl: What's unique about Fund For Teachers is that we empower the teacher to tell us, no one at Fund for Teachers will ever tell you what you should do to be a better teacher because we really trust that you know yourself and your students better than anybody. Stephanie was not a teacher herself though she wanted to be a teacher when she was younger.   Stephanie Ascherl: I wanted to be a teacher until I was in high school. As you can tell I'm soft spoken. And I had a teacher who just was like, You're gonna have to learn how to talk a little bit louder, or find another way to give back.  When she started with Fund for Teachers, she really loved it, and I can see why. What stands out about Fund for Teachers as an organization is that they listen to teachers. Even though Stephanie wasn't a teacher herself, she does exactly what we asked of legislators last episode, she, and the rest of her organization trust educators.  Stephanie Ascherl: I think, you know, here in Houston, we see think tanks, you know, may have a conversation with a group of teachers that then they take what they think they heard to the state legislator who then makes policy change, but why can't the teacher just talk directly to the legislature, like there's, we don't need all these middlemen, we need to invite teachers to the conversation and to participate actively in and with the people who are making decisions, and maybe how we're choosing the people who make decisions also needs to be looked at. Fund for Teachers is not a government organization. They are a non-profit, and Stephanie acknowledges they can't be the saviors of the American Educational system all on their own, but she knows that they are at least making a difference.  Stephanie Ascherl: I'm not naive, I know, there's bigger problems that we don't have control over. But I do hope that the, you know, we award about 350 to 400 teachers a year that those 300 to 400, people feel like they can do it another year, that they can keep moving forward, not just for their students, because that's what we hear so often is I don't want to leave the kids but that we really make them feel like they can do this for themselves. And that there are people that care, there are people that are invested.  I felt this tremendously. This fellowship did so much to make me feel valued, that there was someone out there who was rooting for teachers, and it makes a difference in teachers wanting to continue teaching - even if it's just for one more year.  Stephanie Ascherl: In a very small study we did regionally that teachers who received Fund for Teachers, fellowships are more likely to stay in the classroom than their counterparts who did not receive a fellowship. And this study is incomplete. But it also showed that teachers who just applied so people who could feel like there is opportunity, there is hope. And even just thinking about their practice, maybe in a different way. That even they stayed a little bit longer.  Even with their positive impact, Stephanie pointed out that people in academics or other educational bodies have been somewhat dismissive of what Fund for Teachers is doing for educators.  Stephanie Ascherl: Somebody referred to us, like as a warm hug once and I was like, You know what, I don't even care because we are a hug, and people need a hug. And people need that encouragement. And that's not going to make everyone happy. But I care about those three or 400 people I interact with a year, and that's really my priority.  For a teacher feeling burned out and devalued, a hug is pretty dang nice. I needed that acknowledgement that I am a professional and enough of an expert to recognize what I need to be happy and successful in the classroom for another year. Policymakers, School Boards, Districts! Take note! When trying to solve the problem of teacher attrition, think WWFFTD. What would Fund for Teachers Do? Start by listening to teachers, let them decide what they need, and be encouraging and supportive - teachers need both a metaphorical and literal hug right now.  Acknowledgement is validating, and it gets at the heart of what Fund for Teachers wants to do despite how teachers are being treated across the country. As we've heard before, teachers haven't been treated like professionals. Stephanie thinks it is in part because non-educators don't want to think about it.  Stephanie Ascherl: I just think that, generally, as a society, we choose not to understand what happens in schools.  Stephanie Ascherl: People put their blinders on. And they don't want to acknowledge that there is an issue that needs to be solved. And they don't want to know any different because then you'd have to take action. When there's this kind of like, monolithic, almost problem. It's almost like you just don't know where to begin to help. And so you don't know what to do. And then you're almost frozen to inaction.  For Stephanie, for Fund for Teachers, this shift towards action and treating teachers as professionals to be valued begins with valuing education, which means inviting teachers to the table when decisions about education are being made. They are doing this by awarding grants for projects that are created by teachers. To get teachers feeling invested, they need to be involved, they need to be invested in.  Stephanie Ascherl: Fund For Teachers, invests in teachers, and we invest in their self designed professional development. Why should we treat teachers any different than any other professional. If I want to go learn more about marketing, or how to engage my board or things like that, I can do that. And why would we deprive teachers of that opportunity? And districts aren't meeting that need? And that's where fund for teachers kind of comes in? Along with giving teachers the resources and freedom to design professional development that is individualized, Fund For Teachers also puts a lot of faith in what teachers get out of the fellowship. Remember a few episodes back when we talked about authentic experiences feeling superficial once they are measured? A part of why Fund for Teachers helps keep teachers in education and excited about learning is because they remove the barriers that teachers typically run into: like a lack of autonomy, feeling devalued, and being held to inauthentic standards Stephanie Ascherl: We're not really into data. So we're not some we're not, we're very different from a lot of organizations that, you know, while we're trying to get there, it's never really been about improving test scores. It's really about what your problem is today, and how we can help you solve it. And so when we talk about impact, it can come in many forms is a teacher feeling renewed, and recognized for their efforts, and they want to stay in the classroom for another year. That then it kind of morphs into students seeing what could happen if I had my own agency, if I took control of my learning, what kind of change could I make in my community or my, just my school or my life. So it has this this wide like spectrum of benefits. And they're really dependent on the teacher themselves in the project that they did. In simpler terms, Stephanie said their organization wants teachers to feel good about themselves, which is an absolute need for teachers at the moment.  Stephanie Ascherl: But I think holistically as an organization, we want teachers to walk away feeling trusted, respected, and encouraged because we know they're not getting that.  I'm proof - this approach works. But again, they're a small non-profit organization. What Fund for Teachers is doing, is not a national solution to teacher attrition on their own, but it could serve as a model. And Stephanie hopes that's what happens. Stephanie Ascherl:  I really look forward to the day that Fund for Teachers doesn't have to exist, because that would mean that teachers are getting the resources they need. And professional development that is meaningful and authentic is just happening. It's not this really unique thing, because Fund for Teachers is the only organization in the country that allows teachers to design their own professional development.  But until schools have the funding and willingness to give teachers the freedom for authentic teacher-driven professional development, Fund For Teachers will be here, and they can be a spark or a lifeline for teachers that want to stay. And even if they're that warm hug for teachers, they're a warm hug that offers resources too. Here's what Stephanie has to say to teachers that might need that something extra to keep their morale up and to keep their interest in teaching. Stephanie Ascherl: We're offering you up to $5,000 an individual to do something during the summer that you know is going to make you a better teacher. And that's going to have a great the greatest impact on your students and school community. And we'd really encourage you to take advantage of that. Not only for yourself, but for your students.  As Stephanie pointed out, the fellowship gives teachers a ton of freedom - more than I've ever experienced as a high school teacher. I got to choose what I wanted to do. So, I focused on research, writing, and activism through podcasting, so that I could create authentic units tied to each of those things back to my classroom. And it has been an amazing experience. It feels so good to be trusted as an expert and a professional. So much so, that I got emotional when I told Stephanie this. The start of this year was the best I have felt coming back to school in several years. I had a sense of confidence and purpose that are a direct result of this fellowship.  Other teachers who have received their own fellowships reported similar reactions. They were thrilled to be treated like professionals. And these kinds of experiences can translate to effectiveness in the classroom when teachers are trusted to apply what they've learned into the classroom. When teachers feel confident and trusted and excited about what they do, that has a direct result on the experiences of students.  Lindsey Freeman, a former High School Agriculture Teacher, has a great example of the impact teachers can have on students when they feel good about what they are doing. Lindsey Freeman: And when you're traveling with students, you've got to make sure that they're fed and watered and taken care of, and it's a little ag pun Ag can provide those unique opportunities for lots of adventures, field trips, and activities because they are often associated with the Future Farmers of America, or FFA, which is a club that has events and competitions that kids can take part in.  Lindsey Freeman: So that's a lot of pressure for the teacher to make sure that not only they have their basic needs taken care of, but they're having the experience that maybe I had when I was in their shoes. And so we went on a trip one time, and I had some students with me, and I can remember I'm driving the suburban, and I'm just thinking, like, we're listening to music here. But these kids aren't really talking to each other. Are they having a good time? I don't know if I'm doing my job, right. And then so we go, and we do our thing. And then we come back, and we're on our way back. And this kid is sitting in the passenger seat, and he says, This has been the best week of my life.  This has stuck with Lindsey as a highlight of her teaching career. And for this student to have had the best week of his life, he needed a teacher like Lindsey who felt supported in her role and who had the resources to take her students on an adventure.  Lindsey liked teaching high school, but she took advantage of an opportunity to work at the University of Wyoming on a whim. She is still active in Wyoming education, and when I sat down with her, she had just been hired on as the Ag Program Director at Laramie County Community College. We sat in her new classroom surrounded by Cow Anatomy Flip Charts and diagrams explaining different pork and beef cuts, and Lindsey pointed out that as we work towards change that will help keep teachers, it can't just be policy-based. Lindsey Freeman: I think policy can go a long ways to help do some things, but it can only go so far. And so I think we have to think beyond policy to try to find, and because there's many factors to the problem, there's probably many solutions to the problem.  As we heard multiple teachers point out throughout this series, there isn't a single factor that is pushing teachers out of education - it's a layering of factors. So, Lindsey thinks there needs to be a multitude of solutions. Lindsey Freeman: I don't think you can pinpoint one thing. And I think that maybe we're kind of spinning our wheels where we're trying to combat this teacher shortage, is we're trying to pinpoint the one thing, or the handful of things. But there are a few things that would help. Lindsey kept coming back to one thing that could do a lot to help teachers want to become teachers and to stay once they are teachers.  Lindsey Freeman:  I hate to say that it's all about the money. But it's hard even to recruit young people to enter the teaching profession, when they could go with the same set of skills and competencies and make a lot more money. I don't think teachers go into teaching to get rich, but they have to they have to be able to maintain a decent lifestyle, or they're gonna go do something else. And then and then they can so I don't think it's, I don't think it's realistic to expect teachers to, you know, live in poverty and continue to do this job.  Every time the call to pay teachers more comes up, we hear the rebuttal, “Well, where will that money come from?” and Lindsey acknowledges that that is a problem that needs to be solved. Lindsey Freeman: Because like, where does that extra funding come from, to, you know, support, teacher salaries. But I totally understand that, that if there was an easy solution, we would have probably found it by now. With this said, there are efforts to raise the wages of teachers at a national level. Most recently, Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson introduced the American Teacher Act, which would raise the minimum starting teacher salary to $60,000 and adjust for inflation. To put this into perspective, the United States' average starting  teacher salary, according to the National Education Association in the 2020-2021 school year, was just below $42,000. This Act, if passed, would help. Lindsey pointed to one more adjustment that needs to occur as we recruit and train teachers.  Lindsey Freeman: We have to do a better job of showing young people how hard teaching is, and still encouraging them to pursue teaching as a profession in spite of that, because it's not going to be easy. And I think maybe that's part of the reason why we lose so many teachers early on, is because they're, we didn't we were upfront with them and honest with them about how hard it actually is because, like, personally, for me, I'm afraid that they're going to not want to teach after like I, you know, tell them and this is hard, this is hard.  People go into education with misconceptions about what teaching is going to be. Like we talked about in an earlier episode, teaching isn't a movie. Lindsey wants to have a system that helps people recognize just how difficult teaching will be and to support and help teachers through the difficulties of teaching. Lindsey has been working with a group of people trying to address these difficulties in teaching.  Lindsey Freeman: Yeah, so I've been working at the University of Wyoming, with a group of faculty and well, a large group, actually, that they're developing a Wyoming Educator Mentor Corps. And so there's a lot of work going into mentoring. And hopefully, that can eventually and we might have to be patient, but hopefully, that can eventually trickle down into helping early and mid career teachers. Not just survive, you know, but actually be successful in like their job.  The Wyoming Teacher-Mentor Corps is  a program designed by the University of Wyoming to, quote, “foster teacher excellence and provide expert support for emerging teachers.”  The idea behind the program is that teachers, especially new teachers, need support, and veteran teachers often want to take a new step in their career. Currently, if a veteran teacher wants to progress their career that usually means becoming an administrator. This program hopes to give veteran teachers some agency and purpose by helping other teachers.  To learn more about the Teacher-Mentor Corps, I met up with Colby Gull, who is the Managing Director for the trustees education initiative in the College of Education at the University of Wyoming, and is a part of the Mentor Corps. Colby Gull: So really, the idea behind the Mentor Corps is we want teachers to be happy in their job.  Colby has five kids, and he explained that he wants his kids to be with teachers who are happy and who love them. Colby Gull: If they get teachers who are unhappy and feel unsupported and don't love their jobs, and don't love the kids, because they don't love the work, then that's not a that's not a good place for anybody. And so we hope that the Mentor Corps can help provide that support, so that teachers do feel supported and loved, and they do have a place to get additional support. And they can so that we will build a community of teachers who can support each other, whether you're in the same school or the same district or the same state. We want to have that support system built and structured. Colby was a high school teacher, a principal, and a superintendent. He has a good idea of what it feels like to be an educator, and he wants a system that would have supported someone like him who felt overwhelmed when he got into the classroom.  Colby Gull: And then I got in the classroom, and it wasn't what I expected. And the kids weren't all eager to learn and excited for me to be there, they did not love me and think I was amazing. And I would just, I would get home, I'd wrap up the school day and just feel downtrodden.  Because teaching is hard. This is a theme. Colby emphasizes the difficulty of education because it isn't something that seems to get a lot of legitimate attention. For Colby, we can help prevent teachers from leaving education by starting in teacher preparation programs, which might need a little adjustment themselves.  Colby Gull: In teacher prep programs, our faculty are like, they went through a teacher prep program, they were classroom teachers, and this is how it's been done. So somebody's probably gonna get mad at me. But we've always had this same mindset of this is how it's done. But I think fear, I think, discomfort on students part on teachers part on parents part. Well, that's not how we did it. This, that's not how I've ever done my classroom, why would I change now. And the legislature wants a little more control over things than that. And it's easy, it's easy to measure, seat time, it's a little harder to measure some of the other things that we're trying to measure. So Colby wants to see a shift in what we value, maybe this would mean a shift towards the joy of learning, like Chris Rothfuss said last episode. This is where the Mentor Corps will help. Colby Gull: I think that when we're new in a position, we don't know what we don't know. So we don't know what questions to ask. And having somebody that has some experience that has some training in mentoring. We will be helpful to just preemptively say, here's something that's coming up. When I spoke with Colby this summer, they were just getting ready to train a cohort of teachers to be mentors. In many of these episodes, we've discussed the value of expertise. When thinking about what teachers need, it's worth speaking with teachers. With this said, in order to train mentors to help other teachers, the Mentor Corps has sought the expertise of entities outside of education to address some of the issues educators are having within education.  Colby Gull:  And we're not focusing on any K-12 skills that you would technically think about as K-12 . But we're going to focus on how to communicate effectively how to talk to somebody, and how to listen to somebody so that when you're sitting with your mentor and mentee having a conversation, it's meaningful, and there's good feedback going both ways, which is another skill we're going to work on is, is giving and receiving feedback.  Along with better communication, the program will help train mentors, with the help of Leadership Wyoming, to find a better work-life balance, which is a major struggle for teachers. Colby Gull: We get out of balance really easily. And I think to a large measure that is to the detriment of our mental emotional health. And so we have, we have a strand on work life balance. And so we'll get introduced into that. And then we'll do a little piece about friendships and building relationships and having a trusting relationship, and confidentiality so that when they walk away, they'll have an introduction, all of those skills. And that's what we'll focus on over the 18 months are those skills and how they develop them.  So mentors will work through the mentorship program over the course of 18 months.  Colby Gull: And that's what our funding is for is for those three cohorts of mentors. So by the end, we'll have trained 60 mentors, 60 or so mentors. And then we'll develop a model of how that gets spread down through the state. So we can have a bigger impact than just 60. Because there are 350, some odd teacher opening jobs in Wyoming. So we need to have enough mentors to support all of those new teachers. The goal of the Teaching-Mentor Corps is to help teachers support teachers. They want to give teachers some agency and help construct a support system that will hopefully help both new and veteran teachers stay in education. This is a noble goal. Fund for Teachers and the Teaching-Mentor Corps won't solve teacher attrition on their own, but they will help keep some teachers in education. But as Lindsey pointed out, we still need solutions that result in valuing teachers, which means paying teachers better. When I asked Colby if the mentors participating in the Teacher-Mentor program will be paid for their mentorship of other teachers, he said no, not at this time. The program is a pilot and they could only get enough funding to pay for the training for the mentors. This is no fault of Colby or the program. I think this program is wonderful, and I would encourage anyone in Wyoming interested to apply to become a mentor.  But I do want to pause and draw attention at the larger reality this points to. When it comes to keeping teachers in education, the burden often lands right back on teachers.  The solutions to keeping teachers often requires more work, more time, and more stress, all for minimal to no compensation. Whether this is mentoring other teachers, going to legislative sessions or school board meetings, being on committees or task forces, writing for grants or fellowships, or making a podcast, it all takes time and almost all of it is done during a teacher's “free time.” When will the burden of keeping teachers in education fall to non-educators? Will it be when enough teachers leave? Will it be when teacher attrition gets to a point that becomes inconvenient for non-educators? I honestly don't know that we'll get to this point because people that teach care so much - that might be their tragic flaw. Several of the teachers that I spoke with over the course of this project were working on their own projects or going back to school to try to be part of the solution. And they do it because they care. These are people like Gary Martin who taught on the Wind River Reservation and went back to school for education. His dissertation is looking at how student trauma is being transferred to teachers and contributing to their attrition rate.  Gary Martin: Well, the attrition is crazy, because it's like, there's no stability, like teachers are staying like one or two years. And then next, you know, they're going to another district and I don't know about a lot of the students in, in other areas of state, but it's just like, students in general need, like stability. I mean, it's, the stability factor is lacking, especially when teacher that attrition is so high.  He knows that teachers leaving is hurting kids, but the onus should not be placed on teachers to stay so that kids aren't hurt. That rhetoric is used often, and it's tremendously manipulative. The programs that are trying to support teachers need to be funded and supported, and the burden of keeping teachers can't be placed solely on teachers. Meanwhile teachers are realizing that they have a lot of really great skills that can be applied in other careers - contrary to the thought that those who can't do, teach. So if we want to keep teachers from leaving education, it might mean shaking up the way things have been done and taking some notes from groups like Fund for Teachers or the Teacher Mentor Corps who are actively trying to help teachers by asking teachers what they need, so that maybe we can have a system where teachers want to stay. Or, teachers will keep leaving because they can. Next time, we will be hearing from teachers who have left teaching, how they left, and how their lives are now.   That will be next time, in the conclusion of Those Who Can't Teach Anymore. With only one episode left, we want to hear from you. We want to hear your reactions to the podcast, or personal stories about education.  If you are interested, please record a voice message that includes your name, background, and message, and send your recording to those who can't teach anymore at gmail.com for the chance to be included in a bonus episode. As always, thank you so much for listening. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share episodes with everyone you can think of. Word of mouth has done wonders for getting this podcast to people who need to hear it.  This episode was produced by me, Charles Fournier. It was edited by Melodie Edwards. Other editing help came from Noa Greenspan, Sarah-Ann Leverette, and Jennica Fournier. Our theme song is by Julian Saporiti. All other music can be found on our website. A special thanks to Stephanie Ascherl, Lindsey Freeman, Colby Gull, Elizabeth Smith, and Gary Martin for taking time to sit down and chat with me. If you are interested in applying for a Fund for Teachers Fellowship you can find their website at fund for teachers dot org. If you are interested in learning more about the Wyoming Teacher-Mentor Corps, there is a link in the transcript to this episode, and I will provide a link on our instagram page @thosewhocantteachanymore.  This podcast is funded in part by the Fund for Teachers Fellowship.  

The Speak Out Act was signed into law on December 7th, 2022 by President Biden.  This Act of Congress prevents the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements in instances of sexual assault and harassment. On today's program, we will discuss this ground-breaking new law, its origins, and what employers need to know to ensure compliance. Subscribe to our podcast today to stay up to date on employment issues from law experts worldwide. Host: Tara Stingley (email) (Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, LLP / Nebraska)Guest Speaker: Mollie Mohan (email) (Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan Jackstadt P.C. / Eastern Missouri)Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.

The Afghan Files With Former Australian Army Lawyer and Whistleblower: David McBride Please share this interview with at least ONE person or on social media, here's why

Leading up to the promulgation of the Public Procurement Bill, which the National Treasury will soon submit to Cabinet and Parliament for approval, President Cyril Ramaphosa has clarified the intention of the Bill and the Preferential Procurement Regulations that were published last week. He says government remains wholly committed to transformation and empowerment and that broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) is here to stay, with no prospect of being reconsidered. The Bill is aimed at unifying the currently disparate and fragmented laws dealing with public sector procurement by creating a single regulatory framework for local, provincial and national governments, as well as State-owned enterprises. It repeals the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework, or Preferential Procurement Regulations of 2017. The Preferential Procurement Regulations serve as a “placeholder” until the Bill is finalised and becomes effective from January 16, 2023. Ramaphosa cites the Constitution in his latest weekly newsletter, stating that, to promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures may be taken to advance people who had been disadvantaged by unfair discrimination – this being black people, women and persons with disabilities. The same Constitution provides for both value-for-money and empowerment in public procurement and that, when public bodies contract for goods and services, they must do so in a manner that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective, Ramaphosa highlights. “It also says the State must implement a preferential procurement policy that advances people who have been disadvantaged by unfair discrimination. It is in this context that the new Preferential Procurement Regulations need to be understood. Some people have mischaracterised the purpose and effect of the new regulations,” the President explains. He says some commentary has claimed that the current government is back-tracking on its commitment to BBBEE; however, this is “far from the truth”. The new regulations fulfil an order of the Constitutional Court last year declaring that the preferential procurement regulations of 2017 are illegal and requiring that the Finance Minister replace them within 12 months. “Some of the commentators on this matter neglect to mention that the crux of the judgment is the scope of Ministerial powers to make preferential procurement regulations. “These regulations now fully comply with Section 217 of the Constitution in that they empower organs of State to develop and implement preferential procurement policies when contracting for goods and services,” Ramaphosa explains. These regulations are an interim measure pending the enactment of the Public Procurement Bill, which Treasury will soon submit to Cabinet and Parliament. The Public Procurement Bill will maximise both value-for-money and preferential procurement objectives to enable the delivery of services and transformation. The new regulations have no effect on the BBBEE Act, as all organs of State must fully comply with this Act when developing their procurement policies. This Act remains in force as one of the most transformative pieces of legislation to come out of democratic South Africa. “Government's policy framework has not changed with the introduction of these regulations, nor has our commitment to service delivery and black economic empowerment,” Ramaphosa affirms. Empowerment criteria will still be applied in government contracting and organs of State must comply with the BBBEE Act when developing their procurement policies. “What has changed is that organs of State will be able to set and apply specific ‘goals' when evaluating a tender under a preferential procurement policy. “Despite the provisions of the Constitution, despite the introduction of measures to advance the economic empowerment of black South Africans and women, we are certainly not as far as we had hoped to be with economic transformation,” Ramaphosa st...

Summary: Laws protecting birds can be confusing but Cheryl and Kiersten take a moment to make it all clear. Join your Feathered Desert co-hosts as they talk federal, state, and city laws that protect our birds.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes.   Show Notes: https://www.fws.gov/law/migratory-bird-treaty-act-1918 https://www.audubon.org/news/migratory-bird-treaty-act https://www.fws.gov/media/list-birds-protected-migratory-bird-treaty-act-2020 https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/wildlifelegalstatus.html https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/arizona/az-laws/arizona_laws_17-236 https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/nesting-birds-are-protected-during-construction https://phoenix.municipal.codes/CC/8-7.02 https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-law-bans-feeding-ducks-in-arizona-city https://www.mesaazpolice.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/43871 https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2018/05/05/tempe-regulation-takes-aim-overfeeding-birds/574426002/ Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)   Kiersten – Intro – Today we're talking about laws that protect birds. We'll look at federal laws and state regulations and then we'll discuss some controversial bird feeding bans that affect our local Valley area. Cheryl is going to start us off with one of the most important bird laws!   Cheryl – Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918             Most people don't even know that there are federal laws protecting birds in this country. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is such a law and it applies to the entire United States, every state must abide by this law.  You go Migratory Bird Treay Act!   Kiersten – Yes!   Cheryl - I know that seems redundant to say but it never hurts to repeat something important.             What exactly is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act?             This Act implements four international treaties that the US entered into with Canada in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1972, and with Russia in 1976. It ensures the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species. What this means is that it prohibits the taking of migratory bird species without proper and prior authorization from the Department of Interior U.S Fish and Wildlife service.  It sounds sooo important!   Kiersten – It does.   Cheryl - A quote from the US Fish and Wildlife Service “The MBTA provides that it is unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, possess, sell, purchase, barter, import, export, or transport any migratory bird, OR any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, unless authorized under a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior. Take is defined as: pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or, collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect.” I think that covers everything!   Kiersten – Yes! (laughs)   Cheryl - Who does the law protect?             There is a list of bird species generally based on bird families and individual species that are protected. There are three criteria that a species must meet to be included. It must occur in the United States or U.S Territories by natural biological or ecological processes. That means that it is native to the country or territory or that its natural migratory path brings it through the US or its territories. It must be in a family that is currently or previous included in a treaty or revised taxonomy rolls it into a protected family.   Kiersten – They are constanstyl revising taxonomy. That means the family and genera that they are in.   Cheryl- I was just going to clarify that. Thanks! 3.New evidence has arisen that proves the bird species or family is native to the US and US territories. Like Kiersten said they are always clarifying and revising. In a nutshell, it protects any bird that is or was found here without the help of human transport. For example, the Inca dove is native to the SW United States so they are protected; whereas, the rock dove, AKA pigeons, are not native to this country and are not protected by this law. Kiersten did I cover everything?   Kiersten – I think you go it! Over the years the Treaty has been updated and expanded and the government is required to release a list of all species protected under the law. The last revision was in 2020 and that is the most current list of protected animals.             Some of you may be thinking that this is just a law, what has it really done to help birds in reality. Since its inception it has actually saved many species from extinction at the hands of humans. Some examples include the Snowy Egret, that was being hunted for its pretty feathers the Wood Duck, that was being hunted for sport and the Sandhill Crane, that was also being hunted for feathers and spot. An example right here in our own backyard is the Burrowing Owl. Without its designation of a protected species the city of Phoenix would not have had to take all the extensive steps to protect them from the sprawl of housing construction.             One last thing I want to reiterate about this law is that it also makes it illegal to own feathers, bones, beaks, claws, nests, and eggs from these birds, as well. That does apply to any of these items being found on the ground in your front yard or on a hike or anywhere. You cannot legally own them.             “But I didn't kill the bird to get it, I just found it on the ground!” I have heard that argument a lot, but you have no way of proving it to USFWS and people who are not honest can go out and kill the bird for those things and they'll use the same argument. So, this law applies to everyone.             Now there are some exceptions, but these are only valid with permitting. People who help birds to recover from injuries or illness are licensed rehabilitators. Liberty Wildlife, East Valley Wildlife, Wild at Heart are all licensed rehabbers. They get permitting through the state and federal agencies after taking hours and hours of classes and working as an apprentice. You cannot take a bird into you home with the intention of nursing them back to health and re-releasing them without these permits.             Falconers, people who hunt with a bird of prey, are also licensed to do so. You cannot house raptors without permission from USFWS and only after working with a licensed falconer for years. Generally five years. You will also have to have visits from inspectors to determine if the housing you are providing meets regulations. And those regulations are strict. Then there are all the rules you must follow such as catching males versus females and how long you are allowed to keep them and hunt with them. All of this is to protect the sustainability of the species. Cheryl – I find is so interesting that falconers have a limited time to work with them and then release them.   Kiersten – Yes! That's why you have to work with a Master falconer for so many years. These birds have to know how to hunt on their own and beable to teach their young. For a bit more on how the Migratory Bird Treaty Act came to be, please listen to our first episode of Groundbreaking Women of Ornithology and learn how a few fashion forward women influenced the creation of this life saving law.   Cheryl – State Laws I got state laws! Our state laws follow the federal laws and can be found under Arizona Laws Title 17, Chapter 2, Article 3, 17-236. These laws do take it a step further in saying that you cannot intentionally harass a protected bird or intentionally destroy a nest of a protected bird. Which includes woodpecker!   Kiersten – Yes! It does include a lot of birds that people are annoyed with. (laughs) I forgot to put this one in here. ADOT, Arizona Department of Transportation had a question from a jogger near the 101 that asked about the cliff swallow nests. ADOT takes care to not disturb the nests while the birds are nesting but, once the birds have fledged they knock down the nests to encourage them to nest elsewhere. They only do it when the nests are no longer is use or before the nests are complete. ADOT has a Biologist that inspects projects before they get started for nests. It's okay to do that before a nest is in use.   The other state laws involving birds are mainly based around hunting. There is a specific hunting season for birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and you must have a hunting license to hunt during this season.   Arizona Game and Fish is in charge of distributing these permits. The regulations for each year can change because they are always assessing the population size of a species approved for hunting. Each season has a maximum bag number for how many individuals you can kill and they have strict regulations about hunting outside of specified seasons. I know we have Dove hunting and quail hunting.             Kiersten – Our next topic is one that Cheryl and I have kind of avoided talking about for some time. I mean we're doing a podcast about bird feeding, so this one is a bit counter-intuitive to what we talk about each episode. It's important but it's also a bit controversial. I think the time has come and we're going to have to just rip the band-aid off and get to it.             And that is City Bans on bird feeding.             The main cities in the Phoenix Valley we'll discuss today are Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. These are the ones that have officially passed bans at the recording of this podcast, but other cities out there may be considering them.             Let's look at Mesa first. In 2019, the Mesa city council approved an amendment to the city's nuisance code prohibiting feeding wild birds. Many customers of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Mesa that sells products specifically to feed wild birds were pretty concerned, but you need to dig a little deeper into the code to get the whole story.             This change was certainly inspired by people feeding wild birds and attracting too many pigeons and doves. I am now quoting from a Code Compliance brochure from the Mesa police website that states “It is a violation in the City of Mesa to feed pigeons and doves on private or public property. An exemption is provided for feeding of other species of birds from a feeder intended to prevent pigeons and doves from feeding.” End quote.             The key here is that you can still feed the birds as long as you are doing it with a feeder that prevents large bird from taking over. You can get just the right feeder and the correct food that will cut down on the number of larger birds, such as pigeons and doves, that you attract. This is essentially what we preach with the podcast as well. Responsible bird feeding.             Tempe. In 2018, the city of Tempe did essentially the same thing. Their ordinance was aimed at reining in people who were putting out large amounts of bird seed and attracting flocks of pigeons and doves. Some feared they wouldn't be able to put out bird feeders anymore but Councilman Kolby Granville was quoted by the AZCentral as saying “We're not talking about a bird feeder, we're talking about a bag of food a week.” End quote.   Cheryl – Let's talk about Phoenix. In the Phoenix City Code Section 8-7.02 it states that feeding pigeons is prohibited. It states “It is unlawful for any person to feed pigeons within the City. The prohibition does not prohibit the feeding of other birds using practices or devices designed to prevent pigeons from obtaining food.”             Once again, this city is trying to cut down on larger birds like pigeons and doves coming in droves to food but is not opposed to smaller birds coming to appropriate feeders.             Scottsdale - Now Scottsdale's ban is a bit different. In 2014, the city of Scottsdale banned the feeding of ducks and other birds at public parks. It seems that people were bringing whole loaves of bread, sometimes garbage bags full of stale bread, to the park and dumping them on the pathways or in ponds. I think Kiersten and I are both onboard with this ban since bread is terrible food for ducks, birds, and any wildlife. It has no nutrition in it and is not a natural food for them to eat. When you break it down like this it's not scary and it's what we want our bird feeding enthusiasts to do anyway! Feed responsibly. Kiersten – I have to admit I'm kinda on board with all of these bans, really. They all help protect our birds by limiting the amount if food available, which cuts down on the number of birds in one place at one time, which decreases the likely hood of spreading diseases. It also encourages people to use hanging feeders and not ground feed which is another way to cut down on spreading diseases.  Laws are not scary and are here to help protect our birds and ourselves.  

This week, President Biden was to sign the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This Act makes various changes including but not limited to: expanding the IRS, updating taxes, and capping prescription prices. Learn more in this Current Events episode as hosted by Rachel Teichman, LMSW and Victor Varnado, KSN. Produced by Victor Varnado & Rachel Teichman Full Wikipedia & news article here: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/16/politics/biden-inflation-reduction-act-signing/index.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduction_Act_of_2022  WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON PATREON!https://www.patreon.com/wikilistenpodcast Find us on social media! https://www.facebook.com/WikiListen Instagram @WikiListen Twitter @Wiki_Listen Youtube Get bonus content on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is being turned around lightning fast because we are covering a topic of-the-moment, and that is the Inflation Reduction Act presently being considered by the United States Senate. This Act, should it pass, includes $369 billion with a B in funding for climate and clean energy provisions. To discuss this bill, its implications, and ultimately learn about what will happen if it passes, and if it doesn't, I'm joined by Anand Gopal. Anand is the Executive Director of Strategy and Policy of Energy Innovation, a company that sits at the intersection of policy and technology.About Our Guest: Anand R. GopalAnand R. Gopal is Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at Energy Innovation, where he leads the firm's research and modeling teams, supporting policy design to reduce emissions equitably at the speed and scale required to meet the climate challenge. Anand has dedicated his career to finding technology and policy solutions for climate change. Anand, who now calls California home, is an immigrant from Southern India.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandrgopal/Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology, LLC: https://energyinnovation.orgFree Resource Mentioned: Modeling The Inflation Reduction Act Using The Energy Policy Simulator: https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Modeling-the-Inflation-Reduction-Act-with-the-US-Energy-Policy-Simulator_8.1.22.pdfLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://caremorebebetter.com Follow us on social and join the conversation! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CareMore.BeBetter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better Twitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebetter Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/care-more-be-better Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability PodcastCare More Be Better answers only to our collective conscience and aims to put more good into the world. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show: https://caremorebebetter.com/donate.

As many of our listeners will already be aware, the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021 was signed into law last December and was recently commenced. This Act introduces significant structural reform to the corporate crime enforcement regime in Ireland by amending the Companies Act 2014 to establish an independent statutory authority, namely the Corporate Enforcement Authority replacing the current Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, or ODCE, within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Today, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox and Tom Courtney, Partner at Arthur Cox are joined by Joanelle O'Cleirigh, Partner in the Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Investigations Department at Arthur Cox to discuss some observations on how the new Authority is likely to impact the enforcement of company law for companies and in particular for company directors. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

Producer/Host: Donna Loring Other credits: Technical assistance for the show was provided by Joel Mann WERU Orland Maine and Jessica Lockhart of WMPG Portland Portland Maine. Music for the show was from the CD Dream Walk by Rolfe Richter Wabanaki Windows is a monthly show featuring topics of interest from a Wabanaki perspective. The issue this month is: Sovereignty and its meaning: A 2 part series. This show is the 3rd show in the part 2 series. In this episode Professors Harald Prins, Darren Ranco and Host Donna Loring discuss the on going historical develops between the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine and the State. The meaning of Sovereignty from the Tribal perspective and from the State's perspective. Two very different views resulting in years of conflict and litigation. This show continues to look at the Land Claims Settlement Act. This Act defines the present relationship between the Wabanaki Tribes and the State of Maine. We follow the thread from the John Deane's Letter of 1829 to the Land Claims Settlement of 1980. We will clearly see why this Act was allowed to become law. Key Discussion Points: 1. John Deane's Coercive Plan 2. State of Maine's Coercive Plan laid out in 1942 3. Culmination of those plans with the signing of the 1980 Settlement Act Guests: Professor Harald Prins is a distinguished professor of Anthropology and an Emeritis at Kansas State University. He is an expert in Wabanaki History. Professor Darren Ranco is a Penobscot Tribal Member and an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Chair of Native American Studies at the University of Maine Orono. About the host: Donna M Loring is a Penobscot Indian Nation Tribal Elder, and former Council Member. She represented the Penobscot Nation in the State Legislature for over a decade. She is a former Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Governor Mills. She is the author of “In The Shadow of The Eagle A Tribal Representative In Maine”. Donna has an Annual lecture series in her name at the University of New England that addresses Social Justice and Human Rights issues. In 2017 She received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Humane Letters from the University of Maine Orono and was given the Alumni Service Award. It is the most prestigious recognition given by the University of Maine Alumni Association. It is presented Annually to a University of Maine graduate whose life's work is marked by outstanding achievements in professional, business, civic and/or Public service areas. Donna received a second Honorary Doctorate from Thomas College in May of 2022 The post Wabanaki Windows 6/28/22: The Meaning of Sovereignty first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Donna Loring Other credits: Technical assistance for the show was provided by Joel Mann WERU Orland Maine and Jessica Lockhart of WMPG Portland Portland Maine. Music for the show was from the CD Dream Walk by Rolfe Richter Wabanaki Windows is a monthly show featuring topics of interest from a Wabanaki perspective. The issue this month is: Sovereignty and its meaning: A 2 part series. This show is the 3rd show in the part 2 series. In this episode Professors Harald Prins, Darren Ranco and Host Donna Loring discuss the on going historical develops between the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine and the State. The meaning of Sovereignty from the Tribal perspective and from the State's perspective. Two very different views resulting in years of conflict and litigation. This show continues to look at the Land Claims Settlement Act. This Act defines the present relationship between the Wabanaki Tribes and the State of Maine. We follow the thread from the John Deane's Letter of 1829 to the Land Claims Settlement of 1980. We will clearly see why this Act was allowed to become law. Key Discussion Points: 1. John Deane's Coercive Plan 2. State of Maine's Coercive Plan laid out in 1942 3. Culmination of those plans with the signing of the 1980 Settlement Act Guests: Professor Harald Prins is a distinguished professor of Anthropology and an Emeritis at Kansas State University. He is an expert in Wabanaki History. Professor Darren Ranco is a Penobscot Tribal Member and an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Chair of Native American Studies at the University of Maine Orono. About the host: Donna M Loring is a Penobscot Indian Nation Tribal Elder, and former Council Member. She represented the Penobscot Nation in the State Legislature for over a decade. She is a former Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Governor Mills. She is the author of “In The Shadow of The Eagle A Tribal Representative In Maine”. Donna has an Annual lecture series in her name at the University of New England that addresses Social Justice and Human Rights issues. In 2017 She received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Humane Letters from the University of Maine Orono and was given the Alumni Service Award. It is the most prestigious recognition given by the University of Maine Alumni Association. It is presented Annually to a University of Maine graduate whose life's work is marked by outstanding achievements in professional, business, civic and/or Public service areas. Donna received a second Honorary Doctorate from Thomas College in May of 2022 The post Wabanaki Windows 6/28/22: The Meaning of Sovereignty first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Federal Workers Compensation Coffee Break Podcast is about all things related to Federal Workers Compensation, FECA, OWCP, DOL & Longshore claim filing as an injured federal worker.  The podcast is an educational and informative training on how to navigate the DOL -OWCP claims filing process for all types of injured US government and federal workers. The podcaster has 27 years in assisting with federal workers compensation as a consultant and trainer. The podcast is free and is educational. If you need help with anything related to a federal workers compensation claim...help is just a cup of coffee away.Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act - (PART ONE) Who is Eligible & who/what is covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)!This Act, administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), U. S. Department of Labor, offers compensation and medical care to employees disabled from injuries that occur on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas customarily used in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. The Act also offers benefits to dependents if the injury causes the employee's death. These benefits are paid by an insurance company or by an employer who is authorized by the OWCP to be self-insured. The term "injury" includes occupational disease.The Longshore Act Covers WHO? How do I know if I am covered by Federal Workers Comp under OWCP division on FECA: The LHWCA covers employees in traditional maritime occupations such as longshore workers, ship-repairers, shipbuilders or ship-breakers, and harbor construction workers. The injuries must occur on the navigable waters of the United States or in the adjoining areas, including piers, docks, terminals, wharves, and those areas used in loading and unloading vessels. Non-maritime employees may also be covered if they perform their work on navigable water and their injuries occur there. Other Employees are covered similarly through the Longshore Act Extensions known as the following: Defense Base Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Non-appropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act ,  & The Jones Act.  If you need additional information about your rights under this law, access the link provided below (from the official Longshore website) and contact the appropriate (link) Longshore District Office. Claims forms and additional information may be obtained from the official (link) Longshore website.Dr. Taylor's educational podcast utilizes his experience and history as a DOL - OWCP provider and his years of consulting and teaching all things federal workers compensation related. This is an educational short form format for learning how to successfully file federal workers compensation claims. So grab a cup of coffee and lets begin.Dr. Taylor's contact information for more information or assistance is:https://fedcompconsultants@protonmail.comIf you need a provider or assistance with a DOL claim in Tampa, Jacksonville or other areas of Florida you can make an appointment to see him and the other providers at his clinic at813-877-6900His clinic website is https://mrtherapycenter.com/federal-work-injury-blog/ and at twitter:  https://twitter.com/FedCompPodcast

OUTLINE Clarity Reliability INTRODUCTION How many of you have heard of The Old Deluder Satan Act of 1647? ‘Massachusetts passed the Old Deluder Satan Act in 1647, laying the basis for public schools in America. The Puritans valued literacy highly; they believed all individuals should be able to read and interpret the Bible for themselves. In 1642 Massachusetts had required parents to ensure their children's ability to read, and five years later, in this act, the state mandated community schooling.' 1 This Act was made law in order to prevent satan from deceiving young people. This conviction that the Bible should be read by all, led to America being a very literate and educated nation, at least for a while. There is little biblical literacy to speak of in America as well as what was once called Christendom today. ‘A Barna poll indicated that at least 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham. We are in big trouble.'2 The Puritan forefathers of America were of the Protestant conviction that everyone can and should read their bibles. Given this history of education in America and other Western countries you can see why taking Bible out of schools is a denial of these roots. They believed that they could be understood. This is what lies at the foundation of our next section, chapter 1 paragraphs 7-8. Paragraph 7 talks about how the Bible can be understood and gives rise to the doctrine of the clarity/perspicuity of scripture. Paragraph 8 talks about how the Word of God... Read More Source

 Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// On last week's Friday Breakfast show Chloe and Jacob spoke with Joey, who is detained at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation or MITA, about Section 501 of the Migration Act. This Act allows the government visa cancellation powers, and Joey discusses how the present government has been using these provisions. You can read about last month's rally to free those detained at MITA, many of whom are held under 501 provisions, here.// Elise Almond is a lawyer at Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service, a state-wide service that represents disabled people, including via providing assistance with NDIS appeals at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Elise joins us today to speak about the large spike in NDIS participants who have had their funding slashed, often without warning, in the recent months, with many taking their cases to the AAT.//You can find out more about the issue here, here and here, and about the Melbourne march and rally against NDIS cuts and appeals being organised by Every Australian Counts for Thursday the 19th of May here.// On Wednesday the 4th of May, members of the Australian Services Union and Municipal and Utilities Workers Union employed at Moreland Council downed tools to rally for decent wages and conditions. Like many workplaces across Australia, Moreland Council workers have been given an offer below the inflation level in their latest EBA negotiation. Solidarity Breakfast's Annie McLoughlin joined them outside the Brunswick Townhall on Sydney Road.// Alec Ferguson joins us to discuss the recent BDS resolution passed by the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) - ‘UMSU Stands with Palestine – BDS and Solidarity Policy' - and Students For Palestine's on-campus rally, which will be held today from 1PM on South Lawn. Alec is a Lebanese-Australian socialist activist at Melbourne University, and is involved in Students for Palestine and Free Palestine Melbourne. You can find the academic solidarity statement Alec refers to here.//Free Palestine Melbourne's 2022 Nakba Day Vigil will be held on Sunday the 15th of May from 12PM outside the State Library of Victoria. More information is available here.// Songs// Return Home - Bumpy// Don't Sleep - Alice Ivy, imbi, BOI//

Aughie and Nia have a discussion of the pros and cons of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). This Act is an excellent example of the law of unintended consequences, in both good and bad ways.

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act received Royal Assent on 24 March 2022.  This Act introduces a new arbitration process to resolve certain outstanding commercial rent arrears related to the pandemic. But how will the process work and how can landlords and tenants prepare for it?  Natalie Deuchar, Hope Wilson and Emma Humphreys explore the new scheme. Please note: This podcast was recorded shortly before the Act received Royal Assent.  No significant details were changed, but there is now a list of approved arbitrators available here. Further information can be found at: Insight: New Arbitration Scheme for Commercial Arrears; Landlords and tenants are you ready? | Charles Russell Speechlys The government's Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill and revised Code of Practice | Charles Russell Speechlys New law to resolve remaining Covid-19 commercial rent debts now in place

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has asked all people to pray this prayer today to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Holy Father stated, "This Act of Consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore and end to violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace." I dedicate this podcast today to that prayer.

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal MP for Beaches-East York, in February introduced Private Members Bill C-247, An Act to prohibit fur farming. This Act, if passed through the House of Commons and Senate, would end commercial fur farming in Canada at the federal level. MP Erskine-Smith joined Defender Radio to discuss the bill, how private members bills work, what people can do to support it, and what other ways communities can engage on the issue at a federal level. Note: During the interview, Nathaniel mentioned the raccoon fox as an animal involved in the fur trade; he was referencing the raccoon dog, and mispoke.  LINKS: MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith: https://beynate.ca/ Send a letter supporting C-247 to your MP (Canadians only; international listeners, please send a letter to the PMO, info also available here): https://thefurbearers.com/blog/action-alert-support-bill-c-247-to-end-fur-farming/ Subscribe to Defender Radio and The Switch on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/defender-radio-and-the-switch/id718357541 Follow Defender Radio and The Switch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/53h2PqGuJCc5qZgvtVvVmx Find Michael Howie + Defender Radio on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/howiemichael  More episodes, email alerts and other details can be found at www.DefenderRadio.com.   

Timeline of African Americans/Blacks in business in America The 19th century was not the beginning of Black business in America, but this century would see these pursuits being organized along the lines of and under the newly reconstructed U.S. Government structure. The 1800s saw the creation of many businesses, including insurance companies, banks, and newspapers. The first Black insurance company, The African Insurance Company, was founded in Philadelphia, PA in 1810. The first Black newspaper, Freedom's Journal, was founded in New York, NY in 1827. However, by the end of the century, many gains made after the enslavement ended were lost due to Jim Crow, Black Codes, segregation, and theft. The 20th century began with the formation of the National Negro Business League (currently the National Business League). The year 1900 would usher in the “Golden Age of Black business”, named so by historian, Juliet E. K. Walker. This would last from approximately 1900 to 1930, most likely ending due to The Great Depression, 1929-1939, and race riots and massacres, including one of the best-known, the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, which spanned from May 31 through June 1 that year and was the first time in history the United States bombed its own people. In the first decade of the 21st century, Black businesses experienced the largest growth, adding 0.8 million businesses. The creation of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Protection Act to assist Black-owned businesses procure more federal contracts. This Act also established the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) which among other duties, develops standards for equal employment opportunity and the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the workforce. The years 2020-2021 saw racial unrest coupled with a pandemic, spurring a rebuilding of Black/African American business and economic bases. https://mkgtaxconsultants.com/honoring-black-history-month/ (Honoring Black History Month ) https://mkgtaxconsultants.com/honoring-black-history-month/ (https://mkgtaxconsultants.com/honoring-black-history-month/)

The U.S. House of Representative passed the SAFE Banking Act for the sixth time. This ACT is the best oppurtunity to enact some type of federal cannabis reform this year and will serve as the first of mant steps to help ensure cannabis businesses are treated the same as any other legal business. 

Host Ericka Adler, Roetzel shareholder and Health Law Practice Group Leader, is joined by fellow Roetzel attorney Christina Kuta for an analysis of the newly enacted “No Surprises Act” (Act), specifically the Good Faith Estimate requirements. This Act, effective January 1, 2022, will potentially affect almost all health care providers, including physicians and dentists. Ericka and Christina look at how providers will be impacted by Act, what steps must be taken immediately to comply with the Act and potential repercussion for those that fail to comply. Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen/

The state of Alaska is considered one of the most violent states in the country. The state also has the highest number of missing Indigenous people, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Grassroots advocates from American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes calling for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women have finally started gaining national attention. In fact, after years of grassroots advocacy, in October 2020, Congress passed Savanna's Act. This Act is meant to improve the response to missing and murdered Indigenous women across federal, state, Tribal and local law enforcement agencies. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will talk about the current status of Savanna's Act and what this legislation means for our Alaska Native sisters.

In this episode, host Ericka Adler, Roetzel shareholder and Health Law Practice Group Leader, is joined by fellow Roetzel attorney Christina Kuta for an analysis of the newly enacted “No Surprises Act” (Act), specifically the Good Faith Estimate requirements. This Act, effective January 1, 2022, will potentially affect almost all health care providers, including physicians and dentists.   Ericka and Christina look at how providers will be impacted by Act, what steps must be taken immediately to comply with the Act and potential repercussion for those that fail to comply.

We delve into the topic of Race in America from the point of view of 3 first generation Indian Americans. All came to the United States in the 1960s shortly after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and as a direct result of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965. This Act abolished immigration quotas by country which had intended to limit people of color while prioritizing western Europeans. In this final episode of the 3-part series, our participants reflect on the "swing" years from Trump to the present day. As they approach the end of their careers, they offer perspectives on a life lived in North America as people of color but not African Americans. They speak to their hopes, dreams and fears for their children and grandchildren.

We delve into the topic of Race in America from the point of view of 3 first generation Indian Americans. All came to the United States shortly after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and as a direct result of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965. This Act abolished immigration quotas by country which had intended to limit people of color from entering the U.S. In part 2 of 3 of this series, the conversation continues as our participants talk about building careers as well as raising families in the United States and Canada. The period spans the Reagan era through the Obama period in the United States. They share their observations on racial justice and progress.

Listen to Dr. Jasser report on why the Senate passage of the un-American House Bill supposedly the “Combatting International Islamophobia Act” will actually institutionalize the global Islamist movement inside the United States government and our foreign policy apparatus at the State Department. This Act, if passed by the Senate and signed by President Biden, will weaponize the racialization of the faith of Islam and its Islamist Establishment leaders across the world. It will also incredulously enshrine in the U.S. government the defense of Islamist blasphemy laws. Don't miss this episode as Zuhdi explains how the Democrat party of today has become the party of Islamists, for Islamists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Thought is a big one. Meadow, as a mental health professional and suicide loss survivor (the girls unpack it, it's a counterintuitive term they know), shares her personal story and all the tools, tips, and resources she has accumulated in an effort to make suicide prevention less scary. They cover thoughts around Meadow losing her brother, how to have an 'are you suicidal?' conversation, and everything suicide prevention related that should be covered in our public education by now. Again, Meadow is not a licensed therapist, but a mental health worker who worked in non-profits within the Behavioral Healthcare System for many years. If you are in need of immediate support, please dial 911. If you are need of resources or support right now, text HELLO to 741-741 or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. NOTE: By July 2022, the United States will have a National Suicide Hotline that can be reached by dialing 9-8-8. This Act was signed into law thanks to NAMI! One of the former nonprofits Meadow worked for!CONTENT WARNING: Today's thought discusses suicide prevention and a story of suicide loss (no means or details mentioned). If that feels activating to you in any way, or if you're just not in the place today, feel free to come back to us next week. We'll be here.DISCLAIMER: We are not licensed professionals. If you are seeking licensed and professional mental health support, please reach out to 741-741 (The Crisis Text Line) or The NAMI Helpline or The Trevor Project or any of the resources listed below.RESOURCES:https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/https://www.thetrevorproject.org/https://www.localoptimist.com/blog/stories/x1lhghiaacyatvj2https://www.localoptimist.com/blog/toolkits/YTtoAxMAACcA4PCohttps://qprinstitute.com/https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Getting-Treatment-During-a-Crisishttps://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers/Being-Prepared-for-a-Crisishttps://openpathcollective.org/city/national/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hey leaders welcome a new episode. Today I have an alternative to implement for leaders in their endless learning process. This ACT model will help you develop yourself but also develop others. Join me. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/freddy-guevara/support

As surprising as it might seem…  The world of real estate crowdfunding wasn't truly invented until 2012/2013.  Sure… “Pooled investments” (syndications) have been around in the US for quite some time, but the ability to combine the online space with the ability to raise capital wasn't fully “unleashed” until the JOBS Act was ratified.   This Act certainly had a significant impact on the world of commercial real estate, but what are the implications of these changes, and how can we benefit from them?  What does this impact look like as this sector matures, and more and more people start participating in this incredible investment vehicle?  Will the recent popularization of 506(c), Reg A+ and Reg CF create a new stage in the story of crowdfunding real estate?  Today, we are joined by Adam Gower who is the author of Real Estate Crowdfunding: Unleashed. After conducting an incredible amount of research on the matter, Adam is here to provide some important updates that I am sure many listeners will be eager to lean, and incorporate into their thinking.  In this episode, we are going to discuss…  How are institutions reacting to the influx of accredited investors, and how is this reality shifting the investment space as a whole?  In which geographic locations are accredited investors most eager to invest, and does the data suggest that they should be investing there?  Are investors getting more accustomed to 506(c) offerings, or will 506(b)s continue to dominate the market?  From my perspective, those who are well-positioned in this space stand to create massive profits over the next few years, as the sector explodes with interest.  I intend on being one of those benefactors. Do you?  If so, tune in to hear what the data suggests about the future of crowdfunding.  Resources mentioned in this podcast: 1. His website 2. Subscribe to the Gower Crowd newsletter 3. His latest book “Real Estate Crowdfunding: An Insider's Guide to Investing Online" 4. Previous appearance - E171 – Adam Gower and the State of Crowdfunding Real Estate Previous episodes with Oren Klaff: 5. E48 – How To Get Investors' Attention, Keep It, and Pitch Anything with Oren Klaff 6. E155 – Learn to Flip the Script On Your Investors With Oren Klaff Interested in investing in ATMs? Check out our webinar.   Please note that investing in private placement securities entails a high degree of risk, including illiquidity of the investment and loss of principal. Please refer to the subscription agreement for a discussion of risk factors. Tired of scrambling for capital?  Check out our new FREE webinar -  How to Ensure You Never Scramble for Capital Again (The 3 Capital-Raising Secrets). Click Here to register. CFC Podcast Facebook Group

Welcome JC Kibbey, Illinois Clean Energy Advocate at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), to Experts Only Podcast. Illinois recently passed a monumental piece of legislation, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker. This Act presents a binding 100% carbon-free energy standard by 2045 and establishes Illinois as a national leader in clean energy policy. JC Kibbey has been monumental in pushing this legislation forward. Tune in to hear host Jon Powers' discussion with Kibbey, a clean energy advocate, as they discuss the opportunities the Act presents for investing and developing clean energy in Illinois. Thanks for listening!

Are You A Survivor Of Human Sex Trafficking ? Are You A Sex Worker ? Or a Rape Victim? In Ontario? Bill 251 Ontario Bullshitt Combatting Human Trafficking Act 2021 Is A Bill Of Law That Criminalizes Sex Workers, Human trafficking Sex Slaves And Any Other Rape Victims In Ontario And Considers Them Like Rapists, Abusers And Traffickers. There Is No Difference Between A Victim And A Rapist With This Bill Of Law 251. This Act 251 Is A Nightmare For The Ones Who Are Victims Of Abuse. If You Don't Stand Against That... You Are Saying That You Are Ok With It! I Chose To Stand Against It And Protest It ! This Bill Must Be Retracted. And Totally Re-Written. That Law Is Against Human Rights,, And the Constitution! Bill 251 Is A Crime against Humanity! DOG FORD , YOU ARE A FUCKING GOOF DIDDLER! HOW DARE YOU PASSING LAWS TO CRIMINALIZE RAPE VICTIMS , SEX WORKERS AND SEX HUMAN TRAFFICKING SLAVES AND LABEL THEM THE SAME AS RAPISTS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKER ???!!!!! DOG FORD YOU ARE A PHAT ASS DIDDLING JESUS GOOF!!!!!! Sincerely. Azazael Lvcyfere Yeenaldlooshii. Survivor And Still Human Trafficked In Ontario Canada. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yeenaaldlooshii/message

We delve into the topic of Race in America from the point of view of 3 first generation Indian Americans. All came to the United States shortly after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and as a direct result of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965. This Act abolished immigration quotas by country which had intended to limit people of color from entering the U.S. In the first episode, the conversation spans the 1960s and 1970s from each family's move to the kids adjusting to school in a new country and culture. Our participants share personal stories of how they were treated and observations of the African American experience from a unique perspective - foreigners and people of color not of that group.

ECOWAS experts converged in Ghana to review and validate the draft Supplementary Act Setting the Conditions and Modalities for Community Levy Implementation and Management. This Act once approved would replace the Protocol on Community Levy which had been in existence for 25 years now. The Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Halima Ahmed expressed her appreciation for the full participation of experts from all ECOWAS Member States despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. She recalled that the Community Levy Protocol was established by a Decision of the ECOWAS Authority in 1996 and its full implementation began in 2003.

ECOWAS experts converged in Ghana to review and validate the draft Supplementary Act Setting the Conditions and Modalities for Community Levy Implementation and Management. This Act once approved would replace the Protocol on Community Levy which had been in existence for 25 years now. The Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Halima Ahmed expressed her appreciation for the full participation of experts from all ECOWAS Member States despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. She recalled that the Community Levy Protocol was established by a Decision of the ECOWAS Authority in 1996 and its full implementation began in 2003.

ECOWAS experts converged in Ghana to review and validate the draft Supplementary Act Setting the Conditions and Modalities for Community Levy Implementation and Management. This Act once approved would replace the Protocol on Community Levy which had been in existence for 25 years now. The Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Halima Ahmed expressed her appreciation for the full participation of experts from all ECOWAS Member States despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. She recalled that the Community Levy Protocol was established by a Decision of the ECOWAS Authority in 1996 and its full implementation began in 2003.

Amitabh Bachchan recently pulled out of an endorsement deal with a popular pan masala brand on his 79th birthday after facing a backlash on social media. The Bollywood megastar, who featured in the ad for this brand's ‘silver-coated cardamom seeds' with actor Ranveer Singh, claimed that he was not aware when the ad was being filmed that it fell under surrogate advertising. He also returned the money he had received for the endorsement. This was not the first time an actor had landed in such a controversy. In 2016, former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan had appeared in a surrogate advertisement for another pan masala manufacturer. He had claimed that the company cheated him by not disclosing the harmful nature of its product. The company, on the other hand, stressed that the product Brosnan endorsed was a mouth freshener and should not be associated with chewing tobacco.  Several actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Mahesh Babu, Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Tiger Shroff and Hrithik Roshan, have also made appearances in the ads of mouth fresheners made by pan masala brands.  India's pan masala market size*  2020: Rs 45,585 crore 2026: Rs 69,518 crore  *Projections by IMARC Group According to market research firm IMARC Group, the size of the pan masala market in India, which was Rs 45,585 crore in 2020, is projected to reach Rs 69,518 by 2026.  Amitabh Bachhan's pullout has reignited a debate on the legality of such ads. Companies use surrogate advertising as a workaround to promote tobacco and alcohol products, whose advertising is banned by law in the country.  But how are celebrities able to promote such brands? It is done through what is called surrogate advertising. Surrogate advertising first surfaced in India after the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 banned direct advertisements of liquor, cigarettes and tobacco products.  Such ads promote the established brand names of companies whose main products fall under the category whose advertising is not allowed. This is done by using the same brand names for different products altogether. The purpose of surrogate ads is to increase brand recall in the minds of consumers. New products carrying the same brand name are known as brand extensions, which is not illegal under the Act. The rules allow some liberty for such surrogate advertisements under the pretext of brand extensions. Notable examples include the ads for soda and music CDs by liquor companies. This is done using trademark diversification.   The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 prohibits direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products. This Act also does not allow ads of other goods using the brand name of tobacco products. But plain pan masala that does not contain tobacco can be advertised on television, even though its packaging contains a mandatory health warning, since it has ingredients like betel nut, a known carcinogen that is addictive.  But celebrities are restricted from advertising plain pan masala because of explicit Advertising and Standards Council of India guidelines, which say that products bearing health warnings by law cannot be endorsed by them. Nonetheless, ads for cardamom seeds, such as those done by Amitabh Bachhan and Hrithin Roshan, are seen as surrogate for tobacco products or pan masala bearing the same brand name. Established in 1985, the ASCI is a voluntary self-regulatory organisation with members from marketing, media, and allied companies. It has laid out the criteria for what constitutes a genuine brand extension and not a surrogate advertisement for tobacco and liquor products.  In January this year, it banned surrogate ads of 12 liquor companies after they failed to convince these were genuine extensions.  In May this year, ASCI issued strict guidelines to crack down on surrogate ads. The rules state that the product sold under the brand extension that has been p

In this episode of the Standing for Freedom podcast, theologian Jay W. Richards joins the Freedom Center's Ryan Helfenbein to discuss transgenderism, the repurcussions that will come about if the Equality Act is passed, and how we can defend our beliefs in this country. Some questions about the affect the Equality Act will have on our nation and our nation's morality are answered in this podcast. Will the Equality Act have an affect on our children? Will it affect the church? Or how doctors are able to practice? Is homeschooling a safe alternative to bypass this? Or is this legislation going to come for everything? How will this affect women's sports? While the Equality Act seems to have been placed on the backburner due to other recent events in our nation, it is looming. It has passed the House and is waiting for its turn on the Senate floor. This Act will change how doctors can make medical decisions, as decisions made according to a person's biological gender could be punishable by law, and it will threaten religious liberty among other concerns. It's coming, and we need to be ready to defend our morals and values when it does.

Matsyanyaaya: The Rational Actor TrapBig fish eating small fish = Foreign Policy in action— Pranay KotasthaneNothing succeeds like success. Once you are perceived as being successful, new narratives emerge that trace a neat path explaining how success was attained through grit, foresight, and determination. The role of chance fades in the background. All stories show how the hero withstood the odds, took the right decisions, and defeated a world that was stacked against it. Sometimes, nation-states craft stories with such narrative arcs. The State as the all-knowing decision-maker is imagined as a consistent, value-maximising agent, which chooses each policy as a calculated solution to a strategic problem. This model is what Graham Allison and Philip Zellikow call the rational actor model of decision-making in their classic Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis.The book goes on to show the inadequacy of the rational actor model in explaining foreign policy decisions. It proposes two other decision-making models that take into account bureaucratic resistance, individual initiative, turf battles, and a struggle for power, to better explain government decisions. The key takeaway is that when we don’t understand the internal politics of a nation-state, we instinctively assume it as a black box that churns out decisions based on well-defined goals, well-understood alternatives, and well-projected calculations of costs and benefits of all the available alternatives. Precisely this is how the thinking about China is today on the streets and WhatsApp groups of New York, Delhi, or Lagos. Every act by China is imagined as a calculated move made with a larger long-term goal in mind; a juggernaut that makes no mistakes; an Arjuna that never misses the fish’s eye.A common way in which this narrative commonly plays out is as follows: someone will quote a Chinese leader in the past to show how prudent and far-sighted he was. Virtually, no discussion on China goes by without quotes such as “Cross the river by feeling the stones” or “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” being used to conjure the image of China as a successful rational actor. So much so that some of these quotes weren’t even said by Chinese leaders and yet continue to circulate in opinion pieces, textbooks, and seminars. Take this quote attributed to Zhou Enlai for example. The story goes that he was asked by French visitors in 1972 about the impact of the French Revolution of 1789, and he sagely replied “It’s too early to say”. This is often cited to prove how the Chinese political system produces master strategists who take the long view. Turns out, he was only talking about the French student protests of 1968 which continued for many years thereafter. And yet, this story has endured.Another quote ninja is Deng Xiaoping, of course. His famous words “to get rich is glorious” is cited in support of how quickly the Chinese leadership was able to adroitly put behind the socialist excesses of the Mao era. The only problem is that it’s not known whether Deng ever said so. In fact, this phrase comes from Oliver Schell’s 1984 book by the same title on Deng era reforms. Then on, this quote has assumed a life of its own.These misattributed quotes are not mere trivia but symptomatic of a larger problem — our inability to deeply understand China. Because we don’t know what’s inside the box, we assume the Chinese system as a rational actor that succeeds because of the foresight of its leaders alone. This view, of course, is incorrect. In edition #44, I discussed four myths emanating from this line of thinking that the party-state is always efficient, always meritocratic, always a military aggressor, and always a sound strategist. To counter the China challenge, a superficial rational-actor model understanding of China is not just insufficient but harmful. It makes the adversary seem far more powerful than it is in reality. We need better models to understand our adversary. If the content in this newsletter interests you, consider taking up the Takshashila GCPP. The certificate course is customised for working professionals. Intake for the 30th cohort ends on 22nd August. Global Policy Watch: China’s Big Tech Crackdown  Bringing an Indian perspective to burning global issues- RSJWe often write here about how regulating big tech will need a different framework from the typical antitrust lens that's been used in the past to protect consumers from predatory business practices. The big tech companies pose risk to consumers not through predatory pricing or restriction of choices because of their marketshare. Instead, they abuse their market power in new and different ways. They track usage data without consent in deeply intrusive ways that should spook the average consumer. Their platforms often enable spread of disinformation and creation of echo chambers by directing consumers to content based on algorithms that optimise for engagement. Engagement is different from enlightenment. Never was this more clear in our lives as we see fake news, unscientific notions and rumours scourge our societies. Big tech poses social and political risks that are beyond the ambit of any competition laws. You cannot solve new problems with old solutions. While the west is figuring out the way ahead and making unusual executive choices, China in the past few months seems to be keen to show the world its own way of dealing with big tech. Like many regulations in the past, these are meant to reinforce the only truth in the Chinese policy sphere - the party is the boss. It can do and will do as it pleases. You may call it antitrust regulations with Chinese characteristics. This op-ed in the Chinese state run daily the Global Times gives a view on the line of thinking:“More importantly, the government will not allow internet giants to become rules-makers of data collection and usage. The standards must be in the hands of the government to ensure that giant companies are restrained when they collect personal data and stick to the principle of minimization. No internet giant is allowed to become a super data base that has more personal data about the Chinese people than the country does, not to mention using the data at its own will.For companies like Didi which have gotten listed in the US market and whose largest and second-largest shareholders are foreign companies, China should more strictly supervise their information security to protect both personal data security and national security.”I will let the irony of the Chinese state talking about privacy and on the principle of minimization when it comes to personal data of its citizens wash over all of us for a bit. Over the years there was a ‘nudge and wink’ approach between Chinese regulators and its domestic digital champions on many vexing regulatory issues. None more than the variable interest entity arrangement to list overseas that was a well established way to circumvent Chinese laws. All that is history now. The Story So FarAnyway, a quick recap of the steps China has taken in the past year or so will be helpful to set the context here.In Sep 2020, China issued a new set of rules for regulating financial holding companies with a view to regulate the enormous clout and reach of the shadow banking sector that could threaten the stability of the financial system if left unchecked. On cue, in October 2020, the Financial Stability and Development Committee headed by the Vice Premier raised concerns about the growth of fintechs and their microlending practices. In Nov 2020, Chinese regulators suspended the much anticipated $34 billion IPO of the Ant Financial Group. A record fine and the ‘disappearance’ of its founder, Jack Ma, followed.In the first quarter of 2021, Meituan (the Amazon of services in China) was fined by multiple municipal regulators and it shut down its health insurance service after facing regulatory scrutiny. Its founder, Wang Xing, a classical literature enthusiast, posted a few verses from an ancient Chinese poem about an arrogant emperor and his misguided attempts at stifling dissent. He later deleted the post. I’m not sure if there is an ancient Chinese parable about a dog with its tail between its legs that he knew.Last week, ByteDance (the owner of TikTok) postponed its US listing plans after meeting the Chinese cyberspace regulators. The official line was that ByteDance will take some more time to comply with the new regulations proposed by the Cyber Security Review Office (CSRO).ByteDance didn’t have much of a choice really. Didi, the world’s largest ride-hailing firm with about 500 million users across 15 countries, went public with $4 billion IPO on NYSE on June 30. This despite some public reservations from the CSRO on its data security practices. Didi thought it was still the old world and ignored it. The stock soared on debut and Didi’s valuation rose to $80 billion within a day. Two days later the Chinese state cracked down. It barred it from adding any new users. A few days later it found serious violations in the collection and usage of personal information of its users and ordered all app stores to remove Didi’s main app and its 25 linked apps. By the end of the last week, the cyber security regulator had announced probe into two other US listed Chinese companies - Full Track Alliance and Kanzhun. In the same week, the cyber security regulations were tightened, the overseas listings process was made tougher and variable interest entity arrangement loophole plugged. The world for Chinese digital companies had changed in a matter of weeks.There are two things that interest me in this sequence of events. What’s driving this big tech crackdown in China? And what does it mean for the world and India? I will put my initial thoughts here and I will welcome views from readers with greater knowledge of the subject.This Far And No FurtherThere are two lens to use on the reasons for the crackdown.DomesticThe CPC (Communist Party of China) created the ‘walled’ digital ecosystem that didn’t permit US tech giants to enter China. This led to the emergence of the home-grown champions across sectors that copied business models from the Silicon Valley and supplanted them in China. Over the years these champions built large businesses, innovated on the back of strong technology capabilities and laissez-faire regulations on privacy and data usage and expanded to foreign markets to create virtual monopolies in China. This has meant multi-billion dollar valuations and enormous rise in personal wealth of founders and the management teams. The CPC is now sending out a reminder to these firms on who enabled their rise. This is driven by three fears. One, the growing wealth inequality in the society because of these firms and the sense of anger at their long and tough working environments (9-9-6 is fetishised among them). Two, the CPC is worried about the enormous power and clout these founders wield which left uncontrolled can be a potential risk in future. Three, the rise of unchecked lending through fintech apps and the almost total control of the consumers’ information and choices by these digital monopolies can create rival power centres for the CPC. The CPC which had deliberately enabled a loose regulatory ecosystem to facilitate growth of their big tech companies is reining them back now. All the big tech monopoly issues that the US is wrestling with apply to China too. But with the added flavour of a paranoid state apparatus. The state is now wresting control back. And it has a convenient ideological big stick for beating them with. Big tech is threatening one of CPC’s core objectives - building a harmonious society. Expect more of this.US-China RelationsThe Biden administration has repeatedly made the point that America is in competition with China to win the 21st century. And this competition is going to be technology led. In June, President Biden signed an executive order banning investments in 59 Chinese companies that included some of the largest Chinese digital apps and telecom equipment manufacturers. On June 22, the US Senate passed Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. This Act prohibits foreign companies from listing their securities on any of the U.S. exchanges if the company has failed to comply with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB) audits for two years in a row. Currently, China’s regulators do not allow the PCAOB to inspect audits of companies registered in China and Hong Kong. This act is meant for getting Chinese companies to fall in line. Simply put, US regulators do not want American investors money to go into Chinese companies whose books they cannot audit. Chinese regulators, on the other hand, are wary of US government agencies seeking access to their homegrown champions who have enormous information about their Chinese customer base. The US regulators have given a timeline for Chinese companies to comply or delist. China went a step further. It asked existing Chinese companies with overseas listing to first undergo a thorough cyber security review with them before complying to any US regulations. This is classic one-upmanshipI wouldn’t go as far as saying this is the start of a decoupling phase between the financial markets of US and China. But the signs are ominous. China wants the domestic companies to go for a Hong Kong listing. This allows them to access foreign capital on their own terms. Plus, it keeps the wheel of finance moving in Hong Kong after the fears of it losing its status as a global financial hub in light of China’s actions there in the past year. China doesn’t want US to dictate terms to it. The recent actions suggest it won’t back down from setting the agenda. US also will not have any more of China using its state capacity to build global companies who then snoop for it. This is a deadlock. What Does This Mean?So, what are the implications of these actions? It is a bit early to arrive at any definite conclusions. But if one were to extrapolate and speculate a bit, I will draw a few conclusions.Firstly, this is trade war by another name. This mutual suspicion of intents, the charade of cyber reviews of its companies by China, the further banning of the apps by the Biden administration and the ‘new cold war’ kind of language suggests we could be in for more tit-for-tat responses between the two countries. There will be slowing down of flow of capital between them and it will have an impact on global capital markets and trade flows. Secondly, China’s clampdown on its big tech will provide ammunition to those who want to regulate big tech elsewhere in the world in a more direct way. China might not be the best model to emulate on regulations. Agreed. But the other way to frame this is - if the Chinese state is now being paranoid about the power of its big tech, how badly do we need big tech regulations in a democracy?Thirdly, there will be a slowdown in investments going into Chinese startup and digital ecosystem. Investors don’t like unpredictability and the last year has shown Chinese state can be whimsical in stopping IPOs, slapping fines, changing regulations and clamping down on companies that have huge foreign investments riding on them. This isn’t music for global investors. Expect India and other ‘open’ digital markets to rake in foreign direct investments in their startup ecosystems. Some of this is already seen in India in terms of deal flow in the past two quarters. More will follow. Lastly, there has been a clamour in India for us to emulate the ‘Chinese model’ of creating domestic champions by restricting US big tech companies to build their base in India. There’s a spectre of ‘digital colonialism’ that’s often raised by the sundry ‘Aatmanirbhar’ advocates, the local startup founders (though they are funded by foreign capital themselves), domestic VCs and others with interests in keeping global competition away. They would would like nothing better than to have a digital ‘Bombay Plan’ for the 21st century. The crackdown by the Chinese state on its homegrown companies is a useful reminder to all. The state is nobody’s friend. The state has only one interest. To perpetuate its hegemony. Once you invite it to distort the playing field, it settles down there. Now it wants to play. And that helps no one. India Policy Watch: The North vs South Debate RevisitedInsights on burning policy issues in India- Pranay KotasthaneRamachandra Guha, in an important article for The Telegraph, expresses disappointment that South India counts for too little in national politics, a situation he feels will only worsen in the future:“..for all its social and economic progress in recent decades, in political terms the South continues to count for far too little in the life of the Republic. And it may soon count for even less. On the anvil is a proposal to re-allocate Lok Sabha seats afresh on the basis of population. Were that to happen, the states that serve their citizens moderately well, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, will find their negligible influence on the Union government’s policies and priorities declining even further. The states that serve their citizens indifferently or abominably, such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, will find their already considerable influence on the Union government’s policies and priorities escalating even more. This increasing asymmetry shall place fresh burdens and stresses on the already-fragile state of Indian federalism.” [The Telegraph, 19th June]This argument adds weight to the common refrain in India’s federal polity and hence I will follow it through. Specifically, I seek answers to these two questions: what does it mean when people say that the South ‘counts too little for national politics’? And if that’s the case, what would giving the South its due look like? A caveat before we begin this exploration. South and North are completely malleable concepts. Sitting here in Southern India, North is assumed as a short-hand for the economically laggard states in the Indo-Gangetic plain. This conception generally ignores the more prosperous northern states (J&K, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra) or the less populous hilly ones (HP and Uttarakhand). Essentially, the definition of the ‘North’ gets moulded only to focus on the basket cases. Now, back to the two questions. In my view, there are three dimensions of this detachment.1. Economic SiphoningThe perception: A common grouse you would have come across often is how the South ‘subsidises’ the North; how the money produced by the sweat and tears of factory workers on the outskirts of Chennai is wasted on farm loan waivers in Lucknow. The reality: For one, the figures that the South subsidises the North are quite exaggerated. For example, looking at direct tax data shows that Maharashtra alone accounts for 38 percent of collections. Surely, it’s not true that 38 percent of India’s economic activity takes place in Mumbai. In reality, this striking difference is because of a tax accounting design bug — since most companies are headquartered in Mumbai, taxes paid by them get “collected” in Maharashtra even if the economic activity is carried out by their subsidiaries in another state. That apart, given the shifting economic base since economic liberalisation, it is safe to assume that there is, indeed, some redistribution from the South to the North. More accurately, there is transfer of money from all states that do economically well to states that don’t i.e. even Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, apart from most states in the South, would be having net outward flows of government revenue. And this is unavoidable to some extent. The logic is simple — in order to ensure that at least minimum levels of key public services are achieved across the country, the poorer states would need more help from the Union government than the richer ones. Imagine another communicable disease that has been eradicated in a few rich states but not in the poor ones due to lack of funds. Sure enough, this disease will eventually spread to the richer states as well due to inter-state human movement.So, some form of redistribution across states is desirable. This is not a problem per se — no federal system in the world balances government money flow at state borders. Perhaps what makes the problem acute in India is that the stark difference in per capita GDP — the richest, Haryana, has a per capita GDP that is nearly five times that of the poorest, Bihar. More on this issue in this twitter thread.A solution: Given that there are good reasons for why government transfers exist, is there a way out? Indeed, there is. As I have written earlier, focusing on how much money gets transferred from TN to UP is a wrong question to ask. Instead, the focus should be on the government revenue that the union government appropriates from all states as a whole. If the Union is pressured to devolve more money to states via the Finance Commission formula, all states will gain. More on this “monkey and two cats” devolution fable in edition #131.2. Denial of Political PowerThe argument: the South has better socioeconomic indicators and yet its influence on Union government policies will continue to decline because of its lower population growth.The counter-arguments: The Malthusian idea that there should be a political reward for reduction of population is quite unfair to the average Indian, regardless of where she lives. That’s because in a representative democracy, the key factor that’s equated as far as possible is that my vote has the same electoral value as yours. This core principle means that constituencies across India roughly have the same number of voters. What follows from this ‘republican’ principle is that larger and denser states will definitely have more representatives than the smaller and less-dense ones. To overturn this idea because governance in the North is terrible is to punish the individuals in that state twice. This is also a defeatist argument. It assumes that the South is destined to play a shrinking role in the Union government. The solution: The problem on the political front is not with respect to MP, Rajasthan, or Chattisgarh. The real issue is that some of our worst-governed states — UP and Bihar — are also the largest single political entities. They together account for nearly 22 percent of the Lok Sabha seats, making them wield disproportionate influence at the national stage. Splitting a big state such as UP into more manageable parts would negate the advantage it has. Second, if the South wants to influence the Union government more than it currently does, regional parties from the South must work towards extending their presence in the North. Without broad basing their presence across the country, they will have to play a second-fiddle role at the national level. Regional parties need to think beyond the limited notion of one-state, one-language. 3. Cultural UnderrepresentationThe argument: Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan themes crowd out the alternate conceptions about India. I sympathise with this argument. The solution: These concerns get heightened when a Union government insists on ramming down one religion, and one language across the length and breadth of the country. Letting go of this need to assimilate might at least partially assuage the South. On the other hand, state governments should work with each other such that Kannada can be taught in Ahmedabad schools and Telugu in Lucknow colleges. In essence, solutions to the disgruntlements in India’s federal polity require imaginative solutions by both the Union and all States together. Addendum- RSJI agree with Pranay’s counterarguments on the North-South debate. Unfortunately, these are coming up with increasing frequency in the media mostly driven by the contrasting electoral fortunes of BJP in these regions. I will add a few points that are relevant to this topic.Firstly, spatial imbalance is an economic feature at every geographical level. It depends on the level of granularity at which you want to do your analysis. So, you could argue South does better than North at pan India level. But within South, maybe the old Mysore belt is better off than northeast Karnataka (the erstwhile Hyderabad-Karnataka). Within the old Mysore region, the western part has better socioeconomic indicators than the north. You can go down to the ward or taluka level of a city or a district with this analysis and you will find spatial imbalances. The reason for this is simple. Economic growth tends to spatially cluster because agglomeration of activities increases efficiency and leads to positive externalities. This sets off a virtuous cycle of more investments in social and physical infrastructure which further attracts investments and so on. This agglomeration has been exacerbated in the knowledge intensive and service industries where even migration of labour that helps in redistribution of wealth through repatriation doesn’t happen as much because of the specialised skills needed. So, this idea of using a geographic lens to assess socioeconomic prosperity and then to link it to greater political representation is illogical. You will set off a demand for such unequal representation down to every ward and taluka in the country. It is dangerous to further this line of argument in a democratic republic. Secondly, the question really is that of ‘convergence’ of socioeconomic progress between regions and reduction of spatial imbalances. This is a vexing issue for policy makers. The traditional way of looking at this is how to balance efficiency and equity within a region or a country. Continuing to have economic growth clustered in specific regions gives you efficiency but leads to regional inequities. On the other hand, we have seen top-down attempts to push investments into newer regions rarely work because of variety of factors including network effects and lack of positive externalities. In fact, forcing investments into newer regions through tax incentives or any other means leads to suboptimal results at an aggregate level. The traditional economic clusters lose out on efficiency while the newer regions rarely take off. You get neither efficiency nor equity. This is why like Pranay suggests the solution lies in greater devolution of finances and decision making in our federal structure. The choice or the trade-off is easier to make at a smaller regional unit. Of course, at the national level, the Union must make the investments in developing stronger institutions, spending on public goods and building social infrastructure to improve human development indicators in poorer regions. The answer is obviously not having differential political representation for the better off regions. Like Pranay writes that would be penalising the citizens of poorer states twice over. And if I might add it would be plain stupid. HomeWorkReading and listening recommendations on public policy matters[Article] “The China Discount Widens” writes Robert Armstrong in the Financial Times[Paper] “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox”, the famous 2017 paper by Lina Khan in the Yale Law Journal. President Biden nominated the 32 year-old Lina Khan as the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US antitrust watchdog. [Book] The Paradox of India’s North–South Divide: Lessons from the States and Regions by Samuel Paul and Kala Sridhar, is an excellent economic exposition of some key differences. Get on the email list at publicpolicy.substack.com

Justin and Colin get back to the Presidents tour by discussing the legacy of John Quincy Adams. They move into H.R.5. Equality Act that has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This Act threatens to destroy the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution  and religious freedoms that are protected by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. This act is also incredibly dangerous to woman and children and should be stopped in its tracks by the U.S. Senate.

What makes billboards valuable is the limited supply allowed under the Highway Beautification Act of 1965. This Act disrupted the balance between supply and demand, which gives sign owners the upper hand in maintaining high occupancy and rents. It also means that you don't have to worry about excessive competition ruining your sign's value. But part of the Highway Beautification Act is the requirement for permits. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we're going to discuss permits in-depth, and what I've learned about them over the years.

They won!The Democrats won and now control Presidency, House and Senate. Sounds like 2008 all over again, does it not my fellow Americans? Remember those times some 12 years ago when Obama, Schumer and Pelosi controlled all three branches of government and how CHANGE, fundamental and substantial change to the America we love began. Get ready, my fellow Americans, for progressive, radical America PHASE II.Fundamental change will occur in America beginning January 20, 2021. There is little doubt that the elections were contaminated with fraud, and negligence and even indifference and absentee voting in America showed its weaknesses, including and especially the propensity for fraud. The issue is not whether or not fraud existed but whether or not fraudulent votes tipped the election of any political race one way or another. We will probably never know that, and since the Supreme Court has indicated it does not intend to review election results unless there is conclusive and clear evidence of fraud, the elections are final. In the Georgia Senatorial races, critical to conservatives and Republicans, Warnock beat Loeffler seemingly by a clear margin but Ossoff defeated Perdue by a razor thin margin and that election may be subject to recount or judicial review. For now, at least, Republicans need to accept the fact that the Senate will be divided 50–50 and to the detriment of conservative and constitutional America, Vice President Kamala Harris will cast the deciding vote in the event of tie. Even though Republicans and conservatives gained in the House of Representatives, Democrats control and will be able to pass virtually any legislation they wish unless, UNLESS there are right thinking centrist Democrats, middle of the road, truly American no matter how liberal (but not radical or progressive) who do not toe the party line. What an interesting two years it will be until we the people have once again an opportunity to elect our House of Representatives. In the first 100 days, Biden has promised to eliminate and change so many of the regulations and executive orders which President Trump issued and put in place. The agencies, the supposed arms of the Congress and the SWAMP which implements and is the real legislative force will once again introduce a choking regulation to America, and especially American business and all things financial and a certain economic paralysis will once again occur. Massive new taxes will happen, count on it. The Green New Deal in some form or perhaps even in the next four years altogether will become law and there will be all out political war against fossil fuels and especially fracking. Biden and the Senate may even resort to the PACKING of the Supreme Court, adding liberal and progressive Justices to the point where liberals once again fully control the decision making of America's highest legal authority. All would be disasters, fraught with radical change in every conceivable way. We the people better be ready, and even more ready to stand up, resist, fight back against radicalism in any form and be ready with all of our might to protect our beloved Constitution and the rule of law. If we do not, GOODBYE AMERICA.But perhaps the most important and matter of greatest concern will be the passage of the so called EQUALITY ACT, now virtually assured. This is a frightening piece of legislation for Republicans, conservatives, Christians and all people of faith. This Act is anything but EQUAL. In fact, even as it champions the rights and creates preferences for LGBTQIA, it will absolutely eviscerate so much of the religious rights and freedoms, the very first freedom and perhaps the most important one to our Founding Fathers as embodied in the First Amendment of our Constitution. No matter that the Constitution explicitly and clearly states:CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW AFFECTING, ABRIDGING OR PREVENTING THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION,the so called Equality Act does just that. This Act will make it law for our great country, and the new sexual orthodoxy will be required in every aspect of American life including enormous preferences for LGBTQIA, and especially transgenders, establishing the rights of any person to decide their sexual orientation and gender identity. The biological differences between men and women, male and female, will be utterly ignored if not abolished. The new sexual orthodoxy will be taught in all educational institutions, especially and alarmingly to the young from kindergarten through high school. This Act, THE EQUALITY ACT, can be found online or in congressional records and information, my fellow Americans, and you should read it and to the best of your ability, understand what is in it. You must for it will drastically, radically, permanently affect your life and the lives of all Americans. FIND IT AND READ IT!The following are just some of the harmful and horrendous things which this EQUALITY ACT will codify and force you to accept and live by.LGBTQIA will not have an equality in America with all others, but actually any number of preferences and amplified rights which we the ordinary American people do not have. That is especially so with regard to hiring and employment. This Act as now written provides that should a member of the LGBTQIA factions apply for employment, and are denied as employers consider others more qualified and better suited for the job at hand and the business doing the hiring, an applicant so denied can form personally and individually the:            PERCEPTION AND BELIEF that the hiring turned down was in fact discrimination and a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Based on that mere perception or belief, the individual not hired would have the right to sue the employer, and sue for considerable damages with the legal force of the state providing attorneys and agency clout in behalf of the aggrieved (perceived) gay or transgender employee applicant and of course the employer would be forced to defend with the business attorneys and the finances of the business and the owners themselves. Equally difficult and disastrous, the employer would have the:            BURDEN OF PROOFthat the non–hire was not discriminatory, and that the person actually hired for the job was in fact better, superior, objectively more qualified. Personality, relatability, employee fit, all subjective even though all are important in a hiring process would be irrelevant, subjective and arbitrary so the law would indicate. These principles at work would be disastrous to Christian institutions, businesses, education including colleges, grammar schools, adoption agencies and more. Tragically, the burden of proof would be on the employer to prove that the person hired in preference to the LGBTQIA applicant was better, superior, more fit for the job than the applicant denied. Such a burden of proof would be massive, an enormous amount of work, and an incredible expense. Litigation could go on for months, and months, and the cost to the employer would be enormous and in some cases, financially destructive. The employer would always lose even if the employer wins the litigation. And more. Men identifying as women, redesigning their sexual orientation and gender identity would be allowed to compete with female athletes in any sport or competition. All the rights which women have gained beginning with the 1964 Civil Rights Act would be done away with and biological men would undoubtedly dominate biological female sports. All that person would need to do is identify as a woman and there is nothing any educational or other entity could do to prevent involvement. Adoption agencies which required the adoption of any child to be accomplished by a married couple, father and mother, MALE AND FEMALE, would be shut down and no funding of any kind would be allowed.Christian colleges and educational institutions which do not recognize or honor the new sexual orthodoxy would be denied any funding and students of those institutions would not be allowed student loans from any governmental agency, including and especially the federal government.Even more harmful to all things religion is the provision in THE EQUALITY ACT which makes reference to the:            RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT (RFRA)which can no longer provide any defense in any way for the protection of religious rights, beliefs and views as practiced by any educational, cultural or business entity. NONE WHATSOEVER! That wonderful act protecting religious freedoms was passed by the Congress in 1992 with virtual unanimous support. No matter, the EQUALITY ACT (what a farse) would do away with all protections of any kind for anything religious. The first freedom would be gutted and really rendered of no force and effect. And more. Men would have access to female bathrooms and showers and any other private place. Again, all the biological male needs to do is declare that he is now a she and as a newly identified sexual orientation and gender identity. Any biological female, especially the young, should be deeply concerned with this fundamental change and do everything possible to protect against it. What a world.Certain commonly used pronouns and nouns, now taken for granted, like father and mother, and ironically for Christians the word AMEN would be banned. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, hypocrite to the core (don't forget she is supposedly Roman Catholic) would ban all such and more from House dialogue, legislation and usage generally. Get this Christians. AMEN WOULD NOW BE AWOMEN! Unbelievable, is it not? The new orthodoxy fully and completely establishes the politically correct.Insurance, that is you and I, would pay for all transgender procedures, hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars. Creative professionals like Baker Jack Phillips would be forbidden under penalty of criminal proceedings from refusing to do business with LGBTQIA. And more. Much more. Find it, read it, and understand it. And find a way to talk to your federal Congresspersons, and Senators, and although undoubtedly a waste of time, go after the White House (Biden). It is time now, once and for all, THE LAST TIME my fellow Americans when you can stand up for unbridled, unabridged, uncorrupted freedom of religion and in fact all freedoms granted to us by our Constitution. If you don't stand up now, those freedoms will be lost forever.Personally, I have concern for so many Christians. They may listen, they may hear the bad news, they may talk about these horrendous progressive, radical things happening in America but for the most part, we the Christian people do:            NOTHING.We don't act. March. Protest. Support organizations that really go after these radical, hate – America individuals and we lose, we lose time and again. I pray you, all of us are convicted, concerned, even fearful for our families, friends and our beloved countries. That, all of that, is the only thing that will motivate us to:            ACT.Against the so called Equality Act and in fact all things progressive, radical and anti-American which we can expect to happen time after time in the next four years. You have a duty as we do to:            GOD AND COUNTRYif you wish the rights, the freedoms on the one hand then you have the DUTY to stand up and protect those rights. I pray with all my heart that you, that all of us will do just that. 

Have you heard of the SSMP Act of 2013? This Act tramples on the rights of members of the LGBT+ community

Hello and welcome to our last podcast episode of the year. As if dealing with the Coronavirus in 2020 wasn’t crazy enough, the government is taking government funding authorizations down to the wire this year. As I’m recording this on Monday, December 28, the president has signed the monstrous 5,593 page, 2021 Appropriations Act. This Act includes authorization and details of the second round of Coronavirus stimulus checks and federal unemployment assistance, as well as a number of other changes. Expect to see more information on all this in the coming days and weeks. To roll everything up, remember if you got a stimulus check in the first round, you should get another soon, $600 for each eligible person. If didn’t receive a check, but your income is lower this year than last, and below the phaseout threshholds, you will receive the stimulus benefits as a tax credit on your 2020 tax return. Unemployment benefits have been extended another 11 weeks, and for that time will include an extra $300 federal benefit, and will begin in the first week of unemployment. We talked about two changes to tax deductions. Itemizers can now deduct medical expense over 7.5% of AGI. The 90% of people who do not itemize can receive an above the line deduction for up to $300 per return for 2020. This was extended to 2021 and joint filers will be able to deduct $600 in 2021. If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit last year, but will have less earned income for 2020, you can use your 2019 income to calculate your 2020 credit. This should prevent you from losing out on those credits when you file your taxes this spring. If you have a Flexible Savings Account with funds left over at the end of the year, check with HR to see if they will be authorizing participants to rollover those funds to use next year.I know his has been an earful of talk about taxes, but the just signed government funding authorization does have something in it for just about everyone. I hope you have found this useful. I you have any questions, reach out to me at katie@moneypilotadvisor.com. And I especially want to wish you a Happy New Year and good riddance to 2020.

