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Category Archives: Golden Rule

European Union and Council of Europe launch the Block the hatred. Share the love campaign in Montenegro – Council of Europe

Posted: December 10, 2021 at 6:30 pm

Every citizen can have a role in responding to hate speech with positive language and mutual respect. This was one of the key messages at the launching event of the joint awareness-raising campaign of the European Union and the Council of Europe, Block the hatred. Share the love!, held today in Podgorica.

The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Zdravko Krivokapic, addressed the event and pointed out that we live in an environment in which many things have been imposed on us, but that hate speech does not happen only in Montenegro, but in every corner of the planet, somewhere less, and somewhere more often. This is why the old saying Do nothing you wouldnt want others to do to you should be the golden rule and measure of our lives everywhere - from family, through school, to university and beyond. And we should always have three characteristics in front of us. These are: tolerance - which, unfortunately, we do not have much today; respect - which has always been the greatest value in Montenegro and in the family and beyond, and, of course, understanding. An initiative such as this campaign should make us aware of the moment we live in and to more or less awaken our need to understand others", said prime minister Krivokapi.

Evgenia Giakoumoupolou, Head of Operations at the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, welcomed the participants joining the event online and in-person. In her remarks she pointed at a very practical dimension of citizenship engagement to counter hate speech: Countering hate speech requires an unequivocal legislative and institutional framework that condemns it and combats it. But beyond that, and most importantly, it calls for a collective response from the whole of society to say no to stigma and prejudice, to end the propagation of harmful stereotypes that affect families, friendships and ultimately the fabric of society. Each of our actions, no matter how small, can act as a multiplier to counter hatred and contribute to building an inclusive society, safe for all, and rich of its diversity.

Tamara Srzentic, Minister of Public Administration, Media and Digital Society, highlighted that beyond the institutional and regulatory framework, combating hatred requires a change in the mindset of people, at the societal level. It means making citizens aware of how their individual attitudes, words, gestures count. I consider that accepting, or rather embracing, diversity is the first step towards a more inclusive, hate-speech free society, said minister Srzentic.

Through implementation of the mandate of the Ombudsperson Institution in Montenegro, we are obliged to point out the key elements of our work which are reflected in proactive, promotional and preventive action in the protection of human rights and freedoms. In such a situation, the Ombudsperson's active role in preventing hate speech is a natural social need and an institutional reaction that is expected, sought and insisted on in preserving the human dignity and basic rights of all people whose freedoms are threatened by abuse of freedom of expression", said Sinisa Bjekovic, the Ombudsperson of Montenegro. The exhaustive list of reasons why restrictions on freedom of expression can be introduced clearly warns of the increased responsibility of all relevant state entities not to allow the cult of violence (which hate speech is in part) to prevail over a culture of dialogue, tolerance and understanding", he concluded.

Oana Cristina Popa, Ambassador of the European Union in Montenegro, underlined that the EU dedicates utmost attention to the topic of hate speech. We are witnessing a continuous increase in hate speech and there seems to be very little understanding when it comes to respecting differences, including difference of opinions. This is a very worrying trend, noted also here in Montenegro, specifically online. Children and young people are growing up seeing adults who are angry, disrespectful and intolerant towards others. There are too few role models spreading tolerance and love, and too many spreading hate. Our differences should stimulate love and empathy, rather than trigger hate and this is why this campaign is very much needed, she said. Ambassador Popa called upon all Montenegrin institutions, civil society organisations, social partners and the private sector to join the joint campaign for equality.

Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Director of Directorate of Anti-Discrimination of the Council of Europe, recalled the role of this Organisation at the forefront of the fight against hate speech in the continent. Through the No hate speech campaign and movement we involved thousands of young activists across Europe. This and many more actions seek to raise awareness of the harmful effects suffered by those targeted by hate speech, to counter the risk of alienation and radicalization and repair the damage to the cohesion of society. This week in Strasbourg, experts from our member states are working hard to agree on comprehensive new European standards for combating hate speech. But we cannot win the battle against hate speech without active engagement by the public. Respecting the dignity and the inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the responsibility of everyone in a democratic society, he said.

The Block the hatred. Share the love! campaign aims to combat various forms of hate speech targeting specific communities and individuals in Montenegrin society. It also aims to inform and educate the society and especially youth, about the role that everyone has in the fight against hate speech.

It will be rolled out online through the social media dedicated channels, in the media, as well as through public events. These activities will involve prominent public figures, institutions and activists, who will promote diversity and equality in Montenegro and in the region, through personal storytelling, testimonies and exchange of good practices.

The No-Hate Speech Ambassadors, prominent public figures such as tennis player Danka Kovinic; the Olympic Champion in high jump Marija Vukovic; Paralympic bronze medal winner in tennis table Filip Radovic; opera singer Tamara Radjenovic; and actress Dubravka Drakic decided to respond to the call of this campaign and engage actively with counter-narratives and behaviours. They will also join and actively take part in this movement.

The campaign is implemented within the action Promotion of diversity and equality in Montenegro, that is a part of joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022".

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A money expert says this is the ‘perfect number of bank accounts’ to havehere’s how she sets it up – CNBC

Posted: at 6:30 pm

Set a budget and stick with it. That's the advice that's been pounded into our heads as a golden rule of personal finance. But for many people, creating a budgeting plan is overwhelming, and following it is an even harder task.

As a financial analyst and host of the podcastPopcorn Finance, I get to hear about the effective strategies people use to make budgeting easier.

One of my favorites comes from money expert Sahirenys Pierce, who created the "High-5 Banking Method" as an easy way to manage her finances and build wealth.

True to its name, the High-5 Banking Method involves holding what Pierce calls the "perfect number of banking accounts" two checking accounts and three savings accounts.

The goal is to track individual budget areas in your accounts rather than in a spreadsheet, all while establishing a routine of transferring money to separate accounts each payday.

"When we teach kids how to count, we start with the basics of counting fingers from one to five, then move on to six to 10," says Pierce. "I wanted to make it that easy for us to remember how many bank accounts you need: just look at your hand."

High-5 Banking Method

Credit: Sahirenys Pierce

Each finger represents either a checking or a savings account:

This is for mandatory expenses, which typically take up a large percentage of your income. But not paying them can quickly affect your life and your credit score.

Examples:

This is for all your "wants." Transfer a set amount of money into the account each payday to cover whatever brings you joy. Once the account reaches zero, stop your spending until your next deposit.

Examples:

This financial safety net is reserved for potential future mishaps and unexpected expenses. Most experts recommend keeping at least three to six months' worth of living expenses.

We all have big dreams with a big price tag. This account allows you to easily track progress over time and allocate money to any goals that will take longer than 12 months to reach.

Examples:

The fifth and final account is for short-term goals that you want to reach within the next one to 12 months.

Examples:

You don't need to open all five accounts at once, says Pierce, especially if you don't have the financial means.

You can start with the three most important ones bills, lifestyle and emergency fund and then work your way up as you're able to contribute to different savings goals.

A few other tips Pierce recommends keeping in mind:

Chris Browningis financial analysis and creator and host of the award-winning podcastPopcorn Finance. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance and also works as a financial analyst specializing in revenue analysis. Follow him on Instagram.

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A money expert says this is the 'perfect number of bank accounts' to havehere's how she sets it up - CNBC

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CyrusOne Signs CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge – Business Wire

Posted: at 6:30 pm

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CyrusOne Inc. (NASDAQ: CONE), a premier global data center real estate investment trust (REIT), announced that it has joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge. The pledge calls upon CyrusOne and participating organizations to accelerate diversity and inclusion programs. Signing the pledge provides CyrusOne an enhanced framework to engage with stakeholders on DE&I issues, bring third-party expertise to existing DE&I efforts, and provide access to additional resources.

Supporting and investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives is a core tenant of our company. Signing this pledge means a great deal to us. At CyrusOne, our golden rule of respect for each other and the values that we each bring as individuals is paramount. Every day we strive to embrace different cultures and engage with our colleagues and customers in a way that reflects and respects their unique perspectives and experiences, said David Ferdman, Interim President and CEO of CyrusOne. It takes all of us across every industry to make impactful change, and I am excited to join this effort to make the necessary changes to push us forward.

The pledge includes four components and we have committed to action under each of them:

We appreciate the pledges framework to help us shape and sharpen our thinking on this crucial topic. For more information on programs at CyrusOne, visit the ESG pages on CyrusOne.com.

About CyrusOne

CyrusOne (NASDAQ: CONE) is a premier global REIT specializing in design, construction and operation of more than 50 high-performance data centers worldwide. The company provides mission-critical facilities that ensure the continued operation of IT infrastructure for approximately 1,000 customers, including approximately 200 Fortune 1,000 companies. A leader in hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud deployments, CyrusOne offers colocation, hyperscale, and build-to-suit environments that help customers enhance the strategic connection of their essential data infrastructure and support achievement of sustainability goals. CyrusOne data centers offer world-class flexibility, enabling clients to modernize, simplify, and rapidly respond to changing demand. Combining exceptional financial strength with a broad global footprint, CyrusOne provides customers with long-term stability and strategic advantage at scale.

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Hagen: Have we forgotten that words have meaning? – The Daily Republic

Posted: at 6:30 pm

Youve just formed the word Dad in American Sign Language.

The way people communicate is fascinating, and its something as an editor and father of two girls I think about quite a bit.

Three years ago, I had no idea how to sign much of anything. Then, I began joining my daughter for weekly speech and physical therapy classes. We put our masks over our faces, marched into the classroom and worked on communication with Zoey, whose smile and laughs speak more beautifully than words can express.

Zoey does not talk. Ive never heard my 3-year-old daughter say Dad. She signs it, in her own way, just by pointing at her forehead.

The quick explanation is Zoey has a growth disability, and many children with Russell-Silver Syndrome struggle with speech. Her endocrinologist (growth doctor) assures us she will talk on her time, but in the meanwhile we communicate mostly through sign and expression.

My wife and I have beautiful people in our lives -- from day care providers to speech and physical therapists, family and friends -- who are encouraging and remind us of the importance of pushing ahead with Zoey.

Surrounding ourselves with support is needed in a world that has too many people who take thoughtful communication for granted.

Mitchell Republic Editor Luke Hagen.

Take, for example, a 150-word text message I got from a community member. She made sure to share a barrage of thoughts and opinions on vaccines, mandates and what she called misinformation. I never responded.

Social media comments are getting more outrageous. Ive heard the excuse that technology is polluting the world. But its not that.

We should be using these platforms for networking and sharing goodness instead of arguing.

In fact, my wife and I have found online groups for parents of children with RSS. Just the other day, a mom asked if anyone else was struggling with speech for their youngster. I spoke up. So did others, and just like that, a whoosh of knowledge and help was available.

Its easy to send questionable comments from behind a computer screen, but ask someone who deals with the general public if theyre immune from personal attacks and out-of-the-blue outrage.

My wife works in customer service and takes horrible phone calls and comments from people, people who have never met her, that leave her speechless. Why are people so mean? she asks me. The benefit of working from home, she says, is a black lab is one hug away from feeling better.

The point, though, is when did we lose sight of the Golden Rule? When did we forget that words have meaning? Has all of this grown from people living in their own world, and anything that makes them uncomfortable or challenges their viewpoint sets them off?

Especially in the news business, we realize what job we signed up for -- writing and reporting on stories that not everyone will like. You have to have thick skin, and thats that. For as long as Ive been working at this newspaper, and for as long as news stories will be written, we expect to hear from our readers. We want feedback -- we want your opinion, but make it a respectful response. Were hardly the only business that deals with all of this.

Unfortunately, we live in a time when people are willing to give feedback raw and unfiltered more than ever.

Its too bad more folks dont realize how much wisdom there is in silence. Not everything needs an immediate, thoughtless response.

What better time of year than now to reflect upon how we talk to each other?

There really is a lot of value in words. Just ask Zoey.

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How to know if you binge-watch too much and what to do about it – TODAY

Posted: at 6:30 pm

The term binge-watch was a contender for the Oxford English Dictionarys 2013 word of the year. Although it didnt win (selfie ultimatelytook the crown), this pointed to the rise of what was becoming a popular activity of watching multiple episodes of a TV show in a single sitting.

Today, millions of us including me regularly consume our favourite series in this way.

The proliferation of streaming services over recent years has made it very easy to do. Unsurprisingly, during Covid-19 lockdowns,research showsmany of us spent more time binge-watching than usual.

But can binge-watching become problematic or addictive? And if you cant tear yourself away, what can you do?

Problematic binge-watching isnt defined by the number of episodes watched (although most researchers agree its at least two in a row), or a specific number of hours spent in front of the TV or computer screen.

As with other addictive behaviours, more important is whether binge-watching is having a negative impact on other aspects of the persons life.

Over many years studying addiction, Ive argued that all addictive behaviours comprisesix core components. In relation to binge-watching, this would mean:

In my view, any person who fulfils these six components would be genuinely addicted to binge-watching. A person who only fulfils some of these may be exhibiting problematic binge-watching, but wouldnt be classed as addicted by my criteria.

Like many other behavioural addictions, such as sex addiction, work addiction and exercise addiction, binge-watching addiction is not officially recognised in any psychiatric manuals.

We also dont have accurate estimates of the prevalence of problematic binge-watching. But research into this phenomenon is growing.

A LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE

In thelatest studyon this topic, a research team in Poland surveyed 645 young adults, all of whom reported that they had watched at least two episodes of one show in a single sitting. The researchers wanted to understand some of the factors underlying problematic binge-watching.

The authors (who based their definition of problematic binge-watching partly on mycomponents model of addiction) used a questionnaire they developed in anearlier studyto assess problematic binge-watching among participants.

Questions included: How often do you neglect your duties in favour of watching series? How often do you feel sad or irritated when you cant watch the TV series? and How often do you neglect your sleep to binge-watch series?

Participants had to give answers on a six-point scale from one (never) to six (always). A score above a certain threshold was deemed indicative of problematic binge-watching.

Using a range of other scales, the researchers found that impulse control difficulties, lack of premeditation (difficulties in planning and evaluating the consequences of a given behaviour), watching to escape and forget about problems, and watching to avoid feeling lonely were among the most significant predictors of problematic binge-watching.

Using the same data, the researchers reported in anearlier studythat problematic binge-watching had a significant association with anxiety-depressive syndrome. The greater the symptoms of anxiety and depression, the more problematic a persons binge-watching was.

Other studies have reportedsimilar findings. A study ofTaiwanese adults, for example, found problematic binge-watching was associated with depression, anxiety around social interaction and loneliness.

AnAmerican studyfound the behaviour was associated with depression and attachment anxiety. Most related studies likethis onefrom Portugal have also shown escapism to be a key motivation of problematic binge-watching.

In terms of personality traits,researchhas shown that problematic binge-watching appears to be associated with low conscientiousness (characterised by being impulsive, careless and disorganised) and high neuroticism (characterised by being anxious and prone to negative emotions).

We see these types of associations in addictive behaviours more generally.

BREAKING THE HABIT

If you want to cut down on the number of episodes you watch in one sitting, my golden rule is to stop watching mid-way through an episode. Its really hard to stop watching at the end of an episode as so often the show ends with a cliff-hanger.

I also suggest setting realistic daily limits. For me, its 2.5 hours if I have work the next day, or up to five hours if I dont. And only start watching as a reward to yourself after youve done everything you need to in terms of work and social obligations.

Remember, the difference between a healthy enthusiasm and an addiction is that the former adds to your life, whereas the latter detracts from it.

If you feel binge-watching is taking over your life, you should seek a referral from your GP to see a clinical psychologist. Most addictions are symptomatic of other underlying problems. THE CONVERSATION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mark Griffiths is director of the International Gaming Research Unit and professor of Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University.

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Text Message Scam, What is It and How to Spot It [2021] – Tech Times

Posted: at 6:29 pm

(Photo : Unsplash/ Alexandr Bormotin) Text messages

The average person these days is savvy enough to spot an email scam, which is why scammers have turned to text messages. Smishing (phishing via SMS) is on the rise, but here's how you can avoid falling prey to it.

The tactics of atext message scam are virtually identical to those used in a standard email phishing scam."Phishing" is when someone acts like a representative of a legitimate business or institution to steal personal information, like your credit card details, bank account information, or social security number.

It normally starts with an email that seems legitimate. Within the body of the email, there's a link to an "official" website that's designed to trick you into giving away your login credentials, personal details, or money. The website is usually indistinguishable from the actual company's, including the branding.

Also Read: Warning: This New iPhone Scam is Hiding in Your Text Messages

"Smishing" (a portmanteau of SMS and phishing) works almost identically. The scammer sends a text message with a link to potential victims. Normally, the message invites you to verify your account details, make a payment, or claim a prize, according to How to Geek.

Crafting a phishing email that doesn't immediately raise suspicion requires some skill. The scammer has to be mindful of branding and tone and make sure the email is error-free. He also has to hope a spam filter doesn't catch the email, according to PCMag.

Here are things to keep in mind the next time you receive an unsolicited text message that invites you to click a link.

Scammers will try anything to get you to click on their link. For example, they might say you've won something. But did you enter any sort of competition? You might be notified that you have a parcel to pick up, but are you expecting anything?

Sometimes, it's a gift card for a store where you don't shop. Other times it's a final notice for a bill you've never received before. I've received messages about "prizes" from airlines I've never flown with-and how often do airlines give away prizes, anyway?

Always remember the golden rule: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Most text message scams include a link, and, usually, the URL doesn't match the company name. However, even if it does, you have no way of knowing whether it's safe or not. Some of these scams are designed to spread malware, and, sometimes, all that requires a tap (or click) on a link.

To be safe, avoid tapping links in unsolicited text messages. In August 2019, people who own iPhones were exposed to malware simply by visiting a URL in Safari due to a zero-day exploit, according to Business Insider.

While this was the first (and, as of this writing, only) exploit of its kind, it's a reminder that you should never trust a random link.

It's surprisingly easy to create a carbon copy of a website simply by downloading the page and uploading it elsewhere. Sometimes, the whole website functions as it normally would, including the "About Us" links and other unrelated content.

Related Article: Amazon AirPods Raffle Scam: Your Account and Financial Data Could be at Risk; Here's How to Avoid It

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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From My Farmhouse Kitchen: Museum visits reminded us of veterans’ sacrifices – thelandonline.com

Posted: at 6:29 pm

It was a sunny day in August. The type of day when all of life is bright and carefree when we took this morning trip. Even our hearts were echoing the songs the birds were singing in praise to glorify their Creator.

We drove past fields of corn and soybeans growing as they ought at that time. Thankfully enough rain had come for the crops to look healthy. We even saw a few horses and cows soaking up the warm sunshine in green pastures.

Since we were in the tri-state region of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, there had to be a tractor or two in the fields to bring out that farmer in us. All seemed right and normal.

Our destination was the Herreid Military Museum in Luverne, Minn. I had been there before; but this time I was taking a friend, a WWII military veteran himself. He had served as a medic in various hospitals stateside.

While I had a general idea of where the museum was, I was thankful for the strategically placed signs to guide me directly to our destination. It is located in a building which once served as the county jail and sheriffs residence. In 2006 they moved out.

The museum itself is fairly young. Its birth can be traced directly to The War documentary Ken Burns produced. In his seven-part series, Burns focused on individual citizens in four American towns during World War II: Waterbury, Conn.; Sacramento, Calif.; Mobile, Ala.; and Luverne, Minn.

According to the Ken Burns website, 21 young men graduated from the Luverne high school in 1939. All but one served in this second world war. It would have been 100 percent participation, but the young man had a heart defect which kept him from entering World War II.

During the war years, Rock Countys population was 10,683. From that number, 1,065 served in the military. Thirty-two young men gave the ultimate sacrifice.

As you can see, Mr. Burns had good reasons for choosing Luverne to represent mid-America. The people of Luverne responded by continuing the work begun by his documentary. It is evident in this museum.

With many thanks to generous benefactors, Warren Herreid and Jeannine Rivet, the building was renovated to house the Brandenburg Gallery and the Herreid Military Museum. They felt it important to preserve the stories of Rock Countys brave men and women who had served. The movie had served as a springboard for their desire.

We began our tour with a general observance of the displays. It didnt take long for us to realize this was not your general war historical museum. Instead, it took on a more personal note. The displays featured real people from Rock County. They had actual names with parents, brothers and sisters. Some were married with children. They might even have been an outstanding sports athlete or a star farmer.

They were young men when they said their goodbyes with tears in the eyes to the people most precious to them. Mere lads, they were, with hopes and dreams of living a peaceful, productive life.

Instead, this war business had to be taken of first. There were others who were in dire need of their help, so they left their families and aspirations behind to protect freedom for us and others.

We progressed through the museum slowly because there is so much to see and absorb. Our conversations became less as we were beginning to more fully comprehend again and again what we were seeing.

It wasnt just visual. There were also oral and video histories which had been made by the Rock County Historical Society of the people who had served in the military.

We watched the documentary, The Fighter Pilots Story, that Quentin Aanenson put together with his son-in-law in the early 1990s. Mr. Aanenson produced and distributed this 90-minute documentary which includes real archive footage of the war. Aanenson talked candidly of the emotional and physical toll the war effort required from its soldiers. It is the documentary Ken Burns saw when he was doing his research on WWII.

The museum doesnt just focus on WWII. No, it begins with the Civil War because 70 percent of Rock Countys first settlers were Civil War veterans. It showcases all the wars continuing through present day freedom fighters. It appears that freedom requires constant vigilance.

The museum is all about heroes local heroes who gave of themselves so that we could enjoy pleasant days. We left the museum in a somber frame of mind with tears in our eyes. It is rather humbling to realize how much our freedom costs.

A few weeks later with the meaningful museum visit still uppermost in my mind, I was enjoying a draft horse show. There a man was wearing a t-shirt with these words: Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

In view of this truth, how then ought we to live our lives?

The Herreid Military Museum is located at 213 E. Luverne St. in Luverne, Minn. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Sunday.

On a side note, on Oct. 22 we visited the Hospers Historical Museum in Hospers, Iowa for the first time. It was another pleasant day. We enjoyed dinner at the Boxcar Caf.

The museum is located in the basement of the Hospers Public Library. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.

The first thing we saw when we came down the elevator was their military display. Uniforms from the different military branches and wars were on mannequins. Many with names, photos and a short history of the men who wore them in service.

The display on LeRoy Poppema really caught my attention. In 1967, this Hospers native enlisted in the Viet Nam war. He was trained to be a hospital corpsman and was assigned to the Marines Corps unit. He was only 22 years old when he was killed by a mortar explosion while rendering aid to a wounded Marine.

At an early age, he valued freedom not just for himself, but for others. He expressed his views in this essay while an eighth-grade student at the Hospers Christian School:

What Freedom Means to My Parents and Me

Kings have come and kings have gone, but the desire for freedom lingers on in the hearts of every one of our countrymen. The man of this bewildered world has always treasured freedom, but has often let freedom slip from his possession.

Freedom must be broad and deep, but it cannot be absolute and unlimited. It is also limited by the rights of the community and the general public. Liberty is not a license: We do not have the right to us use our freedom irresponsibly and unfairly, to injure other individuals to destroy their freedom and rights, or to endanger the welfare of a community as a whole. An important test of this maturity and responsibility is whether the individual citizen recognizes the moral and legal responsibility which goes along with exercise of his personal rights. We are obligated to exercise every right in such a way as not to interfere with another persons exercising of the same rights.

If the bulk of Americans do not understand or abide by this essential obligation, this Golden Rule which accompanies the exercise of freedoms, the eventual penalty, could be the loss of all freedoms to all of us. Freedom means enjoyment, privileges which were hard fought for by our forefathers. With our freedom we are being able to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience. Thanks be yet to God that I have the right to worship God in the church of my liking.

I am still a respectable citizen of the state and I can be individualistic and I can still express, and I can write of my own accord that is without using slang.

In the name of decency I can use my freedom of fair trial. I am not told what to do by the government. I can choose my own course. In short, we have a responsibility to use our freedom, to form associations in such a way that this right will aid the cause of protecting and broadening all human freedom.

LeRoy Warren Poppema

Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com.

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‘I actually thought I was going to die’: Man who was attacked by otters at Botanic Gardens – The Straits Times

Posted: at 6:29 pm

SINGAPORE - A man's visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens ended with a trip to the hospital, after a group of otters bit him in the legs, buttocks and finger.

The attack on Nov 30 left Mr Graham George Spencer with more than 20 wounds, with some requiring stitches.

It is not the first time that otters have attacked people here but animal welfare groups have said the animals are not typically aggressive and their actions could have been triggered by their perception that they were threatened.

Recounting the Nov 30 experience to The Straits Times on Thursday (Dec 9), Mr Spencer, a Singapore permanent resident, said: "I actually thought I was going to die - they were going to kill me."

The maid agency owner, who is British and in his 60s, said he was attacked at about 6.40am. He was at the end of a routine morning walk with a friend, and was approaching the Singapore Botanic Gardens' entrance near Taman Serasi.

He spotted about 20 otters crossing a dimly lit path about 4m in front of him. This was the first time he had seen otters in the park since he started his morning walks about five months ago.

The animals were moving quietly but "went crazy" after another man ran towards them. They tried to bite the runner, who avoided their attacks and moved past Mr Spencer.

"All of a sudden, they must have thought I was (the runner)," he added.

The otters targeted him, with some biting his ankles and causing him to fall face down. They zoomed in on his legs and buttocks, with one otter biting his finger.

His friend screamed and shouted at the animals, who stopped their action momentarily. The duo ran towards a nearby visitor centre with the otters giving chase for a short distance.

The centre was unattended when they arrived, with the guard manning it apparently returning from a break after about 10 minutes.

The guard provided bandages, with other park staff subsequently attending to Mr Spencer. Declining an offer to be taken to a hospital, he headed to the nearby Gleneagles Hospital with his friend.

He was given tetanus shots and oral antibiotics, and had some wounds stitched up, before being discharged on the same day.

He has returned to the hospital three times to treat his wounds and has spent about $1,200 in medical bills.

A sign warning visitors of what to do when encountering otters in the Botanic Gardens. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

He spoke to a representative from the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Friday (Dec 3), who told him that the authorities are investigating the incident.

Mr Spencer said he wants measures to be imposed to prevent a similar attack. "You got to keep the public away from (the otters) because this will happen again."

Mr Spencer, who said he has difficulty sitting and is unable to sleep well now, had earlier made plans to celebrate Christmas with his family in Britain but is uncertain whether he is well enough to travel.

Dr Tan Puay Yok, group director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, told The Straits Times that the National Parks Board - which manages the Gardens - is aware of an otter bite incident there and is in contact with the victim.

He added that otter bites in the Gardens and other parks are rare.

Dr Tan said visitors should observe wildlife from a safe distance, and avoid feeding or approaching them, especially when there are pups as the adults can be protective over their young.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens volunteers and staff monitor the movements of the otters and educate the public on the importance of observing them from a distance and not interacting with them, he added.

Signs with information on how the public can manage encounters have been placed throughout the Gardens.

This is not the first time otter attacks have made headlines here.

Shin Min Daily News reported in May this year that a 77-year-old man was bitten in the leg in Upper Boon Keng Road near the Kallang River.

A five-year-old girl was bitten at Gardens by the Bay in 2017.

Mr Bernard Seah, a member of the Otter Working Group, believes Mr Spencer was attacked by a family of smooth-coated otters called the "Zouk family" that have frequently visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens over the last few years.

Mr Seah, who has been tracking movements of otters here since 2012, said the family, which consist of nine adults and six pups, are "the most human-tolerant otter family" in Singapore.

"In my years of documenting otters' behaviours, I have never heard of such an aggressive attack. Such attacks are not common, and are likely to happen when the adult otters feel that the safety of their pups is threatened," he added.

Ms Anbarasi Boopal, co-chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, agreed, noting that otters are not typically aggressive.

She added that defensive behaviour is typical of other social, wild animals such as wild pigs and macaques.

"As Singapore grows into a city in nature, encounters with wild animals will soon become inevitable. So the golden rule is really to keep a safe distance from the animals," said Ms Boopal.

Mr Seah said otters "cannot differentiate between a person trying to take a photograph of them and someone trying to attack them. So it is always best to keep a distance".

He urged parents to keep watch on their children in parks and nature reserves, and not allow them to run around unsupervised.

Ms Boopal noted that while it is important to put up warning signs in parks, it boils down to the public's response.

"Otters and other wild animals cannot be trained so I encourage everyone to be mindful when coming across such wildlife. Always keep a safe distance and do not provoke them," she said.

Link:

'I actually thought I was going to die': Man who was attacked by otters at Botanic Gardens - The Straits Times

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Treat Other Counsel How You Wish to Be Treated: The Rules Versus the Golden Rule – Lexology

Posted: December 7, 2021 at 5:17 am

When a plaintiff serves a statement of claim, the Rules of Civil Procedure (the Rules) require that a defendant must serve a statement of defence within a prescribed time (usually 20 days), failing which the plaintiff can note the defendant in default and obtain default judgment. Default proceedings are a crucial mechanism for ensuring that defendants respond to claims and take them seriously.

The following is a situation that every plaintiff-side lawyer has been in before:

As counsel for the plaintiff, you have done everything right: you have courteously agreed to an extension and put in writing that no more extensions will be given. Counsel for the defendant did not heed your warning. Wouldnt you be completely within your rights under the Rules to note the defendant in default for failing to serve a defence in time?

So you go ahead and note the defendant in default.

According to Justice Myers in Strathmillan Financial Limited v. Teti, 2021 ONSC 7603, this isnt a grey area where there is room for professional discretion. Notwithstanding that the Rules allow for it, noting the defendant in default in these circumstances is wrong.

Strathmillan Financial Limited v. Teti

The plaintiff in this case sued the defendants for unpaid invoices.

Masters2 Decision

The plaintiff would not agree to set aside the noting in default. The defendants were required to have the noting in default set aside by a case management master, on a full motion. The master awarded $7,500 in costs against the plaintiff. The plaintiff sought leave to appeal the cost award (but not the decision to set aside the default), which is how the case came before Justice Myers.

Decision on Leave to Appeal Cost Award

An outrageous misuse of the default process under Rule 19 is how Justice Myers described the decision by plaintiffs counsel to note the defendants in default. He denied leave to appeal and ordered a further $6,000 in costs against the plaintiff.

Justice Myers went into detail regarding the responsibilities of counsel in these circumstances and what actions are, or more importantly are not, appropriate:

Advocates, and not the client, have the sole discretion to determine the accommodations to be granted to opposing counsel and litigants in all matters not directly affecting the merits of the cause or prejudicing the clients rights. Advocates should not accede to a clients demands that the advocate act in a discourteous or uncooperative manner.

Even if the client refuses the extension, absent actual prejudice, counsel must agree.

How Does This Affect How We Litigate a Case?

For starters, anyone who responds to the official looking letter described above with We will agree to X deadline, failing which we will take steps to note your client in default needs to revise their templates. The underlined words have no practical meaning and effective letter writing should not include making empty, meaningless threats. Based on Justice Myers comments, the response should say: failing which we will write to the court to request a case conference pursuant to Rule 50.13(1).

In cases where a delay creates real prejudice for the plaintiff, noting a party in default may not be as egregious. However, seeing as every plaintiffs counsel believes an action needs to be adjudicated immediately, the best course of action is likely still to request a case conference under Rules 50.13(1), but on an urgent basis.

This does create an opening for serious mischief on the part of a defendant who is participating in the action but doesnt deliver a defence. Counsel for the plaintiff is required to grant indulgences and extensions and does not have the ability to note a defendant in default. The plaintiff can request a case conference, but that request comes with its own delays before the case conference will be heard, particularly in a time where the court is backed up due to COVID-19.

Rule 57.01 sets out the factors in making a cost order and specifically provides that any conduct by a party to lengthen unnecessarily the duration of a proceeding should be considered when making a cost order. While Justice Myers determined that the demand from counsel for the plaintiff to justify why more time was needed was improper, that doesnt mean that a defendant will not be held accountable if there was in fact no justifiable excuse for the delay. In order to prevent defendants from abusing the law set out in Justice Myers decision, case management associate justices can hold defendants accountable for forcing the plaintiff to a case conference by imposing strict timelines for the action and making cost orders against defendants who make plaintiffs jump through these hoops unnecessarily.

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Boris Johnsons rule is a throwback to the 18th-century golden age of sleaze – The Guardian

Posted: at 5:17 am

Corruption is a word used nervously in the UK. Were quite happy applying it to other countries; but in Britain even critics of the status quo can be surprisingly reluctant to describe as corrupt our societys tight, often concealed circulation of power and rewards.

Partly, this is because corruption is a slippery concept. There has never been a single, fixed, universal definition, wrote Mark Knights of Warwick University in 2016. Notions about what is unfair, unjust or immoral change over time.

As a small, centralised country with a huge capital city, Britain has for centuries been run by elites with overlapping memberships and interests, and offered a wide range of services to foreigners with dubious fortunes. To attack this system as corrupt is to risk being called unworldly and experience feelings of deep frustration and futility. From the House of Lords to the City of London, the capital is lined with ancient institutions that anti-corruption campaigners have failed to cleanse.

Yet there are periods when the charge of corruption suddenly acquires potency. Having struggled for two years to find an effective way of criticising Boris Johnsons government, Labour seems finally to have discovered one. Corruption, said the partys deputy leader, Angela Rayner, on Monday, is rife right through this Conservative government. Keir Starmer, often too measured, has become just as blunt about the issue.

Johnsons response I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country has been floridly unconvincing even by his standards. Most voters disagree with him. According to YouGov, 80% think there is a lot or a fair amount of corruption in British politics, and only 1% think there is none . Since the corruption controversy took off, the Tories have dropped in the polls.

The word corruption sometimes suggests something past its peak and beginning to decay. And despite their efforts to pretend otherwise, the Conservatives have been in office for a long time. But more often corruption suggests something spreading, swelling, mutating, becoming monstrous. The constant acquisition of power and resources by Johnsons Tories and their corporate allies has those qualities: from the appointment of cronies to public office to the funnelling of state funds to Tory constituencies to the awarding of government contracts to friends, relations and supporters a practice for which the Omicron variant may open up more opportunities.

Previous governments have done sleazy things, but few have done them so systematically and blatantly. When Tony Blair was prime minister, the anti-corruption group Transparency International gave the UK scores in the 80s (out of 100) in its annual index: good, but not outstanding by the groups standards. Under Johnson, the UK scores in the 70s.

Appropriately for an administration that shows contempt for parliamentary democracy, the British ruling culture that Johnsons increasingly resembles is a pre-democratic one: the once-infamous Old Corruption of the 18th and 19th centuries. Government jobs were routinely sold and public money was distributed to people with political leverage. As the state grew, expanded by wars rather than a pandemic, new functions were carried out by private companies whose ability to win contracts and extract profits far exceeded their operational effectiveness. The prime minister sat contentedly at the centre of this system. A satirical cartoon from 1740 shows Robert Walpole an Old Etonian like Johnson, who governed for more than 20 years as a giant figure stretched over ye Doors of all ye Publick Offices, waiting for supplicants to kiss his exposed buttocks.

Johnson is like an 18th-century politician, with his shamelessness, elaborate but untrustworthy rhetoric, and enrichment of favourites. And, like his style of government, at first Old Corruption seemed immune to criticism. It took a century of campaigning by radicals such as the journalist and MP William Cobbett for the system to start being dismantled.

We live in faster times now. Johnsons ascendancy has lasted little more than a 10th as long as Walpoles, and already there are signs it could be ending. The exposure of corruption may be particularly damaging for this government because Johnson has so emphatically promised to spread resources and opportunities more widely not to hand them to an even narrower circle. Setting up VIP lanes for companies with Conservative links is hardly levelling up.

Such inside-dealing is part of a bigger Tory project that predates the Johnson government. During George Osbornes period as chancellor, his grand strategy, according to his biographer Janan Ganesh, was the calculated use of [government] policy to change Britain in his partys favour. Austerity was intended to shrink one of Labours main bases of support: public sector employees. Under Johnson, patronage of certain firms is intended to create an even more Tory-friendly private sector.

The coherence and cleverness of all this should not be overstated. The Tory governments since 2010 have often been haphazard, with last-minute policies and limited capacity for longterm thinking, as the frustrated departures of more ambitious strategists such as Dominic Cummings and Steve Hilton have indicated.

Yet one of the lessons of the past 11 years is that even mediocre Tory governments can be transformative. They act as conduits for powerful forces, such as corporations wanting to run state services. The Johnson governments corruption stems as much from modern Conservatisms emptiness as its over-confidence.

Labours response to all this works as a political message. With the rectitude of a former prosecutor, Starmer promises a truly independent anti-corruption and anti-cronyism commission. A Starmer government would almost certainly be much less sleazy.

But after a reshuffle that left the shadow cabinet with few fundamental critics of our economys incestuous workings and one of them, Ed Miliband, effectively demoted any Labour anti-corruption drive feels likely to be limited. The Johnson government may end in disgrace, but Britains insiders will keep prospering.

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