http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0
We are far too informed about the consequences resulting in not eating whole foods to allow a relatively intelligent society of people to consume the junk that large corporations shovel down our throats and promote as healthy food alternatives for people living in a fast-paced society. Such societies exist so that food corportations can profit from it rather than to actually nourish a society of people properly. Such is the case in a free-market where terms like economics and profit out weigh and over-power ideas of health and wellness, when as a people, it is the latter terms that truly perpetuate a society. The time is now to act upon this knowledge and become accountable for what we are putting into our bodies as so called "food" and to stop ignoring the fact that taking 10 minutes to prepare something real, far out weighs the anxst of only allowing yourself to wait 2 minutes for something zapped in a microwave. Processed and refined foods, such a those quick fix, so-called healthy meals, extract the essence of what we require from these vegetal whole foods for proper nourishment. Minerals and vitamins, known as micronutrients, are in our diets, but in very small amounts. Micronutrients, just like water, do not provide energy, however they are still needed in adequate amounts to ensure that all our body cells function properly. Even though their presence is in minute amounts it should by no way diminish their importance to nutrition. In today's world, the macronutrients get all the attention. We are suffocated with new-age diets. Diets that only focus on carbohydrates, proteins, or fat. We have become obsessed with either eliminating or adding the latter three to our diets. We do this and mistakenly forget that there are other elements to our diet that cannot be over-looked. The fourth macronutrient is water, and although all four of these are hugely important and make up the bulk of our diets, the micronutrients cannot be ignored. This brings us back to refined and processed foods and how the quintessential aspect of whole vegetal foods is being removed and we are left with a less than adequate substitute. In North America, a land of plenty, many people are highly deficient in minerals as a result of our food production and processing methods. As such, these deficiencies can lead to degenerative diseases.
Consider grain before it is milled into flour - "wheat berries". These whole-wheat seeds can comprise dozens of minerals and micro-minerals if grown in rich soil. They also contain immuno-protective phyto-nutrients as well as vitamins and precious oils. In the refining process, as in done in the milling of wheat berries, we obtain “white” flour used in common pastries, donuts, pastas and breads. However, in this process, the majority, if not all, of these nutrients are lost. As co-habitants of earth with all things living, it would only make sense for us to grow strong and remain healthy, by ingesting the wonders of what Mother Nature provides us.
The following is a very brief list of vitamins and minerals that we require in our diets, if only in trace amounts.
Selenium - If deficient, sluggish metabolism results and weight gain more likely because selenium influences the transformation of thyroxin (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3), which makes possible the metabolism of nutrients. Whole wheat is a great source for selenium.
Magnesium - Most common deficiency in people eating mass amounts of refined foods. Up to 70% of North Americans suffer from magnesium deficiency and is considered one of the most under-diagnosed deficiencies, but very easily solved. Food sources include legumes (beans, soy products, peas) and vegetables of the green variety (broccoli, spinach)
Vitamin B Complex: The B complexes are important membrane stabilizers. They are natural tranquilizers or anti-stress vitamins because of this property. They are important vitamins to help nerve function. Commonly deficient and if taken in supplement form should be taken with food in the stomach already or pain and nausea may be evident. Food sources include milk, yeast, liver, whole-grain cereals, nuts, eggs, yogurt, fruits, meats and leafy vegetables.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Is Sport Significant?
Sport has become a major industry as well as a major cultural preoccupation in the contemporary world. Cities are increasingly using major sporting events and activities to re-image themselves, promote urban development, fund economic growth and regeneration, as well as implement policy and programs for social and physiological harmony. In Canada, The Federal Policy for Hosting International Sporting Events (2008) provides a framework for the delivery of Sport Canada`s hosting program. The policy recognizes the growing interest in hosting sporting events, not only as a stimulus to sport development, but also as an economic and community development tool. Before the 1950s, most stadiums and arenas for professional sporting events were paid for entirely by the owners of the teams. In 1951, Ford Frick, the commissioner of major league baseball, then the most popular sport, decided that the owners should insist that state and local government officials provide subsidies for new baseball stadiums. He felt that public subsidies were justified because baseball brings many benefits to state and local economies beyond the games themselves. Seldom has a commissioner done more for the owners of professional teams. Public officials wholeheartedly embraced his idea, to the point that large public subsidies for stadiums and arenas became commonplace. (Tresch, 2008). This paper will continue to explore reasons why governments should subsidize sport. The following points will be discussed; the economic impact of sport on a City, the quality of life sport provides citizens, the community involvement sport offers, and finally the consumer surplus afforded by sports and sporting venues. Preceding these favourable topics to stadium subsidization will be a look at the contrary beliefs before the paper concludes.
Economic Impact
There has been much debate in recent years over the possible economic impact that a stadium and it`s professional sport team might bring into a city. Cities are at a point where they must become centers of entertainment for those living in the suburbs. Professional sports arenas/stadiums accomplish this effectively and provide a public good to the surrounding community with jobs, business, entertainment and a general improvement of living standards. The positive economic outcomes do not address the public policy consequences of governments lowering the cost of team ownership and the bias this introduces into leisure activity markets. In addition, as a result of several court decisions and legislative actions, sports leagues enjoy limited protections from market forces that should be identified as part of the public’s investment in the financial success of teams (Rosentraub, 1999). Hamilton and Kahn (1997) noted that if the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens produced annual intangible benefits valued at $20 or more by each household (less than $2 per month), the public sector investment in the sports facilities would produce sufficient benefits to exceed the cost. Rosentraub and Swindell (2005) found that residents in Indiana placed sufficient value on the intangible benefits of the Indianapolis Colts to create a positive return on the public’s investment in a new stadium. These studies raise the possibility that the intangible benefits generated by teams could offset any investment by governments that is not recouped through pecuniary returns. Carlino and Coulson (2004), relying on regression models, found the presence of a National Football League franchise in a region accounted for an 8% increase in rent levels. Santo (2005) included newly designed sports facilities in a reassessment of a previous study of the effect of teams on regional income levels (Baade & Dye, 1990) and found regions with teams and new facilities had higher income levels. Downtown locations offer a synergy with other entertainment and business activities that have generated higher levels of economic development (Nelson 2001), even with teams capturing more spending by fans at facilities. The location of sports facilities in downtown areas has also been found to change some regional employment and development patterns (Austrian & Rosentraub, 2002). If tax money was used to build these arenas and stadiums and it provides all of these benefits to the city, then it seems to be money well spent.
Quality of Life
Sport provides an externality related to the overall quality of life that is absent from most other goods and services. Sport is a public good, and as such the consumption of the good by one individual does not reduce availability of the good for consumption by others; and that no one can be effectively excluded from using the good. (Stevens 2009). A professional sports team may bring external benefits in the form of people gaining utility from having a shared rooting interest in the team, whether they attend the games or not, or possibly by generating a sense of civic pride, much as is derived from having a world class symphony orchestra or botanical garden. (Tresch, 2008). After all, the New York Yankees are truly beloved throughout New York. Not all New Yorkers are emotionally attached to the Yankees, of course, but if enough of them are then the externality from having the team could be quite large. These kinds of non-marketed, quality-of-life externalities are difficult to estimate. Let us take a look at an amateur sporting event and the rallying of a community behind it. In the Niles Township (Illinois) High School District, community volunteers, local businesses, and school employees collaborated to acquire and install lights for the school football field. (Nix, 1982). Sport has this capacity to bring people together and give a sense of pride and belonging to a community, even at the amateur level. Professional teams can do the same, and these teams -- especially when successful -- provide a psychological boost to city residents and, in the process, benefit the city. Economists nearly universally agree that stadium subsidies are bad for a city's economy. Where these analyses fail, however, is in the importance to capture the impact of sports teams on civic pride.
Sport and Community Involvement
Many state and local governments have subsidized the construction of arenas and stadiums for the use of professional sports teams. They often justify the subsidies with claims that the stadiums generate positive externalities, including public goods and community inclusiveness. As Owen (2003) states, professional teams have a publicly good element about them, and stadiums, subsidized or not, are an important factor in bringing this public good to the community. This is very similar to the point Santo (2005) makes, when he discusses sport stadiums as development tools that can be used to revitalize the community. Toronto Mayor David Miller announced recently that with Provincial and Federal government approvals now in place, a plan by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to increase public access to year-round soccer facilities and install grass at BMO Field can proceed. Miller went on to say that “the agreement of our government partners means tremendous things for soccer at both the community and professional levels.”(Girard, 2009). The upgrades to these facilities, which includes BMO Field and Lamport Stadium, will result in more than 2,500 more hours available for community sport use and have met with support from the Canadian and Ontario soccer associations as well as residents and businesses near Lamport Stadium in Liberty Village. (Girard, 2009). Miller continued to say that “this is a terrific example of the public and private sectors working together to build our city and the sport of soccer and also means good things for the community and for the players on Toronto FC and all our National teams.”(Girard, 2009). Mayoral influence aside, this particular show of community involvement has others believing in the good it will do to this particular community. Bob Hunter, the executive vice-president of venues and entertainment for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment had this to say: “Converting BMO Field into a natural grass surface will have tremendous benefits for our community, our city, Toronto FC and soccer in Canada. BMO Field's natural grass surface will support growing and developing soccer at amateur, national and professional levels, by creating greater levels of access and opportunity.” (Girard, 2009).
Consumer Surplus
One of the real sources of benefits of sports teams is their surplus value to consumers. The consumer surplus is the amount that consumers benefit by being able to purchase a product for a price that is less than they would be willing to pay. As Owen (2003) states, fans can benefit from the mere presence of a team, without attending games or even watching them on television by following the progress of a team in television reports and newspapers, or by word of mouth. Coliseums can create consumer surplus benefits by providing types of entertainment to local residents that would otherwise not be available to them. Subsidizing sports stadiums or multipurpose coliseums catalyzes these facilities to provide locally unique forms of entertainment that create enough consumer surpluses to make these projects socially worthwhile. Irani (1997) estimated aggregate consumer surplus from major league baseball franchises based on regression estimates of the demand for major league baseball games. Also, in an analysis of the consumer surplus from all three U.S. major league sports, Alexander, Kern and Neill (2000), using ticket revenue along with alternative parameter values for the price elasticity of demand, estimated consumer surplus from major league baseball, basketball and hockey franchises. Both of these studies find that the consumer surplus from major league sports franchises are substantial. Successful teams may instil a pride in a community even for the people who are not particularly interested in the team. In economic terms, fans can be free riders, and provision of the public good by the government is a well-known solution to the free-rider problem. These benefits, although difficult to measure, are the only way to truly calculate the social value of teams.
On the Contrary
Economists are almost unanimous that government financing of stadiums is a bad investment for the economy. However, governments continue to finance stadium constructions for the economic benefits that they are supposed to provide as well as others reasons such as those stated above. The debate for those against can incense and enrage. How can governments possibly entertain the idea of subsidizing sport? Nadar (2000) argues that even if a stadium is subsidized, these houses of sport only cater to the rich. In his Boston Globe article he states: “Real fans will end up being second-class citizens as ticket prices increase and affordable seats are placed farther away from the field as luxury boxes become a priority. Regular fans, families, and other non-corporate patrons will be relegated to the seats above and behind the luxury boxes and club seats.” Others argue that education, healthcare and infrastructure should be the main priorities of government funding. Sport is just not considered to be a top priority, and should not be for those legislators whom provide the subsidiaries. The Sport Welfare system is only maintained by the perception of several popular myths, such as Cities with pro teams will be deemed “Major League”, that an improvement of the quality of life will result and that it sport provides family entertainment, however the acquiescence of public officials to the demands and often times the threats of owners has often been referred to as “legal extortion” At the end of the day, the only true winners in sport subsidiaries are the millionaire players and billionaire owners.
Conclusion
As participants, spectators, or volunteers, people are attracted to sport — arguably more than to any other activity. This popularity transcends national, cultural, socio-economic and political boundaries and can be invoked with success in virtually any community in the world. Sport’s popularity derives in large part from the fact that, when done right, it is fun and enjoyable for everyone — participants and spectators alike. In contexts where people are faced with difficult and unrelenting challenges in their day-to-day lives, the value of this dimension of sport should not be underestimated. Sport is an inherently social process bringing together players, teams, coaches, volunteers and spectators. Sport creates extensive horizontal webs of relationships at the community level, and vertical links to national governments, sport federations, and international organizations for funding and other forms of support. Sport has emerged as global mass entertainment, and has become one of the most powerful and far-reaching communications platforms in the world. Because global sport events offer the capacity to reach vast numbers of people worldwide, they are effective platforms for public education and social mobilization.
By extension, high-performance athletes have become global celebrities in their own right, enabling them to serve as powerful ambassadors, spokespeople and role-models for development and peace initiatives. This paper has explored the positives of sport and what it can do for a community as a whole. Through thorough analysis of economic impact, quality of life, community involvement and consumer surplus, it is obvious to see why governments should provide subsidies for sport.
References
Alexander, D. L., W. Kern and J. Neill, Valuing the Consumption Benefits from
Professional Sports Franchises, Journal of Urban Economics, 2000,321–37.
Austrian, Z., & Rosentraub, M. (2002). Cities, sports, and economic change: A retrospective assessment. Journal of Urban Affairs, 24(5), 549-565.
Baade, R. A., & Dye, R. (1990). The impact of stadiums and professional sports on metropolitan area development. Growth and Change, 18, 1-14.
Baade, Robert A, Nikolova, Mimi and Matheson, Victor A. (2006). A Tale of Two Stadiums:Comparing the Economic Impact of Chicago’s Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field. College of Holy Cross, Department of Economics Faculty Research Series, No 06-08, pages 1-14
Carlino, G., & Coulson, N. E. (2004). Compensating differentials and the social benefits of the NFL (Working Paper). Philadelphia, PA: Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Federal Policy for Hosting International Sport Events. (2008). Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 1-12
Girard, Daniel. (2009). Grass at BMO Field expected to get city approval. The Toronto Star, September 29th, 2009.
Groothuis, Peter A & Johnson, B.K & Whitehead, J.C. (2004). Public Funding of Professional Sports Stadiums: Public Choice or Civic Pride?. Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 30(4), pages 515-526
Hamilton, B., & Kahn, P. (1997). Baltimore’s Camden Yards ballparks. In R. Noll & A.
Zimbalist (Eds.), Sports, taxes and jobs (pp. 245-281) Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
Irani, D., Public Subsidies to Stadiums: Do the Costs Outweigh the Benefits, Public
Finance Review, 1997, 25, 238–53.
Johnson, B.K & Whitehead, J.C. (2000). Value of public goods from sports stadiums: the CVM approach. Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 18(1), pages 48-58, 01.
Layson, Stephen.K. (2005). The Estimation of Consumer Surplus Benefits from a City Owned Multipurpose Coliseum Complex. Journal of Real Estate Research, 27 (2), 222-236
Nadar, Ralph. (2000). Stadium Subsidies Scalp the Public. Boston Globe, March 27 2000
Nelson, A. (2001). Prosperity or blight? A question of major league stadia location. Economic Development Quarterly, 15(3), 255-265.
Nix, John. P. (1982). Civic Pride Lights This Sports Stadium. American School Board Journal, 169(7), 27-38
Owen, J.G. (2003). The Stadium Game: Cities Versus Teams. Journal of Sports Economics, 4 (3), 183-202
Rosentraub, M. (1999). Are public policies needed to level the playing field between cities and teams? Journal of Urban Affairs, 21, 377-395.
Rosentraub, M., & Swindell, D. (2005). The value of the Indianapolis Colts to Indiana residents and their willingness to pay for a new stadium. Retrieved November 4, 2009, from http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7& news_ id= 2744
Rosentraub, Mark. S. (2006). The Local Context of a Sports Strategy for Economic
Development. Economic Development Quarterly, 20(3), 278-291
Santo, C. (2005). The Economic Impact of Sports Stadiums: Recasting the Analysis in Context. Journal of Urban Affairs, 27 (2), 177-191
Siegfried, J & Zimbalist, A. (2000). The Economics of Sports Facilities and Their Communities. Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 95-114
Siegfried, J. and A. Zimbalist. (2000). The Economics of Sports Facilities and Their
Communities. Journal of Economic Perspectives 14(3), pp. 95-114
Stevens, Julie. (2009). Sport Policy Lecture, Brock University. [ power point presentation]
Tresch, Richard. W. (2008). Justifying Public Subsidies to Professional Sports Teams with Economic Impact Analyses. Public Sector Economics, 1-7
Economic Impact
There has been much debate in recent years over the possible economic impact that a stadium and it`s professional sport team might bring into a city. Cities are at a point where they must become centers of entertainment for those living in the suburbs. Professional sports arenas/stadiums accomplish this effectively and provide a public good to the surrounding community with jobs, business, entertainment and a general improvement of living standards. The positive economic outcomes do not address the public policy consequences of governments lowering the cost of team ownership and the bias this introduces into leisure activity markets. In addition, as a result of several court decisions and legislative actions, sports leagues enjoy limited protections from market forces that should be identified as part of the public’s investment in the financial success of teams (Rosentraub, 1999). Hamilton and Kahn (1997) noted that if the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens produced annual intangible benefits valued at $20 or more by each household (less than $2 per month), the public sector investment in the sports facilities would produce sufficient benefits to exceed the cost. Rosentraub and Swindell (2005) found that residents in Indiana placed sufficient value on the intangible benefits of the Indianapolis Colts to create a positive return on the public’s investment in a new stadium. These studies raise the possibility that the intangible benefits generated by teams could offset any investment by governments that is not recouped through pecuniary returns. Carlino and Coulson (2004), relying on regression models, found the presence of a National Football League franchise in a region accounted for an 8% increase in rent levels. Santo (2005) included newly designed sports facilities in a reassessment of a previous study of the effect of teams on regional income levels (Baade & Dye, 1990) and found regions with teams and new facilities had higher income levels. Downtown locations offer a synergy with other entertainment and business activities that have generated higher levels of economic development (Nelson 2001), even with teams capturing more spending by fans at facilities. The location of sports facilities in downtown areas has also been found to change some regional employment and development patterns (Austrian & Rosentraub, 2002). If tax money was used to build these arenas and stadiums and it provides all of these benefits to the city, then it seems to be money well spent.
Quality of Life
Sport provides an externality related to the overall quality of life that is absent from most other goods and services. Sport is a public good, and as such the consumption of the good by one individual does not reduce availability of the good for consumption by others; and that no one can be effectively excluded from using the good. (Stevens 2009). A professional sports team may bring external benefits in the form of people gaining utility from having a shared rooting interest in the team, whether they attend the games or not, or possibly by generating a sense of civic pride, much as is derived from having a world class symphony orchestra or botanical garden. (Tresch, 2008). After all, the New York Yankees are truly beloved throughout New York. Not all New Yorkers are emotionally attached to the Yankees, of course, but if enough of them are then the externality from having the team could be quite large. These kinds of non-marketed, quality-of-life externalities are difficult to estimate. Let us take a look at an amateur sporting event and the rallying of a community behind it. In the Niles Township (Illinois) High School District, community volunteers, local businesses, and school employees collaborated to acquire and install lights for the school football field. (Nix, 1982). Sport has this capacity to bring people together and give a sense of pride and belonging to a community, even at the amateur level. Professional teams can do the same, and these teams -- especially when successful -- provide a psychological boost to city residents and, in the process, benefit the city. Economists nearly universally agree that stadium subsidies are bad for a city's economy. Where these analyses fail, however, is in the importance to capture the impact of sports teams on civic pride.
Sport and Community Involvement
Many state and local governments have subsidized the construction of arenas and stadiums for the use of professional sports teams. They often justify the subsidies with claims that the stadiums generate positive externalities, including public goods and community inclusiveness. As Owen (2003) states, professional teams have a publicly good element about them, and stadiums, subsidized or not, are an important factor in bringing this public good to the community. This is very similar to the point Santo (2005) makes, when he discusses sport stadiums as development tools that can be used to revitalize the community. Toronto Mayor David Miller announced recently that with Provincial and Federal government approvals now in place, a plan by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to increase public access to year-round soccer facilities and install grass at BMO Field can proceed. Miller went on to say that “the agreement of our government partners means tremendous things for soccer at both the community and professional levels.”(Girard, 2009). The upgrades to these facilities, which includes BMO Field and Lamport Stadium, will result in more than 2,500 more hours available for community sport use and have met with support from the Canadian and Ontario soccer associations as well as residents and businesses near Lamport Stadium in Liberty Village. (Girard, 2009). Miller continued to say that “this is a terrific example of the public and private sectors working together to build our city and the sport of soccer and also means good things for the community and for the players on Toronto FC and all our National teams.”(Girard, 2009). Mayoral influence aside, this particular show of community involvement has others believing in the good it will do to this particular community. Bob Hunter, the executive vice-president of venues and entertainment for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment had this to say: “Converting BMO Field into a natural grass surface will have tremendous benefits for our community, our city, Toronto FC and soccer in Canada. BMO Field's natural grass surface will support growing and developing soccer at amateur, national and professional levels, by creating greater levels of access and opportunity.” (Girard, 2009).
Consumer Surplus
One of the real sources of benefits of sports teams is their surplus value to consumers. The consumer surplus is the amount that consumers benefit by being able to purchase a product for a price that is less than they would be willing to pay. As Owen (2003) states, fans can benefit from the mere presence of a team, without attending games or even watching them on television by following the progress of a team in television reports and newspapers, or by word of mouth. Coliseums can create consumer surplus benefits by providing types of entertainment to local residents that would otherwise not be available to them. Subsidizing sports stadiums or multipurpose coliseums catalyzes these facilities to provide locally unique forms of entertainment that create enough consumer surpluses to make these projects socially worthwhile. Irani (1997) estimated aggregate consumer surplus from major league baseball franchises based on regression estimates of the demand for major league baseball games. Also, in an analysis of the consumer surplus from all three U.S. major league sports, Alexander, Kern and Neill (2000), using ticket revenue along with alternative parameter values for the price elasticity of demand, estimated consumer surplus from major league baseball, basketball and hockey franchises. Both of these studies find that the consumer surplus from major league sports franchises are substantial. Successful teams may instil a pride in a community even for the people who are not particularly interested in the team. In economic terms, fans can be free riders, and provision of the public good by the government is a well-known solution to the free-rider problem. These benefits, although difficult to measure, are the only way to truly calculate the social value of teams.
On the Contrary
Economists are almost unanimous that government financing of stadiums is a bad investment for the economy. However, governments continue to finance stadium constructions for the economic benefits that they are supposed to provide as well as others reasons such as those stated above. The debate for those against can incense and enrage. How can governments possibly entertain the idea of subsidizing sport? Nadar (2000) argues that even if a stadium is subsidized, these houses of sport only cater to the rich. In his Boston Globe article he states: “Real fans will end up being second-class citizens as ticket prices increase and affordable seats are placed farther away from the field as luxury boxes become a priority. Regular fans, families, and other non-corporate patrons will be relegated to the seats above and behind the luxury boxes and club seats.” Others argue that education, healthcare and infrastructure should be the main priorities of government funding. Sport is just not considered to be a top priority, and should not be for those legislators whom provide the subsidiaries. The Sport Welfare system is only maintained by the perception of several popular myths, such as Cities with pro teams will be deemed “Major League”, that an improvement of the quality of life will result and that it sport provides family entertainment, however the acquiescence of public officials to the demands and often times the threats of owners has often been referred to as “legal extortion” At the end of the day, the only true winners in sport subsidiaries are the millionaire players and billionaire owners.
Conclusion
As participants, spectators, or volunteers, people are attracted to sport — arguably more than to any other activity. This popularity transcends national, cultural, socio-economic and political boundaries and can be invoked with success in virtually any community in the world. Sport’s popularity derives in large part from the fact that, when done right, it is fun and enjoyable for everyone — participants and spectators alike. In contexts where people are faced with difficult and unrelenting challenges in their day-to-day lives, the value of this dimension of sport should not be underestimated. Sport is an inherently social process bringing together players, teams, coaches, volunteers and spectators. Sport creates extensive horizontal webs of relationships at the community level, and vertical links to national governments, sport federations, and international organizations for funding and other forms of support. Sport has emerged as global mass entertainment, and has become one of the most powerful and far-reaching communications platforms in the world. Because global sport events offer the capacity to reach vast numbers of people worldwide, they are effective platforms for public education and social mobilization.
By extension, high-performance athletes have become global celebrities in their own right, enabling them to serve as powerful ambassadors, spokespeople and role-models for development and peace initiatives. This paper has explored the positives of sport and what it can do for a community as a whole. Through thorough analysis of economic impact, quality of life, community involvement and consumer surplus, it is obvious to see why governments should provide subsidies for sport.
References
Alexander, D. L., W. Kern and J. Neill, Valuing the Consumption Benefits from
Professional Sports Franchises, Journal of Urban Economics, 2000,321–37.
Austrian, Z., & Rosentraub, M. (2002). Cities, sports, and economic change: A retrospective assessment. Journal of Urban Affairs, 24(5), 549-565.
Baade, R. A., & Dye, R. (1990). The impact of stadiums and professional sports on metropolitan area development. Growth and Change, 18, 1-14.
Baade, Robert A, Nikolova, Mimi and Matheson, Victor A. (2006). A Tale of Two Stadiums:Comparing the Economic Impact of Chicago’s Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field. College of Holy Cross, Department of Economics Faculty Research Series, No 06-08, pages 1-14
Carlino, G., & Coulson, N. E. (2004). Compensating differentials and the social benefits of the NFL (Working Paper). Philadelphia, PA: Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Federal Policy for Hosting International Sport Events. (2008). Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 1-12
Girard, Daniel. (2009). Grass at BMO Field expected to get city approval. The Toronto Star, September 29th, 2009.
Groothuis, Peter A & Johnson, B.K & Whitehead, J.C. (2004). Public Funding of Professional Sports Stadiums: Public Choice or Civic Pride?. Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 30(4), pages 515-526
Hamilton, B., & Kahn, P. (1997). Baltimore’s Camden Yards ballparks. In R. Noll & A.
Zimbalist (Eds.), Sports, taxes and jobs (pp. 245-281) Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
Irani, D., Public Subsidies to Stadiums: Do the Costs Outweigh the Benefits, Public
Finance Review, 1997, 25, 238–53.
Johnson, B.K & Whitehead, J.C. (2000). Value of public goods from sports stadiums: the CVM approach. Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 18(1), pages 48-58, 01.
Layson, Stephen.K. (2005). The Estimation of Consumer Surplus Benefits from a City Owned Multipurpose Coliseum Complex. Journal of Real Estate Research, 27 (2), 222-236
Nadar, Ralph. (2000). Stadium Subsidies Scalp the Public. Boston Globe, March 27 2000
Nelson, A. (2001). Prosperity or blight? A question of major league stadia location. Economic Development Quarterly, 15(3), 255-265.
Nix, John. P. (1982). Civic Pride Lights This Sports Stadium. American School Board Journal, 169(7), 27-38
Owen, J.G. (2003). The Stadium Game: Cities Versus Teams. Journal of Sports Economics, 4 (3), 183-202
Rosentraub, M. (1999). Are public policies needed to level the playing field between cities and teams? Journal of Urban Affairs, 21, 377-395.
Rosentraub, M., & Swindell, D. (2005). The value of the Indianapolis Colts to Indiana residents and their willingness to pay for a new stadium. Retrieved November 4, 2009, from http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7& news_ id= 2744
Rosentraub, Mark. S. (2006). The Local Context of a Sports Strategy for Economic
Development. Economic Development Quarterly, 20(3), 278-291
Santo, C. (2005). The Economic Impact of Sports Stadiums: Recasting the Analysis in Context. Journal of Urban Affairs, 27 (2), 177-191
Siegfried, J & Zimbalist, A. (2000). The Economics of Sports Facilities and Their Communities. Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 95-114
Siegfried, J. and A. Zimbalist. (2000). The Economics of Sports Facilities and Their
Communities. Journal of Economic Perspectives 14(3), pp. 95-114
Stevens, Julie. (2009). Sport Policy Lecture, Brock University. [ power point presentation]
Tresch, Richard. W. (2008). Justifying Public Subsidies to Professional Sports Teams with Economic Impact Analyses. Public Sector Economics, 1-7
Monday, December 21, 2009
Spain's Labyrinth
The Spanish Civil war still haunts the world’s imagination. A prelude to the Second World War and the first war between democracy and fascism, The Spanish Civil War lasted from 1936-1939. What began as a military coup on July 18, 1936, led to three years of Civil War after the military revolt failed. It cost, perhaps, half a million lives. It ruined cities, towns and villages. For some, the victors, it was a crusade against Godless revolution. For others, the defeated, it was a struggle against the forces of reaction that oppressed Spain for generations. Forty years since the dissolution of Franco’s dictatorship and Spain is still politically divided. This depiction is evident through film by a number of different Spanish, or Spanish-influenced film makers. Explicit allusions to the Spanish Civil War in the world of film in the context of Mexican and Spanish relations during and after the war subsist today. Spanish refugees in general and children in particular were offered a safe haven by the Leftist government of President Lazaro Cardenas which allowed the establishment of a community of exiles. (Reboll 2007). Guillermo Del Toro, a Mexican film maker, expressed his influence through Pan’s Labyrinth, a 2008 fable set in Post-war Spain. Del Toro uncovers a common thread between the real world and the imaginary world in a parable of the perilous Spanish Civil War. As McCallum (1999) states, Pan’s Labyrinth most nearly approaches “historiographic metafiction,” where the reformed and disobedient fairy tale interrogates the narratives of the past. This paper seeks to explore the relationship between Ophelia and the General and reveal how this relationship is a parable of the Spanish Civil War. Set in General Franco's Spain (circa 1944) which was suffused with the dark energy of civil brutality, the outcome of a fascist ascendancy, filled with torture and extra-judicial murder that had become casual. The world is still under the thumb of people who bow to authority without questioning its orders or motives. Throughout the film, Ophelia emerges as a heroine, representing the oppressed people who longed for a voice during tumultuous times.
The General and Ophelia were always going to have conflict; it was just a matter of time. As with most differing ideologies, dominant ideas can either unite people or drive them apart. In this instance, a wedge is driven between the two characters, both of which represent more than a Soldier and a child respectively. It was essentially a war on Fascism and Franco as a figure took an iconic position as the leader of the Nationalists. Generalissimo was his self-title. A word with no real translation in Spanish, but it is understood to be a brash, almost lordly self-title. The ideals of General Franco gave rise to a passion-driven opposition, some of which were still fighting the Fascist regime into the 1940’s, which is where Pan’s Labyrinth begins. The storyteller opens with a description of a princess who has forgotten where she has come from. Much as Spain, as a whole, has been divided, disunited, and faceless for too long, it longs for an identity, an essence. The battle against Fascism fashioned an opposition not necessarily of a specific cause but more so as a revolt of the ideals and actions of the Dictator. They were always in need, however, of a leader. For forty years Spain was under the rule of a vicious dictator who stole freedom and staunched the rights of so many. Ofelia, a young girl only, provides hope. “It’s only a word” her Mom encourages her when talking about her new step father and the use of the word Dad. It’s that feeling of brushing something under the table. Pretending like that filth doesn’t exist here. Ofelia immediately has ideals placed upon her and faced with a decision. Similar to life under the regime, one would suppose. The suffocation of oppression and the audacity of being patronized into thinking something is right, when you truly believe it not to be. Ofelia, whose name has Greek origins and means help; or aid, represents just that. In a time of such oppression, Ofelia represents a people whose collective hope has diminished.
The General, in contrast is introduced to us through the ticking of a clock. Time becomes an important notion throughout Spain’s recollection of the Civil War. Some have been quoted as saying that “time stopped with Franco’s regime.” Time has certainly been a common thread used in film. In Victor Erice’s Spirit of the Beehive, time was an important theme. Spirit of the Beehive too was a comment on the Spanish Civil War. Produced two years prior to Franco’s death, long scenes of awkward silence and wide open landscapes give a feeling of isolation. There was a feeling in Spain then of time standing still. Again, we hear the ticking of the click. The General looks up from his pocket-watch, “quince minutos tarde.” Franco gave Spain this soggy feeling that time had stood still and that nothing had changed. His reign left some people feeling defeated. Ofelia innocently chases a fairy and delays the arrival unknowingly while The General taps his watch.
Put out the lights and stop the clocks.
Let time stand still,
Again man mocks himself
And all his human will to build and grow!
Mark Hughes an African-American writer, inspired by the Spanish Civil War wrote poems, like this one, revealing the immediacy of the war and the intensity of emotion it elicited. In Madrid, there were bomb-damaged clocks and nightly blackouts in the city. (Echevarria 2005).
When Ofelia and her pregnant Mother arrive, The General callously welcomes his unborn child first. A proud grin emerges as he pats his wife’s stomach. The chilling thoughts of a society created under the thumb of a brutal dictator. A child, the spawn of such evil is unsettling, and yet Franco was in power for forty years, raising generations under him. Generations forced to live a certain way. Looking for ways out, like a cat in a maze. Ofelia found her maze, or better yet her labyrinth. “A maze is a place you get lost,” explains Del Toro. “But a Labyrinth is essentially a place of transit: an ethical, moral transit to one inevitable centre. You think of the transit of Spanish society from the 1940’s to the incredible explosion of post-Franco period.” Ofelia’s eventual emergence through the labyrinth is much like the struggles through three years of Civil War and subsequently forty years of dictated rule, the Spain eventually had its country back. The word labyrinth has almost become synonymous with civil war. Think Gerald Brenan’s accounts of the social and political background of the Spanish Civil War. (Kermode 2007).
The introduction of Ofelia and The General confirms conflict for the future. The denial of the left-handed handshake, a reference to David Copperfield’s cruelly rejected handshake. (Haack 2007). The handshake is a worldwide custom, a symbol of mutual respect, a union. The blatant denial and stern lecture depicts the two sides in turmoil from conception. The struggles between ideals was the driving force behind the Civil War, with no common ground, countrymen of opposing stances became enemies. Intellectuals, soldiers and friends became enemies. The handshake here represents more than a cheek turn on a mere custom, but the complete lack of respect held between the two sides. It is reference to the hate, the discourse and the mayhem once at large in Spain. Franco showed no mercy, his viscous acts of violence are what Spain, even today, is having difficulty coming to terms with. Certainly no war literature flows redder with blood that the Spanish Civil War. The bombing of cities, the machine gunning of refugees on open roads, introduced new sense of horror. Under this barbarianism, women and children as well as soldiers became for the first time history regular targets for professional soldiers’ angry guns. (Echevarria 2005). Franco's Spanish nationalism promoted a unitary national identity by repressing Spain's cultural diversity. Bullfighting and flamenco were promoted as national traditions while those traditions not considered "Spanish" were suppressed. All cultural activities were subject to censorship, and many were plainly forbidden, as was seen with language and religion. As the silence and solidarity of The Spirit of the Beehive depicted, Pan’s Labyrinth too represents this isolation. Ofelia’s search for her utopian world leaves her alone to trust the word of a nasty looking creature who’s appearance only gets more physically beautiful the more perverse he acts. But as Del Toro says, “it was important that Ofelia chooses to enter this new world, despite the fact that her guide is unreliable and unattractive.” Ones’ true nature, its core; its essence will eventually shine through. Of note, when the faun first realized Ofelia to be the princess of old, he gave her three tasks. These tasks, although seemingly arbitrary, were an attempt by the faun to ensure that Ofelia’s “essence was intact.” The essence of Spain in this timeframe was much different. If essence is an attribute that which makes up an identity, The General and his essence were far from intact. Instead, a brutal, savage dictator is depicted. In the scene where the military has stopped a couple farmers under suspicion of conspiracy, The General shows his true underlying savageness. His rash, unprovoked use of violence is strong and unnerving. As he almost unconsciously beats the man to death and then shoots the other at a cold blank range, his image as a monster revealed. Hard to watch, but important to understand why this scene was so viscous. A strong message delivered, which is only enhanced at the end of the scene when The General himself finds them to have been innocent. This is only seen further as senseless, brutal violence.
Ofelia on the other hand continues to emerge as a heroine. In the scene where she must retrieve the key from within the toad, which lives under the tree is a very strong act by Ofelia. So much symbolism, so much one can depict. The tree for instance, with its clear cut divide of two opposing sides, rooted at the core with one another. The evil that exists within and the ugly gruesome figure it has taken the shape of. Only Ofelia and her adventure driven innocence can be called upon for such a daunting task. It is this belief in something greater, the sheer power of the imagination that can sustain people. Here Ofelia shows her quality and dissects through the middle of this conflict, as if to say stop. Let’s end this divide. We are only a cancer to ourselves at this point and as countrymen we are one, united from the ground up, and taking up arms in division of one another is but cruel, tragic behavior, and for it to end the evil deep down must be removed. The hope of Ofelia remains strong.
As the end nears in the film, Ofelia begins to represent not only the revolt produced by Franco’s fascism, but Spain as a whole. It is a story of a princess who has forgotten who was and where she came from. Self-revelation towards that the identity and true nature of who and what Spain is continues to this day. (Labanyi 2001). In their final scene together, The General puts a bullet in Ofelia, putting an end her life in his world. Essentially putting an end to the revolution and suffocating the hope for a different Spain. Ofelia laid motionless, blood dripping from her face with teary, sorrow filled eyes. Victorious were the Nationalists. Blood had been spilt and victory obtained. However, Ofelia was not meant for that world. Her hope held intact was meant for utopia and although The General and Ofelia were at one time at war, the true essence of a person, of a land, of a people eventually shines when one truly allows it to.
The Spanish Civil War ended almost three years after it had begun. Spanning from 1936-1939, it took nearly half a million lives. It ruined cities, towns and villages. For some, the victors, it was a crusade against Godless revolution. For others, the defeated, it was a struggle against the forces of reaction that oppressed Spain for generations. Some say leaders aren’t born, they are made. When faced with enough adversity, heroes and heroines can be fashioned, and forge the opposing force against evil and withstand the oppressive onslaught. For forty years Franco’s regime ruled, a lifetime for some, influencing generations of children and civilians who of which had no choice but to conform. Leaders and revolutionaries are people who have helped define social and political fabric in a certain time. Although brash and at times highly volatile and savage, Franco’s legacy and name will remain in history. To have a dictatorship last up until only thirty years ago is hard to imagine in the free world. His regime oppressed countless and it is only within recent years that Spain has again chosen to hang onto that glimmer of hope, as Ofelia innocently did, to lead Spain out of dark times and out of solidarity. This divide amongst people is evident at all levels of civilized society. However, for progress to be made, a bridging of those two sides in order. Innocence only a child can possess can deliver such a powerful, worldly message. Ofelia, the princess, has found her true self and will now continue to grow and mature as a country.
References
Del Toro, G. (Director). (2001). The Devil’s Backbone [Madrid, Sony Pictures].
Del Toro, G. (Director). (2006). Pan’s Labyrinth [Mexico, Esperanto Films].
Echevarria, Luis Gustavo Giron. (2005) Langston Hughe’s Spanish Civil War Verse. Annuario
do Estadios Filologicos, (28) 91-101
Erice, Victor. (1973). Spirit of the Beehive. [Image Entertainment].
Haack, Denis. (2007). A Fairy Tale for a Broken World. The Darkened Room, 1-2
Kermode, Mark. (2007). Gullermo Del Toro Pan’s Labyrinth. Girl, 20-24
Labanyi, J. (2001) “Modern and Modernity in Democratic Spain: The Difficulty of Coming to
Terms with the Spanish Civil War.” Poetics Today, 27, 89-116. Retrieved October 8th 2009, from Sakai Posting
McCallum, R. (1999). `Very Advanced Texts: Metafictions and Experimental Work, ` in P.Hunt
(ed.). Understanding Children’s Literature, LondonNewYork: Routledge, pp 138-150.
Reboll, Antonio Lazaro. (2007). The Transnational Reception of El Espinazo del Diablo.
Hispanic Research Journal, (8)1. 39-51
The General and Ophelia were always going to have conflict; it was just a matter of time. As with most differing ideologies, dominant ideas can either unite people or drive them apart. In this instance, a wedge is driven between the two characters, both of which represent more than a Soldier and a child respectively. It was essentially a war on Fascism and Franco as a figure took an iconic position as the leader of the Nationalists. Generalissimo was his self-title. A word with no real translation in Spanish, but it is understood to be a brash, almost lordly self-title. The ideals of General Franco gave rise to a passion-driven opposition, some of which were still fighting the Fascist regime into the 1940’s, which is where Pan’s Labyrinth begins. The storyteller opens with a description of a princess who has forgotten where she has come from. Much as Spain, as a whole, has been divided, disunited, and faceless for too long, it longs for an identity, an essence. The battle against Fascism fashioned an opposition not necessarily of a specific cause but more so as a revolt of the ideals and actions of the Dictator. They were always in need, however, of a leader. For forty years Spain was under the rule of a vicious dictator who stole freedom and staunched the rights of so many. Ofelia, a young girl only, provides hope. “It’s only a word” her Mom encourages her when talking about her new step father and the use of the word Dad. It’s that feeling of brushing something under the table. Pretending like that filth doesn’t exist here. Ofelia immediately has ideals placed upon her and faced with a decision. Similar to life under the regime, one would suppose. The suffocation of oppression and the audacity of being patronized into thinking something is right, when you truly believe it not to be. Ofelia, whose name has Greek origins and means help; or aid, represents just that. In a time of such oppression, Ofelia represents a people whose collective hope has diminished.
The General, in contrast is introduced to us through the ticking of a clock. Time becomes an important notion throughout Spain’s recollection of the Civil War. Some have been quoted as saying that “time stopped with Franco’s regime.” Time has certainly been a common thread used in film. In Victor Erice’s Spirit of the Beehive, time was an important theme. Spirit of the Beehive too was a comment on the Spanish Civil War. Produced two years prior to Franco’s death, long scenes of awkward silence and wide open landscapes give a feeling of isolation. There was a feeling in Spain then of time standing still. Again, we hear the ticking of the click. The General looks up from his pocket-watch, “quince minutos tarde.” Franco gave Spain this soggy feeling that time had stood still and that nothing had changed. His reign left some people feeling defeated. Ofelia innocently chases a fairy and delays the arrival unknowingly while The General taps his watch.
Put out the lights and stop the clocks.
Let time stand still,
Again man mocks himself
And all his human will to build and grow!
Mark Hughes an African-American writer, inspired by the Spanish Civil War wrote poems, like this one, revealing the immediacy of the war and the intensity of emotion it elicited. In Madrid, there were bomb-damaged clocks and nightly blackouts in the city. (Echevarria 2005).
When Ofelia and her pregnant Mother arrive, The General callously welcomes his unborn child first. A proud grin emerges as he pats his wife’s stomach. The chilling thoughts of a society created under the thumb of a brutal dictator. A child, the spawn of such evil is unsettling, and yet Franco was in power for forty years, raising generations under him. Generations forced to live a certain way. Looking for ways out, like a cat in a maze. Ofelia found her maze, or better yet her labyrinth. “A maze is a place you get lost,” explains Del Toro. “But a Labyrinth is essentially a place of transit: an ethical, moral transit to one inevitable centre. You think of the transit of Spanish society from the 1940’s to the incredible explosion of post-Franco period.” Ofelia’s eventual emergence through the labyrinth is much like the struggles through three years of Civil War and subsequently forty years of dictated rule, the Spain eventually had its country back. The word labyrinth has almost become synonymous with civil war. Think Gerald Brenan’s accounts of the social and political background of the Spanish Civil War. (Kermode 2007).
The introduction of Ofelia and The General confirms conflict for the future. The denial of the left-handed handshake, a reference to David Copperfield’s cruelly rejected handshake. (Haack 2007). The handshake is a worldwide custom, a symbol of mutual respect, a union. The blatant denial and stern lecture depicts the two sides in turmoil from conception. The struggles between ideals was the driving force behind the Civil War, with no common ground, countrymen of opposing stances became enemies. Intellectuals, soldiers and friends became enemies. The handshake here represents more than a cheek turn on a mere custom, but the complete lack of respect held between the two sides. It is reference to the hate, the discourse and the mayhem once at large in Spain. Franco showed no mercy, his viscous acts of violence are what Spain, even today, is having difficulty coming to terms with. Certainly no war literature flows redder with blood that the Spanish Civil War. The bombing of cities, the machine gunning of refugees on open roads, introduced new sense of horror. Under this barbarianism, women and children as well as soldiers became for the first time history regular targets for professional soldiers’ angry guns. (Echevarria 2005). Franco's Spanish nationalism promoted a unitary national identity by repressing Spain's cultural diversity. Bullfighting and flamenco were promoted as national traditions while those traditions not considered "Spanish" were suppressed. All cultural activities were subject to censorship, and many were plainly forbidden, as was seen with language and religion. As the silence and solidarity of The Spirit of the Beehive depicted, Pan’s Labyrinth too represents this isolation. Ofelia’s search for her utopian world leaves her alone to trust the word of a nasty looking creature who’s appearance only gets more physically beautiful the more perverse he acts. But as Del Toro says, “it was important that Ofelia chooses to enter this new world, despite the fact that her guide is unreliable and unattractive.” Ones’ true nature, its core; its essence will eventually shine through. Of note, when the faun first realized Ofelia to be the princess of old, he gave her three tasks. These tasks, although seemingly arbitrary, were an attempt by the faun to ensure that Ofelia’s “essence was intact.” The essence of Spain in this timeframe was much different. If essence is an attribute that which makes up an identity, The General and his essence were far from intact. Instead, a brutal, savage dictator is depicted. In the scene where the military has stopped a couple farmers under suspicion of conspiracy, The General shows his true underlying savageness. His rash, unprovoked use of violence is strong and unnerving. As he almost unconsciously beats the man to death and then shoots the other at a cold blank range, his image as a monster revealed. Hard to watch, but important to understand why this scene was so viscous. A strong message delivered, which is only enhanced at the end of the scene when The General himself finds them to have been innocent. This is only seen further as senseless, brutal violence.
Ofelia on the other hand continues to emerge as a heroine. In the scene where she must retrieve the key from within the toad, which lives under the tree is a very strong act by Ofelia. So much symbolism, so much one can depict. The tree for instance, with its clear cut divide of two opposing sides, rooted at the core with one another. The evil that exists within and the ugly gruesome figure it has taken the shape of. Only Ofelia and her adventure driven innocence can be called upon for such a daunting task. It is this belief in something greater, the sheer power of the imagination that can sustain people. Here Ofelia shows her quality and dissects through the middle of this conflict, as if to say stop. Let’s end this divide. We are only a cancer to ourselves at this point and as countrymen we are one, united from the ground up, and taking up arms in division of one another is but cruel, tragic behavior, and for it to end the evil deep down must be removed. The hope of Ofelia remains strong.
As the end nears in the film, Ofelia begins to represent not only the revolt produced by Franco’s fascism, but Spain as a whole. It is a story of a princess who has forgotten who was and where she came from. Self-revelation towards that the identity and true nature of who and what Spain is continues to this day. (Labanyi 2001). In their final scene together, The General puts a bullet in Ofelia, putting an end her life in his world. Essentially putting an end to the revolution and suffocating the hope for a different Spain. Ofelia laid motionless, blood dripping from her face with teary, sorrow filled eyes. Victorious were the Nationalists. Blood had been spilt and victory obtained. However, Ofelia was not meant for that world. Her hope held intact was meant for utopia and although The General and Ofelia were at one time at war, the true essence of a person, of a land, of a people eventually shines when one truly allows it to.
The Spanish Civil War ended almost three years after it had begun. Spanning from 1936-1939, it took nearly half a million lives. It ruined cities, towns and villages. For some, the victors, it was a crusade against Godless revolution. For others, the defeated, it was a struggle against the forces of reaction that oppressed Spain for generations. Some say leaders aren’t born, they are made. When faced with enough adversity, heroes and heroines can be fashioned, and forge the opposing force against evil and withstand the oppressive onslaught. For forty years Franco’s regime ruled, a lifetime for some, influencing generations of children and civilians who of which had no choice but to conform. Leaders and revolutionaries are people who have helped define social and political fabric in a certain time. Although brash and at times highly volatile and savage, Franco’s legacy and name will remain in history. To have a dictatorship last up until only thirty years ago is hard to imagine in the free world. His regime oppressed countless and it is only within recent years that Spain has again chosen to hang onto that glimmer of hope, as Ofelia innocently did, to lead Spain out of dark times and out of solidarity. This divide amongst people is evident at all levels of civilized society. However, for progress to be made, a bridging of those two sides in order. Innocence only a child can possess can deliver such a powerful, worldly message. Ofelia, the princess, has found her true self and will now continue to grow and mature as a country.
References
Del Toro, G. (Director). (2001). The Devil’s Backbone [Madrid, Sony Pictures].
Del Toro, G. (Director). (2006). Pan’s Labyrinth [Mexico, Esperanto Films].
Echevarria, Luis Gustavo Giron. (2005) Langston Hughe’s Spanish Civil War Verse. Annuario
do Estadios Filologicos, (28) 91-101
Erice, Victor. (1973). Spirit of the Beehive. [Image Entertainment].
Haack, Denis. (2007). A Fairy Tale for a Broken World. The Darkened Room, 1-2
Kermode, Mark. (2007). Gullermo Del Toro Pan’s Labyrinth. Girl, 20-24
Labanyi, J. (2001) “Modern and Modernity in Democratic Spain: The Difficulty of Coming to
Terms with the Spanish Civil War.” Poetics Today, 27, 89-116. Retrieved October 8th 2009, from Sakai Posting
McCallum, R. (1999). `Very Advanced Texts: Metafictions and Experimental Work, ` in P.Hunt
(ed.). Understanding Children’s Literature, LondonNewYork: Routledge, pp 138-150.
Reboll, Antonio Lazaro. (2007). The Transnational Reception of El Espinazo del Diablo.
Hispanic Research Journal, (8)1. 39-51
An Introduction
My name is Thomas Caves and this is my first blog, ever. I recently realized my interest in writing. I have an on-going passion for anything worldly, be it politics, food, music or injustices of any kind. I don't want to be one of those people going through the motions of life, and wake up tomorrow and feel I haven't done what my heart wanted. Passion is a powerful catalyst and without it life just doesn't feel as meaningful. I recently loved and lost and its been hard getting certain things out of my head. The anguish felt from this departure turned out to be important to me. It was my wake-up call, a slap to the face, an awakening of sorts. I have felt static for a few years now and this stasis has left me feeling numb. I wasn't listening to what my heart was telling me and as a result I hid feelings away and my passion for life fizzled. I wake up today feeling refreshed. The metaphorical slap to the face has opened my eyes and I'm looking forward to a brighter tomorrow. The world is full of stories, a book of history is being written everyday. I would like to add my own chapter to this story and this is my beginning. Personal interest pieces, world issues, and anything I feel is of revelence to those who choose to take the time to read is what you will find here. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you. You can call me Thomas.
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