Murray

Five witchcraft myths debunked by an expert

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 26, 2023

Between the 15th and 18th centuries, an estimated 50,000 people, mostly women, were executed for witchcraft across Europe.

Key Points: 
  • Between the 15th and 18th centuries, an estimated 50,000 people, mostly women, were executed for witchcraft across Europe.
  • They were accused of devil-worship, heresy and harming their neighbours by using witchcraft.

1. Witchcraft is a medieval idea

  • The Christian church was sceptical about the reality of witchcraft until the 15th century.
  • Before that there were very few witchcraft trials, because acts of witchcraft were believed to be an illusion caused by the Devil with the permission of God.

2. Witchcraft trials occurred everywhere

  • Most witchcraft trials happened in central, western, or northern Europe.
  • In places like Iceland and Wales, there were very few witchcraft trials at all.
  • It seems that local beliefs about magic and witchcraft, alongside the attitudes of clergymen and judges, may be the reasons for this.

3. The Inquisition tried and executed most witches

  • They have become notorious for their rigour in rooting out opposition to Catholic orthodoxy.
  • Across the whole of the Iberian and Italian peninsulas, the inquisitions executed fewer suspects than were hanged in England.

4. Only women were tried for witchcraft

  • It’s true that 80% of those tried and executed for witchcraft were women.
  • In England, women on the margins of society were more vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft when things went wrong for their neighbours, such as inexplicable deaths or harm.
  • The suspects’ networks were founded on their sex; women named women and the few male suspects named men.

5. Witches were really the followers of a pagan fertility cult

  • This new religion was founded by Gerald Gardner who revived what he believed to be ancient pagan witchcraft in the 1930s.
  • Most witches were ordinary Christian women who found themselves accused of witchcraft by their neighbours, or denounced by other suspects under torture.


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Jonathan Durrant does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Anthony R. Castellanos Named Chair of Brooklyn College Foundation Board of Trustees

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023

The Brooklyn College Foundation is proud to announce that longtime Board of Trustees member Anthony R. Castellanos ’85 will serve as the new board chair effective Oct. 1, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • The Brooklyn College Foundation is proud to announce that longtime Board of Trustees member Anthony R. Castellanos ’85 will serve as the new board chair effective Oct. 1, 2023.
  • Castellanos follows Evan Silverstein ’76, who has served on the Board of Trustees since 2009 and chair since 2017.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231019197473/en/
    The Brooklyn College Foundation is proud to announce that longtime Board of Trustees member Anthony R. Castellanos ’85 will serve as the new board chair effective Oct. 1, 2023.
  • He also established the Anthony R. Castellanos ’85 Scholarship to support Brooklyn College students majoring in the college’s CPA-eligible accounting programs .

Mount Sinai Announces New System Chief of Genomic Medicine

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Michael F. Murray, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has been named the new System Chief of the Division of Genomic Medicine and the Clinical Director of the Institute for Genomic Health at Mount Sinai. He will lead its efforts to harness the power of genomic discovery to develop new ways to prevent and treat diseases, including cancers, heart problems, and genetic disorders.

Key Points: 
  • Michael F. Murray, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has been named the new System Chief of the Division of Genomic Medicine and the Clinical Director of the Institute for Genomic Health at Mount Sinai.
  • NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Michael F. Murray, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has been named the new System Chief of the Division of Genomic Medicine and the Clinical Director of the Institute for Genomic Health at Mount Sinai.
  • Before joining the Mount Sinai Health System, he led cutting-edge efforts to integrate genomic medicine into clinical care delivery at Harvard Medical School, Geisinger Community Medical Center, and Yale New Haven Health System.
  • "With the investment that the Mount Sinai Health System has made in genetics and genomics technology in the clinical and research arenas, we are making an impact upon the care we provide to patients in a significant way," said Monica Kraft, MD, the Murray M. Rosenberg Professor of Medicine and System Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System and Icahn Mount Sinai.

Bison Development Unveils Glenhill - Ultra-Luxury, Contemporary Homes Coming Soon to Raleigh

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bison Development is pleased to announce Glenhill , a first-of-its-kind, single-family luxury community in North Raleigh.

Key Points: 
  • RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bison Development is pleased to announce Glenhill , a first-of-its-kind, single-family luxury community in North Raleigh.
  • Currently under construction, Glenhill is secluded among 15 wooded acres with 13 homes ranging from 6,000-12,000 square feet under roof.
  • "We're building world-class homes on par with exclusive addresses in London, Paris, Madrid, and Los Angeles," said Bison Development partner Kevin Mangum.
  • Bison Development is collaborating with Lynda Murray, a California-based interior designer, to select both the interiors and custom furniture.

Bison Development Unveils Glenhill - Ultra-Luxury, Contemporary Homes Coming Soon to Raleigh

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bison Development is pleased to announce Glenhill , a first-of-its-kind, single-family luxury community in North Raleigh.

Key Points: 
  • RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bison Development is pleased to announce Glenhill , a first-of-its-kind, single-family luxury community in North Raleigh.
  • Currently under construction, Glenhill is secluded among 15 wooded acres with 13 homes ranging from 6,000-12,000 square feet under roof.
  • "We're building world-class homes on par with exclusive addresses in London, Paris, Madrid, and Los Angeles," said Bison Development partner Kevin Mangum.
  • Bison Development is collaborating with Lynda Murray, a California-based interior designer, to select both the interiors and custom furniture.

Murray-Darling Basin Plan to be extended under a new agreement, without Victoria – but an uphill battle lies ahead

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

It comes just months before the original Murray-Darling Basin Plan was to be completed.

Key Points: 
  • It comes just months before the original Murray-Darling Basin Plan was to be completed.
  • This was a plan to benefit people and nature, to protect river communities, industries and the environment against future droughts.
  • Read more:
    With less than a year to go, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is in a dreadful mess.

How did we get here?

    • These “once and for all” reforms were intended to prevent “economic and environmental decline”.
    • But the Basin states were loathe to hand their powers over to the Commonwealth.
    • Amid navigating the complex science and trade offs, it was another five years before the controversial Basin Plan was adopted in 2012.
    • If the legislation is not amended, and existing deadlines remain, the federal government may be forced into recovering even more water.

A welcome development

    • The new agreement is welcome in doubling down on the original plan to recover 3,200 billion litres a year of additional water essential to maintain the health of the rivers and the people who rely on them.
    • Much greater public assurance with transparency and accountability measures is needed if the new targets are to be met.
    • This time it would be wise to withhold payments to the states until they deliver the promised action.
    • First, ways need to be found to restore the rights of Indigenous nations to own and manage water.
    • The federal government’s agreement with most states (but not Victoria) is a really welcome initiative to get Basin Plan implementation back on track.

Veritext’s Mike Murray to Present at ILTACON

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 16, 2023

LIVINGSTON, N.J., Aug. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Veritext Legal Solutions , the leader in court reporting and litigation support solutions, today announces Mike Murray, director of technology and creative solutions, will be a speaker at ILTACON taking place August 20-24 in Orlando, Florida.

Key Points: 
  • LIVINGSTON, N.J., Aug. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Veritext Legal Solutions , the leader in court reporting and litigation support solutions, today announces Mike Murray, director of technology and creative solutions, will be a speaker at ILTACON taking place August 20-24 in Orlando, Florida.
  • Murray will be part of a panel discussion on “Trial Prep Tech: The Innovative Future of Technology Use at Trial.”
    ILTACON is a four-and-a-half-day conference known for its peer-driven programs, educational content and face-to-face networking.
  • Other panelists include Shannon Bales, litigation support manager for Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, and Jeffrey Soldridge, senior paralegal for Proskauer Rose LLP.
  • “I look forward to contributing to this panel and sharing insights and strategies pertaining to the optimization of available technology for legal proceedings,” states Murray.

Murray's Cheese Introduces New Visual Brand and Website

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 19, 2023

NEW YORK, July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Murray's Cheese unveiled a new logo, visual brand and website today, bringing vast product expertise together with the heritage brand's passionate, creative spirit. Building on its storied New York City history, Murray's new look features playful illustrations that bring the upbeat experience at their cheese counter, where cheesemongers are known for sharing their passion and expertise, to life in print and online. The new dynamic visual brand universe aims to lay a foundation for Murray's continued growth as they welcome food lovers around the country to the wide world of cheese.  

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Murray's Cheese unveiled a new logo, visual brand and website today, bringing vast product expertise together with the heritage brand's passionate, creative spirit.
  • The new dynamic visual brand universe aims to lay a foundation for Murray's continued growth as they welcome food lovers around the country to the wide world of cheese.
  • Web users looking to learn about cheese, cheesemakers and what happens behind the cheese cave doors have found their ultimate online destination.
  • Murray's also offers in-person and online cheese tasting classes available for purchase on the website, and a chat function connecting users to cheese experts ready to help them put together a cheese board or choose a cheese for a recipe.

eMoney Advisor Announces Leadership Team Updates

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 18, 2023

RADNOR, Pa., July 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eMoney Advisor (eMoney), a leading provider of technology solutions and services that help people talk about money, today announced updates to its core leadership team.

Key Points: 
  • RADNOR, Pa., July 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eMoney Advisor (eMoney), a leading provider of technology solutions and services that help people talk about money, today announced updates to its core leadership team.
  • Both Murray and Eccles will continue to serve as members of eMoney's core leadership team, reporting directly to CEO Susan McKenna.
  • Additionally, Morgan Jones, SVP, Sales, and member of eMoney's core leadership team, announced his retirement from eMoney.
  • For more on eMoney's leadership team, visit: https://emoneyadvisor.com/about/leadership/

With less than a year to go, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is in a dreadful mess. These 5 steps are needed to fix it

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 17, 2023

The Murray Darling Basin Plan is an historic deal between state and federal governments to save Australia’s most important river system.

Key Points: 
  • The Murray Darling Basin Plan is an historic deal between state and federal governments to save Australia’s most important river system.
  • But now, less than a year out from the plan’s deadline, it’s in a dreadful mess.
  • The Albanese government was elected on a promise to uphold the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

A refresher: what is the Murray-Darling Basin Plan?

    • Around 5% of the basin consists of floodplain forests, lakes, rivers and other wetland habitats.
    • Vast amounts of water are extracted from the rivers to supply around three million Australians, including irrigating farms.
    • The Murray-Darling Basin Plan became law in 2012, under the Labor government.
    • Under the plan, 3,200 billion litres a year would be returned to rivers – about 14% of total surface water in the basin.

So how’s the plan going?

    • As of November last year, the offset projects were likely to deliver between 290 and 415 billion litres of the 605 billion litres required.
    • And of the 450 billion litres to be retrieved through water-efficiency projects, only 26 billion litres has been recovered.
    • So how do we get the basin plan back on track?

1. NSW must get its act together on water plans

    • These plans bring the basin plan into legal force and detail how much water can be taken from the system and how it is divided between users such as farmers, communities and the environment.
    • NSW must produce 20 plans.
    • The new NSW Minns government must prioritise the remaining water resource plans and have them accredited by the Commonwealth government.

2. Federal water buybacks must ramp up

    • The Albanese government is taking steps to improve water recovery under the plan, such as consulting stakeholders and restarting water buybacks.
    • For this to occur, a Coalition-era cap must be lifted from 1,500 billion litres to enable more federal government water purchases from farmers.

3. Abandon questionable water-saving projects

    • Another project at Yanco Creek in NSW has also fallen behind, and four of the nine Victorian projects have been paused.
    • What’s more, the ecological merit of these projects are contested – as is the scientific rigour of the proposed auditing method.

4. Reconnect rivers and floodplains

    • To date, just 2% of these parts of the basin are inundated each year by managed flows (or in other words, intentional water releases by authorities).
    • Delivering the water requires compensation for the owners of inundated properties, as well as upgraded roads, bridges and levee banks.
    • The federal government needs NSW and Victoria to help implement their agreement for watering floodplains, but this cooperation has been extremely slow.

5. Make information transparent

    • In its final report in 2019, a South Australian royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin was highly critical of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
    • Making such information freely available is crucial for accountability and to build public trust.

Time for tough decisions

    • Attention must now also turn to a review of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which is legally required in 2026.
    • If the Albanese government is to uphold its election promise to deliver the plan, hard decisions – and trade-offs – will be required.