From Liberian Rebels to the Afghan Front Lines

Photographer and documentary filmmaker Tim Hetherington tells of his work

By Joshua Philipp for The Epoch Times

Read the full article about Tim Hetherington in a talk with Mario Tama at NYU on The Epoch Times’ website

NEW YORK—He has taken a unique approach to documentary journalism: living his stories. From the battlefields of the Liberian Civil War to the front lines in Afghanistan, documentary filmmaker and award-winning photographer Tim Hetherington has experienced his stories in ways that few have.

During a presentation at New York University on Dec. 8 Hetherington explained his art and shared his insights on what he has witnessed.

He has seen what the rebels and soldiers have seen, marched where they marched, and shot a different element of the battle. Rather than focus his work on the carnage and violence which characterizes war, Hetherington instead turned his camera inward—toward the soldiers and the lives behind the uniforms. Young men with guns.

His art took form during the Liberian Civil War which lasted from 1999 to 2003. A friend approached him with an offer he couldn’t refuse—to live with the rebel forces, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) who would eventually remove President Charles Taylor from power and establish a new rule.

“My work is really born out, initially, as a kind of witnessing or engagement,” said Hetherington.

Rather than make a one-time visit to shoot photos of the aftermath, Hetherington returns again and again, which allows for a “perceptual process” to develop in his work, as he explains it.

“I was kind of inside the war,” he said. “I mean we lived with these guys and there was no way out. We couldn’t fly in or fly out, we lived with them. It was the rainy season, we had little food, and we lived in pretty extreme circumstances.” Hetherington was embedded with Liberian rebels with a friend and fellow journalist.

Read the full article about Tim Hetherington in a talk with Mario Tama at NYU on The Epoch Times’ website

Filed under: Uncategorized , Afghanistan, Infidel, Liberia, Mario Tama, NYU, Restrepo, Tim Hetherington, Tim Hetherington talk

A Coffee Shop Oasis in the Big City

Read the full article about Birch Coffee at The Epoch Times online here

NEW YORK—Grabbing a cup of coffee in any of America’s cities is a common occurrence. But for those who savor the experience of going to the coffee shop and spending time relaxing in a homey environment, things aren’t what they used to be.

For example, Midtown Manhattan is an area full of busy, working professionals. But there is an appalling shortage of welcoming environments to have a cup of coffee and relax undisturbed.

That’s part of what makes Birch Coffee, co-founded by owners Jeremy Lyman and Paul Schlader, such a rare find—even in a metropolis like New York City. Even harder to find than a good cup of coffee is a quiet corner—and Birch Coffee has both. Its charm stems in part from the owners’ personal love of their business.

“A few years ago, I was contemplating what I wanted to do, and I really enjoyed hanging out in coffee shops,” says Lyman. So he combined his love of caffeine and kicking back with his professional experience. “I’ve worked in restaurants and just have a passion for it.”

Read the full article about Birch Coffee at The Epoch Times online here

Filed under: Uncategorized , Birch Coffee, coffee shops in Manhattan, independent coffee shops, Jeremy Lyman, Manhattan coffee, Manhattan coffee shops, New York City coffee shops, New York espresso, Paul Schlader

Israel Orders Partial Settlement Freeze in West Bank

By Genevieve Long for The Epoch Times

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ABOUT WEST BANK SETTLEMENT FREEZE BY CLICKING HERE

Israel says that it will partially halt new settlement building in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday his cabinet’s decision of a “policy of restraint” during a press conference in Jerusalem.

New residential construction permits and new residential construction in the West Bank for Israelis will be suspended for 10 months.

One goal of the decision was described by Netanyahu’s administration as a way to push peace talks with the Palestinian Authority forward.

“We hope that this decision will help launch meaningful peace negotiations to reach a historic peace agreement that will finally end the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel,” said Mr. Netanyahu in a speech that was published on the Israel minister of foreign affairs Web site.

Recent census data put the population of Israelis living in the region at over 300,000. Settlements are groupings of Israelis in the West Bank that range from medium-sized, well-established cities to small illegal outposts of several families. Jurisdictional control in the West Bank is mixed between full Palestinian control, full Israeli control, and mixed control. The average West Bank resident lives amidst a mixture of Arab villages and Israeli settlements.

The U.S. Department of State emphasized the move’s pivotal role in the peace process in a statement on their Web site from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“We believe that through good-faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome which ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines,” said Ms. Clinton.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ABOUT WEST BANK SETTLEMENT FREEZE BY CLICKING HERE

Filed under: Uncategorized , Israel, Netanyahu announcement, West Bank, West Bank settlement freeze

Self-Publishing Book Expo in NYC Today

The first annual self-publishing book expo is in New York City today, November 7. The expo is open to the public and will feature authors, editors, publishers, and the like-minded. At the Sheraton in Manhattan on 53rd (E train to 53rd and 6th).

For more information, go to the expo’s website.

Filed under: Uncategorized , Self-Publishing Book Expo

Omissions, Inconsistencies Found in John Liu’s Campaign Finance Disclosures

read more about John Liu’s New York City comptroller campaign finance inconsistencies here

by Joshua Philipp for The Epoch Times

NEW YORK—After reviewing New York City Comptroller Candidate, John Liu’s campaign finances, discrepancies were found between contributions from donors as listed by the campaign, and information obtained directly from the donors.

Several of Liu’s fundraising events were held by Chinese Associations in New York—most of which have strong connections with the Chinese Consulate and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Required information is also missing on several donors.

A source in the Chinese community in Flushing said several of the names listed on Liu’s financial disclosure never donated. After calling some of Liu’s more than 4,500 listed donors—although many refused to speak—some revealed inconsistencies between their records and Liu’s.

One man (name withheld) is listed as having donated $1,000 to Liu’s campaign. When The Epoch Times phoned him, he said he donated only $50.

Another man (name withheld,) the manager of a business, said he and several others pulled together $1,000 to donate to Liu under a single check. According to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, gathering funds from multiple people and donating them under a single name is called a “nominee contribution,” which is against New York City Campaign Finance Board’s (NYCCFB) laws.

read more about John Liu’s New York City comptroller campaign finance inconsistencies here

Filed under: Uncategorized , John Liu, New York City Comptroller

Divine Performing Arts trumpet player

Jazzy Jane, originally uploaded by genois477.

Jane Hudson, a trumpet player with the Divine Performing Arts (www.divineperformingarts.org) Orchestra, in New York City. (Genevieve Long)

Filed under: Uncategorized

Video of Plane Landing on Hudson

Via MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28705681#28705681

Filed under: Uncategorized , crash landing, Hudson, Hudson River, plane crash

A Love of Hot Chocolate

No matter where we come from, Americans have a love of hot chocolate. Particularly this time of year. It could have something to do with Christmas–or as people so blithely call it nowadays, “the holidays”.

I live in New York City, one of the world’s intersections of cultures, customs, and countries. At the office where I work, there are roughly 28 languages spoken, a dozen countries represented, and about 5 religions observed. The religions include Muslim, Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Falun Gong, Protestant, and even some new age beliefs. There is one self-proclaimed atheist who says he believes in nothing but himself. It is a microcosm of New York City, so many people believing–or not believing–so many things. And trying to live together as peacefully as possible. For New Yorkers, what passes for peaceful might be considered rude anywhere else in the country. But all things considered, we get along quite well.

So when it comes time for Christmas, arguably the biggest holiday of the year in America, why the aversion to saying Merry Christmas? Instead, we get stuck with a friendly but dispassionate, “Happy Holidays”. What holidays? Muslims celebrate Eid a month before Christmas. Jews have important holidays months away from December. Falun Gong practitioners recognize a day of religious significance on May 13. So who are we wishing what?

During this Christmas season, I have said “Merry Christmas” to people whom I know for a fact are Catholic or Christian. Why, then, do they hesitate or refuse to say it back?

Maybe we should think about what we have in common this time of year, instead of what makes us different. Like hot chocolate, warm and familiar and part of the American cultural fabric, most Americans have Christmas memories and wishes.

One cup of hot chocolate, rich and caloric as it is, won’t ruin our girlish figures. One “Merry Christmas” won’t be offensive to whomever we say it to. Maybe it would be a warming, familiar tiding of goodwill that–for most Americans–would remind us of our traditions of generosity, selflessness, cheer, and love of fellow man.

Even if it is only for one month of the year, a little Christmas cheer goes a long way.

Filed under: Uncategorized , Christmas, holiday

Scryve Set to “Become the Zagat of the Environmental and Social World”

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE–SOURCE: TREEHUGGERS

Scryve is a green ranking for companies so that you can quickly and easily see how businesses rank in greenness, and compare companies to make more environmentally conscience purchasing decisions without having to spend hours looking up company info and doing your own analysis.

As the creators say, they’re set to be the Zagat of greenness.

Basically, you can search their site or download a widget you can install so that a ranking pops up on the website you’re visiting. Read on for more about how their ranking works, how you can utilize their database, and how you can get them $40k to expand green rankings.

How Scryve Works
Scryve’s ranking is based on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the most green. Based on a company’s environmental and social records, they’re given a number. A user will see the ranking number, and can read more details about why the company earned, say, a 5. Readers are given a “big picture narrative” rather than intricate details about the company’s history, making at-a-glance reference easier.

Scryve Generalizes the Details for Quick Reference
If you’re searching for highly personalized info about the company, this isn’t the tool for you. It’s really more for quick reference and comparison. The information provided in each area that is used for ranking is boilerplate. You’ll get the same write up for the same ranking in certain areas – basically telling you the gist of what they’re doing in that area that earned them their number. They don’t go into detail about specific actions or policies for each company – which is perfectly understandable considering they already have thousands of rankings and are working on ever expanding their database. It’d take countless hours to keep on top of highly personalized info for each company in the database.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE–SOURCE: TREEHUGGERS

Filed under: Uncategorized , environment, green, social responsibility

WIRED Showcases Innovative Small Businesses

By Genevieve Long

Wired Biz is investing in the future of online innovation by putting its money where its mouth is. The website, an offshoot of WIRED magazine, will give one small business a $40,000 cash prize at the end of a month-long competition running through the end of December. The five competing businesses were chosen from self-entries in the Wired Small Biz program following months of judging.

WIRED Biz was created through a partnership between WIRED, Brother International Corporation and American Express OPEN and launched in Aug. 2008. The site’s goal is to be a destination site for the benefit of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Voting for the competition winner will continue through the month of December.

 

Among the competitors are a web-based platform for connecting creative talent with projects, an innovative speaker system for the iPhone and iPod Touch, an online tool for checking the social and environmental ranking of corporations, an online music publishing house for independents, and classic, easy-to-wear board shorts that help the environment.

To vote: http://www.wired.com/wiredsmallbizprogram

crowdSPRING

www.crowdspring.com

Ross Kimbarovsky was an intellectual property lawyer and his friend Mike Samson was a Hollywood producer, but they had a common problem—the challenge of finding good creative talent. The Chicago-based venture crowdSPRING, born out of a desire to connect talent with those looking for it, was launched in mid-2008. The first “creative”—as the company calls them—who bid for and completed a project turned out to be a nighttime janitor with a knack for creative design. In seven months since, 15,000 projects have been posted. Says co-founder Mike Samson about the chance creatives have to bid on and win projects, “It’s purely on the basis of their talent”.

Scryve

www.scryve.com

Arthur and Alexander Gillett were finding themselves involved in so many conversations about how to evaluate the social and environmental responsibility of companies they decided to make a living out of it. The Brooklyn-based brothers created an online destination for curious consumers that ranks companies based on their environmental and social behavior. The best ranking is 10, the worst is a 1, and alternative companies are offered. Users can search Scryve’s website to find rankings or install a web tool that will automatically tell the ranking of a company when on their site. Says co-founder Arthur Gillett, “The idea was like, ‘Wow, this is something that could really change the world’”.

Greenlines

www.greenlines.com

Brothers Jerry and Sam Delaney were in the ocean on Memorial Day of 2007 when they decided to do something about what they saw as a lack of classic board shorts. The New Jersey natives, who were tired of board shorts below the knee and with crazy patterns, took the concept a step beyond making money. Greenlines shorts, launched in the summer of 2008, are made out of 100 percent recycled polyester, and 5 percent of every purchase goes back to protect the ocean and marine life of the community the purchase was made. Says co-founder Jerry Delaney, “This isn’t just about one product—it’s the philosophy of our company”.

livespeakr

www.livespeakr.com

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and in Erik Groset’s case it’s true. The recent college graduate, whose grandfather was an inventor, realized that the iPhone and iPod Touch needed more and better sound quality. So he and Robin Defay created livespeakr, ultra-portable speakers that attach to the iPhone and iPod Touch and can fit in your pocket. The speakers can expand, contract, and rotate to portrait and landscape modes, and are is shielded against radio frequency and cell phone interference.

 

Tone Box Digital

www.toneboxdigital.com

Jason Bradford created Tone Box Records, Inc. in late 2004 as an outlet for the world of digital music. The site gives independent artists a way to create, market and sell their projects internationally. According to Tone Box’s website, it currently has over 50 digital outlets, including iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, Rhapsody, Starbucks and others. Amazon, live365, Accuradio, and mp3.com have also signed agreements with Tone Box for online promotion.

Filed under: Uncategorized