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New Report Cites Half-a-Million War Related Dead in Iraq
A study on the mortality rate in Iraq during the U.S. occupation counts violent deaths alongside heart attacks attributed to war. Brian Van Reet explains what the numbers mean.
Two years after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, the war there has not ended. Levels of violence have risen to a five-year high as conflict in Syria inflames sectarian tensions. Clearly, Iraq is again on the brink, but the exact number of Iraqis killed so far this year is anyone’s guess. The Agence France-Presse puts it at 5,200, while the Iraqi government claims 3,700—a striking and telling difference.
Accounting for Iraqi war dead is a difficult task made harder by incomplete census information (the country hasn’t taken one since 1987), poor centralized record keeping, and a refugee crisis that has displaced millions.
These factors make a comprehensive count nearly impossible. And even as the death toll continues to rise, the question of how many Iraqis perished during the U.S. military’s invasion and occupation remains an open one. A new population-based study seeks an answer by estimating Iraqi casualties through the statistical method. The study, co-authored by Amy Hagopian and published in the medical journal PLOS, puts the number of deaths related to the 2003-2011 war at approximately half a million.
To be clear, this number is not an estimate of how many Iraqis were killed by U.S. forces, but instead a survey of all manner of deaths directly or indirectly caused by the war. A heart-attack brought on by increased stress, civilians killed by car bombs, Iraqi insurgents shot by American soldiers, and innocent children unintentionally slain by U.S. missiles all count together in the half million.
To derive this number, a team of researchers surveyed 2,000 Iraqi households and asked questions about the deaths of family members. Researchers extrapolated their findings to a nationwide level and compared the death rate during the war to a baseline, prewar death rate. They found the war produced a greatly increased rate of mortality by all causes, not just by violence. These nonviolent "excess deaths"—primarily from cardiovascular disease and cancer—were attributed to overloaded hospitals, the collapse of vital infrastructure, and the added stress of living in a combat zone.
That non-violent deaths are counted in the study’s total mortality rate will likely be the most controversial aspect of the report. Arguably, Iraqis who died from malnutrition, dirty water, or lack of access to basic hospital care were equally, if not directly, the war’s casualties. Moral questions of responsibility, however, cannot be adjudicated by statistics. Imagine for example an Iraqi girl who died from a preventable disease because her family would not take her to a U.S.-run clinic for fear of being labeled collaborators and targeted by Sunni insurgents, and who could not seek treatment at an Iraqi hospital because its doctors had been killed by a Shia militia. This hypothetical death would certainly be related to a war for which the U.S. bears ultimate responsibility, but would it be fair to say that the U.S. caused it?
Sometimes, assigning blame for a death is more straightforward than that. Of the half million Iraqi dead cited in the PLOS study, 132,000 were killed by injuries sustained in the fighting. This finding compares roughly to the 150,000 violent deaths (80% of them civilian) cited by the Iraq Body Count (IBC), a group that tracks killings reported in the media or by hospitals, morgues, and governments. A further source for comparison is the Iraq War Logs, the U.S. military's internal tally of casualties that registers 109,032 violent deaths in the period 2004-2009, including in that count Iraqi army and coalition troops.
Unlike the IBC and the Iraq War Logs, Hagopian’s study makes no attempt to represent the number of foreign fighters killed or to distinguish the violent deaths of Iraqi combatants from those of Iraqi civilians. However, the study’s respondents specifically attributed 35% of killings to coalition forces, 32% to militias, 11% to criminals, and 21% to unknown actors. Accordingly, the U.S. military was found to be directly responsible for killing around 46,000 Iraqi civilians and combatants over the course of the invasion and occupation.
Results indicate the car bomb, favored by al-Qaeda in Iraq, was a particularly effective psychological weapon, drawing media attention disproportionate to its lethality. The PLOS study found car bombs accounted for just 12% of Iraqi casualties. Other explosions (9%) and airstrikes (7%) also made up a relatively small percentage of the total number of violent deaths, with the majority of Iraqis (63%) reportedly dying by gunshot.
Further analysis shows 2004 and 2006-7 were the three bloodiest years of the war, followed by 2003 and 2005. Violence dropped off sharply in 2008, before starting to rise again in 2011 as US forces withdrew, just before the research concluded.
Five other population-based studies of Iraqi casualties have been conducted since the war began. Hagopian’s is the first released since 2006 and uses a new methodology based in part on the perceived failings of similar studies in the past. For example, a 2006 report that put the death toll at 654,000 in 3 years was criticized for using a flawed sampling method that inflated results. Compared to that study and the four others based in statistical analysis of the Iraqi population, Hagopian’s team used a conservative method to arrive at one of the lowest death rates.
Those seeking an exact body count will be disappointed. There is great uncertainty and potential for sampling bias built into any project like this. Hagopian acknowledges as much, asserting with 95% mathematical confidence that the actual number of war-related deaths—violent or not—was somewhere between 48,000 and 751,000, an enormous statistical range. By comparison, a proportionate range in a country the size of the United States is 475,000 to 7,473,000.
It is difficult if not impossible for us to imagine 1.3 million of our fellow citizens dying violently in the span of a few years, and millions more perishing from preventable diseases and lack of basic services, yet it appears something similar happened in Iraq. It is still happening. It’s a fair question how much responsibility each American bears for that, but it’s a question to be addressed outside the realm of science. Studies seeking to count war dead inevitably raise questions of moral culpability, but their real utility lies elsewhere. They illustrate the holistic impact of war—its true costs to an entire society—that extend far beyond the carnage wrought on the battlefield. | <urn:uuid:10a52ed0-9e54-4229-90f5-e6e4d89d831d> | http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/23/new-report-cites-half-a-million-war-related-dead-in-iraq.html | en | 0.954895 | 0.124627 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Weekender 24/7
‘Idol’ thoughts
(Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush (center) poses with 9 of the top 10 American Idol finalists (top row, left to right): Ace Young, winner Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Bucky Covington, (bottom row, left to right), Kellie Pickler, Paris Bennett, Lisa Tucker, Mandisa, and Chris Daughtry at the White House Friday.
No, the deafening silence from Weekender 24/7 isn’t the result of a case of bloggers’ block. I’ve been on vacation.
Something I heard about today while playing catchup struck me as kinda odd. With the Middle East falling apart and the news seemingly getting worse every day, President Bush on Friday welcomed the finalists from the most recent “American Idol” competition, including winner Taylor Hicks, to the White House.
The president getting visits from entertainers and athletes is nothing new, though the photo of Bush grinning with the “Idol” pretty boys and girls seems like bad timing. But that’s not what intrigued me.
You’d think a media-savvy White House might be aware of the fact that it was only last April that the movie “American Dreamz” starred Dennis Quaid as a doofus president who decides to be a guest judge on an “Idol”-like reality show to boost his popularity.
The tagline for the film wasn’t exactly subtle. “Imagine a country where the President never reads the newspaper, where the government goes to war for all the wrong reasons, and more people vote for a pop idol than their next President.” Neither was Quaid’s performance or Marcia Gay Harden’s Laura-esque turn as his first lady.
Granted, the movie tanked at the box office. But you’d think someone at the White House would have pointed out the possible unflattering comparisons nonetheless. Maybe Karl Rove was otherwise occupied.
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Take the 2-minute tour ×
Sorry about the strange title didn't really know how to word it.
I currently use MapInfo to do most of my GIS work however I have recently installed PostGIS 1.5 and am really liking it so far. A project that I am going to start working on in the future sometime will involve creating an application for managing stormwater assets, all my previous mapping projects have just been using a MapInfo window embedded in a C# application. Now that I have some data in a PostGIS server it has opened a lot of possibilities.
I tried writing some small sample applications using NHibernate and NHibernate.Spatial in C# but to say it's frustrating is a understatement (sometimes static typed code gives me the shits).
So I was wondering if anyone had any experience writing a Qgis plugin using python to access PostGIS and if you think it would be a viable route to take, and if so anyone had any good places to read about doing such things.
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3 Answers 3
up vote 6 down vote accepted
There are a lot of python plugins for QGIS that access PostGIS. Just download them and check the source code. Accessing PostGIS from Python is quite straight forward (same is true for SpatiaLite by the way).
PostGIS related plugins by name:
• PgQuery for QGIS
• PostGIS Manager
• PostGIS SQL Query Editor
• RT Sql Layer
• ...
share|improve this answer
I have no experience or knowledge of the QGIS API. What I know is that it is a viable approach and it can be a very rewarding experience.
You can check out PyQGIS Cook Book - that shows a lot of code on how to achieve common taks. That might help you.
share|improve this answer
Thanks for the link George, very handy indeed. – Nathan W Aug 7 '10 at 10:23
from pyQGis cookbook:
uri = QgsDataSourceURI()
uri.setDataSource ("public ","roads ", "the _geom ", "cityid=2643 ")
vlayer=QgsVectorLayer (uri .uri() ,"layer _ name_you_ like","postgres ")
share|improve this answer
Your Answer
| <urn:uuid:b17a5daf-6d21-4fa5-9b6e-06cd61ebe9e1> | http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/407/writing-a-plugin-for-qgis-using-python-to-access-postgis-and-write-geometries/3693 | en | 0.904652 | 0.029449 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
I have enabled JAAS authentication (simple authentication)on an activemq broker - by including the plugins in the activemq config XML file. I have multiple authentication entries (one for each topic). My questions are: 1- Each time I add a new topic to the XML file, the broker has to be restarted to apply that authentication. Is there a way to hotsync the updated the XML file's authentication without restarting the broker? 2- Is there an open source GUI for administering userids for simple JAAS authetication - sort of a 3-way update between the XML authentication entry, the users.properties file and groups.properties file? 3- Is there a different authentication mechanism I should move to as number of subscribers and topics grow? Best - Susmit -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/JAAS-authentication-issues-on-ActiveMQ-tp24378560p24378560.html Sent from the ActiveMQ - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com. | <urn:uuid:00fde120-c46b-44c5-aa11-69fa4d92f3a6> | http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/activemq-users/200907.mbox/raw/%3C24378560.post@talk.nabble.com%3E/ | en | 0.806899 | 0.021018 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Thanks Daniel. I've been reading the docs, and i think I've worked out what I need to do to implement this. Could you let me know if this sounds like the correct approach? Indexing 1. Sub-class TokenFilter, and add extra functionality that calls setPayload() on each token 2. Write a custom analyser that uses the new TokenFilter sub-class 3. As I only want this to apply to certain fields, I'll use the PerFieldAnalyserWrapper Searching 1. Sub-class Similarity, and over-ride the scorePayload() method with the example code you linked to. 2. When I create an IndexSearcher, call the setSimilarity() method on it, so that it uses the new sub-class. 3. Use the BoostingTermQuery class in place of the normal Query class -- View this message in context: Sent from the Lucene - General mailing list archive at | <urn:uuid:9cf1d91d-5e1c-4078-813d-31d6bade20c5> | http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/lucene-general/200807.mbox/raw/%3C18214361.post@talk.nabble.com%3E/ | en | 0.858675 | 0.929069 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Our View: Senator Inouye, patriot and hero
Hawaiian senator was a profile in courage
Daniel Inouye was a high
school senior in his native Honolulu when Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
He and other Japanese-Americans had wanted desperately to be accepted, he said, and that meant going to war. He volunteered for the U.S. Army at age 18.
"I felt that there was a need for us to demonstrate that we're just as good as anybody else," said Inouye, who eventually went on to serve 50 years as a U.S. senator from Hawaii. "The price was bloody and expensive, but I felt we succeeded."
Inouye paid a high personal price. He lost his right arm while fighting a Nazi attacker in Italy in 1945. But he and other Japanese-American troops, known as Nisei, more than proved their courage in battle and laid to rest any doubts about their courage and loyalty. He earned a belated Medal of Honor.
He became the first Japanese-American to serve in Congress when Hawaii became a state. He was elected to the Senate in 1962, serving 50 years.
A quiet man, he distinguished himself as a fighter for equal rights and a force for decency throughout his long career in Washington.
He would have made a great president, but opted instead to be a great senator. His death Monday, at 88, is a loss for the Senate and the nation.
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• How come his peers never elected him majority leader of the senate? | <urn:uuid:312b7bbe-3c83-4980-9d1e-d09be29c60e2> | http://www.recordpub.com/opinion/2012/12/19/our-view-senator-inouye-patriot-and-hero | en | 0.990427 | 0.05891 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Farmers fear dust rules won't reflect rural life
INDIANAPOLIS - INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - As they begin the fall harvest, wary farmers are watching a federal debate over whether to clamp down on one of rural life's constant companions - the dust clouds that farm machinery kick up in fields and along unpaved roads.
Farming groups have urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retain its current standards for dust, soot and other microscopic particles, arguing that tighter restrictions would be unworkable and that dust isn't a real pollutant.
Grain farmer Charles Schmitt, who farms about 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans near the southwestern Indiana town of Haubstadt, called the possibility of tougher rules on dust "ridiculous."
The 59-year-old, who's farmed for more than four decades, said there's little farmers can do to reduce dust, especially after a dry summer like this year's that left his fields parched.
"Mother Nature has more to do with it than we do - there's going to be dust and dirt no matter what," Schmitt said.
The EPA is reviewing its airborne pollutant standards, as required every five years under the Clean Air Act. It's looking both at its standards for tiny particles of industrial pollution, and slightly larger particles called "coarse particulate matter" that include dust.
Supporters of tougher restrictions said they're needed to help clear the air of tiny grains that can lodge deep in the lungs, worsening heart and respiratory problems.
But farming and livestock groups and some lawmakers call those risks overstated. They argue that tighter rules could hurt rural areas, which they fear might exceed new limits and be required to implement plans to reduce dust.
In July, nearly two dozen senators from farm states urged EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in a joint letter to keep in place the current particulate standards, approved in 2006.
Tougher standards, their letter warned, would result in "extremely burdensome" dust control measures to bring regions into compliance and "could slow economic development and impose significant cost to farmers and businesses."
The American Lung Association has urged the EPA to adopt stricter limits. The group maintains that officials could reduce dust, from paving gravel roads to encouraging farmers to grow more of their crops using no-till approaches that reduce the need for tractor work.
Janice Nolen, the group's assistant vice president for national policy and advocacy, said the agricultural industry's claims mirror those other industries raised when they faced EPA restrictions.
"Every industry that sees that they're going to have to clean up have had the same concerns and we've seen time and again where they were able to figure out a solution," she said.
Nolen said it's not just loose soil that blows around and off farms - the particles also include diesel exhaust from farm machinery, animal waste and herbicides and insecticides.
The EPA's scientific advisers told the agency this summer that the agency could better protect public health by replacing the existing standard of 150 micrograms of coarse particles per cubic meter with a standard between 65 and 85 micrograms per cubic meter.
The agency is expected to release a final document next month spelling out its options for revising the standards. The EPA plans to announce any proposed changes in February, and will likely approve a final updated rule by October 2011. The agency would then determine which areas of the nation don't meet those new standards.
The EPA said in a statement that it is "committed to issuing air quality standards for particle pollution that are scientifically sound."
But the American Farm Bureau Federation contends there's no scientific evidence supporting a need for tighter regulations on dust and that farm dust is different from the particles released by industry.
Rick Krause, the group's senior director of congressional relations, said there's no effective and economical way for farmers to reduce dust levels. He said it's wrong to lump farm dust in with industrial pollution and car fumes.
Tamara Thies, chief environmental counsel for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, said tougher rules would penalize agricultural areas, particularly those in more arid regions where dust is a nearly constant presence.
"When you get out into the agricultural areas of this country what you have is dust - dust is a part of doing business. And most of rural dust is just dust," she said.
Oklahoma cattle rancher Jason Hitch, who owns and operates his family's 12,000-acre ranch near the Panhandle town of Guymon with his brother Chris, said dust permeates everything in the wind-swept, semiarid region where many roads are packed dirt. It gets in his eyes, mouth and nose, but Hitch said he's so accustomed to it he hardly notices.
Hitch Ranch, a fifth-generation operation that also includes hogs and crops, is buffeted by relentless winds and gets only about 16 inches of precipitation a year.
Hitch said it would be prohibitively expensive and impractical for his workers, for example, to dampen the soil while farming to reduce dust levels. Hitch thinks federal officials just don't understand life on the Great Plains.
"We spend a lot of time cussing and discussing what goes on in Washington and what they come up with. We don't feel like they're very much in touch with production agriculture," he said. | <urn:uuid:2340fe84-a4c5-403a-bb37-dfd009ba2fa5> | http://www.vcstar.com/news/farmers-fear-dust-rules-wont-reflect-rural-life | en | 0.964831 | 0.154471 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
crystal light yourtango glam media date
YourTango Takes Crystal Light On A Date
It's hard to stay healthy when you lead a busy lifestyle, and having a quick soda serves as a much-needed energy boost. But a recent study from the University of Texas reports that people who drink two or more diet sodas a day have waists that are six times as large as those who don't drink diet soda at all. This goes to show that a good alternative to the fizzy drink can go a long way.
sugar daddy
Link Love: Are Housewives Credit-Worthy?
Secrets of sexually satisfied couples. Bad (unhealthy) habits lead to bad sex. Lessons learned from a boyfriend who doesn't care for the barrier method. Are people addicted to love or really addicted to approval? What if you had to have your husband's approval to get a credit card? And who's better at online dating Adele-heads or Juggalos?
google plus
Using Google Plus On A Date Is No-No
Although texting may be a primary form of communication with potential suitors, a new survey warns that being too involved in your phone—and not involved enough with your date—is a big taboo while out on the town.
lonely man
What Guys Think Links: Dating Is Hard For Good Guys Too
Modern dating, even for the awesome ones, isn't easy for guys either. What advice would you give for someone who has never been kissed? How to convert a frog into a prince without witchcraft. Is divorce really freedom? Why are we so quick to forgive faithlessness? Is porn ruining your sex life? Should we allow porn in prison? What do we think of strip club regulars? Forbidden sex is pretty outstanding.
Sexy summer legs beach
Get Sexy Summer Legs In Six Weeks
Shape has designed a quick and easy six-week workout plan to help you get strong, sexy legs you'll feel confident about on the beach—and your man will love. The fitness challenge is said to build muscle in your butt and thighs, while not ignoring your upper body.
8 Reasons Men Lose Interest
8 Reasons Men Lose Interest
If the relationship with your guy started with a drunken hook-up, moved on to a casual but intense sexual connection, had a short pause in the land of "I love you," and is now feeling distant and uncoupled, maybe your "relationship" was never what you thought. Feelings of infatuation are strong, and can make us think, "Wow. This is real love!" But without some underpinning of compatibility, people just tend to lose interest and drift apart.
man checking out his fingers
Want To Know His Penis Size? Look At His Fingers
Ladies, there's no need to get into his pants (or receive a naughty picture message) in order to gauge the size of his package. And forget that old wives tale about the size of his shoes. Instead, just take a look at the length of his fingers. | <urn:uuid:76b9594e-7a4f-47e8-994f-a85312bea04e> | http://www.yourtango.com/blogs/love-buzz?page=502 | en | 0.953327 | 0.024132 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
SAMUELSON: Retirees likely better off than many believe
10:48 AM, Apr. 28, 2014 | Comments
• Filed Under
Can America afford to retire? As millions of baby boomers pass their mid-60s, the specter of widespread under-saving has taken hold. Huge numbers of present and future retirees will exhaust their savings before they die. Mass hardship looms. It's a scary vision. But is it likely? Probably not.
Typical retirees are hardly bereft. In 2010, roughly 80 percent of households 65 to 74 owned their homes, and half of these had fully repaid their mortgages, reports economist Peter Brady of the Investment Company Institute, the trade group for mutual funds.
Among those with a mortgage, the median amount was less than half (44 percent) of the house's value. For all homeowners, median home equity - the amount not owed on the mortgage - was $120,000. (The median signifies the midpoint. Amounts were higher for half the households, lower for the other half.)
To supplement Social Security, retirees can borrow against their home equity. They can also draw on retiree savings from defined benefit pensions, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) accounts. In 2010, almost three-quarters of households aged 55 to 64 had some combination of these retirement vehicles. The median value of the IRA and 401(k) accounts was $100,000, Brady says.
Retirees, it's often said, have to achieve a "replacement rate" of 80 percent of their former income to match pre-retirement living standards. Just where this figure came from isn't clear. Whatever its origin, the target is misleading. It's disconnected from financial realities.
Think of all the expenses that retirees escape. Not working, they don't pay Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, totaling 7.65 percent of wages. Gone are other work expenses: commuting, parking, clothes and (possibly) lunches out. Children should have left home, avoiding their costs for food, school and dress. Even if some have returned, costs should be less. If the mortgage is repaid, retirees effectively live in their houses rent-free. Similarly, their saving should be over. For many, this equals 10 percent or more of income. Granted, some stiff costs remain: out-of-pocket medical costs, utility bills and property taxes.
A realistic replacement rate, though hard to measure, is well below 80 percent. As important, the concept's usefulness is limited. How well people live in retirement depends mostly on how productive and prudent they lived before retirement. It's a matter of personal responsibility. Public policy should aim more modestly at protecting against hardship.
Studies aside, there's little real-world evidence of pervasive under-saving.
Of course, there are serious social problems here. One is that most of the poor don't save. The poorest quarter of the elderly rely on Social Security for 85 percent of their income, notes economist James Poterba of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Another problem: People don't know when they'll die. It's difficult to plan. People who live longer than expected or who spend extended stretches in a nursing home can exhaust sizable savings.
More Americans are trying to ease the uncertainties by working longer. Labor force participation has increased for 60-somethings, Poterba reminds. Raising Social Security's eligibility ages would also be smart. As life expectancy lengthens, it makes less sense for so many people to spend so many years living off their savings and subsidies from the young and middle-aged. Retirement would be more secure if it were shorter.
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Full Version: Zaurus Ide-cs Dma Support
Does the microdrive (or any other cf memory) support DMA transfers? I am not sure of that.
The CF interface is only 16-bit, so 32-bit transfers are out of the question. Additionally, the PXA270 dma lines arent connected to anything in the Z as far as I can tell (certainly not to the Scoop CF controllers) so DMA is unavailable too. sad.gif
the new 8 gig and 16 gig high end cf cards suport dma | <urn:uuid:6eeaaea4-b0f0-4f35-bdab-9959091b65e6> | http://www.oesf.org/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t24412.html | en | 0.852834 | 0.503796 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Jeri Cale - 2 Records Found in Beaverton, OR
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What tie patterns and colors go well with a charcoal suit and cognac brown shoes? by MrHeavySilencein malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
grey suits are the most versatile for ties. stay away from bright red. black will go better with black shoes. any other color is pretty much good to go.
the only thing i would consider is your dress shirt color with your tie. for a grey suit i would stick to a white, light blue for safe colors or light pink for something with a lil more pop.
my favorite color tie for a grey suit/brown shoes is burgundy.
Black overcoat/topcoat bad option? by DSJ13in malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
black is fine. black can be worn with most colored suits, the only thing i would pay attention to are the shoe color. if your wearing a grey suit, black topcoat, probably should stick with black shoes. i mean you can wear whatever you want but brown shoes and a black coat would just stand out but with the right combo could still look good.
the reason navy/grey is probably popular is because its trendy and more versatile. people like their brown shoes. nothing wrong with a nice traditional black topcoat.
Where do you put your phone/wallet/keys? Wearing any remotely tight pants looks silly by dontdrinktheTin malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
so many comments about people putting their wallets in their back pockets. i strongly suggest not to for two reasons, first off its uncomfortable to sit on your wallet and has actually shown long term effects on the back (no source is needed, just google it). second is a bit more being cautious, but back pockets are very easily pick pocketed. growing up in LA and being fortunate enough to go to amusement parks or anywhere there are large cramped crowds, i just dont trust people. having your wallet in your front pocket is not dummy proof but it is much more secure.
(ROSTER) - 2015 Moves by mdmyers95in DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 1 point2 points (0 children)
Wilson, Lacy, Julio, Gordon, Jeffery, Gronk. Hyde would be a solid pick up as your 7th keeper.
[ROSTER] 12 Team Keeper league where you can keep 4 players. Which ones would you keep?? by raptor1523in DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
i would only keep mccoy if i felt everyone else in the league was going heavy on keeping RB's.
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
ya cam is a tough player to let go especially in a 2 qb league. i just try to think about relative value to the position, and also consider longevity. thomas vs TE's and Cam vs QB's, i think theres a larger spread for thomas but i dont think you would do wrong if you kept cam over thomas. you have a legitemate 8 players that i could make a case for based on a no penalty keeper league and 2 qb's lol.
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
no penalty for keeper draft position?
tough one, but Dez, Jones, thomas, wilson. evans, cam, mccoy, benjamin are my next closest.
My Favorite Face Swap I've Made by Androowdin funny
[–]opeyum 3 points4 points (0 children)
man that face looks like Russell Wilson. never noticed how similar their features were before.
Blake Griffin fakes before dishing to DeAndre Jordan for the big reverse oop by samneterin nba
[–]opeyum 9 points10 points (0 children)
brandon knight saw jordan wide open, he just pretended he was more worried about the 3. good choice lil friend...good choice.
[ROSTER] Drop kicker for??? by underthebridgewaterin DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
taliaferro, turbin, stills, dalton. Already know what dalton can do, hes a decent FF qb just inconsistent. Stills and cooks will be the saints options once colston retires, until then they effect each others value. Turbin looks solid but lynch isnt slowing down like we all thought, plus michael clouds the situation. Taliaferro was solid the beginning of the season when he got some good touches. Forsett and pierce are both near their end.
I think i like taliaferro's situation best but all 4 are pretty even in my opinion.
[Commish] Situation involving replacing owners by soggystamenin DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
my league actually just had this exact scenario this yr. the commish said he was going to allow it for only teams who did not make the playoffs. some members griped, others were ok with it (both in and out of the playoffs). we decided to put it to a vote. i suggest the same. voting is the simplest way to alleviate league decisions. because there is always someone who will have issues with anything that impacts the league, positive or negative.
i would also suggest if you do allow it, to not make it a common occurrence to keep league integrity.
Good casual shoes for around $100? by hammanmanin malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
easier to show some example. just scroll down and youll see some good combo's.[]=fall|typed&term_meta[]=fashion|typed&term_meta[]=men|typed&term_meta[]=winter|typed
but basically it depends on how you dress to know what you consider casual. all of those shoes would go well with just a simple pair of jeans (denim, olive) and a simple sweater/button up. i mean there are tons of different ways you could dress and all of them could look good. just depends on your style.
Good casual shoes for around $100? by hammanmanin malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum 6 points7 points (0 children)
$100 should give you a pretty good amount of options at DSW. they have a wide variety of shoes for reasonable prices plus you can always get lucky on their clearance rack. Or since you have a nordstroms card, try nordstroms rack.
im a frugal buyer, i tend to get lucky ever once in a while. just dont settle, make sure when you see something you like, grab it.
Edit:Im not 100% a nordstroms card will work at nordstroms rack. Not really sure what your looking for, but assuming you want some nice boots to deal with the rain, i found some decent selections at good prices. as far as the quality/fit, not sure about most of them.,cat20303,cat20303,cat20303
Does my suit look cheap? by smoofin malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum 1 point2 points (0 children)
Yes of course but tailors can only do so much. A tailor can do nothing about the shoulders, so it is the first thing to check for a suit. Next is make sure the suit fits ur neck/chest/torso. Tailors can make small adjustments if the fit is a little off. (IE move the coat buttons up, down, left, right to adjust the fit, or take in the back/sides if it was too big) thats why people are saying ur coat is pulling in the middle, i disagree, its not bad, and ur wearing a cardigan which is adding uneccesary bulk. Nothing a tailor couldnt fix pretty easy. Another item a tailor cant fix is coat length. But urs appears fine. Arm/pant length are eaisly adjusted and almost a mandatory tailoring item at the very least. Last thing il mention for trying on ur suit, pay attention to the arm holes. The smaller they are around ur armpit the better. Wide armholes will cause bulking and restricted movement.
Sorry for the long response just wanted to make sure you felt sharp for your wedding. Congrats by the way and good luck.
Does my suit look cheap? by smoofin malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
TBH your suit looks too big imo. its hard to tell since youre taking a picture of yourself, but put your arms down to the your sides and look at your shoulders. it appears you have about an inch of extra fabric hanging over. also the lapel is raising quite a bit off your traps even with a slight raise of one of your hands, which also indicates too big.
the suit itself doesnt look cheap, its a nice color. but the vest/cardigan needs to go. your should try on suits with just a dress shirt to ensure you are getting the right size. MFA sidebar has some sizing guides on suits if you need pictures.
EDIT: This suit guide is quick and easy to read!
Potentially starting a new job, need a lot of new, affordable suits. Any suggestions? by TheAquamanin malefashionadvice
[–]opeyum -11 points-10 points (0 children)
men's warehouse is probably your best bet at that price range. They typically have sales where you can get a decent selection of suits for about $250 (either on sale or BOGO deals). They start and stop their sales like every other week. so if its not on sale today, go back next week.
Facial reconstruction before modern medicine by iBleeedorangein WTF
[–]opeyum -1 points0 points (0 children)
if he lost his whole jaw, how did his bottom lip regrow?
Edit: this was a serious question. was curious on how the face recognizing new skin/tissue and forms it into a lip based on its location? or did the doctor create the lip? im just confused on how the body knows to make what use to be a thigh or butt, and reform it into a mouth. human body is crazy.
[Trade] My WR for Tannehill by LUCIFERx88in DynastyFF
[–]opeyum -2 points-1 points (0 children)
well Patterson and Robinson are worth about the same right now, Each of the them are easily worth Tannehill straight up.
Your offer seems alright, me personally i wouldn't accept it, but you never know what people will go for. I say submit the trade offer and if it goes through, you got a good deal.
[TRADE] Michael Floyd for Marshawn Lynch? by illlilllllillliin DynastyFF
not sure why you are being upvoted when jshrlzwrld02 is 100% correct. RB's are harder to find consistency than WR's. in dynasty, the longevity of a RB compared to WR is ridiculous and THAT is why WR's are ranked higher. good RB's tend to only have 2-4 yrs of good numbers while a good WR can 8-12. so yes, producing RB's are much more valuable because they are not consistent YR to YR. that is exactly why in redraft leagues RB's are so heavily drafted.
edit: typos
[TRADE] Michael Floyd for Marshawn Lynch? by illlilllllillliin DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 1 point2 points (0 children)
The biggest question i have, are you trying to win this yr? If you are, id definitely pull the trigger.
reasons: your in a 8 man league (non ppr).
Floyd is the 43rd WR this yr for points scored (roughly 64), not really doing much and isnt very consistent. In dynasty, hes hes ranked anywhere from 15-20th at the moment.
Lynch is 2nd RB this yr (171), but we all know, theres many questions after this yr.
Lets go back to the point of, your in a 8 man league! That means Michael Floyd isnt even start-able this yr, in a perfect world if all teams had all talent evenly spread out, you'd start the top 20 RB's and top 20 WR's (2 rb's = 16, 2 wr = 16, 8 flex)
yes i understand floyd is young and talented but i dont see him ever breaking the top 10 in scoring in any season is may barely break top 20. meaning in a 8 man league where really only the best are being kept, imo hes a bench player and a bye week filler. lynch is a starter in any size league, at least for this season, and will probably be an RB2-3 at worst next season before exiting the league in 2-3 yrs.
TL:DR - i would definitely do this trade if i was making a run at the championship this year. i would be hesitant if looking for next yr. I wouldnt do this trade if my team is at least 2 yrs out from being a contender.
[DISCUSSION]Position values by Seanay-Bin DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 1 point2 points (0 children)
ya, maybe hes afraid of where cobb goes after this yr or if he stays in place. but i agree he could use a nice WR1, but his WR's arnt bad either. if he only needs to start 3, he definitely has 3 capable WR's and im sure he starts 3 RB's with his flex. just tough luck on your part i guess.
[DISCUSSION]Position values by Seanay-Bin DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 1 point2 points (0 children)
for the most part you are correct, but it also depends on your league size and scoring.
RB's will always be harder to come by then WR's, especially in their prime, because of their short careers and how majority of teams are RBBC's.
Cobb for lacy is a reasonable trade. i wouldnt get down just because someone denied it though. in dynasty you have to play the league owner more then the players. because dynasty is so much more hypothetical and a lil bit of a guessing game, some owners will be higher on some players then their value and vice versa. Figure out peoples weaknesses and expose them. Also pay attention to member's needs and if they are competitive this yr or building for the future. If you know the members mindset, you will be more successful at getting what you want.
[TRADE] McCoy & 1st OVR for Julio & 3rd OVR by Jerm_13in DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 1 point2 points (0 children)
your WR's are your gold, and in Dynasty... WR's vs RB's longevity is a landslide. Id stick with julio since ATL would be stupid not to franchise him and has a fairly good QB locked for a few yrs.
I dont think McCoy is going to make a difference to be able to win this yr. so look to the future.
your WR's are elite and the depth is great. your RB's are young and could all turn into serviceable RB's 1-2 yrs... Hyde, Oliver, McKinnon, ball. Kelce will be a solid TE for the future and is already starting to produce.
IMO Your real struggle is your QB if you are in a 2 QB league. kaep is reasonable but would be best as an OP, not as your QB.
i think with a decent draft this yr and next yr, you could easily improve your team and be a top contender.
[Trade] My Hopkins and 3rd rounder for Josh Gordon by CatThief99in DynastyFF
[–]opeyum 0 points1 point (0 children)
any player who can be suspended 2 games in a season and still be the WR1 of the season with a mediocre QB... thats who i want on my team. | <urn:uuid:5bf60d4e-2c46-4f5b-87f6-d0266586dea4> | http://www.reddit.com/user/opeyum/ | en | 0.953388 | 0.046583 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Magazine, website & books written by teens since 1989
The Day Everyone Stopped Caring This work has been published in the Teen Ink monthly print magazine.
It is just another normal day in the year 2040, when the little girl hears her mother calling to her. "I'm coming, Mommy," she yells as she drops her rag doll.
"Darling," her mother tells her, "please take out the trash."
She sighs and gets dressed up in a heavy plastic suit complete with a gas mask. She takes the bags of trash outside, fighting her way through vermin to dispose of the bags in her back yard. The yard is already filled to its capacity, but there is no- where else to put the garbage since all the landfills closed decades ago and the bodies of water are filled with harmful pollutants.
When she gets back in the house, the little girl asks her mother if they can get outside of the house for a change and go somewhere.
Her mother says, "I wish we could, but there is nowhere to go. Anywhere we go, we would have to wear a bulletproof vest, an oxygen mask and a protective suit. Even if we could go somewhere, all we would see is housing. Why don't I just tell you a story."
"Okay, tell me a fairy tale."
"This is a good one I remember my father telling me when I was your age. It's about a beautiful world where beautiful animals lived."
"What's an animal?" her daughter wants to know.
"They were innocent creatures who used to have fun all day until humans invaded their territory. Well, animals would frolic all day and no one had to worry about having clean water or eating good food. Trees grew and bore fruit and provided shade. Temperatures weren't too hot. Snow would fall, with which children could build white, frozen castles and snowmen. No one had any worries. The end."
To the little girl, it was just a story. She had never known what snow was or what it was like to go to a zoo and see animals. Had people known what kind of world they were going to leave fifty years ago, maybe they would have done something. Now it was too late. n
Join the Discussion
This article has 2 comments. Post your own now!
HannaABoo2You said...
Aug. 10, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Wow...this story is amazing! you know people say that it doesnt exist or it isnt gonna happen...but i bet one day it will..just hopefully not soon!!
Brookenelly said...
Aug. 4, 2009 at 10:18 pm
This story really affected me, I think that its true that one day there will be no turning back and that now we are on the brink. It is up to our generation to make a difference.
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Southold vs. The Hamptons: First Ladies, History, Wine
Southold for years has been locked in a struggle with Southampton over which town could enjoy the designation of “First English Settlement in New York.” Both claim it in their literature. Both claim to have been founded in 1640, and indeed both were. It comes down to which month. It also comes down to what’s meant by “settlement.” For instance, if two guys in one town sat on a log and talked about having a settlement there, does that beat two guys who bring a group together and announce they are a town? In most ways of looking at it, Southampton triumphs. The Southampton settlers landed at Conscience Point from New England in what is now North Sea on June 12. The Southold settlers landed from New England on October 21. Most other markers line up in Southampton’s favor. Just one thing, a technicality about a definition of the term “New York,” votes for Southold.
And now, in another startling development, Southold claims to have been home to a young woman who also became the First Lady of the land. I say “also” because there were two very beautiful young women from East Hampton who held that honor. One was named Julia Gardiner, who when she was 24 was married to a sitting president of the United States to become the First Lady. And the other was Jackie Bouvier, who was raised in East Hampton as a girl and became the wife of President John F. Kennedy.
The new claimant from Southold is a woman named Anna Symmes Harrison. And indeed, she was America’s First Lady during the administration of William Henry Harrison. Besides everything else, when you consider that there are 50 states in the union and there are only 43 presidents with first ladies, it is quite an honor that among those from New York, three are not only from Long Island but from Eastern Long Island. We certainly can claim to grow young ladies out here who are beautiful, smart and charming. There you have it. The population in the country is over 300 million; less than a million people live on eastern Long Island. We’ve had three first ladies.
There, however, the comparison between the beautiful Miss Gardiner and Miss Jacqueline Bouvier and the less beautiful (at least not celebrated as being that beautiful) Miss Symmes, ends.
Julia Gardiner was born and raised in East Hampton and Manhattan. So was Jackie Bouvier.
Anna Symmes was born in New Jersey, taken east by her father after her mother died to be raised in Southold by grandparents when she was 4 years old.
Score: Julia and Jackie 1, Anna 0.
Julia Gardiner got married to a widowed President, John Tyler, when he was in his third year in office. She brought elegance to the White House. She rode around in a coach pulled by a team of horses. Jackie Bouvier was a wealthy horsewoman who brought a new kind of style to the White House.
Anna Symmes married her husband when he was a simple lieutenant in the army many years before he became President. They lived on the frontier where her husband was fighting Indians. When William Henry Harrison became President in March 1841, he moved to the White House. Anna was sick and could not accompany him. She would be along later. Thirty days later, when she was getting packed to move, she learned her husband had died. He had been President for a month. And she never lived in the White House.
Score: Julia and Jackie 2, Anna Symmes 0.
Julia Gardiner bore John Tyler eight children. All were born after he became President. Jackie Bouvier bore Jack Kennedy two children before he became President.
Anna Symmes bore William Henry Harrison 10 children. All were born BEFORE he became President.
I call that a tie.
Score: Julia and Jackie 2 ½, Anna Symmes ½.
Julia Gardiner was educated as a young lady at a private school in Manhattan. But the family came out to East Hampton to their mansion here in the summertime. The same was true of Jackie Bouvier.
Anna Symmes went to the Clinton Academy in East Hampton when she was old enough to go to school. It would not be possible back then for a young girl to live at home and get taken from Southold to East Hampton for school every day. She had to be boarded in East Hampton.
Score Julia and Jackie 3 ½, Anna Symmes ½.
Julia Gardiner was swept off her feet by her future husband when a gun exploded on the ship they were on, killing her father. President John Tyler said he would never leave her as she cried. Jackie Bouvier married John Kennedy in one of the greatest weddings of the 1953 social season.
Anna Symmes, when she presented her prospective husband, the Indian fighter, to her father, was told by him that he would not give permission to marry Harrison because he would be taking her off to wars all over the place. In fact, he did not come to her wedding.
Score: Julia and Jackie 4 ½, Anna Symmes ½.
An oddity in this whole story is this. William Henry Harrison and John Tyler were friends, both born on plantations in Virginia, who ran together for the Presidency and Vice Presidency, respectively, in 1840 under the slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.” William Henry Harrison got sick after they won the election, but to show the country how healthy he was, he delivered his inauguration speech on a cold winter day without wearing an overcoat. He died 30 days later, the shortest Presidential term in history, his wife never having come to Washington. John Tyler, his Vice President, thus became President and served out the term, marrying Julia along the way.
Of course, Southold has more vineyards and wineries than any other community on Long Island, including the Hamptons. In that regard, we give Southold 5 points.
Final score: Southold 5 ½, the Hamptons 4 ½.
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Is there a formula for what makes a movie flop?
We've all seen movies bomb, but what makes them a flop? Do we just know one when we see it, or is there a way to codify what makes a movie bomb, and by how much.
In response to a post on whether Guardians of the Galaxy might be Marvel's first real flop, a discussion began about just what we meant by a flop these days — and whether we hadn't all gotten a little too free with its usage:
I feel like the definition of a 'bomb' or 'tanking' has really been stretched lately. People point to movies like Superman Returns, Green Lantern and John Carter (of Mars) as 'bombs'. But in reality none of those actually were.
When you take in the international box office, all of those movies made back their production budget and then some . . .
Budget / world wide gross –
Superman returns: 270 / 391
Green Lantern: 200 / 220
John Carter: 250 / 284
Lone Ranger: 215 / 260
Every one of these movies made money. Maybe not a lot, but still not only didn't 'bomb', they didn't LOSE money . . . I think in order to be a real 'bomb' it has to make something like only 60% of it's production budget back in the box office. (This is from memory, so the number might be off.)
And considering that studio costs and profits are wildly manipulated, even movies that come pretty close to break even still tend to make a little bit of money.
Some legitimate recent bombs are movies like RIPD, Ender's Game (surprisingly), and Jack the Giant Slayer.
But even The Lone Ranger made a profit.
But other commenters suggested that a mathematical approach taking into account the costs of launching a movie, especially the marketing and distribution costs, might be a good reason for still counting movies that technically turned a profit as tanking all the same:
A good rule of thumb is that for every dollar in production, another dollar will be spent in marketing and advertising.
I'll also throw out there that most people don't understand the funding formulas for studios and film financing. Studios alot budgets for movies going into production in two years based on what they expect certain films opening in one year to recoup and make in profit. To say that a 'studio X' would simply be disappointed that 'Movie A' only made back its production budget of $150M + another $50M in profit would be grossly inaccurate, since 'Studio X' probably NEEDED the movie to make $300M to cover it's production and marketing costs and and another $100M to cover expenses for films that it had green lit based on the expectation of having $400M in available cash flow.
A movie has to make a MINIMUM of 2.5 times its budget to be successful. There's advertising, marketing and distribution, which these days can cost upwards of $100 million. (Star Trek Into Darkness had a reported marketing budget of $125 million.)
Overseas markets return only a fraction of what the North American box office does. In some places it's as little as 20-25%. So when you see "made $100 million foreign" you should automatically cut that in half.
Merely making its production budget back is a flop. Dramatically under-performing is a bomb.
Of course, there's also another possibility: Complaining that a movie bombed isn't just about whether or not it succeeded at the box office, it's about whether you thought it deserved to do well:
I'll go one better: I think many people use "bomb" to mean a film that "they" didn't like, and therefore perceive as not being successful because they didn't like it and they assume enough others didn't like it, as well.
So, what do you think? Do you agree with one of these definitions? And what makes a movie a flop in your eyes? | <urn:uuid:0435bc2e-144e-45fc-8d2d-a349add8d5f9> | http://io9.com/this-is-the-part-where-i-brag-again-about-editing-the-n-1517043754/@GregCox | en | 0.965778 | 0.72502 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
I am currently in the process of hiring a senior, regional-level manager. This person will need to travel extensively by plane.
We are nearing the end of our hiring process. The woman who has emerged as the strongest candidate is very large and in order to travel by plane will need to use either first-class seating or two coach seats (I am also a large woman who barely fits in a coach seat, so I know with certainty that she will not fit in a standard seat).
My questions:
1. If we choose to hire her, what are our obligations for her travel? Should we plan on purchasing upgraded or extra seats for her? Should we purchase the usual seat an expect her to cover the additional cost on her own?
2. If we choose to hire her, how do we have a conversation with her about how we will handle purchasing flights (regardless of whether we pay or she does)?
3. If we decided to cover the additional cost of her travel, it would significantly increase our travel budget for this role. I’m not sure I can get approval for that from our finance department. But if she is the strongest candidate for the job, it seems wrong to not choose her based on her body size.
Can you help?
I think if you hire her, you’ve got to assume that you’ll be buying two seats for her each time she travels. (I would not assume that you’ll need to buy business class tickets, which are usually significantly more expensive than two seats in coach.) It wouldn’t be reasonable for her to shoulder the cost of the extra seat each time; in a job with frequent air travel, she’d be paying quite a bit of money just to do her job.
Related links: Industries: | <urn:uuid:3e27c0e4-b5da-4023-a1e6-86b941d2037a> | http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/how-to/human-resources/2014/07/needing-two-airplane-seats-during-travel.html | en | 0.975176 | 0.094542 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
A totally tubular headphone amplifier
The Schiit Audio Valhalla headphone amplifier Schiit Audio
Headphones can sound only as good as the amplifier they're plugged into. The difference in sound quality between the built-in headphone amp in a typical receiver or computer and a high-end amp can be surprisingly huge. True, the very best headphone amps can get expensive, but Schiit Audio's made-in-the-U.S. amps' prices start at $249.
I was blown away by the sound of Schiit's solid-state Asgard amp ($249) a few months ago, and now it's happening again with the new Schiit vacuum tube Valhalla amp ($349). Which one sounds better, the solid-state or the tube design? Read on.
The Valhalla's chassis is a near twin to the Asgard, except for the four tubes peeking out of the top panel. The brushed, all-metal chassis' fit and finish are excellent; the Valhalla looks like an expensive high-end component. The rear panel houses stereo RCA inputs, an on/off switch, and a power connector. The chassis measures 9 by 6.75 by 3.25 inches, and it weighs 7 pounds.
Technically speaking, the Valhalla is a Class A, single-ended triode headphone amplifier with no overall feedback. The amp's innards are stuffed with individual resistors, capacitors, etc,; just like a no-holds barred high-end design, and it delivers classic tube sound. The chassis, circuit board, and power transformer are all sourced from American suppliers, and the amp is hand-built in Newhall, CA; though the vacuum tubes are made in Russia. Like most high-end designs, the Valhalla is built to last a long time; it should have a useful working life of 10 or more years.
The tubes Schiit Audio
The tubes probably won't make it to the 10-year mark; they're rated for 3,000 to 5,000 hours of use, so if you listen to your headphones for 10 hours a week, you won't have to replace the tubes for at least 6 years. The tubes are guaranteed for 90 days, and Schiit sells replacement tube sets for $40.
I spent some time comparing the solid-state Schiit Asgard with the Valhalla, with my Grado RS-1 and Sennheiser HD-580 full-size headphones, and the brand-new Ultimate Ears UE Reference Monitor in-ear headphones.
The Valhalla warmed up the Grado's sound; the Asgard was leaner-sounding, but more transparent. The Valhalla's soundstage depth on the Walkmen's excellent new "Lisbon" CD was more spacious than the Asgard's, but don't get the wrong idea; the tubes didn't soften detail, and the band's guitars had plenty of bite. The Valhalla/Grado sound is fuller-bodied and organic; the Asgard/Grado combo offers greater clarity.
The Sennheiser HD 580's sound was more laid-back (with less treble) and more diffuse-sounding when directly compared with the Grado, so the differences between the Valhalla and Asgard were less dramatic, but still evident. Female vocals were especially natural-sounding over the HD-580. An above-average-sounding concert rock CD, like the Drive-By Truckers' "Live in Austin TX" had great dynamics, and its wide-open soundstaging made for a powerfully engaging listening experience. The Valhalla's sound may be somewhat less clear than the solid-state Asgard's, but the tubes' sweetening effect makes for a more enjoyable experience with less-than-stellar-sounding recordings, like Arcade Fire's compressed-to-the-point-it-hurts " The Suburbs " CD. The music still doesn't sound great, but the Valhalla made it less grating. The Valhalla made every CD sound a little sweeter and more beautiful than it really is.
Asgard or Valhalla, which is better? There's no clear winner here, though I'd go for the Valhalla, but if tube sound doesn't woo you, go ahead and save $100 and get the Asgard.
I just received a pair of Ultimate Ears' latest, the Reference Monitors in-ear headphones ($1,000). I like them a lot but for now I'll just say they sound better than any other in-ears I've played on a home headphone amp. The Schiit-UE combo had incredible resolution of fine detail but never sounded harsh. Watch for a full review of the UE Reference Monitor here soon. The Valhalla or Asgard, teamed up with Grado's excellent SR225i headphones ($200) are a great way to discover high-end sound on a budget.
The Valhalla is sold direct from Schiit Audio, with a 15-day satisfaction guarantee, so you can try the amp at home. I can't think of another American-made audio component that sells for the prices Schiit charges for its two current designs; or budget-priced components that come backed up with 5-year warranties! More cool Schiit gear is in the works, and you'll hear all about it soon enough.
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note rubasov All of your hash keys (just the keys, not the values) will be stringified in perl5, so you cannot store a filehandle (or a reference) in a hash key (a hash key is a string, not a scalar variable for general use). Try to store these somewhere else, depending on your data structure for instance: <code> %radar = (some_id => [$fileh, $repoch], some_other_id => [$fileh2, $repoch2], ...) </code> 824298 824298 | <urn:uuid:fcc1ac0d-019b-41e2-aefd-1a7ef76c6ab0> | http://www.perlmonks.org/?displaytype=xml;node_id=824301 | en | 0.655882 | 0.321437 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Flashback: I Hear America Sinking
Remembering a nation on the brink of the Iraq war
As for the intelligence failures leading up to 9-11, Congress has refused to initiate any serious investigation into the workings of the spy agencies, sparking speculation that lawmakers are afraid of implicating themselves in an election year. The Independent reported over the weekend that shortly before 9-11, U.S. officials and the UN ignored a message from the Taliban foreign minister that bin Laden was planning a big attack inside the U.S. The friendly Taliban emissary was ignored by the U.S. because his alert seemed like just another of the crazy warnings that were exhausting the spies.
Foreign Alliances: Despite Tony Blair's rather odd weekend backing for Bush ("The only decision that's been taken at this stage is that inaction is not an option"), the U.S. remains at odds with much of the world. Last week German chancellor Gerhard Schröder bluntly summed up his position on any war with Iraq. "The . . . arguments that I have cited against an intervention are so important that I would also be against such an intervention if—for whatever reasons and in whatever form—the Security Council of the United Nations were to say 'Yes,' which I cannot imagine happening in the present situation," he told The New York Times. French president Jacques Chirac warned the U.S. against "attempts to legitimize the unilateral and preemptive use of force." The Chinese are opposed to our intervention. So are the Japanese. Turkey opposes it. Saudi Arabia opposes it. Pakistan, Egypt, and Jordan all say no.
Russian president Vladimir Putin said he had "deep doubts that there are grounds for the use of force." The Russians promise to veto such a move in the Security Council, no idle threat.
See also: Ward Harkavy's Bush Beat
Energy: The U.S. imports well over half its oil, with most of it coming from the Middle East. Iraq in particular sells half its oil exports to the U.S. Iraq provides about 10 percent of all American imports. As our intake of foreign fuel has grown, so has the demand for it, epitomized by gas-guzzling SUVs. To get more oil, we are trying to turn from the Middle East to the Russians and their pipelines into the Caspian basin. Even so, we are totally socked into the Middle East for the near future.
Corporations: The functions of government have steadily been taken over by corporate robber barons. Over the last decade, we have re-created the business structures and atmosphere of J.P. Morgan. Each administration since Reagan's has cut away at regulation. The market, not the government, is left to sort out the mess.
Personal Freedom: Civil liberties have been steadily reduced under the rubric of the war on terror. About 1200 people were taken into custody after 9-11, some 752 of them on immigration charges. Many of these people never had a hearing and never had a charge lodged against them. Some were subjected to secret trials. Eighty-five percent were deported. Some two dozen men are still being held as material witnesses, indefinitely, and in complete secrecy. If a prisoner were lucky enough to speak to an attorney, the government could routinely wiretap those conversations. For any reason at all the government can now designate people as "enemy combatants" and hold them in solitary, without the right to counsel.
Leadership: Foreigners don't know what to make of America. To an outsider, Bush looks like a puppet run by VP Dick Cheney, who last weekend single-handedly created a new foreign policy concept, the doctrine of the "preemptive strike," to rationalize an attack on Saddam Hussein. But what happens if China were to take up the preemptive strike doctrine and attack us?
American Ideals: These sorts of cracks in American society might be remedied by opening up debate and changing direction. Instead, politics has devolved into a nonstop talk show, paving the way for Bush to prosecute a war for oil in the name of God.
Muslims act as a "fifth column in this country," says William Lind in Why Islam Is a Threat to America and the West. Ann Coulter, the cold-blooded conservative columnist, has said of Muslims, "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity." The former head of the Southern Baptist Convention, Reverend Jerry Vines, also minced no words. For him, Muhammad was "a demon-obsessed pedophile."
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HOME > Chowhound > Food Media & News >
Chipotle's new propaganda piece
Really well done, but I still won't eat there :-)
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1. Tried a new local one recently. Regardless of their approach in the commercial, if the food's blase, I don't go back. And if I can make something better at home than I can get in a particular restaurant, I don't spend my money at that restaurant again.
1 Reply
1. re: cmvan
The food at Chipotle is "blasé"?
How do you mean? I thought it was just crappy "Mexican" chain food.
2. Here's the first ad piece from Chipotle:
and, from AdWeek with nods to the creative team:
These types of ads might not change my eating habits but I adore what some companies will invest in. There are plenty of dumb, dull ads..I can easily embrace the beautifully crafted ones.
15 Replies
1. re: HillJ
Just seeing the word "Coldplay" in that link ensured I didn't click it, HillJ.
And while I watched the original ad, and thought it very well done with great animation and heart-tugging sad cow eyes, I still think Chipotle is being a bit disingenuous. Cows, chickens and pigs are still slaughtered for their menu offerings, right?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for ending factory farming. But to show the Scarecrow just chopping up vegetables at the end shies away from the fact that Chipotle still puts out menu choices with meat in them. They never show chickens and cows and pigs frolicking free-range in the fields on a "good farm". Just the vegetable chopping.
1. re: LindaWhit
LW, it's not that I don't have my opinion about the message. Honestly, I'm just admiring the animation. Coldplay doesn't leave me cold :) nor does the team that worked on the ad.
How I feel as a consumer of any fast food is a separate issue (for me). Really well done ad but I won't eat there as written in the OP pretty much aligns with my feelings.
1. re: HillJ
Agree on how well done the animation was done. And like you, I won't eat there either....mostly because I am cilantro-averse. I know not everything has cilantro in it, but since even a hint of it can ruin a meal for me (soapy-taste issue), I'll just stay away. But as others have noted - the burrito I've seen coworkers get are humongously-stuffed with rice, beans, lettuce (I think) and a bit of meat.
1. re: LindaWhit
My youngest son ate at the local Philly Chipotle while in college. Since he'd rather eat 85% rice to chicken their burritos and prices appealed to him. While visiting him, I tried a burrito and found it dry as all get out. While cilantro isn't my issue (& I always wondered why I don't taste soap) dry/flavorless mush for some reason :) doesn't float me boat!
1. re: HillJ
I always like my mush to at least have flavor, as any good mush should. I like brown sugar or maple syrup for extra flavor.
As for dry mush? Just make sure the milk isn't spoiled! ;-)
1. re: LindaWhit
Before I opened the link I was so hoping it was the Little Rascals! Thanks, I needed that pick me up!
2. re: HillJ
Surprised at the dry comment. Pretty much everything I get when I go there is pretty moist. Brown rice, lettuce, cheese and steak seem o be the only dry components they serve. White rice, both beans, fajita veg, chicken, carnitas, barbacoa, all the salsas, avocado guac are all "wet" in my mind.
1. re: melpy
I'm with you. The burritos there, especially compared to any other burrito chain, are definitely far from dry.
1. re: melpy
I was expecting so much more. More flavor.
2. re: LindaWhit
You can ask for less rice. They will give you a heaping scoop, but you can tell them "not too much rice" and they'll give you about 1/2 cup's worth. you aren't required to have the full scoop of rice.
I think anyone who thinks Chipotle is supposed to be authentic Mexican food is out of their mind. It's more like Mexican inspired. I would never go there and expect authentic tacos or burritos. It's something I eat maybe 1-2 times a year, and it hits the spot. But if I want real Mexican food, I hit up a taco truck or taqueria, not a national chain restaurant.
1. re: Veggo
it's certainly head and shoulders above Tijuana Flats -- went there today in a hurry and stressed-out (and very late) -- and was served the most miserable excuse for a burrito I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. I threw away three-quarters of a $10 burrito...hope they spend that ten bucks wisely, because they'll never seen another red cent of my cash. Vile.
(and doubly p.o.'d because the Chipotle on University in just across the street, but I didn't feel like making a u-turn)
1. re: sunshine842
e-mail me, you're in town, we'll lunch somewhere. Bring hubby.
1. re: Veggo
It's an accurate description. It shares a similar spice palatte.
1. It's so incredibly ironic. ...altho my husband, who pointed the piece out to me, had no idea that McDonalds was behind Chipotle until I informed him of the monumental gaul.
12 Replies
1. re: rainey
McDonalds hasn't been a part-owner of Chipotle since 2006.
(I keep kosher and have never eaten at either entity, so I don't have a dog in this fight.)
1. re: GilaB
OK. I stand corrected and I'm happy to have the truth prevail.
McDonald's appears never to have operated Chipotle tho they were a major financier of the initial operation. As a major investor over a period of a decade and being in the same industry it would surprise me if they never had input into operations but what we can know of the story is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipotle...
And what is clear is that I spoke out of a TOTAL misunderstanding of the facts.
2. re: rainey
Oh, I had no idea they were connected. Which makes it even more cynical.
1. re: linguafood
I've only eaten at Chipotle a single time and that was with a coupon for a free burrito. McDonald's corporation bought up a bunch of Chipotle stock early on. After a bit of success Chipotle bought it back. That was the extent of McDonald's involvement in Chipotle.
1. re: John E.
I've never eaten at Chipotle, and the only reference/information I have on it (besides having observed the local branch to be regularly *packed* full of students with a line out the door) is a South Park episode.
I won't go into details, but you might imagine that the reference is less than flattering '-)
1. re: linguafood
You aren't missing much. Unless you like burritos that are filled with mostly rice yet somehow $7.
At least when I had one. I will say though that I am impressed by the CEO's "food with integrity" mission. Sure, it could be part marketing but the numbers don't lie. They try to source any combination of organic, natural, hormone free, free pasture foods as possible and in several instances are leaders in the industry.
1. re: youareabunny
I don't care much for "Mexican" food, nor do I frequent chains. So yeah, I probably won't ever try the food there, but give them credit for trying to be 'better'....
1. re: youareabunny
There is a local chain of burrito places in the Twin Cities that I much prefer over Chipotle. They have a dozen locations and have unlimited chips and salsa to go along with your food order. I don't know where they source their ingredients, but I generally don't make that the reason to either eat at or avoid a restaurant.
1. re: John E.
Neither do I, but I definitely appreciate the effort.
2. re: linguafood
I love Chipotle because I can eat pretty healthfully there (ie my meal there is under 500 calories and has tons of protein), which can't be said for most fast food/fast casual places. I do get the bowl versus the burrito though. And, I definitely don't equate it with legitimate mexican food!
1. re: juliejulez
I agree -- it's actual food -- it's in a bin right in front of you, and you can easily identify pork, chicken, beef, and various vegetables.
It's made to order -- no suntanning under a heat lamp.
It's at least reasonably healthy, reasonably priced, and tasty, if not terribly "authentic" (whatever that means). I've never had bad service -- but I'll acknowledge this swings depending on the employees, the time of day, the manager, and the location.
I like the pork carnitas enough to have sought out a recipe so I could make it when we were living far away from any of their stores.
I don't eat much fast food -- this is at least one I don't mind stopping at.
1. re: sunshine842
Yup same here. And definitely agree on it depending on the location and time of day or even an individual employee. Like the one I go to near my office, if there's a certain person working the "cheese" section, I know I'll have to ask her for more cheese, she always skimps on it! | <urn:uuid:b3470d37-9832-4b84-9650-c72bbbbcb9fb> | http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/917011 | en | 0.970137 | 0.600756 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Proof net
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
In proof theory, proof nets are a geometrical method of representing proofs that eliminates two forms of bureaucracy that differentiates proofs: (A) irrelevant syntactical features of regular proof calculi such as the natural deduction calculus and the sequent calculus, and (B) the order of rules applied in a derivation. In this way, the formal properties of proof identity correspond more closely to the intuitively desirable properties. Proof nets were introduced by Jean-Yves Girard.
For instance, these two linear logic proofs are “morally” identical:
\vdash A, B, C, D
\vdash A B, C, D
\vdash A B, C D
\vdash A, B, C, D
\vdash A, B, C D
\vdash A B, C D
And their corresponding nets will be the same.
Correctness criteria[edit]
Several correctness criteria are known to check if a sequential proof structure (i.e. something which seems to be a proof net) is actually a concrete proof structure (i.e. something which encodes a valid derivation in linear logic). The first such criterion is the long-trip criterion[1] which was described by Jean-Yves Girard.
See also[edit]
1. ^ Girard, Jean-Yves. Linear logic, Theoretical Computer Science, Vol 50, no 1, pp. 1–102, 1987 | <urn:uuid:471a56a3-828e-4c54-8b37-fd61b3bb2204> | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_net | en | 0.898867 | 0.996313 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
I'm attempting to generate a thumbnail for an image I have posted, but it seems when I call image_downsize, the index[0] actually prints an array as the URL. I'm a bit confused, so any help would be appreciated!
My code:
$wpUploadPath = wp_upload_dir();
$target_path = $wpUploadPath;
$filename = 'http://www.mysite.org/uploads/sampleFile.jpeg';
$fileNameFinal = pathinfo($filename);
$wp_filetype = wp_check_filetype($filename, null);
$attachment = array(
'post_title' => $fileNameFinal['filename'],
'post_content' => '',
'post_status' => 'inherit'
$attach_id = wp_insert_attachment( $attachment, $target_path);
$upFile = image_downsize( $attach_id, 'thumbnail' );
Here is where I encounter the problem. If I print_r($upFile); I get:
Array (
[0] => http://www.mysite.org/uploads/Array
[1] => 0
[2] => 0
[3] =>
Is this normal? I can't seem to generate the thumbnail to update my user meta's with this.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
share|improve this question
What is the value of $attach_id? – Sterling Hamilton Feb 14 '12 at 5:13
the value is 266 – tr3online Feb 14 '12 at 5:46
1 Answer 1
up vote 1 down vote accepted
(bool|array) False on failure, array on success. Array with image url, width, height, and whether is intermediate size, in that order is returned on success is returned. $is_intermediate is true if $url is a resized image, false if it is the original.
I am going to assume the array within the array part is completely odd.
So let's start working backwards...
Returns an array of key => value pairs containing path information on the currently configured uploads directory.
$upload_dir = wp_upload_dir();
echo $upload_dir['baseurl'];
I see that you have this instead:
$wpUploadPath = wp_upload_dir(); // this returns an array!
$target_path = $wpUploadPath; // now the target_path is an array?
That is setting the target path to an array instead of a string...
Also - target_path shouldn't be a full path..it should be the file name. The whole purpose of wp_upload_dir() is to determine the path.
The usage of wp_insert_attachement is as follows:
wp_insert_attachment( $attachment, $filename, $parent_post_id )
Notice how it says $filename.
Since you are passing $target_path as the second parameter into wp_insert_attachement() and that second parameter is intended to represent the filename, it makes the most sense that this is your problem.
share|improve this answer
Thanks. I think I was looking at the screen for too long! – tr3online Feb 14 '12 at 22:15
Your Answer
| <urn:uuid:36e5f9d9-464c-48f9-b3de-6814907b5410> | http://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/42249/image-downsize-returning-an-array/42254 | en | 0.801571 | 0.885655 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
grass fed beef
Grass Fed Beef
They still represent a tiny share of the overall beef market, but the number of grass fed cattle producers has been steadily increasing. One of the reasons consumer demand for grass fed beef has been growing has been the nutritional component; on its web site, the American Grass fed Association boasts, “Meat, dairy products, poultry and eggs from animals fed grass diets, rather than grain-based diets, are higher in beta carotene (Vitamin A), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and Omega-3 fatty acids.”
Syndicate content | <urn:uuid:d0788e1b-0bbc-4d13-acad-577bf49b6d2c> | http://www.americancattlemen.com/category/tags/grass-fed-beef | en | 0.931805 | 0.073127 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Comment: shale oil mirage
(See in situ)
In reply to comment: Rodgers says "We have run out (see in situ)
the stranger's picture
shale oil mirage
Reality knows that the shale oil is no game changer. A hundred years ago it took the equivalent of 1 barrel's worth of energy to get the equivalent of 100 barrels out of the ground. Shale oil ain't even close. It's like saying there's plenty of water for people and crops in the worlds oceans. Your opinion that the man is a douche bag may be based on your own ignorance. Like Roger’s said, the world uses 86, 87 million barrels a day, do the arithmetic. All in all, this was a useful interview. | <urn:uuid:e7498c8b-351a-43c9-895a-9c42417d8303> | http://www.dailypaul.com/comment/2723761 | en | 0.951942 | 0.070957 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Lucy Alejandro
Model Female BRONX, New York, US My MM URL:
Mayhem # 3205643
About Me
My name is Alma Lucy Alejandro but you could just call me Lucy. I'm puerto rican I've been modeling ever sence I was 13 years old. I ve been to barbizon for modeling and acting , all I wanna do is work my way up in the modelung and acting world . I'm not here to make friends so if you send me a friend request that must mean there something you like so wote me a mesage . Time is money and money is time I won't do anything for free.
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Last updated on 12/25/14 06:15:20
Is this product current?
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2.0 out of 5 based on 1 Retrevo review
Based on the facts above, Retrevo's recommendation is:
Older product, look for current models | <urn:uuid:6b00a635-5b8f-44ff-bb21-bc82058bf94f> | http://www.retrevo.com/s/Canon-LBP-3968-Printers-review-manual/id/23126dj685/t/1-2/ | en | 0.703656 | 0.193143 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Books tagged: neanderthals
Found 12 results
We are the Neanderthals
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 1,480. Language: English. Published: January 5, 2011. Category: Nonfiction » Science and Nature » Genetics
Mainstream science believes that the Neanderthals were wiped out 30,000 years ago. But were they? Some questions remain as to the fate of the Neanderthals. Are we the Neanderthals?
Evolution is Crap - Where is the Half Man, Half Monkey?
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 2,260. Language: English. Published: February 26, 2011. Category: Nonfiction » Science and Nature » Evolution
Being an intelligent, thinking person, I have never been able to accept the idea of evolution. I have never been able to accept the stream of convenient excuses that science reaches for whenever any questions one of the tiny morsels of evidence that science has used to put together this little story. Here is my brief assessment of why evolution is crap. Join me and think about it.
Neanderthal Swan Song
Time Machine: 75k-30k PBE
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 2,870. Language: English. Published: October 8, 2011. Category: Fiction » Literature » Visionary & metaphysical
Imagine we have a time machine and we can look back at the past. Imagine we can see what really happened in the past. This short story looks at the period at the dawn of modern humanity, maybe this is how it really happened. Join us for this short look at human history, 75,000-30,000 years before the present.
Them and Us: How Neanderthal predation created modern humans
Price: $9.99 USD. Words: 89,990. Language: English. Published: January 19, 2012. Category: Nonfiction » Science and Nature » Anthropology
Una's World
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 103,200. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2012. Category: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Novel. Science fiction fantasy. Tom finds a portal on his property that takes him back in time to the Pleistocene period. Tom encounters dinosaurs and neanderthals, plus finds action and adventure.
Exit Apocalypse-3 Rare Endangered Species
Blade Kin
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 77,410. Language: English. Published: May 1, 2014 by WordFire Press. Category: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Book Three of the Serpent Catch Series. Tull has caught the sea serpents that he needs to protect the oceans near his home, but he faces dangers greater than any he had ever imagined, for the slavers of Craal descend upon his town and capture everyone that he loves. As a slave, Tull finds himself a favorite of his masters, destined to be forced into a deadly game in the Dark Arena.
Serpent Catch
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 87,510. Language: English. Published: May 1, 2014 by WordFire Press. Category: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
Book 2 of the Serpent Catch series Long ago Earth's paleobiologists established the planet Anee as a vast storehouse of extinct species. For a thousand years the starfarers' great sea serpents formed a wall of teeth and flesh that protected Smilodon Bay from the ravaging dinosaurs that swam across the ocean from Hotland. Now the serpents are gone and Anee is being ravaged by tyranny and war.
Evolution Is Teleological
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 8,490. Language: English. Published: May 4, 2014. Category: Nonfiction » Science and Nature » Evolution
Teleology = purposefulness, as if something is planned. There is quite a difference between evolution as a drifting, directionless ship or as a ship that holds a steady course to an inevitable destination. This article argues that the evolution of proteins and organs - e.g. the giraffe's neck, the zebra's stripes and hominid brains - is driven by simple principles of physics and mathematics. | <urn:uuid:7bfa837d-66e1-4103-8199-bac80c8be3c7> | http://www.smashwords.com/books/tags/neanderthals | en | 0.886326 | 0.029738 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Blog
Not the Religious Left
10:27 AM, Dec 18, 2008 • By TERRY EASTLAND
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So the president-elect has asked Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. It's an interesting decision. Warren, a Southern Baptist, is pastor of Saddleback, the evangelical megachurch in Orange County, Ca. When I was at the church in August for the debate between Obama and McCain that Warren moderated (and in which Obama did badly), one of his congregants told me that church members would vote overwhelmingly for McCain (and it's hard to imagine they didn't). On issues, Warren is pro-life and against defining marriage as other than between a man and a woman. But his agenda, which extends worldwide, also includes items Obama approves--such as confronting poverty, AIDS, climate change, and genocide in Darfur. Warren is not your usual religious conservative, and in fact some years ago declined to assume a leadership role as such. Obama and Warren do count each other as friends, and there is no more prominent pastor in America or, for that matter, the world, than Warren. Obama has best-sellers but Warren's The Purpose-Drive Life has sold more than 22 million copies. Obama has picked to do the first prayer (so to speak) a man about as big in religion as Obama is in politics. It's a choice that if you polled on it would doubtless do very well, and you could even call it a unifying choice, since Warren is to Obama's right theologically and culturally.
Still, the selection of Warren is understandably frustrating religious liberals who expected something else. Note that Obama did not choose a pastor from his denomination, the theologically liberal United Church of Christ. Nor a preacher trained up in black liberation theology--the theology of his former church (Trinity, in Chicago) and his former pastor (the Rev. Jeremiah Wright) and, to infer from what Obama himself has written, the theology he knows best. Nor did Obama choose a pastor known for his work in the inner city. Nor a black or Hispanic or female preacher in an effort to score some diversity points. In sum, in picking Warren, Obama didn't confirm what liberals thought Obama's election might signify--a religious left revival. | <urn:uuid:c98dc1be-a849-4439-af1a-1049e4b7cbdf> | http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/12/not_the_religious_left.asp | en | 0.978974 | 0.032294 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Server:Ghostlands Europe/Fenza
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< Server:Ghostlands Europe
Revision as of 15:44, January 29, 2009 by Gourra (Talk | contribs)
This is a silly article
Fenza is an Alliance level 19 twink rogue on the EU Normal PvE Ghostlands server known for his obsessive hunt for the Assassin's Blade
The blade itselfEdit
The hunt for the elusive Assassin's Blade has been on since before the Wrath of the Lich King release. The blade being highly sought after by lvl 19 Twink Rogues can only be found in Shadowfang Keep and drops from any of the lvl 19 to lvl 21 mobs in the instance, but has a very, very low drop chance.
Quest for the BladeEdit
From what Ghostlands historians have managed to piece together is that Fenza did in fact try to find the dagger with his main character, but has pretty much given up on it dropping. On his own account, Fenza has run through Shadowfang Keep numerous times before giving up.
Wanted: Assassin's BladeEdit
The Quest for the Blade has taken on mythical proportions among Alliance trade chat dwellers. Fenza has put a bounty on anyone carrying the elusive blade, with initial money offerings in excess of 500 gold. The highest recorded offering made by Fenza himself has been 2500 gold, leading to a rise in fortune finders trying to farm the weapon inside Shadowfang Keep. As an average geared lvl 80 player can fight his way through all the mobs of the Keep within 20 minutes, players have been known to farm for one to two hours for the weapon before giving up -for the day-. Resetting the instance after each run.
WTS: Assassin's BladeEdit
As Fenza's daily begging for the Blade increased over the following months, more and more players became annoyed with the endless flooding of requests for the Blade. Which lead to people (threathening to) put the little Twink on ignore. As could be expected, players ended up making fun of Fenza, or anyone on the mad quest to get a lot of cash by finding this 'little treasure'.
Player responseEdit
Players have so far responded in various ways, including and not limited to:
• Linking the weapon with the message: "Omg Assassin's Blade dropped, but I vendored it.", usually said after Fenza asked for the blade, leading to much hilarity on general and trade chat. Whether the statement is actually true in some cases is unknown.
• Offering the blade up on trade chat when Fenza is not around.
• Doing this still leads to a massive flood of /whispers from people who want to buy the weapon cheap and sell it at a high price to Fenza, even though the twink himself has not been spotted for a long while now on trade channel.
• People claiming to have hit, but holding onto it for their twink Hunter.
Current statusEdit
The current status of the Quest for the Blade is unknown at this point. Fenza has not been seen on trade chat for a while now. Those who are unfamiliar with the player behind Fenza do not know who is the main player, so contacting Fenza through his main character on this matter is problematic at best.
Around Wikia's network
Random Wiki | <urn:uuid:424ace01-f7b8-4c39-943d-856e19aaf81c> | http://www.wowwiki.com/Server:Ghostlands_Europe/Fenza?oldid=1759518 | en | 0.961445 | 0.036408 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
. . . gone
After 30 years of 'family entertainment,' the Hunts auction their last lot
May 20, 2007|By William Hageman, Tribune staff reporter
It was last call for Herb Hunt.
The longtime auctioneer looked over the table of merchandise laid out before him. No Victorian jewelry, no Limoges vases, no rare coins. The best of the lot was some dented tin boxes, an orange sewing basket and a couple of cheap ashtrays.
"For the last time . . ." Hunt announced, "I sold it. Five dollars to Bidder No. 35. We're all done."
After an estimated 800-plus auctions over 30 years, Hunt's Auction Service, run by Herb and his wife, Donna, was closing up shop. The Hunts, both 62, are retiring and moving to Florida.
For the last 20 years or so, Hunt's has been located in a former hardware store on Main Street in Sugar Grove. Customers would pack the place two or three times a month -- the auctions went outside when weather permitted -- looking for treasures. And more.
For many of the regulars, the show was the thing. That's part of the reason they became regulars.
"You could come here and have a good time," said Ron Christoffel of Somonauk, a fixture at nearly every Hunt's auction. "It was family entertainment, and you'd get a bargain once in a while."
"It's a little bit of everything," Bill Kroupa of Sugar Grove said, explaining why he seldom missed a sale. "There are definitely bargains here. A lot of dealers come here and fill their shops. And there are a lot of eBayers here, probably. And you get the entertainment from Pinky."
Pinky is Pedro Zepeda of Aurora, who has worked with the Hunts for nearly 20 years.
"They're very good people," he said before the finale. "Herb is laid-back and very knowledgeable. And Donna is a workhorse. There'd be an item I'd be afraid to lift up, afraid of being hurt. But she'd pick it up with no trouble. They're good people."
In the two decades they worked together, Herb, Donna and Pinky scripted a pretty good show. When a purse would come up for auction, Pinky would slip his bankroll into it. Then he'd open it, act surprised and show the crowd the wad of cash he had just "found." If there was a mirror to sell, he'd hold it up in front of an unsuspecting customer and announce, "Hey, look at the monkey!" Herb and Donna would snipe at each other -- OK, she did most of the sniping -- and he'd give her a "Yes, dear" and go back to selling. Customers became an audience.
"I always say it's hard to do this because we have to rehearse all this stuff," Herb said, repeating another line heard at almost every auction. But, he added, there was a reason for keeping things light.
"We like to relieve the tension. Sometimes you'll see an auction, and it's so tense. But we get people to laugh and loosen up. And maybe then they'll have a tendency to spend more money."
Hunt's roots go back to when Herb and Donna were dating (their 42nd anniversary was last month). They went to the Blue Moon, a legendary restaurant/tavern in Elgin.
"We got there, and they were having an auction in the dining room," Herb recalled. "The guy who was supposed to help didn't show up. I'd been going to auctions since I was 8 years old, so I asked [the auctioneer] if she needed help, holding things up. She was selling, and after a while she lost her voice. Honest to God, she just handed me the mike and I took over. Another auctioneer came in and said afterward, 'Where do you sell out of?' 'I don't.' 'How'd you like a job?'"
He worked at various auctions and eventually started his own coin auction business, running it out of the old hardware store. The auctions were a success, but when the coin market started slowing, Hunt's became an antiques auction house.
Of course, not everything that passed through qualified as an antique. For every daguerreotype there were probably five or six hayracks weighed down with lamp shades, rusty yard tools and old glassware.
That was also part of the allure. Connie Wilson, who lives just down the street, has been attending for about 10 years, buying up boxes of things no one else would bid on. Some of it she keeps, some ends up on eBay.
"But the majority I put in my yard sale," she said. "I buy up all the leftover lots. Once a year, during [Sugar Grove's] Corn Boil, we get a lot of traffic, and I have this huge sale."
A most memorable purchase? Last year her 21-year-old son bought six Disney figurines for $4. After a little research, he realized he had something. He consigned them to a large auction house that sold them for more than $9,000.
Everyone has stories about the stuff they've seen at Hunt's. Even Donna.
"The most unusual thing we sold, it was a baby casket," she said. "It was scary. It had the glass window in it. The couple wanted it for Halloween."
Another time a consignor brought in some World War II German memorabilia, which the Hunts displayed in their window.
"A lady comes in whose mother was in a concentration camp," Donna said. "And she asked that we take that stuff out of the window."
It wasn't a difficult decision, Herb said.
"Old Nazi flags sell good. But what are you going to do? These people are your neighbors, your friends." | <urn:uuid:7137361a-e4a1-4722-9ace-1d82b5bd214a> | http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-05-20/features/0705160337_1_pinky-family-entertainment-blue-moon | en | 0.987313 | 0.052255 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
I'm running an up-to-date (I did an apt-get upgrade last night) Mythbuntu install (myth 0.26) as a combined backend/frontend.
Every night I shut down the machine and turn it back on in the morning. I have no tuners only get-iplayer, miro-bridge and some HLS tuners (which don't seem to work very well, but that's another story) so there's no need for me to leave it on overnight unnecessarily.
Every morning when it starts up the MythTV frontend is displayed underneath the XFCE menu/panel. I can ssh and kill mythfrontend for it to restart, I can go Setup -> Looks and just next my way through and then it will reload or I can delete a video (movies rather than recording) and press rescan and it will crash and reload (why does it crash?). All of those things fix it.
Also I occasionally get the screensaver coming on when it shouldn't, the same things fix that too.
This seems to have happened since I upgraded from 12.04 to 12.10, so is there something wrong with the startup of mythfrontend? Has it changed slightly?
Hope someone can help!
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Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question. | <urn:uuid:66de0a99-f7c2-4700-a241-5216a9f0c453> | http://askubuntu.com/questions/252317/every-time-i-start-mythbuntu-the-xfce-menu-shows-i-have-to-restart-mythtv-to-ge?answertab=active | en | 0.932907 | 0.406562 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Return to Transcripts main page
Julian Assange's Appeal; Phone-Hacking Scandal; Operation DNA?
Aired July 12, 2011 - 08:00:00 ET
I'm Kristie Lu Stout, in Hong Kong.
Julian Assange is back in a London court and back in the spotlight, as the founder of WikiLeaks appeals an extradition ruling.
Now Britain's police are facing embarrassing questions as the fallout from the "News of the World" phone-hacking scandal continues to grow.
And we'll tell you about an alleged plot to capture Osama bin Laden's DNA.
Right now, lawyers for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are arguing against his extradition to Sweden. This latest chapter of a lengthy legal saga is playing at London's High Court.
Assange has spent 217 days under virtual house arrest, but has not been charged with any crime. Sweden wants to question him about allegations of sexual misconduct there. A British judge ordered his extradition to Sweden back in February, and Assange is now appealing that ruling.
Now, Assange has claimed the allegations against him are politically motivated, and the case is not related to his Web site. But let's remind you what WikiLeaks is all about.
Now, it launched back in 2006, and it made international headlines in April of last year with this video. The secret tape, it shows a 2007 U.S. helicopter attack in Iraq. It killed two Reuters journalists and a dozen Iraqis.
WikiLeaks claims it has released more classified intelligence than the rest of the world press combined. And the first big dump, it came in July of last year. The site published more than 70,000 classified documents on the war in Afghanistan.
And in October of that same year, the site published almost 400,000 classified documents on the war in Iraq. And they raised questions about the number of civilian deaths and the treatment of detainees.
And that was followed by what's known as Cablegate. Now, starting in late November, WikiLeaks started publishing more than 250,000 secret U.S. embassy cables, and those diplomatic cables have been credited with contributing to the uprising in Tunisia. In fact, the U.S. ambassador wrote about the excess of President Ben Ali and his family and revealed growing public anger with the government.
Assange was arrested in December, shortly after those diplomatic cables starting coming out. And Atika Shubert has been following all the twists and turns of the case. She joins us now live from outside London's High Court.
And Atika, what is the latest on his appeal?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the hearing is still going on. They'll probably take a break for lunch soon. But basically, his new legal team is making two main arguments.
The first is that the European arrest warrant, which is what Sweden filed, they say is an inaccurate description of the allegations. And that has sort of misled a lot of the judges and their rulings in this case.
The other point that they're making is they say that there's basically been a sort of a mismatch between Swedish law and British law, that these allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden would not have been crimes here in Britain. And that is something that his lawyers are saying the judges have to consider when deciding whether or not Julian Assange should be extradited.
Now, this hearing today is expected to go on for two days, so we probably won't get to the bottom of it today. But it is still ongoing, so we'll have to see not just what Julian Assange's lawyers say today, but what the prosecution says later on.
STOUT: Now, Atika, if this High Court appeal is not successful, what will Julian Assange and his legal team do next?
SHUBERT: Well, he does have one more chance for an appeal if it doesn't work this time. He can appeal to the Supreme Court, but that will be his final chance there. But again, this is just one step in the process, so it's not like we're going to see him extradited to Sweden anytime soon.
STOUT: OK. Now, Julian Assange, he's been on bail since December. What are the conditions of his bail and what has life been like for him, the WikiLeaks founder?
SHUBERT: Well, he's basically been staying in a country mansion in the English countryside. It belongs to a friend of his. And that's his residence while he's here.
He is under house arrest. He has to where an electronic tag. And he's basically monitored wherever he goes. He also has to report every day to his local police station.
So he really does have some quite strict conditions to his bail. He is restricted where he goes. And according to Julian Assange's other members of WikiLeaks, they say this really sort of infringes upon their working from WikiLeaks. It makes it much difficult for them to do the work that they say they want to do.
In the meantime, WikiLeaks has slowly been putting out some of the leaked diplomatic cables that you talked about earlier, but the kind of huge exposes that were promised such as documents on Bank of America, those have not appeared yet -- Kristie.
STOUT: Yes, thanks for reminding us about that.
Atika Shubert, joining us live from London.
Thank you, Atika.
Now, the scandal rocking Rupert Murdoch's News International is spreading. There are new allegations a reporter tried to bribe an officer to obtain the phone numbers of British royals. And there are new claims that reporters at two newspapers illegally obtained information on former prime minister Gordon Brown -- his finances, his family, and his son's illness.
Now, Brown says he is shocked by what he called the level of criminal and unethical behavior, and he says he's working with investigators.
GORDON BROWN, FMR. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think what happened pretty early on in government is that "The Sunday Times" appear to have got access to my Building Society account, they got access to my legal files. There's some question mark about what happened to other files, documentation, tax and everything else.
But I'm shocked. I'm genuinely shocked to find that this happened because of the links with criminals.
STOUT: The former prime minister's wife, Sarah Brown, responded on Twitter. And she writes this: "So sad to learn all I am about my family's privacy -- it's very personal and really hurtful if all true."
Now, police said that they found thousands of potential targets in the "News of the World" phone-hacking scandal. And as CNN's Brian Todd reports, breaking into someone's voicemail might be easier than you think.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For "News of the World" reporters to have allegedly hacked into the voice mail of murder victim Milly Dowler, of celebrities or terror victims, experts say they wouldn't have to be experts.
TODD: In speaking with telecom and cybersecurity experts, we picked up three basic techniques hackers can use to get into your voice mail. First, they can dial into your voicemail network, keep trying default pass codes like 1111.
ROBOTIC VOICE: Enter password and pound sign.
ROBOTIC VOICE: Log-in incorrect. Try again.
TODD: Many cell-phone providers give users default pass codes to retrieve voice mails, and many users either never bother to change them or change them to bad pass codes like their birthdays, information that can be obtained from places like Facebook.
We spoke with Anup Ghosh, founder of Invincea, a cybersecurity company.
(on camera): A second method for hacking into someone's voicemail is to spoof your phone number to make someone's voice mail think that it's their own phone accessing the voice mail. To do that you sometimes can go to a Web site that lets you get a spoof phone number. And Anup Ghosh and I are going to do that.
(voice-over): We buy a spoof account on, a legitimate Web site for pranksters. It allows us to call any number we want, make it seem like it's coming from any number we want. Then, from another phone, we call Anup's cell phone, disguised as his own number.
TODD (on camera): Ignore the call.
GHOSH (via phone): This is Anup Ghosh. Please leave a message. I'll return the call when I can.
TODD: You hit star.
ROBOTIC VOICE: You have one unheard message.
TODD: So we were able to hear your voice mails just now, a very simple process if you just dial a series of numbers.
GHOSH (on camera): That's absolutely right. I have a PIN set up on my voicemail account, but if I'm dialing my voicemail account from my phone, I get straight into it.
TODD (voice-over): Some carriers require you to give a pass code to access your voicemail from your own phone. Some don't, making it easier for hackers. A third method to hack into a voicemail --
MAHAFFEY: They can call your network operator and pretend to be you and say that they lost your password and that they need to get access to your account, supplying information such as your Social Security number, your date of birth, and your mother's maiden name, and they would be able to get access to your full account.
TODD: So how do you protect yourself? Experts say you can call your carrier and set a pass code for your account itself, so that even if a hacker knows a lot of that personal information about you, they don't know that pass code.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
STOUT: Now, ahead on NEWS STREAM, 10 weeks after U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden at his compound, a doctor is in Pakistani custody for allegedly having helped the CIA try to collect DNA. Confused? We'll explain the connection.
And Russia's Volga River is the site of a tragedy and now an investigation.
STOUT: Welcome back.
The latest suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan has targeted what was believed to a militant hideout near the Afghan border. Thirteen alleged militants have been killed.
Pakistani intelligence officials say the drone fired four missiles in the Shawal area of South Waziristan. And on Monday, a similar attack killed 10 suspected militants in North Waziristan.
Ten weeks after U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, Pakistani forces have detained a doctor suspected of having helped the CIA ahead of that operation.
Reza Sayah joins me now with more, live from CNN Islamabad.
And Reza, what exactly is this doctor accused of doing?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's what we know, Kristie.
A Pakistani intelligence source has told us today that this Pakistani doctor is in custody. It's not clear if they're going to charge him with a crime.
What we do know is that he's been suspected of helping the CIA with a plot to locate and confirm the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. And these are fascinating details.
According to this intelligence source, this doctor staged a fake vaccination campaign and advertised free shots and free vaccinations to the people and children of Abbottabad, where this Bin Laden compound was located. According to the British paper "The Guardian," he had hired two nurses, two female health workers, who were going around from house to house. And the plan was to get to the Bin Laden children, extract some blood from these children, or use the syringes from these vaccinations to match their DNA samples with DNA samples from Bin Laden's sister, who had passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, last year.
Now, we haven't been able to independently verify that these two nurses managed to get into the Bin Laden compound, but today (INAUDIBLE) who told us that, indeed, late in April, there were these two nurses going around from house to house, administering these vaccinations. We actually spoke to one woman who said she accepted one of the vaccinations.
One U.S. official has told "The Guardian" paper that, indeed, this plan was in place, but it didn't succeed in getting the appropriate DNA samples. So a lot more information that we're working on gathering, but it certainly drives home how complicated this plot was and the lengths the CIA went to, to locate Osama bin Laden back in May.
STOUT: Yes, that's for sure. I mean, if true, this is an incredible rouse to confirm the identities of the people who were inside that compound.
Now, news of this fake vaccination drive, along with yet another suspected U.S. drone strike, will only further sour the relationship between Pakistan and the U.S.
Reza, your thoughts on the diplomatic fallout from all of this.
SAYAH: Well, it's negative. This relationship is poor. It's already in the tank. And certainly these drone strikes, this news of the arrest of this Pakistani doctor when he was helping -- allegedly helping the CIA, is not going to help relations.
Talking about those drone strikes, another one today, another one yesterday. A total of 23 suspected militants killed.
Pakistanis, the public here, despise these drone strikes. They accuse them of killing a lot of civilians. Of course, it is incredibly difficult and oftentimes impossible to verify if they're indeed killing suspected militants or civilians.
Despite the controversy, despite the poor relationship between Pakistan the U.S., it's clear that the Obama administration is pressing ahead with these drone strikes, more drone strikes than ever, under the Obama administration, as we listen to the call to prayer here in Islamabad -- Kristie.
STOUT: And thank you for that explanation there.
Reza Sayah, joining us live from the Pakistani capital.
Thank you, as always.
Now, the Taliban are claiming responsibility for the shooting death of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's half-brother. Officials say Ahmed Wali Karzai was hosting a gathering at his home in Kandahar earlier on Tuesday, when a guard shot and killed him. The Taliban say the guard was working for them.
Ahmed Wali Karzai was the Kandahar provincial council chief. And a cable leaked last year by WikiLeaks said he had once claimed to be the most powerful official in Kandahar. And according to the same cable, Ahmed Wali Karzai denied allegations that he was selling narcotics.
Now, let's go back to one of our top stories, the scandal rocking Rupert Murdoch's News International and how it's spreading. There are claims that reporters at two papers illegally obtained information on former prime minister Gordon Brown.
CNN's Dan Rivers is live outside the British parliament at Abingdon Green in London. He joins us now.
And Dan, I understand that senior police officers are facing questions from British lawmakers. What's the latest?
DAN RIVERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. This is a committee of parliamentarians who are questioning the police officers who are currently in charge of this investigation and who were in charge of it in the past.
They're asking them detailed questions about why they didn't realize how widespread this was when they did their initial investigations. Peter Clarke, the deputy assistant commissioner, is being questioned at the moment. He launched the initial probe into allegations that members of the royal family were having their phones hacked into, their voicemail messages hacked into.
That resulted in one tabloid journalist and a private investigator being imprisoned. And Peter Clarke was basically saying at the time, we were very focused, we wanted to go after these particular individuals connected with the royal family. There was no suggestion at the time that it was bigger than that, and therefore they didn't look at the wider picture.
They had 11,000 files from one of the private investigators, Glenn Mulcaire, that they had to go through. Now we know those files contain the names of lots of other people, from former prime ministers, the current chancellor, the finance minister here, to pop stars, celebrities, murder victims, terrorist victims. The list goes on and on.
Back then, according to Peter Clarke, they were solely focused on looking at who had hacked into the royal family's voicemails, and they say they prosecuted those two individuals.
STOUT: Dan, we heard earlier the reaction from Gordon Brown, the former British prime minister. He said he is shocked by the level of criminality. But what is the reaction from News International? How is News International responding to all these allegations?
RIVERS: Well, they are saying with regard to the allegation that "The Sun" newspaper, another News International title, obtained the medical records of Gordon Brown's son Fraser. They're saying they gained those records legally, without any -- sort of breaking the law, from a tip-off, basically. Someone rang them with the information. And they're saying when it comes to the other allegations, suggestions that they tried to obtain bank details and so on, well, they're saying we'll looking into it, provide us with the evidence.
Their critics will say look, they have at every twist and turn in this police investigation sought to obstruct. That's what the police have been saying all this morning in evidence before these politicians, that "News of the World" have consistently withheld evidence, not cooperated, and so on. So they are coming under an enormous amount of flak.
But the big picture here is now this is no longer confined to one News International newspaper. It's now involving "The Sun" and the world respected "Sunday Times" as well.
STOUT: And Dan, I know you're keeping an eye on the political fallout. How is Labour using this scandal to undermine the government's credibility?
RIVERS: Oh, Labour are absolutely reveling in this. I passed one senior Labour figure earlier on this morning who had a big grin on his face and saying how Ed Miliband had a fantastic week -- he's the Labour leader, leader of the opposition here -- because they have got this Achilles heel that they can go for the prime minister, David Cameron, with that he hired Andy Coulson, the former tabloid editor of the "News of the World."
He was taken into the heart of Downing Street as a communications adviser. And it's now emerged that numerous people warned the prime minister not to do this, that there was evidence against Andy Coulson, that it would be risky, that it would backfire.
The prime minister has said that it was his decision and his decision alone, and that decision now appears to have backfired spectacularly, with Labour consistently challenging the prime minister about his lack of judgment in hiring Andy Coulson, knowing now that what we know is that he was questioned on Friday for about nine hours and the police continue to look into his role as to whether he sanctioned this not only phone hacking, but bribing police officers as well, to by information on the royal family.
STOUT: Dan Rivers, joining us live from London.
Thank you, Dan.
Growing allegations of illegal activity at Rupert Murdoch's News International papers are already having an impact on his bid to take over the satellite broadcaster BSkyB. Now, News International says it is withdrawing plans to sell off its Sky News Channel. That had been part of the BSkyB acquisition plan.
Britain's media secretary is now asking that the deal be reviewed by the U.K.'s Competition Commission, which could put off a decision for months. And the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, has urged Murdoch to reconsider the bid because of public revulsion at the scandal.
Still ahead here on NEWS STREAM, tragedy on the Volga River. Dozens of people are still missing after a tourist boat sinks in Russia. And we'll hear from the survivors.
Russians are observing a day of mourning for the victims of a river disaster. Services are taking place across the country. Flags are flying at half-mast.
At least 71 people were killed when a tourist boat sank on the Volga River. As Colleen McEdwards tells us, dozens more are feared dead, and many of them children.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tragedy strikes Russia. What was to be a holiday cruise turned deadly for so many. The tourist boat Bulgaria sank in what seemed like no time at all on Sunday in Russia's Volga River.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The vessel sank within three minutes. There were no announcements. It flipped to the right side, swerved, and went down. There were no explosions, nothing.
We were literally thrown out. That's how we survived.
MCEDWARDS: Rescued and distraught, so many passengers were on vacation with their families. Now so many loved ones are gone, and many of them are children.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our whole family was on that ship. We lost everybody, my wife and grandchildren.
MCEDWARDS: It is a long, terrifying wait for any news about the missing. More than 200 people were on board, and tensions rise on land as the time passes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We are telephoning everyone, trying to learn anything about our dear ones. We called the police, but they said to contact the search and rescue service. We did, but there was no reply.
So we came here to find out at least something. But even here, nobody knows anything. My niece was there.
MCEDWARDS: Divers search the sunken vessel. More bodies surface, but the teams focus on the survivor stories.
MARAT RAKHMATULLIN, RUSSIAN EMERGENCY MINISTRY (through translator): Yesterday, some people made it to the shore on their own by swimming. There were such cases. The police found them and brought them to Kazan.
MCEDWARDS: During a meeting with economists on Monday, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin spoke about the victims.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): It's a great trouble, people who were having a vacation together with their families and children. Today, it has become clear that dozens died. I am sorry, and I would like to convey the words of support to the victims and to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. Let's pay tribute to their memory.
MCEDWARDS: Putin stood in silence. President Dmitry Medvedev announced an investigation and declared Tuesday, July 12th a day of mourning in Russia.
DMITRY MEDVEDEV, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It is clear even today that such a tragedy would not have happened if safety rules and technical regulations had been observed, even in foul weather.
The Russian prosecutor's office says the ship did not have a license to transport passengers. It was overloaded. It was last repaired more than 30 years ago.
The investigation may find the reason for this tragedy, but for those who mourn, nothing is going to bring back their loved ones.
Colleen McEdwards, CNN, Atlanta.
STOUT: Many people suffering there in Russia.
Now, up next here on the program, we'll take you to Libya. And according to some of Gadhafi's soldiers, the regime is unraveling. And we'll tell you what they're saying.
And the U.S. blasts the leader of Syria, saying the government is stirring up anti-American sentiment. But now Damascus is firing back. We'll bring you the latest.
STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout, in Hong Kong.
You're watching NEWS STREAM, and these are your world headlines.
Now, we have this in to us. Rupert Murdoch and his son James have been asked to testify before British lawmakers on Tuesday. Lawmakers in London are already questioning some of Britain's most senior policemen about why they did not investigate evidence of phone hacking sooner.
Now the former prime minister Gordon Brown is the latest high profile figure to be named as a potential victim of illegal conduct at News International. The Guardian newspaper says The Sun and The Sunday Times obtained private information about his finances and his son's illness.
Now the half-brother of Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Ahmed Wali Karzai has been shot to death at his home in Kandahar. The provincial governor's office says one of his body guards shot him and the Taliban are claiming responsibility.
Now lawyers for WikiLeaks found Julian Assange are arguing against his extradition to Sweden. Now he faces questioning on sexual misconduct allegations. Assange denies the accusations, describing them as part of a smear campaign and calling them politically motivated.
Now to Libya now where we are getting rare insight into the state of Moammar Gadhafi's forces. Now some Libyan soldiers now in rebel custody say the Libyan army is falling apart. Ben Wedeman reports from the rebel controlled town of Zintan.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Modern, well-armed, professional army is what appears frequently on Libyan state television, but Libyan prisoners of war recently captured by rebels in the western mountains paint a different picture.
Opposition fighters are holding more than 100 Libyan army soldiers and officers in this school in Zintan. We've blurred their faces at their request over fear of reprisals against relatives living in areas still under Moammar Gadhafi's control.
The prisoners speak of shortages of fuel, food, and ammunition, of a Libyan army beginning to fall apart.
Mohammed, a naturalized Libyan from Mali, was captured by rebel fighters in Goalish (ph) last week.
"The morale of the army for a while now is gone," he says. "In all units, there have been many desertions."
"More than half of the men in my unit deserted," says 30 year old Jamal, a captain.
All of the men we interviewed said they had no desire to fight. And several referred to special units, many composed of naturalized Libyans from sub-Saharan Africa whose job it is to kill anyone fleeing the front.
"Whoever retreats is shot," says Khalid (ph), an 18 year army veteran. "We're not to retreat. We had to advance."
Mehdi (ph), originally from Niger, was part of one of those units.
I understand your job was if any Libyan fled from the front lines to shoot him. Is that correct I ask him?
"Correct," he responds.
That was your job. So you were there with a Kalishikov. And if you saw any Libyan running away from the forward positions you would shoot him? I ask again to make sure we understand one another.
"That was our job," he answers.
Did you shoot anyone? I ask.
"No. I didn't shoot anyone," he says.
In recent weeks the rebels in the west have captured heavy weapons and new ground from Gadhafi's forces, pushing back an enemy that appears to be losing the will to fight.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Zintan, Western Libya.
STOUT: Now the U.S. says Syria must protect diplomats and embassy property, that comes after pro-government demonstrators mobbed Washington's embassy in Damascus on Monday. Now the pro-government crowd, they broke windows and spray painted walls. Some tried, but failed to get inside the building. U.S. officials say it is the third such attack in four days. And no injuries have been reported.
And another groups descended on the French embassy, burning flags and destroying vehicles.
Now a spokesman for the U.S. State Department blamed Syria's state run media for inciting the violence. Now the U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stopped short of calling on President Bashar al Assad to step down, but she made it clear that the U.S. does not want him to stay in office.
HILARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: President Assad is not indispensable. And we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power. Our goal is to see that the will of the Syrian people for a democratic transformation occurs.
STOUT: Now Damascus is now responded to Clinton's remarks, condemning them as, quote, "an act of incitement."
Now a national dialogue conference in the Syrian capital has entered its third day, but few opposition members have shown up for these state sponsored talks. Arwa Damon has more from Damascus.
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: "We have to admit that without the huge sacrifices of the Syrian people, the bloodshed both civilian and military in more than one province, such a meeting would not have happened."
That admission, part of the opening remarks by the Syrian vice president who also acknowledged that the highly touted national dialogue conference was taking place in an atmosphere filled with doubt and suspicion.
A significant trust deficit that the government says it's beginning to repair.
BOUTHAINA SHAABAN, SYRIAN PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: I think if you talk to these young men and women inside when I left this noon many of them told me this is the first time we truly believe that the government intends real and radical reform.
DAMON: On the first day of the conference, more than 90 people spoke out, a clear indication that there are many here who want their opinion heard. Being debated inside, how to implement the various reforms promised by the president to include how to set up a multi-party system, a new electoral law, revisiting or perhaps even rewriting the entire constitution, and a new media law that would allow for more freedom. The government says that this is the first step towards a new and democratic Syria.
But the majority of the opposition says this conference is a farce. Real dialogue cannot begin until the violence ends.
Activists say that more than 1,400 people have been killed since protests began in Syria around four months ago. It was the pressure exerted by those chanting for freedom and the end of the regime that led to this conference. But they are not represented. Refusing to talk to a government they say that continues to slaughter them.
Most prominent figures also boycotted like Louay Hussein. He has good reason to doubt the government's intentions. He spent years in jail for voicing dissent.
LOUAY HUSSEIN, OPPOSITION MEMBER (through translator): Just last week when they were inviting us to this conference, at the same time they detained tens, killed tens despite their invitation for dialogue. The government has not proven that it is serious about dialogue or political resolutions.
DAMON: The government insists it is, blaming the violence on armed gangs.
SHAABAN: There's nothing we want more than to wake up tomorrow morning and find no violence in Syria and no bloodshed in Syria -- no bloodshed in Syria. But I think this requires everybody to participate and to believe that it is (inaudible).
DAMON: Al Tayyeb Tisini, an opposition figure who did attend tells us he came with a single purpose, to hear the government's answer to one question.
AL TAYEB TISINI, OPPOSITION MEMBER (through translator): Do you really have a program of reforms, or are you buying time to continue on your path of tyranny.
The government always says yes to reforms. This yes should be translated into reality.
DAMON: Arwa Damon, CNN, Damascus.
STOUT: And we will get a world sport update next as Argentina finally turned on the style at the Copa America. Don Riddell will have all the highlights next.
STOUT: Welcome back.
Now world stocks are taking a beating on Tuesday. And the euro hit a four month low against the dollar. As you can see, the markets across Europe are down for fear of contagion in the Euro Zones debt crisis is sending shares lower, that after Italy's finance minister quit talks on the country's austerity plans.
Now Asian markets (inaudible) on Tuesday after report raised red flags at more than 60 Chinese companies. And there's reprieve across the Pacific, now U.S. futures point to a lower open for the Dow in the next hour as the debate over raising the U.S. debt ceiling drags on.
And there was no breakthrough at a White House meeting on Monday between the U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional leaders. At issue was the president's push to raise the U.S. debt ceiling.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I've been hearing from them that this is one of the things that's creating uncertainty and holding back investment on the part of the business community. And so what I've said to them is let's go.
STOUT: Now Republican leaders say that they won't approve any deal unless it includes spending cuts to offset additional debt. Now they are also refusing to pass any deal that includes tax increases.
JOHN BOEHNER, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The American people understand that tax hikes destroy jobs. The last thing we should be doing right now at a time of 9.2 percent unemployment is enacting more government policies that will destroy jobs.
STOUT: Now Treasury officials warn that raising or failing to raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2nd could trigger a partial default on U.S. debt. So what happens if Congress can't come up with a deal? Don Foreman shows us the fallout from default.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're all hearing about trillions of dollars of government spending is very hard to keep track of, but it's easier to think of in terms of your own home. And fundamentally what you have to be aware of is if we went into default the concern is that it would upset the value of the dollar and interest rates, which as you know can affect almost anything.
It's just a theory. We've never been here before. This is what people are talking about.
For example, the value of your home. Interest rates could rise. That can mean that you pay for your mortgage, depending on the value of your house, where you're buying it, what kind of mortgage you get. Same thing can be true of cars. The cost of buying a car can rise. Gas prices could increase, because prices are increasing everywhere, that would be one of the things that would go up. Plus, the roads could be in poorer quality, frankly because if the government is having trouble paying for everything, they're not going to be able to do certain things.
Look at the breadwinners in the household here. Here's dad over here, let's say that he has a job. He has a chance of becoming unemployed obviously if his employer gets into trouble with money. He can be losing money on his retirement account. Plus, if he's trying to run his own business, he can have a very hard time getting a loan, because money tightens up in a circumstance like this.
What about mom. Let's say she works for the government. She can wind up furloughed obviously. Credit card rates could rise as well.
What about the daughter here? Let's say that she's in the military. Same sort of problem. Her salary could wind up being limited or delayed. She possibly could get IOUs from the government until they can work out all their problems. And, think about this, all the private contractors who supply things and services for her to do her job and for all sorts of government offices might layoff people because again those services, those things, maybe something the government simply can't afford.
What about the son over here, he's trying to go to college. Student loans could become harder to obtain. There could be restrictions on financial aid he hasn't seen before.
Even grandma down here could end up with Social Security delays, retirement benefits reduced. And here is the real trick in all of this, you may note that many, many of these elements are things that are also being talked about in trying to control the budget. So one way or the other we could be seeing elements of many of these things. That's why so many people here in Washington feel like homeowners across this country, average citizens, really are with them between a rock and a hard place.
STOUT: Tom Foreman there. And we will have much more in the next hour of CNN. World Business Today will have a complete market recap. Plus, all the early action as trading gets underway on Wall Street. That starts in about 15 minutes from now right here on CNN.
Now Argentina's Copa America campaign has been disappointing so far, but the hosts, they finally came to life on Monday. Now Don Riddell has all the highlights for us -- Don.
You know, hosting a major tournament really is supposed to be fun, but it's been a pretty anxious few days for Argentina. Last night, as you say, they finally put in a good performance, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 3- nil win over Costa Rica.
Lionel Messi was under the most pressure to repeat his club form for his country. And, after two draws in group A, he and his teammates did eventually step up. Nicolas Burdisso signaled onto Tino's (ph) intentions with a thumping head of midway through the first half. He was denied by the woodwork, but the hosts found a way through just before halftime.
Fernando Gago trying his luck from distance. And while the keeper saved it, Sergio Aguero was in position to put his team in front. That's always a great time to score, right before halftime.
And they didn't have long to wait for another goal. Seven minutes into the second half, Messi with a superb through ball, Aguero could hardly miss.
Argentina were getting into the grove now. And their fans were getting a glimpse of what they see every other week at the Nou Camp, Messi was given way too much time here and threaded it through to Angel Di Maria for a third goal.
That's how it ended, Argentina are through to the quarterfinals.
Colombia topped the group, though. Argentina progress in second place while Costa Rica must wait and see if they can survive by virtue of being one of the two best third-place teams.
Aguero, by the way, is the tournament's top scorer with 3 goals.
Meanwhile, the team's former player and manager, Diego Maradonna is recovering after a car accident in Buenes Aires. Maradonna and his partner were taken to hospital after his car crashed with a bus. The injuries are said to be minor. The crash is under investigation.
Now after a day off, the peloton is back on the road in the Tour de France, but the fallout continues from that spectacular crash on Sunday. Teams Sky says it is considering legal action after their rider Juan Antonio Flecha was hit by a television car. Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland was propelled into a barbed-wire fence and needed 33 stitches to treat deep gashes in his leg.
Onto boxing where the Klitschko brothers have been reflecting on Wladimir's recent and comprehensive victory over the British boxer David Haye. The Ukrainian siblings now hold six of the heavyweight division's belts. Wladimir told me earlier that a rematch with Haye was unlikely and for now he's just enjoying a job well done.
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO, BOXER: It has been for more than two years the hassle between David Haye and us and there's been a lot of talk and there's been a lot of promises, some of them have been delivered from our side, the others not from the other side. So the fight was an amazing stadium in Germany and was a rainy day and it was a little bit complicated. And it was a lot of different fans and mentalities, because the fans came from the U.S., from the UK, from the former Soviet Republic, from Germany. So it was a lot of atmosphere and a lot of, you know, different mentalities in the same spot.
But it's -- I will never forget this fight.
RIDDELL: They're great boxers. They're great brothers. And you can see the full version of that interview on Tuesday addition of World Sport. 5:30 pm if you're watching in Central Europe or 11:30 pm where you are, Kristie.
STOUT: Well, thank you for giving us the preview there. Don Riddell joining us live in London. Take care.
Now up next call it an extreme endurance test, a CNN team battles the elements at an arctic camp where a small group of scientists are working to save the environment.
STOUT: Welcome back.
Now all this week we are previewing a going green special event. It starts Saturday when environmentalist and CNN special correspondent Philippe Cousteau takes us on an adventure to an ice cap in the Arctic Circle. Now this location is considered ground zero for climate change research. So it's no surprise that you'll find adventurist scientists coming and going.
PHILLIPE COUSTEAU, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, quite a bustling scene here. Everybody is in a great mood. We've got people bringing gear off, people putting gear on. We've got about seven people that are heading out of ice base back home to their families. So there's a lot of excitement.
So this is quite an experience, quite a wonderful opening to an amazing adventure.
It's an emotional good-bye for the first group of Catlin team members. As the DC-3 plane departs, it's our last connection to the outside world for nearly two weeks.
Our first taste of camp life is lunch, a get to know you session between camp veterans and new arrivals.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like -- obviously just like to welcome you to the Catlin Ice Base.
COUSTEAU: After weeks at ice base, all of these scientists are now old hats at dealing with the frigid temperatures.
Now that we're acquainted with the crew, it's time to get acquainted with the camp and get settled in before evening sets in and the temperature drops.
Ice base is made up of four principle heated tents -- two science tents, a communications tent and a mess tent where meals are served. Lined up in a row, they lead to the unheated toilet and eight unheated two person tents surrounded by an electric fence to shock any nighttime prowlers.
STOUT: Now Phillipe Cousteau there with a preview of our going green special Extreme Science. You can see that here on CNN Saturday night, that's 9:00 pm here in Hong Kong, 5:00 in Abu Dhabi.
Now here in Asia, cyclone season is in full swing. And we look at the Pacific Ocean to see if there is any storm threat. Guillermo Arduino joins us with more on that -- Guillermo.
GUILLERMO ARDUINO, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Temperatures are perfect for cyclone development, but there are some other characteristics that we need. And in this case we have it. So a newly formed tropical cyclone is here in the Pacific Ocean far away from land right now, but close enough to some islands. So we're going to look at in a second, because you know we get so much rain these days, and especially during these months because of the plum rains, this system does not go away.
So before I tell you anymore, let's roll video coming from two places. One is Hefei. And so we have a lot of rain in the last hour. So I'll give you the specifics in a second. And of course, because it's rain saturated, it's rained for so long, is that we get the floods.
So two places, Nanjing and Hefei in China getting rain. And the rain will continue to fall.
So, again, we have the moisture coming from the south here and also stationary boundary that affects not only China, but you see countries into the northeast again.
So that extremely heavy rain continues to be a possibility in the area.
Now if we add a cyclone to it, and that's what we see right now with tropical storm 8, the system will continue to move towards the west. Right now, we do not have a specific landfall when it comes to big masses, big land masses, but for the time being we have to look at it very closely because it continues to form and it's closer to areas that are already saturated with rain.
So again, the rain will continue as you see especially through the next days, and especially in these areas of China where we were showing you the video right now with more rain. And the Korean Peninsula with so much more rain, so it is a problem.
One of the cities that we were showing you is Hefei here with 73 millimeters only and you saw the floods over there. That's an indication that it's already saturated.
Also looking at more rain a little bit off the Korean Peninsula right now which is a relief in the next 48 hours. And no rain yet into Pakistan where we need it, because we are seeing these temps for Wednesday especially close to 40 degrees while other parts of India, especially farther south from Pakistan, we see the relief is already there. Not in Jaipur, though, but into Mumbai we do see it.
The temperature right now in Hong Kong is 29 degrees.
Let's do the city by city forecast and we'll see you in a minute.
So you see the monsoon will continue moving northward. For the time being, it's right there on the border between India and Pakistan. In Pakistan, they're waiting for it big-time.
So also, pay attention to the rest of tonight if you're in Asia or the rest of the day if you're in Europe. We'll be talking about the U.S. heat. It is getting to dangerous levels. So if you're coming here, you have to get ready. Coming up, more information on it.
And also, let me tell you that in Europe we see severe storms that are popping up and especially this is the turn for France. So it's going to cool down a little bit. But we have two areas in Europe where we are likely to see severe storms, especially so here in central to eastern parts developing due to this low pressure center. Now is the turn for northern France.
So these storms are bringing about normally severe delays at airports or (inaudible) delays at airports, but also it is getting to dangerous levels.
So that's pretty much the makeup of the situation right now. We'll continue to elaborate on it throughout our coverage on CNN. So stay tuned -- Kristie.
STOUT: All right. Strong warnings in many parts of the world. Guillermo, thank you very much for the update.
And that is news Stream, but before we go let's check out live pictures from the International Space Station. Now two ISF astronauts are getting ready for a spacewalk. And the crew of Shuttle Atlantis will help choreograph this excursion. Usually the spacewalkers spend the night in the station airlock before venturing outside, but they're using a new preparation technique, this is being done for the second time ever.
Now the space walk is scheduled to last six and a half hours. And it will be the last one in the presence of a shuttle crew. Atlantis, as we all know, is on its final journey. The very last mission for the program.
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I can insert Star Trek references all day long, but I won't. To be brutally honest, the Trekkie fan in me tends to make an appearance almost every time I catch wind of new technological breakthroughs that have anything remotely to do with space travel.
Who doesn't, really? But I digress - maybe it's just me. Apologies to all the non sci-fi fans out there …
However, I think that all of you would agree with me that space does present infinite possibilities, especially when it comes to investment opportunities. Case in point: Orbital Sciences Corp. (ORB).
Based in Virginia, Orbital was founded in 1980 by three Harvard Business School students who won a NASA space research contest. They incorporated in 1982 and signed an agreement to sell its first space vehicle to NASA one year later.
NASA paid $35 million for Orbital's Transfer Orbit Stage - an upper stage mechanism that was eventually utilized in 1992 to help propel the first Mars Observer spacecraft. Since then Orbital has continued to develop and manufacture various rockets and space travel systems for government and military contracts. But most recently, it has ventured into the exciting world of private spaceships.
Though private unmanned shuttles, satellites and other vehicles have been put into orbit for decades, the idea of launching privately-funded spacecraft was popularized in 2004 by SpaceShipOne's maiden flights which took private citizens to the uppermost edge of Earth's atmosphere and beyond.
Private spaceflights began to heat up soon after, with notable companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin each sinking billions of dollars into their own projects. Most of these projects have been viewed as nothing more than hobbies for the uber-wealthy without any legitimate commercial opportunities.
That is, until PayPal founder Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) unveiled its Dragon spacecraft. On May 25, 2012, SpaceX became the first ever privately-held company to send a cargo payload and dock its vehicle at the International Space Station - ISS.
The success of the Dragon voyage had a major impact on the world of private space travel, and a spotlight soon began to shine on publicly traded companies like Orbital. Since the end of 2008, Orbital had been busy developing its Cygnus cargo delivery craft (see picture above).
NASA awarded Orbital a $1.9 billion contract for the company to transport up to 20 tons of cargo to the ISS on eight separate spacecraft flights through 2016. To bring Cygnus into space, Orbital designed and created its own rocket launch system called the Antares, which is the largest rocket ever created by Orbital.
After a series of low-orbit tests in early 2013, the Antares was deemed ready for its official mission with Cygnus onboard. On September 18, 2013, Cygnus was launched into space…but it almost didn't make it.
While it was scheduled to dock with the ISS about five days later, a software glitch caused a six-day delay. After deploying a software patch, Orbital eventually made history by becoming only the second private company to rendezvous with the ISS and successfully deliver its payload on September 29th.
This milestone now means that Orbital is go-for-launch with its seven remaining trips. What investors should take note of is that the contract with NASA is valued at $500,000 higher than Orbital's current market cap of $1.4 billion.
As such, this is an incredible opportunity to take advantage of a company that's going to see value get built into its stock price with each subsequent flight into space. What's more, Orbital's achievement was remarkable as it re-affirmed that private spaceflight is not simply a pricey flash in the pan (with SpaceX) - but the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the aerospace industry.
No longer is the world going to rely just on expensive, taxpayer-funded shuttles or decades-old rockets that are well beyond their useful life to advance in the space race. While investing in Orbital does not guarantee that you'll live long, there's a good chance that you could prosper (sorry, I just couldn't help myself).
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The failure of the G20 to tackle global macroeconomic imbalances means that surplus savings in net exporting countries will continue to inundate investment markets in net importing countries. Financial bubbles will continue to emerge and burst as a result. In the worst-case scenario, the global financial crisis could repeat itself, says Oxford Analytica in this complimentary download from the Alacra Store.
Selected Excerpts:
Research by Joshua Aizenmann and other authors has shown that current account deficits tend to enhance the real (price-deflated) appreciation of residential housing markets with a lag of up to four years, and that the effects of an increase in the current account deficit on housing prices are greater than the effects of a fall in interest rates.
Focusing more directly on the recent financial crisis, Riccardo Caballero and other authors have linked global macroeconomic imbalances to price bubbles in commodity markets, particularly oil. In 2002, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas anticipated both the rise and fall of Greek sovereign debt markets.
The mechanism linking capital flows to financial bubbles is the ’search for yield’. It starts with a simple ‘convergence trade’, as money moves across assets with the same risk rating in order to take advantage of the convergence of prices from one asset market to the next.
This is easily seen in the context of the euro-area, where the existence of a common currency and integrated financial markets makes it easy for countries to export their savings without experiencing significant exchange rate risk.
The only way to protect against such bubbles is to be suspicious of any change in narrative, and particularly any story used to justify a significant discontinuity in the prices of what used to be closely correlated assets. Yet such an attitude would lead to conservative investment and lending practices — which Hyman Minsky recognised as a recovery phase in his financial stability hypothesis.
The problem with the Minsky psychology is that it only cleanses the markets of bubbles on the assumption that what started the problem in the first place was only a matter of narrative. Where there are real financial flows to be accommodated, Minsky’s psychology cannot overcome the search for yield and resulting low pricing of risk. In those cases, investors are likely to channel investments into assets that enjoy a widespread and pre-existing reputation as safe havens in crisis, such as US Treasuries and German Bunds, and especially gold. Such assets have a built-in justification for discontinuous performance. As a consequence, they are the most likely to experience price bubbles.
Failure to tackle global macroeconomic imbalances will create strong pressure on asset prices, possibly leading to bubbles. Given the ‘psychological’ state of markets, such bubbles are most likely to form around traditional safe-haven assets.
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Exclusive: AJ Bowen is 'Among Friends'
Full disclosure – AJ Bowen is a good friend of mine. I've interviewed him several times through out the years; first for Fangoria on his feature films The Signal and then The House Of The Devil and later for Massive Hysteria (Icons Of Fright's sister site) for both A Horrible Way To Die and Hatchet 2. So while on set for Among Friends, I knew I wanted to focus primarily on interviews with the other cast members as I knew I'd be able to talk with AJ at great length after the production wrapped.
A few days later, AJ and I met up at a local pub where he graciously purchased me several beers. (OK, maybe it was just two.) Having been somewhat lightheaded by the time I clicked my tape recorder on (hey, I didn't eat anything all day, alright?), he insisted that I transcribe every last word of our interaction, otherwise he'd walk out on the interview. The journalist in me had to comply for the better of the story (naturally), so below are the unedited results of our chat. You have been warned.
Okay, so Amongst Friends
No, it's not Amongst Friends. It's Among Friends. Two and a quarter beers into the day and Rob's already done.
Maybe I'm really tired and have had a stressful week. Can you please make my job easy for me, please?
Oh… I'm sorry that you had a stressful week.
Okay, so how'd you get involved in Among Friends? Because obviously you're friends with Danielle…
Oh cool, so you're just going to answer my questions for me, huh? I don't need to answer them.
Oh come on. Didn't she con you into agreeing to do this film?
Con me? Okay, I want an agreement from you right now. If I do this interview with you like this right now, that you promise you're going to transcribe this entire thing word for word, including the garbage that's coming out of your mouth. If you edit this in any way, shape or form, I know where you live and I will leave you an upper decker.
Wow. Fine, fine.
So are we agreed? You're going to leave all of this in? Unabridged?
Yes, yes. Fine. Just answer already. How'd you get involved with Among Friends?
Well, Rob… I did a movie called Hatchet II. And during that I got to know Danielle Harris and we became friends, fell in love and we've seen each other through traveling to promote that movie. It's been mentioned before, but the horror group is a pretty small tight-knit community. So we started hanging out and we both had the good fortune of doing a decent amount of work in the last year or so since we did Hatchet II but for both of us it's mostly been on the road. When you're on the road as an actor shooting a movie, you keep really odd hours, there's nobody to talk to, and so you find each other that way. Danielle would be up at three in the morning and I would too, so we'd text and keep each other company while working. We both have been there for each other over the last couple of years and she's become a very dear friend to me. Personally for me it's incredibly beneficial to be friends with someone who is primarily an actor and who's been doing it for 27 years because I can ask her any question about what I'm going through and she's experienced it already and can answer it so she's very good in terms of being a guiding voice for me. She's a really good person. And somehow working in this industry for three decades, it's not created an ugly monster as it could. She's great, she's regular people. Regarding Among Friends, she did slightly con me. She may argue this point but I have the emails to back it up. She asked me to do a short for her because her and I had already done a short together for Michael Rosenbaum. She called me and said she had a short she was going to direct, asked me if I'd do it and of course I said yes. Send me the script. Before I can read it, I said I'd do it as long as I didn't have to rape any girls. She said, "oh, it'll be tastefully done." And I thought she was joking. So I got the script for the short and it was 87 pages long and I called her and said, "this is the longest short I've ever seen. How much of this do you intend to shoot?" "Oh," she said, "all of it! Yeah, we're going to shoot it in a short period of time." So, you're really making a feature? "Yeahhh." Even if I didn't want to do it, I was already committed at that point. But I did want to do it. I had not really ever been directed by an actor. The script was a mix between the original Prom Night and Clue and Happy Birthday To Me, and it had genre elements to it, but it's at least half comedy. It's about a group of old friends that get dolled up for an 80's prom themed mystery dinner, so they go to their friends' house and things go dramatically wrong from there. In terms of getting to do that movie, it's the only time I ever worked on something where the other actors in the movie are dealing with exactly the same thing as I am. Most of us found ourselves in the same predicament, plot-wise and structurally. It was really informative for me to see how other approaches work, because there were about eight of us and I could see the other seven processing the information and how they got their performance, which were all very different from each other. It helped me understand how to work with an ensemble.
Who's the character you play and how does he fit into the overall story?
I play Adam, which is easily the most important character of the movie.
Naturally. [Laughs]
[Laughs] No, I play one half of a pair of siblings. My sister is played by Brianne Davis. And I'm sort of the nerdy, goofball, funny guy. When I read it, I thought it was incredibly emasculating. I asked Danielle why she thought of me for this and she said, "oh I just want you to do something that's like you, the AJ that I know!" I was like, "what?" Fuck you!" It was an opportunity to play something that was gregarious and wasn't hitting women all the time (like in my previous films) and who got to be weak and vulnerable and human in different ways that I've gotten to experience as a performer before. So in that regard, Danielle let us go a lot with freedom of dialogue and improv and trying to create real moments between the characters and we all did to bring a bit of ourselves into it, more so than on any other film I've done.
Alyssa Lobit was the writer on this and she also starred in it as well as produced it. Compared to the previous work you'd done, was it beneficial to have the writer of the script there on set to talk to?
I've had that experience before, but it was incredibly beneficial in this film because Alyssa's a great person and since she's also an actor, it was easy to both bring questions up as well as defer to her with questions. I'd ask, "hey, I was thinking about doing this. You know better than me. Would that work?" It created a much quicker, more efficient way of communicating together. In terms of storytelling when you're trying to get an ensemble of actors together and you're trying to tell a story in 90 minutes worth of time, that's so helpful to have Alyssa there. She's a really talented performer and it was great to get to play scenes together knowing that the writer is in there, so she would let that hat go when she was performing. It's a real heavy load she had to lift for this one, not only writing and producing, but playing essentially the lead role. She had to tear through a lot of dialogue, which by the way is all her fault for writing it. (Laughs) But she did great. You and I have spoken about this – full disclosure, Rob and I are friends. I was in a place creatively before I made that movie where I was feeling tapped out professionally and was feeling a little disillusioned. I'd been in a world of film for the last couple of years where there wasn't a lot of fun and I was trying to rediscover my joy of cinema and so it happened at exactly the right time when I needed it to. This was the first movie I made sober, so I had a lot of my own personal shit that I brought to the table. And having Alyssa – I could give you a list of everyone's name. Having every single one of them there was sort of like being a kid and going off to summer camp. I got to go hang out with these people that are all working, that have all been working for years, that are really good fun people to be around. So my job was to go play with new friends every day and a couple of old friends. And knowing that Danielle was steering the ship made it a really safe environment to do truly absurd things. We spent most of the time having to do additional takes because we were cracking each other up. For me, getting to do Among Friends really helped me turn a corner and helped me rediscover why we all get into this in the first place. Its hard work, but you do something like that and you see how much fun it is, it sort of reminds you of being a kid, staying up late and watching movies on USA Up All Night, eating pizza. That's what that work experience was for me.
Hmm… what else was I going to ask you about…
I had a wonderful sex scene, thank you for asking.
Really? Who with?
I can't tell you, that's spoilers, bro! All I can tell you is myself and Jennifer [Blanc-Biehn] and one of the other male characters in the movie had a wonderful time. I can't talk about it, it was among one of the first things we did, but I'll tell you, it was a hell of a way to break the ice.
Can you talk about Danielle as a director? She directed the short film "Madison" and you guys did the short with Rosenbaum.
Well two fold – 1 – she understands actors. That's helpful because she knows how to communicate because lots of times directors will decide (and even more so if they also wrote it) that it's either their way or the highway. They're not open to interpretation which is really I think is the purpose of making a movie collaboratively. A movie has many lives. The first on the page when you're first reading it. One when you're casting it, another when you're shooting it and you feel the group dynamic. And Danielle is acutely aware of that and was able to cultivate a safe environment to explore new ideas that were on the page and also subtext in the moment. The other part is that she is one of my closest friends, so I can assure you I heard about it instantly if something didn't pass muster. [Laughs] I'd hear from the next room this petite ballsy woman scream at me. She's an assertive woman. I like assertive strong women so I had no problem working with her. It's one of those things where I trust her, and I don't always trust director's that I work with, but I trust her. I knew that she was going to move the story forward as a director so I would do my thing unless I heard from her, she would come tell me if she wanted something different. She knew what she was getting into. There is the other element where she is my friend. I hope she felt safe being critical and hard on me. We pretty much want to figure out how to make a movie a year together. I would say that about almost all the people that I worked with. If I could find a way to be in another movie with the ladies of Among Friends, the dudes maybe, I guess they could show up. But I prefer to spend as much time as possible with the ladies of Among Friends
What stands out about the experience?
I can't give you a specific instance but I can give you a specific feeling. There was a day when an actor who hadn't been around us after most of the cast had come in. I felt bad for them because they had a tough time gelling. I realized then that we had all become really close really quickly. I say close, but when you're working on a movie you get to know people intimately at an exponential rate compared to the real world. And for a long time, I thought that was fake and not genuine. But having done it now for several years I realize that's sort of how you have to get to know one another. The reason I say a specific feeling is because most of the movie takes place around one table. And we're all sitting, tied up stuck at this table together. So the entire two week process was me looking across and around and being close to all these people going through the same thing together and getting to watch each of their performances whenever the coverage would switch around. I was very bummed out when it had to end, because I made some really good friends. You're lucky if you can find one person you want to work with again while you're making a movie just because of the nature of it. With Among Friends, I miss all of them. I really look forward to working with any of them again and being around them again, because they're all good people. And my hope is that it translates to the final film, because it was really a special environment and it was an actor's playground to be around all these people day in and day out. I just wish we could've done it for much longer. Wish we had James Cameron money, where we could spend two years making the movie, sitting around a dinner table for two years. [Laughs] My Dinner With Andre for the horror crowd. There's always room for a sequel. | <urn:uuid:079b6dd5-ae70-430a-a0d7-8664b709bc60> | http://www.fearnet.com/news/news-article/exclusive-aj-bowen-among-friends | en | 0.990949 | 0.133229 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
I have an extra Xbox and I'm considering on selling it, need help..
#1iNeeedHalpPosted 9/14/2011 3:15:38 PM
First of all, where should I sell it? Amazon, Craigslist, eBay or any other places?
It's going to be a bundle basically.
Xbox 360 20 GB
4 Wireless Controllers (2 black, 2 white.. if it matters)
4 Battery Packs
Turtle Beach X11's
The Charger Kit thingy that you connect to an outlet, NOT the one you connect to an Xbox
15 games (Halo ODST, CoD Black OPs CE, MW2 CE, CoD4, NBA 2K11, Bioshock 2 + 1, and more, they aren't really new/special just meh/alright games
Now second question, how much should I charge for this? I was considering $249.99 but I'm not sure, if I auction this on ebay, do you think people will go crazy for this?
#2iNeeedHalp(Topic Creator)Posted 9/14/2011 3:24:48 PM
#3chocoboblue99Posted 9/14/2011 3:31:31 PM
I would never sell on Amazon or Ebay for this stuff. You can get seriously screwed over by a con and end up with nothing, if you don't know what you're doing.
You should sell it on Craigslist and bring a counterfeit marker then check the money with it. Also bring a friend would help with the transaction just in case. Also, they can help carry the stuff too.
I'm not good at pricing stuff so I don't know about the price.
#4iNeeedHalp(Topic Creator)Posted 9/14/2011 3:34:59 PM
i've sold stuff before on amazon, i'm not new to it, ty though
#5ItzTrag3dyPosted 9/14/2011 4:11:54 PM
I think with Gamestop and Amazon, you will get the lowest price possible for this stuff, whereas if you use Craigslist you can kind of test the waters. It it doesn't catch interest at that price(on CL), lower it a little and see if you can get anyone interested.
#6chocoboblue99Posted 9/14/2011 4:29:09 PM
If you go through a company like Amazon, Ebay, or GameStop, then you will most likely get less for it because you have to pay commission.
GS is good because you will get what you will get. They tell you up front that you get this much in Cash and this much in Credit. If you don't like it, you can walk away.
Amazon and Ebay are good when there's no problems. That's all I'm going to say about that. If you want to use them, then just go for it.
I like CL because you can show them what you got and if they like it then they buy it. No middle man commission and no hassle with shipping.
#7IceyflamePosted 9/14/2011 4:32:10 PM
I say go with the Ebay Auction
probable should sell the headset by itself though
anyway thats a pretty damn good deal for 250 if you happen to be in NYC i would buy it off you
#8iNeeedHalp(Topic Creator)Posted 9/15/2011 5:58:29 PM
lol i live in NJ and maybe I should bump the price up?
#9DuwstaiPosted 9/15/2011 6:56:08 PM
Dont go too crazy with the price because no one wants to buy a used xbox. Especially an old version which Im gathering this is.
People are very skeptical. Id say you would be lucky to get 250-275 | <urn:uuid:255d80e3-34be-4def-9a9b-943544d2ed50> | http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/927749-xbox-360/60327737 | en | 0.926404 | 0.114109 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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lcd screen flickers..only sometimes..
post #1 of 26
Thread Starter
My lcd screen flickers...sometimes...it happens about 50% of the time the computers being used and seems to just start and stop randomly, i've tried reinstallling video card drivers to no avail, anyone have any suggestions or should i go for an rma?
post #2 of 26
if its on the max brightness it will do that. I emailed sager and they said thats typical, and not a problem unless it does it on other brightness settings.
post #3 of 26
I've personally never experienced flickering on any brightness level. If I were to get it on max bright, I would definitely consider it a problem.
post #4 of 26
i have the opposite, my screen flickers on all but the max brightness setting. hmm. i always keep it on max anyway.
post #5 of 26
I have done a search on 'flicker' and 'flickering' on the 9860/80 forums and this is the most recent post I've found. Seeing as how it was last commented on in April, figured I'd bump.
This just started happening to me yesterday; I generally keep my 9860 plugged in and set at max brightness. The last time I have unplugged it is more than a week ago, but I do shut it down nightly.
It started to flicker yesterday just after turning it on, becoming very noticable while windows was finishing its loading process. It went away at some point after, but it happened again this morning. So far, it only has happened twice - both during startup - but that is two times too many.
From the other posts, it looks like Sager is saying this only happens at max brightness and is a non-issue, and to lower the brightness. However, I cannot accept answer this as I've been using it on max brightness since I have had it (with the exception of using it unplugged, which I leave it at whatever brightness it defaults to).
Is there another thread that I'm missing that deals with this? Or is this a current issue with other people?
(Specs, though hard to see w/ the default board colors, are in the sig).
post #6 of 26
This happens to me on various brightness levels. Everyone who is having this issue please post about it here. If raises enough attention I think we should formally approach Sager about it.
post #7 of 26
This has been an ongoing issue for me
I purchased a Hypersonic Aviator EX7 and received it in early April. Flickering has been an issue on this system from day one. In fact, Hypersonic has it right now and is working on it. I don't know whether the display was set to maximum brightness or not. It will certainly be something that I check if it happens again, though.
post #8 of 26
I noticed it once only a few days ago and it seemed to last only a min or so (max brightness) but havent noticed it since.
post #9 of 26
I'm have the same problem too. I posted a similiar post on this earlier this month. Basically my LCD loses half its brightness at some points as in th FN+brightness up key can't go higher than half, it can go down like 4 shades then back up 4 shades but it acn't go back to full, sometimes it loads at full brightness. Also sometimes as some have posted here when at max brightness it flickers. As for this being a common issue I think it would be feasible for this to be at least looked into , and if its a common issue with the screens maybe see if there are other WSXGA LCD's out there that are just as good or better that don't have the same issue. Also as well my friend who has a d900 just an alienware but either way same machine, same specs as mine for 9880, his lcd had the same issues but hes an electrician so he took it upon himself to open up the LCD and fixed it himself , finding a lose connection or something I'll ask him about it, now I know that voids product warranty, but as for anyone who has had this problem and has sent it in regarding that, Could someone tell me the average wait time, ( From shipping to receiving unit back ) ?
Either way though I love my sager to death
post #10 of 26
I've almost always had flickering when using the second to highest brightness setting. All other brightness settings have no problems, though.
post #11 of 26
Had the same..i fixed it if it flickers...i press "FN+F9" or F8..than its away..
post #12 of 26
I have a Hypersonic GX-7, which is basically a Sager 8790. What an amazing machine (when it works!)
I too am experiencing the flicker issue on all intensity levels. It has been in the shop a couple of times for this issue, too. Hypersonic's tech support is very good and they fix everything just fine, but it's 3 to 4 weeks each time it goes away for repair, which is a HUGE drag.
Here's the deal. Initially, I dropped it and the backlight in the display went out. OK, I admit, that was s dumb thing to do. But luckily I had purchased Hypersonic's accidental replacement policy, so I sent it in to them. Oddly, when they got it, the display worked and they could not get it to malfunction, even after several days of tests. They checked it out to make sure the fall hadn't damaged anything else, and sent it back to me. Everything seemed OK, except upon returning it to me, I noticed the screen started the flickering problem at it highest brightness level.
I called Hypersonic, and they sent me a postage-paid shipping label to send it back to them, and they fixed the flicker issue. Yaay for me. In the shop for 2 months, and I finally have everything back to working 100%.
Shortly thereafter, the motherboard went bad (which was probably due to the fall). Hypersonic sent me another postage paid label and I shipped it to them. They replaced the motherboard and a bunch of internals. 4 weeks later I get it back, and I am once again in love. This is July, 2005.
Everything is great for 6 months or so. Fast forward to November. Yesterday to be exact. My display starts its flickering problem again. The flicker is only intermittent, but it is annoying as hell. Sometimes it's fine for a few minutes, then the flicker comes and goes. Today I called Hypersonic, and asked them if they were aware of the massive reports of flickering issues on the Sager systems they're selling, and they claim to have no knowledge of any flickering issue. However, they do acknowledge that the flicker is NOT normal behavior, and I should return it to them for repair. I'm expecting another postage-paid shipping label from them tomorrow, although I may just send it myself next-day air, since UPS ground both directions really slows down the process.
To make a long story short, the Hypersonic / Sager laptops have beautiful - absolutely gorgeous displays when they're working properly. But, there is definitely some kind of flaw in the voltage output going to the screens causing this flicker which should be addressed by Sager engineering!
I have high praise for the Hypersonic repair team. That accidental damage / no dead pixels / extended warranty cost me an arm and a leg, but it has already paid for itself many times over.
post #13 of 26
I have had this same problem for the last six months. Unfortunately, my warranty expired in February of this year (2005). I called Sager about my screen flicker and their tech guys told me to set the brightness to anything less than 100%. I have done that, but the screen still flickers intermittanley. Not only that, but some times the screen is much darker than at other times.
The fact that Sager knows about this problem and continues to produce these defective screens is unethical. Having been told that I could send mine in for their techs to take a look at my cost is unacceptable as well.
Recently, a person by the name of Tom Muszack filed a lawsuit against Apple because the IPod Nano screens were breaking during normal use. As a result, he called Apple Support, got a replacement, and shortly thereafter the replacement did the same thing - excessive scratching and cracking. Now this gentlemen is seeking a class action suite against Apple, attempting to get a refund on shipping and the original price of the product.
I am about at the point to do the same thing, but with Sager. They should refund everyone of us 100%. I don't have any money out of pocket to hire a lawyer, but if anyone knows of some way to file a class action suite against Sager let me know, I will do it!
post #14 of 26
I hate to burst your bubble but the class action against apple was for mostly centered around scratching... and was widespread enough to spark similar class action suits in other countries... and I don't this problem is wide spread enough to allow for a class action suit that would have a chance of winning...
post #15 of 26
Maybe you're right but Sager is just as responsible for our defective screens as Apple is with theirs. I'm not sure a class action suite would be the most apropriate but a law suite of some kind is definately the next step if Sager does not give us a 100% refund.
post #16 of 26
I'm getting the same flicker on 100% brightness. Until I found this thread I didn't realize setting it less than 100% would stop the flicker, but just a few minute ago I noticed it flicker once on the 2nd highest brightness.
I had sent mine in (at over $100 in shipping costs since they won't ship free from HI) for a major burn-out problem, but asked that they take a look at the flicker as well. Up till that point I had 'fixed' the flicker every time it happened by pressing gently on the bottom-left corner of the screen area where the hinge meets the base, but it would eventually come back. Now I can't do that to fix it anymore. It just flickers and flickers and flickers...
I would guess this is a lighting element problem or something similar. It's sometimes difficult to use the screen when it's at anything less than 100%, but the flicker is so annoying that apparently I can't use that brightness anymore.
Hopefully more will find this thread, and I hope I'm not being a bother for bringing up a months-old thread.
post #17 of 26
Lucky u guys ur screens flicker.........I have to move, tap.....and keep very still when typing.......because if i sometimes vibrate move touch.........and sometimes JUST LOOK at the screen it messes up like the video cable in the screen itself is loose........i mean like UNABLE TO READ ANYTHING.....its like artifacting......but not overheating connection.........and i need my laptop 24/7 for school.....and its horrible.........yeah i would love to trade with you........hey if ur gonna get a 100% refund count me in i could buy a new desktop :-D id be gettin about 3000 dollars back would be nice.............:-D specially since i got all software on dvd's now :-D
post #18 of 26
My 8790 flickered once. It's always on 100% max unless I'm unplugged, which is rare. I haven't had any issues since that initial flicker, but it seems to be an issue which is just waiting to bite me in the butt.
IMO, telling people to turn the brightness down is not an answer. That's like your transmission going bad and the mechanic telling you not to use 5th gear.
post #19 of 26
I believe I may have found the root of at least my flicker problem.
Under the shiny black panel where the power button and status lights reside is the main connection between the motherboard and the screen. If you remove that panel and *lightly* tap the cluster of wires that are visible, the screen INSTANTLY stops flickering. I noticed that when I tapped that area on the black panel it did the same thing, but was less effective.
It's probably not something you want to do just in case you screw something up and void your warranty, so do this at your own risk. However, it did work for me.
post #20 of 26
OMG I never had such a problem on any brightness level and I would have gone mad if this would have happened. Also I would have become really angry if my vendor would have told me this is "normal" ..... There is no "normal" flickering, this is a malfunction in any way.
very interesting observation.... are any cables/wires or contacts moved when you tip ? Could you maybe shot a photo next time you do it ? In this area you have the inverter board, it could be a loose contact there.... Are the problems gone now or do you have to "tip" from time to time again ???
@all here with such flickering
How often do you open and close your notebook ? I ask because I did so not more then 5-10 times since the 15 months I´m using it. Maybe this flickering arises with lots of openings/closings of the notebook cover... ???
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Note: Well, this is the last chapter, folks! I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for sticking with me this far, and for all your lovely comments. I hope you will enjoy the ending!
Epilogue: More Career Choices
By: SilvorMoon
Rex Goodwin stood in the empty space, waiting for whatever came next. If he felt anything at all, it was a sense of relief.
"Well?" said Dr. Fudo. "Are you ready to go?"
"That depends," Rex replied. "Where are we going?"
Dr. Fudo thought about it. "To the lab, I think, at least until you get your bearings. It will feel familiar to you."
"What, back to...?" asked Rex, waving his hand vaguely.
Keiko laughed. "Not the old lab. Our lab. What did you think my dear husband's eternal reward would be?"
Rudger gave a bark of laughter. "I should have known."
"What in the world are you doing in a lab?" Rex asked, eyebrow raised. "What do you study?"
"Why, everything," said Dr. Fudo. "All of time and space. Imagine a lab with infinite space, an infinite budget, an infinite amount of supplies, and complete free reign to study whatever I want, and you'll get an idea of the scope I'm working on." He smiled, sudden and direct. "I could use a couple of good assistants."
Rex thought about it.
"Oh, why not," he said. "I have nothing better to do."
Keiko laughed. "I should have known you'd say that."
Her husband turned and gestured at the empty air, and there was a sudden swirl of light. Rex stared at it. Even after all he'd been through, it was hard to believe what he was seeing. It was much easier to believe in a place of eternal suffering than in a place where things went right for a change. Rudger clapped him on the shoulder.
"Come on," he said. "Wherever that goes, it's bound to be better than where we were."
Rex nodded, and the four of them walked together into the light.
Whatever Rex had been expecting, what he found was not it. It looked like any staff break room in any office building anywhere in the world: a small, dingy little room, lit by neon lights. There was a folding table in the middle of it, and a coffee pot and a box of doughnuts rested in the middle of it, surrounded by a jumble of notes and half-finished plans. Dr. Fudo and Mrs. Fudo immediately sat down and began helping themselves to refreshments. Rudger stared at them for a moment, shrugged, and did the same. Rex simply stood a moment, taking in the scene.
A table. Four chairs. One of them was empty. It was waiting for him. It always had been.
With a smile, he went to finally take his place.
Aki was surprised how much the small changes bothered her. The front door had been repainted, for one thing, white where it had once been red. Some new plants had been put into the flower beds around the front walls, and someone had hung a wind chime on a nearby tree. Everything was a reminder that Aki had been gone a long time.
They fixed the windows, she noted, and put the thought out of her mind.
She still had a key to her own front door. She used it now, but stopped before actually opening the door. After the lifting of the black fog, all of those who had been taken by it had returned to more or less the same places they'd left, without any clear memory of what had happened to them. None of them, though, had fought a dark duel the way her father had.
He's here. The professor said everyone would come back...
He'd said everyone who'd vanished into the fog would come back. He hadn't said anything about the ones who'd been dueled.
Hiding won't fix anything, she told herself. She took a breath and forced herself to push the door open.
The inside of the house was quiet. Aki told herself that it was to be expected: it was a large house, and her parents were only two people to fill it. Besides, her father would probably be at work...
No. He wouldn't. Not today. He would have to know, wouldn't he, that she would try to come back?
Aki walked silently through the house, checking rooms. She found a few people tidying up the rooms, but they took one look at her and darted away nervously before she could ask them anything. It all felt vaguely dreamlike, as though she wandered through a house full of ghosts. On an impulse, she went to her old room. She wasn't quite sure why, except that she was curious about what it looked like after all this time.
It was almost exactly the same as she had left it. Someone had been there, cleaning. The plants on her windowsill had grown while she was gone; obviously they had been well tended to. Other than that one little change, it was as though she had never left at all.
They were waiting for me to come back. They didn't want to forget about me...
She wandered closer to the flowers, wanting a closer look at them, and as she did so, she heard a sound behind her. Aki turned to see her mother and father standing in the doorway. For a moment, they all stood frozen, watching each other cautiously. Her father cleared his throat.
"They... said you were here," he said. "We weren't sure..."
He trailed off uncertainly. Aki wondered if he remembered anything that had happened. Then she decided that it didn't really matter. She remembered. That was all they needed. She smiled at her parents.
"It's all right," she said. "I'm home."
Demak had been dreaming.
He couldn't quite remember what his dreams had been about, only that they had been dark and unpleasant, and he was relieved to be waking up with warm sunlight shining on his eyelids. He lay still for a moment, taking stock of his situation. The movement of the air told him that he was outside. He could feel grass and cool earth against his cheek. He couldn't quite remember how he'd gotten there, or why he'd fallen asleep outdoors, but something inside him said that it didn't really matter.
Something nudged him. He muttered under his breath, displeased that anyone would dare disturb his peaceful moment. Whatever the thing was, though, it was persistent. It shoved him again, harder this time, and he opened his eyes and sat up to give whatever-it-was a piece of his mind.
Sunlight dazzled him. He shaded his eyes, trying to take in his new surroundings. He was sitting on a grassy hill, surrounded by flowers of every color of the rainbow. A silvery brook wound past him nearby, splashing musically. On the far side of the brook was a forest, its trees a deep and peaceful green. The sky was more intensely blue than any sky he'd ever seen, flecked with the occasional wispy cloud. He stared at it all, unable to do anything but gape. He had never been exposed to so much beauty in one place in his entire life, and he was dazed by it, unable to take it all in. For a few moments, he could hardly breathe.
Something bumped him again, and he caught his breath in a rush. He turned to see what was doing it, and found himself facing a sleek rainbow-colored beast.
"Fish!" he exclaimed.
The Seven-Colored Fish burbled contentedly at him, and he flung his arms around its neck. It butted his chest affectionately and wagged its tail.
"It's good to see you again, Fish," he said.
The fish burbled again. The sound was echoed somewhere above him, as something gave out a ringing cry. Both of them looked up to see the Ancient Fairy Dragon soaring across the sky, the sun shining through her wings and making them glow like a stained-glass window. Demak watched, enchanted. A small part of him thought that even if he never saw anything like that again, he would be content just for having seen it once. He sat perfectly still, staring until she was out of sight. Then he roused himself.
There was a lot more to see.
"Come on, Fish," he said. "Let's explore."
Misty was not sure where she was going next. She only knew that she was going to leave. There were too many difficult memories here, too many things she didn't want to have to deal with. She had put in a call to her agent, letting him know that she was ready to take on a job, any job, as long as it wasn't in Neo Domino City. Within an hour, he had called back telling her that he'd arranged a photo shoot in Paris, and she could be there whenever she was ready. It was good enough.
She had been in the middle of packing her things when there came a knock on the door. Several knocks, in fact, probably made by more than one fist. She put down the shirt she'd been folding and went to answer it, and found Rua and Ruka on her doorstep. They both looked a bit flushed, as if they'd been running. She smiled at them.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Now isn't a very good time..."
Rua shook his head. "You need to come with us."
"I can't," she said. "I'm leaving. I have to go back to work."
"Then you should come with us while you have the chance," said Ruka seriously. "This is important."
In spite of herself, Misty was intrigued. "What is?"
"You have to see for yourself!" Rua insisted. "Come on! Everyone is waiting?"
"Everyone?" Misty repeated. "I don't know..."
The twins wouldn't listen. They caught her hands and began drawing her forward, insisting that it was important that she come with them, and she finally relented. Whatever they wanted her to see, it couldn't possibly be worth fighting about. She had done too much fighting already. She told herself she could just look at whatever they wanted her to see and be done with it.
They led her outside, to where a taxi was idling, its driver watching attentively. As soon as the children approached, he bounded out and opened the doors for them.
"Where are we going?" asked Misty as she slid inside.
"You'll see when we get there," said Ruka, eyes sparkling.
"It's a surprise!" her brother agreed.
Misty knew when not to argue.
They rode to the edges of the city, straight up to the gate where the Security entrance had been. There wasn't a gate anymore. Director Goodwin might have been gone, but his final papers had included instructions that Satellite be rebuilt and the bridge completed. In the meantime, the Security entrance had been opened to the public, with no more than a token guard to keep an eye open for trouble. He was there now, smoking a cigarette and reading a magazine. He gave them all a cursory glance and waved them through.
The road beyond the gate was rough, and in some places nonexistent, but the children seemed to know where they were going. Rua, who had started out sitting in the back seat with everyone else, scrambled up into the front to help guide the driver. They drove through the crumbling remains of the old city, drawing curious stares from passers-by. At last, they came to a place where there were a few trees growing, and some dusty grass, and in the midst of it all was a house. The driver stopped.
"We're here!" Rua exclaimed.
He bounded out of the car, and his sister followed him at a more sedate pace. Misty stepped out onto the ground and looked around.
"What is this place?" she asked.
"Martha's house," said Ruka. "Yusei told us about it."
"All right," said Misty, bemused, "but who is Martha?"
"She runs the orphanage," Rua explained.
"Orphanage?" Misty repeated. "Why would..."
Rua simply took her hand and began dragging her around to the back of the house, telling her to hurry. She followed him to the back yard, where a number of children were scampering around, chasing rubber balls, shouting at each other, and generally showing high spirits. Rua stopped to look at Misty, clearly proud of himself.
"We found you someone to play with," he said. "These kids have all lost their families, too, so they need somebody. I mean, I know nobody is going to be just like your brother, but..."
"You don't have to be lonely anymore," Ruka finished.
"I don't know," said Misty hesitantly. "I'm not sure it works like..."
She was interrupted by a tug on her skirt. She looked down to see a small girl with pigtails looking up at her, eyes wide.
"How do you get your hair so pretty?" she asked.
Misty stared at her a moment. A smile crept over her face.
"It takes a lot of work," she said. "But I think your hair is very pretty, too."
"Really?" the little girl asked.
Misty nodded. On an impulse, she opened her purse and took out a comb. Then she reached up and removed the jade clasp that she'd been wearing in her hair.
"Here," she said. "You can wear this."
The girl's eyes lit up. "Really? You mean it?"
"Of course. I have more at home. Here, I'll put it in for you..."
She knelt down to undo the girl's pigtails, and began gently combing out her hair with her fingers. A few of the other children stopped what they were doing to keep watch over this stranger. Misty calmly ignored them and finished putting the girl's hair back in the clip, and then released her, watching as the child pranced about gleefully, showing off to her friends.
"Me next!" another girl said. "I want my hair done too!"
"Hey, isn't she the lady from TV?" asked one of the boys.
"Yeah, that's her!" another agreed. "No fair! How come she plays with the girls and not us?"
Misty looked up, amused. "What do you want me to play?"
A moment later, Rua and Ruka were sitting on the steps, drinking lemonade that Martha had kindly provided for them and watching the show. Out on the grass, Misty was running barefoot, having abandoned her expensive but impractical high heels. Her hair was in disarray, and her dress had taken a few grass stains where she had tumbled on the lawn. She was chasing after the ball while the children threw it back and forth, trying to keep it away from her, and she was laughing. Rua and Ruka grinned at each other, pleased to see a job well done.
Something in Misty's purse jangled. The twins looked at her, but she was taking no notice. Rua shrugged, got up, and answered the phone.
"Hello?" he said.
"Who are you?" a harried voice demanded.
"I'm one of Misty's friends," said Rua. "Are you looking for her?"
"Yes, I'm looking for her! She was supposed to be at the airport half an hour ago! She's going to miss her flight!"
Rua looked back at Misty. She had finally managed to catch the ball, and was being swarmed by children trying to take it from her.
"I think she changed her mind," he said, and hung up the phone.
Even from a distance, Kiryu could hear the sounds of people at work. It was an encouraging sound. There were still mixed reactions from the city's populace about the reclaiming of the island. The official story, put out by Jaeger, who was turning out to be better at running things in Goodwin's absence than anyone had imagined he would, was that the dark clouds that had engulfed the city had been caused by a gas leak brought on by instabilities in the old Momentum and the breakdown of various equipment. Exposure to the gas had caused hallucinations and unconsciousness, hence the number of people who believed they'd seen strange lights in the sky or had awakened to find themselves lying sprawled on the sidewalks. The official story was that Director Goodwin, who had worked on the original project and understood the mechanisms involved, had taken it upon himself to enter the old laboratory in an attempt to contain the damage, and while he had ultimately been successful, he had died from overexposure to the chemicals, which explained why he had been found outside the old lab's site lying dead without a mark on him.
In the wake of all this, Jaeger had declared that the island was a health hazard and should be cleaned up and rebuilt in an effort to prevent anything like this from happening again. Some people were all in favor, if it would keep anything like that black fog from appearing again. Others said that opening up the island would lead to a rise in crime and flood the city with lazy vagabonds who had no desire for work. Jaeger had ignored them all and simply put out a declaration that anyone on the island who wanted a job working on the Satellite reclamation project would be allowed to do so and paid accordingly. Naysayers predicted that no one would show up.
People had arrived in droves.
Kiryu paused a moment as he arrived at the site of the new bridge. It was swarming with people, many of them familiar. They were people he'd seen every day, before he'd been sent to prison. Some of them, he'd considered friends. They were all hard at work. Not all of them knew how to do skilled labor, but they were more than willing to lift and carry and clean up debris, to mix cement and roll on paint. There were even children there, eagerly fetching tools and carrying water bottles for the thirsty workers. It was almost enough to make Kiryu smile. A bridge, a real bridge, being built right in front of him, by workers from both the island and mainland alike. It was more like some sort of bedtime story than something he'd expect to see in real life. He stood in the shadow of a building and watched for a while.
It felt very quiet inside his mind.
One particular figure stood out in the crowd. His bright red hair was visible even from a distance, and Kiryu was close enough now to see even the faint metallic glimmers of sunlight reflecting off his markers. It was hard to imagine that anyone on the work site could be any more enthusiastic about the job than Crow was. It was impossible to be sure what the original color of what he was wearing might have been, because it was soaked through with sweat and liberally spattered with dust, paint, and assorted unidentifiable grime. He looked like he was having a wonderful time. Kiryu hated to spoil it. After a few moments of watching, though, he gathered his courage and started forwards.
Crow noticed him, of course. The smile vanished from his face, and he gave Kiryu a serious look as he approached.
"Hey," he said guardedly.
"Crow," said Kiryu. "I think we need to talk."
"Talk while I'm working," Crow suggested.
"I'm leaving Neo Domino."
Crow glared at him. "What the hell are you doing that for?"
"I have to," said Kiryu. "There's no place for me here."
"You're nuts," said Crow. "Come on, I thought you got over being crazy. Don't start again."
"Don't joke, Crow! I'm serious!" said Kiryu.
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Crow. "Seriously. You've got a clean record now. There's no reason why you can't stay here if you want to."
Kiryu shook his head. "It's not that simple. Just because the books say I'm not a criminal anymore doesn't mean that everyone is going to forgive and forget. As far as this city is concerned, I'm still the one who tried to single handedly wipe out the government. They aren't just going to smile and welcome me with open arms."
"Uh-huh. I gotcha," said Crow, raising an eyebrow. "So basically, instead of trying to prove them wrong, you're just going to throw up your hands, say 'it's too hard, I can't do it' and quit. Totally understand."
"It's not that simple!" Kiryu snapped. A few people had stopped what they were doing to stare at him, and were either backing away from him or surreptitiously easing closer to hear more clearly. He ignored all of them.
"Never said it was," said Crow. "It's probably going to be hard as hell. Trust me, I've been there. So have you. I don't understand why you're talking about giving up now."
"I'm not talking about giving up!" Kiryu said, frustrated. "I'm just talking about... going somewhere else for a while. Someplace I can start over fresh."
"Start over here," said Crow. "Look around you - really look. The bridge is getting built. The island is going to become part of the city. We're not going to be second-class citizens anymore. Shoot, Security is actually on our side, for once. This is your dream, Kiryu. It's what you wanted all along, isn't it - to turn Satellite into the kind of place we'd enjoy living in? Can you really walk away from that?"
Kiryu was quiet for a moment. He knew Crow was right. A part of him did want to stay, but...
"What do you expect me to do?" he asked quietly.
In response, Crow reached into a toolbox and pulled out a screwdriver. He offered it to Kiryu. With his free hand, he gestured at the bridge, at the crumbling buildings, and the construction crews working on both of them.
"Why don't you build something?" he said.
There was a lot of activity going on around Martha's house. This was nothing unusual, since at any given time she generally had at least half a dozen active children in her care, but this day was special in terms of the sheer scale of commotion. It appeared that a small army, carrying an assortment of ladders, tool boxes, and buckets of paint, had decided to make a camp on her front lawn. When the orders had gone out that Satellite should be rebuilt, her orphanage had apparently been put near the top of the list of things that needed repairing, and she had suddenly found herself with a pile of grant money for the sole purpose of bringing her building up to code.
Even if the money hadn't been there, though, the work still would have gotten done. The island was full of people who owed her favors, and when word got out, they had descended en masse, ready to do whatever they could to help.
Yusei was among them. At the moment, he was perched atop a stepladder on the back porch, replacing a light fixture that had burnt out eons ago and had never been deemed important enough to replace. What was left of it was so old and corroded that he was having to reinstall nearly everything down to the wiring. He paused a moment to wipe sweat from his brow, leaving a rusty streak across his skin.
From his vantage point, he could observe much of the other action. Aki had turned up early, and had immediately taken over the task of lawn reclamation. Under her guidance, the grass was being re-seeded, flower beds mulched, and shrubs planted. For the first time since he'd met her, she looked less than perfectly groomed, her clothing all but hidden under a layer of mud and grass stains. At the moment, she was busily overseeing a few others as they installed a row of climbing roses against one wall.
The door swung open, slamming into Yusei's ladder and making it lurch precariously.
"Whoa!" he shouted.
"Oops, sorry!" said Yuji "Didn't see you up there."
"It's all right," said Yusei as he began climbing back down to earth. "We were going to replace that door anyway."
Saiga came out of the house, brushing his hands together with a look of satisfaction.
"The AC is working," he announced. "You're now the first building on the island with air conditioning."
Yuji nodded. "And it's cable and internet ready. You know, whenever you get around to that."
"Thanks, both of you," said Yusei. "You've been a big help."
"I figured it wouldn't kill me to be useful once in a while," said Saiga. "And everyone else was doing it."
Yuji punched his shoulder. "Don't listen to him. He just likes to put on his old-grouch act."
"Well, whatever the reason, we're glad you're both here," said Yusei.
He folded up his ladder and wandered around to the side of the house, where other work crews were busy with other projects. He waved to Taka, Nerve, and Blitz, who were hard at work patching up the roof. A flock of children wearing oversized leather gardening gloves were scurrying around collecting the old shingles and piling them into wheelbarrows. Rua and Ruka were already chatting and joking with the rest of the children as if they'd been best friends forever. Yusei waded through them, exchanging greetings as he passed, and made his way to the front yard.
Things were equally hectic there. Not only were workers busy there as well, but Crow had found a barbecue grill somewhere, and he and Martha and several others were hard at work creating a picnic lunch for all the people who'd turned up to help. It smelled wonderful, and Yusei, who had been hard at work since nearly dawn, found himself thinking longingly of the hamburgers that were being turned on the grill. Sitting in a shady spot out of the way of the other workers was Yanagi, keeping watch over the children who were too small to work or had become tired from their labors. He seemed to be telling them a silly story about a prince and a soldier with ugly feet.
"I see you're having fun," said Yusei as he passed.
Yanagi beamed. "You bet! I'm glad to be here!"
"And I'm glad you're here," said Yusei. "It's good to know you're feeling all right. Crow told me you got hurt while you were helping him."
The old man waved a dismissive hand. "That? That was nothing. I feel fine! Though, you know, I had the strangest dream while I was out. I dreamed that you were there taking care of me, but in my dream, you were wearing a long white coat, and your eyes were green. Isn't that strange?"
Yusei smiled. "Very strange."
Thanks, Dad, he thought, as he walked away.
His attention was caught by a car pulling up to the house. He hadn't seen that particular vehicle before, but he recognized the driver and grinned. He hurried forward to greet the new guests.
"Ushio," he said, as his friend climbed out of the car, "you're not in uniform."
"Don't need to be," said Ushio cheerfully. "I got promoted. You're looking at the new assistant to the chief of Special Investigation."
"That sounds important," said Yusei.
"You haven't heard the best part," Ushio replied. "Mikage got a promotion, too."
"Let me guess. Same department?"
Ushio grinned widely as he walked around to open the passenger side door.
"Let me introduce you to the new chief of Special Investigations," he said.
Mikage got out of the car. She was, for the first time since Yusei had met her, wearing something other than her serious business garb. She was dressed in denim cutoffs and a T-shirt, obviously prepared to put in some hard work, but apparently she couldn't put her job behind her so easily. She was, in fact, deeply absorbed in a telephone call.
"Mm-hm... Yes, that's right. The files should be in the third cabinet over, in the drawer marked "correspondence"... No, I don't think that will work. Trust me on this one," she was saying. When she noticed Yusei, though, she quickly disentangled herself from the conversation with a few more words and hung up the phone. "Oh, hello, Yusei. Sorry to tune you out, but he just wouldn't stop asking questions."
"Someone from work?" Yusei inquired.
"The Vice-Director," said Mikage. "He's a little overwhelmed, I think. His job has mostly been more about public relations than actually making any decisions, and he seems a bit lost without Director Goodwin to tell him what to do. We'll all be much happier once a new Director is appointed."
Yusei smiled. "Maybe they should give you the job. You seem to know how it's done."
"Oh, heavens, no," said Mikage, blushing. "I'm not nearly experienced enough. I'm just sort of helping out until things get back into a routine."
Her phone rung again. She glanced at the caller ID and sighed, "Not again. Excuse me a minute..."
She wandered off, phone glued to her ear. Ushio watched her go with a dreamy sigh.
"She'd be the best Director ever," he said.
He was interrupted from his reverie by a small human-shaped object slamming into his legs. He looked down to see that a small boy had just flung his arms around him.
"Hey, kid," said Ushio. "Takuya, right? Nice to see ya again."
"Hi, Officer Ushio!" said the boy. "I knew you'd come back and visit!"
"Hey, I said I would and I did!" said Ushio. "A Security officer's word is always good!"
"You're just in time," said Takuya. "We're just about to have lunch. You can have lunch, too," he added magnanimously to Yusei.
"Thanks," said Yusei.
Takuya looked up at Ushio. "Will you sit next to me?"
"Might as well. I gotta sit somewhere," said Ushio.
"Okay! I'll save you a seat!" said Takuya, and scampered off.
Yusei smiled as he started towards the folding tables that had been set up as a picnic area.
"He seems to like you," he observed.
"No accounting for taste," said Ushio, falling into step with him. "He's a good kid, though. Wants to join Security when he grows up, yanno?"
"I might have heard something like that," Yusei agreed. He gave Ushio a sidelong look. "How did the Vice-Director find out about this place, anyway?"
Ushio grinned. "Oh, I mighta mentioned something, somewhere along the line."
There was an edge to his grin, and Yusei wondered just what that meeting had entailed. He had a vision of Ushio looming over the Vice-Director as he spelled out exactly what he wanted. Yusei smiled, too.
"I'm sorry I missed it," he said.
As they neared the seating area, Yusei discovered that other people had arrived without attracting his attention. This was possibly because Martha had detained both of them. She was busy chatting with Carly, while Jack looked on with an expression of deep embarrassment.
"...just the cutest little thing," Martha was saying. "I still have pictures of him from when he was little. Do you want to see them?"
"Yes!" said Carly.
"No!" said Jack.
"Hello, Jack," said Yusei, deciding to be merciful and provide a distraction. "Are you here to help?"
"I might," said Jack. "But Carly wanted to meet Martha, and today was as good a day as any."
"Don't listen to him. He wanted to help," said Carly.
"Of course he did," said Martha. "But it was nice of him to introduce me to his new sweetheart." She looked Carly over thoughtfully. "You're not quite what I was expecting, but I think he made a good choice. You seem like a nice young lady. Have you two made any plans for the future yet?"
"Martha..." said Jack, looking embarrassed.
Carly glowed and held out her left hand. "Jack gave me a ring, see?"
"Oh, my," said Martha, eyes shining with amusement. "Engaged already? Well, Jack always was a precocious boy."
"It's not like that!" Jack protested. "Carly, tell her it's not like that."
"Oh, look," said Carly. "It's the guys from the plant. Hey, guys, over here!"
Carly raced off to where she'd seen Taka, Nerve and Blitz making their way to the lunch tables. They caught her in a group hug and began chatting animatedly.
"Popular girl," Martha teased. "You'd better be careful, Jack. If you keep putting her off, someone might snatch her away from you."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I'm going to get lunch."
"Get it while the getting's good!" Crow shouted back. "Today, Crow the Bullet is making burgers!"
Ushio looked at Yusei. "Is that a good thing?"
"I'm getting a plate," said Yusei.
In the end, they all ended up gathering around one long table: Yusei, Ushio, Mikage, Takuya, Jack, Carly, Saiga, Yuji, Crow, Aki, Rua, and Ruka. It was a lively group. Crow had outdone himself with his grill-work, and Martha and her fleet of helpers had produced an array of side dishes that had everyone going back for seconds. For a while, conversation was limited to commenting on the food and asking people to pass the condiments.
"I've got to hand it to you, Crow," said Ushio. "You know your way around a grill. How'd you learn to cook?"
Crow shrugged. "I've got kids. They've gotta eat. And grilling stuff is the easiest way to cook around here - stoves are hard to come by, but all you need for a grill is a fire and something to keep the food from falling into it."
"Well, you could open a restaurant when you're done with this building stuff," said Ushio. As he spoke, he was starting in on his third burger.
Crow laughed. "Not me. I don't know if I have a head for business."
"What are you all going to do now?" asked Mikage. "I mean, some of you haven't even had jobs before, have you?"
Yusei smiled a little. "Not unless you count working for the Director."
"You did a fine job with that," Mikage assured him. "You know, if you do need a job, I'm sure I could get you one. Security could use someone like you."
"I don't know," said Yusei. "Apparently Goodwin left me some money in his will - not much, but enough to make a start with somewhere. I was thinking of enrolling in a college. There's a lot about the world I don't know yet."
"That would be nice," said Aki. "I'm going back to Duel Academia soon. Maybe we could study together."
"You should come stay with us!" said Rua. "We've got a big house you could live in! You can be our babysitter."
Yusei laughed. "You two don't need a babysitter."
"Sure we do," said Rua, looking angelic. "Just look at all the trouble we got into being left alone!"
"You could always come help us out, if you want," Yuji offered. "Saiga and I are going into building custom D-Wheels."
Saiga nodded. "Jack says you're a pretty mean hand with a wrench. We'd be glad to have some extra help."
"Hey, if Yusei's building anything, he's building it here," Crow opined. "I mean, it's going to take months to get this island rebuilt. Yusei, you ought to come with me and help out on the bridge."
"He's doing no such thing," said Jack. "He's going to try out for the Pro Leagues with me. He's the only one good enough to keep my skills sharpened."
Yusei laughed. He couldn't help it. It was funny to think that he'd started out with no options - just another nobody from Satellite. Now he had more options than he knew what to do with. Looking around at the faces of his friends, though, he thought perhaps it didn't matter which direction he picked. No matter what he chose, he knew he'd be home.
The day was coming to an end. The sun was setting over Martha's house, gleaming off its fresh paint. Most of the workers had already gone home, agreeing to come back the next day to finish the last few jobs, and Martha had herded her weary children inside for hot baths and some sleep. Only Jack and Carly were left. Carly watched him as he set aside the paint scraper he'd been using and stood up, stretching his work-stiffened muscles.
"Tired?" she asked sympathetically.
"Not so much," he said. "It will be dark soon, though."
"Guess we should be heading home," she agreed.
He shook his head. "Not yet. First, I want to show you something."
"Oh?" she asked, interested.
Instead of speaking, Jack led her around to the back of the house. There was an old drainpipe there. He sized it up for a moment, then reached out and grabbed it, using a windowsill to give himself a foothold. With the ease of long practice, he began scaling the wall. Halfway up, he paused and looked down at Carly.
"Well?" he said. "Are you coming?"
Carly wasn't at all certain that she could manage such an athletic feat. Jack must have sensed her uncertainty, because he added, "I did this all the time when I was young. It's not as hard as it looks. You'll be fine."
Encouraged, she took hold of the drain. It was sturdier than it appeared, held in place with a regular series of brackets that made it easy to climb. She managed to shimmy up it without incident. There was a brief moment of difficulty as she tried to pull herself over the edge of the gutter, but Jack gave her a hand, and she was able to clamber onto the roof. She crouched there for a moment, catching her breath. Jack sat down next to her, gazing off into the sunset. There was a good view from up there. If she looked in the right direction, she could just make out the glow that was the light from Neo Domino City shining against the darkening sky.
"I used to come here a lot," he said, "when I wanted some privacy. Or if Martha was angry at me."
Carly smiled and made herself comfortable next to him. "I'll bet you were nothing but trouble."
"I probably was," he admitted. He didn't sound particularly ashamed of it. "I was up here often enough, anyway. I used to come up here and look at the city, and tell myself how I would run away someday to live there and be famous."
"And now you've done it," she said. "Just like I was going to leave home and be a great reporter."
"We were lucky," Jack agreed quietly. "Goodwin kept his word, you know. I got a message from one of his contacts, saying I could have a tryout next week."
"Are you nervous?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No. But things are going to be different now."
"I guess you're right," she said. "I got a call from the Neo Domino Daily. They want me to write features on dueling for them. I'm probably going to take the job."
"You should," said Jack. "It's what you wanted, isn't it?"
"I guess," she said. She hung her head a little. "I guess this means we're going our own ways, from here on in."
"It does," he agreed.
"I... really enjoyed this, though," she said. "Well, not everything. Not the monsters and the zombies and people getting hurt, but... I'm really, really glad I got to know you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
"We were both very lucky," Jack agreed.
They were quiet for a moment. Carly found herself reaching for his hand, uncertain of who she was trying to comfort with the gesture, and as she did so, she noticed the ring still on her finger.
"Oh," she said. "Your mother's ring... I ought to give it back. I guess you'll be wanting it..."
She started to take it off, but he closed his hands around hers to stop her.
"Keep it," he said. "I've gotten used to you having it."
"Wow, um... th-thank you!" she stammered.
"I'll probably want it back eventually," Jack continued. "So you'll just have to stay close, so I can find you when I want it."
Carly felt her cheeks flush. "Um... when will that be?"
"I haven't decided," said Jack. "It might be a long time. You don't mind, do you?"
"No," she said, leaning to rest her head on his shoulder. "I don't mind. I'll stay as long as you want."
"Even if it takes the rest of your life?"
"Especially then," she said.
"Good," Jack replied. "That's settled, then."
Carly said nothing, but she sighed contentedly and settled herself more comfortably against his side. She gazed out over the water as the lights of the city flickered on, becoming steadily brighter against the onset of night. Carly watched it a moment longer before glancing down at the ring on her hand, and the man sitting next to her. Neo Domino City was the city of dreams, but the time for dreams was over, and from where she sat, reality looked like it was going to be just fine.
The End | <urn:uuid:aa8c5c03-80d9-4931-9e6a-5547e59151de> | https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6394164/35/The-Dragon-s-Ring | en | 0.994117 | 0.121952 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Cancer Survivors Network - Comments for "Newly diagnosed" Comments for "Newly diagnosed" en-csn N/A <p>This comment has been removed by the Moderator</p> Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:44:46 +0000 Anonymous user comment 719435 at RE: Newly diagnosed <p>I am sorry. I hope you know that a clarks level 4 diagnosis is not the same as the cancer being stage 4. I was confused by this at first, as my first doc told me that I had level 4 malignant melanoma. I went online and about collapsed in fear from what I was reading. It was 2 days later that somebody finally explained that it was Clarks level 4, big differance. It was and still is a rough road. I lost about a third of my lower right leg, but so far everything else is clear. I don't know if this helped you at all, but I will pray for you tonight.</p> Thu, 24 Oct 2002 05:46:58 +0000 robynp comment 501637 at RE: Newly diagnosed <p>Hi Cher,<br /> I'm Sandi, I was just had a mole on my chest tested from a dermatologist, it's malignant melanoma 0.3mm thick. I went last week to a Plastic surgeon and had a larger area around the mole removed and had a graft of skin from the groin to cover the large area. It was in and out of the hospital. I'm recovering, chest is very tight, can't drive for 3 weeks, can't lift anything. </p> <p>I made an appointment to talk to an oncologist Aug. 9th. My doctor says he got all the edges...pathology is But I had neighbors who had it and are gone. Bob had it on his heal of his foot, and the other person had a small red blister by her vagina. They were told they got it all. Later they found more and had chemo and radiation but it spread rapidly and was too late. This cancer is very agressive...<br /> It spreads to bone, liver, lungs, Brain and lymph nodes. So far my chest is clear, and CBC on blood is good....great news..</p> <p>So I'm taking charge and going to have more tests done by a oncologist...and ask lots of questions and see if it's anywhere else on my body..... No one is our family ever had melanoma. Breast cancer by my Mother and her Mother who pasted away at age 70. My Dad had bladder cancer at age 60, they told us he would died in a week, they removed the tumor and he is still living at age 82. Yesterday we celebrated his birthday. </p> <p>I know how scared you are, so am I. I have two girl's, ages 32 and 22. I just turned 55 years old and a grandmother with a 8 year old grandson and waiting any day for<br /> identical twin girls to be born... </p> <p>I'm too busy with family, I'm the one they all turn to. It's hard being strong... I have to keep fighting, have courage, strength and pray. I have asthma and severe allergies with foods, grasses, trees, etc.. I just found a lump in my mouth on Sunday, I hope it's the allergies again, it's happened before...never a dull moment with my little body...</p> <p>Good luck to both of us...let you know how my appointment August 9th with oncologist comes out. What's next????</p> <p>Smile, Smile, Smile, take one day at a time...enjoy your family do the things you like to do, and stay busy... I have an aunt who is going to be 102 years old and is still having a good life...see I have a long way to catch up with her.<br /> Best Wishes</p> Thu, 01 Aug 2002 17:10:13 +0000 happyme comment 501636 at RE: Newly diagnosed <p>Sempcom:<br /> It sucks.... there are no other words for it. It is unfair and totally wrong. Our only crime is enjoying the outdoors. You would think that there would be more knowledge of detection and treatment in the medical world, but there isn't. It's not a money maker, yet.<br /> This is the one case in life where you have to do for yourself, totally. You have to search and find the finest minds in the medical industry concerning this disease. You have to question every doctors' recommendation, once, twice, three times, if neccessary. You have to be like a 3 year old and constantly ask why of the doctors choices for your treatment. Do not take, "that's how we do it" or "I don't know" for an answer. Seek clinical trials, now, before starting any treatment that would jepordize eligibility of a trial.<br /> You've been knocked down, now get up and get to work and save your life and GOD be with you.</p> Fri, 12 Jul 2002 14:52:49 +0000 rlavery comment 501635 at RE: Newly diagnosed <p>I was just diagnosed with Advanced stages of Melanoma also. It's been 2 weeks for me and I am having a hard time talking about it. I get so tired when I have to even think about telling people. I had this " thing " on my leg for 3+ years and finally had it removed. I have always felt healthy, but since I was diagnosed.. Now I feel sick.. Treatment hasnt started yet.</p> Thu, 11 Jul 2002 22:14:39 +0000 sempcom comment 501634 at RE: Newly diagnosed <p>Nothing you are feeling is unusual. It is alot to comprehend at first and with tiime and information, you can get a handle on all of it. Arm yourself with as much info as you can find. The more you know, the less you have to be frightened about. There is a great website...type in MPIP and hit go. It is a melanoma patient info page and is full of people who are also in the same boat. You can read what they are going through and ask all the questions you want. Someone will have an answer or will point you in the right direction to find the answer. I am Stage 2b and keeping my fingers crossed. Give yourself time too and ......most important of all....say your prayers. Find a good oncologist and derm and go from there. Good luck and God bless.</p> <p>Cathy</p> Tue, 09 Jul 2002 12:29:41 +0000 auntcathy comment 501633 at RE: Newly diagnosed <p>The fear is absolutely horrible. You may indeed be in denial at this point. In some ways, it might be easier for you. Stage 4 sounds like it is questionable, unless it has spread to other areas. Mine had spread to the regional lymph nodes, but my oncologist only labeled me as late Stage 3 or early Stage 4. Hopefully, yours hasn't gone that far. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. The sudden realization that you have cancer is bad enough, but melanoma can be devastating. I was first diagnosed about 4 years ago. They removed the mole and then did the margin excision. I was told they had gotten it all, but within 9 months it had appeared in my lymph nodes. I'm almost 3 years out from that recurrence, but the odds are not in my favor. I was unable to take the Interferon therapy because it affected my liver to the point of almost causing liver failure. That's not the normal reaction for most people, though. My liver was already damaged by a hepatitis earlier. I'm rambling...sorry. It might actually help you to talk to someone about your melanoma. If you have really close friends who really listen, that could be good. Also, a minister or counselor might be helpful. You need a strong support system to handle this. I hope you find the support you need. Try to take it one day at a time. That's easier said than done, but it does help, and it does get easier with a little time. God bless you, and I wish you well.</p> Mon, 08 Jul 2002 04:05:40 +0000 inkognita comment 501632 at | <urn:uuid:d02b12fc-3048-487d-ac86-16065a874e5d> | http://csn.cancer.org/crss/node/138155 | en | 0.981698 | 0.05748 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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Michelle Williams and Justin Bieber Now Have the Same Haircut
Quick—what do actress Michelle Williams and pop star Justin Bieber have in common? If you guessed beauty routines, you'd be right.
Recently, both stars stepped out with almost identical haircuts: Short, highlighted 'dos with side-swept bangs that flopped to the right. Williams debuted her new look on Tuesday at the New York City launch of Kate Young's Target collection. Bieber showcased his at a U.K. meet and greet with fans on Saturday—a bold move given that he lost 80,000 Twitter followers in 2011 when he chopped his classic shaggy mop into a bowl cut. They're only the latest in a string of celebs to join the cropped club. With the release of her 2009 album "Rated R", Rihanna rocked an orange version. And in August 2012, Miley Cyrus shocked fans by cutting her caramel locks into a platinum blonde modified "faux hawk."
Could the cut, an edgier version of the pixie, be a response to heartbreak? Around the same time they made the cut, three of these stars ended relationships (Williams with actor Jason Segel, Bieber with actress-singer Selena Gomez, and Cyrus, briefly, with actor Liam Hemsworth). An act of defiance against the hours of hair and makeup they're forced to endure on a regular basis? Is it the modern-day Rachel? Does Toni Braxton finally feel relevant? So many questions but nary an answer. Discuss! | <urn:uuid:8b908597-6451-4613-a94d-cd065a102c11> | http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion-beauty/michelle-williams-and-justin-bieber-now-have-the-same-haircut-182856707.html | en | 0.92852 | 0.031406 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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I want to change the billing administrator of an appengine application. How can I achieve that without causing service disruption?
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up vote 2 down vote accepted
The administrator-to-be-billed needs to initiate this from the admin console. See Changing the Billing Administrator.
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Thank you very much. – Nicanor Cristian Babula Jul 6 '12 at 6:21
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| <urn:uuid:e6233bd9-fffe-4001-9cb5-89b87fd7f7ed> | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11327648/how-can-i-change-an-appengine-applications-billing-administrator | en | 0.850422 | 0.367603 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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This question is in regards to the standard list of timezones in the tzinfo aka Olson Timezone Database.
example 1: I have noticed that America/New_York or America/Detroit (known as "exemplar cities", see http://www.w3.org/International/docs/timezones/#tzids) are used instead of US/Eastern.
example 2: In Canada the Mountain timezone is usually described as America/Edmonton instead of Canada/Mountain. There are parts of British Columbia that are on Mountain Time, yet their timezone is specified as America/Edmonton (which is in Alberta).
In these cases, why would the region/exemplar city option be used instead of the country/zone version? There must have been a reason that the country/zone version was created in the first place, but why is it there if it isn't the preferred way?
This is mostly an issue when a country has more than one timezone.
Is there a best practices somewhere that says why one is preferred over the other?
(P.S. this is a difficult issue to Google for, as you get all un-related or unhelpful results. The closest thing I could find was Daylight saving time and Timezone best practices but it did not have this issue addressed.)
EDIT: can 2 timezone be for 1 city? there is "Since not everyone uses the canonical Continent/City notation for their time zone (I tend to use the older US/Pacific notation, for instance - which is still supported, but is equivalent to America/Los_Angeles)." His assertion that "US/Pacific" is older contradicts my indirect assumption that it was newer, but still not the answer.
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up vote 2 down vote accepted
The Theory file distributed with the Olson database contains the information:
Names of time zone rule files
• Indicate to humans as to where that region is. This simplifes [sic] use.
• Be robust in the presence of political changes. This reduces the number of updates and backward-compatibility hacks. For example, names of countries are ordinarily not used, to avoid incompatibilities when countries change their name (e.g. Zaire⟶Congo) or when locations change countries (e.g. Hong Kong from UK colony to China).
• Be portable to a wide variety of implementations. This promotes use of the technology.
• Use only valid POSIX file name components (i.e., the parts of names other than '/'). Within a file name component, use only ASCII letters, '.', '-' and '_'. Do not use digits, as that might create an ambiguity with POSIX TZ strings. A file name component must not exceed 14 characters or start with '-'. E.g., prefer 'Brunei' to 'Bandar_Seri_Begawan'.
• Include at least one location per time zone rule set per country. One such location is enough. Use ISO 3166 (see the file iso3166.tab) to help decide whether something is a country. However, uninhabited ISO 3166 regions like Bouvet Island do not need locations, since local time is not defined there.
• If a name is ambiguous, use a less ambiguous alternative; e.g. many cities are named San Jose and Georgetown, so prefer 'Costa_Rica' to 'San_Jose' and 'Guyana' to `Georgetown'.
• Keep locations compact. Use cities or small islands, not countries or regions, so that any future time zone changes do not split locations into different time zones. E.g. prefer 'Paris' to 'France', since France has had multiple time zones.
• Use mainstream English spelling, e.g. prefer 'Rome' to 'Roma', and prefer 'Athens' to the true name (which uses Greek letters). The POSIX file name restrictions encourage this rule.
• Use the most populous among locations in a country's time zone, e.g. prefer 'Shanghai' to 'Beijing'. Among locations with similar populations, pick the best-known location, e.g. prefer 'Rome' to 'Milan'.
• Use the singular form, e.g. prefer 'Canary' to 'Canaries'.
• Omit common suffixes like '_Islands' and '_City', unless that would lead to ambiguity. E.g. prefer 'Cayman' to 'Cayman_Islands' and 'Guatemala' to 'Guatemala_City', but prefer 'Mexico_City' to 'Mexico' because the country of Mexico has several time zones.
• Use '_' to represent a space.
• Omit '.' from abbreviations in names, e.g. prefer 'St_Helena' to 'St._Helena'.
• Do not change established names if they only marginally violate the above rules. For example, don't change the existing name 'Rome' to 'Milan' merely because Milan's population has grown to be somewhat greater than Rome's.
• If a name is changed, put its old spelling in the backward file.
Note that there has been recent controversy (August 2012) on the tz@iana.org mailing list about the 'Shanghai in preference to Beijing' guideline.
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This is great, but it'd be nice to know why is city used? Is that because a city may currently be the same timezone as a region but may not always be or have been? – Juan Mendes Aug 17 '12 at 19:53
It's because region names change even more than country names. – Jonathan Leffler Aug 17 '12 at 19:59
Some Cities, Counties and States politically choose to not follow the rules. Indiana is an example of this. – FrankComputerAtYmailDotCom Aug 20 '12 at 3:09
Great information, Jonathan. It unfortunately doesn't say anything about these "US/Eastern" etc. and how they even came into existence. They make a lot of sense in my mind (moreso than the "America/New_York" variety) in countries of multiple timezones, but they do seem to violate the guidelines you have reproduced here so one wonders how they came to be. – Pixel Aug 20 '12 at 15:29
@Pixel: The US/Eastern style names were an older variation of the naming convention, used before the one described above was put in place. That change was made quite a long time ago now (1990s, if not 1980s). The US/Eastern etc names still exist in the backward file referred to in the notes above; it is a link to America/New_York. – Jonathan Leffler Aug 20 '12 at 15:56
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| <urn:uuid:8affcad9-7701-4986-8625-d3197df18597> | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12009668/why-is-city-timezone-used-instead-of-region-timezone-for-tzinfo | en | 0.904513 | 0.497431 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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i am using solr 1.4.1 for building a distributed search engine, but i dont want to use only one index file - i want to create new core "index"-directories on the fly in my java code.
i found following rest api to create new cores using an EXISTING core directory (http://wiki.apache.org/solr/CoreAdmin).
is there a way to create a new core without an extisting core directory? has solr such a function? via rest or in the solrj-api? thanks.
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up vote 7 down vote accepted
It's not currently possible to programmatically submit your schema and config to Solr to create a new core. Here's the JIRA issue about it.
As mentioned in the comments, you can work around it by using something like WebDAV or scp or sftp.
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@EricWilson : nope, you still can't submit a client-defined schema. – Mauricio Scheffer Jun 25 '12 at 16:01
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| <urn:uuid:0b08f1d0-29b8-4f87-9366-b37cf92e4abe> | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4064880/create-new-core-directories-in-solr-on-the-fly | en | 0.771631 | 0.105159 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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I have a jquery popup, which has a list of text boxes to insert phone numbers. The user can choose to add more text boxes if they want. Each time they add a text box, I am adding a jquery required validator like so:
$("#phoneNumberTxt" + i).rules("add", {
required: true,
messages: {
required: "Phone number is required."
On the line with the text box, there are multiple text boxes. I am trying to pipe all the errors to a div to the left of all the text boxes (1 div per row). Is there a way to tell the above validator where to display the error message?
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Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question. | <urn:uuid:82fa3191-c5c7-4373-9b0b-aee5b2850fe8> | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4400223/jquery-validator-error-placement-rulesadd?answertab=oldest | en | 0.815828 | 0.988926 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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I am trying to learn loops and array manipulation in zsh.
Say I have two arrays in zsh with the same unknown # of elements and each of them containing a list of paths, e.g.
I would like to iterate through both arrays simultaneously with a common index, so that I can do something like:
hg pull $REMOTE_PATH_i
in each iteration. How can I do this in zsh?
Also, I have searched for loop control and arrays in the zsh documentation but had little success. Is there a good tutorial that introduces the basics of loops, arrays, etc. in zsh? Something for people with little bash or shell-scripting experience but with a background in programming?
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up vote 5 down vote accepted
Section 15.2.1 “Array Subscripts” says that arrays can be index with [exp] (where exp is a numeric expression) and that elements start at index 1 (0 if KSH_ARRAYS is set).
Section 14.3 “Parameter Expansion” says that the syntax ${#array_name} will expand to the number of elements of an array.
Section 6.3 “Complex Commands” gives the syntax for a numeric for loop (as in C):
for (( initExpr ; testExpr ; stepExpr )) do … done.
Putting them all together:
for (( i = 1; i <= $#LOCAL_PATH; i++ )) do
( # subshell to contain the effect of the chdir
cd $LOCAL_PATH[i]
hg pull $REMOTE_PATH[i]
Or, if you are using KSH_ARRAYS, then this:
for (( i = 0; i < ${#LOCAL_PATH[*]}; i++ )) do
( # subshell to contain the effect of the chdir
cd ${LOCAL_PATH[i]}
hg pull ${REMOTE_PATH[i]}
Using KSH_ARRAYS makes arrays start with index 0, requires the use of braces for array expressions, and interprets $array as $array[0] (requiring a change to the array length expression). The syntax changes required by KSH_ARRAY will also work without KSH_ARRAY, but you still have to adjust the logic for the different index range (1 through N versus 0 through N-1).
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| <urn:uuid:bd11bb5f-9872-403a-89d4-3ed8b4c6b12d> | http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/22948/arrays-and-loops-in-zsh | en | 0.825582 | 0.487336 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Drum Opinion
Analysis and views on the issues of the day
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22 February 2013
File photo: A woman putting money in a piggy bank (Getty Creative Image)
Tax concessions make for super hypocrisy
Mike Steketee
Mike Steketee
Tax concessions on superannuation cost the Government $32 billion this year. That makes it worth asking whether it is money well spent, writes Mike Steketee.
"Hands off my super!" is the rallying cry from Australians outraged at suggestions the Government may announce cuts in tax concessions in this year's budget.
It may be a sign of how strongly people feel about protecting their nest eggs but it also points to just how warped the debate on superannuation policy has become.
Many of those most vehement in their criticisms of the Government for squandering money and failing to get the budget back into surplus are also those who regard the tax concessions for superannuation as sacrosanct.
The same people who rage against the nanny state and the culture of entitlement often also seem to think that it is the job of government to give them whatever level of retirement benefits to which they aspire.
Some even argue that the low tax on superannuation contributions and earnings and the zero tax on super benefits after 60 are not concessions at all.
Whatever they are, they represent money the Government would otherwise have available for other purposes and that makes it worth asking whether it is money well spent.
The cost to revenue of the concessional treatment of superannuation reached $32 billion this year. That is almost 50 per cent more than the Defence budget and $2.3 billion above Commonwealth spending on education.
Treasury projects that the figure will jump to $45 billion by 2015-16, by which time it will overtake the cost of the age pension. So where is the sense of outrage about this budget-blowing, out-of-control 41 per cent increase in government spending, making it the fastest growing major area of government?
The sense of injustice about proposals for change often runs most strongly amongst so called self-funded retirees - that is, those not receiving an age pension.
Sure, it is commendable for those who can to provide for their own retirement. But the Government, aka taxpayers, tips in substantial amounts for these people, too, particularly if they are high income earners.
Treasury estimated last year that the top 1 per cent of income earners receive an average of $510,000 in government support for retirement over a lifetime, all of it in tax concessions. That compares to $250,000 for the bottom 10 per cent, nearly all of it through the pension. This turns on its head the notions of progressive income tax and needs-based welfare.
Defenders of the present system have been strident in their complaints about one of the few measures Wayne Swan has taken to pare back its generosity - placing a cap of $25,000 on the amount attracting tax subsidies that people can contribute to superannuation each year.
Much of the discussion proceeds on the assumption that $25,000 is both inadequate and an absolute limit. It isn't and it isn't.
There is nothing to stop people putting more into their super; it is just that, if they do, they have to pay tax of 46.5 per cent, which is what they would be doing anyway on incomes over $180,000.
If you aspire to build your super up so you can live the life of James Packer in retirement, go for it. Taxpayers, most of whom will be on lower incomes, will be contributing generously but the rest is up to you.
Those who rail against the iniquity of putting limits on the tax concessions really are spruiking for a flat tax because that is the basis of the compulsory super system.
The 9 per cent of wages going into super - rising gradually to 12 per cent over the next seven years - is taxed at a uniform rate of 15 per cent up to incomes of $300,000 and so are the earnings in the fund.
From this financial year the Government introduced a rebate which refunds the 15 per cent super tax for those on incomes up to $37,000. This removes one of the starkest inequities: even though people earning below $18,200 a year paid no tax on the rest of their income, they still lost 15 per cent of their super contributions to the Government.
Above that, the rebate is equivalent to a tax concession of 5.5 per cent, compared to 31.5 per cent for high income earners. Tony Abbott's commitment to take away the low income rebate, on the grounds that it is supposed to be funded by the mining tax which he will abolish, has received much less attention than his more recent promise ruling out any "negative, unexpected changes" to the superannuation system in the first term of a Coalition government.
Apparently we cannot afford a tax break of up to $500 a year for lower income earners under an Abbott government but will have no trouble funding one of $19,000, which is the average annual benefit Treasury has calculated for the top 1 per cent.
Strictly speaking, there is no need for the Government to offer tax deductions at all under a compulsory superannuation system. There is the argument that forcing you to put money aside that you can't touch until at least age 55 warrants a tax break. But that would be a stronger point if the tax concessions did more to reduce reliance on the age pension.
Thanks to very generous means tests, there will be only a slight rise in the proportion of people not qualifying for any age pension by 2050, according to Treasury projections. Although there will be a larger increase in those receiving a part rather than full pension, the overall cost of the pension still will go up from 2.7 per cent to 3.9 per cent of GDP by 2050 - or if you prefer that in current dollars, from $38 billion to $55 billion.
The case for a tax deduction also would be stronger if super actually had to be used for retirement income. Instead, there is nothing to stop people spending all their superannuation the day after they retire and going on to the pension. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority says that in 2011-12, the $35 billion withdrawn as pensions almost exactly matched that taken out in lump sums.
As the proportion of future taxpayers shrinks and the cost of subsidising superannuation keeps outpacing the growth in the economy, future generations are unlikely to thank us for taking the money and running.
House Rules
Comments (125)
• Warshawski :
25 Feb 2013 7:03:48pm
Once upon a time the idea of super was to get all Australians to save for retirement, mostly to protect future government budgets from increasing aged pension costs. The scheme was generous with tax incentives to encorage additional contributions to fund a realistic lifestyle in retirement. Soon after an new government also introduced the future fund to fund government liability for government super which was un-funded. Unfortunately super was popular and the govenment changed super rules to have a maximum amount you could have in super and restrict how you could use it. Then the government changed again and got into the future fund and it limited the amount you could put in each year. Then it thought about taxing super more and more.
At this rate super will not be enough to live off and it will be effectively just another government tax.
If Super is to actually benifit the person who contributes the tax rate needs to be concesional otherwise there is no point in locking away your money and denying access to invest and build wealth. There are som many restrictions on what you can do with super you are mad to put it in unless you get a substantial benifit such as concessional tax rate.
• Dave of WA :
25 Feb 2013 3:27:56pm
Its simple.
TAx concessions create an incentive to save into super.
People are then largly independant of govt handouts in old age.
Self funded retires save the Gov $0.6M per person.
• Clive :
25 Feb 2013 6:38:28pm
Dave you miss the point. In order for you not to cost the Govt as you so sweetly put it , concessions have to be made which forego revenue you (and I) would otherwise have to pay to keep the Govt going. SO you are effectively just as much subsidised by the Govt as any pensioner - in fact the point is many like you are more generously treated than pensioners. That is Mike's point as I read his piece.
• Citizen Smith :
25 Feb 2013 3:10:43pm
The Superannuation scheme is a retirement fund to ensure that Australian workers can retire with dignity and that they and their families do not end up destitute on the streets.
Australian 'retired' workers destitute, on the streets.
The first sentence describes what superannuation is supposed to do. The second sentence is what will happen after the useless third of society i.e. politicians, economists, superannuation experts, financial experts, public relations executives and public servants have finished 'managing' the shit out of the super scheme.
Take it as prophecy.
• John of WA :
25 Feb 2013 2:26:51pm
You conveniently overlook the point that low income earners are still likely to be entitled to a government pension regardless of their superannuation payout, whereas those at the higher end will not. Also, not everyone wanting to put more than $25k away per year (which includes employer contributions) earns more than $180k pa. And if they do, good luck to them.
It was the Government that said they would leave the limit at $50k for the over 50's; they reneged in an effort to keep the phantom surplus. Don't blame us for complaining, it was not we who effectively moved the goalpost 50m up the paddock with 5 minutes to go.
Take away the tax breaks if you wish, but then take away the mandatory requirement and let people invest the money where ever they choose. Watch how many squander it and put their hands out for the pension later on.
• Stirrer :
25 Feb 2013 1:50:40pm
Interesting article in the Australian the other -titled-" The Year of Small Government".
It was having a go at Kevin Rudd's lack of fiscal conservatism.
But it also had a go at John Howard'c Coalition which it said were past masters at buying their way into voters' hearts.
It also said quote "the task of cutting $15B from recurrent spending, the estimated cost of funding the national disability insurance and the education reforms proposed by Gonski may not be as difficult as some would have us believe"
Joe Hockey please take note.
It also said quote' Winding back middle class welfare would yield several billion dollar"
As only those in the middle class or above can afford to take advantage of the super tax consessions one would be right to assumer the writer considers it middle class welfare.
It will be interesting to see if the Australian will be urging the LNP to stop buying votes and cut super consession to the middle class in the name of 'Small Government".
• Grunter :
25 Feb 2013 6:03:58pm
Short answer to the last question: No.
They know the electoral bribes help their side.
Rudd at least had the GFC as an excuse - in fact, the spending intervention did have an affect in staving off recession and especially high unemployment.
Howard had no excuse for his frittering of the first big mining boom ($300 billion + windfall). Where was the infrastructure? Where was the skills training? Where was more than the minimal surplus they deliberately left the ALP to try to vandalise their budget?
• DeadParrot :
25 Feb 2013 1:23:55pm
Great article! Surely it's unfair that Super is subsidised by the taxpayer, and then the recipient can pay off their house, buy a new car, go on a spending spree for a couple of years, and then settle back on the pension while they do a little cash-in-hand work? Isn't that like double-dipping at the taxpayer's expense? And why isn't the industry more regulated so that the hanger's on don't get to charge ridiculous fees for doing not-much-at-all? Lastly we really can't really afford that $32 billion, it's a ridiculous cost. A mix of rorting by super managers, over generous tax concessions, and greed. Just ignore those with vested interests and bring on the reform!
• Jimmy Necktie :
25 Feb 2013 2:32:30pm
"'s unfair that Super is subsidised by the taxpayer"
That would imply the taxpayer is contributing to my super which is of course not true. In fact the tax I DO pay on my super subsidises the taxpayer. And now the taxpayer wants more.
• Grunter :
25 Feb 2013 7:05:36pm
The taxpayer is 'contributing' by there being concessions of lower tax on super over income tax rates for most people.
Did you read the article? The system is bloating in cost and has to be reined in. The wealthier you are the bigger the concessions as a percentage and far bigger as dollars.
Should it be the case that someone in the top 1% gets effectively $500 000 from the taxpayer for their retirement versus someone in the bottom 10% of income who gets $250 000 (including pension)?
Given there has to be cost savings, where should it be directed. The greedy sense of entitlement thing need moderation - the wealthy simply do not need as much taxpayer contribution to encourage saving as super.
Capping voluntary contributions attracting the concession at $25 000 makes sense, as people who are putting in a loose $25 000 pa are not on the breadline.
• Jimmy Necktie :
25 Feb 2013 10:04:16pm
I understand your point. And I admit I’m out of my depth so take it easy on me, but I still don’t see how the tax payer contributes. In reality you are saying people should pay more tax on their super than they currently do, aren't you? I won’t contest that, I don’t know enough about it. But missing out on tax revenue is not the same thing as contributing. And I don’t think it’s just semantics. If we say the miners have not paid enough tax we don’t say we contributed to them, we say they have not contributed enough to us. Is this not the same dynamic?
• M goes Viral :
25 Feb 2013 1:16:26pm
Three recommendations for improving the equity to super and increasing tax revenues without further taxing:
Forfeiture of attached imputation credits on exempt pension funds
Mimumum perserved benefits limits on member balances up to $250K
Not eligble for any exempt income during transition to retirement / while member is still contributing
• OUB :
25 Feb 2013 2:42:44pm
I don't understand super well enough to make an informed response. You don't mind an uninformed response do you?
I suspect forfeiture of imputation credits on pension-paying super funds would make it more economic for people with smaller balances to exit the system altogether. Once the funds are shut down or heavily drawn upon the funds released are more likely to be spent on lifestyle enhancement. Centrelink here we come!
I don't understand your second point and I suspect most readers here would need some explanation too. Perhaps you could expand here?
I won't rush to agree on transition to retirement arrangements but agree they are quite generous. I suspect throttling back on the tax free status may be the way to go otherwise quite a few older workers may decide to simply exit the workforce completely. That might not be a bad thing in the current economy where there is widespread underemployment (so many bloggers) but when the labour market eventually tightens again the aging population would result in a much diminished workforce. I'd be careful here.
• bondwana :
25 Feb 2013 1:02:02pm
Stupid argument - that money does not "belong" to the government, it belongs to taxpayers who pay tax and have paid tax and super is their own investment against the future where governments like this have no idea.
The government gets a fair return already, now it wants more and equates saving to income for itself.
• harry :
25 Feb 2013 1:00:35pm
There is a presumption that super is income, and so anything that isn't precisely the tax payer's highest marginal rate is presumed to be a "tax concession" or a subsidy. Super isn't income, super isn't even a normal investment. Super was devised during the Hawke/Keating years to help reduce the impact of an ageing population and the large welfare exposure that Australia was (and still is) heading towards.
In creating the 9% "employer funded" super contribution, employees took a reduction in real wages.
Super is a long-term risky investment, particularly when incompetent governments with a spending addiction and an inability to manage their finances see it as a way of financing more of their failing programs.
$25,000 is the maximum yearly super contribution.
At that rate, it would take 40years or an entire working life to save $1m. If managed well, super can grow to provide a comfortable retirement. I expect very few people start their working life contributing $25k/year, so this level of contribution happens towards the end of one's career, when retirement is near and maximising saving is important.
To put it into perspective, Nicola Roxon will retire on an indexed $120k pension. To achieve this at current interest rates, she would have needed super savings of over $3m, which is out of the reach of anyone receiving the "subsidies" available to the first $25k of contributions. And she managed this in 15y of parliament, not a 40 year working career. Think of this when considering the statements of Labor politicians.
• Rob :
25 Feb 2013 1:26:24pm
Super IS income- but instead of taking it in cash spending it or investing it themsleves employees leave it with the employers to invest on their behalf in a super fund. You are splitting hairs.
As you are with blaming incompetent Governments-what about incompetent/ greedy and sometimes corrupt fund managers?
As for your bit of nastyiness on Nicol Roxon? How much did John Howard, Peter Costello, Peter Reith on?
Why do you neo cones always twist things?
• OUB :
25 Feb 2013 2:22:14pm
Superannuation contributions can be from income or capital (non-deducted contributions) I believe. I don't think there's a cap on non-deducted contributions. If you come by an inheritance or a lottery win talk to an adviser about investing some of the proceeds through your superannuation.
Employers don't do the investing although they may get a say in which fund gets your money if you don't make an election. If you think fund managers etc are corrupt you can start up your own SMSF. Unless of course you think that might corrupt you.
Howard and Costello sought to make superannuation more generous. Roxon's lot are seeking to make it much less generous. The Libs may have been misguided in making super more generous but their measures didn't appear to benefit them directly.
On the other hand Labor is happy to make life more difficult for superannuants while benefiting enormously from the old scheme. Such a disparity should be pointed out. And let's face it, Roxon is a fairly unpleasant person. Boots away!
(Oh all right, Costello and Reith weren't that crash hot either).
• harry :
25 Feb 2013 6:51:01pm
Super was carved off income growth during the Hawke/Keating era. It isn't income, since I can't take it as income. Employers don't invest the super, you have no idea what you are talking about.
Employers just sign up one or two super funds that can be used by employees by default. Employees can nominate another fund or manage the super themselves. The one thing they can't do is take it as income. So talking about super in terms of income tax is just plain silly.
I self manage my super because fund managers are mostly crap.
Howard, Costello and Reith didn't run around attacking people with $1m in super and considering them wealthy. The cretinous Labor Party and the incompetent Swan are running around saying this while benefiting from the equivalent of several multiples of that amount, indexed and tax free.
• OUB :
25 Feb 2013 12:35:38pm
I agree that incentives to lock funds away in super have probably become overgenerous. To me it seems inequitable that large sums can be socked away in super and income and capital gains from that fund are tax-free in retirement mode.
There have to be some incentives if the government wants us to save more than the compulsory amount for retirement. Otherwise there would be no reason to lock funds away until we reach 60 or struggle with extreme hardship (simple hardship doesn't seem to be enough). Unless perhaps they were shonks seeking to protect their funds from bankruptcy or struggling with a gambling or other addiction.
But taxpayers in the workforce should not be required to carry the entire burden, plainly that is inequitable.
For myself I see little benefit in topping up low paid super. The amounts accumulated will struggle to be meaningful and on retirement it will often make sense to save fees by withdrawing all funds and reinvesting directly. And paying negligible tax on the income therefrom. A combination of low cost LICs, fixed interest instruments and term deposits with living funds in deeming accounts should replace most of the super fund's earnings and be low maintenance.
I don't disagree with a cap on contributions but I think the $25000/$50000 regime is too low. It doesn't affect those who have already socked large amounts away. Increasing the rate of compulsory savings to 12% is a retrograde action and likely to slow down the economy further when fully implemented. This is a backdoor attempt to raise cash by a morally bankrupt government in my view.
I would strongly caution against governments hamfistedly changing the tax regime on current superannuation savings. Already the fiddling is eroding trust in superannuation as an investment vehicle. To lumber superannuants with heavy taxes would cause widespread anger. Better to levy taxes on future savings so that people go into it with eyes open. Any attempt to make superannuants fund the government's deficit or infrastructure by forcing super fund's to invest in government paper rather than apply fiscal discipline would be a negative for the country.
So Mike are you now transitioning to retirement and paying no tax on your super as a result? Is this a pang of conscience from you?
• bluedog :
25 Feb 2013 1:12:29pm
Of course the contribution rate is too low at $25-50k, Bill Shorten, the responsible minister was saying so last July year. I heard him say it with my own ears, and Shorten's a man with children being privately educated so he understands the need for financial independence. He said that too.
But would Bill Shorten be prepared to re-endorse what he said last year in the current and very different pre-electoral climate?
Over to you, Bill!
Let's hear it for higher contributions.
• Rae :
25 Feb 2013 2:20:33pm
Why would you put all your eggs in the superannuation basket.
There is just as much money to be made outside of super and in some cases the tax benefits are greater.
It doesn't make sense to have too high a forced saving regime.
• OUB :
25 Feb 2013 3:07:11pm
I don't think blkuedog was advocating the 12% rate there so much as wanting a bit more headroom for those wanting to salary sacrifice, especially once the mortgage is out of the way and parents have successfully hidden from their kids.
I agree ideally people would have additional savings outside of superannuation to draw down on in case of need but I am not sure what the superior tax outcomes you are thinking of outside of the superannuation system, except for those on very low marginal rates of tax. What are you thinking of here?
• Rae :
25 Feb 2013 9:31:08pm
Was thinking of gearing into property or even better fully franked shares.
Especially saving and then buying quality when everyone is selling.
I know super has tax benefits but borrowing to buy dividend paying shares has paid off for me over 30 years. I now pay little tax at all on the income because the companies pay the 30% and I get the tax rebate.
It might not work for high income earners. You have to be frugal and not waste money so you can save and invest.
I invested on an annual income of around $40000 but did not spend much on consumption during those saving years. I was a single mum but read Benjamin Grahams book on value investing when I was young.
I also have superannuation but after fees they don't do as well because they are locked into an investment formula and need to pay advisers, rents on offices etc.
• Frank :
25 Feb 2013 12:25:59pm
Dumb arguement and of course takes the simplistic socialist view of robbing from the rich to pay for the poor. It is the in betweens who cop it all the time because (after all) that is where the majority of taxes come from in any case. Governments should be more concerned about their waste and misuse of taxes then perhaps their wouldn't be a need for them to continually mess with superannuation as a cash cow for them. For example, who is the Minister in charge of the Sydney Office (Taj Mahal) project that has seen tens of millions poured into luxury office suites for what can only be described as politicians pandering to their own ego's. Write an article about that for goodness sake, and think about the social welfare consequences of the wasted millions/billions from this supposed Party for the battlers.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 5:46:28pm
Frank, I am confused, how are the in betweens copping it. After all this measure does is nothing other than claw back a tiny bit of the Howard/Costello largess to the wealthiest in our society. They are the only ones who really benefit from allowing people to sock away 50,000 at a much lower tax rate into super.
Even at the reduced rate of $25,000 it is still very generous for what will be a very small group who will benefit from it. As I have argued for anyone to have a $25,000 super contribution at the 9% rate of contribution from an employer you would have to be on $280,000 a year. Most people are struggling to pay their mortgage or rent than to have a spare $25,000 each year to sock away on super.
Even most self employed people are struggling to put anywhere near $5 or $10 thousand a year in super. To have a spare $25 or $50 thousand each year to sock away into super and substantially reduce their tax rate is a very different thing. All this measure is doing is to subsidise the rich so they can reduce their taxes.
• Frank :
25 Feb 2013 7:01:34pm
Yes John your right to be confused, I'm am just sick of the fact that the more you aim for the bigger target you become for an incompetent Government. My contributions taxed on the way in, taxed on the way out and the more you try and set up for a comfortable retirement income you see that nest egg being eaten away. The Labor Governments view, you always have they old age pension to fall back on, yet I never will like I suspect many others in the middle wont. Just sick and tired of the socialists view that if you work hard and set yourself up for comfortabl;e retirement, you owe those who did little about that through their working lives (and I'm not talking about the disabled or destitude) a pension for life.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 9:47:26pm
Well Frank I am still confused. You say you are in the middle and yet you worried about the still very generous $25,000 limit to the tax deduction component of your super. You must be talking about a different middle to me. The average wage, a misnomer, is around $60,000 a year. Is that the middle you are talking about because the majority of people earn less than that?
Yet if you were earning $600,000 your 9% super contribution would only be around $5,500. That is about $19,500 short of the new limit of $25,000 before the contributions are taxed at the full tax rate. And if you think you can't provide a decent retirement with being able to put $25,000 a year into super, just think of the very, very large majority who will have far less.
Just remember you are making a lot of money up front with the large reduction on your tax that you would have otherwise paid on that $25,000 without the super subsidy. See that is what get me people are claiming poor when they are getting a big tax saving in the first place. And that is a tax saving most people cannot get because they are not on a high enough income to take advantage of such tax breaks.
• harry :
26 Feb 2013 6:54:00am
9% of 600000 is $54000, not $5500.
Australian average full-time wages are $70,000
People earning over $300,000 a year are taxed 30% for their super contributions, not 15%.
As for making money "upfront" due to super, no, you are losing less upfront, and then you have to wait decades to access it, and every year the rules change. You'd be lucky to see any of it if Swan remained in power for a few terms.
• Nip :
25 Feb 2013 12:04:52pm
For a start, the 32 billion figure is just wrong. It is based on the proposition that if the rules were changed, people would continue to do just as they do now but pay the extra tax. That won't happen. Secondly it assumes that any earnings that the government fails to extract from the taxpayer is expenditure. It is a foolish argument and only a fool would accept it. I don't think the author is foolish, but I also don't think he believes the truth of what he says. Just more class warfare.
• cicero :
25 Feb 2013 12:02:39pm
Good article Mike, the debate on Super must be elevated, let the sunshine in ! Aussies are going to have to get to grips with our 'entitlement society" and the fact ( like the US/UK) it is unsustainable. Our nation cannot sustainably afford our current structures and arrangements.Defined benefit schemes, for those very fortunate to have them, cannot be funded,particularly the Public Service schemes, unless there is further Gov't intervention. My own situation is a bit different to most, my having been retrenched from 8 industries over the years and in my 14th job,we formed our own SMSF in order to consolidate the various small Super accounts and make them work more satisfactorily and take some control over the risks involved and lower the admin costs. My wife and I want to be independent, we have never taken the dole and don't qualify for many of the State benefits others do. We are pretty sure that when we retire in 5-10 yrs the State will not be able to afford to support us by any current pension scheme, there will simply not be funding available in our opinion for anything that will keep up with the cost of living. However, the constantly changing rules make our " super investment decisions" increasingly challenging. We make decisions based on the current applicable rules, only to find they get changed down the track or ASIC/APRA competely fail in their governance responsibilities and allow organised crime to steal our Super, despite such "rules", yes we are Trio Capital Fraud victims.Smart analysis of high wealth individual's Super outcomes is required, they should not be rewarded from the public purse. But for all the debate, the current dysfunctional regulatory regime needs an urgent major overhaul but Mr Shorten is very silent and has yet to respond to the PJC Enquiry on Trio Capital, despite his "promise" to do so prior to the end of 2012. In my opinion and from the available evidence, there is very little to stop an even bigger Trio Fraud occurring today and what a big Honey Pot there is now and growing.Trio criminals "fooled" everyone, don't let them say it was an SMSF issue, Industry funds, Pension Plan funds and private investors were all taken.It's just the compensation forthcoming that is discriminatory. If you have an SMSF, get Insurance ! and don't trust the Regulators, Research Houses, Custodians or Auditors, verify things for yourselves, "Show me the money !"
• Julian :
25 Feb 2013 11:59:55am
Yes there are signficant tax concessions for super - but this completely ignores the fact that super funds do pay substantial tax on earnings and contributions in of themselves. I have seen projections that the pool of super will grow from $1.5 trillion today to well over $7 trillion by 2030 (if the politicians can leave super alone for a while). At that point it was estimated that nearly 20% of the Commonwealth Budget would be funded from tax revenue from super. So why not let the pie get bigger rather than fighting over and continually changing and eroding confidence in super. This pot of money will give this country many options including the fact that it would allow us to be a "creditor" nation and get our balance of payments back in order. There would be more cash available than the banks would need so they wouldn't need to borrow from o/seas any more. This would mean lower interest rates and allow us to minimuse any future fallout from the GFC. So it's not just about how much it is "costing" the budget.
• spud :
25 Feb 2013 11:51:11am
Mike falls for the same old leftist trap of short-term thinking; that concessions which encourage people to look after themselves should be taken away to serve more immediate (and usually grossly political) needs. So instead of encouraging people to save for their own retirement, you take away any concessions to that end and thereby encourage people to spend while they have the money, and then go on the pension when they retire. That way, the government gets more taxes now, which (when they are not wasting it as per this government) inevitably goes to the government buying votes and "providing services" to this same generation of people right now. And then when it comes time for those people to retire and get the pension, the government of the day has to tax their kids, and increasingly even their grandkids to pay their pensions as well as all their other myriad costs and benefits.
Hasn't this government left a big enough bill for our kids to pay off yet? Or will it just print money and thereby devalue all savings and all earnings right across the economy?
It also begs the question, if it is good to not encourage people to contribute to their own super, then how can you possibly justify forcing employers to do so out of their pockets?
This bunch and their myriad media supporters and hacks are so economically illiterate, so short term in thinking and so out of touch, that a person like me, who only knows economics from what I can pick up in the real world, could do a far better job of managing our economy, at least so far as our kids and their kids are concerned.
• Stuffed Olive :
25 Feb 2013 12:45:19pm
Whinge whinge whinge and not even appear to have read the article. The concession is still there but it is capped at a generous amount instead of being open ended. The debt bill is also a furphy - it makes little difference to you or me and it has always been there one way or another. It gets paid off and it gets borrowed again when needed. Howard left Keating a nice big bill but apparently that just doesn't count.
• spud :
25 Feb 2013 2:08:39pm
Give me a break. If you think 25G p.a. (cut from 50G) is a "generous amount" to be able to contribute to your super, then it is clear that you have never run an SME, where you have little or nothing left over to contribute while you are raising your kids and paying off your mortgage, and then when you are clear of that, your income is still so variable that in some years you can't contribute anything, whereas in odd others (though I admit they haven't happened under this government!!) you can contribute a good deal more than 25G. Why is it fair that because you are comfortably employed in the public sector or by some other poor sucker employer on a guaranteed salary, you are able to contribute 25G every year and get the full concession, but that your employer who gives you that job and guarantees your salary, can't?
• Stuffed Olive :
25 Feb 2013 2:52:08pm
$25,000 is a good break. You can muddle up your business gumph as much as you like and just tell us the sad bits and not the good bits as usual. Still, one local business person I know (reasonably well) laughed when he saw how much tax we had paid as PAYE - he said he paid none and all his spare income went into buying properties. He is a plumber, now property developer.
• spud :
25 Feb 2013 4:15:52pm
Firstly, I told you the good bits as well as the sad/bad bits. It is a pity you (and the government) lack the life experience to recognise the realities in relation to this, because this constant attack on business operators, large and small, by people who live in the comfort of knowing they are getting a good reliable wage every week is killing us. Secondly, beyond noting that he obviously doesn't think super is a good investment either, the circumstances you outline with your plumber mate have nothing to do with super tax breaks.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 3:16:18pm
Spud, did you even read what you wrote. If you have little or nothing left over raising your kids and paying off your mortgage than how do you have more than $25,000 to put into super a year? Do you realise how much you have to earn a year to have $25,000 as your 9% super contributions. It's 280,000 a year.
I am sorry to tell you this but if you are earning $280,000 or equivalent and can not afford to raise a family and pay a mortgage than you have really problems with managing your money. If you can afford to pay more than $25,000 into super a year and think you are living on Struggle Street you have a real problem.
Do you not realise that it is people living on $25,000 a year are actually living on Struggle Street. It is not someone who can afford to pay more than $25,000 a year into super. And that is the problem with what you are arguing, in that you have a real creditably gap.
• OUB :
25 Feb 2013 4:14:58pm
John you're missing Spud's point. When burdened with a mortgage and kids the 9% is a real imposition. When the kids are standing on their own two feet (multiplied by the number of kids) and the mortgage is paid off there is scope for saving a much higher proportion of your income. With retirement starting to cast shadows it is a good time to start salary sacrificing to build up the balance in your super. You don't need to be earning anything like $280,000 to breach the $25k cap if you salary sacrifice at that stage in your life. That's partly why I dislike the 12% rate - it makes life difficult when you're younger and results in less incentive to save heavily when you are in a position to do so. And perhaps by making housing less affordable the habit of saving never happens.
• spud :
25 Feb 2013 4:31:14pm
Yes I did read what I wrote. Assuming you did, then you must be totally unaware that people who do take their super seriously don't just rely on the SGL their employer is required to pay by law, but look to top it up as and when they are able with the money they have earned for themsleves. It is called taking personal responsibility for looking after yourself in retirement; apparently a completely foreign concept to you.
And I know all about living on 25G a year; it is something I have learned under this government, while being forced to pay the cleaner a greater hourly rate than I get. It is one hell of a struggle, made even worse by people and governments who choose to show callous and cavalier disregard for the fact that this does happen regularly in SMEs.
• Foxy :
25 Feb 2013 5:37:14pm
Those figures may not be accurate. While your emploer needs to put in 9%, you also can - and should - put in more yourself. So $25k = $280k isn't accurate. The $25k is not the employers contribution, but all contributions to be taxed at the 15% rate.
Even after tax there is a limit on how much you can put into super. There will be no pension to speak of when I retire. We all need to be self funded retirees, and the scheme under the Howard government encouraged that.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 10:05:11pm
Foxy, it is a comparison. If your employer was paying the standard super contributions of 9% to get $25,000 worth of super you would have to be earning $280,000 a year. It is a comparison to show you how much money it is as a super contribution whether it is put in by your employer, or by yourself.
The very large majority of people would only dream in their wildest dreams of being able to put that much into super. And people keep forgetting they are not just putting into their super, they are also using a great big tax break. That is, for those people who actually have the spare money after paying off their mortgage/rent and other costs of living? And yet people expect that tax break should be even larger at the previous $50,000. What do you expect next? A flat tax of 20%, or 10%, or maybe even 5%, but by than the whole country would have gone down the drain.
• Grunter :
25 Feb 2013 3:24:37pm
Skeketee is leftist? What strange ideas people have.
The black/white argument is wrong. The issue isn't whether there should be concessions on super to encourage saving for retirement per se, but the detail of how much and who gets them.
Plus the fact the concessions are blowing out so badly any government will have to address the detail.
Abbott says he will remove low to middle income rebate to save money, punishing those people who inevitably struggle to put money into super. Actually the ones who should be encouraged to put money into super, by making the incentives more attractive than buying a bigger television or something if there is a bit of spare cash.
I was in that category when studying and working part time - now Abbott will punish the likes of me going back to study.
He will do nothing for high income earners who get such a bloated concession - as Mike says, Abbott will remove $500 from a low income earner, but keep $19 000 for a high income earner. This shows his ideological bent, but also doesn't solve the problem of containing the super concession blowout, especially as he promises to remove taxes, increase spending AND balance the budget every year.
The ALP low income rebate and the capping of voluntary contribution are reasonable. Some one has to get less, and by preference it should be low income earners.
Putting in $25 000 pa still gives a big tax break for the few who will be able to do this. If they can afford more, they can afford to pay tax on the full extra.
• dont touch :
25 Feb 2013 11:27:55am
Middle Australia - all the pain / No gain !!!!
That's right, squeeze the 'average' Aussie harder - surely you can get a bit more blood out of that stone !!!
So we are to 'give back' the tax the government are entitled to (as we earned that money in the first place) so they can spend it today.
Then, when we retire they will fund our pension with what ????
Oh yeah, an ever diminishing tax revenue stream, where the aging population will suck more pension money than ever before !!!!!!!!!
But hey, as long as the egotistical maniacs look good today, that's all that matters.....
Don't forget who has access to their Super (taxed at the low rate !! ) as soon as they finish their job, regardless of age (a perk not allowed by the rest of us) and then use it to invest / make more money. i suppose politicians will be imune from the Super tax grab ???
OR maybe they'll just put their salaries up to cover the extra shortfall !!!!!
If it wasn't so serious, it'd be laughable !!!!!!!!!
• Tax U Bet :
25 Feb 2013 12:20:42pm
What % of Middle Australians (hard workers) have a second investment property?
Tax advantages?
• harvey :
25 Feb 2013 10:57:59am
I don't trust any money that is controlled by someone else. So, super and pensions are right up there.
Why? Because its too easy for any government to change the rules whenever they like to suit themselves. You just need to see what has happened with super over the past 15 years.
One trick the govt will probably do with the pension in the future is what they've done with the dole.
They index it using the CPI, which is a doctored measure of inflation the sole purpose of which is the make inflation seem lower than it really is. Its all on the ABS website. Thats why no-one can live on the dole any more, its been cut and cut by using the CPI so that the cuts are hidden.
Super pensions are treated the same way. On my calculations, a super pension or annuity of $33,000 pa paid today will only buy $22,000 in 20 years time if indexed by the CPI.
So when we hit 85 and need lots more medical care, suddenly we will find ourselves with a lot less money. This is why people should be socking money into super now, and making sure they manage it themselves after retirement.
Otherwise, theres too many snouts in the trough, siphoning off our hard-earned.
• llanfair :
25 Feb 2013 10:37:59am
Just a couple of points:
1. Can we put all of this into the context of the superannuation system's reasonable benefit limits? Taking a $1million lump sum means $350K of this would be taxed at 47% because it exceeds the lump sum RBL. Alternatively you could roll $1.2m into an annuity and receive a retirement income of about $60K per annum - not a fortune for those who reach this level when compared to their likely pre-retirement income. Anything over the $1.2m pension RBL also gets taxed at 47%. If the Government wants to play with contributions tax then simply tax contributions where the RBL has been reached (and accept that it won't be such a big slush fund as for most people it won't have).
2. Self employed people (like me) do not have someone paying 9-12% contributions every pay day. Depending on how the year went I will put aside what I can. Some years a lot, some years nothing. Any arbitrary limit is simply arbitrary and so the existing RBL rules should be the determinant.
3. Before carrying on about the 1%, consider that the proposed legislation is likely to impact the 50%. Those people who are net contributors to the tax system - year in and year out, who seek a comfortable (and not a James Packer) self-funded retirement.
4. If the Government really wants to do something on the Superannuation front, then wind down all remaining public sector defined benefit schemes, and let retired public servants and politicians deal with it like millions of other retirees. My local council is being hit for $10million this year for a now closed scheme that offered outrageous and unfunded benefits to a select few. Add in the state and federal past unfunded liability costs and Australia-wide I am sure there are billions of dollars involved. Close this rort before lecturing me about those less well off.
5. Before announcing one more issue that urgently needs my money please keep in mind that if you spend the tax receipts you already get more wisely I may be more receptive. This current scheme is yet another middle class tax grab. Do you really think James Packer is fussed about saving for his retirement?
• Foxy :
25 Feb 2013 5:26:41pm
Reasonable benefits limits? I thought they were all removed?
• Alpo :
25 Feb 2013 10:34:32am
"...the top 1 per cent of income earners receive an average of $510,000 in government support for retirement over a lifetime, all of it in tax concessions. That compares to $250,000 for the bottom 10 per cent, nearly all of it through the pension.".... Where is the People revolution against that? Where are the newspaper headlines? Where are the comments on TV and radio?... Oh no, no, there is none, it's only the Gillard vs Rudd fantasy saga that matters, everything else is lost in the dreamworld of an injection of "media morphine", to which the people of Australia are being subject to... without their consent!
• John :
25 Feb 2013 1:33:01pm
Why dont you compare the net benefit that the top 1% of income earners provides to the economy by way of taxation, versus the net contribution that the bottom 10 percent provide. I'd say the bottom 10 percent ought to be fairly thankful that the top 1% are there, don't you?
• juliet jones :
25 Feb 2013 2:14:17pm
Yes, with all their many tax breaks and negative gearing, the poor ought to be SO grateful to the 1%.
• John :
25 Feb 2013 8:17:58pm
Juliet, there will always, always be someone who is wealthier than you. Just accept it and move on. Gillard's new attempt at divisive politics by alienating those who have sacrificed to fund their own retirement is both desperate and immoral. many of these self funded retirees who you and Gillard label as "wealthy" are in the position they are because of choices and sacrifices they made during their working lives. If you understood anything about the system of retirement savings you would know that the bulk of retirement balances were funded by Non-concessional contributions, that is contributions made out of members' after-tax earnings.
• Frank :
25 Feb 2013 10:50:25pm
Lets see, no contributions through their working life and still get a generous pension from Government Revenue. On the other hand, contributions of 5%, 10% and 15% over a working lifetime (since 1968) ends up with a modest income (and never qualify for any pension handout). That income about twice the married pensioner rate (poor buggers never contributed anything for that). Lucky I also sweated and payed my mortages off early in the process and didn't ever have to rely on Government housing, handouts or other (including not ever qualifying for first home owner grant). Yeah not a bad system for the poor and I don't certainly don't begrudge their lot, but self funded retirees deserve all the breaks of the system (includeing the filthy rich) instead of Governments taking the cream. It wouldn't be so bad if the current (claimed) socialist lot wasn't so incompetent and wasteful of the tax-payers dollars to be looking at changeing the superannuation rules again, and that is where the rot really lies.
• Alpo :
25 Feb 2013 4:00:25pm
John, without getting into the specifics of numbers I do broadly agree with you that the bottom 10 percent should be grateful for the existence of the top 1%, PROVIDED that the top 1% do pay a true fair share of taxes (without getting big chunks back through various means). If they don't, then the bottom 10% are entitled to be rather upset, especially when it is the top 1% that are complaining about the cost of labour in Australia and the need to decrease taxation.
• Barj :
25 Feb 2013 10:18:05am
Unfortunately John Howard muddied the waters by constantly singing the praises of self-funded retirees, even calling hem unsung heroes. Now they appear to believe this nonsense and they cry like babies whenever those in the poor to medium bracket get any concessions but never acknowledge the massive handouts in the form of tax concessions that they received themselves throughout their working lives. Instead, they behave as if tax concessions for themselves were some kind of divine right instead of the disgraceful handouts that they are while begrudging pensions for those less fortunate than themselves.
• whitelephant :
25 Feb 2013 9:59:43am
I retired on the pension and frankly barely understand the language and complexity of most of the posts here.
BUT-I worked hard for fifty years and believe I am now ENTITLED to my miserable pension.
So you people parrotting the myth that the gov't can't afford to pay pensions because of an increase in the number of aged people-what crap!
Take back the $76 million that mining magnates like Kloppers etc get as a retirement benifit. Spread these millions across the needs of the community
Don't buy American junk fighters costing what $30 billion?
Spread this over the needs of the community.
The lack of ability to look after our old is a Liberal/big business myth grabbed onto for expediency by the Labor party -and the unthinking morons who fall for it.
• Steve :
25 Feb 2013 12:29:49pm
You have made a common mistake.
You think the government cares about you.
Change your thinking and earn some undeclared cash on the side.
They will screw you no matter what you do - so look after yourself.
• Rae :
25 Feb 2013 9:55:27am
Investors outside of the super system using gearing are the one's with the truly amazing tax concessions Mike.
Form a company structure, fly to Vanuatu for a bi monthly meeting and you may not have to pay any tax at all. The flights are even deductible.
It isn't the ordinary worker paying 10% of income into super that is walking away with the money.
• Stephen S :
25 Feb 2013 9:54:49am
As a former ATO tax auditor with extensive compliance experience in Income Tax, Sales Tax, GST and also superannuation ranging over the years from the late 1970's to the early 2000's I have witnessed first hand the inequities and iniquities of the taxation system in Australia. I have also been in the private sector.
From this experience I can say that across the board legislation is slanted to to give the greatest benefits to business and high income individuals. I personally believe that a system with a reasonable tax free threshold and a low rate of tax applied in say three tranches of 10% rate applying to a limit of 30% , the same rate as companies, for individuals and no deductions at all would clean p and simplify the system.
Regarding superannuation in my view there are two options not even discussed.
First option, no deductions for contributions to the approved super fund and the income of the super fund to have a tax free threshold on first $250,000 of fund balance, then 10% tax on income earned on up to $500,0000 and then 20% up to $750,000 and then 30% over $1,000,000 with withdrawals then tax free for all if taken as a pension but taxed at same rates as super fund income if taken as a lump sum. This taxing of lump sums is punitive but necessarily so to discourage managing assets to avoid not getting a centreline benefit.
Second option, a flat tax rebate of 20% of super fund contributions for all. The income of all funds untaxed to promote maximum benefit growth then a flat 20% tax rate on pensions or lump sums taken from the fund.
There is no perfect system but a system that unfairly favours some lucky citizens over others is a despotic and discriminatory system that must be changed.
I have been taxed at top marginal rates and have managed a self managed super fund and made money in 2008 and 2009 instead of losing it. I am no lefty nor am I an extreme rightist. I sit comfortably in the middle as a stand on your own two feet and accept responsibility for yourself person who believes in a safety net for those who cannot do so through no fault of their own. I try not to judge others unless I have walked a mile in their shoes unlike most in our society today.
• Peter the Lawyer :
25 Feb 2013 10:20:20am
I do battle with ATO auditors every day on behalf of my clients. My impression of the auditors is that they are mostly profeesional in their approach.
However, I would say that they are not people to whom I would turn to consider the restructuring of the tax system.
I would also say that my expereince as a tax lawyer doesn't of itself qualify me to talk about the reasoning behind the tax legislation. I could advise on how to make individual tax laws better, but as to the economics I am just as qualified as any AUstralian voter.
However, it seems to me that the problem is that Government has become far too big and takes up far too much space in public life these days. So a drastic drop in taxation and government reach is necessary.
• juliet jones :
25 Feb 2013 2:18:30pm
How does a country run without taxes Peter? I know your answer. Privatise all schools and get rid of Medicare and Centrelink. The Right always have the same answers and none of them are THE answer. Good strong taxes don't hurt anyone, especially the rich. The rich are already making money hand-over-fist, so why the big whinge about paying their fair share? I pay big taxes and I strongly believe it is fair. Middle class welfare is becoming passe.
• traveller :
25 Feb 2013 7:01:43pm
JJ, as opposed to labours only answer of taxing the productive and borrowing more.
• Brian :
25 Feb 2013 9:53:34am
This is a woeful bit of analysis that needs to start at the beginning of the story. Once upon a time, we were all guaranteed a pension. But the government(s) never put any money aside for it, and a lot of people were screwed. So they made it our responsibility and they made it compulsory. And because it is a good thing and because they know that almost no-one has enough super, they made it cheap to encourage contributions, because everyone involved knows the government still doesn't have the money and the retirees usually still don't have the money. Most of us are still screwed. Our super system absolutely still needs incentives until we reach a point where most of us are going to die with a few dollars left, rather than 'living' with no dollars in the cheapest nursing home until a pauper's funeral.
• Stuffed Olive :
25 Feb 2013 10:50:33am
Incentives are still there Brian. The beginning of the story was also that the age pension was a pittance.
• Brian :
25 Feb 2013 2:44:39pm
No, in the beginning there was no tax and no benefits. But then they introduced the former with promises of the latter. Then, in classic political style, govt took the money and ran.
• Tax U Bet :
25 Feb 2013 9:18:26am
Good to see the "Drum" back up after the two day (weekend off)?
Superannuation and who's who!
I always understood that "super" was not the "wealthiest of folks'" avenue for future prosperity or security?
It is like middle/middle upper class "piggy banks" where they (especially boomers/pre- boomers) received private "super" via their employer in well paid jobs and then in later years "dumped, sorry salary sacrificed" in their last years?
This has obviously got out of hand...$30 odd billion in earnings not attracting tax, no wonder we can't get the nation moving, the "neo-mort-class" are taking it with them?
We need to choose a figure based on average earnings plus the old "loading for holidays" say 20% and that be the figure plus CPI increases that is the threshold...then you pay tax!
The cashing out for the over 65's has to be renewed (Howard and his going away present) with a dash of "retrospective tax" to be paid by the old scrooge(s)"?
Many of these people (more likely much less than half?) have other properties (inheritance and the easier to acquire in the good old days) therefore, a good deal of assets. That's right "that man again Howard" halved the Capital gains tax...what a hero for the "boomers plus"!
Real "super" very asset rich and "share port folio's" by the score! The real business class...never tax feared and everybody's option!
• Tax Me :
25 Feb 2013 9:12:53am
Over the weekend a colleague passed on to me the latest press release and research that was carried out by Mercer's into Australia's Superannuation System and how it compares globally. Obviously the author did not receive the paper - not bad for a journo who wants to take a punt at the system.
The press release is at follows:
Hopefully some of those that are attempting to hijack our system by the imposition of further cap reductions, taxing arrangements etc will have a good hard look.
And hopefully this paper will dispel some of the myths being put forward that our system is the most generous in the world in terms of contribution levels and taxing arrangements.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 10:48:09am
I am sorry Tax me, but you have completely lost me. From a quick inspection of the linked article they are comparing super of people on average earnings. The problem with that comparison is that the variance of average earnings across countries could vary quite considerably. So it may not even be a good measure to compare super outcomes across countries.
But of course we are not talking about the super of someone on average earning. That is, even though most of us are not even on average earnings. We are talking about simply putting a limit of $25,000 low tax concessions on super contributions before normal tax rates kick in.
To get $25,000 super contributions at 9% of your salary you would have to earning at least $280.000 a year. I think on that $25.000 low tax contributions is pretty generous before normal tax rates kick in. In fact I would say very generous considering someone on average earnings of say $60.000 a year super contributions would only be about $5.400. Does that put it in sufficient perspective as to how generous even $25.000 a year is before normal tax rates kick back in.
Going by how generous tax deductions for super have been before and after it is no wonder it is hitting the budget hard. And the problem is that this is an inbuilt structural problem for the budget. This is another one of the many tax concessions/subsidies that enable the wealthiest in our society to pay so little in tax as a proportion of their earnings. And in the long-term that is unsustainable and bad for our long-term economy. But of course those who simply want to minimise their taxes don’t care about the long-term unsustainability of such measures.
• Gondwana Lad :
25 Feb 2013 12:49:40pm
You must have missed the regular Mercer study that compoares retirment incomes and prension systems from all over the world. Plus the other papers from various different bodies.
All put our Australian three pillars system up in the top five or top three for effiency and sustainability, in great part due to our universal super system.
Yes there are tax issue that need to be fixed, but don't take one single stuudy of one aspect and use it as gospel.
• Tax Me :
25 Feb 2013 1:57:05pm
Gondwana, as I stated in my post. The study was passed to me via a colleague. Super is not my game. But having read the press release and the link to the study, the research appears to counter many of the arguments that are put forward.
• Steve :
25 Feb 2013 9:11:15am
It's all a scam.
Stop thinking it's about your retirement.
It's an industry that didn't even exist when I was born and was created as a new tax stream.
How many of you see a wolf in sheep clothing and still think it's a sheep? A lot it seems.
If Super was legit - it would be a compulsory savings account that only attracted interest - not fees. No one can explain the existence of Superannuation when we already have savings accounts or property that the money would return more from if invested.
Why can't I use my super to buy a house and get out of the rent trap?
The % the investment will return far outweighs it being gambled by morons on a stock exchange.
• Jim :
25 Feb 2013 10:51:59am
@Steve - it's not a scam. The idea of superannuation is, at its heart, an excellent one. Why shouldn't people put money aside for retirement and why shouldn't they be forced to leave it there until the reach a certain age - after all, I'm sure that whilst you might be sensible and buy a house, there are lots of other people out there who would simply squander the money if they had access to it.
Whilst some super funds charge ridiculously high fees, there are others that charge much lower fees. You are no longer bound to a particular fund nowadays, so have a look around to see what you can find and then transfer if you wish.
I'd certainly rather have superannuation than the Age Pension - retiring on a super lump-sum or annuity is much more comfortable.
• harvey :
25 Feb 2013 12:22:09pm
Wherever there is lots of money there are looters. And the super industry has billions of $$ss of our money.
So, IMHO, if we are saying that this time it is different, its only because we are not on top of the newest forms of looting.
Our government regulators are almost always asleep at the wheel, or very very careful not to upset 'business'. They come in after the money has gone and say why it would never have been possible for them to do anything. Hello ASIC.
There are numerous cases where someone has fronted up to ASIC and blown the whistle on fraud, only to be ignored until the fraudster skips town or the company goes bust.
Only us the contributors really care about whether our money is scammed or not.
• Steve :
25 Feb 2013 12:31:41pm
Then why is it taxed?
If super was designed for the purpose stated - it would not be taxed at all or attract any fees.
Property is a better investment for everyone.
• Maynard :
25 Feb 2013 1:40:54pm
Unless you are on a government super scheme paid for us taxpayers. You will never get a better return than that. Nicola Roxon after 10 years in parliament & almost nil contributions will shortly take her/our superannuation that has an NPV of $6M. This is outright robbery from us to them. John Howard already is into this rort. It's only if you are an Obeid that you go for something better.
• Act Rationally :
25 Feb 2013 9:00:16am
Superannuation is a contract between the government and the citizen that says the citizen will forgo the opportunity to be able to spend their own money until a later date in order to save the government funds that it would have otherwise spent on the pension. As an incentive, the government only taxes funds going into super a certain amount and also has a special tax regime for when you withdraw it.
It is a long term agreement which needs to be honored by both parties. So far this Labor govt has done nothing but sow doubt in peoples minds and changed the goalposts.
I know Labor is smarting about not being able to get back into surplus but allow me to offer a tip to them - you could actually try to spend less rather than just trying to raise extra money! Get rid of the Dept of Social Inclusion as a first step in savings, followed by a review to see why EL1 positions in Canberra have doubled since 2001?
• Straight talker :
25 Feb 2013 10:44:07am
An alternative view is that the Howard government was excessively generous to those on relatively high incomes and we are now realising that this generosity is unsustainable to taxpayers generally and must be wound back.
• Act Rationally :
25 Feb 2013 12:13:58pm
Have you read some of the other posts below? We are talking about income that the Government has never received. It is money that COULD have been collected IF there were no concessions. Perhaps you should also point out that these very same people on higher incomes would be on higher tax rates as well? And see my point that super is all about a tax break as the quid pro quo of not t=being able to use your own money (that you earned, not the government) now.
The Government can't have its cake and eat it too. EIther provide incentives for people to save for retirement and survive on their own coin, or find a way to pay the pension to everyone. All sides of politics knows the latter option is not feasible but they want their money now to fix the budget bottom line.
As I said above, how about some cuts to non-essential services, the Department of Social inclusion being the first stop for any cuts.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 1:14:21pm
Straight talker, i agree with that alternative view. And the tax concession on superannuation was only one in a long list of excessively generous measures he put in place for those on relatively high incomes. And just to help them out a bit more he substantially reduce the top tax rate to boot. It's no wonder that so many of them hate labor for even thinking of clawing back a tiny bit of it.
• phb :
25 Feb 2013 8:59:11am
'Tax concessions on superannuation cost the Government $32 billion this year....cost of subsidising superannuation keeps outpacing the growth in the economy'
These statements are totally incorrect. Why not write that the Australians and companies cost the Government one trillion this year (difference between GDP and tax receipts). Your statement assumes that all income generated can potentially be taken by the government...hhhmmmm smell communism?
The $32B is not a cost but a tax opportunity which the government wants to use to try and balance its uncontrolled spending. The Labor government is very good at spending money it does not have.
Tinkering with superannuation may boost the coffers today, but it will be our children and grand children who will have to pay (by higher taxes to cover support for the aging population).
• M Ryutin :
25 Feb 2013 10:25:23am
Yes, a total failure on the most basic level. Copping this rubbish about ‘32B subsidy’ assumes that 100% of all income should be tax and that to limit it to a highest level of 46.5% means that the remaining 53.5% is a ‘subsidy’. It is so head-bangingly basic that you wonder how so many people can just swallow it whole like this.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 1:07:57pm
Ah phb, the overgenerous superannuation subsidy is already a cost to our children and grandchildren. The past overgenerous super tax write off is sucking huge amounts of money out of the budget. Even with the reduction to the $25.000 limit before normal tax rates cut in, it is extremely generous to the top end of town.
On any rational it is simply a tax write down for those on the top tax rate. The people who have the money to make use of this superannuation measure are the ones who are most capable of providing for their own retirement without it. It is no wounder that the well off in this country look back in longing for the Howard years. After all he made an art of providing welfare/subsidies for the upper-middle-class and the rich in this country. And he did it while substantially reducing their tax rates. Ah, the best of both worlds.
• micka :
25 Feb 2013 8:48:27am
That the government does not take more of my superannuation is not a 'concession'. It is not the 'money the Government would otherwise have available for other purposes'. It's the money I worked hard for and saved and I want it for my retirement.
• Sceptical Sam :
25 Feb 2013 8:43:57am
Question 1: Why do bank robbers rob banks?
Answer: because that's where the money is.
Question 2: Why does the Gillard Swan Labor government rob superannuation funds?
• macca :
25 Feb 2013 8:28:54am
I'm hoping labor tries to get their sticky little fingers into the nations superannuation. It will only increase the size of the beating they are going to get in September, looks to me like desperation time for labor.
• Greg :
25 Feb 2013 8:52:40am
Of course it is desperate times for Labor, they wasted every other source of ready cash and this is the only remaining one they have not drained.
• Gondwana Lad :
25 Feb 2013 11:28:24am
Sam, Greg Macca,
The government has moved to restrict some of the super tax loopholes introduced by Peter Costello. No prizes for gussing who they benefited most.
The government has alos moved to lift SG contributions to 12% by 2019, this helps everyone and is the first move since the SG legislation was introduced in 1992 that took us up to 9% by 2002.
The government has alos intorduced the Low Income super tax break, that gives 3.6 millions workers, 2.1 million of them women a modest tax break, rebating the 15% contributions tax directly back to into their super accounts.
This helps all workers earming less than $37K per year, around 1 in 3 of the workforce.
The Opposition has pledged to abolish this measure, while defending the tax breaks for the very wealthy that super cuurently gives.
Before you complain about what the Govt is or isn't doing, best to have all the facts on the table.
The only tax hike here is the one the Liberals want to put on the low paid. An extra 15% super tax increase.
• Tax Me :
25 Feb 2013 2:03:17pm
And as to facts Gondwana, the government has also reduced the co-contribution levels - designed to benefit those lower paid individuals. And it has also almost doubled the lodgement fees for superannuation funds. And to that lift in SGC from 9 to 12% - its not the government that will be paying, funding or otherwise that increase. It will be business - big and small - that will have to fund from cashflows.
• Gr8Ape :
25 Feb 2013 9:27:37am
I hadn't realized that tax minimization was a superannuation plan.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 1:36:03pm
Of course super is a tax minimization. And the higher the tax rate you pay at the top end the more you minimise your tax. But for all the hue and cry here labor is still only clawing back a bit of the tax minimizing from the wealthiest in this country.
You would need to be earning over $280,000 a year to exceed the $25,000 super limit before losing the tax concession. That is how much super you would get at 9% super contribution. I would suggest there a very few people who have to worry about this change by labor.
Just remember that someone on so called average earning would only have yearly super contribution of around $5,500. $5,500 versus $25,000, that tell you the difference in the people who some are concerned won't now be able to provide for their super. Who do you think this concession is really helping? And the $25,000 limit to the concession is simply what labor is suggesting to lower it too.
• Tax Me :
25 Feb 2013 2:19:11pm
Your middle paragraph is nothing short of misleading. If a person were earning $280k as you assert, their employer would be required by legislation (The SGC Contributions Act) to contribute the amount equivalent to 9% of their salary. Legislated. Not a tax dodge. The same 9% minimum legislated for each and every employee in the nation.
The $25k maximum contribution limit (previously much higher, and going back even further dissected into three categories by age with differential limits) was designed for those that were self employed or running their own business.
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 3:31:35pm
Tax me, I disagree that what I say is misleading. I am simply making a comparison of how much you would need to be earning a year to get $25,000 super contribution from your employer. It does not matter whether your employer is making that contribution as salary/wage earner, or as a self employed person.
$25,000 into super a year is still way, way out of the range of what the very large majority of people will ever be able to put into super. At that amount it is in every way a tax break. And truthfully unlike most people on a salary/wage, self employed people have many more ways of writing down their tax. That is if you are earning enough to put $25,000 a year into super. I would suggest very few actually can.
• Tax Me :
25 Feb 2013 4:16:59pm
John, rubbish. A small business operator, for example could pay themselves as little as a $10k salary, and put $25k into super - legally. Just the same as happened when the $100k limit was in place, and no different to when the aged based contribution system was in place. The business owner makes the decision on whether to take the funds now as salary, or to sacrifice away for later into their super fund (whether self mnaged, industry or pooled).
• John51 :
25 Feb 2013 10:09:32pm
Tax me, all you are demonstrating to me is what a tax reduction rip off for the most well off in this country the super subsidy has been.
• Tax Me :
26 Feb 2013 6:31:04am
So a mum and dad small business operator is "ripping off the system" because they have the foresight and tenacity to put all that they own up as collateral to take on the challenge of determining their own futures via their business and then make decisions on a year by year basis on what they can legally fund to super. You'd better run that thought bubble past the many many thousands of SME's out there and see what the operators of those businesses think.
• G :
22 Feb 2013 4:42:19pm
Labour is getting desperate to find money to plug the black hole they have in they budget, NOTHING ELSE COUNTS.
• Denny :
22 Feb 2013 4:36:39pm
This narrowly focused assessment is so short-sighted and contradictory that it adds nothing to the debate.
The balance was jsu about right in 2007. Labor said they would not touch it but of course they could not help themselves and the system is now a poor cousin to what it was.
The only point that has any validity is people taking benefits out as a lump sum and then reverting to the pension. Again there needs to be some context. Many of the people taking the benefit as a lumpsum have less than $100,000 in the account. many have less than $50,000. The amount of pension that they would receive by using that income as a cash stream is minimal.
People see only a small difference in income vrs a new car or a long holiday afetr 40 years of hard work. Most progressives, sitting in their ivory towers, fail to understand the working man and the attitude to their final superannuation payout. They think because they can afford a new car or holiday without touching their super then everybody should be able to do the same.
It makes me sick to see a labor government attacking older workers who are now earning $60K - $80K after 30 years in the workforce. They are the ones who have been hurt most by swan and shorten and their money grab.
Anyone who thinks labor values include taking care of the working man are very much mistaken and the attacks on super are proof.
• R. Ambrose Raven :
22 Feb 2013 4:33:49pm
Superannuation tax concessions are brazen looting of public revenues by wealthy working rent-seekers. Since superannuation is supposed to be profitable in its own right, there is NO good reason for ANY public subsidy. It is gross stupidity to do so once doing so has no net benefit to the Commonwealth Budget. Such tax benefits are a perfect example of enormously increased cost due to privatisation (of the pension, in this case).
While low income earners can expect their retirement income to be 80-95% of the retirement wage, middle income earners may get 60-80%, and high income earners as little as 57%. Renters will automatically be worse off than non-mortgage home owners by 17% on average. Single renters across all income groups will be worst off.
A string of intermediaries - fund managers, bankers, financial advisers and asset consultants - line their pockets by servicing the funds and individuals, which have happily outsourced most of their key functions. Fund members are paying around $20.1 billion in fees each year, with $6.2 billion of that money going to fund managers.
The industry [union-influenced] super sector, which routinely significantly outperforms the big bank and AMP-controlled retail super sector, is a walking, talking rebuke to the free market zealots and the financial planning industry, and the Coalition hates it.” Abbott plans to get rid of the union-influenced super funds will both free up their members' funds for plunder, and remove a source of embarrassment for the profit-seeking non-performers.
So, yes, there are a few issues.
• Maynard :
25 Feb 2013 10:27:42am
The biggest brazen looting are the public superannuation schemes for public employees of all types including politicians. This crime has been kept off the public agenda for far too long. If these people were treated like the rest of us then the current deficit problem would be solved overnight & some debt payed off. There is upwards of $200Bn that these people have stolen from us and they have effectively cut their tax at least in half. It's not the bloated mining magnates but our politicians & our public employees who should hang their heads in shame and give it back. This is not rent seeking but brazen theft from the poorest in the community.
• bluedog :
22 Feb 2013 4:33:48pm
The most important figure is missing: 300,000, being the estimated number of self-managed superfunds. Any government that alienates this electoral demographic guarantees its own defeat.
And then there are the industry superfunds run for trade union members. That's another cohort who may turn out to be surprisingly well organised. Of course, the industry superfunds rebate significant fee income to the ALP. Can't risk that little earner can we?
But Mike Steketee's real colours emerge in this gem; 'Whatever they are, they represent money the Government would otherwise have available for other purposes and that makes it worth asking whether it is money well spent.'
Translation: how dare these people who have earned and saved their money be allowed to spend it in ways that the Left can't control and may not approve of.
Oh for a command economy, run by a self-selecting nomenklatura that includes Fairfax Media financial journalists, ex officio.
• TPG :
25 Feb 2013 11:11:14am
Parasitic...300K..."fully-self funded"?
Why do so many of these so-called SF's receive "health care cards and script benefits"?
• Gondwana Lad :
25 Feb 2013 11:20:05am
Hold on there Bluedog.....
Industry super funds are run to benefit any workers, not just union members. Secondly indutry funds have equal employer and emploee represntation on the their boards, they are not run by unions. You can see for yourself if you go to their websites.
Thirdly industry funds do not "rebate significant fee income to the ALP".
This is plain wrong.
Check all the disclosures of electoral donations required under law to the AEC?
No donations listed.
Check the annual audited accounts of any indsutry super fund. No donations recorded.
Whoever is telling you this stuff, they are way out of line.
What industry funds do is give members low cost, well performing investments that out compete the big banks and other financial insitutions. Their members are better of as a result.
• Pete :
22 Feb 2013 4:30:31pm
The unviability of the current system is its deathknell. 'Pensioners' drawing state funds while sitting on property for which they've reaped the benefits of the boom will be first to get targeted as the family home becomes an asset like any other, much to the chagrin of greedy relatives. The treatment of the family home is a bizarre tax aberration that benefits the wealthy at the expense of younger people who are now kept out of the property market due to the boom in prices. Next will be the favourable tax treatment of super: it inordinately favours the rich. The system will change to remove tax benefits for these people, and redistribute tax concessions to those who are more deserving. Younger spendthrifts who save nothing now will find future pensions keep them in penury, and will have only themselves to blame. I've got decent super, having paid in as much as I could afford and own a home, but I definitely don't expect the government to fund a retirement that maintains my lifestyle. I expect to live more simply, and have my medical bills paid, which is still a sizeable contribution from government. Grey panther hysteria centres around the inane arguments 'but we built this country' (they didn't: these boomers spent it all on consumer debt) and 'I've paid taxes all my life' (so why should you suddenly stop paying them when you retire? You're still consuming and most of your healthcare costs will be self-inflicted through obesity and smoking anyway). We need to change societal expectations about the family home. There is no economic reason to keep it tax free, and from an economic perspective re inheritance, unearned windfalls to kids are highly inefficient. In the future, decent pensions should be reserved for those genuinely disadvantaged during their working lives, and no-one else. The only cloud on the horizon for more sensible tax policy will be the shear numbers of oldies forming a sizeable me-first voting block.
• Peter the retired :
22 Feb 2013 4:30:26pm
My own experience with super since retirement has convinced me there is a big focus tax minimization for those able to access it. It has become just another way to avoid tax amongst those with higher incomes. A key strategy is to minimize taxable income (an allocated pension bought with your lump sum is not taxed) so that you can also qualify for the aged pension and associated health cards etc. So best of both worlds, large allocated pension and the aged pension. And no I do not do this as my super pension is taxable.
• Jarrah :
22 Feb 2013 4:29:52pm
Mike, I think it best you stay in journalism than become an economist. And it would be better to report the views of economists than make up your own.
The pension costs a lot of money, and will become an even bigger burden on Australia in the future. Encouraging Super saves money from being paid by the pension later.
It is similar to the argument for private schools and private health insurance. Super is in effect a private pension. In each of these cases, you get less bang for your buck and less drive for excellence if the money goes to the government before being applied to the service it is meant to fund. And if you take away the private form, the public form would be overwhelmed. In each case, $1 spent 'subsidising' private health, schools or Super saves more than $1 that the government would otherwise need to spend to provide the service themselves.
• starkraving ®:
22 Feb 2013 4:27:25pm
Ok, so I am under 60 so this is easy for me to say. Those same people don't mind also structuring their financial affairs so as to qualify for Centrelink top ups, health cards or eligibility for tax free super at age 60. The double standard being applied at the same time to criticisms of the deficit and welfare spending which they are also recipients of, is astounding. But I think what is at play here for many people who are doing this is that they believe that they are a special case.
The loopholes in the superannuation system need to be closed that are leading to these rip offs in fees and siphoning off a our super savings by this and that and someone else getting a share before we see our balance. But then the super industry and financial advisers bleat like stuck pigs at that suggestion and claim they will go broke.
Super, mining taxes any thing with money and these days someone particularly the most powerful will mount a revolution. It has to all come crashing down sooner or later.
• realist :
22 Feb 2013 4:26:54pm
Mike, it would appear that you have cherry picked your figures.
You state that the top 1% receive $510,000 from the govt and the bottem 10% $250,000.
Could you give the figures as to what % the govt gives both relative to their income over the same period and the % that the govt gives relative to their retirement funds over the same time.
• Dom Jones :
22 Feb 2013 4:24:41pm
Thank you for this information, Mike. I consider myself to be generally well informed, but it was only recently that I realised how very little knowledge I have about how my superannuation works. Alarmingly, I'm not alone... conversations with my acquaintances have shown me how little thought most people in average PAYE jobs give to it, other than occasionally noting the amount on our pay slips and receiving the occasional insurance cross-sell attempt from whichever super fund our employers have picked on our behalf.
There are those who think about their retirement when they start their careers, and carefully plan for it, but I dare say they're in the minority. You'd think that for something costing the government so much there would be more of an investment made in getting the general public more informed and in control prior to middle age when the reality of retirement starts to loom.
• Alfie :
22 Feb 2013 4:23:44pm
"The cost to revenue of the concessional treatment of superannuation reached $32 billion this year."
On the other side of the coin, how much would it cost taxpayers if there were no self-funded retirees? That is, everyone who retires gets a pension entitlement.
• Aquila :
22 Feb 2013 4:22:05pm
In equate uncollected potential tax with real money like the defence budget, and to describe tax "concessions" as something the taxpayer "tips in" to recipents is disingenous. The author knows better.
The $32 billion does not "represent money the Government would otherwise have available for other purposes". Nobody believes the cost of the theoretically calculated cost to revenue would translate into half that much were the concession to super removed.
If the concession is removed people will obviously not invest as much in super - negative geared property perhaps?
If a thirty year old today was, extraordinarily, able to contribute the full concessional $25 thousand per year for their full working life they will not be rich (in real terms). James Packer they ain't.
And anyone spending this accumulation in order to collect the pension would have to avoid spending it on assets that would reduce their pension. Sounds good for Qantas and suppliers of French champagne.
• JRM :
22 Feb 2013 4:21:31pm
So if no one paid into superannuation - the concessions would have cost the Government nothing. And they would collect nothing.
But the pension bill would double to about 90 billion.?
Therefore - I think some tax concessions a good idea. Maybe tone them down a bit. Say raise the tax on contributions from 15% to 25% tax. Still an incentive to put savings to super.
There is a difference between "costing the government" ie Pensions, and simply "lowering their tax take" - ie Concessional Super.
• jusme :
22 Feb 2013 4:17:00pm
oh so THAT's what all the conservatives are complaining about.
i agree that there should be an incentive to build your own super, but any concessions or tax breaks should be progressive. as you say, welfare (and tax breaks are just another form of welfare) should be spread bottom up, or at least evenly, (but better bottom up!).
disturbing how abbott wants to keep the uneven breaks for the rich, but not replace the tiny one the carbon pricing involves.
thanks for explaining it. this is another example of something the majority of the media are either incompetantly missing, or worse, hiding on purpose!
• Josh :
22 Feb 2013 4:16:24pm
A tax on lump-sum withdrawals, and a tax-break if you leave it in to pay a 'pension' for the rest of your life.
That encourages people to use it as retirement income, but still gives you the option of taking the tax hit if you believe you can make the money work better for you.
• Maynard :
22 Feb 2013 4:13:10pm
You have missed the biggest superannuation rort of all. That is the public superannuation that is unfunded by at least $100Bn, with about $70Bn in the Future Fund at a federal level. I suspect that you could double that for the states.
Now this superannuation for public employees, especially politicians has never been paid for by anyone yet it is the most generous in Australia/world and remains untaxed. We the taxpayer are expected to pay for it. It is here that treasury could demand billions in an ethical manner and solve the deficit problem overnight. Let's put these politicians and public servants into a fund that most people (working families) have and make them pay tax like the rest of us. Seventy billion could be used immediately to fund Gonski, NDIS, NBN, health, education and welfare, with plenty left over to pay down debt. This is the real crime that can be solved now. Come on Julia do the right thing stop this political rort, you will go down in history.
• Rae :
25 Feb 2013 2:52:12pm
You have been badly misinformed.
The govt superannuation schemes required the public servant to pay very large amounts of after tax income into them fortnightly.
The problem was that they only returned 3% throughout the 70s and 80s.
The managers of the funds were thus to blame for stupidly failing to make enough money.
I'm waiting for some lively journalist to write a tell all book about the truth of what happened with Commonwealth and State Superannuation Schemes.
• MACK1 :
22 Feb 2013 4:10:35pm
Your fundamental premise is wrong Mike. Namely "The cost to revenue of the concessional treatment of superannuation reached $32 billion this year." This is simply not true.
The Treasury statemtent actually says: "Tax expenditure estimates will tend to overstate the
budgetary impact of removing concessions as the estimates do not take account of behavioural responses."
Any reasonably competent economist can explain to you why this undermines your entire argument.
• Act Rationally :
22 Feb 2013 4:09:42pm
Money that the government "allows" you to keep is not some sort of benevolence from the government. It was your money to start with and the government should be grateful that it can take what it takes.
Oh, and those that earn more have no obligation to contribute more. Each should pay the same and no more.
• GC :
22 Feb 2013 4:02:22pm
"Tax concessions cost the government $32 Billion"???
Mike, you need to change that headline to:
"Tax ripoff to cost Australians a massive extra $32 Billion after new grab from savings!!! Retirees to starve to death."!!!
There. All fixed.
• gregk :
22 Feb 2013 4:01:48pm
How about a tax rate of 15% on super contributions for a junior/part time employee earning maybe $25,000/year when their income tax rate is around 10% ? So much for looking after people entering the work force.
• MJLC :
22 Feb 2013 4:01:33pm
Campaigning against misinformation, half-truths, blatant fabrications and hypocrisy is one of the noblest contributions someone can make to our society. When it comes from a former pay-cheque recipient at The Australian it's just funny.
You're somewhat late Mr Steketee - but welcome anyway.
• wm :
22 Feb 2013 3:55:50pm
Well done Mike.
If Labor had any soul left and was the true party of the workers, this $35B would go straight back into the kitty.
Super is there to help for retirement and save the government paying unsustainable pensions. The wealthiest 1% clearly do not need any help. They will never draw on the pension regardless of this criminal tax evasion scheme.
End of story.
• A Good Australia :
22 Feb 2013 3:55:03pm
Good article pointing out what lies ahead with an Abbott debacle..
You would not have been allowed to write this article in the Australian.
• Tombowler :
22 Feb 2013 3:55:00pm
As has been noted by more erudite men than me,
Only a hopeless lefty could consider a tax concession free money (or as you say, "government support").
The manner in which you talk suggests we ought to be damned grateful the Government leaves us any net income, and greedy for feeling entitled to it to boot.
You use phrases like "generous means test" as though the government is doing me a favour by taking slightly less of my money to waste on servicing loans and paying public servants (like the 8 currently employed full-time in South Australia to find a rental home for a released convict. Buy the chap a weatherboard house and save a few hundred grand eh?)
My view is net taxpayers, those that make extra super-contributions and retire with large amounts, have contributed a huge amount through income tax, GST, stamp duty etc to the state and federal coffers. The Government ought to stop milking productive members of society at a certain point and, in acknowledgement of the contribution to society, let them keep a bit of their own cash.
• billie :
22 Feb 2013 3:54:24pm
Is it reasonable for self funded retirees to recieve a tax free pension of $125,000 per year or is superannuation supposed to provide a more modest tax free income of say $40,000 per year?
Should superannuation assets of say $10,000,000 be tax free given that sum must pay a pension of $500,000 per annum
Should superannuation assets of $1,000,000 be tax free given that it must pay a pension of $50,000 per annum
What about superannuation assets of $2,500,000 that will pay a pension of $125,000
• Let's talk policy :
22 Feb 2013 3:46:29pm
Thank you, Mike, you've nailed it in one.
It's amazing that facts are always drowned out by fear campaigns.
What's more amazing is that so many are convinced by the wealthy vested interests to support their view of fairness.
The Government has reduced the concessional deduction to $25,000 per annum, as you say. It beggars belief now to think what the cost would be if the Howard $100,000 concessional limit was still law.
Think about it. John Howard was giving massicve tax deductions to people who could kick in #100,000 a year for deductible super.
• John :
25 Feb 2013 1:40:40pm
Why not just be honest and say that the ALP/Greens' agenda is that 100% of whatever anyone earns actually belongs to the government and the amount they let us keep is a "concession".
This argument about tax concessions for the rich betrays all the hard work and sacrifice that many many people on average earnings have made during their working lives to save for their own retirement. These same people will not be eligible for public pensions, nor many of the associated health, travel and other social services that others will enjoy. Those who now call these self funded retirees "rich" or "lucky" are merely the ones who have been too lazy to make the kind of choices they needed to fund their own retirements. Every working Australian has the opportunity to save for their retirement over their working lives. Many choose not to. What is your excuse? | <urn:uuid:d0d63285-25c3-4cd9-b7dd-27138f5ea306> | http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4534272.html | en | 0.971116 | 0.031393 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
English Golden Retriever
English Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever Pup
Have you ever hear the saying that dogs are man’s best friend? These pets are indeed one of the most faithful companions a person could have. We often hear stories about dogs saving their masters from life threatening situation. A dog can be a good friend and a great helper also. As more people are becoming dog lovers, there are a number of breed of dogs that have been improved to fit every person’s lifestyle. One of these is the English Golden Retriever.
One of the most commonly kept dog breeds is the golden retriever. These dogs are very popular as family pet since they are very friendly and love to get a lot of play and attention. Golden retrievers are very good-natured, which is perfect for children. They love to play fetch. This certain breed of dogs is named as such for their love to retrieve things. Golden retrievers become extra happy if you throw the stick or ball on water, since they also love playing with water. Golden retrievers are considered fairly high-maintenance pets. Aside from a lot of play and attention, they must have regular veterinary check-ups, a good diet and regular exercise. Golden retrievers are not only good house pets; they can also be great guide dogs. Some search and rescue dogs are trained golden retrievers. They are very willing to learn things which make them easy to train.
Like many other breeds, the golden retriever exists in several varieties. One example is the English golden retriever. These dogs usually have a cream-colored coat. They are bigger boned and shorter compared with other golden retrievers. Their head is squarer also. They could come in gold and cream coat but cream colored ones are more common. The golden retriever’s coat is naturally waterproof and the coat of the English golden retriever is straight or moderately wavy.
Getting an English Golden retriever is not a good idea if you don’t have a lot of time to spend on your dog. Not only that they seek a lot of attention from you, you must groom them often also. Golden retrievers must be groomed daily or at least once a week. They frequently shed and grooming them could lessen the amount of shedding. If your dog’s shedding causes bald patches, it means that your pet is stressed out or ill and needs a veterinary check up. These breed also needs a lot of exercise so taking them for long walks and playing with them will provide them with a suitable outlet for all that energy. Golden retrievers could reach up to 13 years if you know how to take good care of them.
Planning to breed golden retrievers is not easy and should only be considered by those willing to devote a lot of time, energy and effort into the project. Since the English Golden retriever is such a popular pet, a lot of people unfortunately breed them only to make a quick profit or because “puppies are cute”. Unskilled breeding increases the risk of hereditary disease and mental instability in dogs.
Usually golden retrievers are wild as puppies. They can chew on virtually everything and have a habit of retrieving everything they see. English Golden retriever puppies therefore they need some special attention, proper training and a lot of patience. But all your hard work will be rewarded in due time. A well cared for and properly exercised English Golden Retriever is a very loving pet and a helpful part of the family. Be a responsible owner and take good care of them. Learn the proper way of caring for them before you buy one. | <urn:uuid:bb59e41a-aa62-48b7-8757-ba855f2afdb8> | http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/dog/goldenretriever/english.php | en | 0.963622 | 0.101619 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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Posts by orfny
When CineMotion is set to Auto 2 or off does Motionflow even have an effect? Whats the difference between Motionflow and "Frame extrapolation"? Thanks!
I actually owned the 2550 (Best Buy version) but had to return it. The main reason I bought it was because of the HQV upscaling chipset for regular DVD's. The picture/sound were fine but I decided to return it after multiple lockups. I decided on the 550 and have had no gliches what-so-ever and the upscalling is on par with the 2550. Hope this helps!!
Does anyone know if SONY is planning an upgrade for the 550 to allow streaming Netflix movies like Samsung & LG? It looks like the new 560 adds wireless, subtracts the analogs but still no mention of Netflix?
What is the best way to increase the sub volume to match my personal preference? Using the level control on my subs (I have 2) or the level on my Denon 3808? What has the least impact on the calibration results? Thanks!
Hey JohAV would you mind sending me a PM with an authorized dealer that has the 3808 at that price? The only place I've seen it that low is on eBay. Thanks!
I had the same problem with Pearl Harbor but when i tried the same disc in my PS3 I got the same grainy results. That is why I think it's the movie and not the 5000.
Well Santa delivered my 5000 today and so far I'm in awe! Ordered from ABT and it came double boxed, with free overnight shipping, no tax and $130 below the new list. The build date is 12/07 and software version is 071108.02_1114_0924.11_XAA. I played Dante's Peak (HD) first and had no issues (no glitches and excellent picture/sound). The second movie gave me a little scare though (Pearl Harbor - BR). There was noticable noise in most of the sceens. But after I tried...
My 5000 is coming tomorrow from ABT Electronics - can't wait!!
Have you contacted Samsung about this issue?
Well the board they installed did not work and it took 6 weeks to find that out! Sony tried to order more boards but the technician really thought it was the panel. I couldn't wait another 6 weeks for it not to work again so long story short Sears gave me a new set and life is wonderful again! No more watching the 720P Panasonic they loaned me. Got to give Sears credit they came through in the end.......
New Posts All Forums: | <urn:uuid:164f5bd2-967c-4fb6-b4d0-ebec65376125> | http://www.avsforum.com/forums/posts/by_user/id/7752393 | en | 0.965729 | 0.025043 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Revisiting Fukushima's Ghost Towns
Photograph by James Whitlow Delano/Redux
Company Symbol % Change
2 of 15
Ruined Water Supply
Runoff from the irradiated mountains near Odaka will, in the decades ahead, carry radiation down to recontaminate lowlands. The mountains caught more radioactive fallout than the lowlands did, and the sources for local drinking water are located in these mountains. | <urn:uuid:32b48a7c-2112-4acc-b7c9-49c871030759> | http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/1/2013-02-15/revisiting-fukushima-s-ghost-towns.html | en | 0.908956 | 0.075455 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
NAME Action::Generic - Generic actions in a OO way SYNOPSIS my $controller = Action::Generic->new(); my $action = $controller->action( type => 'System', name => 'List Files in my Homedir', params => [('ls', '-l', '~')], ); my $custom_action = $controller->action( type => 'Custom', name => 'A Custom Action', code => sub { ... } ); $controller->add_actions( $action, $custom_action ); $controller->run; use Data::Dumper; print Dumper( $controller->results ); DESCRIPTION Action::Generic is intended to create a simple framework for executing complex bits of code in a slighly modular, OO-ish way. It works by creating a "controller" object my $controller = Action::Generic->new( quiet => 0 # make some noise, baby ); which consumes various actions. First, use the "action" method to create an action, passing it any relevent parameters.. my $action = $controller->action( type => 'Custom', name => 'Hello, world!', code => sub { print "Hello, world!\n" } ); And push this action to the end of the stack. $controller->add_actions( $action ); Each action is run, in the order added, optionally stopping further execution. Finally, should any of the actions have any notable result output, it is stored in a hashref whose keys are the name of the action. print Dumper( $controller->results ); # Lots of stuff Action::Generic ships with only a handful of actions. Extending them or adding more is a trivial task (see 'Creating Custom Actions'). Methods new() Creates a new controller. An optional parameter "quiet" will, when true make the thing spit out a lot of extra crap. add_actions() Takes a list of actions. Adds them to the back of the queue, in order passed. Subsequent calls add in order. Order! Returns nothing of note. run() Runs each action in the order added. results() Returns an ARRAYREF containing the results of the run, in order of running. Contents of each element vary depending on the action run. Creating New Action Objects As mentioned below, there are a few actions that come by default -- basically what I need to accomplish my goals -- but many may be added later. By you. I'm done with this! Every action has two required parameters: type The type of the action determines what sort of action is being created. For extending purposes, a type of "Custom" is shorthand for "Action::Generic::Plugin::Custom". In fact, any package name may be supplied here, as long as it implements a few basic methods (see 'Creating Custom Actions'). Must always be a name -- not a reference. name The name of the action. For the most part, this is unused. However, the action name is available to the action during execution and is also used in any errors that may occur (to help you track that shit down). Action Types System The "System" is an easy way to execute some bit of code directly via the "system" method. It takes only one parameter, "params" which should be an arrayref containing a list of arguments for the "system" call. No checking is done to ensure you are trying to do something sane. Or safe. Don't be stupid. Custom "Custom" executes some arbitrary coderef, stored in the parameter "code". Template Provides a simple interface to the Template Toolkit (Template) rendering engine thinger. You provide the template and the stash, and get the rendered results as a scalar. Adventurous persons are welcome to reinvent the wheel and re-make TT. Results The hashref, obtained via the controller's "results" method, contains some information about the running of the actions. Each key is the name of the action. You should probably make sure your action names are unique. I would. But we don't check for that. Underneath, there is some information guaranteed to be present: type The type of the action. This is the fully-qualified name of the class. In most cases, it is Action::Generic::$some_action_name was_run A boolean indicating if this particular action was actually run or not. Useful if something horrible went wrong or the call Creating Custom Actions Actions may be created two different ways. The "action" method will first look for plugins located in Action::Generic::Plugin namespace. Failing that, it will attempt to "require" the action type as a fully-qualified package. In both cases, the resulting object must provide a few behaviours. The actions distributed with this package are written in Moose and use that particular terminology. This author suggests any additional actions also use Moose. The constructor "new()" will be called with the arguments passed from the "action()" method on the controller, with the "type" removed (you already know what sort of thingy you're dealing with if you're making a new one, right?). A "name" attribute. This should be a 'Str'. A "_results" attribute. This should be a 'HashRef'. The controller object will query each action, after running, for the results. Additionally, there should be two keys in the "_result" hashref, as described in the section "Results". Additional information is encouraged where appropriate. A method, "run()" must be present. "run()" will be called with no arguments. Configuration should be done when creating the object, not running it. "run()" should probably use the opportunity to set up the "_results" hashref properly. LICENSE AND COPYING This library is free softtware; you may redistribute and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. BUGS Probably. Patches welcome! AUTHOR Dave Houston "", 2010 | <urn:uuid:190d3090-db86-4bbe-9f09-88902423cc1a> | http://www.cpan.org/modules/by-module/Pod/DHOUSTON/Action-Generic-0.000004.readme | en | 0.88784 | 0.034459 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
tiaprofenic acid-oral tablet Related Diseases & Conditions
Medications are used to manage a variety of conditions. Our doctors have compiled a list of ailments that the medication tiaprofenic acid-oral tablet may be used to treat or manage.
In This Article
Arthritis Article
• Arthritis facts
• What is arthritis? What causes arthritis?
• What are risk factors for arthritis?
• What are arthritis symptoms and signs?
• Who is affected by arthritis?
• What is the treatment for arthritis?
• Is there a special diet for arthritis?
• Can arthritis be prevented?
• What is the national financial impact of arthritis?
• What is a rheumatologist?
• What is the Arthritis Foundation?
• Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Ulcers Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Examples of...learn more »
In This Article
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Ulcers Article
• What are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?
• What are the side effects of NSAIDs?
• How do NSAIDs work and how do they cause stomach problems?
• If a stomach ulcer is detected, how is it treated?
• Can NSAID-related ulcers and complications be prevented? | <urn:uuid:50e7b4d2-fb40-4825-b735-1b4c21fb9ead> | http://www.medicinenet.com/tiaprofenic_acid-oral_tablet/related-conditions/index.htm | en | 0.860399 | 0.751883 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
# Auto-generated file -- DO NOT EDIT!!!!! # Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more # contributor license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed with # this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership. # The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0 # (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with # the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at # # http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 # # Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software # distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and # limitations under the License. =head1 NAME Lucy::Index::BackgroundMerger - Consolidate index segments in the background. =head1 SYNOPSIS my $bg_merger = Lucy::Index::BackgroundMerger->new( index => '/path/to/index', ); $bg_merger->commit; =head1 DESCRIPTION Adding documents to an index is usually fast, but every once in a while the index must be compacted and an update takes substantially longer to complete. See L for how to use this class to control worst-case index update performance. As with L, see L if your index is on a shared volume. =head1 CONSTRUCTORS =head2 new( I<[labeled params]> ) my $bg_merger = Lucy::Index::BackgroundMerger->new( index => '/path/to/index', # required manager => $manager # default: created internally ); Open a new BackgroundMerger. =over =item * B - Either a string filepath or a Folder. =item * B - An IndexManager. If not supplied, an IndexManager with a 10-second write lock timeout will be created. =back =head1 METHODS =head2 commit() Commit any changes made to the index. Until this is called, none of the changes made during an indexing session are permanent. Calls prepare_commit() implicitly if it has not already been called. =head2 prepare_commit() Perform the expensive setup for commit() in advance, so that commit() completes quickly. Towards the end of prepare_commit(), the BackgroundMerger attempts to re-acquire the write lock, which is then held until commit() finishes and releases it. =head2 optimize() Optimize the index for search-time performance. This may take a while, as it can involve rewriting large amounts of data. =head1 INHERITANCE Lucy::Index::BackgroundMerger isa L. =cut | <urn:uuid:b01709ec-4249-46e0-9feb-fb697d6ce353> | http://cpansearch.perl.org/src/KARMAN/Lucy-0.3.0/lib/Lucy/Index/BackgroundMerger.pod | en | 0.848576 | 0.02782 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The sde-solver package
[Tags: bsd3, library]
This package contains utilities for solving SDE instances in various ways. Basically an SDE instance is solved using some SDESolver working with some distribution mechanism. Results are gathered at the end point of the specified interval.
Included in the package are ways of doing distributed calculations over an MPI cluster, or optionally only using the local solver with built in parallelization. Two SDE instances have been implemented; geometric brownian motion and the Langevin equation, see the haddock documentation for an example.
The main interface is accessible through Numeric.DSDE which provides various way of solving generic problems. This module supports either local or distributed calculations in the IO monad and gathering the results as a distribution. Under the surface there is also a working pure implementation for monadic environments, using a pure Mersenne twister PRNG.
Internally there are several abstractions used when dealing with each component building up a solution. Given some SDE and SDESolver instances, it is also required to have some PRNG providing normally distributed numbers. This has been implemented over some specific monads and only results of type Double. All of the internal components are written with polymorphism in mind, acting over some monad instance and generic result types in all cases.
Dependenciesbase (>=4.5 && <5), cereal (>=0.3 && <1), cereal-vector (>=0.2 && <1), ghc-prim (>=0.2 && <1), haskell-mpi (>=1.2 && <2), mersenne-random-pure64 (>= && <1), mtl (>=2.1 && <3), mwc-random (>=0.12 && <1), normaldistribution (>= && <2), parallel (>=3.2 && <4), vector (>=0.10 && <1)
AuthorDavid Nilsson
CategoryMath, Numerical
Home page
Source repositoryhead: git clone git://
Upload dateTue Dec 18 20:48:57 UTC 2012
Uploaded byDavidNilsson
Downloads6 total
Maintainers' corner
For package maintainers and hackage trustees | <urn:uuid:3be81b49-53a8-450d-9ac5-b4a12467169b> | http://hackage.haskell.org/package/sde-solver | en | 0.804457 | 0.037322 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Embryonic Pathways Induce Stem Cell Traits
HealthDay SHARE
THURSDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have found that normal cells and cancer cells that acquire the ability to use long dormant pathways to migrate through the body may gain properties of adult stem cells, including the ability to self-renew.
The finding helps researchers better understand adult stem cell creation -- knowledge they hope will lead to developing healthy stem cells for regenerative medicine and target-specific cancer drugs.
Research published online May 15 in Cell shows that cells that undergo an "epithelial-to-mesenchymal" (EMT) transition, in mice or humans, acquire many important stem cell characteristics. The study also shows that normal, naturally existing stem cells and tumor-seeding cancer stem cells share characteristics with these post-EMT cells.
"This for us is a very exciting discovery, not only because of its unexpectedness, but because it offers a route by which one could in principle generate unlimited numbers of stem cells committed to create a specific cell type," researcher Robert Weinberg, a professor of biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said in a prepared statement. "One could imagine, for example, that if one takes skin cells and induces them to undergo an EMT, they could become skin stem cells."
Epithelial cells, which make up most of the human body, bind in sheet-like structures. In embryonic development, the EMT process disrupts this adhesion and changes the cells into more loosely associated mesenchymal cells. In the context of cancer development, some cancer cells within a primary cancer may undergo EMT, migrate through the body to their end destination, and then undergo a reverse conversion back to their original epithelial form.
Inducing the EMT process can produce cells with many characteristics of cancer stem cells, the researchers discovered. This finding could help solve why tumor cells spread into different sites and multiply enough to form a new tumor.
"If you take a population of human cancer cells that normally form a tumor very inefficiently and induce an EMT, their tumor-initiating abilities increase by about a hundredfold, so that it takes about 10,000 cells, rather than a million cells, to form a tumor," co-lead author Wenjun Guo, a postdoctoral researcher in Weinberg's lab, said in a prepared statement. "This suggests cancer stem cells are using preexisting normal stem cell machinery to propagate their own self-renewal and therefore their tumor-initiating ability."
More information
The National Institutes of Health has more about stem cells. | <urn:uuid:3fbcd819-86a7-442f-9c1a-d20bf352a7d4> | http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/articles/2008/05/15/embryonic-pathways-induce-stem-cell-traits | en | 0.938672 | 0.039095 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Use This Chart to Make Sense of College Aid Packages
Wouldn't it be nice if colleges all used the same terms and language to describe their financial aid packages? Sure would, but only 700 of about 6,000 U.S. colleges have done so. It's up to you, and this chart, to make sense of the rest.
The Wall Street Journal is out with an interactive ranking of college financial aid packages, because it is that time of year in pre-collegiate households. For those not considering schools on the list of amazingly beneficent institutions, you'll need to figure it out yourself. The Journal offers a nice, simple summation table, and some advice on how to use it with long-term planning in mind.
To be safe, families should calculate costs over four and five years, because many students take more than four years to graduate. Just 53% of students at nonprofit private schools and 31% at public colleges graduate in four years, according to the Department of Education.
What's the worst, most confusing financial aid package you've seen? How do you make sense of what's really being offered? Gather in the residential comments lounge and share your story.
Making Sense of College Aid | | <urn:uuid:6b51bd17-38e8-4be9-ace6-7f3c242c99c2> | http://lifehacker.com/5992423/use-this-chart-to-make-sense-of-college-aid-packages?popular=true | en | 0.95615 | 0.061826 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
By now , I have years of vocalization practice but I still start straining while singing—especially if I am not vigilant. It happens imperceptibly and is a hard habit to break.
Is there a reliable technique to make sure that I don't lose my effortless natural voice while quickly going from chest to head voice and back during a practice session?
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4 Answers
up vote 15 down vote accepted
I often start my warming up like this:
• Take a deep breath and sigh/hum softly and gently. Repeat this a few times.
• Repeat the exercise with the mouth opened, but not with more effort, for a few times
• After a while, you should have found your "ground tone", which is the tone you can sing without straining. This tone is the basis of healthy singing. Take a deep breath and sing this tone without getting louder, but firmer. Be careful staying totally relaxed!
• Now you are sure about your ground tone. The idea of the following is to carry this tone to all registers. For this, begin with a slow, lazy glissando up a second, and back. Repeat.
• Go on to thirds, fourths, and so on. If you feel the straining coming back, take smaller intervals. Repeat until you come to the border of your chest register.
• Take a break of a minute or more.
• Find the ground tone of your head voice! This might be harder for women than for men, I don't know. Carry your ground tone down slowly. If you do it slow enough and silent enough, you can connect head voice and chest voice. Repeat this connection a few times, but always starting with the head voice!
• If you are feeling the slightest exhaustion, take a break of a few minutes immediately.
• Repeat the whole procedure every morning.
I did this a few years ago and my head register connects smoothly to my chest register, while the feeling stays perfectly natural and without great exhaustion.
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This is pretty much to the point. – explorer Apr 29 '11 at 17:52
interesting. One point I did not think about is to exercice from the head voice to the chest, because I am usually focused on succeeding in going the other way. It also means that I am not familiar enough with my head voice -- and I should. – ogerard May 3 '11 at 6:28
Going down from head voice to chest voice is much easier, for me at least. Having practised that, it is easier to go the other direction. – Turion May 3 '11 at 20:29
A video would really help – bobobobo Jul 14 '11 at 2:17
Sorry, I don't have a cam. But feel free to add a video yourself. – Turion Aug 12 '11 at 11:33
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I have trouble with this too; here are some things that have helped me.
• Sing through the phrases. Think of each phrase as a long line instead of thinking of each note as something to achieve. This makes your singing less forced.
• When you notice yourself getting too tense, pay attention to the specific parts of your body where you carry the excessive tension. Consciously relax them, and deliberately practice singing without that tension, possibly touching the tense area with your hands to help keep you relaxed.
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Thanks for the advice. I will try it. – explorer Apr 29 '11 at 17:51
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Try vocalizing ascending scales, until you find when is it that you start getting too tense.
When you find this, try vocalizing slowly through the notes, emitting prolonged sounds on each of them and breathing properly between each note.
Practice this exercise several times a week, and you should get used to gliding through the notes pleasantly :)
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Thanks.. sounds good. – explorer Apr 29 '11 at 17:51
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I'm an instrumentalist who only recently (in my mid-50's!) began to work with an amazing voice teacher, and am beginning to get a handle on my singing "instrument". So I'm not a "natural", and have been paying very close attention to the physical sensations of singing, and your question brought up a number of things.
"Effortless"? I've been taught that I should be tired after singing well for a while - it's very physical, after all - but I know what you mean - when things are flowing you're not fighting yourself, and there is no tension (muscles working against each other unnecessarily). Maybe it helps to talk about the difference between "tension" and "support" (as in "supporting the tone" in another answer here) - But since support in singing inevitably involves fantastically complex interactions of little muscles all through your body, often working "against" each other, it can be hard to tell the difference!
But it sounds like your are looking for concepts, so much as very specific, reliable techniques. One way I've learned to distinguish between "tension" and "support" is that I can voluntarily give up support, but tension takes some touching, etc. to shed. For a lot of singers, tension tends to collect in the throat and jaw. A nice trick is to run your hands down either side of your face while singing an "ah" - is your jaw hanging loose? Can you let your tongue hang out while doing the same thing? I was taught to sing "the...uhhhh" up the scale, feeling my tongue relaxed.
I was singing in a strenuous concert just two nights ago, and found that purposely clenching and releasing my butt was a great way to relax my legs - and teachers will tell you never to lock your knees, so there you go, there's a lot you can do from the waist down as well. But you probably knew about that...
One very specific thing I'll leave you with, from my life as a professional instrumentalist, is to find an Alexander Technique teacher you like (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_technique). They can help you acquire an exquisite sense of your body and the way it carries itself through the slings and arrows of life - and there's some solid research behind why it works! Good luck to you, and in spite of all of this, never forget that, when you're performing, "you are the music, while the music lasts...".
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Your Answer
| <urn:uuid:aaad122b-d91e-4570-b76f-a801de2b5e4e> | http://music.stackexchange.com/questions/60/how-can-i-be-sure-that-i-am-singing-effortlessly-in-my-natural-voice | en | 0.958683 | 0.447277 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
SEO News
Yahoo Bid Microsoft Ceo Steve Ballmer
1. Microsoft CEO: We've Got Siri Beat, Bing vs Google = Draw
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took the stage at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco for the first time in three years to talk Bing vs. While acknowledging the value of their alliance, Ballmer noted they Microsoft had been “lucky” their bid to buy...
2. In Search Race, Ballmer Seeks More Eyeballs
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer just can't get away from questions about going after Yahoo - again. Ever since Ballmer declared that Microsoft is moving on last July, he's never wavered from that stance. So when Ballmer recently said that any deal with...
3. 50 Most Memorable Moments in Search for 2008
turned the initial offer down, endured an "ultimatum" from Steve Ballmer, was rumored to have rejected an increased offer of $33 a share, and neglected to negotiate selling off just the search portion of Yahoo!
4. SearchDay | Paid Links: A Black Hat/White Hat Discussion
Ivory is smart to call for only selling search to Microsoft, as Steve Ballmer has repeatedly made clear that he's no longer interested in buying the whole enchilada. My current bid is . Jerry Yang's Casual Note To Employees Thrown Overboard Posted...
5. Microsoft Withdraws Yahoo Offer; Yahoo Responds
Below is the text of the letter from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to Yahoo! In a letter to Jerry Yang (full text below), Steve Ballmer cited Yahoo's intention to outsource search as the primary reason he decided to scotch the deal.
6. Highlights from the SEW Blog: April 7-11, 2008
Yahoo to Microsoft: We Already Dumped YouAfter Microsoft issued its ultimatum to Yahoo this weekend, giving them three more weeks before things get ugly, Yahoo's board of directors responded this morning, reminding Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer that...
7. Microsoft Gets Tired of Waiting
On Saturday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sent a following letter to Yahoo's Board of Directors, outlining Microsoft's displeasure with Yahoo dragging its feet for the past few weeks instead of jumping into Microsoft's arms.
8. Search and the Law: Attorney Clarke Douglas Walton
Fadnation: Why Steve Ballmer Could Be Right, TechCrunch Microsoft’s Ballmer Plays Down ‘Faddish’ Facebook, Plays Up Ad-Supported Software, paidContent Yes, in the U.S.and Canada, they allow companies to bid on trademarks as keywords to trigger...
Today's search podcast covers allegations that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had a temper tantrum involving cursing and chair throwing over an employee defection to Google, Kai-Fu Lee takes another bizarre turn as allegations are levied in court... | <urn:uuid:56c648be-b363-4cd3-b053-0c91d3bd15d2> | http://searchenginewatch.com/topic/yahoo_bid_microsoft_ceo_steve_ballmer | en | 0.916163 | 0.114838 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
21 Reasons Korean Dramas Are Ridiculously Frustrating
Badly translated subtitles aside. posted on
I know, right? Now tell your friends!
21 Reasons Korean Dramas Are Ridiculously ...
Suzy Forman
1. Everyone is so prudish.
2. In what world do people in their mid-twenties faint over a kiss on the cheek?
3. And why does every single first kiss involve wide eyes?
4. Someone is always losing his/her memory.
5. Or coming down with a terminal disease.
6. Or falling in love with a (possible) sibling.
7. I mean, you never know when you’re going to discover a long lost family member.
8. There is always a dramatic airport scene.
9. Often because someone’s off to America to study.
10. No one realizes this is a woman?
Though Coffee Prince did come out after She’s the Man starring Amanda Bynes.
11. The poor, kind-hearted female lead is always falling for the arrogant, rich asshole.
12. When the other love interest is about a million times nicer and more attractive?!?
ILY, Pillar.
13. Are there never any cops out patrolling the roads?
14. Controlling (or straight up evil) parents can never just let love be.
15. Someone’s nose is always bleeding.
16. Meanwhile, someone else is probably getting kidnapped.
17. Catching a taxi always seems so convenient.
18. But time traveling never is.
19. Wrist grabbing is more common than hand holding.
Same, Hee-jin. Same.
21. But you just can’t stop watching.
Viki, here I come!
Check out more articles on!
Facebook Conversations
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Tour Guy Road Notes
***Subscribe to The Solid Verbal (iTunes) college football podcast (I co-host with SI on Campus's Ty Hildenbrandt)***
It's been a long time coming, but I finally made it to Columbus for this week's episode, and I must say, good times all around. Not that I wasn't expecting a great pre-game scene, I had just heard stories about Buckeye fans being particularly out of control. I was expecting the worse, too, considering the 8 PM kickoff, allowing OSU fans all day to drink themselves stupid before the big game. What I found were pockets of over the top groups, but mostly just loud fans living it up without giving anyone too hard of a time.
Since 105,000+ fans need to fit into Ohio Stadium, you can imagine how far-reaching the tailgating was. I made my way through the lots near the new basketball stadium and Ohio Stadium itself, but saw people spread all around the campus area in every direction - pretty neat. With these bigger schools and stadiums, there's no way I can hit every lot and talk to every demographic of fans, especially since I waste so much time hanging out, talking, eating, and not drinking (that'd be unprofessional).
That said, though, the Buckeye female population was severely lacking. You may notice the episode is overwhelming male, and if you've seen an episode before this one, you know that this is definitely not my goal. I'll just chalk it up to me completely blowing by or not knowing about the secret pre-game hangout of every good-looking college age female in Columbus, but something seemed odd. On the other hand, I suppose such a population just doesn't exist, but I'd like to believe I'm just wrong.
(By the way, please don't hesitate to send photographic proof that I'm wrong to
Anyway, I ate extremely well, had a great time with a ton of long-time fans, and thought Ohio Stadium was a fantastic place to see a somewhat terrible, overly-conservative game. Whenever you go over six digits as a crowd, it's hard not to impress.
Right away, we got to see a pig weighing over 100 lbs on a giant grill. I'm certainly no expert, but we'll go ahead and call this one finished. And delicious.
I can't remember seeing any camo hammer pants before this season, but this is school #3 with fans rocking the CHPs. CHP acceptance is just another reason why college football can't be touched by any other sport. Sorry.
Chili (corn bread off camera) from the CletusFest tailgate. I didn't eat anything better all day. I'm not sure anything is better than a great chili on a crisp fall day before a college football game. Ok fine, maybe great chili with Marissa Miller seems slightly superior.
There he is. Stewart Mandel making his Tour Guy debut. I gotta say, he pretty much knocked it out. Two takes for the intro and he did well with the fans and the eating, although it's hard to screw up enjoying a good brisket sandwich.
Random food. Camera Guy Dave started aimlessly swiping chips through the taco salad before realizing it wasn't dip. That pretty much sums up our whole operation - we just roam around disturbing perfectly good tailgates without any general regard.
Somebody else also cooked a huge pig. I'm on the fence over whether or not this looks appetizing, but I'm leaning in the direction a definite YES.
Reason #178 why I'll probably need to run a few marathons in December to get back to my fighting weight: Cupcake Cake. Yes, somebody iced over a series of cupcakes, so you just break yours off and enjoy. And don't worry, that I did.
A pretty good view of a pretty great stadium. I've got to say, if you want to hit a top 10 list of college football stadiums, this is undoubtedly there.
The best novelty mask in college sports, no question.
If you're dead-set on buying buckeye beads before the game, I still say avoid this guy at all costs.
To nobody's surprise, Ohio State fans either played cornhole or that ropey-ladder game. At this point, if I see a different yard game in November, I'll be pretty shocked.
I get showing Buckeye pride. I get showing state pride. But pride in your local fuel provider? Dubious.
Dave was convinced this animal was slightly closer to polar bear than it was to canine. He then started making Neverending Story jokes and screaming "Atreyu!! Atreyu!!" Dave is...odd.
Some sort of Columbus radio upstart "ESPN". Seemed OK, but they've still got a ways to go before catching up to the high-tech Tour Guy operation. Nice try, fellas.
Fun fact: the girl to the far left with the white sunglasses started interrupting my interviewing by yelling semi-coherently about how the Buckeyes would've beaten USC with Beanie Wells and how they were clearly the best team in the country. Another fun fact: only one team in the Top 25 has failed to score a touchdown in their two biggest games this season. I'll let you figure out who it is.
Damn, I kind of hold a, oh well. Go Bucks!!
This dude was awesome. I always like picturing guys who do this to themselves at work a couple days later. Does he keep the "O" on his head? Does the paint completely wash off? We may never know.
Here she is - The Horseshoe. It's loud, crawling with red (stadium record), and amazing on a cold fall night. Also, it's built correctly (steeply) to keep a lot of the sound in, making it an intimidating giant stadium, unlike The Big House or Rose Bowl, which instill all the fear that, well, Michigan or UCLA does.
Anyway, the experience at Ohio State is exactly what you'd probably imagine. Everybody cares about the Buckeyes to a probably-unhealthy degree, but it makes Saturdays as good as any place in country. The fans are passionate, loud, knowledgable, and have a genuine hatred for the state up north, which is always nice to see. Sure, the "talent" may be slightly lacking, but hey, the chili's good.
The SI and/or Tour Guy Curse is alive and well. Sorry, Bucks.
Next Week - Yell Country.
Tour Guy Road Notes (permanent link)
The SI Tour Guy (archive of all videos, including from 2006 and the Pac-10)
SI Video on YouTube
SI College Football channel on Veoh
The Solid Verbal college football podcast (w/Ty Hildenbrandt)
Windows Media Player 9 (for Mac)
Flip4Mac (to watch SI Video on a Mac)
Start Your Own Blog
Start Now
Truth & Rumors
1. 1
Kobe wants D'Antoni gone
2. 2
The fastest ever to first?
3. 3
Pats had to sign Revis
4. 4
Best QB in the draft? Why not, says McCarron
5. 5
Florida's most important spring yet
SI Photos | <urn:uuid:f2e23c3e-fb49-448f-9f43-a3c7e90cf52e> | http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/280475 | en | 0.958735 | 0.051755 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Police warn of fake $100 bills
-A A +A
By Staff Reports
Marion police are investigating a series of counterfeit $100 bills that were passed at businesses there on Aug. 5.
The fake bills pass traditional “pen marker” tests, but are counterfeit, according to a news release from the town.
A suspect car being sought by police is red or maroon with no front tag. It has chrome door handles, sunroof and is possibly missing paint on top.
The town described the suspects as two black males, each about 6 feet tall, with mustaches and goatees, wearing camouflage shorts, tennis shoes, white shirt and “Cardinals” baseball caps. They are possibly in the company of two other males.
Business owners and clerks are warned to be wary of anyone attempting to pass $100 bills, and to report suspicious activity to police. | <urn:uuid:f49d0081-d925-42aa-9b22-94bffa3ccc29> | http://www.galaxgazette.com/content/police-warn-fake-100-bills?quicktabs_2=0&mini=calendar-date%2F2013-03 | en | 0.962894 | 0.071382 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Search Electronics:
Memory Modules InformationUses and Forms
Memory comes in two basic forms, random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The name "random access memory" is a bit misleading, because both kinds of memory are random access; that is, the CPU can call up any arbitrary address directly without reading sequentially through lower addresses.
RAM is really read-write memory, which the processor can use as a scratch pad and modify rapidly.
ROM is memory that contains preset instructions and data, often for controlling physical devices like disk drives associated with the PC.
Memory Type
Choices for memory type include:
• Memory ModulesRAM
• DRAM
• SRAM
• L2 Cache
• Async RAM
• Sync RAM
• VRAM
• WRAM
• ROM
• PROM
• Flash.
Memory Form Factor
The form factor of any memory module describes its size and pin configuration. Most computer systems have memory sockets that can accept only one form factor. Choices for form factor include:
SIMM- Single in-line memory module (SIMM) offers a data path of 32 bits. Because Pentium® memory modules are designed to handle a much wider data path than that, SIMMs must be used in pairs on Pentium motherboards (they can be used singly on boards based on 486 or slower processors).
DIMM-Dual in line memory module (DIMM), which are of more recent origin, offer a 64-bit path, which makes them more suitable for use with the Pentium and other more recent processors. One DIMM will handle the work of two SIMMs and thus can be used singly on a Pentium motherboard. DIMMs are more economical in the long run, because they can be added one at a time to a system.
Capacity is the amount of data that can be transmitted over a specific period of time.
Clock speed is the raw MHz that the CPU (Central Processor Unit) operates at. For example, an AMD Athlon 1GHz has an operating clock speed of 1000 MHz; this is the processor's clock speed.
The cycle time is the length of time it takes to transmit data expressed in terms of the minimum amount of time required for a memory to complete a cycle such as read, write, read/write, or read/modify/write.
Error Checking
Error checking and correction features of memory cards include parity, error checking parity, and nonparity. As data moves through a computer (e.g. from the CPU to the main Memory), the possibility of errors can occur, particularly in older 386 and 486 machines.
how to select memory modulesParity error detection was developed to notify the user of any data errors. By adding a single bit to each byte of data, this bit is responsible for checking the integrity of the other 8 bits while the byte is moved or stored.
Once a single-bit error is detected, the user receives an error notification; however, parity checking only notifies, and does not correct a failed data bit. If your SIMM module has 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, or 36 chips then it is more than likely parity.
Error Checking and Correction (ECC) modules have an extra chip that detects if the data was correctly read or written by the memory module. If the data wasn't properly written, the extra chip will correct it in many cases (depending on what type of error). Non-parity (also called non-ECC) modules do not have an error-detecting feature.
• Personal computing
• Motherboards and RAID cards
• Digital electronics
• Servers and networking
• Printers and imaging
MIL-M-18787/302 - Modules, standard electronic memory, random access, code
MIL-M-28787/265 - Modules, standard electronic memory, read only, digital
Image Credit: Wintec Industries, Inc. (1,3) | Digi-Key Corporation (2) | <urn:uuid:c5fb3bc6-0420-4cc8-a787-e345683d6725> | http://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/analog_digital_ics/memory/memory_modules | en | 0.814702 | 0.148684 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Ambiguous types
Ashley Yakeley
Mon, 21 Jan 2002 02:19:01 -0800
At 2002-01-21 02:04, Koen Claessen wrote:
>But from the type you give the function `emptyList':
> emptyList :: Ord a => [a]
>we cannot derive that the type of the function `emptyList'
>does not matter for its result. So, the type checker will
That's it! Consider:
class C a where
emptyList :: [a]
instance C Int where
emptyList = []
instance C Char where
emptyList = "Hello"
Clearly emptyList has type "(C a) => [a]"...
So in the original example, (validActions actor) cannot be compared to
the empty list because its value may depend on the type of u. This would
not be possible if there were no (Action u) context.
Ashley Yakeley, Seattle WA | <urn:uuid:ca24beaa-853b-4237-bbd0-30efff84f63d> | http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/haskell-cafe/2002-January/002567.html | en | 0.810281 | 0.304577 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Arsonists add to disaster
By Greg Ansley
Youths charged with setting fires as flames ravage tinder-dry nation.
Arsonists are exacting their toll as Australia's bushfire crisis again deepens, with temperatures to soar to the low-40s in many eastern regions and no relief expected until at least next week.
Despite special police task forces, surveillance of known arsonists and warnings of penalties as severe as 25 years' jail, youths have been arrested after allegedly setting fires in tinder-dry grassland.
Other outbreaks, including fires that consumed hundreds of hectares, are being investigated as possible arson. Heavy fines have also been imposed on people ignoring total fire bans or starting outbreaks with sparks from tools such as angle grinders.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Bob Rogers warned of the potential consequences of arson as firefighters battle against about 100 firestorms, 18 of them still to be contained late yesterday.
"There are enough fires that start from either accidental or natural causes without dealing with fires that are started by morons who think it's a big joke to light fires in the bush," he said.
NSW Acting Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas said arsonists would be tracked down and punished.
"One fire deliberately lit is one too many and I can't condemn that strongly enough," he said.
"Something like that might be fun for a minute but at the end of the day it could result in people dying."
As the eastern states headed towards the crisis that has so far destroyed more than 100 homes, devastated grazing and cropland, killed thousands of head of stock and raged through forests and national parks, police began targeting known arsonists.
They were warned they would be watched and prevented from lighting fires.
The threat is well established with previous major fires - some causing death and huge property losses - started by arsonists.
The Australian Institute of Criminology estimates that up to half the 54,000 bushfires that erupt every summer across the continent are deliberately lit or start in suspicious circumstances. The annual costs run to A$1.6 billion ($2 billion).
Governments have responded with heavy penalties that range from 10 to 25 years' jail. If people die in a fire, convicted arsonists face life terms for murder or manslaughter.
A tough line is also taken against others who set campfires, carelessly start hazard reduction burning or shower sparks from agricultural or welding equipment, which can cause catastrophic firestorms.
The message is still failing to get through to some.
Two 16-year-old youths were arrested after nine fires were started in bushland near Sydney's Macquarie Fields, overnight on Thursday, three others appeared in court after fires in the western suburb of Shalvey, and three more were arrested in Newcastle.
Police are also investigating a suspicious fire at Lithgow, in the Blue Mountains, and another near Windsor, northeast of Sydney.
Police further separately charged two men after fires were lit during the total fire ban, and a 76-year-old Mudgee man was accused of sparking a large grassfire in Mudgee, in the Hunter Valley.
Meanwhile, NSW firefighters were late yesterday battling about 100 fires, including major outbreaks near Cooma, in the Snowy Mountains - Arsonists add to disaster
The fires are visible from the the International Space Station.Picture / AP
now raging out of control for days - at Yass, near Canberra, and Sussex Inlet on the state's South Coast.
The Yass fire has a diameter of 94km.
Residents have been warned to prepare for the worst.
Another fire at Deans Gap near Nowra on the South Coast has become more complex as flames near a former practice bombing range in Morton National Park littered with unexploded weapons.
The Rural Fire Services' Brett Loughlin told ABC radio that firefighters could not battle the blaze if it broke through to the former range.
"We can't do any water-bombing with aircraft or something like that in case the weight of the water when it hits the ground sets off any unexploded ordnance," he said.
"So it's a total no-fly zone and that will mean [if] the fire gets into that area, there's nothing we can do for it except wait for it on the other side."
In Victoria, a new outbreak northeast of the Goldfields city of Ballarat erupted late yesterday, although most other outbreaks had been contained during the cool respite of the past days.
The Bureau of Meteorology said soaring temperatures and strong, hot winds would continue until early next week, extending the crisis.
- NZ Herald
© Copyright 2014, APN Holdings NZ Limited
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Gunn & Moore Icon Multi-Function Adult Cricket Shoe (White - Black)
Released on 15 May 2013
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A multi-function cricket shoe that offers three levels of support and control.Firstly, an internal moulded TPR heel cradle protects the delicate heel area and locates the foot securely, maintaining the heel shape. Secondly, an injection moulded TPU external midfoot shank maintains rigidity throughout the foot arch, reducing injury from foot torsion, whilst reducing fatigue. Lastly, an injection moulded TPU outsole offers lateral support and durability, with strategically placed flex zones to allow the foot to roll naturally.The shoe has an ergonomic, low profile, compression moulded EVA midsole which provide lightweight support and cushioning. The mesh and leather upper increases the durability of the shoe while offering temperature control and air circulation throughout.The gusseted tongue construction helps prevent it from rolling and causing discomfort. There is an athletic and ergonomic last to create a sock-like fit and a full set of metal spikes and durastuds ensure excellent grip and traction.
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| <urn:uuid:3b617adc-659e-47b4-add5-97278100d08b> | http://www.play.com/Sports-Outdoors/Sports/4-/47047381/-/Product.html | en | 0.884511 | 0.026026 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Results 71 to 80 of 224
1. #71
I read they re-cast Jack Huston as Han. But when they started filming, he killed the entire Empire in five minutes and they decided that would be too short a movie.
Tommy, close your eyes.
2. #72
I could see Thomas Haden Church as Han Solo.
In Broken Trail, there was another actor playing an ally he had scenes with that reminded me of Han and Luke fighting together again.
How westerns play is a good indicator for how well Star Wars actors would do in the OT era since it's a space western.
The PT era focused more on a medieval knight era with the eager upstart apprentices (as even Obi-Wan was reckless when he charged Darth Maul after Qui-Gon was slain).
3. #73
I loved most of the EU stories, but I accept that to tread new ground in the movies, that they will have to mostly bulldoze what was done there. I am ok with that. Though I would be surprised if they didn't at least borrow from it.
As far as recasting, I am ok with that too. Could they get away with using some of them, i think so. Or just cast the originals at their current age and work the story around that. Honestly, either way, I'm ok with it, as long as it is GOOD.
4. #74
Vulture is reporting that Zack Snyder is developing a Star Wars film based on Seven Samurai, presumably outside the new trilogy as one of the many movies planned. I'm not big on Snyder's fast-mo/slow-mo shots and general over-stylization, and they did a sort of spin on Seven Samurai in The Clone Wars episode "Bounty Hunters," but if done well this could be pretty cool (if it turns out to be true at all).
5. #75
It must involve Jaxxon.
Tommy, close your eyes.
6. #76
7. #77
That one just felt so much like an internet rumor given life that I suspected it couldn't be true.
Darth Vader is becoming the Mickey Mouse of Star Wars.
"We named the dog 'Chewbacca'!"
8. #78
The Next Big Rumor is that JJ Abrams is directing, despite saying he wasn't going to. TheWrap, where the rumor originates, is of dubious credibility and lists their source as "an individual with knowledge of the production." I've already seen about 87 billion lightsaber lens flare jokes, but let's hold off on any more until LFL confirms, shall we?
9. #79
I can't wait to see the lens flares on the lightsabers!
Oh, I totally missed the last sentence of your post.
(Can I make jokes about lens flares on Stormtrooper crotches?)
Tommy, close your eyes.
10. #80
Kidding aside, if this is just rumor, a lot of sites are going to look stupid. I'm seeing "CONFIRMED!!" an awful lot on the interwebz right now. However, none of the stories indicate that the writers know what the word means.
Tommy, close your eyes.
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I think everyone understands that quarterbacks are overly protected by the officials and the league. I agree with fines being handed out for crushing defenseless receivers, but it's starting to get a little out of control.
James Harrison has been fined $125,000 so far and, quite frankly, only the hits against Cleveland can be considered malicious. Harrison is a competitor and tackles like all football players are taught: he drives through the ball carrier.
It's gotten to the point where defensive lineman are getting roughing-the-passer calls for accidentally brushing a quarterback's helmets with their hands.
This last episode of inconsistency involves Ndamukong Suh.
With Detroit leading Chicago by three, Jay Cutler decided to scramble for a first down. Suh tracked him down, giving the Bears QB a loving shove to the turf. Almost immediately, the yellow flags came raining down.
At first glance, it looked as if Suh gave him a forearm to the back, which is how the referee called it on the field. Upon replay, as you can see to your right, Suh just straight manhandled him.
When a quarterback leaves the pocket and is poised to run, the rules protecting them should be diminished. In this case, Cutler was recognized as somehow more defenseless then any other ball carrier. The call was obviously rushed. Due to the impact of Suh's strength, he was flagged for a personal foul that eventually led to the Bears' go-ahead touchdown.
Something has to give in the NFL.
They either need to be consistent, allow referees to look at penalties on replay for proper calls during the game, or let the players play. Having a personal foul help decide a game is a disheartening way to end such a hard-fought battle. It's happened time and time again, and I understand a penalty when it's a blatant offense. I feel bad for the players who just muscle up because it's their job, like Suh earlier today.
Just minutes ago, Steelers tight end Heath Miller got blasted in the head. He was obviously defenseless, and was there a flag?
It just seems like the referees pick their battles and the NFL picks fine amounts out of a hat. Richard Seymour was fined $50K for shoving Big Ben, yet Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan were only fined $25K each for ripping each others helmets off, going at it, UFC-style. I thought that would warrant an obvious suspension of some sort.
Could it be that Andre Johnson played on the NFL Network the following Thursday?
Please, NFL. Be consistent, or better yet: let them play football. | <urn:uuid:d4926f3d-4465-4cde-94a2-6206a4853f24> | http://www.thewrestlingtalk.com/forum/mma-breaking-news/160439-ndamukong-suh-gets-penalized-for-shoving-jay-cutler-in-the-no-fun-league.html | en | 0.977775 | 0.629115 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
We are all facing the challenge of communities 2.0, and as fast as it's growing up there are also parallel uses of those comunities. Almost since MySpace was with it's first step there were profiles made to promote movies, fast-food chains and a long list of various items. Well we can't blame them, it's a great way for marketers and the main, very cheap -free- . Now there's another trend which is creating communities for certain industries.
Why creating a MySpace and wait for others to find you? That's what they thought at IQONS, and so they created a Site for the Fashion Industry, so that new designers can show to the whole world why they should be the next Armani or Prada. There's another example alike in STUART, to connect Art collectors with artists. Well... it seems we have a new branch in the Community 2.0 tree, right? Let's see who will be the next. | <urn:uuid:ae9680eb-f8ad-4198-bc63-1487edbf9efc> | http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/using-social-networks-to-promote-your-work | en | 0.979584 | 0.853436 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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SLEEP Analysts decipher plots in dreams
Killing someone in a dream does not mean you want to murder someone; it represents change.
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The caller described a dream in which he was riding a moped with a pile of sawdust and an unbroken egg on his head.
Dream analyst Natalie Axberg picked apart each piece.
Sawdust comes from trees, which has to do with growth and understanding the subconscious mind. The head represents control; the egg, knowledge; and the moped is linked to balance.
"He was taking control," said Axberg, director of the Dallas School of Metaphysics. "He was taking in knowledge as a way to try to balance his identification."
Axberg and other volunteers stayed most of a recent weekend holed up in an old house in east Dallas unraveling people's dreams.
Death dreams
At the School of Metaphysics, which has its headquarters in Windyville, Mo., and has 16 branches, they've been researching dreams for more than 30 years. Beyond educating the public about dreams, volunteers want to put dreamers' minds at ease, especially those haunted by images of death, blood and destruction.
"Some people live in fear of their dreams because scary things happen in them, like their baby drowns," said Lisa Bold, who teaches at the Dallas school. "I want them to understand what those kinds of dreams mean."
As disturbing as those dreams are, they're not about death, she said. Death dreams are actually good because they mean something inside the person has changed.
How the person dies can make a difference in the way the dream is interpreted, said Teresa Martin, coordinator for the national hot line in Windyville.
"If you kill somebody (in your dream) it doesn't mean you have a secret desire to do that," she said. "It means there is a change; however, it's a forced change, just as a killing is a forced death."
Bold said dreams speak in images or the language of the mind and are connected to what happened 24 to 48 hours earlier.
"Everything in a dream -- the people, places, animals and things -- represents an aspect of the dreamer," she said. "It's all about you and the way you think."
Know the dreamer
But some say that dreams are far too complex to interpret without really knowing the dreamer.
"One of Freud's major contributions was the concept that the dream had to be looked at in the context of the dreamer," said Dr. John Herman, professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "Understanding the dreamer's life is critical to understanding the symbols in the dream."
Dream analysts said they look at the symbols, talk to the dreamer and then reason out what it all means. Everyone dreams, although people might not remember them. No dream is too obscure.
Martin recalled a college student's dream in which she turned into a black olive and ended up on a sandwich, about to be eaten.
"She was identifying so much with her learning as a student that she was becoming it," Martin said. "Food represents knowledge."
Dreams about cars are usually connected to the body or health concerns, Bold said. Dieters are prone to dream about car problems such as flat tires or empty gas tanks.
"A lot of people on diets have car dreams because they're not eating and they feel like they're running out of gas," Bold said.
Naked dreams
Some of the best dreams include music, which means the dreamer is feeling centered or peaceful. Dreams about being naked have to do with honesty.
"If you dream about being back in high school and you're naked, then there are parts of yourself you want to be honest about," Bold said.
"Dreams are messages from your soul," Bold said. "Everything in dreams is all about the truth."
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| <urn:uuid:77f32210-3081-445a-ac3f-5ef963c9d54c> | http://www.vindy.com/news/2005/apr/30/sleep-analysts-decipher-plots-in-dreams/ | en | 0.961155 | 0.056328 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Person:Antiochus III the Great (1)
Antiochus III the Great
b.abt 0241 BC
d.0187 BC
Facts and Events
Name Antiochus III the Great
Gender Male
Death[1] 0187 BC
Birth[1] abt 0241 BC
the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia
Antiochus III the Great (; c. 241 – 187 BC, ruled 222–187 BC) was a Seleucid Greek king and the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire. He ruled over the region of Syria and western Asia towards the end of the 3rd century BC. Rising to the throne at the age of eighteen in 223 BC, his early campaigns against the Ptolemaic Kingdom were unsuccessful, but in the following years Antiochus gained several military victories. His traditional designation, the Great, reflects an epithet he briefly assumed. He also assumed the title "Basileus Megas" (which is Greek for "Great King"), the traditional title of the Persian kings.
Declaring himself the "champion of Greek freedom against Roman domination", Antiochus III waged a war against the Roman Republic in mainland Greece in autumn of 192 BC only to be defeated.
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Antiochus III the Great. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with WeRelate, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
1. 1.0 1.1 Antiochus III the Great, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. (Online: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). | <urn:uuid:d95ba1b1-db92-46d9-ad1a-bd952a61d536> | http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Antiochus_III_the_Great_(1) | en | 0.89854 | 0.061945 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
I n response to an announcement by York City officials that the city would no longer be picking up the costs of holiday events, the York Dispatch editorial board posed this question on its Web poll:
"If no one steps forward to save it, there will be no tradi tional New Year's Eve cele bration next month in York. Officials in the cash-strapped city cut the event to save $35,000 in this year's budget.
"Who do you think should pay for events like these -- municipalities or private groups?
And the two options it offered as responses were: "Municipalities have no business spending money on anything but the necessities. If people want them, they should find a way to pay for them," or "Events like these are important to communities, and local governments are better able to afford them than anyone else. They're just being Scrooges."
York City's public works director, Jim Gross, even wrote a letter to the editor suggesting it's time for nonprofits to step up to the plate to fund these events, some with a long history in downtown York.
The cost to fund it all, he suggested, would be somewhere in the vicinity of $200,000 to $250,000 per year.
I don't know about anyone else, but in my neighborhood that's a lot of money.
And it's money that should not be coming out of the budget of any municipality or government agency.
Call me a Scrooge if you want, but that's not the purpose of government and not a reasonable use of taxpayer dollars.
So for me personally, there is only one solution to this crisis of funding for special events during holidays or at any time of year.
You want it, you pay for it. Consider it a user fee if you want.
Municipalities should not be picking up the tab. The function of governments, all of them including municipal, county, state and federal, should be focused on meeting the needs of society as a whole -- public works, streets, sidewalks, sewer systems, snow removal, public buildings, police, fire, the courts, parks, etc.
You'll notice I didn't include recreation or fun special events on that list. Providing a good time is not a government function. Not in my book anyway.
And no, I don't believe it's the responsibility of nonprofits to use money donated to them for any purpose other than supporting their core programming.
So where do we go from there?
In my mind, it's pretty simple. If you want an enjoyable afternoon or a fun night out, you should be willing to pay your own way.
No one has a right to expect someone else to put up the cash so you can have a good time for free. That's free-loading. And it's unacceptable.
Yes, it happens all the time. But it doesn't make it right.
People don't think twice about spending $50 or $100 a month to pay for a cell phone, but ask them to cough up $5 to enjoy the Halloween Parade or the Fourth of July concert/fireworks celebration and they act like you're asking for the world.
There are lots of folks out there who willingly pay $20 for a case of beer or $60 for a carton of cigarettes, but would refuse to pay $5 to attend a community special event.
The New Year's Eve celebration, for instance. Or YorkFest, the Olde York Street Fair, Bike Night and Light Up Night.
So what's the problem? Well, people are spoiled. They've become accustomed to going to almost every community event for free because someone else -- usually a government body, a business or a private donor with deep pockets -- has always picked up the tab.
They must think the money to pay for all these fun things grows on trees.
It doesn't.
The bottom line is the funding of special events is a matter of priorities for those who attend. Apparently their priorities include attending these events, but not paying for them.
So yes, York City officials are doing the right thing by slipping this noose before it chokes them to death. What little money they have to work with should be used for more important things.
And if the citizens of York County want these special events to continue, they'll pay for them. Out of their own pockets. No more mooching.
If it's important enough to them, they'll do it.
Or do without.
| <urn:uuid:a29b6189-9e21-4cbf-98d7-c5c4faa091e0> | http://www.yorkdispatch.com/food/ci_22114450/websubscribe | en | 0.961447 | 0.149346 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
A warm, late summertime day is on tap for Houston.
(National Weather Service)
(National Weather Service)
Track model forecasts for Tropical Storm Karen. (Weather Bell)
Track model forecasts for Tropical Storm Karen. (Weather Bell)
The storm will have minimal impacts on Texas.
O front, O cold front
In October I love thee
In December? No
Categories: Wake-Up Weather
Eric Berger
25 Responses
1. bg says:
Those high•ku’s crack me up.
2. Doug says:
Why do the Chron headline writers feel compelled to write misleading headlines? Right now, it’s “Karen Swirls Near Texas in the Gulf.”
3. gson says:
Would be nice if we had some cooler weather for Friday night football! Get’s might hot in those high school stadiums with no breeze!
Sunday is CONVERTIBLE DAY!!
4. Brazos says:
I’m waiting for the time when a “K” storm is named Katy.
5. Rusman says:
Why do all of your titles contain a bullet in between words and consonants? I’m usually pretty laid back, but for some reason it annoys me. Please get rid of it immediately!
6. marbleart says:
We are scheduled to visit our daughter this weekend, IN NEW ORLEANS! Most tracks of the storm appear to turn towards Alabama and the Florida gulf coast- and although some weather experts predict a weak Cat. 1, others are predicting tropical storm strength winds. What do you think about visiting New Orleans this weekend? Bad idea or probably OK?
• Eric Berger says:
I think it will probably be OK. Looks as if the storm is going to bend just east of NOLA, and if you’re on the west side you’ll see some heavy wind and rain most likely. It’s not going to be nice weather, but it’s not something that should be hazardous in the city itself. If you’re not planning a lot of outdoor activities, you should be OK.
If the track shifts back to coming in over NOLA, however, then you’ll have to think carefully about the trip.
7. Big Steve says:
This story is incoherent.
8. Eric:
Three To Find In The Big Easy:
1. Beignets.
2. Po-boys.
3. Remnants of Katrina.
To skip Karen, for a good reason-
At the end, of this hurricane
• #1 Andrew says:
Genius poem. Yeah, not really. Why is there a comma on the 2nd to last line? Come on Mary, time to come up with something more catchy, the three thing is getting old.
9. Ed says:
I thought you declared hurricane season over a couple of weeks ago?
10. susank says:
The first true cold front of the season always make me melancholy.
11. BT says:
Sorry, highs near 80 doesn’t sound like much of a cold front to me. Granted, 80 with low humidity is pretty nice, but a REAL cold front has days in the thirties. Nights in the teens or twenties. And me hollering for warm weather. (I’m kinda hard to please.)
12. Henry says:
Considering yesterday there was an article about how dry, dry, dry we are about to get…this storm would have been welcomed. | <urn:uuid:1213161a-b13e-4fa8-84a0-8068357ee180> | http://blog.chron.com/weather/2013/10/wake-up-weather-as-karen-swirls-in-the-gulf-texas-awaits-a-strong-cool-front/?cmpid=hpts | en | 0.923592 | 0.134759 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
dealsacross the universe [blu-ray]: evan rachel wood…
good music, the description doesn't mention this but it's all Beatles songs. i didn't like this movie at first but a roommate loved it so i watched it several times and ended up loving it too. the lead male actor is the same guy who played lead in "21" the movie about the MIT kids who counted cards in Vegas
My wife's friend loaned this movie to us. I loved it, my wife hated it. From what I've read online it seems most people don't like this movie, but a small minority absolutely love it (like me).
The movie covers the turbulent, chaotic 60's - war, drugs, sexual revolution, etc.... Yes, a cliche.
But it is really well-done, frequently conveying the story through Beatles songs sung by the characters.
I'd guess this must be like an opera (though I don't know true opera and am just guessing). | <urn:uuid:8e33f7e8-ba58-491b-a9b3-f5d1ec0784e3> | http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/b2e38bd6-3104-4367-989d-f3d08fd9e2e5/across-the-universe-blu-ray-evan-rachel-wood-jim-sturgess-joe-anderson-dana | en | 0.973187 | 0.771391 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
I want a python script that tells me the Xmin, Xmax, Ymin, and Ymax of a polygon. (I guess this is finding the extent of a polygon?)
My current script gives me the correct the Xmin and Xmax, but it gives me the Ymin and Ymax of the data frame. I want the Ymin and Ymax of a polygon.
Here is my current code:
# Specify the shapefile
shapeFile = "C:/Big_Creek_MapUnits.shp"
# Use the describe function
desc = arcpy.Describe(shapeFile)
# Print stuff out
Anyone have any solutions or tips?
share|improve this question
Thank you. I mean polygon. – user1191849 Sep 18 '12 at 7:16
add comment
2 Answers
up vote 7 down vote accepted
Answered here: How to get the extent of each polygon in a shapefile?
rows = arcpy.SearchCursor(inFeatures)
shapeName = arcpy.Describe(inFeatures).shapeFieldName
for row in rows:
feat = row.getValue(shapeName)
extent = feat.extent
print extent.XMin,extent.YMin,extent.XMax,extent.YMax
share|improve this answer
add comment
share|improve this answer
add comment
Your Answer
| <urn:uuid:a572e5a0-1de6-4368-a17a-a5247d4b040f> | http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/33679/trouble-finding-ymin-and-ymax-of-a-shapefile-in-arcmap-10-and-arcpy | en | 0.767605 | 0.752181 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Planning A Wedding Is No Big Deal
A funny thing happened the other day when we drinking heavily at a bar in DC with our college friend Mike. His fiancée didn't show up to meet us, and we began to wonder whether there was a reason we hadn't received our "Save The Date" notices yet. Good thing the next sentence out of his mouth was, "Would you believe some people thought they hadn't been invited because they hadn't gotten Save The Date notices?" Ha! "How absurd is the 'Save The Date'? Anyone who expects a "Save The Date" so they can cross out their weekend nine months in advance should just forget about coming altogether, they're clearly too important to be our friends." We decided Mike, whose lady assured us that he did more than his share of their wedding planning, would be the perfect wedding planner for us in the event (heh) THAT happens, and commissioned him to write this short opinion piece, "Planning A Wedding Is No Big Deal And If You Think It Is The Terrorists Have Won."
Put down that $10 copy of the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. Stop watching Bridezillas. And no matter how much you long for validation from all the other brides who also obsess over every last detail, step the hell away from The Knot. Because planning a wedding is just not that fucking hard.
My fiancée and I are getting married in October and, as far as we can tell, the whole thing is pretty much planned already. This fact seems to stun people who, upon learning of our elaborate plan to wed, assume that commiserating over how tremendously stressed out about this awesome responsibility we must be is a bulletproof small-talk strategy. Sure, we both know people who spent hours and hours in the months before their weddings running around from meeting to meeting, updating their personalized pages or generally going berserk over the whole thing. But instead of being stressed out, we're mostly confused about what, exactly, is supposed to be so complicated about this that there are already two editions of Wedding Planning For Dummies. We've dealt with the whole thing ourselves, with no hired-gun consultant overseeing it and hardly any logistical input from either set of parents (though they are helping to foot some of the bill, which FYI is coming in just under the national average of $37,000). And we're not doing some radically scaled-down anti-wedding, either — we're having a Saturday night party in Washington, D.C., with more than 120 guests, a live band, plenty of flowers, etc. (Though according to Macy's, we're "happy hipsters," so who knows, maybe the whole thing will wind up coming off like a bad night at Misshapes.)
Here's what we did: we went to see some venues. They're in the phone book, guys! You can just walk right in and look around! We found one that could accomodate an open bar for all of our friends for a decent price. We sacrificed top shelf liquor in the name of the budget, but we knew from experience that well booze gets you just as drunk as the expensive stuff. If not drunker. We tried to get away with not inviting our billions of young cousins, but when my aunt pulled a fast one on us and got the kids lobbying, we gave up — but I think we've got good leverage to make the cousins babysit our future kids for free. Then we called a talent agency, which sent us a DVD with demos of bands. We watched the DVDs and chose one. They even let us check them out in person first. Then we found a rabbi who wouldn't mind starting the ceremony a bit before sundown on a Saturday. The rabbi was the hardest part. It wasn't that hard.
It's one thing to get all freaked out over your wedding if you're the kind of asshole who wants a "long bar made completely from ice and monogrammed with (your) initials," serve "signature Matt-tinis and Love-mopolitans" to your guests or do your hora-ing on a "custom-made white dance floor." If that all sounds good to you, there's no cure for your egotism, and apparently you've decided the world is perfect and you can waste money instead of giving to charity, so by all means, go crazy.
But for the rest of us, despite what Jezebel reported a few months ago, it's just not true that "once you're in it, you're in it, you gotta have the best band, the best flowers, the best dress."
There's no reason to bother meeting with more and more vendors if you've found someone whose work you like and whose price fits your budget. Is it possible that someone getting married across town from us is going to have better flowers? Maybe, but our guests won't know, so we don't care. (Besides, does such a thing as "better flowers" even exist? Oh, you know what? Fuck you.) If you actually know anyone who cares that your tablecloths don't match the colors on your invitations, tell them that you're very sorry, but they received the invitation in error and you hope they'll make alternate plans for the evening. If you never start worrying about that kind of bullshit, it'll never have the chance to take over your life.
And if you can remember that the basic goal of your guests will be to a) try to get their money's worth in booze and food for all the gifts they had to buy you and b) get laid, it's easy not to go too overboard. It's just a big party! Just like all the other parties you've thrown in your life! Okay, with a rabbi/priest/minister/imam/whatever, fine, but they're just stoked they didn't have to buy you gifts. Trust me, a little open-bar scotch and any decent imam will overlook the flaws in your color scheme.
All the manufactured stress does seem to underscore the one truly excellent insight in Rebecca Mead's new book (I mean, at this point haven't we all beento enough weddings to know that, duh, shit's gotten out of hand?): that with more and more couples living together before marriage, there's no actual, legitimate traumatic event at the end of a wedding anymore. (Well, unless you're, ahem, "saving yourself for marriage"). Instead of losing their minds because they're moving out of their parents' house and starting a new life with a man they don't know that well, brides lose their minds because they can't find monogrammed flower pots or because they don't know how wide their chair ties are.
So brides of America, chill the fuck out! You have nothing to lose but your chains. And your full-length trains. Remember, it's not like you have real problems. | <urn:uuid:62a7ccc3-8cc8-45ed-b212-816cc2edd961> | http://jezebel.com/284985/planning-a-wedding-is-no-big-deal | en | 0.970833 | 0.070641 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
How do I find the album and user for the imgur deeplinked image "http://i.imgur.com/JNwPo.png", and for imgur deeplinked images in general?
I tried googling "link:http://i.imgur.com/JNwPo.png" (no quotes) to no avail.
Is there an imgur-specific way to do this and/or is this intentional: imgur doesn't want to map deeplinked images to users/albums? (although a brute force algorithm on each image/user would still work)
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Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question. | <urn:uuid:8f9422ab-393a-43c5-a793-337beb36282a> | http://webapps.stackexchange.com/questions/37395/album-user-for-deep-link-http-i-imgur-com-jnwpo-png | en | 0.879097 | 0.742432 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
I'm not a stock photographer by any means, but I love both color negs and slides. In my experience, color negs are a lot easier to shoot, but color slides are far easier to scan/color correct/etc. Both look great, so I see no reason why it should be a huge issue for you. Personally, I find Ektar to be hit or miss and really like the roll of Fuji Reala that I've shot. Give that one a try next just for comparison's sake. | <urn:uuid:a5ddd257-1917-4500-9024-cba3e8096c2c> | http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=1278404 | en | 0.958054 | 0.179103 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
What Does Umi Mean?
The name Umi means sea in Japanese and it is a word with a huge influence in the Asian community. However, it is a logotype of a hotel in London (Umi London) which acts as a synapse-joining staff, guests and nationalities allowing a constant flow of communication through everyone who comes into contact with the Umi brand.
Q&A Related to "What Does Umi Mean?"
1. Start with your feet placed together and bend your knees just a little. Stand tall through your torso and roll your shoulders back. Lengthen your neck and keep your arms at your
Umi is the name of an Etsy seller's cat which she picked up from the shelter a little while back.
Alpha Ursae Minoris, or Polaris, has a magnitude of 1.97. It is also a Population I (high metal content, like our sun) Cepheid variable star, which means its magnitude changes over
University Museums in Scotland (preservation organization; various locations)
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Umi means umi, u-m-i as the alphabet is, it means thank you, when someone says umi in vietnamese it means thank you.So umi is said after welcome That is what umi ...
Umi is a boy's name of African origin meaning 'life'. Its variant form is Umee and it sounds similar to Am, Em and Jimi. It is not a popular first name for men ... | <urn:uuid:090cb153-13ec-48dd-a9e6-c9f5d17455b1> | http://www.ask.com/question/what-does-umi-mean | en | 0.896092 | 0.15088 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
For the people wondering why it's not on steam.
#1UbersuntzuPosted 9/17/2010 11:03:05 PM
There's a song that the owner (not sure if it's the band or the record label) wanted to use to renegotiate higher royalties in digital distribution. Eidos never bothered to take it out, so until they deal with that (if they ever do) it stays off Steam. I can't remember the name of the band or the record label, but I got this info off the Steam forums so you should be able to find it there.
Tenchu Wiki | <urn:uuid:bfc0505c-581d-4f9d-8094-f769e810f17d> | http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/918782-hitman-contracts/56419976 | en | 0.947228 | 0.975346 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
US Enterprise, Enbridge reverse flow of Seaway oil pipeline
17 May 2012 19:23 [Source: ICIS news]
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US-based mid-stream company Enterprise Products and Enbridge have finished reversing the flow of the Seaway oil pipeline, allowing crude to flow from the over-supplied storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, to the US Gulf coast, the nation's petrochemical hub, the companies said on Thursday.
The first flows of crude should happen by this weekend, the company said.
The reversal will initially provide 150,000 bbl/day of capacity, the companies said. That should rise to more than 400,000 bbl/day in the first quarter of 2013.
The reversal could reduce the price gap between West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude and pricier crude grades used on the Gulf coast and east coast. WTI was discounted because it was trapped at the Cushing hub. Meanwhile, other crude grades, such as Louisiana light sweet crude, took pricing cues from the more expensive Brent crude.
The advent of shale oil also contributed to the supply glut for mid-western grades such as WTI.
Pipelines bring these grades into the Cushing oil hub in Oklahoma, but there is not enough outgoing pipeline capacity. Since refineries outside of the midwest cannot access the oil, the crude supplies are at a surplus.
The price gap between the two exceeded $20/bbl in mid September.
By mid-day, WTI was trading at $92.95/bbl compared with $108.33/bbl for Brent, a difference of $15.38/bbl.
Additional reporting by Bobbie Clark and Sheena Martin
By: Al Greenwood
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ICIS Global Petrochemical Index (IPEX) | <urn:uuid:f224e576-a7eb-421d-9637-d5ad10455f1e> | http://www.icis.com/Articles/2012/05/17/9560881/us-enterprise-enbridge-reverse-flow-of-seaway-oil-pipeline.html | en | 0.917243 | 0.032509 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
User Score
Mixed or average reviews- based on 59 Ratings
User score distribution:
1. Positive: 34 out of 59
2. Negative: 5 out of 59
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1. Jul 16, 2013
A very entertaining film that has some hilarious stuff to share and some great acting (especially from Glenn Close). Overall, the film is very entertaining and it sticks to the Disney's animated film very well. I really enjoy this film.
2. Mar 16, 2013
This, for me, is truly something of a unique film. It has all the corniness and cheap slapstick of a plethora of other comedies cashing in on popular trends which in this case, was "Home Alone" while otherwise being painfully sappy. Yet, for some reason, "101 Dalmatians" doesn't bother me when it's corny. And I think it's because it's so thoroughly and consistently corny that you just end up buying into this strange pseudo-cartoon world they build. It knows how silly it is and just enjoys itself nonetheless, and the result is a movie you really just can't help but like. It's so innocent and fluffed with lighthearted chuckle that it's very hard to call it unenjoyable, no matter how bad one might consider it. And of course, you have Glenn Close turning in a gleefully over-the-top performance as Cruella DeVil who, by the way, turns everything she touches into some awesome piece of art direction and an affectionately charming and humorous Hugh Laurie as one of her bumbling dognappers. This was never meant to be taken seriously. That's clear from the start. And I honestly have to call it a guilty pleasure. Expand
3. Dec 23, 2012
Entertaining film but surreal.
4. Oct 3, 2011
I know that this film is an epic, but I will not be influenced by this or I will base my critique on the fact that a film is epic or not. I actually think the movie a big failure in cinematic terms. But for watching with family at times like Christmas or Easter is perfect, and the kids do not dislike.
5. Nov 6, 2010
not terrible, but not that good.
6. FaiK
Jan 28, 2007
i just like the part that all the dogs barks to send news about the puppies
Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critics
Critic score distribution:
1. Positive: 8 out of 20
2. Negative: 3 out of 20
1. 63
2. 38
3. Though this film's considerable warmth derives from dalmatian puppies and other animals who take charge of their fates, Close steals the show. | <urn:uuid:c34f8ca7-ab0d-4d82-b9da-dec8a698b5de> | http://www.metacritic.com/movie/101-dalmatians/user-reviews?sort-by=most-active&num_items=100&dist=neutral | en | 0.95208 | 0.076963 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Tuvalu's Army
This weekend, it's time for the Copenhagen dealmakers to hear from… you.
| Fri Dec. 11, 2009 6:29 PM GMT
Nearly two decades after writing a book that popularized the term "global warming," MoJo contributing writer Bill McKibben founded 350.org. He is chronicling his journey into organizing with a series of columns about the global climate summit in Copenhagen. You can find the others hereCheck out MoJo's live stream of collaborative Copenhagen coverage here.
The various parties to the climate change debate have been staking out their positions over the last week. They go something like this.
The US: We're not going to do much, and China better do a lot.
China: Wha??
In the midst of this potential trainwreck, a moment of deep sanity arrived yesterday, when the Alliance of Small Island States, which is an association of small nations surrounded on all sides by water, and the water is rising, introduced a draft of a real treaty that would actually do something about climate change. It called for swift action to reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere to 350 ppm—which would be hard as hell to accomplish. It would require putting the planet on a wartime footing, and spending twenty years devoting most public effort to speeding the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. It would require diverting money from other things, like, say, military budgets. And all we'd get in return is what we already have, or used to: a working planet.
It's such a sensible idea that it will probably be enough to unite China and the US and the other "great powers" in stamping it out—there are already hair-curling rumors of the kind of pressure and enticement being put on small nations to cave before they embarrass the carbon culprits.
But before that happens, there is one more party staking out its position that weekend, and that's civil society. The rest of us. People.
The media will focus on the big march in Copenhagen today, which is expected to draw tens of thousands. (I spent the other night at the art warehouse that 350.org is running on the edge of town, and can predict that the parade is going to look very cool, though I can also predict that the media will focus all its attention on how many folks show up in black hoodies to fight with the police).
But the more important mobilization is going on in thousands of places around the world. A coalition of groups—Tcktcktck, Avaaz, 350, Oxfam, and so on—has been organizing candlelight vigils in every corner of the world. They're a way for people to express their incredibly deep hopes for progress from these talks, hope that I hear in dozens and dozens of emails a day from every point of the compass. And it's a way to send a message to the delegates here. If you're a brave nation, we've got your back—Tuvalu may lack an army but for the weekend it's got one spread out across the earth. If you're a "leader" that's passing the buck, we notice. We may not be able to stop you, but we understand what's going on, and exactly what it means.
By Monday we'll have young people holding hundreds of images of those candlelight vigils inside the conference hall. Maybe they'll cast a little reflected glow in the gathering gloom.
| <urn:uuid:baf7b694-d298-478a-b2e2-6c1abd2b21c0> | http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/12/tuvalus-army-mckibben-350-copenhagen | en | 0.960271 | 0.284367 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
1. Music
Bjork’s Biophilia concert review: Sea urchin on her face
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My Rating
From swan dress to moon child, Bjork sonically explores the science of the natural world in her Biophilia tour. Crazy wigs went...
2. Music
Pussy Riot members flee Russia, lawyer files appeal
While it may seem like a pointless endeavor, the band's lawyer today filed an appeal for the three band members in jail. But the...
3. Celebrity Obituaries
The world celebrates Alexander McQueen
Max 5 stars
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In February, the world lost a fashion icon in Alexander McQueen. Monday, those who loved McQueen said their final goodbyes. | <urn:uuid:7418de63-54eb-492b-98c4-66d3dc3048f9> | http://www.sheknows.com/tags/bjork | en | 0.855571 | 0.027407 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
British politics back to normal
I have been observing British politics since the early 1960s, and I have noticed a common pattern: Until the 1990s, the party in power has most of the time been behind in the polls.
It struck me that Brits had some visceral sense that expressing disapproval in polls placed some limits on the prime minister's theoretically dictatorial powershe (or she) can get practically any legislation he (or she) wants through the House of Commons but is likely to be restrained from going too far by public opinion. Tony Blair and his New Labor Party changed that pattern: From 1997 up through the 2005 election, Blair has generally enjoyed positive job ratings and has been favored over the leader of the Conservative Party.
Now that has changed. The Conservatives' new leader David Cameron is now preferred to Blair. In the same poll, Conservatives lead Labor and the Liberal Democrats 39 to 33 to 18 percentalmost enough to win them a majority of seats. (New Labor manipulated the redistricting process much more skillfully than Conservatives, and so the latter have to win a superplurality over Labor to get an absolute majority in the House of Commons. Those percentages, according to this Web site, would produce a House of Commons with 306 Conservatives, 287 Laborites, and 22 Liberal Democrats. If that were the result, presumably the Labor prime minister would advise the queen to call on the Conservative leader to form a government. That government's fate would depend on some combination of the Lib Dems, Scots Nationalists, Plaid Cymru, and Northern Irish parties (the British parties don't run candidates in Northern Ireland.) | <urn:uuid:61ccc8c9-451a-4f60-a66f-833818bd9885> | http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/barone/2006/07/05/british-politics-back-to-normal | en | 0.962273 | 0.310162 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Peanut butter and jelly. Peas and carrots. Forest and Jenny. Bert and Ernie. Abbot and Costello. Sports and data? Of course. By now we all have probably heard of Billy Beane and his Moneyball. The main idea is that as …
Big Data: Not Just for Nerds Anymore
• By Yaniv Mor, Xplenty
• 4:02 PM
Image: StuffEyeSee/Flickr
By now we all have probably heard of Billy Beane and his Moneyball. The main idea is that as GM of the tightly budgeted Oakland A’s, Beane was tasked with assembling a competitive team while contending with very tight purse strings. So what did he do? He determined a player’s potential fit on the team by examining stats like OBP (on base percentage), spray charts showing what part of the park hitters tend to hit the ball, hot zones that show what part of the strike zone the hitter uses the most for hits, and so on.
In doing this, Beane constructed teams that were always competitive, but never great. Although Beane was using stats for his own team, the use of data didn’t actually take off until the least athletic people in the world made it popular: Fantasy sports nerds.
Now before fantasy nerds get their imaginary jocks in a twist over my use of the word nerd, I’ve been playing fantasy sports for a good 20 years. In fact, my first fantasy baseball league was a scoring system devised by a man we’ll call Nino. Before Yahoo, CBS,, and all the others had their robust systems, Nino League utilized various ratios to value certain players. Two stats immediately come to mind, WHIP and K/9. WHIP stands for Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched. This is an overall indicator of the efficacy of a pitcher, by measuring the average amount of hitters the pitcher allows to get on base per inning. So if a pitcher has a WHIP of 1.3 or lower, he’s doing ok. Anything below 1.2 is really good, and once we’re below 1.0 you’re looking at a real stud.
K’s per 9 is a ratio that takes the amount of strikeouts a pitcher has, divides it by the amount of innings pitched, and multiplies that figure by nine. Basically, the higher the K’s per nine, the better.
Not only is this data used for figuring out fantasy points, but these days, owners want to see what’s happening to their teams in real-time. This means that robust systems are using technologies like Hadoop to take real time stats and display them so fantasy managers can see exactly what is happening to their team the moment it happens.
But stats are just for nerds anymore. The real league has picked up on it as well. Now teams have real time heat zones so they can relay to their pitchers the best way to avoid a hitter’s sweet spot and what pitch to throw and where to get him to swing and miss. Want to see how a team will respond to you putting a lefty on the mound? Just do some sorting and filtering to see only the games in which they faced a lefty, bust out those handy heat zones and spray charts, and you have a pretty decent idea of what the game plan should look like. This is not to take anything away from the athletes themselves. Games aren’t played on paper (or in cyberspace). These guys will always continue to excel in spite of the advantages afforded to their opponents. It’s called making adjustments.
Baseball isn’t the only sport to embrace big data usage. Car racing teams have been doing this for quite some time. They put sensors on their cars to measure everything from gas consumption to tire grip.
Bicyclists monitor heart rates and wheel rpm. Just to name a couple.
Heck even cricket teams use big data to measure, um, whatever it is that cricket players do.
The use of big data in sports has become so widespread that universities have departments devoted to it. Take the University of Arizona for example. They have a sports data mining section of their artificial intelligence department.
Websites like Sportstechie are devoted solely to the use of technology in sports.
Companies like SAP, who aren’t sports oriented, are jumping in as well. SAP has signed a deal with the NBA so that all stats are readily available and visible to the fans. What better way to get fans involved than to have them see what exactly is going on at all times?
Some people may argue that all of the data use is taking the fun out of sports, that they yearn for the days of yesteryear when people relied on gut instinct. I personally think there is a right mix of both, that will make sports more and more competitive, and as a result, more fun to watch.
Now if you’ll excuse me, my fantasy baseball team is in the playoffs, and I have to set my roster for today’s games.
Yaniv Mor is co-founder of Xplenty, which offers a platform-as-a-service powered by Hadoop.
Originally posted by: | <urn:uuid:f01077f4-db82-4462-a50d-54e675e0c061> | http://www.wired.com/insights/2013/10/big-data-not-just-for-nerds-anymore/ | en | 0.96691 | 0.035002 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The distant city overlooks your grace
Strange angels make your strong, unyielding form
And while, alone, you make a tragic case
I'd trust in you that you'd weather the storm
Was there ever a face inside the dark?
Did crooked windows help to let in light?
Was your owner awakened by the lark?
In wartime were you shattered in the fight?
The city, cruel and charmless, seems to be
Determined to forget your lonely past
But we are prey to our own history
What once was there, may now return, at last
Would you desire life to be lived in there?
Or would you claim that solitude's more fair? | <urn:uuid:bc198a3f-c74b-453a-a23b-5d3766b6c45b> | https://www.fictionpress.com/s/1667341/1/The-Blue-House | en | 0.959736 | 0.059964 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Best matches, sorted by the Matches.
1-20 of 20 possibilities
stop sleeping awake , wake
lodge offering a sleeping room and a morning meal bed-and-breakfast
room used primarily for sleeping bedchamber , bedroom , chamber , sleeping room
furnished sitting room with sleeping accommodations (and some plumbing) bedsit , bedsitter , bedsitting room
frame for sleeping bedstead
sleeping cap biggin , nightcap , Pullman
someone who occupies the same sleeping quarters as yourself bunkmate
sleeping for a short period of time (usually not in bed) catnap , cat sleep , forty winks , nap , short sleep , snooze
compartment on a European passenger train; contains 4 to 6 berths for sleeping couchette
sleeping quarters for a number of people dorm , dormitory
large sleeping room containing several beds dormitory , dormitory room , dorm room
private compartment on a sleeping car with three bunks and a toilet drawing room
sleeping sickness encephalitis lethargica , sleepy sickness
frequently prescribed sleeping pill (trade name ProSom) estazolam , ProSom
bloodsucking African fly; transmits sleeping sickness etc. glossina , tsetse , tsetse fly , tzetze , tzetze fly
form of benzodiazepine (trade name Halcion) frequently prescribed as a sleeping pill; usually given to people who have trouble falling asleep Halcion , triazolam
sleeping, excessive hypersomnia
sleeping pill hypnotic , narcotic , opiate , sedative , soporific
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• Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature | <urn:uuid:294ab9df-02f6-4040-8f50-67617293f684> | http://dictionary.reference.com/reverseresults?q=sleeping&db=reverse | en | 0.797838 | 0.161143 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
lotofxpath = arrayofmanyxpaths.map{|s| "\"" + s + "\""}.join(",")
puts lotofxpath #=> "/html/body/a[1]", "/html/body/a[2]"
newb = doc.xpath(lotofxpath).to_a
this will not work, and complain about invalid xpath.
however, copying pasting the output string
newb = doc.xpath("/html/body/a[1]", "/html/body/a[2]").to_a
will work without problems!!!
what is happening here ?
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up vote 1 down vote accepted
In the first case you end up calling Nokogiri as follows
newb = doc.xpath("\"/html/body/a[1]\", \"/html/body/a[2]\"").to_a
and this is not the right Ruby syntax to accomplish what you are trying to do. The right way is
newb = doc.xpath(*arrayofmanyxpaths).to_a
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| <urn:uuid:b376f273-20b1-48d9-842d-707d9ff22c78> | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1808341/nokogiri-invalid-xpath | en | 0.813573 | 0.736199 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Hearing of the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement of the House Judiciary Committee - H.R. 3808, Scott Gardner Act
By: Elton Gallegly
Date: March 7, 2012
Location: Unknown
Drunken driving is a serious crime that resulted in 10,839 deaths in 2009.
In a recent and egregious example, Carlos Martinelly-Montano drove while drunk, crashed into an oncoming car, killing one passenger and critically injuring two others. According to an ICE report, Montano had been arrested for drunken driving twice and reckless driving once. In two of the three cases, his immigration status was never checked -- even though he was convicted and sent to jail for the first offense.
Even when he was placed in ICE "custody" after his second DUI arrest, he was released into the streets with a GPS device. However, GPS monitoring doesn't prevent a released criminal from driving drunk. And we know that drunken drivers involved in fatal crashes are eight times more likely to have a prior drunken driving conviction than other drivers.
On August 1, 2010, Montano got behind the wheel of his vehicle yet again after he had been drinking heavily. This time, tragically, he plowed into a car with three Catholic nuns inside, killing one and severely injuring the two others. Montano was subsequently convicted of felony murder and involuntary manslaughter.
The report claims that Montano would have been detained under subsequent ICE guidelines because he was a repeat offender and he demonstrated himself to be a danger to public safety. However, an anonymous ICE official stated that two drunken driving incidents by an illegal immigrant "aren't enough to warrant detention." There is absolutely no reason for the administration's outrageous policy.
Montano is not an isolated case. In June 2011, an illegal immigrant and habitual drunk driver named Saul Chavez ran over and killed Dennis McCann of Chicago. Chavez had recently finished a sentence of two years of probation for an earlier aggravated drunken driving offense. Chavez was apprehended at the scene of the crime and booked in a Cook County jail. ICE issued a detainer on Chavez, who already had a prior criminal record. The Cook County Jail ignored the detainer and allowed Chavez to post bond. Chavez has since failed to appear in court.
How many people must die before illegal immigrant drunk drivers are detained and removed? Why is it that they are not a priority for our administration? Congress has no choice but to act since the administration apparently is not going to. Rep. Myrick's bill solves the problem and ensures that illegal immigrants who drink and drive are detained and processed by ICE.
The bill contains common sense measures that:
I strongly support this bill. It ensures that public safety is maintained, that the law is enforced, and that dangerous killers are removed from our communities. | <urn:uuid:61fbc05b-deb6-4854-a894-e00d50b62302> | http://votesmart.org/public-statement/676011/hearing-of-the-subcommittee-on-immigration-policy-and-enforcement-of-the-house-judiciary-committee-hr-3808-scott-gardner-act?flavour=mobile | en | 0.976176 | 0.215257 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Reaction: Shell Smash becomes a non-exclusive Move Tutor move
#11noname2lazyPosted 3/26/2013 3:32:39 PM
Mew becomes Uber?
#12AuroraSonicBeam(Topic Creator)Posted 3/26/2013 3:35:00 PM
Gheb posted...
AuroraSonicBeam posted...
Gheb posted...
That wouldn't even make sense.
It should be excluded to only Pokemon that have shells.
And Mew :) I was referring to moves such as Draco Meteor or Secret Sword
Black 2: 0820-1866-0181
#13lulzacePosted 3/26/2013 3:42:07 PM
Imagine contrary Draco
Official Kyuubi No Kitsune of the SMT IV Boards.
Plz let SMTxFE Hito-Shura have Freikugel!
#14Exkzol_CqistPosted 3/26/2013 3:46:03 PM
Shell Smash + Simple + White Herb
PSN Name: Exkzol Pkmn White:4899-5281-5555
Playing: Pokemon White, Golden Sun DS, DK Wii, Castlevania (PS3), LBP2 | <urn:uuid:2d83a4fd-01b9-4e37-be02-e5100068135b> | http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/696959-pokemon-x/65796492?page=1 | en | 0.721149 | 0.810064 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Question from StellaRella
Asked: 4 years ago
How often do I get new extra quests from Wifi?
So far I have received up to quest 131-5 but these few days i have not received any new quests and guests when connecting to wifi. I'm sure it's available, but why doesn't it show up at all as if the developers have not updated these quests online yet. But there seems to be some people have completed or downloaded all of them. Hope someone could suggest what i could do or am I missing something?
Submitted Answers
They're released about every 2 weeks. The people that completed them either are playing the Japanese version or used a cheat device to unlock the quests.
Rated: +1 / -0
So that's why there are some faqs in how to complete the extra quests, must be they have completed the japanese version.
Rated: +0 / -2
In America you get a new quest on a friday
Rated: +1 / -1
In Japan, all the DLC quest are complete, but in the US, they processing all the remaining quest. Just wait, it will be completed just check it every Friday.
Rated: +1 / -1
The most recent quest available in both UK and US is 'Nightmarey Questmas' . If I remember right, it is Quest #154.
Rated: +1 / -1
How do you these quests?
Rated: +0 / -3
What about in the uk?
Rated: +0 / -0
if I remember correctly, the last quest (#184) was available for download at the end of June 2011 or in July in North America and UK
Rated: +0 / -0
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Question from GamingsClone
Asked: 5 years ago
Alright, so my dad sent me his PS3 he had in the states set up to his HDMI tv and he plans to send me an HDMI TV in about a month but, since the setting is on HDMI I cant use it on my component tv so i need to change it to component. I want to know how many times i have to press certain buttons till get to settings menu go down to video settings and switch from HDMI to either component or S-video.
Submitted Answers
Just hold down the power button for like five seconds i think it should beep twice then it should reset the visual settings.
Rated: +0 / -0
It should be noted that the PS3 needs to be off when you do this.
Turn the PS3 off, then hold down the power button basically until you see it change on the TV!
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Take the 2-minute tour ×
I have a bunch of new LEGO sets because of my new status as an AFOL. I've got them sitting on the dresser in a room that gets indirect sunlight (see below). There is no direct rays hitting the LEGO sets. Do I need to worry about discoloration?
Here are some pics of the room:
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no. they will not. only megablocks may. – LegoBoy Aug 29 '12 at 22:29
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4 Answers
up vote 12 down vote accepted
I have to disagree somewhat with the other answer in that I do not think it is quite as cut and dried as a simple "no".
There are several factors to consider:
• How old is the glass in the windows in the room? Older glass tends to be less effective at UV diffusion/blocking though really if the glass has been made in the last 50-70 years it's probably fairly safe for UVA, but not necessarily UVB. UVB does not discolor things as quickly but still has an effect. Part of that as well is how many panes are there. Older and/or less expensive windows tend to have fewer panes while newer and/or more expensive windows tend to have more panes and thus more filtering.
• What type of glass is in the windows? If it's just plain clear glass then there is less protection then mirrored, tinted, or specifically UV filtering glass.
• (Possibly most importantly) What is the exposure for the windows in the room? If the windows in the room get a lot of direct exposure (Southern exposure in the Northern hemisphere/Nothern exposure in the Southern hemisphere) then there will just be more UV coming in and thus more discoloration over time. If the room doesn't have a lot of exposure then there will be less. Your pictures seem to indicate that you might not have a lot of direct exposure, but it's hard to tell and even partial exposure (morning or evening light) can make a difference.
• Are there some predominant colors being displayed? Some colors, notably White, seem to discolor more noticeably over time. So if you've got a lot of white on display don't plan on it staying pristine for long if you've got a lot of direct exposure in that room.
That all said if you're really worried about it then run some tests to find out. Make a few small stacks of bricks in a few common colors, for example pairs of 2x4 bricks in White, Red, Bley, and Black. Try and make sure you use parts that are very similar in quality, age, and color at the outset. Then place the stacks in various locations. One on the window sill, one on your chosen display location, and one in a closed and opaque box somewhere away from heat sources. Then check on them every couple of weeks and see what results you get. If you haven't seen an appreciable difference between the stored stack and the one in your display area after a month or two you're probably fine. Comparing them against the one in the window sill might even tell you if you'd be safe closer to the window in that particular room. Adding stacks in other locations would just give you more data points to make determinations.
If you do run the test, I would love to see the results. Latitude would also be useful for calibrating your results with what someone else might expect to some extent. :-)
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A friend of mine also mentioned that putting a trans-clear brick into the stack might also be a good idea since they have a slightly different formulation. – Nathan Stohlmann Jan 1 '12 at 20:13
I was trying to get a decent photo of my discoloured white clone troopers, that were in indirect sunlight behind modern double glazing - they are noticeably yellower than some of the other pieces. Infant as the discolouring is even across the elements it can't be purely sun damage. – Zhaph - Ben Duguid Jan 2 '12 at 11:03
The glass is less than 10 years old and it's east facing – craigmoliver Jan 5 '12 at 15:13
So you're probably double glazed and will block nearly all of the UVA, but kind of hard to say on the UVB and will likely only get direct light in the room in the morning. Could be worse. Depending on your latitude the amount of discoloration you get might be seasonal. The closer to the equator you get the more even seasonally. I still think running the test with the stacks will give you the best indication for actual results. I'm not sure there's an easy way to say otherwise. – Nathan Stohlmann Jan 6 '12 at 5:59
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I once built a white piggybank that was standing in a room for several years, also with indirect sunlight. It was discolored to a yellowish color after a couple of years. As @Nathan said, white is more affected (at least more noticable) than other colors. The window in the room had UV filter (although maybe one of the first that came on the marked, so not sure about the quality...).
@Zaph commented that his white bricks are evenly discolored over time anyway, but I am seeing that the piggybank bricks are yellow on the outside, and white on the inside where it's not exposed to light.
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I'll have to take a look inside my Troopers... – Zhaph - Ben Duguid Sep 11 '12 at 12:01
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i have had a big box of legos in my room for about 2-3 years now. they are right near a window which gets the hot after-noon sun. i have seen no discoloring, and have been "legoing" ever since i was in diapers. the only bricks which you should worry about are maybe megablocks. these may dis-color. of course that is just my opinion, and some other people's legos may have dis-colored, but mine have not.
but, this may confuse you, because there is a difference in color between "old" lego bircks and "new" ones. the older ones will have a slightly yellower color than the new ones. this is not because of age, however, it is because Lego has changed the color slightly for the molds.
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The main reason for discoloration is the UV-part of sunlight (for everything, not just LEGO). Normal glass filters out a lot (almost all) of this, so even direct light through a window isn't a real problem - and even lesser with indirect light.
At least, a litte bit of bleaching will happen every time, but the only way to avoid that would be to store LEGO in a very dark and cold place, which is... boring.
Conclusion: No, you don't have to worry about discoloration as long as you don't put your LEGO outdoors for a long time (some weeks/months/years).
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I've got some white elements that are noticeably discoloured evenly across the element, so while it's not sun damage, some bricks/colours do change with age. – Zhaph - Ben Duguid Jan 2 '12 at 11:05
I never said bricks don't change color, sure they will do by aging - but that wasn't the question here and can't be avoided, aging always happens. – oezi Jan 2 '12 at 11:16
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S&P's Regulatory Politics
S&P's Regulatory Politics
August 08, 2011
Originally published in The American Spectator
Within 24 hours, the Obama administration went from attacking Standard & Poor's first-ever downgrade of U.S. debt to almost embracing it.
Despite the administration's earlier dismay, S&P's statement contained a lot of bones for Democrats to chew on. While not recommending specific tax hikes, S&P griped that "the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues." The report also bemoaned "the prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling" and echoed media complaints about the supposed problem of partisan gridlock and divided government.
No wonder that when the White House took over PR from Treasury Department wonks, the government reactions became political. "On Saturday," the Associated Press noted, "the administration appeared to soften its tone." White House press secretary Jay Carney said President Barack Obama believes Washington "must do better" and set aside "our political and ideological differences" in tackling the deficit. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gloated that the downgrade "reaffirmed the need for a balanced approach," meaning tax hikes. Then on Sunday, former Obama adviser David Axelrod charged that "this is essentially a tea party downgrade"
Unlike S&P, these firms made clear that their ratings were about long-term prospects, rather than the debt ceiling fight, and emphasized spending over taxes. When Egan-Jones, widely respected for its early downgrades of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers , changed its rating of U.S debt from AAA to AA+ on July 16, it explained: "The major factor driving credit quality is the relatively high level of debt and the difficulty in significantly cutting spending. We are taking a negative action not based on the delay in raising the debt ceiling but rather our concern about the high level of debt to GDP."
Similarly, Weiss, which lowered its rating in April from C to C-, offered this explanation: "Our downgrade today is not contingent on the outcome of the debt-ceiling debate."
The ratings cartel of S&P, Moody's, and Fitch was created by decades of government regulation blocking meaningful competition. In 1975, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) created the designation of "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (NRSRO) for credit rating firms. Regulatory agencies soon began requiring that banks, brokerage firms, pensions, and insurance companies carry mandated levels of securities rated AAA from an SEC-approved NRSRO.
From the 1990s until 2003, only the "Big 3" had been approved by the SEC to be NRSROs. And when these firms would rate a new security as AAA, financial firms would rush to buy it to satisfy their regulatory capital requirements. This is what helped created the bubble in AAA-rated mortgage-backed securities.
But slowly and surely, the state-backed financial ratings cartel began to crack. Prodded to increase competition by the bipartisan Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006, there are now ten firms approved by the SEC to be NRSROs, including Egan-Jones. And over the weekend, financial regulators prudently waived the NRSRO requirement so that financial firms holding U.S Treasuries would not have to substitute "safer" bonds of AAA-rated countries such as France to satisfy their regulatory capital requirements.
These developments augur less disastrous results from the downgrade than predicted, and even some positive effects. Interest rates probably won't rise much more than they did when Treasuries were downgraded by Weiss and Egan-Jones. The main reason is that, given events in the European Union, there isn't a safer Treasury bond than the American one to which a "flight to safety" would occur.
As noted in a June 22 analysis by the Financial Times , "With the eurozone engulfed in a debt crisis and emerging market economies, such as China, years away from becoming legitimate global financial entities, investors insist there is really no alternative to the U.S. at the present time." As Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Management, told the paper, "A downgrade for the U.S. would mean the new triple A is double A."
A more honest evaluation of the risks of government securities also means a more even playing field for entrepreneurs to raise capital. The AAA rating for U.S. and other government securities has given sovereign debt an advantage over private debt. Given the profligate behavior of many of the world's governments, this advantage was often undeserved. If the AAA were gone for the U.S. and European countries, "investors seeking a fixed and totally safe return would no longer look towards governments, but to the most stable and profitable private companies," argues financial analyst Martin Hutchinson at PrudentBear.com
In the meantime, the U.S. should slash spending, taxes, and regulation. Not for the purpose of restoring S&P's AAA rating, but to restore the quadruple-A capitalist system that allowed investors and entrepreneurs to propel America to economic greatness.
Prediction: Defying all conventional "wisdom," the U.S. stock market will be up for the day on Monday. Maybe by 10 points, or maybe 100, but it will end the day in positive territory. | <urn:uuid:3a255203-721c-43cf-85dc-11c7663f0fbe> | http://cei.org/op-eds-articles/sps-regulatory-politics | en | 0.968279 | 0.06704 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Barack Obama "Uses the Internet Like a Normal Adult"S
We know he's a BlackBerry fanboy, an international iPod evangelist, and a prolific YouTube vlogger, and a general nerd, but now we have a new label for our POTUS: Internet addict.
In 2010, to "use the internet like a normal adult" is to give in to a terrible, emotionless symbiosis from which you can never withdraw, so what's said here—that the president reads blogs, that he spends a lot of his day online, that he's the first president to have an internet connection at his desk—is less interesting that what's left unsaid: Does he laugh at memes? Does he comment? Does he troll?
And as the WaPo's anonymous source so obviously wanted the world to ask, or else he/she would have worded things differently: Porntube or xHamster? [Washington Post via Ed Bott] | <urn:uuid:7585b3cd-7297-4259-8276-01c72ecbc9a1> | http://gizmodo.com/5456363/barack-obama-uses-the-internet-like-a-normal-adult?tag=blogs | en | 0.957857 | 0.257181 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
I have an android app with some package name. (like com.example.name) But I would like to run the app in a process under some other name (like com.example.othername). BTW, I do not have another app with package name com.example.othername. How do I achieve this?
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1 Answer
up vote 0 down vote accepted
You probably want to use the android:process attribute on the <application> tag in your manifest file.
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| <urn:uuid:40a34e8e-b5e5-41dd-8aa9-a7eec9434df2> | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5236062/how-to-have-a-process-name-different-from-package-name-for-android-app/5236106 | en | 0.857467 | 0.201187 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
Read in text books that there are mainly two file access methods; sequential and direct. Which one we are using in Linux?
In read command we are giving the how much bytes to read and to which buffer. So we are having sequential access in Linux?
But physically we have files stored is blocks? I couldnt relate to it.
Whether direct access possible in Linux?
I read about these access models in Operating System Concepts by Galvin
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up vote 3 down vote accepted
Both are possible.
When you do a read on an ordinary file, it does read the file sequentially, advancing the file pointer each time by the right amount.
But you can also use seek to move to an arbitrary point in the file.
Not all files support random/direct access. Pipes for instance are typically only sequential access (you can't rewind or skip forward).
So pretty much everything is possible, but some file types have restrictions.
(File access with direct I/O (O_DIRECT flag) is a different concept altogether.)
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You can certainly read/write from an arbitrary position in an open (disc) file.
There are a number of methods of doing random IO, which are optimised for different kinds of usage.
• The simplest method is seek() followed by read() or write(). The file pointer moves on by the amount of bytes read/written, and it can allow sequential IO following a random jump. Consider seek() as logically spinning the an old "reel-to-reel" tape drive (even though we don't have these any more).
• The pread and pwrite system calls combine seek() and read/write(), specifically for use in multithreaded programs (where two syscalls would result in a race condition). They don't change the file pointer, so you can think of it logically just taking or putting a random bit of data.
• mmap() maps a file into memory - where you can then do with it, what you will, using conventional pointer/ memory manipulation (for example, memset, memcpy, etc).
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Comment: Try to stay focused without (I assume) drugs
(See in situ)
Try to stay focused without (I assume) drugs
The conversation is over with. You've provided no sources for anything, and when someone directly replies to a statement you make, you provide non-coherent answers like you are on drugs.
This is in direct reply to your use of Thomas Jefferson, who by your own
statement in your original post is an example of "Non-Taliban Christian".
Well, Thomas Jefferson punishes Sabbath Breakers, castrated homosexuals, and punished false soothsayers and witches. So clearly, what constituted a "Taliban Christian" must really be bad by your (non-provided) definition.
Now, you might think I am being insulted by saying you sound like you are on drugs. But to me you do. It's because of the lack of focus, not being able to defend particular points made in your own posts, changing or lack of defining your own phrases, and not being able to reference actual facts. It's a hallmark of drug use, but it could just be sloppy thinking.
| <urn:uuid:6feb7922-a03c-4206-86f2-d4f8156144c6> | http://www.dailypaul.com/comment/3033373 | en | 0.946365 | 0.980416 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
note Aristotle <p>I have to agree with the others — this is far too convoluted and too seldomly useful to be a reasonable idiom. If you must, I'd at least replace the [perlfunc:shift|shift] with a simple <tt>$_[0]</tt> so what's going on is just a little more obvious. I still don't like it one bit, though. If you don't have any positional parameters, why are you passing an anonymous hash? If you don't, it's easy to make the happenings blindingly obvious at the cost of one extra line:</p> <code> sub foobar { my %arg = @_; my ($foo, $bar) = @arg{qw/ -foo -bar /}; # .. } </code> <p>Even if you have positional parameters, an easy solution is to put them at the beginning of the list so that you can say something like</p> <code> my ($foo, $bar, %arg) = @_; my ($baz, $quux) = @arg{qw(baz quux)}; </code> <p>The one case a hashref makes sense is in case of a method called on a hash-based class.</p> <p>But then your "idiom" means throwing away <code>$self</code>, which I'd consider a bad idea. Even if the particular method's code is sufficiently simple to allow for this, it makes a future change in requirements that requires a calling a method on <tt>$self</tt> more difficult.</p> <p>More importantly, I use <code>my $self = shift;</code> as a form of self documentation in the code. Helper non-method functions included in a package do not have this, so you can see at a glance what is a function and what is a method. And in that case this "idiom" is completely redundant:</p> <code> sub moo { my $self = shift; my ($foo, $bar) = @$self{qw(foo bar)}; # .. } </code> <div class="pmsig pmsig-114691"> <p align="right"><em>Makeshifts last the longest.</em></p> </div> 332886 332886 | <urn:uuid:06928431-0f77-440d-87a9-44ff8d2a004d> | http://www.perlmonks.org/?displaytype=xml;node_id=333038 | en | 0.860901 | 0.685469 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |