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IBM Acquires Guardium and Wants to Probe Your Database

The Guardium acquisition by IBM continues the quest to understand what data is out there and control and manage the risk associated with that data.

Guardium is a privately held company so no news on how much it cost.  The press release says:

The acquisition of Guardium will enable IBM clients to maintain trusted information infrastructures by continuously monitoring access and activity to protect high-value databases against threats from legitimate users and potential hackers. It will also help clients streamline compliance processes for ever-changing industry and government mandates with centralized and automated controls for all major platforms.

When it comes to discovering, monitoring and probing just what is going on in your databases and applications Guardium goes where few other products have gone before.

All database transactions are monitored and analyzed in real-time, using both policy-based controls and anomaly detection to identify unauthorized or suspicious activities. Simultaneously, all transactions are stored in a structured audit log repository (an embedded, high-performance database) for real-time correlation analysis, compliance reporting, auditing, and forensics.

Unlike traditional database logging solutions, our architecture is non-invasive, network-based, and DBMS-independent.  It provides 100% granularity and visibility into all database transactions, including DDL, DML, SELECTs, DCL, stored procedures, security exceptions, before/after data values, and all privileged user activities (including those performed via local access to the DBMS server).

IBM usually acquires the number 1 or number 2 software vendor in a particular field and Guardium looks like number 1 in Enterprise Data Auditing according to the latest Forrester Wave:

IBM likes acquiring technology and market share in the one hit.

Whowever built the Guardium Website was humming the song “Anything you can do I can do better” while they were writing it.  IBM acquired Optim to help with sensitive information such as credit card numbers and social security numbers that could automatically discover database activity.  Guardium says they do it better with complete database and system discovery and it can find sensitive information in databases, transactions, stored procedures or in the data passed between databases and applications.

IBM acquired DataMirror for database activity log scraping.  Guardium says they do that better with database monitoring in real time that captures more activity than log scraping, has a lower performance overhead and stores the audit information in its own repository.  “Software Taps” run on the database server OS and probe and monitor database activity and relay it to the Guardium server for interrogation.  The SPAN port approach puts Guardium probes as a passive network monitor to spy on database traffic through the network switch.

IBM acquired Exeros for data discovery of data structures and business data in databases.  Guardium says they can discover everything about a database including who is accessing it, what sensitive data is on it, 100% visibility over DDL (create database scripts) and stored procedures!

In fact Guardium is also better than other products at what it doesn’t do:

But as remarkable as this solution is for what it does, it’s equally remarkable for what it doesn’t do.  It has virtually zero impact on performance, does not require changes to your databases, and does not rely on local database trace or transaction logs.

Also on the impressive list things it doesn’t do: it doesn’t clean chimneys, start forest fires or say nasty things about people behind their backs.

The question is – will Guardium stays as a standalone product – will it be pigeon holed as a SOX compliance product in the Information Management family, or will bits and pieces of Guardium find its way into InfoSphere products like Optim, Data Mirror, Data Discovery and the Information Server?  Guardium is a seriously cranky product which wants to invade all databases and tell everyone what to do – and that wont suit all companies.  But there are parts of Guardium that tackle common problems such as parsing stored procedures for metadata structures or monitoring databases off the database through the switch for a less intrusive change data capture.

I don’t want to see it pigeon holded like JRules – the acquired business rules engine – which was put into the WebSphere brand as a middleware product and has very little bundling or interaction with InfoSphere products like the Information Server.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.

Vincent McBurney is an IBM Information Champion for Information Integration. IBM Champion web badge

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Archive Category: InfoSphere
Keyword Tags:  IBM   acquisition   guardium   infosphere
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Vincent McBurney is an IBM Champion for Information Integration and has been blogging for many years on InfoSphere software and ... more
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Choose ERP Software based on What, Not How

By James Gaskin

Smaller companies looking for their first company-wide ERP software have a bad habit: they want the new software to work just like the old software. If that's the goal, why change? And large companies have an even worse habit: they pay consultants thousands to millions of dollars to rework their new software to work like their existing software. Addressing enterprise mistakes are too big for this venue, so let's focus on smaller companies and convince them to focus on What their new software will do, rather than How it will do it.

Even when asking for new ERP software that will greatly expand the company's capabilities to manage business processes, many cling to the comfort of the familiar at the expense of a real boost to their business. Today, few will pound the desk like a cartoon boss yelling "we'll do it this way because we've always done it this way," but the resistance to changing their thinking about the business will cloud the decision process. There are between 80 and 100 software packages that call themselves ERP. Choosing the one that seems to work how your old system did may not be the best one to boost your business.

One example? You need inventory reports and believe they should come from your inventory module, just like they do today. Why? Inventory may be counted in a variety of places, in a variety of ways, particularly if you both build and distribute products. One great value of an ERP system is the integration and better oversight of all business processes.  It doesn't matter whether an inventory total comes from Inventory, Shipping, Build to Order, or Work In Progress, it just matters that it's reliable.

If you're rational and reasonable, you think this idea is silly and could never happen. Wrong. It happens in every ERP selection process. Look around at those who will use the new ERP system. Is each one as reasonable and rational as you? Thought not.

Another problem in the What and How equation is worker assignments. Businesses get into routines, where these people do these things, and those people do those things. Demanding the same people do the same jobs in the same way guarantees a problematic ERP search process.

Why? Again, things will change, more than you expect, and more than many people will be comfortable handling. Building on the previous example, the Inventory Entry Clerk will almost certainly be called something else in another system. Demanding to find a system that keeps the Inventory Entry Clerk in the Inventory department will limit your choices, and ultimately make it impossible to choose any new system.

If you don’t see how keeping the Inventory Entry Clerk the same will paralyze your decision process, you aren't yet in the right mindset for selecting an ERP system. Multiply the Inventory Entry Clerk by every employee who touches the various software modules now, or will touch the new system. If the Inventory manager gets away with demanding the Inventory Entry Clerk position remains exactly as it is under the new system, then every other manager will demand the same for their employees. What does that mean? Gridlock.

One might pull out the old "can't see the forest for the trees" bromide and put it on a poster on the wall. Looking at how each person will do the same job in the new system is looking at individual trees. Looking at how the new system will boost your business is looking at a forest.

No matter what the Inventory Entry Clerk position is called in the new ERP system, everyone would rather have a forest in inventory than individual trees.

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Keyword Tags:  ERP   selection process   Inventory   reports   Shipping   Build to Order   Work in Progress   James Gaskin
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Dumb Things You Hear at Work

Okay, so the list was mediocre, until I got to:
10) Do you have Enough Bandwidth? -- The answer to this is always supposed to be yes but in reality is no. Why bother asking it? And does it make sense to use a networking metaphor to discuss the 45 year old woman in accounting's availability?

1) Let's have a Come to Jesus Meeting -- With one phrase, you have taken a simple concept of a group discussion and managed to make both Christians and non-Christians feel uncomfortable. That right there, is 100% of the people, and is worthy of recognition.

OMG, I'm laughing so hard, because that is so us.
Related: Meeting Excellence: 33 Tools to Lead Meetings That Get Results

Read 2 comments

For more priceless humor please Google: tales of induhviduals. Yes, that is the correct spelling.
I have a better one, my boss called me into his office and demanded to know why he could not download some critical safety information from the federal government.

ME:I looked at him and said download it with the browser..

Boss:He replied I AM!

ME:No your not thats adobe reader...

Boss:No its the browser this is the site...

ME:No its a pdf of the website and does not have
the download links associated correctly with
the pdf..

Boss:No its the browser...

I open the browser and he looks at me dumbfounded
and replied does that mean I have to start over again.

ME:Thankfully your only a few levels down...

Boss:Why cant you make that other thing work..

ME:I have no idea where you got that pdf but the download links are not correctly linking to anything, obviously its a old file of the website and the website has changed...

Boss:So it should work..

ME:Its not going to and I advise using the website using the browser to ensure you are getting access to the newest information.

I talked to my supervisor and asked him where he got that pdf from.. he told me he had no idea but hes already gone through the same thing 3 times already...

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Keyword Tags:  work   meetings   buzzwords
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On technology, Internet culture, communications and social media. And other stuff...
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The IT Law Wiki

U.S. v. Edick

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Citation Edit

United States v. Edick, 432 F.2d 350 (4th Cir. 1970) (full-text).

Appellate Court Proceedings Edit

The Fourth Circuit held that computer records can be admitted in evidence under the business records exception to the hearsay rule, if they otherwise meet the requirements of business records.[1]

References Edit

  1. 432 F.2d at 354.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Project Life Weeks 8 and 9

Hi everyone.

I've got a few Project Life pages to share, and some news.  I've been on the Digital Creative Team at for the past 3 years now, and today we all found out that our team has been dissolved.  There are some changes in the works concerning the digital products being sold at 2Peas and we're not a part of them :(  So I've got a few things left to post made with 2Peas digital kits and I thought I'd just do that now.

Here is week 8, February 18 - 24

For this one I used Baers Garten's March Pea Soup Flair and Journaling Cards.  I love the chunky letters!  I mixed in some cards from Becky Higgins Clementine kit and added some Love My Tapes washi, MME Enamel Dots, Lily Bee alphabet stickers, and Studio Calico chipboard.

And also "the story of this week" is from Technique Tuesday's The Story Of stamp set.  The "remember" digital flair is printed out on Epson Matte Presentation Paper and I think it looks just as good as the orange enamel dots on the card below it.

I baked some bread this week.  During Lent when we're having meatless meals on Fridays sometimes I get a loaf of Tomato Basil bread from Panera and we make grilled cheese sandwiches with it using horseradish cheese and tomatoes.  Yum!  Recently I found a copycat recipe for the Panera Tomato Basil bread and it is so good.  If you're a baker, try it!

 And here is week 9, Feb 25 - March 3

For this page I used digital kits from Pea Soup Library Cards and Bingo Cards, Bookworm Papers and Labels, and Pea Soup Stitches.  I also used patterned papers from Amy Tangerine Ready Set Go and Studio Calico Darling Dear, October Afternoon Tidbits, and stamps from Technique Tuesday's Super Fantastic, With Flair, and On This Day

I followed one of the Project Life tips shared by Melissa Stinson in one of her videos at 2Peas to type journaling on the cards for longer stories, then hand write on smaller things like labels and tags to get your handwriting on the page.

For these next cards my daughter lately doesn't like me taking any pictures of her, but when I was taking this one I told her I was trying out a new camera App and she cooperated.  Hah!

I probably picked the most complicated week to use this stamp set.

With February being a short month I had this 3 day gap in between the circles, but I was determined to use these stamps!

I'll be back on Sunday with the Studio AE March blog hop.

Thanks for stopping by.

Laurel said...

Great pages!

Tiff said...

I am so sorry to hear about your team dissolving :( That makes me so sad. Your pages are awesome though!

Iara said...

oh Laura, I really how you used the Cards :)


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Home » Archive

Agile, Events, Featured, Leadership, News »

[16 Sep 2013 | No Comment | ]
Three Little Books Coming Soon

A flurry of writing this year leaves me with three little software books to offer you.  One on teamwork, one on communication, and the last on Agile in .NET.
All three will be available on Amazon.com and the Kindle store soon!

Events, Leadership, The IT Shop »

[7 May 2013 | No Comment | ]
10/21: Dan Speaks at Project Summit & Business Analyst World

Project managers and analysts converge on Boston in October for a conference on management and specifications for software. Software consultant Dan Hermes will speak on the topic of human communication in the software industry, presenting material from his publication How to Interact with People.
Mastering Human Communication Patterns by Dan Hermes
Project Summit & Business Analyst World
October 21, 2013, 3:45pm
Boston Marriott Burlington Hotel

Communication, Events, Leadership, The IT Shop »

[11 Jan 2013 | No Comment | ]
3/13 at MIT: Human Communication Patterns for Techies

The Back Bay Large Installation System Administration(BBLISA) group featured Dan Hermes as a speaker on March 13th, 2013, 7:00pm at MIT.  He covered material from his forthcoming book, How to Interact with People: Human Communication in the Software Industry.  For details, see: http://www.bblisa.org/
When: March 13th, 2013, 7:00pm
Where:MIT, Building E51, Room 149, 70 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA
7:00 – Announcements & Introductions
7:30 – Formal presentation
Topic: Mastering Human Communication Patterns
Missed human connections in the software industry account for most of our project failures.  Improving communication can dramatically improve individual and team performance.
Typical Frustrations
They …

Headline, Leadership, The IT Shop »

[7 Jan 2013 | No Comment | ]
Does Personal Integrity Equal Software Quality?

At the heart of our country’s founding is the idea that personal integrity is central to our professional success.   Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson wrote a lot about it. So what does character have to do with software development?
The recent debacle of Apple Maps offers a clue. If the manager of Apple Maps, Richard Williamson, had the personal integrity to stand up in a high-level meeting and divulge that the project was in jeopardy before the release date, this could have prevented the CEO of Apple, …

Leadership, The IT Shop »

[4 Jan 2011 | No Comment | ]
How Do We Stop Missing Delivery Dates?

The reasons can be many, and require a full analysis of the shop to determine the cause. Look first at the project plan. Is there one? Does it take all phases of development into account: analysis, QA, installation? Is there a clear process of requirements gathering or are new features developed as they arise? Is the project too large for the team? Do details seem to get lost due to tracking problems? Is the product delivered only to find that more requirement arise or new defects are found?
Break down the …

Architecture, Featured, Leadership, The IT Shop »

[25 Nov 2010 | No Comment | ]
Embracing Failure as a Likely Outcome – Sherpas of Mt. Everest

Is your software project steep and rocky? Can you predict the weather in your office? How many bodies lay on the side of your project trail?
The best sherpas on Mt. Everest expect failure and death as the most likely outcome. They assume that any grey cloud in the sky may develop into a dangerous fog bank, cold front, or blizzard. Recent powder on angled slopes above could pose an avalanche risk. Too quick a pace could dehydrate the team. Too slow a pace and nightfall may come before they reach …

Architecture, Leadership, The IT Shop »

[23 May 2010 | No Comment | ]
IT Career Killer: The Social Ceiling

Focus on your job and you’ll get better at it?  True.  It may even lead to pay raises and promotions.  But sooner or later you will hit the social ceiling.   In spite of your long hours.  In spite of your top-notch work.  Here in this technical field where many of us fled to avoid people and human interaction which is messy and unpredictable compared to the reasonable, civil interaction that takes place between human and machine:
The social ceiling is our most dangerous career obstacle.

Leadership, The IT Shop »

[23 May 2010 | No Comment | ]
Death March Redux: Viva Las Vegas!

“Blow on that project plan, mamma. Baby needs a new pair of shoes! ”
How many times have we been locked in a conference room and told “We missed the last three dates, now what’s the REAL date gonna be?” The whole team gathered together to come up with another date. This next date is the NEW DATE. It’s got to be better than the OLD DATE, the date we missed. This NEW DATE is gonna be the ONE! It’s gotta be the one.
What does this sound like? The lottery, perhaps? …

Featured, Leadership, Multimedia, The IT Shop »

[13 Apr 2010 | No Comment | ]
Agile Boston: Innovation as a Discipline

At Agile Boston’s “Give Thanks for Scrum” at Microsoft in Waltham, Massachusetts, I gave a multimedia performance and a brief talk on innovation. My approach comes from the Harvard Review’s booklet on Managing Creativity and Innovation which I use to organize and evaluate new ideas for business applications.


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Author Archive

Some stuff from Feb/March UK Tour

March 14th, 2012 No Comments

Some Reviews:
From the Worcester gig March 2
At for Edinburgh show Feb 26
and some photos by Queens Hall at Flickr!
From the Harrogate gig February 24

Videos from Belfast February 16
Without Love

I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock & Roll)

Liverpool February 25
What’s So Funny…

Edinburgh February 26
Raining Raining

Nick, along with Geraint Watkins, spent 5 nights wooing audiences at Leicester Square in London March 7-11. Will add stuff from the week as it appears! Click images to make bigger.

Thanks to John for sharing these pics from March 9!

Nick's first video in 18 years!

On March 1, NPR’s “All Songs Considered” premiered Nick’s video for “Sensitive Man”. Watch it here!

Dan Raby: When you’ve been making catchy pop songs as long as Nick Lowe has it’s okay to look to classic sounds for inspiration. Lowe’s new song, “Sensitive Man,” finds the sexagenarian rocker digging deep into the essence of ’50s Sun Records-era rock. The song could feel right at home on a jukebox next to a tune by The Crickets or Jerry Lee Lewis. The backing vocals, Tijuana Brass horns and jangly guitar sounds look to the past but aren’t stodgy nor simply nostalgic. Lowe’s lyrics are simple and witty — expressing complex issues with a wink and smile. Also, as a side note, more songs need to include the word “dinky-doo.” Read the rest here!

Cool old Nick billboard

Thanks to John for sharing this old ad from when Columbia was promoting “Labour of Lust”! This was Columbia’s famous billboard on the Sunset Strip where they’d promote their latest releases. Nice one!

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Friday, August 14, 2009

Dreaming of London

{Photo by rocketlass.}

Some wonderful descriptions in Nick Laird's new novel Glover's Mistake (2009) have me wishing I were visiting my friends there right now. First, this prospect, from the steps of the National Gallery:
The rain had eased but not stopped, and the vista from the portico was still uniquely uninspiring: London done by Whistler, arranged in black and grey. Ragged, pewter clouds turned on Nelson's head, so that he alone was all that held the heavens up. Lutyens's limestone fountains were blown to spray and rain danced on the surface of their pools.
Dismal, yes, but seductive nonetheless to us hopeless lovers of London. Later, Laird describes a "wet, dark, inteminable Wednesday, one of those winter days that lacks an afternoon"--such a familiar London feeling.

Then there's this picture from Millennium Bridge, looking out over the river to the north:
The view from the bridge was spectacular. The restive black river, slicing through the city, granted new perspectives. The buildings on the other side were Lego-sized, those far squiggles of trees on the Embankment walk. Even though Larry and the taxi driver were waiting, Ruth stopped for a second to inspect the night, and stood gripping the rail. The normal sense of being in a London street, of trailing along a canyon floor, was replaced by the thrill of horizons. The sky was granted a depth of field by satellites, a few sparse stars, aircraft sinking into Heathrow.
Laird has it just right: what the Thames offers is an escape from the warren, an imposition of proper scale on the city that is all too often visible only piecemeal. I always get a similar feeling from a climb to the top of the Monument or a glimpse north from the hills of Sydenham or Crystal Palace, a reminder that the city nestles in the Thames valley, and everything runs down to the river, as Alan Moore describes in Iain Sinclair's strange, compelling collection, London: Book of Disappearances (2006):
Black on silver-dusted black the hill pokes up its positive yang terminal into the night's electrolyte, played across the centuries with urban dream in a metallic rind. Seabed before the ice age, residues of fossil night-sweat crown the tumulus, a cradle-cap of gravel sheltering the clay and chalk beneath while all around wore down to lowland, marine aeons half-remembered still in seaside decors that incongruously dot the closes and steep lanes. Its sickle-shaped mass crystal-shot with Selemites Rhomboidalis, Shooters Hill is dreaming London, dreaming London up: low on its northern slop a chalk fault that collapsed creating the Thames valley, gouging out a life-sump for the Neolithic swill to fill, the pallid Morlock scrum, chalk-mining chavs blowing their barter on bone bling in settlements at Plumstead, Woolwich, barnacled below the sleeping hills' north flank.
As fighter jets roar overhead here in Chicago in preparation for this weekend's Air and Water Show, I think wistfully of being in London instead, finding quiet along the Thames, my favorite place to find peace there, aside from the Sunday-morning emptiness of the City.

Virginia Woolf, on the other hand, makes a case for the city's graveyards, in The London Scene:
The only peaceful places in the whole city are perhaps those old graveyards which have become gardens and playgrounds. The tombstones no longer serve to mark the graves, but line the walls with their white tablets. Here and there a finely sculptured tomb plays the part of garden ornament. . . . Here one might drowse away the first days of spring or the last days of autumn without feeling too keenly the stir of youth or the sadness of old age. For here the dead sleep in peaces, proving nothing, testifying nothing, claiming nothing save that we shall enjoy the peace that their old bones provide for us.
Perhaps the Thames was simply not to Woolf's liking, or perhaps it was still too busy a highway for commerce in her day; much as I love the river, it's hard to argue with Woolf's contention that "These garden graveyards are the most peaceful of our London sanctuaries and their dead the quietest." Would that I were there.

  1. Just read Hilary Mantel's 'Wolf Hall', a novel that rather like its near-companion piece, Ackroyd's biography of Milton, is drenched in London-ness. Some terrifically evocative passages, and particularly fine on the river.

  2. You're right about Wolf Hall: so full of old London, and also, I think, brilliant--particularly on the river as the mode of transportation, thus the center of life in the city.

    The only reason I haven't written about it here is that I read the UK edition months ago and the U.S. one isn't out yet. I think it's the best novel I've read this year.

  3. I thought her 'Place of Greater Safety', about the French Revolution and written in a similar fashion to Wolf Hall, was superb too.

  4. Levi, sorry if I'm overwhelming you with comments but I thought I'd let you know this post provoked me to write something on London, relating to a couple of the books I've recently read.

  5. Don't worry about overwhelming me, Gaw--the comments are a big part of the fun of this whole enterprise.

    I look forward to checking out your post!


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Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Good Morning to you,

I have had a fabulous couple of days, which included lots of gardening and a bar-b-cue. My garden is now nice and tidy and the warm days have allowed so many plants to put on a growth spurt.  I think they were poised  and ready to burst out, but they did not want to raise their head's above the parapet until the warm weather finally arrived.  Apparently, this year our season is a month behind the norm, but I am not complaining as I am enjoying the sunshine.

Checking around the garden this morning, I noticed  the Clematis are putting on leaves, as are the Roses, well actually just about everything in the garden is happy to come out and say hello. Even George's Bonsai trees are coming into leaf.

I really enjoy gardening, but I also enjoy listening to music.... all types, I have no particular genre which I like more than others, I can swing from classical to blues to folk to country music very easily. Yesterday whilst pottering around the house, I was playing a Frank Sinatra CD, and I stopped in my tracks, as guess what I discovered,  a song I had forgotten about, but it really has to become my  theme song.

Do you remember Baubles, Bangles and Beads, sung by Frank Sinatra,

Baubles, bangles, hear how they jing,
Baubles, bangles, bright shiny beads,
Sparkles, spangles, your heart will sing,
Wearin' baubles, bangles and beads!

Well, that's me isn't it! Mrs Baubles, Bangles and Beads!

So today, in honour of my newly found theme song, I thought I would show you something I love, which is covered in baubles, bangles and beads.

What do you think it is?

Is it a box of delicious chocolates?
is it a box of scrummy biscuits?
No, well how about,
sewing supplies?
Or maybe,
it is full of beads and sequins?

Have you guessed yet?

Alright, I will stop teasing you. This is a beautifully decorated jewellery box which was given to me as a gift by my daughter Danielle... isn't it just the perfect gift for me.

The lid is beautifully hand stitched with sequins and beads. This is a very labour intensive piece of beautiful work.  I would love to meet the person who hand stitched this to say thank you, as I do know how much time it takes to complete a piece like this.

Each circle on the lid is decorated differently. The brighter pink reminds me of the colour of candy floss, which we bought as children when the Travelling Fair arrived on the village green.  Do you remember how it was made, I do not know the actual process, but I do remember being mesmerised. The stall holder would place an empty stick into a revolving drum  and when he removed the stick, as if by magic, it would be wrapped in bright pink fluffy gorgeousness. As a child I loved candyfloss, I think  it was because the candyfloss seemed huge and the colour was an electric pink and if you ate it slowly, it seemed to last forever.

Using different shades of pink sequins, silver sequins and tiny white and silver beads. There are literally hours and hours of work which have gone into this piece.

Every so often, there is a circle of bright pink, which stands out against the subtle colours. The brightness of the pink, draws you in.

..... and every now and again, there is a rogue pink sequin which is much brighter than the rest. I wonder if the person who sewed this piece  noticed and left it in the work as a bit of fun.

 Even the detail around the edges is perfect,

the exquisite work just go on and on.

In this section punched sequins have been used as an added item of interest.

...... I just love this jewellery box.

....... and what do you think you will find inside?

Why...... a heart necklace of course!

Take care and I will see you on Sunday.

This week I will be joining,

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Celebration V Experience Part III of III: Artists!!!!

Okay, last post about CV. I promise. It's been over for almost a month already!

I just have one more round of people to thank for their warmth and time: The OFFICIAL STAR WARS ARTISTS!!

I got to briefly talk with Tom Hodges, Grant Gould, Lee Kohse, and Spencer Brinkerhoff III, and they were fantastic! But some artists were kind enough to even pose for pictures after offering some really fantastic advice: Jan Duursema, Matt Busch, Katie Cook, and JAKe!

With Jan at TFN's Party.

I ran into comic goddess and legend Jan Duursema twice: First at CV, where she autographed a free postcard for me! I told her how long I've been a fan (Since the early Republic days!), and it was great to meet her. Then again at the TFN party, Matt Long re-introduced us, and she complimented my banner! I was lucky enough to get a quick photo with her as well.

Up until now, I thought Ray Park was the nicest bigshot in the Star Wars business. Then, I met Matt Busch. I've been a longtime fan of his, and have always loved his You Can Draw Star Wars videos, so meeting him was awesome! He's probably the biggest thing to happen to Star Wars art since Ralph McQuarrie. This guy was already busy selling prints, and yet Matt took the time to compliment MY work (he loved the Ackbar card!) AND leave his table to come around and get a photo with me. This guy is truly a class act, and I can't say enough about him. Thanks, Matt!!

With JAKe!!!

JAKe was another class act all the way. He took the time out to talk to me and offer me advice TWO DAYS IN A ROW! He gave me a lot of constructive criticism about keeping my Star Wars and original work separate entities. He also complimented my work, and took one of the cards! I think the biggest compliment I received all week was when JAKe already knew who I was...through THIS BLOG! Awesome! Thanks for your time and kind words, JAKe!

With Katie Cook, the person I owe it all to!

Katie Cook didn't seem to remember me, but I sure remember her. For any of you usual readers here, she's the one who suggested posting work in the fanart forums on Star Wars message boards...which led to this whole gig in the first place!! I was so thrilled to meet her and thank her again for her advice in person, and she too was kind enough to take a photo.

I can't tell you how much of a rush it was mingling with these obscenely talented artists. All I wanted to do was go home and get back to work immediately! I can't thank them enough for their advice, and I promise not to let them down.

This week's woman of Star Wars digital sketch card is coming at you from another corner of the EU: Guri from Shadows of the Empire (in her SOTE: Evolution duds)! Special thanks to my girlfriend Alicia for posing!

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Canadian Authors for 200 July 21, 1997

When I was growing up in Canada, reading Canadian authors in school was mandatory. Fortunately, with more Canadian authors making successful careers for themselves you don’t have to force anyone to read Can Lit anymore. You’ll even find a fair amount of information about Canadian literature on the Net now. Although, I was disappointed to discover that there’s little online on some of the greats like Robertson Davies, Farley Mowatt, and Mordecai Richler, I did manage to uncover several writers sites worth visiting on the World Wide Web.

The Margaret Atwood Information Web Site

Despite the fact that this is not the most imaginatively named home page, the Margaret Atwood Information Web Site is a reliable repository of all things Atwood. The Ottawa novelist is perhaps best known for “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Edible Woman.” You’ll find a complete bibliography at this official site, as well as information on how to find earlier works of Atwood’s originally published by the Salamander Press. Naturally, there’s a considerable number of words expended here on Atwood’s latest book, Alias Grace. Unfortunately, the reviews page amounts to dusk-jacket hype quotes rather than full-length reviews, but the copy of the 1843 letter from which the novelist got the germ of the idea for the book is quite interesting. Struggling writers will most appreciate the worthwhile “on writing” section of the site, which offers some text from recent lectures and helpful advice. Visitors will also notice that this is possibly the most personal writer’s site online. You can learn about Margaret’s favorite charities, pet political peeves, and there's even a lengthy note from Atwood’s assistant answering common questions, offering helpful suggestions, and explaining why they can’t respond to certain types of inquiries from fans and erstwhile authors. And there’s a cute page about her 24-year marriage to author Graeme Gibson and another about her gardening attempts. All this makes it easy to overlook the lack of design flair at this tidy webstation.

The Earle Birney Web Site

Created by students and teachers from the University College of the Cariboo and Kamloops Secondary School in British Columbia, the Earle Birney Web Site is a modest introduction to the works of one of the main characters in the pantheon of Can Lit. Birney is best known as a poet and, in other countries, as a travel writer of sorts. In English classes, he is cited for using the natural cadences in Canadian speech to write “sound poems” and later his doodles became a trademark for concrete poetry or “shape poems,” such as “Alaska Passage.” He had some odd political views in his youth but was the recipient of the coveted Governor General’s Literary Awards twice, for the collection “David and Other Poems” and “Now Is Time.” At the site, the basis for which is material from the National Library of Canada, you’ll find essays and reviews online about Birney and his work, as well as a brief biography, photo collection, and quiz. Also online is a selected bibliography for further reading. And true to Canadian form, the site is available in both English and French.

The Leonard Cohen Files

Exhibiting the most flash and panache of the Can Lit Web sites is the Leonard Cohen Fan Information Files webstation. Maybe that’s because most people these days think of Leonard as a hipster singer/songwriter rather than a poet and novelist. (He was the first person, aside from Johnny Cash, I can think of who wore all black.) Back in the ‘60s his song “Suzanne” received some airplay, but since then most of his albums have been reserved for a select following (even though he has received several awards in recent years). But that following is dedicated, as evidenced by this thorough, engaging I-way stop maintained by Jarkko Arjatsalo in Finland. Jarkko has done an excellent job collecting Cohen arcana and mirroring relevant pages from other fans sites. Here you’ll find a solid biography of the author/pop star and various newspaper and radio interviews with the ladies’ man. There’s an extensive bibliography, filmography, and discography as well, and if you dig deep into the Fan Information Files you’ll even find some commentary on his books, including one of my favorites, 1966’s Beautiful Losers. And given its point of origin, don’t be surprised to find a collection of cover versions of Cohen’s songs in Finnish. Creatively wrought and admirably maintained, the Leonard Cohen Fan Information Files is one of the better “unofficial” sites dedicated to a single author.

Michael Ondaatje Information

Not well known beyond the confines of Canada until the release of the movie “The English Patient,” Michael Ondaatje is a recent discovery for many readers.  To begin, site author Thomas B. Friedman has compiled a respectable bibliography of several things Ondaatje has laid his hand to, from edited books to poetry collections to novels to movies. For fans of “The English Patient,” it’s a great place to find other works to follow up with (I recommend in particular “The Collected Works of Billy the Kid”). For webheads there’s a downloadable clip of the 2 minute and 25 second trailer for the film “The English Patient,” and links galore. You can read Salon’s interview with the author from last year, as well as peruse essays on his work from various sources including encyclopedic biographies and career profiles. The site is still under construction, but if you’re a newcomer to Ondaatje’s work or a long-time fan, I recommend it as a good jumping off point.

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Meera I’m not your boyfriend: Mahesh Bhatt

This could have been a scene from a film, had we not been holding a telephone, listening to every word being exchanged. After alleging that producer-director Mahesh Bhatt ruined her Bollywood career, Pakistani actress Meera landed at Mukesh Bhatt’s office in Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon to congratulate him, and even indirectly asked for work from the brothers.

However, Mahesh, who already knew of Meera‘s allegations, confronted her, but the actress immediately denied everything saying that she was “joking with Bhattsaab”.

She told us, “Maine kissi se baat nahi ki hai. Yahan toh sirf mazaak ho raha hai. Mazaak kar rahi thi mein Bhattsaab ke saath. Everything is ok “ koi masla nahi hai. Maine bahot sikha hai Bhattsaab se… mere teacher hain, mere guru hain. Main bahut izzat karti hoon unki.” She also told us that she can instantly summon the Pakistan media to issue a clarification, and added, “Main Pakistan ke saare newspapers ko do minute mein laa sakti hoon… Maine hamesha yeh kaha hai ki main inki izzat karti hoon. Meri zindagi mein inka role bahut important raha hai. Inhi ki wajah se main India aayi aur mujhe kaam karne ka mauka mila.”

Source: Times of India

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kampala does it like nobody does

I was in grade school when "This Is How We Do It" came out. I'm pretty sure that my junior-high -school fantasies at one point included seeing Montell Jordan live, probably with TLC or Skee-Lo.

They most definitely did not include seeing Montell Jordan live, outdoors, in Kampala, promoting the upcoming launch of his new album.

My mind: officially blown.

GVO: Ugandan bloggers all play, no peace talks

My next piece is up at Global Voices Online:

At last month’s Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour, I took an informal poll of why the blogren do what they do. My favorite response came from Carlo, who said that blogging is “just like Facebook,” the social networking site that’s currently sweeping the young, internet-connected world. Every blogger present declared blogging in Uganda to be a purely social exercise, evidenced by the recent “8 Random Things” meme circulating among Ivan, Magoola, Magintu and others.

Perhaps that’s why hardly anyone has mentioned last week’s one-year anniversary of the beginning of the peace talks between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a “sadistic rebel militia which ha[s] made a hell out of the north of the country for two decades.”

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agreeing with the LRA, part 7043281

Earlier this month the Government of Uganda backtracked on the most recent section of the peace agreement, which in theory promised that a special blend of traditional and national justice mechanisms would be established to deal with war criminals on both sides of the conflict. The government is now planning to set up a special tribunal for LRA members but handle UPDF members through court marshals.

The most surprising part of the Reuters report was that conflict analysts are saying the LRA is being too soft in their demands.

In case you didn’t get that: conflict analysts are saying the LRA is being too soft in their demands.

Weird. For so long the LRA has been vilified from all sides — it's odd to hear someone supporting their arguments and saying they should push harder for what they want.

Two weeks ago I helped run a conflict simulation for the participants at GYPA's Immersion on youth, development and peace-building. As part of the debriefing, we talked about the multiplicity of actors in any prolonged conflict situation and the importance of recognizing that each actor has interests that, whether or not we agree with them, are legitimate and need to be addressed in order to build sustainable peace.

This is becoming increasingly clear to me as I find myself repeatedly siding with the LRA. Uganda-CAN recently reported that the LRA has agreed to discuss the release of abductees. They’ve been adamantly opposed to this since the beginning of the talks — it doesn't make sense that they would suddenly change their minds, especially given the government's alterations to the implied terms of the last agreement.

I’m worried that peace is becoming so desirable, and the top commanders of the LRA so afraid of punishment, that they’re starting to give in haphazardly. This bodes poorly for durable peace — the likelihood that LRA combatants will abide by an agreement made hurriedly and only in order to achieve something is slim.

I never thought I’d say this, but I hope that the LRA refuses to concede its positions for the sake of reaching a peace agreement.

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This month's Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour will be held next Thursday, July 26, at 6:30 PM at Mateo's. My good friend and talented writer Locus Amoenus is back in the country and will be there, as will blogren newbie Gritty & Giddy (link on its way).

Put your dancing shoes on....

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why I love my job

Overheard at GYPA's Student Global Ambassador Immersion, a conference for Ugandan and American youth on peacebuilding and development, in the past four days:

"I'm really glad you're all women. I'm learning that women can organize things without men."

"Finance. That's money."

"The North East States Organization has been absent from the Siwa-Nizwa conflict for the past decade because it has been brokering a peace deal between Burkistan, Murkistan, Burmurkistan, and four other countries whose names I can't recall because I haven't yet made them up."

where is the rage?

Last night, as part of the Global Youth Partnership for Africa’s July Student Global Ambassador Immersion on youth, development and peace-building, I got the chance to hear Steven Okello speak.

Steven is the Country Director of Resolve Uganda, an advocacy organization that evolved out of the Uganda Conflict Action Network. He is an Acholi, and last night he shared his personal experiences and perspectives of the conflict. Steven is an incredibly eloquent, passionate speaker, and what struck me most as he was talking last night was that he was undeniably angry.

A year and a half ago I attended a lecture by Dr. Stephen Schwenke on development ethics in Uganda. During his talk, he asked the audience, “Where is the rage?” He wanted to know, and wanted us to be curious about, what the prevailing attitude towards the conflict is in Uganda. He was surprised that more people hadn’t taken to the streets to scream and yell and demonstrate. They have so many reasons to be angry — why isn’t that anger more visible?
As Steven spoke last night, I could sense his rage, and in some ways, it was refreshing. He is exactly the kind of passionate young leader Uganda needs, and his talk resounded with the Immersion participants. I can’t wait to see the range of emotions they will display over the next two weeks of this conference, and I hope that they (and I) have the courage to be angry about the last two decades of violence in this country. I believe that anger will motivate us to find new solutions and to keep working for peace.

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REO Speedwagon – Old demo tapes found

51dby2humwl  sl500 aa300  REO Speedwagon   Old demo tapes found
They’ll be here in June, and, in honor of the album HI INFIDELITY’s release anniversary, the band is working on a 30-year retrospective and has been scouring their attics and garages in search of memorabilia.
REO Speedwagon’s heyday was in the ’80s after the release of their “Hi Infidelity” album that sold almost 10 million copies.

REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin: “Thirty years ago right now, we were in the rehearsal studio finishing the song, writing of what was going to be just our next album,” Cronin said. “We had no idea that it was going to sell 10 million copies and change our lives so dramatically.”

“There was just magic in the air when we made those demos. Most of the lead vocals and guitar solos and rhythm tracks on the “Hi Infidelity” album itself – our best album ever – is basically a demo tape.”

Cronin says the demos for the “Hi Infidelity” album were a stepping-stone for the album, but then they were lost.

Where did he find them?

“I found the original demo tape for the album in a box in the garage – something we have been searching for for 30 years.”

Cronin says the band had made demos for the “Hi Infidelity” album in an interesting setting.

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Grand Canyon in the Antix

I recently had to joy of taking the JK Antix down the Grand Canyon on a 13 day raft support trip. Our launch date was Dec. 21 (the shortest day of the year). My first time paddling the Antix was the day we launched. I was a little worried about how the Antix L would handle a big guy (6′ 0” 225lbs). The Antix fit perfect. Plenty of foot room for my size 12 Rasslers and enough room in the stern for my first aid kit, breakdown paddle and a stow float with Christmas presents in it. I also kept an Ocoee bag between my legs for my lunch, snacks, and stuff I might need during the day.

We were doing a relatively short trip, which meant some days we would have to paddle 20+ miles to get to our next camp. Even with all the miles we paddled each day, I never regretted my boat choice. The GC has a lot of so called “flat water.” Flat water in the Canyon consists of confused currents going in every direction. A seam of converging currents was always available to drop the stern into. There was never a boring moment. The speed of the Antix, combined with the volume and rocker of the bow, kept me in control and moving down stream in the big rapids. Here’s a short video I put together of my trip.

The Antix may be the perfect kayak for a raft support Grand Canyon trip. Get one and try it out for yourself!!
Brandon Beaty

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Posted July 11, 2013 02:34 pm

Jaguars, Ace Sanders agree to terms

The Jaguars have only one remaining unsigned draft pick after the team agreed to terms today with receiver/punt returner Ace Sanders.

Per the salary slot figures, Sanders’ four-year contract includes a $481,448 signing bonus and a first-year salary cap figure of $525,362.

Safety Josh Evans, a sixth-round selection, is the only unsigned pick remaining for the Jaguars.

Rookies and quarterbacks report July 22 ahead of the full-squad report date of July 25.

Sanders missed several practices early in the off-season because of a groin/abdominal injury but did participate in the mandatory mini-camp last month.


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Movie Quotes - Movie Sounds - Movie Wavs

Stripes price at: amazon

All wavs on this page were sampled at (8 bit mono 11Khz) and all mp3s on this page were sampled at (80kbs 44Khz).

english.wav(181K) english.mp3(181K) english.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Russell (Harold Ramis): "So, How many of you would say that you speak English fairly well but with some difficulty? (long pause) A little English? Yes you speak some english?"
Student: "Son-of-bitch! Shit!"
All Students: "Son-of-bitch! Shit!"

coughsyr.wav(87K) coughsyr.mp3(87K) coughsyr.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Woman in cab: "Aren't you going too fast?"
John (Bill Murray): "Oh, it's not the speed really so much. I just wish I hadn't drunk all that cough syrup this morning."
Woman: "Oh my uh."

one_more.wav(136K) one_more.mp3(136K) one_more.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Russell: "Ok thats really very good. I just want to try it one more time and then we'll call it a day. (singing)I met her on a monday and my heart stood still."
All Students: "(singing)A-doo-run-run-run A-doo-run-run."

grow.wav(179K) grow.mp3(179K) grow.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Anette: "But I need something more. I need somebody who is going to develop with me and somebody who is going to grow with me. Good bye."
John: "Grow? Who could grow more than me? Talk about massive potential for growth. I am the little acorn that becomes the oak. You can't go. All the plants are gonna die."

not_bad.wav(196K) not_bad.mp3(196K) not_bad.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

TV Commercial: "The Army can make you feel a lot of ways: tired, challanged, trained..."
John: "This doesn't look bad."
Russell: "What, The Army? You're kidding."
John: "No, I've always thought about joining the army."
Russell: "Bullbleep, You're not the type."

cantpark.wav(10K) cantpark.mp3(10K) cantpark.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Store Owner: "Hey, this is a loading zone. You can't park here."
John: "We're not parking it we're abandoning it."

teach.wav(53K) teach.mp3(53K) teach.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates): "Cause I'm gonna teach every last one of you how to eat, sleep, walk, talk, shoot, bleep like a United States Soldier."

walking.wav(306K) walking.mp3(306K) walking.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

: "(Russell leads the platoon in "Do a dity, dity dum, dity do")"

big_toe.wav(47K) big_toe.mp3(47K) big_toe.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "An Army without leaders is like a foot without a big toe. And Sergeant Hulka isn't always gonna be there to be that big toe for us. I think that we owe a big round of applause to our newest bestest buddy and big toe Sergeant Hulka."

toe_ass.wav(87K) toe_ass.mp3(87K) toe_ass.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Sergeant: "So you better hit them bunks my little babies, or Sergeant Hulka with the big toe is gonna see how far he can stick it up your ass."

15_17.wav(44K) 15_17.mp3(44K) 15_17.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Sergeant: "15... 16... 17...."

27_28.wav(26K) 27_28.mp3(26K) 27_28.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Sergeant: "27... 28...."

51_52.wav(100K) 51_52.mp3(100K) 51_52.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "Sergeant, I think it's a bad idea to march today. You know it is the cold and flu season."
Sergeant: "51... 52...."

finish.wav(128K) finish.mp3(128K) finish.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Russell: "You're gonna finish basic training."
John: "Oh yeh."
Russell: "You're gonna keep your mouth shut."
John: "Oh yeh."
Russell: "And you're gonna do everything He tell ya."
John: "Oh yeh."
Russell: "And do you know why?."
John: "Why?"
Russell: "Because you talked me into this that's why you idiot. It was your idea."

suckhole.wav(232K) suckhole.mp3(232K) suckhole.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Sergeant: "Alright, any of you suckholes want to come up here and knock me off. (sound of morter being fired)"
Sargeant: "Oh bleep! Incoming! (Explosion)"

bingo.wav(82K) bingo.mp3(82K) bingo.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Captain Stillman (John Larroquette): "Well explain yourselves."
Ox (John Candy): "Well sir, we were going to the bingo parlor at the YMCA. Well one thing lead to another and the instructions got all fouled up there and we ended up..."
Stillman: "Shut up."
Ox: "Ok sir."

10_and_1.wav(334K) 10_and_1.mp3(334K) 10_and_1.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "So we're all dog-faces. We're all very very different. But, there is one thing we all have in common. We were all stupid enough to enlist in the army. W're mutants. There's something wrong with us. Something very very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us. We're soldiers. But, we're American soldiers, and we've been kicken' ass for 200 years. We're ten and one! "

training.wav(138K) training.mp3(138K) training.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

General Barnike: "Where the hell have you been Soldier."
John: "Training Sir."
Platoon: "Training Sir."
General: "What kind of training son."
John: "Army training sir."
Platoon: "Army training sir."

blownup.wav(245K) blownup.mp3(245K) blownup.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

General: "Where's your drill sergeant men?"
John: "Blown up sir."
Platoon: "Blown up sir."
Stillman: "Yes sir these are Sgt. Hulka's men. He was injured during basic training."
General: "I see. So am I to understand that you men completed your training on your own?"
John: "That's the fact Jack."
Platoon: "That's the fact Jack."

makebunk.wav(181K) makebunk.mp3(181K) makebunk.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Ox: "What are you doing. No no, get off, get off. See you gotta make my bunk. See we're in Italy. The guy on the top bunk has gotta make the guy on bottom bunk's he's gotta make his bunk all the time. See it's in the regulations. See if we were in Gremany I would have to make your's, but we're in Italy and you gotta make mine. It's regulations."

no_ok.wav(137K) no_ok.mp3(137K) no_ok.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "We can take um up in the alps for a little spin."
Russell: "No."
John: "Oh Yah."
Russell: "No."
John: "Ho hoh Yah."
Russell: "No."
John: "Yah."
Russell: "No."
John: "Yah."
Russell: "No."
John: "Yah."
Russell: "No."
John: "Yah."
Russell: "No."
John: "Yah."
Russell: "No John no."
John: "I'll drive."
Russell: "OK."

washed.wav(202K) washed.mp3(202K) washed.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Stillman: "OHH!!!!"
Stillman's date: "Are you gonna get sick ar something."
Stillman: "Where the bleep's my truck? Where's my truck? Hey! Where is the EM 50?"
Guard: "A couple of soldiers took it to get it washed sir."
Stillman: "Took it to get it washed?"

animals.wav(121K) animals.mp3(121K) animals.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "Alright Clause Hold it up right here. Hoa. We got some naked animals in there we don't want you to see. Here you are. Clause whas-is-dat? Aiy-ya! Here, more worthless money for you."

wisconsn.wav(95K) wisconsn.mp3(95K) wisconsn.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "Come on it's Czecheslovakia. We zip in we pick them up we zip right out again. We're not going to Moscow. It's Czecheslovakia. It's like going into Wisconsin."

armed_rv.wav(129K) armed_rv.mp3(129K) armed_rv.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "They got one big gun. They got a couple-a tanks. They got a hundred Bourishnicoffs running around in Ichiwan outfits."
Russell: "Yah, what do we got?"
John: "We got? What do we got? What are you talking about? We got one heavily armed recreational vehicle man."

serious.wav(68K) serious.mp3(68K) serious.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

Russell: "No no no, No questions please. We just want to go back to our hotel room and have some really serious sex."

party.wav(117K) party.mp3(117K) party.m4r(iPhone ringtone)

John: "What's the? A surprise party. I'll kill ya. Who's Idea was this? Alright everybody's coming to my place. This is rediculous."

All sounds on the or linked from retain their original copyright as owned by their respective movie production companies. All sound files are for educational, research, criticism, or review for movie purchase purposes. holds no liability from misuse of these sound files. Some of the sound files contained on may not be suitable for young children.


text:
Wed | Mar 22, 2017

VIP Attractions: Raising standards at Norman Manley, Sangster int'l airports

Published:Tuesday | January 12, 2016 | 1:00 AMOkoye Henry
Inside Club Kingston.
Club Kingston (on the left) and Club MoBay.

Western Bureau:

An ideal airport lounge features the perfect mixture of a social club, a first-class entertainment venue and a bar, and no other lounge offers as wonderful a respite with great hospitality as those operated by Jamaica's very own VIP Attractions.

The company was established in 2011 and is behind the airport lounge and concierge service brands Club MoBay and Club Kingston, located at the Sangster International Airport and the Norman Manley International Airport, respectively.

VIP Attractions is being awarded this year with The Gleaner Honour Award Business (Special Award) for its success in expanding the services offered in the waiting areas at the two international airports to facilities of international standards.

In just four years, both lounges have grown into powerhouses with a dominating influence, not only in Jamaica and the Caribbean, but across the globe, because of the rich Jamaican hospitality and cultural experience of both arriving and departing patrons which numbered in the thousands each year.

Their feedback to the overall look and feel, food choice and quality, introduction to lounge, and service provided by the staff has cemented Jamaica as a world leader in airport lounges. This, of course, gave rise to the company being honoured with several local and internationally recognised awards.

"In 2014 alone, Club MoBay got voted Best Airport Lounge in the Caribbean and America's at the World Travel Awards, while Club Kingston got voted by Priority Pass as the Best Airport Lounge in the World out of more than 700 competition entrants," said Shelly-Ann Fung, commercial director of VIP Attractions.

"The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association awarded a Club Kingston manager the Jamaica Tourism Employee of the Year, while we won the award for Innovative Business of the Year by the Jamaica Young Entrepreneurs' Association," she added.

The award train, however, did not stop there, as in October 2015, Club MoBay was voted the Best Loved Lounge by Virgin Atlantic, the British airline that serves more than 30 destinations worldwide.

VIP won the coveted award from a nomination field of more than 20 lounges across Virgin Atlantic's worldwide network.

"The timing of this award was just fantastic, where it gives the whole Club MoBay team a great morale boost right before the new tourist season in Jamaica, which promises to be the best ever for the country. The dedication and hard work that the team display is getting recognised all around the world and is special when it comes from a world-class company like Virgin Atlantic, we are truly grateful," David Hall, VIP Attractions' executive chairman and director, said at the time of the award.

VIP Attractions features more than 320 customer-friendly staff members who make it their principle to at all times enhance the airport travelling experience for the tourist, local traveller, diaspora and business client, and are always cognisant of the importance of a first and last impression.

"We are guided by the adage that 'investors invest in people and not products', and so by providing a challenging and rewarding work environment, we demand high standards and performance from our team, and deliver an even higher level of hospitality in results to our customers," explained Hall.

Hall is Irish by birth but Jamaican by naturalisation, having received his Jamaican citizenship in 2010. He is a qualified chartered accountant and also has a master's in economics from University College Cork - National University of Ireland.

The husband and father of three is best known for his days at Digicel, which he joined in 2002 as finance director before being promoted to the role of CEO for Jamaica in 2003. This further promoted his unbridled passion for business, especially in the area of customer service, and thus in April 2011, as chief executive officer, he launched VIP Attractions at both international airports.

In addition, Hall is heavily involved in the area of special needs in Jamaica and personally project-managed the raising of funds and construction of Genesis Academy, a school that caters to students who are diagnosed with intellectual challenges such as autism and Down's syndrome.

Carlos Moleon Rodriguez, who moved from Spain to Jamaica in 2000, is the other man behind the formation of the company. The director had founded Lost World Construction in 2009 and won contracts to build the Secrets Hotel and the Gran Bahia Principe extension.

Together with Hall, VIP Attractions was created, offering a wide number of arrival and departure services.

n Personally greeted upon deplaning.

n Assisted with completing required travel forms.

n Escorted through the airport.

n Preferential fast-track access through Immigration and Customs.

n Assistance with baggage retrieval.

n Full access to arrivals lounge (Club MoBay) and its amenities.

n Guests are assisted with the coordination of their ground transportation.

n Escorted to vehicle.

n 14,400 sq ft in Club MoBay (6,200 sq ft Club Kingston).

n Preferential fast-track access through security and immigration.

n Option of personal escort to departure gates.

n Full access to arrivals lounge (Club MoBay) and its amenities.

n Extensive cultural exhibit celebrating Jamaica.

n Changing and shower facility.

n Wide range of mini spa treatments (subject to a surcharge).

n Unlimited complimentary wireless Internet access.

n State-of-the-art Digicel Business Centre.

n Complimentary phone calls to the USA/Canada and UK landline.

Club MoBay only

n Family lounge with soundproof children's play area.

n Access to Vibe Smoking Lounge.

Club Kingston only

n Digicel Conference Room.


text:
Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Editor's note: NATO's intervention in Libya has caused me profound concern on multiple levels, since it entails attacking a sovereign nation that has not attacked us and demonizing a leader who, so far as I can tell, has done well by his people. I recommend this blog, by Christof Lehmann, a psychologist from Denmark, and another by Michel Chossudovsky, the editor of Global Research, who also discusses the role of the Western media as "an instrument of war", where NATO's crimes are obfuscated, "killing the truth" is an integral part of the military agenda, reality is turned upside down and the lie becomes the truth--which, alas, becomes more and more difficult to discern. And now, without any doubt, we have another war, this time thanks to Barack Obama.

Christof Lehmann

The sudden onset of what the corporate media and NATO want to brand as “The Arab Spring” has turned into a bloody Arab Summer, rapidly approaching Fall and global conflict. What is the reality behind the massive psychological and kinetic warfare operation that is turning the Middle East upside down? Approaching fall, even mainstream corporate media begin to report what reliable sources have reported since the onset of the Arab Spring. NATO special forces have been on the ground in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, even before the uprisings began and gained momentum. Reports from our source in Damascus confirm that NATO Special Forces are also on the ground in Turkey and Syria, preparing for yet another invasion of a sovereign country.

Turkey's Erdogan government has made a 180 degree turn, and is now training Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda fighters for combat in Syria, while its military is preparing air and ground campaigns under NATO Command. NATO backed terror units and death squads are on a wild rampage in Syria. The first victim of war is the truth, yet the truth has absolute primacy in attempting to achieve peace and justice. NATO is preparing the invasion of Syria and campaigns against Iran. The point where NATO´s aggressions will elicit serious political, economic, and eventually military responses from Iran, Russia and China is about to be reached. The world is heading towards global war, while corporate media in NATO countries sale the confused public narratives of Arab Summers and Singing Tomorrows.

Muammar Gadaffi

Reliable sources have reported about strong CIA and MI6 activities related to the so called Arab Spring in Tunisia and Egypt, where neither the Tunisian nor the Egyptian change could have been brought about by disgruntled, disenfranchised youth, intellectuals and workers alone, without the presence of massive pressure from within the USA and EU. The uprisings are best analyzed by their results. With regard to Tunisia, the product is a new government that is an even more reliable proxy for US and EU interests. With regards to Egypt it is a military government, sharia law, and the dismantling of women's rights. This is hardly the singing tomorrows of democracy loving idealists.

Reliable, independent sources have reported about the presence of NATO Special Operations Units as well as mercenaries with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qa´eda since the onset of the Libyan conflict. Latest since the Libyan pendant to “Black Hawk Down”, it was obvious for the observer who didn´t get his news from NATO PR-machines like Al Jazeera, CNN, and National Radio / TV in the “Free West”. Reports from independent journalists on the ground, like historian Dr. Webster Griffin Tarpley, Thierry Meyssan, and well-connected journalists, such as the life-long peace activist, journalist, and former CIA asset, Susan Lindauer, offer proof beyond reasonable doubt that the armed gangs that were sold as "democracy hungry" youth were in fact NATO-lead Al Qa´eda and Muslim Brotherhood Mercenaries.

This truth was vividly omitted by the free western press, which has sold the narrative of singing tomorrows, and neglected to report how peaceful citizens, who protested for democracy and freedom, were mercilessly butchered by “Gadaffi Forces”, so that a UN Resolution for the implementation of a “No Fly Zone” could be passed and implemented by “NATO” forces. Reliable sources within the US Army at Ft. Bragg and Pope Air Base in North Carolina have reported that preparations for Libya and Syria had been on the way months--long before the onset of the so called Arab Summer. So what is the truth about the situation in Libya and what exactly is being prepared with respect to Syria?

The Military Situation in Libya. NATO Psy Ops, Hollywood in Qatar, NATO War Crimes, and Changes in Strategy. Western Corporate Media reported that the “rebels” had approached and then conquered Tripoli, fighting down the resistance of Loyalist Troops, where viewers and readers are meant to believe that the "Transitional National Counsel" has taken control over Tripoli and most of the country. TV images show celebrating masses on Tripoli's Green Square, now re-branded as "Martryrs Square".

Green Square, now "Martyrs Square"

Reports that Islam al Ghadaffi had been captured have been propagated in the media together with equally false reports that the garrisons in Tripoli had surrendered or its troops fled. What happened in the real world, however, has been an entirely different story all along.

The night prior to the invasion of Tripoli, NATO air forces carpet bombed military installations, TV and radio Stations, and a considerable amount of other infrastructure. Then NATO-lead mercenary forces disembarked from NATO War Ships, making an amphibian assault on Tripoli, while Apache Helicopters were straeffing civilians to open a way into the old city and central Tripoli. British fighter bombers assisted with Brimstone Rockets. Sleeper cells within Tripoli used the loudspeakers on minarets to give a signal for the death squads, which had infiltrated Tripoli, to conduct massacres on hundreds of key figures as well as random victims.

Hospitals in Tripoli reported 1,800 death and over 5,000 severely wounded. Most of them were civilians. What according to Al Jazeera has seemed to be a disintegration of government forces was a carefully planned change in strategy. Given NATO's overwhelming air superiority, it would have been suicidal for government forces to stay in their barracks or to engage in open front-line combat. This change in strategy, which was a necessary adaption to asymmetric warfare, does not mean that an end to the conflict is anywhere near in time. On the contrary, this move guaranties that so-called "rebel" and probably also NATO forces will be engaged in a protracted conflict that could last years, where it is by no means certain that the military outcome will be what would be desired by NATO generals.

The true looser of the conflict is the Libyan population. The only front where NATO can declare a victory is in the field of Psychological Warfare, but this front and victory is also being deconstructed. A closer look at the celebrating masses in the renamed "Martryrs Square" shows that these videos were shot in Doha, Qatar, and not in Tripoli. It was a staged celebration in the best Hollywood style. During the initial chock of the aerial and amphibious assault, such images could pass and have had their desired effect on the population of Tripoli. The outrage over being conned by NATO Psychological Operations Teams, however, will probably backfire with regards to pacifying the citizens of Tripoli.

The NATO/Al Qa´eda Commander of Tripoli is no other than Abdel Hakim Belhadj, also known as Abdel Hakim al-Hasidi, former PoW of the USA.

Abdel Hakim al-Hasidi

Regardless how many aliases he uses, this man is known for being a personal friend of Osama Bin Laden. Abdel Hakim Belhadj has made himself a name for murdering US and NATO Soldiers in Afghanistan, a fact which he reportedly brags about. Knowing history and that Al Qa´eda is in reality a creature of US Intelligence, al-Hasidi is an ideal ally. Very much living up to his reputation, we are receiving reports about wide-spread massacres of civilians in Tripoli, summary executions of all black people who are unlucky enough not to hide from the "freedom fighters", widespread abuse of women who don´t cover their heads, and other assaults and crimes against humanity, which provide ample evidence suggesting that Libya, until recently a modern nation, is about to regress back into its former state--during the dark ages before the revolution led by Ghadaffi and ousting of the Libyan Monarchy and King Idris.

How much these rag-tag mercenaries would be worth in combat with loyalist troops without having massive NATO air support remains to be seen. What is certain is that a Tripoli under the yoke of known terrorists, mass murderers, and Islamic extremists is anything but the singing tomorrows of pluralistic, democracy and freedom loving youths. Tripoli and Libya will regress into bloody, protracted conflict that could last many years. It is this protracted conflict that probably will be used as the context for establishing a permanent US/NATO military bases in Libya within the framework of the U.S. African Command. A protracted conflict will also increase scarcity on the global energy market and thereby promote the interests of "Big Oil".

Libya and the International Terror Threat. These developments in Libya and in the wider Middle East, open cooperation between known terrorist organizations and NATO, with the global financial crisis, increase the likelihood that disenfranchised European and American populations will respond with violence: when you have nothing left to loose, you loose your self-control. It will be tempting for rogue, deep-state elements to plan and perform new false flag terror attacks. U.S. American and European populations, therefore, should be on the outlook for police or military exercises, "anti-terror drills", and similar activities that usually precede false flag operations. Any attacks may well be blamed on Gadaffi, Syria, Iran, or any of the organizations that are supported by them. The scripting in the corporate western media, including the discussion of chemical weapons in Libya, indicates that this is a threat that must be taken serious.

Syria, Turkey, NATO and the E.U. While NATO Special Operations Forces already were training and arming Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qa´eda mercenaries in Syria as well as on Turkish territory, the Erdogan government was until recently strongly opposed to open war with Syria. Meanwhile, however, there have been meetings between Turkey, Germany and France, and the official stance of Turkey has changed, now agreeing with an open war with Syria. Like the Greek economy few months ago, the economy of Turkey is not invulnerable either. This sudden change in politics suggests that Turkey´s decades-long ambitions to join the European Union may have been utilized for high-jacking the population of Turkey as pawns in a new imperial project that could have disastrous national, and potentially global, consequences.

Our US Army source within Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, confirms that preparations for an invasion of Syria and for air raids against Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as attacks on Iran have been in preparation for months. Taking the Mediterranean climate into account, any ground attack on Syria would have to begin and probably be concluded--or at least stabilized--no later than October. This implies that the Libyan campaign must be stabilized by October, too. Our source in Damascus is reporting honest attempts of the Syrian government to bring about reforms. In fact, it has proposed reforms that are far more far reaching than the original demands of the “honest” Syrian protesters, whose own political process has been high-jacked by imperial forces and mercenaries, where we will bring a special report from Syria soon.

According to our own analysis and that of other independent analysts, an imperial NATO adventure that involves Syria will have enormous ramifications. Russia has her only navy base with direct access to the Mediterranean situated in Syria. Iran can not stand idly by while its main Arab ally is attacked by NATO is almost certainly preparing itself militarily. This preparation will most likely involve Hezbollah. Besides making military preparations, Iran is also preparing itself economically by privatizing at least seven of its eleven oil refineries. This will lead to massive Russian and Chinese investments in Iran and thus to greater interest in protecting Iran economically and, if necessary, indirectly or directly by means of military interventions.

Indirect conflict could manifest in the opening of a Hezbollah front and others incursions. Direct conflict would result in open global war, which is the final goal of "Zbig" Brzezniski and his school of politics, which is currently dominating thinking at the White House. On a wider perspective, it must be noticed that Iran has strategic and economic alliances with Pakistan, China and Russia. Pakistan has now asked the entire staff employed at the US Embassy to leave the country and, in the case of open NATO aggression against Syria or Iran, a Pakistani government would experience extreme internal pressure to respond in hostile ways against the USA.

Is NATO about to commit the classic mistake of “Empire Overreach”? If so, history provides us with countless examples that the collapse of an empire invariably produces widespread conflicts. The Arab Summer could develop into NATO´s Fall.

Christof Lehmann, a Danish psychologist and political advisor to the nation's leaders, posted the original version of this blog at nsnbc.


text:
February 2017 News

Kashmiri Youth Not Sacrificing To Become Ministers, But For Azadi, Says Farooq Abdullah

24 February 2017
The Hindustan Times
Ashiq Hussain

Srinagar: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Friday said new generation of militants in the state were fighting for 'freedom of this nation'. Addressing NC workers at the Nawa-e-Subh party headquarters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the youth were not sacrificing their lives to become an MLA, an MP or a minister. 'Our youth are giving sacrifices. They don't want to become MLA, MP or minister. They are rendering sacrifices demanding their rights. This is our land and we are its owners, you are not. This should not be forgotten,' he said at the gathering organised to commemorate the death anniversary of one of NC's founding leaders. 'They have left (their homes). Everybody loves his life. Nobody wants to die. But they left (their homes) to fulfil their promise with God (and they say) we will give our lives to make this nation free,' he said. Referring to India and Pakistan, Abdullah said the two nations were unable to understand this. He said peace can only return to Kashmir when there was peace between Indian and Pakistan. 'If you have to bring peace in Kashmir, then a way should be developed for dialogue and peace between India and Pakistan,' he said. 'This fight started in 1931. We are not enemies of anybody but we want both nations to do justice with us. You did not do justice to us. The promises you made to us in 1948, you forgot them. My nation does not fear guns,' he said. On the recent warning of Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat to the youth of Kashmir, Abdullah said, 'It is not right. This is unfortunate, because if you have to solve the problem, it can't be solved by a bullet or a gun, but by dialogue. And dialogue is the way we should adopt,' he said. On February 15, General Rawat had warned youth in Kashmir of 'harsh measures' if they hampered counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley. Abdullah said the reason people were going to encounter sites was that the present government had promised them that they will not shake hands with 'communal forces and Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) did it and that's the reason people are angry'. A trend has emerged lately in Kashmir wherein local youths flock encounter sites during raging gunfights to help militants flee. The army chief's warning triggered outrage in the Valley, with opposition parties arguing that the statement will escalate tension in the state. Abdullah said there was a need to understand the reasons why certain things were happening. 'Attempts should be made to solve those issues. There should be attempts that the gun stops in Kashmir and the situation improves,' he said. Abdullah also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'kabristan-shamshaan' comment in Uttar Pradesh was unfortunate. 'It was very unfortunate. A Prime Minister's speech should join people's hearts. It should not be such that it divides people. I was not expecting this from him,' Abdullah said.


text:
Friday, 10 April 2009

Mido Commander Ocean Star (For Sale)

Dimensions (mm)
Case diameter ( 37
Lug to Lug: 35
Height: 11
Lug width: 10 mm
Bracelet tapered 23 to 15
Weight 90 grams
Max Wrist Size: 7.5"
Crown type: NOT screw-down
Crystal Material: Acrylic
Water Resistance: 100 m (tidak dapat dipastikan kerana usianya yang lama)

Keadaan baik. Bracelet origional. Dial berwarna silver sudah nampak pudar dan sedikit cemar. Kristal telah banyak tercalar (scratch). Caseback jam ini kosong dan licin,jadi sebarang usaha untuk membukanya perlu dibuat dari bahagian atas (tanggalkan crystal terlebih dahulu). Saya telah memegang jam ini sudah lebih satu tahun.
Asking price/harga: RM 270

Foot Note
This high water resistance rating without screw-down crown is achieved by a MIDO patented crown system that uses cork seals! The company was founded by George Schaeren in 1918 in Biel, Switzerland. Mido has produced a number of technically interesting designs through the years including being the first to combine an automatic movement with anti-shock protection, water resistance and anti-magnetic protection. Mido also is the only company, to my knowledge, that makes use of cork as a crown water seal, and was the first company to use an unbreakable mainspring. Today, Mido is part of the Swatch Group,
The watch is made of a polished stainless steel one-piece case with an integrated stainless steel bracelet and clasp. The crystal is made of Hesalite, a brand name for acrylic. The movement is protected from water damage by Mido's Aquadura cork crown seal (which allegedly will block water even with the crown pulled out in the set position) and is rated at 30 meters water resistance. The Mido has, so far, proved to be very accurate for a mechanical watch averaging -2 seconds per day.

1 comment:


text:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Barnes Foundation: The End of an Era

On Sunday, July 3, the doors to the Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion, PA will close. Its priceless art collection will be taken down, wrapped and shipped to its new home in Philadelphia, a mere five miles away. Barring some last minute reprieve, the Sunday closing in Lower Merion marks the end of the Barnes Foundation as it was created and endowed by its founder to be, and another victory for greed, power and money über alles.

To fully understand the gravity and significance of what is about to happen in Philadelphia, Don Argott’s 2010 documentary, The Art of the Steal is a must-see. The film, as entertaining and suspenseful as any who-dunnit, maps out the complex machinations of what has been called the world's largest art theft since World War II.

Albert C. Barnes’ Post-Impressionist art collection is estimated today to be worth approximately $25 billion. The collection includes 181 Renoirs, 69 Cezannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, and 7 Van Goghs. The Barnes Foundation was never intended to be a museum. Barnes' will left specific instructions that the foundation would remain a school and that the work would never be loaned, moved or sold after his death.

Vincent van Gogh, Joseph-Etienne Roulin, 1889, 66.2 x 55 cm, The Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pennsylvania
The Art of the Steal paints a vivid and convincing picture of an Albert Barnes who was infuriated by the ignorance of the cultural elite in Philadelphia, an elite who had publically ridiculed his art collection when it was first shown. Barnes is quoted as saying “Philadelphia is a depressing intellectual slum” and “the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a house of artistic and intellectual prostitution.” The film portrays Barnes' attitude as the driving force for creating his foundation in Merion, vowing that the "provincials” in Philadelphia would never get their hands on it.

In its rebuttal to the film the Barnes Foundation glosses over Barnes’ hatred of Philadelphia society saying simply: “Any suggestion that Dr. Barnes situated the Foundation in Merion in order to keep it away from the area's elite or conservative art establishment is entirely unfounded.”

I'm not convinced.

Barnes died in a car crash in 1951 and control of the foundation was left to Lincoln University, a small, under-funded, African-American school. The job of running the foundation fell to Barnes’ right-hand person, Violette de Mazia, who ran the school as Barnes had intended for the next 30 years. Upon de Mazia’s death in 1988, Richard Glanton, president of the board of Lincoln University, decided to take control of the Barnes. Understanding its revenue-producing potential, Glanton set out to get the Barnes the worldwide attention he felt it deserved.

Paul Cézanne, Nature morte au crâne, 1895-1900, 54,3 x 65 cm, The Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pennsylvania
Claiming that the building housing the collection had been neglected, Glanton proposed selling off some of the art to pay for the cost of the repairs. Objections were raised that selling the work was illegal and unethical according to the terms of Barnes’ will and the plan was abandoned. Glanton then came up with another plan, to tour the collection worldwide to pay for the repairs, also in direct opposition to the terms of the will. This time, however, Glanton prevailed and the first major attempt to chip away at Barnes’ will was a fait accompli.

With the entire world now clamoring to see the Barnes collection, politicians, huge charitable trusts, rich socialites and tourism boards (all of whom declined to be interviewed for the film) swarmed in and fought to gain control of the collection and move it to Philadelphia. Eventually, $150 million was raised to fund the new facility in Philadelphia -- more than enough money to address any problems that the Merion location presented.

Henri Matisse, Le bonheur de vivre, Oil on canvas. In the collection of the Barnes Foundation. 175 x 241 cm
Fighting these powerful forces were a handful of artists, Merion residents, historians and lawyers. Interviewed in the film are LA Times critic Christopher Knight; Julian Bond, whose father, Horace Mann Bond, was the first black president of Lincoln University; John Anderson, author of Art Held Hostage; former student Jay Raymond and David D’Arcy, correspondent for The Art Newspaper. D'Arcy states:

“My feeling about Philadelphia is that it doesn’t do itself justice saying ‘we need to be a world-class city’ by stealing an art collection and bringing it down to what I call a ‘McBarnes’ in downtown Philadelphia.”

Henri Matisse, whose large site-specific mural, The Dance II, 1932, is being moved to the new facility in Philadelphia is quoted as saying: “The Barnes Foundation is the only sane place to see art in America” . . . until Sunday.

Click here to buy the DVD from Amazon

Survey Results

Thanks to everyone who participated in last week's survey, "MFA: Is It Necessary?" Click here to see the results. Be sure to look at the comments -- lots of interesting opinions and anecdotal information. As I mentioned last week, I've been invited to participate in a public debate on this topic as part of Artillery Magazine's debate series, Artillery Sets the Standard, here in Los Angeles. I'll be posting the text of my argument after the July 10 debate. (Hint: I'm arguing the "not necessary" side.)

Ongoing at Offramp Gallery

Mark Steven Greenfield: Doo-Dahz has been extended through Sunday, July 3.

  1. Times change circumstances change the world moves on, I don’t know who is right, is the Barnes will a forever lasting decision about art that in reality belongs to the world, are past morays and sensibilities not to be violated regardless of modern realities, I don’t really know, but should someone’s whishes, who has been dead all these years decide present pathways concerning such an important matter.

  2. The question to ask yourself is, how would you feel if it were your wishes being ignored. The length of time gone by should not make a difference. If it did we would be minus many universities, scholarships, and foundations today.

  3. Yes, what a wonderful movie. Full of intrigue and devious people with less than ideal motives.

    Let's say that Dr Barnes was being spiteful in his will and final wishes because his collection was rejected by the so-called cultural elite of his day. By the time that he died, he knew that he had a very, very important collection. Personally, I have no issue with his wish to keep the collection out of the hands of the cultural elite; however, his collection has become too important to neglect it from touring the world for the hundreds of thousands of its admirers. In my estimation, that is Dr. Barnes' only mis-calculation.

    I absolutely hate how Dr Barnes' collection has been outright stolen; however, I will travel to Philly to see it because the collection is probably better than any Impressionist collection that I have seen in the museums of Europe.

  4. If the location of the Barnes collection in Merion is supposed to be a statement on the ignorance of Philadelphia's cultural elite, then by all means it should stay there - as long as its endowment can fund it. Unfortunately Barnes left the foundation with no viable investment plan, weak leadership, and no links to any arts institutions that could help. So its money has run out. The $150 million is coming from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and major foundations - the kind of people Barnes despised. And they are supposed to fund the Barnes to stay put so Barnes can insult them from beyond the tomb? Barnes' will is broken, as much due to his own spite and arrogance as anything else. Let the people who are putting up the money decide what to do with the pieces.