This Act of Remembrance was recorded a St John Baptist Church, Claines, WorcesterNovember 2018Played on original Royal Military College 1914 BugleBugler: Geoff SansomeIt has been edited and is reproduced here for our use only in connection with the Remembrance Day Service of Ty'r Bugail online by kind permission of Geoff Sansome.For further information please contact yGRWP.com©y GRWP2020 Support the show (https://www.give.net/20229353)

123 Republic Keeper Podcast patreon.com/republickeeper Show opener Give the phone # 866-988-8311 info@republickeeper.com Coming up on today’s broadcast The Most Important American You’ve never heard of Who was Gene Sharp? Born 1928 – died in 2018 7 days after his 90th He was the founder of the Albert Einstein Institution, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the study of nonviolent action, and professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Unofficial sources have claimed that Sharp was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prizein 2015,[3] and had previously been nominated three times, in 2009, 2012 and 2013 Sharp was widely considered the favorite for the 2012 award. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences in 1949 from Ohio State University, where he also received his Master of Arts in Sociology in 1951.[14] In 1953–54, Sharp was jailed for nine months after protesting the conscriptionof soldiers for the Korean War.[2] He discussed his decision to go to prison for his beliefs in letters to Albert Einstein, who wrote a foreword to his first book on Gandhi.[15] He worked as factory laborer, guide to a blind social worker, and secretary to  J. Muste, America's leading pacifist. Between 1955 and 1958, he was Assistant Editor of Peace News(London), the weekly pacifist newspaper from where he helped organize the 1958 Aldermaston March. The next two years he studied and researched in Oslo with Professor Arne Næss, who together with Johan Galtungdrew extensively from Mohandas Gandhi's writings in developing the Satyagraha Norms.[16] In 1968, he received a Doctor of Philosophy in political theory from Oxford University.[14] Funding for Sharp's research at this time came from the DARPAproject of the US Department of Defense.[17] his 1973 book The Politics of Nonviolent Action, which was based on his 1968 PhD thesis.[25]In the book, a "three-volume classic on civil disobedience,"[26] he provides a pragmatic political analysis of nonviolent action as a method for applying power in a conflict. Sharp's key theme is that power is not monolithic; that is, it does not derive from some intrinsic quality of those who are in power. For Sharp, political power, the power of any state – regardless of its particular structural organization – ultimately derives from the subjects of the state. His fundamental belief is that any power structure relies upon the subjects' obedience to the orders of the ruler(s). If subjects do not obey, rulers have no power Sharp identifies this hidden structure as providing a window of opportunity for a population to cause significant change in a state. Sharp cites the insight of Étienne de La Boétie(1530–1563) that if the subjects of a particular state recognize that they are the source of the state's power, they can refuse their obedience and their leader(s) will be left without power. To him, (Boetie) the great mystery of politics was obedience to rulers. Why in the world do people agree to be looted and otherwise oppressed by government overlords? It is not just fear, Boetie explains in the Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, for our consent is required. And that consent can be non-violently withdrawn.[3] Sharp has been called both the "Machiavelliof nonviolence"[21] and the "Clausewitz of nonviolent warfare."[30] It is claimed by some that Sharp's scholarship has influenced resistance organizations around the world. His works remain the ideological underpinning of the work for the Serbian-based nonviolent conflict training group the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies which helped to train the key activists in the protest movement that toppled President Mubarak of Egypt, and many other earlier youth movements in the Eastern European color revolutions. Sharp's 1993 handbook From Dictatorship to Democracy[31]was first published in Burma, fourth edition in 2010. It has since been translated into at least 31 other languages.[32] It has served as a basis for the campaigns of Serbia's Otpor! (who were also directly trained by the Albert Einstein Institution), Georgia's Kmara, Ukraine's Pora, Kyrgyzstan's KelKel and Belarus' Zubr. Pora's Oleh Kyriyenko said in a 2004 interview with Radio Netherlands, Sharp - Not Non-violence Sharp – stubborn and cussed Sharp – exert control and take action Sharp – wield power and control futures Sharp – that book is a bomb Yellow Revolution President John Adamssigned into law the Sedition Act of 1798, which set out punishments of up to two years of imprisonment for "opposing or resisting any law of the United States" or writing or publishing "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the President or the S. Congress (though not the office of the Vice-President, then occupied by Adams' political opponent Thomas Jefferson). This Act of Congress was allowed to expire in 1801 after Jefferson's election to the Presidency;[46] Jefferson pardoned those still serving sentences, and fines were repaid by the government. This law was never appealed to the United States Supreme Court (which had not yet established its right to invalidate laws passed by Congress) but opponents claimed it was unconstitutional under the First Amendment. In the Espionage Act of 1917, Section 3 made it a federal crime, punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000, to willfully spread false news of the American army or navy with an intent to disrupt its operations, to foment mutiny in their ranks, or to obstruct recruiting. This Act of Congress was amended by the Sedition Act of 1918, which expanded the scope of the Espionage Act to any statement criticizing the Government of the United States. These laws were upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1919 decisions Schenck v. United States(concerning distribution of flyers urging men to resist the draft) and Abrams v. United States (concerning leaflets urging cessation of weapons production). Schenck led to the "shouting 'fire' in a crowded theater" explanation of the limits of free speech. The laws were largely repealed in 1921, leaving laws forbidding foreign espionage in the United States and allowing military censorship of sensitive material. In 1940, the Alien Registration Act, or "Smith Act", was passed, which made it a federal crime to advocate or to teach the desirability of overthrowing the United States Government, or to be a member of any organization which does the same. It was often used against communist party This Act was invoked in three major cases, one of which against the Socialist Worker's Partyin Minneapolis in 1941, resulting in 23 convictions, and again in what became known as the Great Sedition Trial of 1944 in which a number of pro-Nazi figures were indicted but released when the prosecution ended in a mistrial. Also, a series of trials of 140 leaders of the Communist Party USA also relied upon the terms of the "Smith Act"—beginning in 1949—and lasting until 1957. Although the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the convictions of 11 CPUSA leaders in 1951 in Dennis v. United States, that same Court reversed itself in 1957 in the case of Yates v. United States, by ruling that teaching an ideal, no matter how harmful it may seem, does not equal advocating or planning its implementation. Although unused since at least 1961,[citation needed] the "Smith Act" remains a Federal law. There was, however, a brief attempt to use the sedition laws[which?]against protesters of the Vietnam War. On 17 October 1967, two demonstrators, including then Marin County resident Al Wasserman, while engaged in a "sit-in" at the Army Induction Center in Oakland, California, were arrested and charged with sedition by deputy US. Marshal Richard St. Germain. U.S. Attorney Cecil Poole changed the charge to trespassing. Poole said, "three guys (according to Mr. Wasserman there were only 2) reaching up and touching the leg of an inductee, and that's conspiracy to commit sedition? That's ridiculous!" The inductees were in the process of physically stepping on the demonstrators as they attempted to enter the building, and the demonstrators were trying to protect themselves from the inductees' feet. Attorney Poole later added, "We'll decide what to prosecute, not marshals."[47] In 1981, Oscar López Rivera, a Puerto Rican Nationalist and Vietnam war veteran, was convicted and sentenced to 70 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and various other offenses.[example needed]He was among the 16 Puerto Rican nationalists offered conditional clemency by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1999, but he rejected the offer.[48] His sister, Zenaida López, said he refused the offer because on parole, he would be in "prison outside prison".[citation needed] The clemency agreement required him to renounce the use of terrorism, including use or advocacy of the use of violence, to achieve their aim of independence for Puerto Rico.[49] Congressman Pedro Pierluisi has stated that "the primary reason that López Rivera did not accept the clemency offer extended to him in 1999 was because it had not also been extended to certain fellow [Puerto Rico independence movement] prisoners, including Mr. Torres".[50] (Torres was subsequently released from prison in July 2010.) In 1987, fourteen white supremacistswere indicted by a federal grand jury on charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against a seditious conspiracy between July 1983 and March 1985. Some alleged conspirators were serving time for overt acts, such as the crimes committed by The Order. Others such as Louis Beam and Richard Butler were charged for their speech seen as spurring on the overt acts by the others. In April 1988, a federal jury in Arkansas acquitted all the accused of charges of seditious conspiracy.[51] On 1 October 1995, Omar Abdel-Rahmanand nine others were convicted of seditious conspiracy.[52] Laura Berg, a nurse at a S. Department of Veterans Affairshospital in New Mexico was investigated for sedition in September 2005[53] after writing a letter[54][55] to the editor of a local newspaper, accusing several national leaders of criminal negligence. Though their action was later deemed unwarranted by the director of Veteran Affairs, local human resources personnel took it upon themselves to request an FBI investigation. Ms. Berg was represented by the ACLU.[56] Charges were dropped in 2006.[57] On 28 March 2010, nine members of the Hutareemilitia were arrested and charged with crimes including seditious conspiracy.[58] In August, 2012, U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts dismissed all serious charges against the remaining defendants, including sedition, and rebuked prosecutors for bringing the case. One man, Jacob Ward, was found not competent to stand trial. Three of the men, Joshua John Clough, David Brian Stone Sr., the leader of the group, and his son Joshua Stone, pleaded guilty to weapons charges

Council Act 1861: For the executive functions of the Council, a fifth member was added. Now there were five members for home, military, law, revenue and finance. (A sixth member for public works was added in 1874.) Lord Canning, who was the Governor-General and Viceroy at the time, introduced the portfolio system. In this system, each member was assigned a portfolio of a particular department. For legislative purposes, the Governor-General's Council was enlarged. Now, there were to be between 6 and 12 additional members (nominated by the Governor-General). There were appointed for a period of 2 years. Out of these, at least half of the additional members were to be non-official (British or Indian). Their functions were confined to legislative measures. Lord Canning nominated three Indians to the Council in 1862 namely, the Raja of Benares, the Maharaja of Patiala and Sir Dinkar Rao. Any bill related to public revenue or debt, military, religion or foreign affairs could not be passed without the Governor-General's assent. The Viceroy had the power to overrule the council if necessary. The Governor-General also had the power to promulgate ordinances without the council's concurrence during emergencies. The Secretary of State for India in Britain could also dissolve any act passed by the Governor-General's Council. This Act restored the legislative powers of the Governor-in-Councils of the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay (which was taken away by the Charter Act of 1833). The legislative council of Calcutta had extensive power to pass laws for the whole of British India. There was provision made for the formation of legislative councils in other provinces. New provinces could also be created for legislative purposes and Lieutenant Governors be appointed for them. Legislative councils were formed in other provinces in Bengal in 1862, North-West Frontier Province in 1886 and Punjab and Burma in 1897. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Charter Act 1853: Governor-General's office The Law member (fourth member) became a full member with the right to vote. The Legislative Council which had six members now had 12 members. The 12 members were: 1 Governor-General, 1 Commander-in-Chief, 4 members of the Governor-General's Council, 1 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at Calcutta, 1 regular judge of the Supreme Court at Calcutta, and 4 representative members drawn from among the company's servants with at least 10 years tenure, appointed by the local governments of Bengal, Bombay, Madras and North Western Provinces. The Governor-General could nominate a vice president to the council. The Governor-General's assent was required for all legislative proposals. The Court of Directors could create a new presidency or province. This was because of the difficulties that were faced in administering the increasingly large Indian territories of Britain. Since 1833 and 1853, two new provinces of Sind and Punjab were added. It could also appoint a Lieutenant Governor for these provinces. In 1859, a Lt. Governor was appointed for Punjab. This Act also led to the creation of Assam, Burma and the Central Provinces. The Act provided for the appointment of a separate governor for the Bengal Presidency. It maintained that the governor of Bengal should be different from the Governor-General who was to head administration of the whole of India. The number of Board of Directors was reduced from 24 to 18 out of which 6 people were to be nominated by the British Crown. Indian Civil Services Macaulay Committee of 1854 gave India her first civil services. This act removed the right of patronage to appointments in civil service held by the Court of Directors. Appointment was to be done only by open competition based on merit and was open to all. The report recommended that only the ‘fittest' be selected to the ICS. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Healthcare Will Be Restored to Prevention Instead of Drug Profits We believe that ALL health and medical practices should be based on real and honest science and not just the relationships with drug manufacturers. We will review ALL current agreements between the government and drug companies and we will appoint an independent board that will conduct the research on these agreements and the products involved. We view that proven natural human immune system boosting options should be of equal importance in the medical sphere. Prevention rather than intervention is the health goal. The Bill of Rights will establish protocols where achieving health is based on the responsibility of the person and their needs rather than quotas. Healthcare Begins at Home Cold, mildewed, mouldy, dark, and drafty houses are a major factor behind poor health. It is time that HOUSING and building laws incorporate robust health standards (not just minimums) as part of normal design and function. Mandatory Vaccination is a Violation of Human Rights Discrimination Based on 'Vaccine Compliance' is a Violation of Rights The Section 11 orders in the "COVID-19 Public Health Response Act" that "require compliance with any measures, or impose prohibitions that contribute or are likely to contribute to preventing the risk of the outbreak or spread of COVID-19" can be made to include mandatory vaccination. This Act will be repealed. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/new-zealand-public-party/message

Mandatory Vaccination is a Violation of Human Rights Discrimination Based on 'Vaccine Compliance' is a Violation of Rights The Section 11 orders in the "COVID-19 Public Health Response Act" that "require compliance with any measures, or impose prohibitions that contribute or are likely to contribute to preventing the risk of the outbreak or spread of COVID-19" can be made to include mandatory vaccination. This Act will be repealed. The Rights of the Person Extends to that of the Unborn The emotional manipulation of procreation has created societal division instead of being seen for what it is: the most basic survival drive of the human race. We at New Zealand Public Party do not support abortion but recognise this as a ‘right to choose' issue, however, we are against using abortion as a method of contraception and a means to justify the killing of babies for fetal tissue and organ harvesting. We also understand that there could be reasons for abortion such as rape, unsafe pregnancy and health reasons but recognise the law as it currently stands is inhumane, therefore we are dedicated to repealing it. We want to make sure the rights of the unborn child are protected right from conception, along with the rights of the mother. People have the right to prevent unwanted conception, regardless of religion or creed. We will fully fund contraception and further contraceptive research. It is important to us that we get our policy right, and to ensure this we are currently in consultation with a wide group of people who work in this field, including midwives and doctors. We Will Ensure that Actual Environmental Protection is Achieved The Bill of Rights will establish a legal framework for the protection of the environment over self-interest and corporate interest. Such as farm chemicals and waste, pest-control poisons (1080), GMOs, insecticides, fertilisers, waterway and land usage We are against 1080 and will demand a full investigation into its abuse. We Will Ensure that a Balance of Nature (Flora and Fauna) to Human Society is Achieved The Bill of Rights will establish a philosophy of Stewardship through a legal and societal framework. Such as fishing quotas and management, flora and fauna protection, humane treatment of animals and stock, the protection and management of all levels of our biosphere --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/new-zealand-public-party/message

The Section 11 orders in the "COVID-19 Public Health Response Act" that "require compliance with any measures, or impose prohibitions that contribute or are likely to contribute to preventing the risk of the outbreak or spread of COVID-19" can be made to include mandatory vaccination. This Act will be repealed. https://www.nzpublicparty.org.nz/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/new-zealand-public-party/message

The Section 11 orders in the "COVID-19 Public Health Response Act" that "require compliance with any measures, or impose prohibitions that contribute or are likely to contribute to preventing the risk of the outbreak or spread of COVID-19" can be made to include mandatory vaccination. This Act will be repealed. https://www.nzpublicparty.org.nz/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/new-zealand-public-party/message

Welcome to Finance and Fury, the Furious Friday edition. Last Friday, we went through theory versus practical reality of public infrastructure spending  – roads and railroads are needed. In this episode - Look back at an economic crash – in relation to infrastructure – I Know there are differences – but illustration of when too much of a good thing can go bad – especially when economic or development policies create a reliance to the economy on economic growth – especially when there is speculation involved What am I talking about? Crash of 1873 - What was it – To start – US coming out of their Civil War(1861-1865) – in an effort to deal with unemployment and economic fallout- infrastructure was proposed – The US has a long history of government job creation program – Job creation efforts were undertaken at the local level by cities or state by state – During the 1857, 1870s and the 1890s economic crisis and depressions going on New York, Boston, Phili – developed municipal programs to aid the poor or unemployed – But the administration and financing of these programs presented major problems for each city or state – Logistics was one but funding was another major one – Led to the proposal for statement government to take over for cities and for the federal government to take over from the states – assumed the responsibility for these work relief programs So a boom in railroad construction commences - 33,000 miles (53,000 km) of new track were laidacross the country between 1868 and 1873 Back then - the railroad industry was the nation's largest employer outside of agriculture due to the work programs – Most of the boom in railroad investment was being driven by government land grants and subsidies to the railroads - involved large amounts of money and but due to the size started becoming a ticking timebomb of financial risk a large infusion of cash from speculators caused spectacular growth in the industry as well as in construction of docks, factories and ancillary facilities that process the goods needed for construction – timber, etc – But how long does it take for infrastructure like railroads to make a return – years – so the capitalwas involved in projects offering no immediate returns Now enters the Coinage act 1873 In 1871 - the German Empire ceased minting silver thaler coins in 1871 – most countries had gold and silver coins – similar to today but back then they were the actual metal, not just imitations But Germany doing this caused a drop in demand and downward pressure on the value of silver Less demand lower prices But this had affects in the United States One effect was in the mining industry – as the US was where much of the supply of silver was mined But also on their monetary system – United States Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1873 - changed the US silver policy Before this - backed its currency with both gold and silver - minted both types of coins This Act moved them to a de factogold standard – resulting in no longer buying silver at a statutory price or allowing for silver to be converted from the public into silver coins  Statutory price used to be a monetary tool – set the price of metals like gold and silver based around the money supply – So the immediate effect of depressing silver prices and also changing the coinage law reduced the domestic money supply – this resulted in raising interest rates – hurting those who carried heavy debt loads This perception of instability in United States monetary policy caused investors to shy away from long-term obligations, particularly long-term bonds. The problem was compounded by the railroad boom, which was in its later stages at the time – started kicking off company failures One of the biggest failures - In September 1873, Jay Cooke & Company, a major component of the United States banking establishment, found itself unable to market several million dollars in Northern Pacific Railway bonds. Cooke's firm, like many others, had invested heavily in the railroads on both sides – the ownership but also selling bonds (the debt) in the investment to investors Around this time investment banks were anxious for more capital for their enterprises in railroads – easy cash cow and could get government loans – but new monetary policy of contracting the money supply (again, also thereby raising interest rates) made matters worse for those in debt – those who speculated on infrastructure investments – that wouldn’t see returns for years – were no left holding the bag with higher interest repayments In addition – put a halt on more infrastructure spending – there were plans by Cooke and other entrepreneurs to build the second transcontinental railroad, called the Northern Pacific Railway. Cooke's firm provided the financing - ground for the line was all ready to go - But just as he was about to swing a US$300 million government loan reports circulated that his firm's credit had become nearly worthless – loan was ceased and in September 1873, the firm declared bankruptcy. Another flow on effect – was on the insurance industry - Many US insurance companies went out of business as deteriorating financial conditions created solvency problems for life insurers – they invest in a low of what is seen stable investments – like bonds Other effects- The failure of the Jay Cooke bank, followed quickly by that of Henry Clews - set off a chain reaction of bank failures Factories began to lay off workers as the United States slipped into depression. The effects of the panic were quickly felt in New York, and more slowly in Chicago, Virginia City, Nevada (where silver mining was active), and San Francisco. The New York Stock Exchange closed for ten days starting 20 September – first time in history that the market was closed By November 1873 some 55 of the nation's railroads had failed, and another 60 went bankrupt by the first anniversary of the crisis.  Construction of new rail lines plummeted from 7,500 miles (12,070 km) of track in 1872 to just 1,600 miles (2,575 km) in 1875 – remember that this had become one of the backbones of the economy 18,000 businesses failed between 1873 and 1875 – flow on effects of banks failing but also companies providing goods and services to the railroad industry Unemployment peaked in 1878 at 8.25%. Building construction was halted, wages were cut, real estate values fell and corporate profits vanished Further flow on effects created a second business slump by 1877 – example - the market for lumber crashed, leading to several lumber companies going bankrupt With the depression, ambitious railroad building programs crashed across the South, leaving most states deep in debt and burdened with heavy taxes. Retrenchment was a common response of southern states to state debts during the depression. Social unrest and Rioting – In 1877, steep wage cuts led American railroad workers to launch the Great Railroad Strike. Initial protests broke out in Martinsburg, West Virginia when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) cut worker's pay for the third time in a year. As the workers began rioting, with reports of looting and attacks on civilians and police - dispatched federal troops. Within the week, similar riots had erupted in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Missouri. Summary of events - Why did it go bad The Panic of 1873 arose from investments in railroads. Railroads had expanded rapidly in the nineteenth century Eventually – as investment in railroads continued, new projects outpaced demand for new capacity - returns on railroad investments declined – remember they were already delayed in nature – You had a share market crash in most major financial centres -USA, EU with Vienna - investors divested their holdings of American securities, particularly railroad bonds This mass selling depressed the market, lowered prices on shares and bonds, and impeded financing for railroad firms - Without cash to finance operations and refinance debts that came due, many railroad firms failed others defaulted on payments due to banks Large banks then failing changed investors expectations. Creditors lost confidence in railroads and in the banks that financed them. Stock markets further collapsed. The panic spread to financial institutions in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and Georgia, as well as to banks in the Midwest, including Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. Nationwide, at least one-hundred banks failed.   What is happening today? There is a Push for large infrastructure spending – a lot of speculation surrounding this - Push for spending to help boost economic growth and to provide employment Investment speculation – from Super funds involvements – Government policy as well Also have large investment funds that are looking at this – if you cant beat them join them Not on railroads – but Mostly on the same thing – green infrastructure ROE – is it low or high? ROE is relatively low – it is high cost but thanks to Gov subsidies it can provide a profit – but what if these go away? Or – what if supply outstrips demand? If most of the projects over time have little demand – lower ROE – similar to the railroads – diminishing marginal returns on everything Interest rates are low – so the borrowing costs of any infrastructure will be low for some time and lots of funds will come from Governments or Super funds – so it isn’t their money Either invest the money in the project – or buy bonds in the project (capital notes) to finance them Can the same thing happen as the crash – Not likely – there is a safety net now in the financial system and Central banks – Liquidity issues? More QE or bailouts – Super funds can put a lot of their money into this and have the guarantees of the debt not being too risky Especially in low interest rate world – but if we go through a new monetary system – if it creates higher interest rates then the amount of debt around would create massive issues But is it a good idea? Well time will tell – the debt on the infrastructure projects will be around for a while But may be a similar thing to Chinas WMPs – a shadow banking rolling ponzi scheme – Takes long time to get a return on infrastructure projects from implementation to be in working order – A lot can change in economic conditions over the 5-10 years it may take to see ROE on these projects Taking more debt out and if it isn’t quality investments – where supply outstrips demand – the infrastructure policy could be another trap in the future for another bubble and collapse   Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you want to get in contact you can do so here: http://financeandfury.com.au/contact/ Links - https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/HIST312-10.1.2-Panic-of-1893.pdf https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/banking_panics_of_the_gilded_age https://books.google.com.au/books?id=u_6uDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA170&lpg=PA170&dq=infrastructure+crash+1894&source=bl&ots=_OzgH-SsIv&sig=ACfU3U29tw7Dw11WpH2TKUM_HtYmjgBUlg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi55uymnPnpAhUZA3IKHWy3C1wQ6AEwEXoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=infrastructure%20crash%201894&f=false

We understand how difficult this time can be for individuals and small business owners. The uncertainty of the coronavirus and what the ultimate impact on the economy will be has put a huge financial burden on everyone. The government has responded with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is a record-setting stimulus package aimed to provide help to everyone. We've heard quite a bit about the payments being sent out to individuals, but we want to focus on the impact this will have on small businesses. So we'll discuss two of the main provisions that owners should be considering. The first are emergency economic disaster loans and the second is the payroll protection plan. Beyond what we talk about on the show, we'll also provide you with a six-page document listing all of the important details of the CARES Act. All you need to do to receive it is text CARES to 50597. Following that conversation, we're going to take a bit of a lighter approach to a phrase we're hearing over and over again, and that's social distancing. What if we took the idea of keeping space and staying separated to maintain our physical health and applied that to investing and planning to protect our financial health. We'll pull out four different examples of things your should be keeping separated in your plan and help you understand why it's important to do so. Thanks for listening to this episode. We'll be back again next week for another show.   Read more and get additional resources here: https://maestrowealth.com/   Today's rundown:  2:41 – We're talking about the CARES Act and it's important for people to pay attention to. 3:44 – Small businesses are classified as fewer than 500 employees but there are some key benefits. 5:27 – This Act does two main things - loans and payroll protection. 6:43 – Business owners are concerned about how to operate in this current environment but you're not alone. That's why the CARES Act is important. 8:04 – Fun fact of the week dealing with Corona. 8:20 – Quote of the week 9:10 – Congress has really pulled together to help employers and employees. 10:56 – Social Distancing as it pertains to finance. First up is your emergency fund and stock market fund. 14:02 – Next two are life insurance and your investments. 16:35 - High turnover investment strategies vs after-tax brokerage accounts 19:30 - That last thing to keep separated is our emotions and our investment decisions.

During today's show, Nell and Chris learned about the Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act from Laura Lightbody with the Pew Charitable Trust. Repetitive-loss properties have historically accounted for 1% of National Flood Insurance Program policies, but represent 25 - 30% of claims, putting the program 20 billion dollars into the red. This Act encourages the 20,000 participating communities to plan ahead to avoid repeating history and being forced to rebuild time and time again. Utah's Ben McAdams co-sponsored this bipartisan legislation.

After Illinois passed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act which became effective in 2020, can police still search a car when they smell cannabis? The Old “Smell Of Weed Rule” In Illinois Before Decriminalization Of 2020 The warrantless search of a car is authorized “where a trained and experienced police officer detects the odor of cannabis emanating from a defendant’s vehicle.” People v. Stout, 106 Ill.2d 77, 88 (1985) The question today, is if this rule survived the cannabis law change in 2020. In This Episode… “The officer would probably be better suited to try and find more information, more probable cause, to layer that probable cause.” — John “Jack” Duggan Attorney John Duggan Jack’s father is a retired Chicago Police Officer. Jack followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Police Officer for the Village of Oak Park. While working as a Police Officer, Jack decided to continue his studies and attended The John Marshall Law School.  Jack focuses his practice in the areas of Real Estate, Family Law, Estate Planning, and selected criminal matters. Jack Duggan’s Contact Information 782 Busse Highway Park Ridge, IL 60068 john@johnmdugganlaw.com http://www.johnmdugganlaw.com/ Attorney Jeff Hall “I basically call it the ‘sniff and search’ statute.” — Jeff Hall “I basically call it the ‘sniff and search’ statute.” – Jeff Hall Jeffrey R. Hall has practiced law since 2004, concentrating in the area of Criminal Law, DUI, Traffic Law, Driver’s License & FOID Card Reinstatement’s.  He began his legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Tazewell County, IL. Jeff Hall helped draft SB228 (passed on July 29, 2016), the popular Cannabis Decriminalization Bill and was an integral part of the legislative process, changing Illinois law from a “Zero Tolerance” state for cannabis related DUIs, to a more reasonable law that focused more on impaired driving. Jeff Hall’s Contact Information 316 SW Washington Street, Suite 1A Peoria, IL 61602 jhall@hallrustomfritz.com http://www.centralillinoislawyers.com/ Links & Resources Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act Cannabis Control Act Illinois Vehicle Code The Sniff & Search Law – 625 ILCS 5/11-502.15 What The Illinois Cannabis Regulation And Tax Act Says About Lawful Limits? 410 ILCS 705/10-10. Possession Limit. “(a) Except if otherwise authorized by this Act, for a person who is 21 years of age or older and a resident of this State, the possession limit is as follows: (1) 30 grams of cannabis flower; (2) no more than 500 milligrams of THC contained in cannabis-infused product; (3) 5 grams of cannabis concentrate; and (4) for registered qualifying patients…” Strict Prohibition of Cannabis Possession For Those Under 21 410 ILCS 705/10-15. Persons under 21 years of age. “(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law authorizing the possession of medical cannabis, nothing in this Act authorizes a person who is under 21 years of age to possess cannabis. A person under 21 years of age with cannabis in his or her possession is guilty of a civil law violation as outlined in paragraph (a) of Section 4 of the Cannabis Control Act. (c) If the person under the age of 21 was in a motor vehicle at the time of the offense, the Secretary of State may suspend or revoke the driving privileges of any person for a violation of this Section under Section 6-206 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and the rules adopted under it.” Further Limitations And Prohibition Of Cannabis In Certain Places 410 ILCS 705/1-35. Limitations and penalties. “a) This Act does not permit any person to engage in, and does not prevent the imposition of any civil, criminal, or other penalties for engaging in, any of the following conduct… (2) possessing cannabis: (D) in a vehicle not open to the public unless the cannabis is in a reasonably secured sealed, container and reasonably inaccessible while the vehicle is moving; or… (3) using cannabis: (D) in any motor vehicle; (F)…in any public place; or (G) knowingly in close physical proximity to anyone under 21 years of age who is not a registered medical cannabis patient under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act… 4) smoking cannabis in any place where smoking is prohibited under the Smoke Free Illinois Act;” The Cannabis Control Act Still Criminalizes Possession Of The Following Amounts Of Cannabis… 720 ILCS 550/4. Cannabis Control Act. “Except as otherwise provided in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and the Industrial Hemp Act, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to possess cannabis. Any person who violates this Section with respect to: (c) more than 30 grams but not more than 100 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; provided, that if any offense under this subsection (c) is a subsequent offense, the offender shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony; (d) more than 100 grams but not more than 500 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 4 felony; provided that if any offense under this subsection (d) is a subsequent offense, the offender shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony; (e) more than 500 grams but not more than 2,000 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 3 felony; (f) more than 2,000 grams but not more than 5,000 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 2 felony; (g) more than 5,000 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 1 felony.” Delivery And Possession With Intent To Deliver Cannabis Remains Illegal 720 ILCS 550/5. Cannabis Control Act. “Except as otherwise provided in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and the Industrial Hemp Act, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to deliver, or manufacture, cannabis. Any person who violates this Section with respect to: (a) not more than 2.5 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor; (b) more than 2.5 grams but not more than 10 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; (c) more than 10 grams but not more than 30 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 4 felony; (d) more than 30 grams but not more than 500 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 3 felony for which a fine not to exceed $50,000 may be imposed; (e) more than 500 grams but not more than 2,000 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 2 felony for which a fine not to exceed $100,000 may be imposed; (f) more than 2,000 grams but not more than 5,000 grams of any substance containing cannabis is guilty of a Class 1 felony for which a fine not to exceed $150,000 may be imposed; The Illinois Vehicle Code Still Criminalizes Cannabis Related DUI’s 625 ILCS 11-501. Driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or any combination thereof. “(a) A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle within this State while: (4) under the influence of any other drug or combination of drugs to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving; (7) the person has, within 2 hours of driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle, a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration in the person’s whole blood or other bodily substance as defined in paragraph 6 of subsection (a) of Section 11-501.2 of this Code. Subject to all other requirements and provisions under this Section, this paragraph (7) does not apply to the lawful consumption of cannabis by a qualifying patient licensed under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act who is in possession of a valid registry card issued under that Act, unless that person is impaired by the use of cannabis.” The “Sniff & Search” Law – 625 ILCS 5/11-501.15 625 ILCS 5/11-502.15. Possession of adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle. “(a) No driver may use cannabis within the passenger area of any motor vehicle upon a highway in this State. (b) No driver may possess cannabis within any area of any motor vehicle upon a highway in this State except in a sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant cannabis container. (c) No passenger may possess cannabis within any passenger area of any motor vehicle upon a highway in this State except in a sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant cannabis container. (d) Any person who knowingly violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this Section commits a Class A misdemeanor. “Can’t Miss” Moments From Episode 745 ✓ An officer who encounters the odor of cannabis in a car might have to start running through a mental checklist. What are the things they should be checking-off? (Go to 4:46) ✓ Legitimate law enforcement objectives are implicated by the smell of weed. After Illinois has decriminalized marijuana what legitimate law enforcement concerns remain on the table? (Go to 5:42) ✓ There is at least one situation where a car reeking of cannabis is going to get searched by the police. Jump to this spot to find out what that situation is. (Go to 7:50) ✓ What does a positive drug dog sniff mean now that some cannabis can be possessed legally? (Go to 11:50) ✓ How does the plain view doctrine affect this question? What have other legalized states done with this question of allowing officers to search car based on the smell of cannabis? (Go to 22:01) ✓ How a “sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant cannabis container” can be the difference between wide spread car searches in Illinois and/or very limited ones. (Go to 24:50) ✓ Urban Dictionary defines “hotboxing” as, “n. The practice of smoking marijuana in an enclosed space (e.g. a car or a small room) in order to maximize the narcotic effect.” (Go to 34:20) See Also You may also want to check out… People v. Rice, 2019 IL App (3d) 170134 (April). Episode 623 (Duration 7:36) (odor of cannabis indicative of criminal activity) Episode 556 – Interview With Charles Schierer | The Best Reason To Change The “Smell Of Cannabis” Rule Episode 509 – In re O.S., 2018 IL App (1st) 171765 (June) (1st District also says smell of weed rule is still valid)  Episode 584 – People v. Hill, 2019 IL App (4th) 180041 (January) (4th District says the same thing adding burnt or raw cannabis doesn’t matter that car is getting searched)  Episode 621 – People v. Brandt, 2019 IL App (4th) 180219 (April) (officer smelled cannabis and that justified the warrant)  Episode 340 – Kim Bilbrey on The Magic Words That Instantly Allow An Officer To Search A Car Without A Warrant Episode 558 – People v. Williams, 2018 IL App (2d) 160683 (October)(odor of alcohol alone means nothing) Episode 015 – People v. Abdur-Rhamim, 2014 IL App (3d) 130558 (August) (Police Can Search A Car In Illinois If The Smell Marijuana, So What Went Wrong Here For The Police?) Episode 276 – You Just Can’t Ignore The Stench Of Weed In An Auto Accident Episode 207 – With Ken Wang – Give Us 24 Minutes And You’ll Get a Comprehensive Debriefing on The New Illinois Marijuana Law Episode 251 – With Jeffrey Hall –  On The Latest Developments And Problems With The Illinois Cannabis Decriminalization Law Episode 196 – Dog Sniff Alert To Drugs Will Lead To Car Search

Journalist and Author Rohini Mohan Tonight's South Asia Spotlight: Last month, the far right Hindu government, the BJP, passed the Citizenship Amendment Act or the CAA, an amendment to the 1955 Citizenship Act. This Act violates multiple sections of India's constitution by making religion a test for citizenship, specifically excluding Muslims.   The passage of the Act saw an explosion of student led protests across campuses in India, as well as mass peaceful mobilizations by civil society activists in big cities and small towns across the country. What does the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) mean for a changing India?   What is the National Register of Citizens or the NRC? Why have there been such a remarkable surge of protests not just in India but across the world including by the South Asian diaspora in the US? Listen to a conversation APEX Express producer Preeti Mangala Shekar had with journalist and author Rohini Mohan. Women Protestors At Shaheen Bagh: A remarkable aspect of the protests have been the huge leadership of women A lit up map cutout of India at Shaheen Bagh, New Delhi The post APEX Express – January 30, 2020: South Asia Spotlight: The Citizenship Amendment Act: A Conversation With Journalist Rohini Mohan appeared first on KPFA.

This is the episode to listen to if you are looking for hacks to save money on travel. You’ll hear my personal travel tips, as well as tips from the Rock Retirement Club, and international travel hacks. BW also joins in for the Coach’s Corner segment to enlighten us on his own views on how travel can benefit your retirement. You won’t want to miss this episode. Make sure to take notes on these travel hacks that will save you money.  Hacks to save money on your retirement travel Where will you go in your retirement? Have you already started planning your retirement trips? Planning the logistics of travel can be tricky but I like to use Google Flights to help me search for the best prices. Google Flights can be dynamic and your flexibility can really save you money. Use the alert function to set price alerts for places you want to go.  I also use my network of friends and acquaintances to get tips on where to go and what to do when I’m planning a trip somewhere. The people you know can really enhance your travel experiences. You never know who has been to the places you want to go.  Travel tips from the Rock Retirement Club The Rock Retirement Club is an amazing hive of knowledge. I love tapping into this invaluable resource. The members of this club have some great tips to share with you. Here are a few.  Utilize Costco Travel, Scott’s Cheap Flights, or your favorite airline’s credit card. If you visit a place annually make a checklist to make it easy to remember things you want to do or places you love to go. Sign up for TSA Precheck or Global Entry to fly through those lines Plan ahead, especially for popular national parks Don’t overschedule your time. You need downtime and flexibility. Learn how to improve your travel experience in retirement by listening to this episode to hear all our collective travel tips.  Hacks for international travel Retirement is a great time to finally experience the world. But planning international travel can be daunting. You’ll be in a foreign place where you don’t understand the language or customs. Some of these travel tips can ease your worries about international travel.  Purchase travel insurance. You never know when you’ll need to use it. Get your cell phone service in order. Listen in to find out how I ended up with a $1000 phone bill after one international trip! Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program through the U.S Embassy. Check the CDC for vaccine information and health risks if you plan to go to some exotic locales. Get a medical pack from your doctor to be prepared for any situation This episode is chocked full of travel hacks and you’ve got to listen to hear them all. What will the Secure Act mean for you? It looks like the Secure Act will pass and become the law before the end of the year. This will mean significant changes are coming to retirement planning. This Act contains 29 provisions, some of which will be big changes, but others won’t have much of an impact. Here are a few changes you might see in the coming year.  Required Minimum Distributions will move from age 70 ½ to 72.  The RMD life expectancy table will change as well.  The Secure Act will repeal the maximum age to contribute to an IRA The new law will get rid of the Stretch IRA. Find out what that means for you and your heirs by listening in!  I’m so excited that it will be easier for small businesses to offer 401Ks to their employees.  You’ll have to listen in to hear the rest of the ways that the Secure Act will change saving for retirement. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN HOT TOPIC SEGMENT [2:33] Tips on how to save money on travel  [7:45] Why it is important to tell your network of your travel plans [9:23] Tips from the RRC [14:30] International travel tips WHAT DOES THAT MEAN SEGMENT [19:40] What will the Secure Act mean for you? COACH’S CORNER SEGMENT [27:00] The anticipation of travel can be a lot of fun TODAY’S SMART SPRINT SEGMENT [35:15] Think about the person you want to become next year Resources Mentioned In This Episode Rock Retirement Club Roger’s YouTube Channel - Roger That BOOK - Rock Retirement  by Roger Whitney Work with Roger Roger’s Retirement Learning Center  

1. Intro to the Acting House of Healing AHH Every day we act out be it unaware of doing our regular routine or we don’t act. The Acting House of Healing A.H.H was born after many years of working on my inner talk. What is really exciting about this, now I am bringing to the characters to light which is really funny because now they cannot hide and have any power over me. This is so much fun. Before we get going let’s break it down for a better understanding. Firstly, my vision is: “A unified world through one’s act of connection” - You act a certain way and then when you see the house you have is a little distorted and want to change. This ACT is realized as distorted and then you connect to your own knowingness - Of “You know what you do”. - To do what you know. I honor Joe Dispenza; Becoming Supernatural What if you could rewire your brain to not only create a state of total health…but to use your consciousness to command your physical reality? This is where the comedy comes in and when you study experts like Joe Dispenza you will find proof of this very statement. In the AHH having fun with Characters, you can rewire these parts of ourselves and live with more joy. I have named my inner critic, my victim, my wise one, my condescending teacher and my one airhead one. These are some characters that I am sharing with you. Firstly - I Honor Robin Williams during times of stress and my battle with my own demons. Robin Williams made me laugh and forget about the control these characters had on me. In paying attention to my state when laughing my body, mind and heart would be healed. The joy I feel when people laugh, and the profound unified field created in laughing together brings me to this part of my journey. I loved that man. I loved his quick wit; I loved his heart that came across in his work. I especially loved Mrs. Doubfire. In honor of this icon as a great comedian, I dedicate my work to his life lived. Robin Williams has always been a heartfelt inspiration to me. I hope these little characters help you remember to be kind to yourself as well. I want to expand his life’s work by offering you a chance to take this and insert it in your own heart. If you can be your own comedian think of the healing, you can create in your own world. Intro of Characters - Isabel - Airhead - Monique – Condescending Teacher - Apes – Wise one - Tanny Wanny – Victim - Monique: She is a Russian woman who was born with very high standards to achieve. There is no time to play, work work work. Then after the task is done it is never good enough. No time to celebrate or even acknowledge. There is much to do. I hope a sprinkle of wisdom has landed in you today. It is my deepest heartfelt desire to disarm these parts that take you out in the day. Please join me regularly for the Acting House of Healing Character laughs. Love Darlinka --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/april913/message

Skydio 2 Dock for enhanced automation, the regressive "Drone Integration and Zoning Act", Ford files a futuristic drone patent, drone search and rescue and much, much more... We are back with some of the biggest and most exciting drone news of this week with the DroneDJ himself, Haye Kesteloo. Our biggest drone news story this week is about Skydio 2. For folks who have not been following the news, Skydio released a new drone, Skydio 2 about two weeks back. Following up on this, Skydio recently announced the Skydio 2 Dock. The Skydio 2 Dock is a "self-contained weatherproof charging station" that might make it possible to conduct autonomous operations in the future. Particularly, this Skydio accessory will be really useful for enterprise customers who wish to automate their day-to-day operations. While the FAA does not permit autonomous operations at present, the Skydio 2 Dock certainly indicates what the future of drone technology might look like. In our next piece of drone news, we discuss the recent, "Drone Integration and Zoning Act" introduced by Senator Mike Lee. This Act aims to undermine the FAA's authority by putting states, cities and Native American tribes in charge. Tune in to discover how this act will place severe restrictions on a drone pilot's right to fly. Other topics covered in today's show include drone search and rescue, LiDAR-equipped mapping drones, and an innovative "vehicle-integrated drone" patent filed by Ford. Fly safe! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Looking for simple, fast, and transparent coverage that gives you peace of mind? Our friends at Skywatch are offering affordable on-demand drone insurance that rewards YOU for flying safely. Check them out NOW! Both hourly and monthly options available. Follow us: Site - https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – http://amzn.to/2nalUDH Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – https://amzn.to/2omQatT/ Check out our upcoming Mapping Classes – https://thedroneu.clickfunnels.com/drone-u-mapping-classes-2019 Sign up for our Austin Mapping Class – https://thedroneu.clickfunnels.com/austin_mapping_2019 Timestamps Drone Integration and Zoning Act undermines the FAA's authority and puts local governments in charge Drone search and Rescue - A Matrice M210 used to successfully locate a six-year-old in Minnesota Skydio releases Skydio 2 Dock, a "self-contained weatherproof charging station" Ford files a new patent for a futuristic "Vehicle-Integrated Drone" Planes and drones equipped with LiDAR help discover and map Maya ruins in Mexico Farmers using drones to lure sheep in the right direction ?????????????

In this episode, LSNJ attorney Anisa Rahim provides an overview of the laws governing language access in New Jersey, beginning with the 1974 federal Lau vs. Nichols case, in which the Supreme Court decided that failure to provide language assistance is a form of national origin discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This Act was strengthened in 2000 when President Clinton signed an Executive Order requiring federal agencies to give guidance on the required response of state agencies to comply with this mandate. The guidance issued by the Department of Justice provided a model for federal agencies and a detailed analysis of the ways in which interpretation and translation mush be offered, in order to ensure meaningful access to government services and benefits. New Jersey courts have increasingly recognized the importance of language services in state court decisions to comply with due process and civil rights protections. New Jersey’s Administrative Office of the Courts issued a comprehensive Language Access Plan in 2017. The plan outlines best practices for providing language assistance to both limited English proficiency (LEP) individuals and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Anisa is joined by Al Moreno, an approved court interpreter of the New Jersey Administrative office of the courts and Director of Language Services at LSNJ. In his remarks, Al emphasizes the importance of proper qualifications and training for language services professionals, offering several anecdotes to illustrate the potentially dire consequences of inaccurate interpretation or translation. LSNJ publishes legal rights materials in a variety of languages and promotes them through a variety of platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our website, www.LSNJLAW.org. This podcast is available in video format with English and Spanish subtitles (more languages to come) on LSNJLAW and on our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/LegalServicesNJ. Music Provided By: Kevin MacLeod - Backed Vibes Clean - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/KevinMacLeod/ Nheap - 02 - 5 March - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Nheap/ Split Phase - 40 - CatchingGlitter http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Split_Phase/ Special Guest: Al Moreno.

As this showpage description to The View Up Here's 10th season finale is being written, Albertans are voting for their Provincial government for the next four years. Maybe, depending on RCMP investigations. Review and analysis for the topic on this show will depend on those results, so there's not much to say except... Tune in for the TVUH take whether Alberta will be moving forward or backwards, by a lot. But there is another election, in Prince Edward Island, on April 23rd that could make history on two distinct fronts. Incumbent Premier Wade MacLaughlin and the PEI Liberals have been trailing the PEI Greens and their leader Peter Bevan-Baker in polling for six months without pause. New leader Dennis King of the PEI Progressive Conservatives is also in the mix and could hold the balance of power if a minority result occurs. But indications are Canada may very well get the first elected Green party government in history, a sign of the times we live in. The second historic event regards a referendum also on Election Day in PEI. It will be a simple Yes/No question on adopting a Mixed Member Proportional voting system, which would make this the last First Past The Post election in the Province. What sets this process apart from recent voting system change efforts is this time it is a clear proposition to voters. The question itself on the seperate ballot is laid out in the "Electoral System Referendum Act" so there is no room for confusion. This Act also includes specific and complete information on what the MMP system would be, how the voting process would change and what the results of it would bring. In other words, PEI has defined everything that BC refused to do. All kinds of history to be made. We will look at the resultant history of Alberta's election and ramifications and the impending history of Prince Edward Island's two ballot election in one week.

3/4/2019 Limitations on subcontracting for prime contractors is an important topic. Especially now that the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) are NOT in agreement. Let's get into this topic in more detail, shall we? Background In January 2013, the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) became law. This Act made major changes to the limitations on subcontracting. The law changes the way the government determined compliance with the limitations on subcontracting for prime contractors. By the way, limitations on subcontracting applies to service and supply contracts. The old way was formula based upon “cost of personnel” and “Cost of Manufacturing”, to formulas based on the amount paid by the government. Most importantly the 2013 NDAA allowed small primes to claim performance credit for “similarly situated entities.” In essence, this would make it easier for a small prime contractor to meet his self performance requirement. A prime contractor could use the work performed by the first tier subcontractor and add it to his self performance to meet the requirement. 3 1/2 Years Later Three and a half years after the 2013 NDAA became law, SBA finally published a final rule implementing the changes. See 13 C.F.R 125.6. SBA’s regulation took effect on June 30, 2016. The Department of Veteran Affairs declared a Class Deviation incorporating the reference from SBA regulations almost immediately after SBA regulations went into effect. However, contracting officers from other agencies continue to use the old formulas and did not acknowledge similarly situated entities. (Note FAR 52.219-14 applies to small businesses and 8(a) contracts. For HUBZone, , non-VA SDVOSB procurements, and WOSB/EDWOSB contracts the regulation specifies the clauses already. 5 Years Later Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019. On December 4, 2018 the FAR Council finally took the first major step toward implementing the changes. The FAR Council published a proposed rule in the Federal Register. As of today 2/17/19 the FAR has not been changed. The result As one would expect this led to a ton of confusion. Which regulation does the prime contractor follow? SBA regulation? FAR clause? Both? Contracting officers took the position that the FAR clauses take precedence until they’re amended. However, the CFR takes precedence over the FAR. What if you had a joint venture formed under SBA’s regulation must pledge to comply with 13 CFR125.6. What a mess. Proposed FAR Changes What are the changes recommended by the FAR Council? Instead of a mixture of clauses the FAR Council is recommending consolidating the clauses for all small business programs. This makes sense. The proposed rule would also allow prime contractors to use similarly situated entities to meet their performance thresholds. What does this mean for small businesses? It means that if you are a small business and you subcontract to another small business first tier subcontractor, you can claim their work performance as part of your performance. Here is an example, an 8(a) company can subcontract to another 8(a) company and use their subcontract performance to meet your performance expectations. The proposed rule could change before the final rule based upon public comment. We will have to wait and see what happens. When will the final rule come out? I am not sure but you can always do the research yourself. Hopefully the final rule will resolve the confusion for small businesses. In the meantime, I would recommend that small businesses read the FAR, CFR and talk to the contracting officer. Remember you must follow what FAR clauses are in your contract. If you are still confused, I would suggest that you talk to your attorney and get legal interpretation. Conclusion Unfortunately, sometimes the rules are not clear, and you must use your best judgement. You will find the clauses pertaining to your limitations on subcontracting in your contract. Always read your contract. If you have any questions talk to the contracting officer first and if you still are unsure call your attorney. Remember I am not an attorney and am providing you with the best information that I have. For more articles. Please help support our podcast by purchasing from our store. https://teespring.com/stores/federal-contracting-made-easy Website Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube FCME uploads new episodes every Monday & Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. MST. Topics include proposal writing, bonds, types of contracts, why do business with the federal government, 8(a), business services for veterans and women, where federal opportunities are listed, and more. You can listen to the podcast here or with your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher). FCME is also active on social media and launched the Federal Contracting Made Easy YouTube channel on January 1, 2019.

Special guest Jose Santana, Federal Prison Authority Jose and Bruce discuss coaching clients, attorneys and defendant families on the First Step Act. This Act signed into federal law in December, 2018. Earned Time Credits, more Good time off and extended halfway house/home confinement opportunities are coming for non-violent incarcerated federal inmates. Jose can be reached at federalprisonauthority.com his email is federalprisonauthoritybop@gmail.com

The post This Act of Grace appeared first on St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

The post This Act of Grace appeared first on St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

****WHISTLEBLOWER*** This Episode of the Phaet.org Podcast focuses on an Incredible story that illuminates a few corners of the vast dark side of our military. Retired Army Veteran Mike Barbot sheds light on his harrowing journey to Ramadi, Iraq, and the after-war he faced against the very institution that sent him there in the first place. This story is sure to get attention as it directly implicates our Military in the engagement of Fraud, Conspiracy and the complete Exploitation of our soldiers. Phaet.org Acronym Key: IED – Improvised Explosive Device EOD – Explosive Ordinance Device FOB – Forward Operating Base AWOL – Away Without Leave Wastes Of War (just a few) US Military spends: - $20 Billion a YEAR, on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan - $363 Million a year on weight loss surgery for military family members - At OVER half of our Nations Total Budget, US spends more money on the Military than the next top 8 countries…COMBINED. (As of 2016) NDAA ACT National Defense Authorization Act 2011 This Act violates due process protections provided in the Sixth Amendment’s right to be properly charged before detention and to a trial as well as Article 3, Section 3 of the Constitution, which guarantees those accused with treason additional due process protections. The bill is accused of significantly expanding the military’s detention authority. Among other things.(Has the American public become so neurologically defunct and apathetic as to simply allow the systematic destruction of their natural born rights?? Sure looks that way). Non-violent Revolution should always be the first choice…Until you’re left with No choice.

Megan Rosenbloom is Associate Director for Instruction Services at the Norris Medical Library of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and the co-founder and director of Death Salon, the event arm of The Order of the Good Death. Rosenbloom is writing a book called Dark Archives, anticipated to be published in 2019, which describes the history and discusses the ethics involved in "anthropodermic bibliopegy," books alleged to have been bound in human skin. Megan recommends the book Death, Dissection, and the Destitute by Ruth Richardson for more information on the Anatomy Acts. Here is a brief explanation: Throughout history, the use of cadavers has been hugely important to medical innovation and advancement. The demand for cadavers often vastly outweighed the available supply. Religious, moral and legal concerns often bred a reluctance to address the issue. With a relatively small supply of legally-obtained cadavers, some enterprising individuals turn to grave-robbing to cash in on the high demand. In few extreme cases, certain individuals even resorted to outright murder to generate a cadaver supply. The imbalance between demand and supply eventually forced lawmakers to act. The Murder Act of 1752 passed by Parliament in the United Kingdom allowed doctors and medical schools in need of cadavers to use the bodies of executed convicted murderers. As executions declined in number and demand for cadavers continued to increase, this solution proved insufficient. Growing public awareness and aversion to the corpse trade ushered in a climate of acceptance toward the Anatomy Act of 1832 in England. This Act gave doctors, medical students and the like more access to the cadavers of those who died in the care of the state. The 1832 Anatomy Act in particular had a strong influence on state legislatures in the United States. Even though grave robbing was illegal in colonial America, the practice grew with demand as it did in Europe. In 1788, riots broke out in Manhattan when someone discovered mutilated remains in the medical school at Columbia University. New York’s legislature responded by outlawing grave robbing and ordering that remains of executed criminals may be dissected. For an example of a U.S. statute, see Ohio Rev. Code § 1713.34: “Superintendents of city hospitals, directors or superintendents of city infirmaries, county homes, or other charitable institutions, directors or superintendents of workhouses, founded and supported in whole or in part at public expense, superintendents or managing officers of state benevolent institutions, boards of township trustees, sheriffs, or coroners, in possession of bodies not claimed or identified, or which must be buried at the expense of the state, county, or township, before burial, shall notify the professor of anatomy in a college which by its charter is empowered to teach anatomy, or the secretary of the board of embalmers and funeral directors of this state, of the fact that such bodies are being so held. If after a period of thirty-six hours the body has not been accepted by friends or relatives for burial at their expense, such superintendent, director, or other officer, on the written application of such professor, or the secretary of the board of embalmers and funeral directors, shall deliver to such professor or secretary, for the purpose of medical or surgical study or dissection or for the study of embalming, the body of any such person who died in any of such institutions from any disease which is not infectious. The expense of the delivery of the body shall be borne by the parties in whose keeping the body was placed.” Ohio Rev. Code § 1713.38: “The bodies of strangers or travelers, who die in any of the institutions named in section 1713.34 of the Revised Code, shall not be delivered for the purpose of dissection unless the stranger or traveler belongs to that class commonly known as tramps. Bodies delivered as provided in such section shall be used for medical, surgical, and anatomical study only, and within this state.” Ohio Rev. Code § 1713.41: “No superintendent of a city hospital, city infirmary, county home, workhouse, hospital for the mentally ill, or other charitable institution founded and supported in whole or in part at public expense, coroner, infirmary director, sheriff, or township trustee, shall fail to deliver a body of a deceased person when applied for, in conformity to law, or charge, receive, or accept money or other valuable consideration for the delivery.”

Talking about the Protect and Serve Act that was Co-Sponsored by Val Demings---this will cause damage to our black and brown communities. This Act follows patterns of JIm Crow and increases MAss incarceration. Will discuss the origins of Black Codes and the similarities as how these things keep White Supremacy in place. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robin-harris5/support

*Update:  Shortly after this podcast aired, Congress passed the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act within the Omnibus Spending bill.  This Act exempts emissions from animal waste at farms from being reported.*   He's back!  This is Jim's third appearance on the Podcast, and today he is here to talk about a really important issue that makes reporting air emissions from animal waste be on the horizon for many agricultural producers.  Under the federal environmental law CERCLA, anyone emitting certain amounts of hazardous materials into the air must file reports with the National Response Center.  In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency passed an exemption from this reporting requirement for most agricultural producers. In 2017, however, a federal court found that exemption to be illegal in a case called Waterkeeper Alliance v. Environmental Protection Agency.  In light of this, beginning May 1, 2018 (subject to further stay by the court or EPA), producers whose operations emit more than 100 pounds of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide in a 24 hour period must report these emissions.  As Jim explains, determine how to measure this is complicated and can be confusing, but the reporting process itself can be done online and seems as though it will be fairly painless. Any livestock, horse, poultry, etc. owners need to be aware of this law and impending deadline and determine if it may apply to his or her specific operation. Contact info for Jim Bradbury (Email) jim@bradburycounsel.com  (Website) http://bradburycounsel.com/ (Twitter) https://twitter.com/jimbluewind  Links to info mentioned on the show  - Blog post on Waterkeeper Alliance v. Environmental Protection Agency  - EPA website for reporting and agriculture - EPA list of resources for calculating emissions by head  

How do you solve a problem like the nation's savings crisis? Half of all UK adults do not have any savings or investments and are struggling to put away money. Two out of five UK adults also do not have any long term assets to fall back on, such as pensions or property. The ONS have released figures for the final quarter of last year, which found the UK's household saving ratio absolutely plummeted to its lowest level since records began.  In this episode, I share seven tips for saving more. Personal finance news update -Millions of credit card customers are unable to clear their debts and need more help, according to the Financial Conduct Authority. -Most active UK equity fund managers underperformed their benchmark last year. -New research from Aviva has found a lack of confidence in the availability of a future state pension among younger people. -Lloyds Bank have named the locations of 100 bank branches they will close between July and October. -New research from Aegon has found that 14% of working age people are saving more into their pension as a direct result of the pension freedoms introduced in April 2015. Money article of the week How to improve your readiness for retirement, by Robert Powell on USA Today Random fact of the week In 1695, the English parliament passed The Marriage Duty Act or Registration Tax. This Act of Parliament imposed a tax on births, marriages, burials, childless widowers, and bachelors over the age of 25. The tax was introduced to raise money for war on France but also to ensure proper records were kept by an Anglican church official. It didn't prove particularly effective and the tax was abolished eleven years later, in 1706. Inspirational quote Our inspirational quote this week comes from Stoic philosopher, Seneca the Younger, who said: “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” Get answers to your personal finance questions Do you have a personal finance or investing question for Martin? Email martin@icfp.co.uk or ask on Twitter @martinbamford. You can call our dedicated podcast voicemail line on 020 8144 2745 with your question or visit www.icradio.co.uk/voicemail to leave an online voice message.  

When thinking of national parks most people think of famous examples like Yellow Stone and Yosemite in the United States or the Serengeti in Tanzania. These parks are large in scale with an emphasis on wild life conservation and the preservation of scenic landscapes. Human activity and presence are restricted and regulated and people are visitors. In smaller and densely populated countries like Britain or the Netherlands, the creation of large national parks is complicated. In these countries landscapes are far from natural and humans are part of the fabric of the landscape. For this reason, it is difficult to restrict human access and activities to create national parks. In the Netherlands nature and human activity are almost inseparable because about half of the country is at or below sea level and is reclaimed or drained. Consequently, the landscape of the Netherlands is mostly the product of human intervention and can therefore be described as a cultural artefact. As a result, formal protection of landscapes and wildlife came late. One of the early attempts to create protected conservation areas came in 1928 with the Natuurschoonwet, freely translated as Nature Scenery Act. This Act was mostly about protecting country houses set in park like settings. Wybren Verstegen, Senior Lecturer in economic, social and environmental history at the Free University Amsterdam has researched the Dutch Nature Scenery Act. On this episode of the podcast he discusses the Scenery Act and puts it in an international perspective. Wybren suggests that as an area of study, landed estates have been overlooked  by environmental historians. Music credits "Southern Delight" by Stefan Kartenberg, available from ccMixter "soaring" by urmymuse, available from ccMixter

Ellie reading the text of the General Act from The Berlin Conference of 1884–85, also known as the Congo Conference or the West Africa Conference. This Act regulated European colonization and trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period, and coincided with Germany's sudden emergence as an imperial power. Called for by Portugal and organized by Otto von Bismarck, first Chancellor of Germany, its outcome, the General Act of the Berlin Conference, can be seen as the formalization of the Scramble for Africa. The conference ushered in a period of heightened colonial activity by European powers, which eliminated or overrode most existing forms of African autonomy and self-governance. (thanks Wikipedia!)