What American freedom means to a refugee from Iraq at a time of protests and pandemic – Chicago Sun-Times

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In May 2016, I fled a dangerous civil war in my native Iraq, leaving behind my friends and family in Mosul, my university appointment and my dental practice.

There was terror in my heart as I looked at my two young sons on the flight to Chicago. How would they adjust to a new culture when they didnt even speak English? Would I still be able to work as a dentist? Would people treat us differently because we are Muslim?

Four years later, my fears have been put to rest. My boys are thriving at school and speak perfect English. Im a dentist serving African American patients on the South Side. As a religious minority, I have always been shown respect here.

Today, as I study to be a citizen of the United States, I am thinking more about what it means to be an American, especially when my new country is experiencing such turmoil.

One of my favorite subjects in American history is the story of Abraham Lincoln and his belief that all people are created equal. I am proud to see so many people across the country marching to protest the murder of George Floyd and other Black men and women. I am honored that I will pledge allegiance to a nation that supports freedom of speech.

In Iraq, where I experienced dictatorship, injustice and fear for my familys basic physical safety, there was little respect for human life or different beliefs. There was no ability to protest the government or demand accountability from the police. If you dared to express your opinions, you could put yourself or your family in danger.

I am grateful to belong to a country where we are truly free. So many refugees share this experience of feeling welcomed and included. Its why we have devoted ourselves to serving others.

There are 161,000 refugees working in healthcare its our second most popular profession. More than 8% of us are physicians, 14% are registered nurses, and more than 11% are nursing assistants, according to New American Economy. More than 175,000 refugees also do important work in our countrys food supply chain, especially in Midwestern processing plants, where COVID-19 cases have been extremely high.

I have also been doing my part to keep my fellow Chicagoans healthy. Keeping my dental clinic open has given me the opportunity to contribute during such a critical time. Its an incredibly rewarding feeling to relieve someones suffering during this crisis, especially when a patient comes to the office after staying up all night long from an agonizing toothache.

I worked hard to be able to practice dentistry here. I had to take new exams and complete a new residency, even though I was in my middle 30s, and my colleagues were a decade younger. This determination is a common theme among my fellow refugees.

I understand that people are feeling especially critical of America right now. But I hope we can still celebrate whats best about Americans, whether we are taking care of sick patients, fighting for racial justice, helping neighbors with groceries or simply showing each other respect by wearing masks.

The longer I get to know my new home, the prouder I am to have the opportunity to call myself an American.

Raed Ayoub AlDelayme is a refugee from Iraq and a dentist practicing in Chicago.

Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.

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What American freedom means to a refugee from Iraq at a time of protests and pandemic - Chicago Sun-Times

‘Optimism of the Will’: Palestinian Freedom is Possible Now – Middle East Monitor

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In a recent TV discussion, a respected pro-Palestine journalist declared that if any positive change or transformation ever occurs in the tragic Palestinian saga, it would not happen now, but that it would take a whole new generation to bring about such a paradigm shift.

As innocuous as the declaration may have seemed, it troubled me greatly.

I have heard this line over and over again, often reiterated by well-intentioned intellectuals, whose experiences in researching and writing on the so-called Palestinian-Israeli conflict may have driven some of them to pessimism, if not despair.

The hopelessness discourse is, perhaps, understandable if one is to examine the off-putting, tangible reality on the ground: the ever-entrenched Israeli occupation, the planned annexation of occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank, the shameful Arab normalization with Israel, the deafening silence of the international community and the futility of the quisling Palestinian leadership.

Subscribing to this logic is not only self-defeating, but ahistorical as well. Throughout history, every great achievement that brought about freedom and a measure of justice to any nation was realized despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

Indeed, who would have thought that the Algerian people were capable of defeating French colonialism when their tools of liberation were so rudimentary as compared with the awesome powers of the French military and its allies?

Israel: Our relations with Arab states do not depend on peace with Palestine

The same notion applies to many other modern historic experiences, from Vietnam to South Africa and from India to Cuba.

Palestine is not the exception.

However, the hopelessness discourse is not as innocent as it may seem. It is propelled by the persisting failure to appreciate the centrality of the Palestinian people or any other people, for that matter in their own history. Additionally, it assumes that the Palestinian people are, frankly, ineffectual.

Interestingly, when many nations were still grappling with the concept of national identity, the Palestinian people had already developed a refined sense of modern collective identity and national consciousness. General mass strikes and civil disobedience challenging British imperialism and Zionist settlements in Palestine began nearly a century ago, culminating in the six-month-long general strike of 1936.

Since then, popular resistance, which is linked to a defined sense of national identity, has been a staple in Palestinian history. It was a prominent feature of the First Intifada, the popular uprising of 1987.

The fact that the Palestinian homeland was lost, despite the heightened consciousness of the Palestinian masses at the time, is hardly indicative of the Palestinian peoples ability to affect political outcomes.

Time and again, Palestinians have rebelled and, with each rebellion, they forced all parties, including Israel and the United States, to reconsider and overhaul their strategies altogether.

A case in point was the First Intifada.

When, on December 8, 1987, thousands took to the streets of the Jabaliya Refugee Camp, the Gaza Strips most crowded and poorest camp, the timing and the location of their uprising was most fitting, rational and necessary. Earlier that day, an Israeli truck had run over a convoy of cars carrying Palestinian laborers, killing four young men. For Jabaliya, as with the rest of Palestine, it was the last straw.

Responding to the chants and pleas of the Jabaliya mourners, Gaza was, within days, the breeding ground for a real revolution that was self-propelled and unwavering. The chants of Palestinians in the Strip were answered in the West Bank, and echoed just as loudly in Palestinian towns, including those located in Israel.

The contagious energy was emblematic of children and young adults wanting to reclaim the identities of their ancestors, which had been horribly disfigured and divided among regions, countries and refugee camps.

The Intifada literally meaning the shake off sent a powerful message to Israel that the Palestinian people are alive, and are still capable of upsetting all of Israels colonial endeavors.The Intifada also confronted the failure of the Palestinian and Arab leaderships, as they persisted in their factional and self-seeking politics.

Fatah leader: Israel annexation plan a declaration of war

In fact, the Madrid Talks in 1991 between Palestinians and Israelis were meant as an Israeli- American political compromise, aimed at ending the Intifada in exchange for acknowledging the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as a representative of the Palestinian people.

The Oslo Accords, signed by Yasser Arafat and Israel in 1993, squandered the gains of the Intifada and, ultimately, replaced the more democratically representative PLO with the corrupt Palestinian Authority.

But even then, the Palestinian people kept coming back, reclaiming, in their own way, their importance and centrality in the struggle. Gazas Great March of Return is but one of many such people-driven initiatives.

Palestines biggest challenge in the movement is not the failure of the people to register as a factor in the liberation of their own land, but their quisling leaderships inability to appreciate the immense potential of harnessing the energies of Palestinians everywhere to stage a focused and strategic, anti-colonial, liberation campaign.

This lack of vision dates back to the late 1970s, when the Palestinian leadership labored to engage politically with Washington and other Western capitals, culminating in the pervading sense that, without US political validation, Palestinians would always remain marginal and irrelevant.

The Palestinian leaderships calculations at the time proved disastrous. After decades of catering to Washingtons expectations and diktats, the Palestinian leadership, ultimately, returned empty-handed, as the current Donald Trump administrations Deal of the Century has finally proven.

I have recently spoken with two young Palestinian female activists: one is based in besieged Gaza and the other in the city of Seattle. Their forward-thinking discourse is, itself, a testament that the pessimism of some intellectuals does not define the thinking of this young Palestinian generation, and there would be no need to dismiss the collective efforts of this budding generation in anticipation of the rise of a better one.

Malak Shalabi, a Seattle-based law student, does not convey a message of despair, but that of action. Its really important for every Palestinian and every human rights activist to champion the Palestinian cause regardless of where they are, and it is important especially now, she told me.

There are currently waves of social movements here in the United States, around civil rights for Black people and other issues that are (becoming) pressing topics equality and justice in the mainstream. As Palestinians, its important that we (take the Palestinian cause) to the mainstream as well, she added.

There is a lot of work happening among Palestinian activists here in the United States, on the ground, at a social, economic, and political level, to make sure that the link between Black Lives Matter and Palestine happens, she added.

On her part, Wafaa Aludaini in Gaza spoke about her organizations 16th October Group relentless efforts to engage communities all over the world, to play their part in exposing Israeli war crimes in Gaza and ending the protracted siege on the impoverished Strip.

Palestinians and pro-Palestinian activists outside are important because they make our voices heard outside Palestine, as mainstream media does not report (the truth of) what is taking place here, she told me.

For these efforts to succeed, we all need to be united, she asserted, referring to the Palestinian people at home and in the diaspora, and the entire pro-Palestinian solidarity movement everywhere, as well.

The words of Malak and Wafaa are validated by the growing solidarity with Palestine in the BLM movement, as well as with numerous other justice movements the world over.

Another Palestinian political prisoner dies in Israeli prison due to deliberate medical negligence

On June 28, the UK chapter of the BLM tweeted that it proudly stands in solidarity with Palestinians and rejects Israels plans to annex large areas of the West Bank.

BLM went further, criticizing British politics for being gagged of the right to critique Zionism and Israels settler-colonial pursuits.

Repeating the claim that a whole new generation needs to replace the current one for any change to occur in Palestine is an insult although, at times, unintended to generations of Palestinians, whose struggle and sacrifices are present in every aspect of Palestinian lives.

Simply because the odds stacked against Palestinian freedom seem too great at the moment, does not justify the discounting of an entire nation, which has lived through many wars, protracted sieges and untold hardship. Moreover, the next generation is but a mere evolution of the consciousness of the current one. They cannot be delinked or analyzed separately.

In his Prison Notebooks, anti-fascist intellectual, Antonio Gramsci, coined the term pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

While logical analysis of a situation may lead the intellect to despair, the potential for social and political revolutions and transformations must keep us all motivated to keep the struggle going, no matter the odds.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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'Optimism of the Will': Palestinian Freedom is Possible Now - Middle East Monitor

The joys of Czech tramping: Hiking with friendship, freedom and fun – The Guardian

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Being labelled a tramp is not something the average person would be overly thrilled about. Unless, that is, they happened to be Czech. In the beer-drenched hub of central Europe, the word equates neither to homelessness nor harlotry, but to a nature-loving soul who tramps jovially through the countryside with his mates. I know this because I recently became one. I am now officially a tramp.

The notion of tramping or wandering as some prefer to call it may just sound like a regular hiking or camping trip. But I can assure you, its not. A romanticised hybrid of both pursuits, it is a far quirkier beast, with folk singing, and a generous helping of rum thrown in. The tradition dates back to the early 20th century, and is influenced by the Scout movement and the free-roaming cowboy novels of Bret Harte and Jack London. Stifled by the pomposity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, many young Czechs idolised liberal America and saw the wild west as its free-range embodiment. As such, working-class youths keen to slip away from their conventional parents would head into the wild to explore, sing songs, then collapse wearily under the stars. More than a century later, the tradition lives on, and not just amongst men, but with women and kids too.

I have my induction to tramping in the highland forests of Brdy, a glorious tramp-filled haven, 60km south-west of Prague. I have been roped in by my mate Ondej, and when I meet him and his entourage brother Milan and two friends, Jii and Honza at Pragues main station, they form a khaki cloud of beards and backpacks with an old guitar dangling on a piece of string. Almost instantly, I get what being a tramp is about.

We take a train to the village of Zadn Teba, then change to a local one to get to our starting point in smaller Nesvaily. Now that the requirement to wear masks on all public transport has been dropped, travel within the Czech Republic is without restrictions. No sooner have we stepped off it, than the group are careering towards the forest, giddily chorusing their way through a repertoire of tramp folk. It is a somewhat surreal way of walking, but I find it impossible not to be swept up in the fun. We have a map but no fixed route, hoping to stumble upon a number of hard-to-find tramp dens dotted in the thickets.

After an hour of roaming south, we find the first. Called White River many of the dens have English names its a wooden hut-and-bench construction stocked with ketchup and a copy of western bestseller Belindas Ranch. Sitting down to swig from a communal bottle of Tuzemk, Czech rum, Jii tells me about the magic of tramping. When I was 10, my older friends would go into the forest and sleep under the stars. For me, it represented friendship, freedom and fun all in one.

Its a sentiment shared by the whole group, and certainly evident at our next tramp post, Golden Bottom (Zlat dno), a few hundred metres away. The legendary 1929-built camp, decorated with totem poles, was actually bulldozed a few years back but the outraged tramp community defiantly rebuilt it within a month. Its home to the symbolic grave of camp founder General Jerry Packard (Jaroslav Krsek), who died of hypothermia in Auschwitz after the Nazis doused him with cold water. It is a moving memorial and fittingly encapsulates the tramp spirit.

At 6pm, we set up camp in a cosy spot called Samot (Solitaire), and after grilling some delicious pekky (fat sausages cross-sliced at both ends), the night is given away to beer-drinking and the singing of raucous tramping songs. Most, I note, are harmless ditties about rivers or pretty girls with freckles, but some, by the likes of dissident Karel Kryl, have a distinctly subversive feel this was a key factor of trampings popularity during the communist era.

Tramps often disliked the regime and were harassed by the police and state security, Jan Pohunek, co-editor of Czech tramping magazine, Puchej, tells me later. Although the movement itself was not forbidden, tramps were often beaten, their equipment confiscated. Then, after the Prague Spring of 1968, tramp magazines were made illegal.

We go to sleep around midnight, three of us under a shelter, the other two lying more whimsically on just a camping mat under the trees. Its a brisk night for sure, but in the morning we are warmed by the campfire and a bowl of delicious homemade cabbage and potato soup.

On the last few kilometres of our ramble, the guitar comes out again and when we finally get to the Stbrn Lhota bus stop to head back to Prague, we find we have half an hour to spare. Luckily, theres a pub, Brdsk Kozlovna, right there, so we pop in for a pint. In the humble living room of the owners house is an unexpected tramp wonderland. The walls are cluttered with wild-west memorabilia rifles, Stetson hats, rodeo pictures and in the middle is a large table of cheerful old folks in tramping gear.

Taking some photos, I explain to them that this is my first tramping trip. Their faces ripple with enthusiasm and one of them reaches into his pocket to hand me a tiny pin-badge as a gift, explaining that its the emblem of their tramp platoon. On it are the words Brdy Liberation Army.

As we sup up before catching the bus, I try to find out what that means. Liberation from what? Communists? Or maybe capitalism?

No, chuckles the tramp with a big grin. It just means liberation from work. We are now all pensioners!

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The joys of Czech tramping: Hiking with friendship, freedom and fun - The Guardian

Citizens hold ‘freedom drive’ in place of parade – Silver City Daily Press and Independent

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(Press Staff Photo by Makayla Grijalva)The community-organized freedom drive parades down Bullard Street on July 4, led by a vehicle occupied by Helen and Leif Nordell. The traditional town-sanctioned parade was canceled this year due to concerns about COVID-19.

Red, white and blue still painted Silver City streets and Old Glory flew from the beds of pickup trucks Saturday morning, despite Silver Citys officially sanctioned 2020 Fourth of July parade being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 40 vehicles gathered around Gough Park on July 4 for a community-organized freedom drive, caravanning down Hudson and Bullard streets. A few onlookers along downtown streets witnessed the festivities.

This is the Fourth of July. This is a time where were not Republican, not Democrat were Americans, said Andy Housley, one of the organizers of the drive. This is the first time in history that we would cancel a parade, and it broke my heart, to be honest with you.

All town property, including Gough Park, was closed to July Fourth events earlier last week to prevent large gatherings. On the morning of the drive, caution tape surrounded Gough Park, and police patrolled the area to enforce the rule.

Housley said that he saw the event as a form of protest to protect American freedoms.

The Constitution doesnt stop because of sickness. The Constitution doesnt stop because of a virus, Housley said. We have the right to assemble. We have the right to protest. We have the right to bring our grievances to the government.

Housley said that he began planning the freedom drive which he initially envisioned as a march when the town announced the cancellation of the annual in-person parade. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to turn the demonstration into a drive instead of a march.

Mask-wearing was not enforced at the event, and few participants were seen wearing masks while mingling prior to the drive. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced last week that those not wearing masks in public spaces could be subject to $100 fines, and encouraged local police to enforce the mandate.

While the event was intended to be nonpartisan, some vehicles donned Trump 2020 campaign flags and other President Donald Trump-themed decorations.

Weve asked no politics, just American flags to support our country, Housley said, adding that he saw most participants following that rule.

One car had a cutout of Trump which they placed in the passenger window, and another convertible had a plush animal bearing the likeness of the president in the back seat between two American flags. However, most vehicles were decorated solely with American flags.

People are going to do their own thing, and thats part of the great thing about being American is that you have that option to do that, Housley said. If somebody wanted to come and put a [Joe] Biden flag. It would be all right. Its about America.

Two participants sporting Trump election merchandise were event organizer Helen Nordell and her husband, Leif Nordell. The couples car led the drive with signs expressing slogans such as God Bless America, and Make 4th of July Great Again.

Everything seems to be running away from us and being taken away from us, Helen said. If we dont stand up now, tomorrow is going to be too late.

Leif said he immigrated to the United States from Sweden, adding that it was a dream of his from the time he was a child to come to this country.

I want to live free, Leif said. I dont have any people to control my life. Thats why I left Sweden.

While the in-person parade was canceled by the town this year, the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce-organized virtual parade can be viewed online on the Silver City Museum YouTube channel.

MAKAYLA GRIJALVA

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Citizens hold 'freedom drive' in place of parade - Silver City Daily Press and Independent

With app bans, is Internet freedom being sacrificed for national security? | The Hindu Parley podcast – The Hindu

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Adiscussion on the vulnerability of Internet freedom at a time of national security risks. This comes in the backdrop of the governments decision to block 59 Chinese apps, something that followed the escalation of tensions at the border between the two countries.

Host: Sriram Srinivasan,Strategy & Digital Editor, The Hindu

Guests:Arghya Sengupta, Research Director at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

Raman Chima, Asia Policy Director and Senior International Counsel at Access Now.

----

You can now find The Hindus podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. Search for Parley by The Hindu.

Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

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Letter to the editor: Freedom comes with responsibilities, so wear a mask – TribLIVE

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Rangila, the ”dancing bear” rescued from Nepal, celebrates two years of freedom – Outlook India

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New Delhi, Jul 12 (PTI) It has been two years since Rangila, the "dancing bear" was rescued from a group of wildlife traffickers who were attempting to smuggle him across the India-Nepal border.

Though, the sloth bear is celebrating his two years of freedom at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility, he continues to be under stress and trauma, says wildlife conservation NGO Wildlife SOS.

Sloth bears are species native to the Indian subcontinent and feed on fruits, antsand termites. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation.

Several sloth bears are smuggled and trained to dance at a young age, but Rangila was lucky to have been seized by the enforcement authorities in Nepal. With cooperation from the Indian and Nepal governments, he was eventually transferred to the Agra Bear Rescue Facility in India, said the NGO.

Rangila''s case brought to light the declining trend of sloth bear population in India as they are trafficked for being used as dancing bears and other purposes, said wildlife experts on Sunday.

The sloth bear population in India depicts a declining trend. Despite continuous efforts, cross border trafficking of dancing bears and demand for body parts for use in traditional Chinese medicine, bear paw soup and bear bile still exists. Poaching, habitat fragmentation and human wildlife conflict is a very serious threat to the sloth bears, said Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO and co-founder of the India-based Wildlife SOS.

In December 2017, two sloth bears, 19-year-old Rangila and Sridevi, were trafficked out of India to be exploited as dancing bears in Nepal.

The Nepal enforcement authorities intercepted the traffickers at the border and the animals were shifted to the Kathmandu Zoo for temporary housing.

S Ilayaraja, Wildlife SOS deputy director, veterinary services said, Rangila was weak and undernourished when he first arrived at the centre. It took months of specialised care and treatment to restore his strength."

"However, Rangila still exhibits signs of psychological stress and trauma that will take much longer to heal, he said.

Although getting these bears off the streets was a victory, it wasn''t nearly enough as during this period, the female bear died.

After months of highly stressful calibration and international negotiation, Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute, Nepal facilitated Rangila''s repatriation to India.

Today, 21-year-old Rangila is under lifelong care at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility which is run by Wildlife SOS in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, the NGO said.

Home to nearly 200 bears, it is the largest sloth bear rehabilitation centre in the world and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to carry specialised veterinary treatment as well as geriatric care for bears.

Geeta Seshamani, secretary and co-founder Wildlife SOS said, Rangila spends most of his time playing on the enrichment structures and it fills our hearts with absolute joy watching him simply be a bear again.

The experts from the NGO said that Rangila is fond of various enrichments that have been provided to keep him mentally and physically stimulated.

This is really the first time that he has been able to explore the outdoors without being led around on the end of a rope. Rangila enjoys playing with treat filled enrichment balls, honey laced logs and digging up mud pits to nap in, the NGO said.

However, sloth bears continue to be targeted by poachers for their body parts and to be traded as live animals for street performance, it said, adding that poachers take advantage of porous international borders to move wildlife contraband and live animals across and conceal themselves in remote areas. PTI AG RHL

Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI

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Rangila, the ''dancing bear'' rescued from Nepal, celebrates two years of freedom - Outlook India

Accompanying those addicted to gambling – Independent Catholic News

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Leela M Ramdeen

"We pray for those suffering from addiction may be properly helped and accompanied." - Pope Francis

In Pope Francis' prayer intention for April 2020, he asked everyone to pray for those who suffer from addiction, especially addiction to gambling, pornography, and the internet.

If we are to journey with our Domestic Church on Mission; if we are to be leaven in our neighbourhood's/nation's dough, we must avoid being judgmental and reach out to families that are hurting, for example, because one or more members of their family is/are addicted to gambling.

Our Catechism tells us that Gambling, whether it involves games of chance (e.g. card games), wagers or betting, or even lotteries, is not intrinsically evil:

"Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant. "(2413).

Recently my friend rang me from London asking me to pray for her husband who is addicted to gambling and who continues to gamble most of his salary on various forms of gambling, thus leaving her and their children in need. She said that for more than 12 weeks betting shops were ordered to shut as part of a national effort to contain the coronavirus. As soon as the betting shops opened their doors on Monday 15 June in England, he once again started to frequent these shops and his gambling is out of control.

I recall allowing a friend and her two children to stay with me at my home in London years ago when her husband gambled their house in a poker game and lost. He beat her and broke her jaw in front of their children when she complained.

Addiction to gambling is a global problem. It affects more than just the gambler. For example, America's Debt Help Organisation (wwwdebt.org), states: "About 85% of adults in the U.S. have gambled at least once in their life and the gambling industry takes in about $500 billion a yearas many as 23 million Americans go into debt because of gambling and the average loss is estimated to be around $55,000. So how do gamblers pay for their losses?

"They 'borrow' from credit cards, savings accounts, investment portfolios, retirement funds - anywhere there's money or credit available - hoping to fund the one big bet that gets them back to even But if you're out of luck and that pile of chips has turned into a pile of debt, the answer is not to go all in. The answer is to convince yourself to stop gambling altogether, and seek psychological help for the addictive nature of the problem."

On 13 March 2019, Rob Davies reported in the UK Guardian: "People with a gambling problem are 15 times more likely to take their own life, according to the largest study of its kind, prompting calls for swifter action by the government to tackle betting addiction. Academics at Lund University, Sweden, monitored more than 2,000 people with gambling disorders, finding a significantly elevated risk of suicide among participants compared with the general population over an 11-year period.

"The study found that suicide rates increased 19-fold among men between the ages of 20 and 49 if they had a gambling problem and by 15 times among men and women of all ages. The authors of the research said that while the causes of suicide were complex and likely to involve more than one factor, their work indicated gambling disorders were associated with far higher than average rates of suicide."

There are many online sites with tools to assist an individual to quit. Steps include: Understand the problem, including the term "winnings", Join a Support Group, Avoid temptation, Postpone gambling, Find alternatives to gambling, Think about the consequences, and Seek professional help.

Let's pray for and accompany those with this dependency/addiction and their families.

LINKS

Trinidad Gamblers Anonymous provides online Therapy Support Groups or live support for problem gamblers, their friends and families, or Support Forums: http://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en/trinidad-gamblers-anonymous.

In the UK see: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk or http://www.gamblersanonymous.co.uk

Leela Ramdeen is Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, (CCSJ) and Director of CREDI

Tags: Gambling, Leela Ramdeen, Trinidad & Tobago

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Convicted Aurora bookmaker must forfeit more than $600,000 in proceeds from gambling ring – cleveland.com

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CLEVELAND, Ohio An Aurora bookmaker must forfeit more than $600,000 that authorities found in his home, proceeds that they say came from a large-scale gambling ring.

U.S. District Judge Patricia Gaughan on Wednesday sentenced Ryan Driscoll, 46, to probation for three years on charges of money laundering, filing a false tax return and operating an illegal gambling business.

Gaughan also ordered him to pay $208,693 in restitution. That is in addition to the $628,950 that agents seized during a search warrant of his home last August. Prosecutors said in documents that Driscoll had large quantities of cash in bundles of $10,000.

Prosecutors said that Driscoll underreported his income by more than $825,000 for the tax years 2014 through 2017. He filed a false income tax return in 2018 that prosecutors said failed to mention the proceeds from his illegal gambling business.

Driscoll ran a bookmaking ring from 2015 to 2019 that provided his clients with access to offshore gambling websites to bet on sports. The websites tracked winnings and the money due to him and allowed him to pay out winnings and collect losses locally, according to court records.

The money laundering charge stems from Driscoll paying for a membership at the Mayfield Sand Ridge Club with proceeds from the gambling business. He also placed proceeds in his bank accounts and used nearly $200,000 to make payments on vehicles and other items.

Driscoll pleaded guilty to the charges in January.

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Convicted Aurora bookmaker must forfeit more than $600,000 in proceeds from gambling ring - cleveland.com

VPN Gambling Pros and Cons – Should You Online Gamble With a VPN – BestUSCasinos.org

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Virtual private networks have become very popular among those who want extra privacy when using the internet. Theyre also commonly used by gamblers who want to play at sites that they cant normally access.

You might think that a VPN is perfect if youre really interested in playing at a specific gambling site thats currently unavailable. However, you should consider the pros and cons before using a virtual private network for such purposes.

Im going to discuss the advantages and drawbacks of VPN gambling. Ill also come to a conclusion on whether you should truly use these services.

VPNs might be quite popular among gamblers, but they have practical purposes, too. These services protect internet browsers from being victimized by hackers.

Every internet user risks having their data, identity, or money stolen. They may stand little chance to protect themselves, depending upon the hackers skills.

Cybercriminals can use IP addresses to track people. The IP address essentially leaves a trail to an online users whereabouts.

A VPN seriously reduces the chances of somebody being targeted by a cybercriminal. This service accesses the internet on behalf of a customer.

It relies on remote servers that are located in different cities and/or countries than the user. Hackers, meanwhile, face a near-impossible task of figuring out where the person is located.

You can see that VPNs are quite handy when trying to stay safe online. But gamblers are interested in more than just the general benefits.

They use virtual private networks to access sites that might not normally be available to them. After all, certain online gaming jurisdictions only allow their residents to gamble over the internet.

Any real money casino, poker room, or sportsbook operating in these jurisdictions must block outsiders. For example, UK gambling sites dont allow players from other countries.

They use software that determines when an outsider is trying to access their site. The prospective gambler will receive a message stating that their country/state is blocked.

A VPN helps gamblers get around such restrictions by masking their location. It allows one to access a remote server thats located elsewhere.

If somebody wants to use a French gambling site, for example, they can select a server in Paris. The software would then be tricked into believing that the player was from France.

Virtual private network usage has ramped up among gamblers in recent years. Here are the main reasons why so many players are using VPNs.

Again, certain gaming jurisdictions block other countries. They dont want to run into legal problems by accepting bets from international players.

Unfortunately, this policy may prevent you from accessing some of the worlds top online bookmakers, casinos, and poker sites. You have two choices at this point:

Under normal circumstances, youd have to accept the fact that you cant play at top-tier sites. But a virtual private network gives you the option to circumvent their rules and play for real money.

Virtual private networks werent conceived to help people play at unavailable gambling sites. They originally came about for privacy purposes.

You can add an extra layer of protection to your browsing habits with a VPN. The latter encrypts your information and ensures that cybercriminals cant track your IP address.

Of course, betting sites, poker rooms, and online casinos also offer protection in the form of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. SSL encrypts your data to prevent hackers from stealing personal and financial details.

If youre still paranoid about being targeted, though, a VPN offers even more peace of mind. Its great for general internet usage beyond gambling.

In some countries, including China, Cuba, and North Korea, governments are extremely restrictive on internet usage. They only allow their residents to access government-approved websites.

Gambling sites dont typically make the approved list. Therefore, those living under totalitarian regimes must use a VPN to place online bets.

Draconian governments use firewalls to block people from accessing unapproved websites. But a VPN prevents firewalls from determining ones IP address and thus allows them more freedom.

A virtual private network is an excellent resource when youre looking to enjoy a gambling website thats normally off limits. But before you call on a VPN, you should consider the downside to doing so.

Not all virtual private networks are created equally. The best and, usually, most expensive ones are better at keeping your browsing activities private.

Cheaper VPNs, on the other hand, may be good for blocking your neighbors from snooping around your network. But theyre not so great at protecting you from governments or well-funded websites.

Some companies behind these services also work with law enforcement if pressed to do so. Theyll hand over your actual location and even usage statistics to the police if necessary.

Luckily, you stand almost zero chance of being arrested for illegal gambling with a VPN. But you could still get caught and face other consequences (discussed later).

Many virtual private networks used to offer their services for free. However, the days of free usage are long gone.

Almost every VPNat least the good ones anywaysrequire subscription fees. These fees may be due on a monthly, quarterly, biannual, or annual basis.

In any case, youre paying to protect your privacy and access restricted gambling sites. The costs range anywhere from $2 to $20 per month.

You might be able to get what youre looking for from a $2-per-month service. But you should consider a more expensive option just in case you win big and dont want the website discovering your true location.

Provided youre not in a country like North Korea or Cuba, you dont have to worry much about any legal repercussions from VPN gambling. But you do face the very real risk of losing winnings and your bankroll if caught.

Gambling sites cover many scenarios in their terms and conditions. They call on these terms and conditions to confiscate your money for something like wrongly using a virtual private network.

You may still get away with gambling on restricted websites without being caught. The chances of a site investigating you, though, increase when you win a big jackpot or a poker tournament.

In 2017, poker pro Gordon Vayo won a major PokerStars tournament along with $692,000. However, Stars determined that he was playing from California, rather than Canada, like his IP address suggested, and didnt pay the $692k prize.

You can see that making the decision to gamble with a VPN isnt a slam dunk. You could still be caught playing at a restricted site and have your funds confiscated afterward.

Everything comes down to how badly you want to play at a gambling website thats normally unavailable. If you truly wish to gamble at a top UK casino, for example, then you might feel that the risk and VPN subscription fee are worth it.

However, you dont always need to resort to such measures. Many countries have access to online casinos, bookmakers, and poker rooms.

I dont fully recommend that you gamble with a VPN when considering that youre breaking laws and risking winnings. But then again, the choice is all up to you.

Virtual private networks give you this choice. You just need to weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision for you.

More and more of the online gambling industry is becoming regulated. Many jurisdictions now require operators to block players from outside countries.

This situation especially stings when youre from a country that cant access real money poker, betting, and casino sites. Normally, youll have to choose less-heralded offshore gambling sites as a result.

However, a VPN gives you an opportunity to still gamble at such websites. It masks your location and makes you appear to be located elsewhere.

Operators take a strict approach to dealing with those who violate their terms and conditions with VPNs. That said, you really need to consider if the risk is worth the reward.

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VPN Gambling Pros and Cons - Should You Online Gamble With a VPN - BestUSCasinos.org

Gambling charity urges UK banks to improve card blocking systems – The Guardian

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An gambling charity has called on banks to improve card blocking systems introduced to help those whose gambling is out of control after it emerged 40% of current accounts offer no help in this area.

Research on behalf of GambleAware found that just eight financial companies offered customers the chance to block future payments to gambling sites.

The ability for customers to ask for payments to gambling sites to be blocked is considered important as it helps those whose betting is out of control. Problem gambling is thought to cost the UK up to 1.2bn a year and can devastate the lives of those affected.

Researchers at the University of Bristols personal finance centre found that many banks were failing to offer the ability to block such spending, or the controls were easily turned off.

GambleAware said Nationwide and Capital One do not offer to block card payments to gambling companies as a standard feature, but do so on a case by case basis. Of the eight banks that do offer the option, customers of three could immediately turn them off.

The reports authors have called on the regulators to ensure all banks have card blockers in place, with the restrictions unable to be removed for at least 48 hours. They have also called on financial institutions to do more to raise awareness among customers that the blockers are available.

Prof Sharon Collard, of the University of Bristol, said: Our research has found bank card gambling blockers are not available on roughly 40% of personal current accounts. This means an estimated 28 million people are missing out on this crucial tool to block gambling expenditure which helps protect them from harm. We are calling on the Financial Conduct Authority to urgently recommend that gambling blocks are standard on all debit and credit cards.

The GambleAware chief executive, Marc Etches, said: Keeping people safe from gambling harms requires banks to play their full part in providing consumers with effective means to block gambling transactions.

Last week ministers pledged to review the 2005 Gambling Act in the face of a growing consensus among MPs and addiction experts that the current legislation is no longer effective.

This article was amended on 8 July 2020 to clarify that GambleAwares research found that Nationwide and Capital One offer block card payments to gambling companies on a case by case basis.

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Gambling charity urges UK banks to improve card blocking systems - The Guardian

How politics sparked the UK’s online gambling boom – London Post

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Theres no hiding from the fact that the gambling landscape in the United Kingdom stands head and shoulders above any other market in the world. Between 2011 and 2019 the industry grew by nearly 6billion to 14.3billion with 31% of residents betting at least once per week Truly staggering statistics.

If those figures didnt quite hit home hard enough, amongst the 67 million people living within the United Kingdom, a massive 31 million active betting accounts exist with licensed operators right this second.

Its also evident that popular operators such as Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and Bet365 have ingrained themselves into British culture as recognisable household names, whether that be down to their creative advertising campaigns, high street presence or because of their presence within a certain region and the jobs they create

Lawmakers and those opposed to the industry certainly wont want to admit it, but gambling has become a quintessential British past-time, whether it be a football accumulator, a punt on the horses or spinning the reels of their favourite slot, betting is part of the furniture.

In the early 1900s the only sport that was regularly wagered upon in the UK was horse racing, with greyhound racing and football betting becoming more prominent in the 1920s, especially when the famous Littlewoods Pools were founded, giving the working class a means to bet.

Very little changed until 1960 when Parliament approved the Betting and Gaming Act, which was put in place to strip away inconsistent and restrictive gambling laws that werent relevant to the times. Importantly, the new Act legalised betting shops, bingo halls and casinos, however this was more as a means to bring betting off the streets and in-house, with hundreds of establishments opening each week in the first six months, giving people a taste of what was to come.

Ten years later a new Gaming Act came into place which tightened restrictions on all forms of betting and gaming. It also put gambling in the hands of the Gaming Board for Great Britain, an organisation that reported directly to the Home Office.

As time went on gambling restrictions were slowly lifted with the National Lottery and football betting becoming mainstream in the early 1990s, however major gambling reforms didnt arrive until 2005 when Tony Blairs government passed the 2005 Gambling Act.

It was Blairs unshackling of the industry (In particular advertising) that ultimately led to a flood of operators capitalising on what was perceived as large scale deregulation, introducing the people of the UK to everything the industry had to offer and more.

The Labour government at the time argued that the 2005 Gambling Act was passed in order to help move the UK from an unregulated and potentially dangerous market into one that prioritised safety and openness in which players were protected from gambling harm.

This protection came from the Gambling Commission, a newly formed regulatory body that ensured all operators both physical and online operated safely and responsibly, adhering to a strict framework that allowed them to offer their services to players in the UK.

Despite introducing these protections, Tony Blair and Tessa Jowell (the Member of Parliament who pioneered the legislation) came under intense scrutiny for making Britain the first country to legally permit online gambling, as they feared it would lead to a spike in problem gambling.

Instead the duo strongly argued that it was better to take a liberal approach to gambling, especially considering the government were implementing new measures to make it safer.

Despite understanding and appreciating the concerns raised by his peers, Blair insisted that the vast bulk of the legislation was actually about regulating gambling, not deregulating it, he also claimed there was no evidence changes would lead to gambling addiction and crime.

Whilst it can be said that his government succeeded in modernising gambling regulations for the time, they failed to take into account the rapid rate in which the internet was growing. It can be strongly argued that the bill did not (and still does not) do enough to regulate those operating in a digital age.

The 2005 Gambling Act forced operators to pay tax on their earnings, meaning an unprecedented amount of money flooded into the coffers, however it can be argued that the money gained from taxation hardly makes up for the negative impact gambling has had on countless lives.

That said, some would point to the millions of pounds that have been invested into safe and responsible gambling initiatives over the years by the Gambling Commission as a result of hefty fines slapped on operators that have broken the rules.

Naturally, the real winners as a result of the 2005 Gambling Act were those at the helm of the gambling firms. Bet365 Chief Executive Denise Coates, who was ahead of the curve, purchasing the Bet365.com domain on eBay for 19,000 at the turn of the millennium, has enjoyed unprecedented success as a result of getting on board with online gambling early on.

It was recently reported that Coates, the UKs 16th richest individual, earns 500 times more than the average UK salary and has raked in more than half a billion pounds in the last two years alone. Elsewhere Betfred brothers Fred and Peter Done have amassed a combined fortune of 1.25 billion whilst Mark Scheinberg of PokerStars has cemented himself as the richest person on the Isle of Man with a net worth of over 4.8 billion.

The most noticeable change as a result of Blairs deregulation was an phenomenally sharp increase in the number of gambling adverts. So much so that a 2013 investigation by broadcast regulator Ofcom found the number of gambling adverts on television had increased by 600% since the Gambling Act was introduced.

Public concern about the potential impact gambling ads were having on young people led to the industry eventually imposing a voluntary whistle-to-whistle ban on betting ads during sporting events last year, with further changes coming into place in June 2020 that sees 20% of all advertisements being dedicated to responsible gambling messages.

From 2010 onwards as online gambling boomed, a number of major gambling operators have run rampant as theyve perfectly fine-tuned their player retention strategy thanks to attractive VIP schemes and savvy online marketing campaigns.

Unfortunately, this success has often led to greed and complacency with operators often being accused of putting profit ahead of their players Major operators including Ladbrokes Coral, 888, William Hill, Betfred, SkyBet, 32Red PaddyPower and LeoVegas have all been on the receiving end of landmark fines and punishments at the hands of the regulator for failings.

Of course, these failings have managed to catch the attention of lawmakers in the UK who have been calling for stronger action across the entire industry in the last few years.

50 prominent MPs from all sides of the political spectrum make up the Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliamentary Group. Together they have demanded the complete ban of gambling advertising and the reduction of stake limits online to 2 per spin, somewhat unrealistic changes that would completely undermine Blairs fifteen year old Act, and likely lead to new legislation altogether in the not so distant future.

Whilst its unclear whether the All Party Parliamentary Group will find success with their pleas to drastically alter the gambling landscape, one thing is for sure, time is ticking on the 2005 Gambling Act as new light is shined upon gaping holes in the legislation.

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How politics sparked the UK's online gambling boom - London Post

Japanese men among 31 arrested in Taiwan for providing gambling software to online casinos – Inside Asian Gaming

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The criminal police department of Taiwans internal affairs raided an office in the Neihu District of Taipei that was occupied by a UK-based game software developer on suspicion of gambling offences on 6 July.

As revealed at a press conference on 7 July and reported by Taiwans Zhongyang Tongxunshe, a total of 31 employees of Gamatron Studios were arrested, including a Japanese man who worked at the Taiwanese office and a Japanese executive.

According to police, the company provided software to 45 online casino platforms, taking between 5% and 8% of the profit from each bet placed by a customer as compensation. Police believe the total amount gambled by customers from January of last year amounted to NTD 2.5 billion (US$85 million).

In the raid, 36 computers, 35 cellphones and NTD 560,000 (US$19,000) in cash was seized along with accounting books and gambling materials.

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Japanese men among 31 arrested in Taiwan for providing gambling software to online casinos - Inside Asian Gaming

Woolworths pokies unit fined AU$172k for plying gamblers with booze – CalvinAyre.com

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On Thursday, the New South Wales Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) announced a AU$172,692 (US$118,600) penalty against Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALHG), which is majority owned by Woolworths, for plying pokies players with complimentary alcohol at two of its NSW hotels.

The ILGA received a complaint against ALHG in June 2019 alleging that the Woolworths-owned Westower Tavern and South Tweed Tavern were violating NSW laws regarding the supply of free or discounted liquor as an inducement to gaming machine players. The suspect activity in question dates back to 2017.

The ILGA subsequently inspected 50 venues operated by ALHG, Australias third-largest pokies operator, leading to a formal investigation of four venues. The ILGA concluded that the Westower and South Tweed pubs were employing tactics specifically designed to encourage gambling, including offering free booze to regular and high-bidding gamblers to keep them seated at the machines.

ALHGs efforts to counter these allegations were undone by internal emails as well as a response to the complaint filed by Andrew Wyeth, the pubs former manager, who told the ILGA that his ALHG supervisors told him the more, the better in terms of how much free alcohol was offered to high-rollers.

Wyeth was personally fined AU$1,000 for his role in the kerfuffle, while Westowers current manager Rachel Watts was fined AU$2,500 and Morgan Bensley, the venues state operations manager, was disqualified from performing that role for a period of five years. The two venues were also ordered to suspend their pokies activity for a two-week period starting August 7.

One year ago, Woolworths announced plans to spin off its pokies and liquor operations (including ALHG) into a standalone entity known as Endeavour Group. These plans were paused in March as COVID-19 forced the closure of all non-essential retail operations. The demerger is now expected to take effect sometime next year.

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Woolworths pokies unit fined AU$172k for plying gamblers with booze - CalvinAyre.com

Tampa attorney spent $1.3 million of client’s money on cars, gambling, travel and meals: Feds – ABC Action News

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TAMPA, Fla. A disgraced former Tampa attorney has been indicted on federal criminal charges alleging he defrauded multiple clients.

James Lee Clark, 59, faces 17 felony federal charges in the indictment which was recently unsealed in U.S. District Court.

The charges allege criminal acts Clark committed against his clients and the U.S. Government between 2010 and 2017, including bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud and falsification of records.

I-Team investigator Adam Walser first found out about Clark when he surrendered his law license in 2017, following a Florida Bar investigation that uncovered he transferred money from a clients trust account into his personal account and used the money to pay his own personal expenses.

The Florida Bar recommended the Florida Supreme Court revoke Clarks law license.

At that time, Clark was already on probation related to a previous complaint involving providing inadequate representation to a client.

The complaint that led to the surrender of Clarks law license was filed by the owners of an assisted living facility, who hired Clark to help broker the sale of the business and establish a trust with the proceeds.

Clark made himself trustee of that trust and spent through the money without his client's knowledge.

The owners hired attorney L. Reed Bloodworth to represent them in a civil suit against Clark.

The man stole $1.3 million from my clients, Bloodworth said. It has been very hard on my clients. This was their lifes work wiped away.

The indictment says Clark spent that money on automobiles, gambling, travel, clothing, dining and entertainment.

The indictment also alleges that between 2010 and 2017, Clark defrauded clients facing foreclosurehaving them sign over the deeds to their homes to a company owned by his paralegal, Eric Liebman.

Liebman has already pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud.

The indictment alleges Clark promised to save his client's homes from bank foreclosure, but instead of negotiating with banks, he and Liebman rented those properties out to other people and kept the money.

They also allegedly filed fraudulent bankruptcy petitions to delay foreclosures.

We reached out to Clarks attorney Bjorn Brunvand, who says his client has entered a not guilty plea.

He says they are currently reviewing the governments voluminous evidence in the case.

If convicted on all of the charges, Clark could face up to 150 years in prison.

If you have a story youd like the I-Team to investigate, email us at adam@abcactionnews.com

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Tampa attorney spent $1.3 million of client's money on cars, gambling, travel and meals: Feds - ABC Action News

The Fantastic Four Have Perfected the Art of… Gambling?! | CBR – CBR – Comic Book Resources

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While on an alien world, three members of the Richards family just found the perfect way to break the bank at the casino.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Empyre: Fantastic Fourby Dan Slott, R.B. Silva, Sean Izaakse and Marte Gracia, on sale now.

Most of the lessons the Fantastic Four havetaught Franklin and Valeriaare effective and influential, helping moldthe pair into promising and bright hopes for the future. However, some of those lessons come from unexpected places -- such as effectively robbing a casino.

Susan, Franklin and ValRichards just cheated their way to a small fortune in a space casino, using their abilities to ensure they have a successful enough night of "gambling" to save the rest of the family inEmpyre: Fantastic Four.

RELATED:Has Empyre Duped the Avengers Into Fighting for Villains?

With their ship out of fuel and stranded in deep space, the Fantastic Four are forced to hitch a ride to the Casino Cosmico -- one of the last major economic bastions in the galaxy, controlled by the Profiteer. While Human Torch essentially forces Thing to compete in the fighting tournament to earn the money the team needs to head home, Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman make their move deeper into the city.

Reed confronts the Profiteer directly about the changing galactic layout, but Sue ends up distracted by Franklin and Val-- who have snuck into the casino, wagered their ship to earn chips and lost almost all of it gambling.

Only one chip is left on the line when Sue arrives in time to ensure their dice roll is successful. Franklin and Val expect to cash out with enough to buy back their ship, but Sue suggests the three of them continue their winning streak through the casino. Using her invisibility to have an effect on all the games of chance, the undetectable Invisible Woman is able to help her children effectively break the bank.

The casino quickly runs out of money due to this apparent stroke of luck, giving the team a major edge when they go to confront the Profiteer after she's captured Reed, Ben and Johnny in the fighting pit.

RELATED:Avengers: Why The Kree-Skrull War Is More Important Than Ever

Since they now effectively own the casino, Franklin and Val are able to force the Profiteer to let their family go and restore their ship to working order -- as well as release the young Kree and Skrull warriors Jo-Venn and N'Kalla into their custody -- in exchange for returning the rights of the casino back to her.This means on this mission, it wasn't just brains or brawn that saved the Fantastic Four; it was the pragmatism and willingness to cheat.

Sue promises to ground the children for even coming into the casino in the first place (which did require the pair of them lying about their species to get past the bouncer). However, she essentially taught her children that cheating can sometimes be for the greater good.

That kind of pragmatism has served the team well in the past and it will likely continue to keep the young heroes alive going forward. She doesn't even seem all that upset with them as they make their way back to Earth. It's kind of a hilarious life lesson for the family -- and a quietly effective one.

In a roundabout way, Franklin and Val learned the dangers of gambling blindly. Even Val's super intelligence fai;s to account for genuine chance and the effect it can have on events. It was only when the pair worked with their family to outsmart their opponents did they win more than enough to save the day. By becoming some of the best high-rollers in the universe for at least one night, Sue may have truly taught her children the dangers of gambling.

KEEP READING: Empyre: A Resurrected Avenger Remixes The Team's Battle Cry

Thanos' Most OBSCENE 'Snap' Was Not in Infinity War or Endgame

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The Fantastic Four Have Perfected the Art of... Gambling?! | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Trending: CRISPR Genome Editing Market 2020-2026: Key Vendor Landscape By Regional Output, Demand By Countries And Future Growth|Global CRISPR Genome…

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We provide detailed product mapping and analysis of various market scenarios. Our analysts are experts in providing in-depth analysis and breakdown of the business of key market leaders. We keep a close eye on recent developments and follow latest company news related to different players operating in the global CRISPR Genome Editing market. This helps us to deeply analyze companies as well as the competitive landscape. Our vendor landscape analysis offers a complete study that will help you to stay on top of the competition.

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Trending: CRISPR Genome Editing Market 2020-2026: Key Vendor Landscape By Regional Output, Demand By Countries And Future Growth|Global CRISPR Genome...

Bioengineered Protein Drugs Sales Market Size By Product Analysis, Application, End-Users, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies And Forecast Up To…

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What would it take for Kanye West to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania? – WHYY

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This story originally appeared on PA Post.

Musician Kanye WesttweetedSaturday night that he intends to run for president in 2020. He has not formed a campaign committee, filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission,or, for that matter, done anything since Saturday to indicate he will follow through on the announcement.

But, just hypothetically, what would it take for him to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania?

Thanks to arelatively recent court settlement, not as much as it used to.

After six years of litigation, Pennsylvanias minor parties the Libertarian, Constitution, and Green parties reached a settlement with the Department of State in 2018 to lower the threshold for ballot access to 5,000 signatures for presidential candidates and 2,500 signatures for all other statewide offices (except governor and U.S. senator, which would require 5,000, but are not on the ballot this year).

Previously, third party and independent candidates needed to get enough signatures to amount to two percent of the statewide electorate, a number that often reached into the tens of thousands. That was a barrier to candidates from outside the two major parties.

If Im not spending months on end trying to fight to get on the ballot, well then we can spend all of our time campaigning and talking about the ideas with voters and debating with each other, so that the election is actually what its supposed to be, Dale Karns, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018,toldThe Philadelphia Inquirer.

Before the 2018 settlement, a federal judgeruled in 2015that the Commonwealths ballot access requirements violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution by placing an unequal burden on non-major party candidates. The court then imposed interim guidelines that, in some cases, required signatures to come from multiple Pennsylvania counties. Under the settlement the parties reached in 2018, however, no such county-based requirements exist.

For presidential candidates, the candidatemust also name 20 electors(as well as their occupations and place of residency) at the time their petition is filed.

The deadline to submit paperwork for the 2020 general election is August 3. The filing fee is $200.

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What would it take for Kanye West to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania? - WHYY

Rothbard on Substitutionism | Mises Wire – The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

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Often when we ask how to deal with an economic or political problem, some libertarians suggest that we answer in this way. First, we should ask, how would this problem be handled in a fully libertarian world, in which states do not exist? Once we have the answer to that question, we should try to come as close as possible to the fully libertarian solution as we can.

Murray Rothbard does not reject this approach outrightI dont think he accepted it eitherbut he shows that there is an assumption people often make when trying to implement it that is questionable. This assumption is what he calls substitutionism, and this is what I would like to discuss in todays article. Rothbards discussion of substitutionism arises from a controversy about foreign policy, but here Im interested not so much in the rights and wrongs of that issue, but rather in the general assumption.

Rothbards discussion of substitutionism appears in the Libertarian Forum (JuneJuly 1984). As everyone knows, Rothbard thinks that nations should follow a noninterventionist foreign policy. He isnt a pacifist, but wars, except in defense against invasion, are almost never justified.

The philosopher Eric Mack disagrees. In his paper Rights, Just Wars, and National Defense, he allows for a wider range of foreign policy interventions than Rothbard does. (This article is a revised version of the article Rothbard discusses. I cite it because it is more conveniently available.) He says, for example,

It is clearly reasonable to maintain and refine distinctly counterforce weaponry as a means, consistent with just war doctrine, for deterring whichever strategic threats against the people of the United States emerge in an unstable world of nuclear proliferation.

Here is where Rothbards substitutionism comes in. Rothbards view is that Macks suggested policy wrongly equates what it would be reasonable for a private protection agency to do with what is permissible for the state. Rothbard says:

One critical device for Mack is what we may call substitutionism assimilating man to the State, and implying that if, for example, it is all right for Joe Zilch to do something in a free society, or for a Private Protection Agency to do so, then it is ipso facto all right for the State to do so. Now, Mack would agree with mainstream anarchists that the State should be abolished and all functions privatized; but, failing that he sees little wrong with the State and with what it does.if the very being of an organizationthe Staterests on organized theft, then this makes the State simply an organization of thieves, a criminal institution. Unlike other robbers and criminals, the State, far from being scorned and reviled as are most other marauders, is admired and even worshipped as sovereign. The State is the only socially legitimate organization of criminals.

Rothbard anticipates an objection and responds to it. If the state is a criminal organization, does this mean that we should have nothing to do with it? Not necessarily, he says.

Note that I am not taking the absurd position that a person sanctions the State by walking or driving on government roads or by taking off in planes from government airports. Given the monopoly of roads or airports or postal service in the hands of government, and until they are privatized, we have no sensible alternative to using them. But this does not mean that we must blithely accept the State as an automatic proxy, or surrogate, for a firm in the private sector.Even when the State is actually performing an important service that it has seized and monopolized, it does not follow in any sense that we are warranted in calling for more government spending. For we cannot do so without adding to the burden of tax-theft in the society. In short, even in the case of valid but monopolized functions, it is always impermissible for libertarians to support an increase in tax-theft. For the State is not a private firm. If people want more roads, they should be willing to support this activity privately and voluntarily, and blocking at least any more State funding might even give them the idea of privatizing roads entirely. We cannot substitute the State for a private person or firm because it is inherently unsubstitutable. It is unsubstitutable because the nature of the State differs totally and radically, and not just marginally and technically, from all other social institutions. The States very being rests on theft and invasion of private property, and this theft and aggression must be reduced and hacked away at every way we can. At the very least, libertarians must never justify its increase.

Rothbard again anticipates an objection, and Im sure it is one that has occurred to many readers. Even if states shouldnt exist, dont people living in the United States have the right to defend themselves? So long as the United States government pursues a defensive nuclear strategy, then, dont we have to accept this?

Rothbard again disagrees.

A crucial feature of the State is that it always coercively monopolizes the exercise of coercion over a given territorial area. A private, free market defense agency could not do so. So that when the French government takes a course of action in military or foreign policy, it willy-nilly commits all French citizens living in that area to that policy. If the French government attacks Spain, then all French citizens are implicated, at least in the eyes of Spain, which government will force its own citizens to retaliate.In short, it is impermissible to say with Mack that, given the unfortunate existence of the State, we should treat it as if it were a private defense agency. We must say rather that, given the unfortunate existence of the State, we must limit and reduce its power, anywhere and everywhere, and wherever possible.

Rothbard raises other problems for Macks argument, having to do with innocent shields. I wont address these, because, as mentioned earlier, Im interested in the general issue of substitutionism rather than the specific application that Rothbard gives it in his article. Regardless of what you think about this issue, we can all agree that there is no substitute for Murray Rothbard.

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Rothbard on Substitutionism | Mises Wire - The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette