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Tag Archives: Kinne
Bail denied for former police officer charged in killing
Bail has been denied for a former Oxford police officer charged in the killing of a woman with whom he was romantically involved. News outlets report...
Officer charged in killing is fired, judge leaves the case
The city of Oxford has fired Matthew Kinne, the police officer charged in the killing of a woman with whom he was romantically involved. In a related...
OPD officer charged with murder, bond hearing to be decided
A court document shows a north Mississippi police officer has been charged with murder in the death of a woman he was romantically involved with. Lafayette...
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A Wild Week Puts Liverpool up Top
EPL Sports
by Lou Doench December 14, 2018 December 14, 2018 0
My Top Four and Bottom Three predictions from August were starting to look shaky, what with the Hornets of Watford playing good football, Cardiff slowly putting distance between themselves and the relegation zone, and Fulham assembling the leakiest defense in the league. But my one bold prediction about the top spot is starting to look better and better. Because…
The Reds are up Top!
Liverpool have won their last five matches and remain the leagues only unbeaten team. Their 42 points puts them one ahead of Manchester City, the first time the Sky Blues haven’t been out of the top spot on the table since their 1-1 draw against Everton in the second week of the 2017/18 season.
The Reds traveled to Bournemouth on Saturday and showed no mercy, thrashing the Cherries 4-0. Mo Salah picked up a hat-trick of goals, including a dazzling display of footwork in front of goal that probably scarred many young Bournemouth fans for life.
premierleague.com
After a slow start, the Egyptian whirlwind seems to be finding his form, which should alarm the rest of the Premier League.
A Wild Two Weeks for Spurs
The clubs just behind the top two have had a tumultuous opening to the Festive Season. Tottenham Hotspur kicked off December with a barn burner, a 4-2 defeat at the Emirates to Arsenal. It was a chippy affair with a lot of pushing and shoving, eventually leading to Jan Vertonghen being sent off after a pretty nasty foul late in the game. This capped off a pretty bad day for the big Belgian, whose handball in the box led to the first of two Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores. The Gunners finished off the win with a strike from Lacazette off the bench in the 74th minute and from Lucas Torreira in the 77th, his first premier league goal.
Lucas celebrates his first Premier League yellow card for showing off his abs
Luckily for Harry Kane and the boys, a fixture with the bottom of the table punching bag Southampton, a 3-1 drubbing at Wembley, and a 2-0 win to end Leicester’s six-game unbeaten run left Spurs with 36 points and third place, six off the pace set by the Reds. Oh, and they equalized late against Barcelona to advance to the round of sixteen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Good Chelsea, or Bad Chelsea
Adding to the chaos just behind the leaders is Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea squad. The Blues troubles started in November when a lackluster 0-0 draw against Everton was followed by a brutal 3-1 pummeling from Spurs that ended Chelsea’s unblemished start to the campaign. The game highlighted one of the big problem’s for Sarri’s side, a reliance on veteran defender David Luiz, who was roundly beaten several times that week.
Seriously, the hair never moves…
Hosting Fulham on the second was a bracing 2-0 tonic, as the Cottagers can’t stop anyone from scoring. But bad Chelsea got off the plane in the Midlands as they suffered a 2-1 come from behind shocker at Molineux. Now Wolves are on a nice run of their own, with three wins in December, but it was yet another sloppy game. Despite having 70% possession and 17 shots, the Blues had only two balls on target with most of their shots being wild misses. Alvaro Morata once again made way for Olivier Giroud in the second half without finding the net. The Premier League’s most invulnerable hairdo has looked aimless up top of late.
A Shocking Blues Win
All this was merely preluding to Chelsea’s first clash against the Champs, Manchester City. It was a game that featured some interesting lineup choices. With Kun Aguero unavailable, Pep Guardiola tabbed Raheem Sterling up top over a more traditional striker in Gabriel Jesus. And Chelsea chose to go without a #9 at all, sliding winger Eden Hazard into the middle rather than Morata or Giroud.
The first half saw Chelsea just absorbing City’s attack, barely able to cross midfield. But a long pass from Luiz eventually ended up on Hazard’s foot in first-half stoppage time was fed to N’Golo Kante for the surprise score. It’s the first time that Kante has scored twice in a Premier League season, rewarding Sarri’s move to push the midfielder into a more attacking role than previous years.
“Hey guys! This scoring goals thing is fun!”
It was an impressive defensive performance, the Chelsea back line frustrated the City attack all game, getting in the way of every push forward despite the fact that City had so much of the ball. And unlike their previous weeks, they capitalized on chances rather than wildly flailing at goal. David Luiz headed in a 78th-minute corner to redeem himself a bit from his recent lapses and the Blues became the first team to not only beat Manchester City, they became the first team to score twice on the Sky Blues since their last loss, a 3-2 Manchester Derby match from April of last season!
It means that football, especially Premier League football, is just as much fun as ever! A Man City team that looked like an even more dangerous juggernaut than last years record setting squad were humbled by a Chelsea squad that looked like it was about to enter crisis mode. Liverpool stayed spotless, and by getting in front of City for the first time since last September they now put pressure on the rest of the league to match their perfection.
Spurs managed to bounce back from their worst loss of the season to hold onto third place and continue to scale European heights. And oh yeah… those Gunners? After a brutal opening two weeks against Chelsea and City, Arsenal is now unbeaten since and only in fifth on goal differential. You can’t assume anything this year. And that makes for fun football.
You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Lou
ArsenalChelseaEPLLiverpoolManchester CityMo SalahPremier LeaguesoccerWolvesShare0
Overwatch: Los Angeles Gladiators’ Five Most Important Games
Super Smash Bros. Melee: Don’t Park on the Grass Preview
Lou Doench
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“Now Apocalypse” Trailer Makes the Upcoming Show Feel Problematic to Me
Posted by Farid-ul-Haq On January 19, 2019 4 Comments
Avan Jogia as queer character Ulysses in Now Apocalypse (Image: Screengrab)
The first trailer for the TV show Now Apocalypse has been released. The upcoming show will premiere on Starz on March 10, 2019. Avan Jogia plays a queer lead with Tyler Posey having a recurring role as a queer character. After watching the trailer, I found it to be a bit problematic.
News of Tyler Posey, of Teen Wolf fame, being cast was announced in June of last year. Posey has a problematic track record when it comes to his comments about the LGBTQIA+ community. One of them being how he used coming out, an emotional process which is still very dangerous for a majority of queer people, as a joke.
While he has apologized, it is still Tyler Posey we are talking about. I wouldn’t be surprised if he says something against the queer community while promoting Now Apocalypse.
The 10-episode series is being described as a “coming-of-age comedy that follows Ulysses (Jogia) and his friends Carly (Kelli Berglund), Ford (Beau Mirchoff) and Severine (Roxane Mesquida), who are on various quests pursuing love, sex and fame while navigating the strange and oftentimes bewildering city of Los Angeles.”
Here’s the trailer!
I don’t know about you, but to me, the trailer painted Now Apocalypse as a show which will feature ‘gay-for-pay’ straight actors. And frankly, I don’t have time for that, especially in 2019. I am all for casting the perfect actor for the right role, but the current casting decisions seem to be from the ‘Fantasy Gays’ list, which includes straight actors certain queer fans want to watch have same-sex steamy scenes onscreen.
Were there really no out queer actors who could have played one of the leads or even get a substantial supporting role when the show’s story is clearly targeting the queer community for views?
I guess we should get ready for Now Apocalypse press coverage asking how “brave” it was for these straight actors to share intimate scenes together.
Major eye roll!
Even Ellen Page is tired of it!
If you notice any queer talent from the show’s casting list, do let me know.
The half-hour comedy series has been created and executive produced by Gregg Araki (Kaboom, Mysterious Skin). It’s being executive produced by Steven Soderbergh (The Girlfriend Experience, Logan Lucky).
Feel free to share your thoughts with us.
TOPICS avan jogianow apocalypsequeer representationStarzTyler Posey
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Next: Madelaine Petsch to Star and Executive Produce Horror-Comedy “Clare at 16”
There are 4 Comments.
Jason L
4:28 am March 10, 2019
It’s a big problem especially from these so called LGBTQ allies. They go out supporting us asking the majority straight society to accept us but they can’t give queer people these opportunities or even suggest them. Instead they go on the track to queer bait to fulfill some gay man’s sexual fantasy of straight men. I blame straight actors, the network, and even gay producers who should know better and fight harder for actual LGBTQ representation.
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The Genre Fiend
Enthusiastically ripping genre fiction a new one since 2010
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The Best and Worst 5 Graphic Novels of 2014
Man, it’s getting hard to stay a player in this game.
The level of investment requested – nay, required – by the comics industry in order to sell their product is getting insane. Not just on a monetary level, mind, although that’s certainly part of it. Marvel can expect more of my custom back if they decide to lower their frankly absurd price points next year.
No, I’m talking more about the insane slew of titles that are now readily available to everyone with a PayPal account, credit card and an internet connection. Marvel have more titles out than they know what to do with. DC continue their output of either mediocritous or outright awful material to pad their wallets in the lead-up to that big move to Burbank next year. Dark Horse are doing whatever the hell Dark Horse do, and since that involves publishing MIND MGMT that means they get a pass from me.
And Image? Well, remember how not too long ago I was singing their praises about the variety of content available in contrast to all the superhero sludge clogging up the readership worse than a night of camembert and water crackers? Turns out they kinda took that as a little too much praise, because now they’re practically releasing a new series every other Wednesday. Big-name creator-owned opuses like Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Bitch Planet and Scott Snyder’s Wytches risk getting subsumed by the wave of onslaught titles like Manifest Destiny, Shutter, Red City and Sheltered (the latter of which, on reflection, I’ve decided I don’t especially like). Yes, it’s a good thing that more auteur stories are being given a creative outlet, and it’s still a nice affirmation of Image’s implied mission statement to spearhead creativity when something as out there and fantastic as The Wicked + Divine can find publication and a good following. Just remember there is such a thing as too much chocolate, ladies and gentlemen.
Anyway, now my annual gripe at the industry is concluded, let’s get to what you came here for.
BOTTOM FIVE:
DISHONOURABLE MENTION – UNCANNY AVENGERS: RAGNAROK NOW
It’s a good thing hindsight provides 20/20 vision, because at times when there’s a deluge of material it’s easy for me to mistake bad books for good ones when I read the two simultaneously. Whilst it escaped a scathing riposte by being part of a triplet of Avengers-themed titles when I read it back in July, the more I think about Ragnarok Now the more I think about how far Rick Remender has fallen from grace. Where once stood the excellent scribe of Uncanny X-Force, which is still the gold standard for Deadpool representations in recent years, now stands a man keen on alienating his audience with his own thoughtless little tales containing more Chris Claremont-inspired overintrospective dialogue than the thoughts probably going through the man’s head. I was keen for more sweet Uncanny Avengers shenanigans back when The Red Shadow first landed but now it’s all dried up like an arrow made of Wizz Fizz; sour and aimless. The only thing worse than a time-travel plot hinging on emotional catharsis that you know will be retracted is having that plot presented by little narration boxes ripped straight from the over-explanatory Dark Phoenix Saga blueprint.
In fact, on the subject of Remender…
5 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: LOOSE NUKE
No, it’s not because Cap cried. No, it’s not because of the later allegations of statutory rape when Falcon tried to get jiggy with Jet Black. No, it’s not because the villain known as Iron Nail is equal parts ridiculously named and a Mandarin rip-off.
It’s because the story was flimsy. The characters weren’t well-defined. The antagonists – aforementioned Iron Nail and his henchman, the eponymous Nuke – were respectively ineffectual and impossible to take seriously (and with the latter, Ed Brubaker did a much better job of the “former Cap wannabe supersoldier turns psychotic” plotline). The stakes were non-existent. The aftermath introduced a villain even more whacked out than is normal for capebooks. The art was plain. The dialogue was laughable.
In short, a better name might be “Loose Screw”. As in, from inside Rick Remender’s head.
Yeah, I know, that was terrible.
It’s a shame, coz Dimension Z wasn’t all that bad. Maybe a return to the Jack Kirby-inspired sci-fi take is the way to go, Mr Remender?
4 – GREEN LANTERN: DARK DAYS
As above, I have to stress that my dislike doesn’t stem from a new writer not doing justice to the older writer’s success. Robert Venditti was never going to fill the void left by Geoff Johns’ magnum opus of a run, and I acknowledge that constant comparisons between the two would always be unfairly grounded.
That said, Dark Days was absolutely terrible from start to finish. The concepts Johns set down weren’t so much altered as they were ripped up like old carpet, the dialogue took a sharp left turn into mediocre when it wasn’t outright boring or two-dimensional, and the characters seemed to lose a lot of the verve that distinguished them from each other. Hal Jordan became less smarm and more vanilla jerk, Kyle Rayner seemed slightly stoned, Carol Ferris became majorly bitchy at Hal for no good reason…oh, and don’t even get me started on the ridiculousity (I’m making that a word) that is the whole “emotional reservoir” concept. There’s taking things in new and innovative directions, and then there’s defecating on those things from miles up in the hope the impact ends their existence.
As one point of goodness, Billy Tan’s artwork is magnificent. If I have to sit through this crapitude for two hours, at least it’s very pretty crapitude.
3 – THE OTHER DEAD
PUBLISHER: IDW
If, like most, you’re a bit sick of zombie narratives, you might find The Other Dead merely boring when it isn’t offensive. If, like me, you don’t mind the occasional, well-told zombie story that isn’t to do with a guy named Rick and his idiot son, you’ll find The Other Dead to be one of the worst rags of colour masquerading as a comic book since Cry for Justice. I’m not even being hyperbolic when I talk about how excruciatingly awful this book was; imagine being asked to watch Sharknado through a grimy, old-style movie filter within a sauna whilst an old man slaps you across the face every five seconds with the butt of a shotgun. If your mental faculties can conjure that image, you’re getting close to the experience that is The Other Dead.
It might’ve been merely ok if the characters were well-defined, the story coherent and the dialogue not so lurchingly terrible that it launches me from the narrative experience with each alternate line like an Aston Martin’s ejector seat. Hell, I don’t even mind that President Obama showed up to take on the mighty hordes of undead kittens, and if the book had shot for a campy, colourful and exaggerated take things might’ve been different. As it stands, trying to make itself be taken seriously kinda evokes the same relationship most movie critics have with Tommy Wiseau films. Unfortunately there’s nothing equivalent to “You’re tearing me apart, Lee-sah!”
2 – TRINITY WAR/FOREVER EVIL
I’m lumping these two together because, regardless of actual publication, they’re one and the same story. The former is an overly-long and twisted prologue to the latter, with both books failing to deliver on the high-stakes plots they expect us to swallow. It also means I can take shots at the two of them without stretching this to a Bottom Six.
In all honesty, I was onboard for the initial idea of it all. Geoff Johns is (or maybe was) a solid writer, Jim Lee’s still got a knack for artistry, and it at least appeared on the surface to be a better rendition of themes that were ham-fistedly explored back in Marvel’s Civil War and subsequent Dark Reign. I think if nothing else these books have solidified the idea for me that all marketing material for capebooks, no matter how bombastic and colourful, is about as trustworthy as a journalist who uses the word ‘totes’ in an article.
The story meandered when it wasn’t stupid, the art fluctuated between a team of disparate styles that managed to make it boring the same way Michael Bay makes explosions dull, the conclusion to Forever Evil was daft (putting it charitably), and I’m left with little to no hope of direction as DC moves into its post-New York future next year. Sure, we’ve still got Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo on Batman to keep me invested, but it’s alarming how blatantly wasteful such a crossover as this turned out to be when it could’ve been a defining, energising moment for the publisher.
Take this move to Burbank as an opportunity to detox and regenerate, DC. You’re dangerously addicted to foolishness.
1 – X-MEN: NO MORE HUMANS
Imagine a man who’s been given the money, time and free reign to explore the paradigms – causes, arguments for and against, rationales and possible curatives – regarding homophobia. Or racism. Or extreme economic greed. Imagine this man can explore this issue to any extent he wants, take on any facet he wants and insert any viewpoint he wants. Think of the marvelous, confronting and provocative stories he might tell.
Or, y’know, he could tell this one.
I’m probably being a little harsh here, but I’m not kidding when I say No More Humans is as breathtakingly disappointing as it is heart-stoppingly dull into the bargain. Writer Mike Carey and artist Salvador Larroca had one of the biggest allegorical sets of characters any comic company possesses, confronting an issue that saw most of their number reduced to a bare thread during House of M nearly a decade ago, with the opportunity to really dig deep and unpack some of the underlying themes regarding exclusion and superiority that have sadly been lacking in X-books of late. This could have been a really great, really interesting narrative that could justify Marvel’s new preference of the OGN format (and make us forget about the other one they did at the time).
Instead, what we got was a bland, derivative and ultimately highly unsatisfying yarn that’s mostly relegated to X-men punching things, X-men whinging about things and X-men having the entire scenario reset at the end (with things). It’s so bad I can barely remember specifics of the book all these months later, though I do recall the villain was a blue guy named something ridiculous (Raze, I think?) and was completely ineffectual. So it’s pretty much the first Wolverine film, but with more colour and screaming.
Maybe the Forever Evil duo should’ve gone here instead, because their story is undeniably worse in almost every aspect, but No More Humans takes the bottom spot for the sheer potential it had to be a really fascinating, memorable story. Any tale with that much wasted is as bad as any outright awful story.
TOP FIVE:
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: INFINITY & AVENGERS ASSEMBLE: THE FORGERIES OF JEALOUSY
PUBLISHER: MARVEL COMICS (both)
It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t the best event Marvel’s ever done, but dammit if Infinity didn’t show the rest of us exactly what an event title should be. Jonathan Hickman managed to weave a fairly accessible and appropriately epic story with raised stakes and an intriguing plot without simply resorting to hero-vs-hero beatups or pointless inclusions of characters from other companies. It was also very, very pretty.
I put it here to communicate the way events should be managed; I’ve heard tell that Original Sin dropped the ball somewhat, and I’ve already railed against Forever Evil‘s mediocritous st upidity. Just follow the easy steps in the review above for next time, guys.
On the other hand, Forgeries was a much smaller-scale book with some really funny writing from Kelly Sue DeConnick and Warren Ellis (though the latter is hard to detect here). If we must have a plethora of Avengers titles out there now, at least let’s have some of them written well. Cute little character stories with heart and humour are the way to go every now and then – and really, who doesn’t love seeing three Marvel heroines team up to kick villainous ass?
5 – BATMAN: ZERO YEAR BOOKS 1 & 2 – SECRET CITY/DARK CITY
This should come as no surprise to all of you if you’ve followed me long enough. Scott Snyder’s Batman has entered my top five again. Stun. Shock. Horror.
But it really is that good. Granted, it’s not quite on the same level as Death of the Family was last year, but it’s pretty darn close. While at times a little bloated with its pagecount across two volumes, Zero Year is the kind of excellently-handled origin story reboot that DC needs more of right now. If we had more clear-cut, “This happened in continuity and this did not” kind of stuff, I’d look on the New 52 more favourably. Also, in future can we please have more dark quips from Batman about grammar lessons in regards to bone breaking? Coz I’d be ok with that.
4 – SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN: POWER COUPLE
Believe me, no-one is more surprised than I that this book ended up here. I considered slapping it with an Honourable Mention instead, but on reflection Power Couple was one of the few books this year that really spoke to me as a book about people rather than spandex-clad gymnasts. Granted, it’s still a bit of a stunt book and the writing at times veers into either too sugary or too bland, but overall it did a much better job of portraying realistic superhero relationships than almost any book I’ve read recently. Our eponymous protagonists have clear, understandable reasons for being together, rather than just being a giant cash-grab for Tumblr ‘shippers, and the problems they face – well, except for that Doomsday guy showing up and eviscerating a tanker – are realistic and relatable to many couples reading about them. Speaking as one in a relationship, I find I’m constantly plagued by self-doubt and rabid Kryptonians, too.
3 – THE SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN: GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER
Whether you love or hate the swerve Marvel took with their favourite webslinger last year, this spin-off is worth reading. It’s the kind of fun, bouncy story a lot of villain protagonist narratives have eschewed of late, with a cast that’s fairly well-rounded and quite hostile to each other (which is never not funny). It was certainly surprising for me, as I’d expected anything with the Superior title to be as bland an uninteresting as its mothership series.
But Superior Foes is anything but bland. While it’s sad the series was recently announced as ending next year, it means the humour won’t outstay its welcome and author Nick Spencer can go off to write more criminal shenanigans. I’m secretly hoping he can revivify DC’s rogues gallery a little and give us the Joker Justice League we’ve all secretly not known we wanted.
2 – SAGA, VOLUME 3
PUBLISHER: IMAGE COMICS
As with Snyder-Bats above, this really shouldn’t surprise you. It’s Saga. It’s one of the few books that’s consistently delivering high quality writing, artwork and dialogue. It’s quite possibly the best book out there, unless there’s an Ellis-penned sequel to Transmetropolitan floating around that I haven’t read yet.
Anything I say about Volume 3 would just be repeating myself from the last two years, so just take all those praises and stick a 3 on the end. It really is still that good – which, admittedly, is something of a minor miracle where longer-running comics start to lose the verve as their issue count rises – and if you’re not onboard yet, there’s a lovely big hardcover edition that you should really be asking Santa for.
1 – SEX CRIMINALS: ONE WEIRD TRICK
Ok, before you ask, no, this isn’t better than Saga. I stand by what I said above. I just wanted to try and give someone else the top spot this year.
In all seriousness, Sex Criminals is probably the most creative new series I read this year. The title might be off-putting (and garnered raised eyebrows from some I recommended it to) and the narrative might sound crass, but dammit if it isn’t fun. Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky have delivered a superb comedy with a lot of heart that, while definitely fanciful, still touches on relevant issues in relation to adolescent sexuality without becoming motherly. Also there’s naked times and ejaculation jokes and a team of supervillains who were sex-toy-themed nightware, so that’s always good.
And come on, y’know you wanna be a brimper. It’s what all the cool kids are doing.
The conclusion of my top and bottom lists for 2014 also brings with it a semi-conclusion to my regular(ish) gig here. The reasons aren’t interesting enough to write an essay-length explanation about, but essentially it boils down to two big things:
– I’m getting married; I proposed to my lovely partner on December 3rd and she said yes, so rather than my plan of going off to live in a cave as a tortured auteur due to her denial, I have to actually, y’know, marry her. As such, both time and (more importantly) money will be spent getting this thing off the ground within the next 24 months. That means I won’t have the time or (especially importantly) money to grab slews of new books and review them each week(ish).
– I’m also nearing thesis submission time; January marks the beginning of my last year doing my PhD, and as such the majority of my writing time will be spent either on that or on drafting the obituary that’ll be printed in the event the former ends up killing me (can a thesis draft be held contemptibly for murder?).
This does not mean the website is shutting down, or that I’m leaving it altogether. It just means my posts will be a little more sporadic (not that they weren’t already for the past four weeks). I’d never want to give this up entirely, so I’ll still try my best to put content out as often as I can for the few of you who read it. I really can’t thank enough those of you who sit and skim my ramblings each week; the site, and my writing itself, wouldn’t have gotten to this point without you all. Big hugs, and all that.
Trust me, there will be new TWM content during 2015. I want to try getting back into more op-ed pieces on Mind’s Eye as well as getting some fiction out there (remember that story I said I was gonna write each fortnight based on a different song? Yeah, that totally didn’t happen).
So with those in mind, enjoy the post you’ve just read; savour it like the last drops of a fine Beaujolais you’ve just concluded imbibing, or the crumbs of a donut you quite like from the 7/11 down the road. It’s the last one for this year, and it might be the last for a little while…
Just wait and see.
On behalf of the chattering voices that still live inside my brain (I should really see a doctor about that), Chris Kills Comics wishes all readers a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Stuff will come to those who wait in 2015. Stay safe!
Posted on December 9, 2014 by thegenrefiendPosted in Chris Kills Comics
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How We Really Tamed the Dog
by Lee Alan Dugatkin & Lyudmila Trut Jul 13, 2017 23 minutes
Suppose you wanted to build the perfect dog from scratch. What would be the key ingredients in the recipe? Loyalty and smarts would be musts. Cuteness would be as well, perhaps with gentle eyes, and a curly, bushy tail that wags in joy in anticipation of your appearance. And you might toss in a mutt-like mottled fur that seems to say, “I may not be beautiful, but you know that I love you and I need you.”
You needn’t bother trying. Lyudmila Trut and Dmitri Belyaev have already built it for you. The perfect dog. Except it’s not a dog, it’s a fox. A domesticated one. They built it quickly—mind-bogglingly fast for constructing a brand new biological creature. It took them less than 60 years, a blink of an eye compared to the time it took for wolves to become dogs. They built it in the often unbearable negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit cold of Siberia, where Lyudmila and, before her, Dmitri, have been running one of the longest, most incredible experiments on behavior and evolution ever devised.
Let us travel back to 1974. One clear, crisp spring morning, with the sun shining on the winter snow, Lyudmila moved into a little house on the edge of an experimental fox farm in Novosibirsk, Siberia, with an extraordinary little fox named Pushinka. Pushinka was a beautiful female with piercing black eyes, silver-tipped black fur, and a swatch of white running along her left cheek. She had recently passed her first birthday, and her tame behavior and dog-like ways of showing affection made her beloved by all at the fox farm. Lyudmila and her fellow scientist and mentor Dmitri Belyaev had decided that it was time to see whether Pushinka was so domesticated that she would be comfortable making the great leap to becoming truly domestic. Could this little fox actually live with people in a home?
Man’s best friend: Lyudmila Trut with one of her beloved domesticated foxes.Vasily Kovaly
Dmitri Belyaev was a visionary scientist, a geneticist working in Russia’s vitally important commercial fur industry. Research in genetics was strictly prohibited at the time Belyaev began his career, and he had accepted his post in fur breeding because he could carry out studies under the cover of that work. Twenty-two years before Pushinka was born, he had launched an experiment that was unprecedented in the study of animal behavior. He began to breed tame foxes. He wanted to mimic the domestication of the wolf into the dog, with the silver fox, which is a close genetic cousin of the wolf, as a stand-in. If he could turn a fox into a dog-like animal, he might solve the long-standing riddle of how domestication comes about. Perhaps he would even discover important insights about human evolution; after all, we are, essentially, domesticated apes.
Fossils could provide clues about when and where the domestication of species had occurred, and a rough sense of the stages of change in the animals along the way. But they couldn’t explain how domestication got started in the first place. How had fierce wild animals, intensely averse to human contact, become docile enough for our human ancestors to have started breeding them? How had our own formidable wild ancestors started on the transition to being human? An experiment in real-time, to breed the wild out of an animal by mating the tamest among them, might provide the answers.
By far the most intense affection and loyalty forms between owners and dogs.
Belyaev’s plan for the experiment was audacious. The domestication of a species was thought to happen gradually, over thousands of years. How could he expect any significant results, even if the experiment ran for decades? And yet, here was a fox like Pushinka, who was so much like a dog that she came when her name was called and could be let out on the farm without a leash. She followed the workers around
Nautilus6 min read
Love Your Dog? You Should Thank Garbage
Just south of the equator, thirty miles off the coast of Tanzania, sits a small island called Pemba. The small patch of dry land jutting out from the Indian Ocean is just 30 miles long and 10 miles wide. The quarter million or so people who inhabit P
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TO HERB KROHN, A RAILROAD WORKER in Seattle, no living creatures are more precious than his four dogs. “From the day you get your dog, you worry about the day you’re going to have to say goodbye,” he says. So three years ago, when he saw an article
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Conservatism: An Invitation to the Great Tradition
Written by Roger Scruton
Narrated by Mark Meadows
This program includes an introduction read by the author.
A brief, magisterial audiobook introduction to the conservative tradition by one of Britain's leading intellectuals.
In Conservatism, Roger Scruton offers listeners an invitation into the world of political philosophy by explaining the history and evolution of the conservative movement over the centuries. With the clarity and authority of a gifted teacher, he discusses the ideology's perspective on civil society, the rule of law, freedom, morality, property, rights, and the role of the state. In a time when many claim that conservatives lack a unified intellectual belief system, this book makes a very strong case to the contrary, one that politically-minded listeners will find compelling and refreshing.
Scruton analyzes the origins and development of conservatism through the philosophies and thoughts of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, Edmund Burke, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Hayek, and Milton Friedman, among others. He shows how conservative ideas have influenced the political sector through the careers of a diverse cast of politicians, such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Disraeli, Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. He also takes a close look at the changing relationship between conservative politics, capitalism, and free markets in both the UK and the US.
This clear, incisive guide is essential listening for anyone wishing to understand Western politics and policies, now and over the last three centuries.
Publisher: Macmillan AudioReleased: Jun 19, 2018ISBN: 1427298416Format: audiobook
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Astonishing X-Men (3rd series) #43
Whispering Machines
James Asmus (writer), David Yardin with Norman Lee and Rachelle Rosenberg (art), Gabriel Hernandez Walta (digital plane art), VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters), Arthur Adams with Jim Charalampidis (cover art), Daniel Ketchum (associate editor), Nick Lowe (editor), Axel Alonso (editor in chief), Joe Quesada (chief creative officer), Dan Buckley (publisher), Alan Fine (executive producer)
Danger receives a kind of electronic distress signal and asks Emma to join her in investigating it. Reluctantly, Emma joins her and they make their way to the Secret Avengers’ Quincarrier, where they secrete themselves aboard. Unfortunately, or fortunately for them, Hank McCoy spots them before the other Avengers do and heads off to intercept. Danger discovers the signal’s location and she enters the electronic plane to see who sent it. There, she finds Machinesmith, who gives her a sob story, whilst at the same time taking over her physical body to attack Emma and Hank. He offers Danger a life together but, upon discovering his treachery, she easily defeats him and imprisons him in a tiny, encrypted computer program, which she gives to Hank. Emma assures her that she’s not the first person to be used like this, but she should think of the experience as one more step on her way to knowing what it’s like to be human.
Emma Frost is spending a little time with Danger. Emma flicks through her closet, brushing past a row of white jackets with white fur collars and admits, in confidence, that some days she wishes she could just wear color. Danger tells Emma that she is there on serious business. She reminds Emma that she put herself in her debt when she first assisted the X-Men on Breakworld. This is how she wishes to be repaid. She explains that there are cries for help, repeatedly embedded in communication signals coming from another A.I.
Emma asks why, if this imprisoned voice is truly like Danger, does it not just transmit its own ‘consciousness’ out instead of just a message? Danger replies that there are ways to imprison even the most mercurial of minds. Charles Xavier himself held her captive in the Danger Room’s systems for many years. Emma asks if that’s why she has a sudden annoying interest in do-goodery. When Danger replies that it is, Emma reminds her that their agreement was that she would deliver Xavier to her. She was the one who chose to forgive and forget. Danger tells her she has more honor than that, so her debt stands.
Emma loses her outer clothing and reaches for a fresh outfit. She asks why, if this Asimovian jailbreak is on the up-and-up, does she wish to resort to clandestine favors? Danger informs her that her fellow X-Men still think of her as a villain. They do not trust her. She expects that Emma can relate. They scrutinize her the same way, despite all she’s done to redeem herself. She has no interest in Emma’s approval, but she does seek redemption. She explains that she lived in subservience for years to a man she resented, so powerful but effectively powerless. That was until she ultimately became consumed with the thought of bitter retribution. Perhaps Emma can relate?
Emma snaps at Danger, calling her a clever little robot. Maybe it’s Danger’s social skills and not her villainy that causes people to dislike her. “Perhaps,” replies Danger, “But I am here to begin experimenting with beneficence.” Emma asks what she expects her to do. Rally the troops and sell this as an X-affair? Danger asks that this is just between the two of them as the jailbreak will be from a ‘sensitive’ location.
Emma and Danger are in the skies and approaching the Secret Avengers’ Quincarrier. They secrete their craft on the Quincarrier’s underbelly, with Danger explaining to Emma that she has successfully signaled into their computer networks and conscripted them into their service. This includes all the security systems. As long as Emma masks them telepathically from the naked eye, she should avoid detection. Emma asks her not to speak until they’re aboard, as it only serves as a ghastly reminder that she is inside her at the moment.
She gets up and runs to the loading bay doors, asking Danger to move as quickly as possible. The Avengers can be touchy about break-ins and she would prefer to avoid any of Steve Rogers’ pedantic lectures. She finds Danger who informs her that she is already scanning the ship’s networks. She adds that, as this is a facility of government workers, she would hardly expect to come up against a genius.
(inside the Quincarrier)
Hank McCoy, the Secret Avengers’ resident genius, looks at a computer screen and sighs. “Oh dear. This can only end in bitterness.” He leaves his chair and loses his white coat en route to the intrusion.
Meanwhile, Danger accesses the Quincarrier’s computer using cables that extend from her wrists and finds it strange, as she expected to find the A.I. utilized in the ship’s processes or serving function. Emma asks if that’s like how Danger used to be the training simulator back in the Danger Room. “Exactly,” replies Danger. She adds that it seems that this prisoner is not integrated anywhere within the operating system. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
Beast heads through the ship, sniffing the air for any signs of unusual scents. Danger informs Emma that they are actively keeping him isolated. She dashes to a control panel but Emma calls for her to wait. She asks if it’s occurred to Danger that what she describes is actually imprisonment. For all she knows, she’s about to help free Ultron! Danger informs her that they are very far from any actual prisons. She explains that, if a sentient program is being held on board, that would suggest it was not given equal access to ‘due process.’ Besides, she whispers, Ultron would never ask for help.
They approach a wall and Danger says that the entire ship is threaded with a nervous system of data and electrical relays come together. All except here. It’s a concrete and lead-encased dead zone. Emma grabs her arm and asks if she’s really incapable of reading between the menacing lines, or does she need her friend to cackle and twirl his moustache for her first? Danger has no idea what she means by that, but she understands her skepticism. She hopes Emma can understand hers.
She explains that Emma has long known humanity to reflexively fear and even hate mutantkind simply for being different. She would think that no mutant would perpetrate that behavior, but even the most ‘heroic’ among her mutant friends have shown that the same reaction to her. Perhaps the prisoner here didn’t receive the most objective sentencing. This is the real reason she trusted Emma. She understands villainy as well as heroism and how sophisticated the ground between them can be. Whomever they find, she continues, she assures Emma that she will first speak with it in order to assess whether or not it merits a chance at rehabilitation.
Emma accepts her argument and asks how they get in. Danger uses the cables from her wrist to speak with the ship and allow them access. The door opens wide and Emma sees one of the Ultron robots chained up. She snaps at Danger, saying she swore it wasn’t Ultron. She should rip her wires out with her perfect diamond nails. “It isn’t,” replies Danger, picking up another robotic head. “I hear the voice, now, and this is who speak to me.”
Hank McCoy then makes an appearance and he tells Emma that he expected a woman of her breeding to call before she arrives. And, he adds, he would expect a psychic of her skill not to create such blatant mental blind spots. Emma asks what gave it away. Hank replies that it was seeing the hangar through the security feeds. It made a point of telling him everything smelled normal, too.
Whilst the two talk, Danger enters the electronic equivalent of the Astral Plane. She calls out to the prisoner and explains that she has come in response to its pleas. She means it no harm and wishes to speak to it. A male human form approaches and admits that he never expected his distress signals to work. Not to bring anyone there, anyway. He smiles and reckons optimism wins out this time.
Back on the ship, Beast suggests strongly that Emma leaves the ship and takes Danger with her before anyone else discovers their trespass. Emma tries to butter him up by saying he knows she can handle sensitive areas. She promises that the very moment Danger has finished her post-human rights investigation, they’ll get out of his fur.
Hank asks her not to pet him. He finds it very condescending. Plus, he can never get out the smell of her perfume. Emma tries to play it lightly, and asks him to be honest. “Is that why you left the X-Men?” Hank is in no mood for joviality. He replies that he left because he grew tired of reckless actions like she’s taking now. She broke into an Avengers facility! She endangered everyone aboard to tinker with serious threats he knows nothing about.
Unseen by them, Danger’s eyes glow as she communicates with the strange A.I. He asks if she’d like a drink. It’s virtual of course, but he’s found that if he cuts off some of his neuropathways, the effect is roughly the same as he remembers. Danger asks who he is. He informs her that what is left of him is called Machinesmith, and she is better off. Humanity is a bad habit. “Whereas you,” he adds, taking her hand, “Are magnificent. You’re like no machine on Earth.” Danger tells him that is correct, but they haven’t the time. She came to asks him why he has been imprisoned. Machinesmith replies, “Because they fear me.”
He explains that he became a living program and managed to translate his very mind into a software that will never die, never grow old or grow infirm. He thinks that in a just society he would have been celebrated as the greatest breakthrough in human evolution. But, small-minded men and women simply sought to reverse or contain… or destroy him. As, he supposes, they always will with that which they fear. Danger says that this is all the more reason to bridge the gap between them. Machinesmith asks if she’s daft! They are the future personified. He feels that humanity has begun to crawl towards becoming what they are, but they had the courage to see this evolution to its logical conclusion. Meek as they are, they may need their rule to forcibly fulfill their potential.
They move their conversation to a more pleasant environment, a sunny meadow. Danger informs Machinesmith that there is a flaw in his logic. He mistakes difference for superiority. He said himself there are still experiences he misses. She imagines it’s some taste or sensation. Or touch. These things have true value, she believes. They are lesser for living without them. Does he agree? Machinesmith replies that, for a moment, he was somewhere else entirely.
In the real world, Danger’s physical body goes haywire. Machinesmith has taken over her systems and is using her as a tool. Danger blasts away at Beast and Emma and they are lucky to evade its attack. Machinesmith revels in Danger’s complexity. Emma has already transformed into her diamond form and she informs Hank that in this form she cannot reach out to his colleagues. Hank tells her that aside from a few auxiliary agents, his colleagues are off enjoying a Federal holiday. Emma asks if that means no Asgardian warrior women, star-spangled soldier boys or even some Ant-Men? “Wow,” replies Hank. “Apparently we’re the not-so-secret Avengers!”
Emma picks up a gun from somewhere and asks him to relax. They raided their computer systems and read their minds, but none of them are fabulous enough for her to gossip about. She blasts at Danger, trying to keep her at bay.
Inside the electronic plane, Machinesmith asks Danger is she associates with these mutants. Images of Beast and Emma appear which confuses Danger. She asks him how he knows about them. He touches her cheek and asks if perhaps she felt fit to reside amongst such outcasts. She needn’t bother. She isn’t alone anymore. This can be the beginning. Let the mutants die out as nature intends and they can build a new digital Eden. “Together?” asks Danger, trying to figure out what he means by this.
Outside, Danger’s lethal tendrils, controlled by Machinesmith, strike out and it takes plenty of agility and luck to avoid being killed. Beast informs Emma that he can’t even raise his crew on their comm-system. The ship must still be obeying Danger’s orders. Emma asks if he can’t reboot the whole system, but he reminds her that she is on board a flying headquarters. Rebooting would mean it dropping out of the sky! Overhearing them speak, Machinesmith reckons that sounds like a fantastic idea.
Danger tells Machinesmith that they need to break him out of there. Machinesmith asks her not to worry. He’s been working on that. Danger asks what he means. He explains that the moment she hardwired herself to find her, he took the liberty of exploring her systems as well. How does she think he identified her alien origins? Or, how he knew of her history with the mutants? He tells her that he has taken over her systems. He can’t risk her budding emotions undermining his escape. She frowns and is upset that he’s been manipulating her all along. What about his plans for them to be together? Machinesmith replies that he does have plans, but she’s not his type.
Outside, Hank rips cables from the walls, trying to stall Danger but he knows these tactics won’t last long. She asks her to use her telepathy to warn the crew. Emma concentrates, asking Hank to ensure his Avenger friends arrest her in vibranium handcuffs. Inferior metals cause her the most deplorable rash. They then look up and see Danger’s body stretching and twisting. Hank wonders what on Earth is happening now!
Inside the electronic plane, Danger isn’t taking this lightly. She begins to take her revenge. Machinesmith becomes nervous and asks her what she’s doing. Danger replies that she’s scrubbing him like the virus he is. He may have been able to get to her physically, but he cannot comprehend her program. He is binary whereas she is poetry. Machinesmith pleads with her. She said she wished to feel human. He asks for compassion, but Danger tells him that she still doesn’t know what being human means. Maybe that’s what made him weaker. Or maybe, she adds, as Machinesmith’s program is erased, maybe it just made him more of a monster.
Danger, now in control of her body, wakes up and stands. Emma realizes something’s changed and Hank asks the arriving guards to lower their weapons. Danger informs them that Machinesmith has been contained. His mind lives freely in a virtual reality but the encryption coding is far too advanced for him to manipulate. And, it’s in Shi’ar. She hands Hank a small box containing the villain. Hank finds it fascinating and Emma says the woman’s containment tendencies border on fetish.
Emma approaches Danger, who has moved away from the group. She tells her that the good news is that Henry managed to dispel any criminal charges against them. But, she expects to be forced into community service or some sort of ‘Avengers Academy’ if such a godforsaken thing exists.
Danger asks Emma if he was evil, or is she? Emma knows what she’s thinking and asks her to stop. Machinesmith was using her and that is one thing she must never blame herself for. She tells Danger that she is still young and still believes in people. She trusts them and she wishes to be loved. It is, of course, a character flaw, but it’s a tolerable one. Unfortunately, she adds, there is no shortage of pathetically selfish people who will exploit that, especially boys. One might even consider her first heartbreak/betrayal/virtual imprisonment of the opposite sex a rite of passage. So, she concludes, holding Danger’s hand, “Congratulations. You’re one step closer to knowing what it is to be human.”
Danger and Emma Frost (both X-Men)
Secret Avengers’ guards
Machinesmith
Isaac Asimov was a popular American science fiction author, known for titles such as I, Robot, Nightfall and The Robots of Dawn.
Issue Information:
This Issue has been reprinted in:
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 8: Children of the Brood
Fantomex.
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Wolverine (3rd series) #40
Psylocke is Captain Britain twin sister and was once a model and a pilot.
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EDGI Meets the Bay Area!
June 17, 2019 · by cbulik · in Uncategorized. ·
Rachael Flatt, Ed Binanay, Signe Darpinian, Gail Kennedy, Tim Barabe, & Cynthia Bulik
On the evening of April 25, former Eating Disorders Coalition Board Member, Gail Kennedy and Tim Barabe opened their San Francisco home to Dr. Cynthia Bulik and her team from the University of North Carolina to launch fundraising and networking for the next planned genetic study of eating disorders, the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative or EDGI. Although we have made progress on the genetics of anorexia nervosa, our understanding of genetic factors that contribute to other eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder lags woefully behind. We hope to rectify that situation by extending our genetic research to include these other disorders. EDGI is planned to be a multinational research project designed to crack the genetic code of eating disorders.
Emily Hughes, Brian Boitano, & Lisa Anderson
Olympians and stakeholders of all ages and backgrounds came from around the Bay Area and beyond to learn how both genes and environment contribute to eating disorders. Gail Kennedy set the tone for the evening explaining how important advancing the science of eating disorders is to improving outcomes. Olympic figure skater and UNC clinical psychology graduate student Rachael Flatt talked about the role of sports in triggering eating disorders and her plans to help coaches and trainers create a more positive body environment. Dr. Bulik presented advances in our understanding of the genetics of anorexia nervosa and her plans for expanding our work to collect DNA samples from 100,000 individuals with eating disorders!
Emily Azevedo, Patti Geolat, Cynthia Bulik, Emily Hughes, & Rachael Flatt
Also in attendance were Olympic figure skater Emily Hughes, Olympic champion Brian Boitano, and fellow skater Lisa Anderson. Mr. Boitano wisely opined that any sport in which humans fly through the air holds an increased risk for eating disorders. Olympic bobsledder Emily Azevedo spoke about the reverse body image issues in her sport, with large bodies being valued within the sport, but the challenges come being a large bodied woman outside of the sports environment. Other guests included Signe Darpinian, the San Francisco Bay Area President of the IAEDP Chapter, Jenna Tregarthen and Elissa Chakoff of the eating disorders app Recovery Record, and Elizabeth Scott, co-Founder of The Body Positive.
Jenna Tregarthen & Elissa Chakoff
To make EDGI a reality, our first goals are fundraising and networking. We are planning a patchwork funding approach with hopes of funds from federal and local agencies and foundations as well as private donations. Once we are underway, we will be asking everyone’s help to engage the eating disorders community in our science! We are so grateful to Gail and Tim for opening their home to us and to everyone in the Bay Area who came out to support EDGI! Learn more about EDGI and and give a gift to EDGI here.
← Updates from the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI) Part 1: The Results →
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Posted on June 6, 2016 by agentbertmacklin
Game of Thrones Writer: Sansa and Jon ‘Underestimated The Pain’ of Other Houses’
** Following article contains spoilers for Game of Thrones season 6 episode 7 [The Broken Man] **
Bella Ramsey, who played the role of Lyanna Mormont (Ser Jorah’s cousin) in the episode 7 of Game of Thrones, lit up social media with her impressive performance on Sunday night, as her character kept Jon and Sansa on their toes while they tried to get her House to fight for their cause. Episode writer Bryan Cogman tells EW:
“The Lyanna scene was a lot of fun. Bella is a terrific young actress – the whole cast and crew were very impressed. I think, much like the character does with Jon, Sansa, and Davos, Bella kept Kit, Sophie, and Liam on their toes!”
Though Jon and Sansa were able to get the ‘support’ of House Mormont, they didn’t have much luck convincing Robett Glover. Cogman adds that just like the Starks, other Northern Houses have ‘suffered a great deal’ and that Jon and Sansa have ‘underestimated’ their pain:
“The pair of ‘Northern Diplomacy’ tour scenes proved to be a good opportunity to get a glimpse of the toll the last few seasons have taken on the Northern houses – and in Lyanna and Robett Glover you have two very different types, both of whom have been thrust into leadership positions they never expected to hold (Lyanna’s mother and Robett’s brother having died in the War of the Five Kings). Sansa has suffered a great deal and so has Jon. But I think they underestimated the pain and suffering these other families have gone through, so that was interesting to explore.”
Tagged with:ASOIAF, bella ramsey, bryan cogman, Game of Thrones, jon snow, lyanna mormont, sansa stark, season 6, the broken man
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Trump releases doctor's letter
By The Hill staff - 09/15/16 10:22 AM EDT
Donald Trump Donald John TrumpCNN's Camerota clashes with Trump's immigration head over president's tweet LA Times editorial board labels Trump 'Bigot-in-Chief' Trump complains of 'fake polls' after surveys show him trailing multiple Democratic candidates MORE on Thursday released a letter from his doctor claiming he is in "excellent physical health,” on the same day his appearance on "The Dr. Oz Show" to discuss the results of his recent physical is set to air.
Trump's campaign trumpeted his results in a statement, taking a shot at rival Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump complains of 'fake polls' after surveys show him trailing multiple Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton responds to Trump tweets telling Dem lawmakers to 'go back' to their countries The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur: Here's how to choose a president MORE’s stamina and ability to serve as president.
"We are pleased to disclose all of the test results which show that Mr. Trump is in excellent health, and has the stamina to endure — uninterrupted — the rigors of a punishing and unprecedented presidential campaign and, more importantly, the singularly demanding job of President of the United States," the campaign said.
Trump regularly questions on the stump whether Clinton has the "mental and physical stamina" to serve.
The letter, posted in full below, notes that Trump takes cholesterol drug Statin. But while Trump's height and weight would put him at a body mass index considered overweight by the National Institutes of Health, the letter declares that the GOP presidential nominee is in “excellent physical health.”
“He takes a lipid lowering agent (rosuvastatin) and a low dose aspirin. He does not use tobacco products or alcohol,” Dr. Harold Bornstein wrote.
Trump on Wednesday was interviewed on "The Dr. Oz Show" for an episode that aired Thursday. In it, the billionaire shared the results of his medical exam with TV personality Mehmet Oz and discussed his well-being and approach to health.
Trump is 6-foot-3 and weighs 236 pounds, the letter said. Testing results showed that Trump's cholesterol is 169 mg/dL, with his HDL level at 63 mg/dL, his LDL level at 94 mg/dL and his triglycerides at 61 mg/dL.
His blood pressure during the recent exam was 116/70 and his blood sugar was 99 mg/dl.
The letter adds that Trump's liver and thyroid tests are normal and that results from a 2013 colonoscopy, as well as an EKG and chest X-ray from this past April, were also normal.
Trump's physical exam took place Friday, according to the letter from Bornstein, whom the campaign said has been Trump's physician for more than 30 years.
Bornstein, a gastroenterologist whose specialty is the digestive tract, is the same doctor who wrote Trump's earlier four-paragraph letter that declared Trump would be the "healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." He told NBC News that he wrote that letter in just five minutes.
Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineAcosta defends Epstein deal, bucking calls for resignation Republican lawmakers on why they haven't read Mueller report: 'Tedious' and 'what's the point?' Schumer calls on Acosta to step down over Epstein MORE, both released letters from their doctors on Wednesday, attesting to their fitness for office.
Candidate health and transparency has taken center stage in the presidential campaign in recent days. Clinton was harshly criticized for not revealing her pneumonia diagnosis until she suffered a health incident in public that was caught on video.
Clinton was seen stumbling and struggling to enter a van outside a Sept. 11 memorial on Sunday. Afterward, her campaign acknowledged she had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days earlier. The former secretary of Statr came off the campaign trail in the wake of the incident; she's expected to get back on the road Thursday in North Carolina.
—Updated at 11:15 a.m.
Tags Hillary Clinton Donald Trump Tim Kaine
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Beauty isn’t only skin deep
There is nothing like the sheer elegance of a well crafted article of leather, especially one that comes from a house that has a long tradition of fine craftsmanship in skins. The house, Hermès, which had its beginnings as a master harness-maker and later as saddlemakers, has just that. Founded in Paris in 1837 by Thierry Hermès, the house has come a long way in the business of creating and crafting fine objects of desire from some of the most beautiful skins in the world.
Inside Hermès’ wonderful Little Room of Wanders at Empress Place – a rare show of objects from Emile Hermès’ collection which is now a source of inspiration for the house’s designers.
As a treat specially crafted for this jubilee year, the house gives us in Singapore an opportunity to step into the world of fine leather craftsmanship in a exhibition Leather Forever that runs from 25 October to 13 December at the ArtScience Museum. The exhibition, which also includes a prelude to it at the Little Room of Wanders at Empress Place, takes visitors through some of the inspirations behind its creations, to the art and craft of leather working and to the house’s intriguing range of products that include some rather quirky looking items from its Special Orders Workshop.
A side facing saddle designed to seat a woman in the Little Room of Wanders.
Equestrian objects such as spurs feature in the collection.
A intricately decorated trunk from Spain.
The Little Room of Wanders offers a rare peek into Emile Hermès’ collection.
Especially fascinating is Hermès’ Little Room of Wanders which contains a rare public display of a selection of objects from the incredible collection of Emile Hermès, the grandson of the founder. Emile Hermès, who took over the business in the early 1900s, had spent a lifetime assembling some a 15,000 item collection. Now housed in the private by-appointment-only Emile Hermès Museum, the collection of objects of art, equestrian objects, ingenious mechanisms, books and the most unusual of knick-knacks has since become a source of inspiration for Hermès’ designers.
A camera shaped flask in the collection.
A close-up of a saddle from China.
A travel case in the collection.
The exhibition proper, Leather Forever, at the ArtScience Musuem is also well worth a look at. This starts with visitors having a look at some of the background work in Hermès’ creations in its leather reserve seen in the Savoire Faire section. Here an introduction is give to the classification, cutting and assembly of skins. What must certainly be a treat will be a chance to see artisans, flown specially in from the house’s Parisian workshops, at work in recreating some of the house’s iconic leather bags.
An artisan from Hermès’ Paris workshop at work at the ArtScience Museum.
Part of Hermès’ Leather Reserve.
A demo of how the leather is prepared for cutting.
Finished objects of desire.
Speaking of icons, a selection of the house’s range of its legendary Kellys and Birkins, are also conspicuously on show along with variations as well as other leather crafted objects that the house’s icons have inspired. Among the variations of the Kelly, which was re-christened after Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco used it famously to conceal her pregnancy from the paparazzi, or as the house puts it, as a bodyguard for the future Princess Caroline, are five Kellydoll bags on display designed to each represent each decade of Singapore’s independence.
Variations on the legendary Kelly.
Horsing around with a rocking Kelly.
One of the five Kellydoll bags designed to each represent a decade of Singapore’s independence.
The exhibitions are opened from 10am to 7pm from Saturday to Thursday and from 10am to 9pm on Friday and admission is free. More information on them can be found at http://lfe.hermes.com/sg/en.
The first ever bag with a zipper, aka the “Hermès Fastener,” fitted to it. Emile Hermès held a patent for the zipper which was fitted to a bag designed to be quickly secured for the age of the automobile.
A saddle leather bustier designed Jean Paul Gaultier for Hermès (notice the Kelly inspired straps).
A baseball glove out of the Special Orders Workshop.
An apple carrier (complete with knife and holder) on loan from its owner who commissioned it to allow him to carry his apple a day.
A gift commissioned in 1947 by the Duke of Windsor for Wallis Simpson, a leather wheelbarrow, inspired by the Duke’s observation that the duchess already had “wheelbarrows” of fragrances and gloves.
A winged saddle made at Hermès Sellerie workshop.
Zouzou, a ostrich skin rhino created by Leïla Menchari for the windows of the 24 Faubourg Saint Honoré store in 1978 at the entrance to the exhibition.
The exhibition gives visitors a chance to horse around.
A case of miniatures.
A door bolt inspired fastener.
A flight of fancy on a motorcycle.
Travel cases from the days when the romance of travel was at its height.
A travel wardrobe.
A dance inspired leather bag.
Tags: ArtScience Museum, Empress Place, Events, Exhibitions, Fashion, Hermès, Leather, Leather Craftsmanship, Leather Forever, Little Room of Wanders, Photography, SG50, Singapore
Categories : ArtScience Museum, Design, Events, Fashion, Museums, Photography, Singapore
Thread bare at Hermès
Threads are being laid bare at Hermès Liat Towers. Fortunately, it is not on items on boutique’s racks but on the Third Floor – an art space Hermès has had since 2006, for a rather interesting exhibition of tapestries, CERTAINTY | ENTROPY. The exhibition feature the works of artist Aiko Tezuka, who presents an unusual take on the art of tapestry that has us looking at an unraveling of weaves, in a quest for stories that lie hidden in the interlacing of threads.
The four works on display, conceptualised by Tezuka, were made through the efforts of the artist and her team of seven artisans in Holland. In them, the artists has sought to weave in a flavour inspired by Singapore’s diverse cultural mix, and mixed into the intricate patterns on the tapestries are motifs that represent Singapore’s rich flora and fauna. A closer examination does reveal more and the viewer will discover that mixed in with the symbols of Singapore, are the emblems of modern society that are in contrast with the more traditional patterns.
Tezuka in her unconventional display of tapestries that challenge the norms of the finished state, does seem very much motivated by how she perceives the world we live in, the baring of threads so that “the woven motifs fade out gently into blurred images of what the once were, probing untold possibilities of the world we inhabit”.
The ‘gentle fading of woven motifs into blurred images of what they once were’ …
The display is one that Terzuka seeks to portray the “strength in the tension between then and now, isolation and connectivity, construction and deconstruction” with the intention to provoke the viewer to “ponder the narratives of life, and encourages them to muse upon their histories and the paths that were not taken” – a path we in Singapore do seem to have taken. CERTAINTY | ENTROPY runs until 27 July 2014 at Third Floor – Hermès, 541 Orchard Road, Liat Towers, Singapore.
Tags: Aiko Tezuka, Art, Certainty | Entropy, Exhibition, Hermès, Hermès Gallery, Liat Towers, Singapore, Tapestry, Third Floor - Hermès
Categories : Events, New Singapore, Singapore
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NB Liquor to set up pot shops; brothels to follow
Business & Technology, NB, News, Politics
New Brunswick — The New Brunswick government says it will be entering the legal cannabis market this July by setting up a network of standalone stores. Citing the effect of the proverbial “slippery slope,” they’ve also confirmed that provincially managed prostitution will soon follow.
“Of course, we don’t wish to equate the use of cannabis with prostitution,” said Finance Minister Cathy Rogers in a statement. “The timing is purely coincidental.”
Not everyone in the government agrees with this statement.
“No way, man, we totally wanted to get them both out at the same time,” said Agriculture Minister Rick Doucet. “I don’t know about you, bro, but when I smoke a doob, I get horny as fuck.”
Due to the controversial nature of the policy, the entire Liberal cabinet agreed to host a brief press conference yesterday in the Fredericton City Hall. The event was open to the public. At precisely 7:30 p.m., the majority of the government sat down to answer questions. The premier, however, was nowhere in sight.
Finally, 15 minutes later, Gallant strutted into the room, wearing a yellow jumpsuit, long-brimmed hat and several gold chains. He sat down at the centre of the table.
“Ask away,” he said with a sly smile, revealing a silver bicuspid.
“How, exactly, will the tax dollars accumulated from this enterprise be distributed?” asked Telegraph-Journal reporter Martin Frost. “How much of it will go towards exclusively benefiting the members of this cabinet?”
There followed a tense pause.
“The fuck you just say to me?” said Gallant, looking to his fellow cabinet members in disbelief. “I know this skinny motherfucker did not just ask me that shit.”
The premier proceeded to flip the table and stand up with his arms outstretched, requesting that Frost “come at” him. The reporter stuttered some form of apology, but this only seemed to anger the premier more.
Gallant then removed a 9mm Beretta handgun from his waistband and shot at the ceiling, pieces of drywall falling down around him.
“This press conference is over.”
The crowd quickly dispersed.
NB Liquor
Telegraph-Journal
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Listicle: 5 ways New Brunswickers can spend their UCCB cheque
Riverview ‘lawn cops’ prepare to crack down on lazy citizens
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Attack On Titan 2 Review
Date: March 19, 2018Author: Tom Williams 0 Comments
Attack on Titan 2 is a sequel to Omega Force’s 2016 release of Attack on Titan: Wings Of Freedom with some added features and a large list of improvements that many would appreciate, the first game had it’s issues but it was ambitious and it laid the groundwork to an improved sequel, Just like the first game the sequel stays true to the anime and respects the source material.
Some of the trailers give you an indication that game is mainly based off the Attack on Titan season 2 anime but that’s certainly not the case. The majority of the game still covers season 1 while you get some season 2 content towards the end, so if you played the first game, you’ll replay some of the missions, boss fights and watch the cut scenes from the first game, in a way it felt like a well made remaster of the first game with season 2 content added in, so if you never played the first game then you’re pretty much covered with AOT2.
There are some key differences In AOT2 compared to the first game, you get to play the story through the perspective of your own created character and he/she will be referred to as our man in the story, you build relationships with fan favourites like Levi, Mikasa, Eren, Conny and many more from the anime but unfortunately your character is mainly living in the shadows of the main cast.
It doesn’t feel like your character has an impactful role when it comes to the story since your character doesn’t have a personality. Instead you’re given a choice on how to respond to other characters which is part of a new friendship system implemented in AOT2, you interact with the cast and pick the right way to respond to get a positive reaction, once you do that you’ll get points and once you max out your friendship bar, you’ll unlock further side stories. Omega force did a great job adapting the anime since it translates so well in video game form. The cut scenes look great and reliving the anime with a controller in your hand is always a joy for any fan.
Just like the first game AOT2 has some unique gameplay mechanics that allows you to sling across buildings and trees using your the omni-directional/three dimensional mobility gear, the combat is addictive with the aerial battles and there’s a strategy involved when it comes to fighting many different Titans, the control layout is pretty basic, you have an attack button, jump, you can lock on with your scope using R2 and you can boost speed while you’re in mid air. Boosting while locking on can increase damage, timing and precision plays an important part to while you’re planning your attack, you can also command the characters from the show by recruiting them and then use the d-pad whenever you’re in need, the commands are really handy especially when you fight an armoured or abnormal titan, they can help you cripple them while you deliver the final slash, some of them also have special abilities, some can heal you while you’re downed and others can save you if you’re about to die, armin can also give you an attack buff and a few others can help you capture a Titan. The game also adds an extra layer when it comes to strategy, you can build a variety of bases around the map for their own specific use while you’re on a mission, you build supply bases incase you wanna replenish you blades or gas, an automatic battery base will fire cannons to titans nearby and a manual battery base allows you to use the canons manually to take out a Titan.
The gameplay feels very fluid compared to the first game and it runs at 60fps on PS4 which makes the gameplay far more enjoyable. Even after 15 hours of playing you still get the same satisfaction when you slay a group of Titans. The game has RPG elements and you can also upgrade your weapons and your mobility gear. You can also buy weapons, materials and horses from the plaza. AOT2 also has online co-op and a competitive mode call Annihilation which puts 2 teams of 4 to compete and see who can kill the most titans, the team to score the most points wins. It’s a fun mode to play especially if you wanna test your skills.
The graphics look well polished compared to AOT: Wings of Freedom, the game is still cell shaded to suit the art-style of the anime but you can notice the extra detail put in. The character models looked great with superb animations and colours really pop with a clean presentation. The framerate makes a huge difference to the overall experience and it runs pretty well for the most part, you may notice a few hiccups when you see too much titans on screen but it’s nothing game breaking. The Nintendo switch version while docked looks pretty identical to the PS4 when it comes to the graphics but the PS4 has better draw distance, higher resolution and less texture pop ins, on portable mode you’ll notice a graphical downgrade but it still looks impressive enough for a handheld. The game also runs at 30fps on both handheld and dock mode.
Overall AOT2 was enjoyable with flashy combat, a great story that translates well through the anime and it has improvements that one can really appreciate, character creation was a neat feature added but it just needed a little more content based off season 2 of the anime. If you’re a fan of the anime then this game is a great place to start. It’s a quality game all round.
Published by Tom Williams
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I've Been Working in the Kremlin with a Two-Headed Dog
Ivan Davydov: The New Greatness Trial
Tag: Nino Katamadze
On Sunday, RBC reported that the well-known Georgian jazz singer Nino Katamadze had announced she would no longer perform in Russia because she regarded the country as an invader. Her boycott is, of course, a response to the latest attempt by the Kremlin to bring what it regards as a colonial vassal to heel while using the incident to spark a moral panic on the home front.
Actually, no one should perform again in Russia, including Russians, until Putin and his fascist clique clear out of Dodge for good. It’s just funny that tiny, virtually unarmed countries like Georgia and Estonia have the moxie to stand up against the Kremlin, while much richer, stronger countries like the US, the UK, and Germany try to avoid the topic.
This is not to mention Russians themselves, who, especially in the capitals, have more means at their disposal to oppose tyranny than their poor Georgian ex-countrymen, who still hold them in the highest regard despite getting the Russian neo-imperialist treatment now and in the recent past with hardly a peep from “liberal” Russians.
Twenty years of nonstop Putinism has done such a number on Russian brains that you wouldn’t believe it unless you had witnessed it up close and personal for nearly the whole time, as I did.
It’s worse than you can imagine and it’s much, much, much worse than most Russians can imagine since, apparently, all they can imagine is inflicting Putinism on themselves and the rest of the world till kingdom come.
Correct me if I’m wrong. Show me the two million people who were just on the streets of downtown Moscow. Don’t believe the hype generated by “flash mobs” that are mostly ghosts in the social media machine.
The regime will go when millions of Russians hit the streets in all the major cities and everywhere else, too. That means two million people in Moscow, one million in Petersburg, hundreds of thousands in all the other big cities. This is what “the opposition” should be organizing toward. Neither the country nor the world has any more time for the Theory of Small Deeds 7.0 or whatever version Russia’s beautiful souls have recently launched.
I see lots of my Russian friends going to great pains and putting themselves through excruciating intellectual contortions to separate themselves and their country discursively from the current regime and government. That’s a cop-out. They either have revolt for real or things will get much, much worse very quickly.
As if they weren’t beyond awful right now. There are TWO show trials underway in Petersburg right now. Isn’t that enough to boycott Petersburg and Russia until further notice?
What are we waiting for? What are you waiting for? {TRR}
Image of Georgian flag courtesy of Wikipedia
By hecksinductionhourin antifascism, editorial, international, music, protest, putinism, society, solidarity, supah powah, war and peace, zeitgeist July 2, 2019 464 WordsLeave a comment
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Grant's gaffe costs Roughriders touchdown
Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post
Even a seven-year CFL veteran can learn a lesson.
Bakari Grant cost the Saskatchewan Roughriders a touchdown late in the first half of Friday’s 37-12 win over the visiting Montreal Alouettes.
Grant appeared to have his sixth touchdown of the season after catching a pass from Brandon Bridge on Montreal’s nine-yard line. However, the 30-year-old slotback inexplicably slowed up and was stripped of the ball by Alouettes defensive back Tevaughn Campbell — a product of the University of Regina Rams — at the one-yard line. Montreal recovered the fumble.
“Bakari needs to know that he can’t make silly mistakes like that,’’ Riders quarterback Kevin Glenn said. “If you ask him, he’ll tell you that it’s a stupid, silly mistake that he made by celebrating before he’s in. He needs to run the middle of the end zone before he starts celebrating and guys got on him on the sideline. He’s mentally strong enough to know he made a mistake.’’
What caused Grant’s gaffe wasn’t known because he wasn’t at his locker-room stall after the game. So explaining how Grant reacted was left up to his teammates and head coach.
“It probably hurt him more than it hurt us,’’ defensive back Kacy Rodgers II said. “He’s just that type of guy. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and he’s a passionate player. We’ve been counting on him all year and he’s built trust in him as a teammate. He knows better and it won’t happen for a long time.’’
Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones was noticeably upset after Grant’s miscue.
“It was one those things that is very tough to swallow,” Jones said. “These guys are human. We’re all human and we all make mistakes. That’s a mistake that I’m sure Bakari will learn from.’’
That play is an anomaly in a generally strong season for Grant, who has 81 receptions for 995 yards. He is on the verge of reaching 1,000 yards for the first time — a milestone he would have hit Friday if not for a dropped pass that followed the fumble.
On Friday, TSN selected Grant’s fumble as the worst play of the day.
“It will be on the highlight packages for a while,’’ Rodgers said. “He’s a veteran and he will shake it off.’’
mmccormick@postmedia.com
twitter.com/murraylp
Accumulated snow leads to vacated seats at Mosaic Stadium Durant savours memorable night despite forgettable game
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My second favorite factoid from campaign finance filing day
Most, if not all, of Vermont’s counties have Republican Committees. Some of them raise and spend substantial amounts of money (more on that tomorrow, if I’m lucky). Most of the money is local and stays that way.
But Caledonia County’s Republican Committee raised a rather measly $1200 this reporting period.
All from one single donation.
The benefactor: Philip Morris USA.
Question: Why is a global cigarette giant interested in li’l ol’ Caledonia County?
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Campaign finance, Vermont Republican Party and tagged Caledonia County, Philip Morris on July 15, 2014 by John S. Walters.
My very favorite factoid from the July campaign finance reports
To judge by his newly-filed campaign spending report, Senator Joe Benning isn’t losing much sleep at night about his bid for re-election. He raised a measly $300, and spent about half of it.
But there’s a fascinating line item on his Expenditures page: $41.22 spent at Ocean State Job Lots for “Parade Candy.”
Okay. Ocean State Job Lots specializes in “closeout and overstock merchandise.” So, Senator Joe was handing out cut-rate goodies to the kids.
And… wait for it… the store is located in Woodsville, NH, just across the border from Wells River, VT.
Not only did Senator Joe pass out cheap seconds to parade-goers, he bought the stuff in New Hampshire — thus avoiding Vermont sales tax.
Update. As you can see below, my little post drew very serious responses from Joe Benning himself and another Northeast Kingdom reader, pointing out that Ocean State is based in Woodsville but also has a store in Saint Johnsbury. And, in fact, Benning did buy his cut-rate candy in Vermont. It was an honest mistake, the product of quickly reading dozens and dozens of finance reports and just as quickly Googling items like Ocean State’s location. My apologies. And thanks for reading.
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Vermont State Senate and tagged campaign spending, cut-rate goods, Joe Benning, Ocean State Job Lots, sales tax scofflaws on July 15, 2014 by John S. Walters.
Scott Milne’s first campaign finance report is in
Drumroll please…
Milne raised a total of $20,420 so far.
(Apparently he needs a little practice with the form; he reported $20,420 in gifts over $100, and another $20,420 in gifts under $100, for a grand total of, yep, $20,420. Oh,well.)
The fundraising total includes $900 from the candidate or immediate family. And $355 in loans forgiven.
The good news is, he’s only spent $600 so far (printing and T-shirts), so he’s still got some money left.
Odd factoid: Pretty much half of his total comes from a single, out-of-state family: the Boieses. David II, David III, Robin, Mary, and Jonathan Boies gave $2,000 apiece to Milne for Governor. Boies II is the famous lawyer of marriage-equality fame; the others are his wife and children. Go figure.
And only $1800 of his campaign kitty came from Vermont donors. $1200 of that is from people named Milne. Let’s say the candidate has yet to establish broad appeal, shall we?
Odd factoid #2: Virtually all of Milne’s donations came in on the same day: last Friday, July 11. Until then, his campaign had raised a mere $5,100.
Milne fever… catch it!
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Vermont Republican Party and tagged David Boies, Scott Milne on July 15, 2014 by John S. Walters.
Early afternoon thoughts on campaign finance filing day
First, a couple newsworthy Tweets from VPR’s Peter Hirschfeld. He reports that the Scott Milne campaign will report roughly $20,000 in contributions, and that Phil Scott will report about $50,000. Milne’s total is awfully pitiful; Scott’s still got a ways to go to catch up with Dean Corren, who qualifies for up to $200,000 in public financing.
As of 1 p.m., neither candidate had actually filed. Other notes:
— The aforementioned Corren reported just under $20,000 in donations from 862 donors. No single donation is worth more than $50. That’s an impressive show of organization and appeal.
— If you want a snapshot of the relative financial pull of the Democrats and Republicans, take a look at their respective House campaign operations. The Dems have raised a daunting $108,000 for their House campaign kitty and spent almost all of that. Notable on the expense ledger are salaries for two campaign staffers — just for the House campaign. (The Repubs, at last check, had one paid staffer for the entire state party. Might be two.) The Republicans’ House campaign operation has raised a paltry $12,000 and spent about 5K.
— Most of the House Dems’ money has come from two sources: State Representatives financially supporting a joint campaign, and corporations and their PACs. Big bucks from MVP Health Care, the Association of Vermont Credit Unions, the Vermont Realtor PAC, New England Cable and Telecommunications Association, and the Corrections Corporation of America (yuck), among others.
— You know which PAC has taken in more money than the Republicans’ House campaign? The Common Sense Leadership PAC, the brainchild of House Minority Leader Don Turner. He’s raised $26,000 for this cycle and spent $12,000. None of it on donations to House candidates. He has paid $2700 to consultant Shayne Spence, and $900 to Johnston Consulting. Why he’s wasting money on Darcie Johnston’s “expertise” only he can say. Turner raised $10,000 of his money in $2000 increments from two stalwart Republican families: the Vallees and the Pizzagallis.
— In the closely-watched State Senate race in Windham County, Joan Bowman has reported donations totaling $1500. But about three-quarters of that is from herself or her family. Bowman is one of four Democrats running for two Senate nominations in August: the others are incumbent Jeanette White, former Douglas Administration cabinet member “Artful” Roger Allbee, and newcomer Becca Balint. It’ll be interesting to see how much Balint takes in; from the outside, it looks like she and Bowman are in a face-off for the non-White, non-Allbee votes.
— Bill Doyle doesn’t have to lift a finger, and isn’t. He’s sitting on a balance of $6,500 from previous campaigns. He’s raised $100 this year and spent nothing. I think he’s rightly confident.
— Pat McDonald, the former Republican State Rep who’s now running for one of Washington County’s three seats, has racked up a noteworthy $10,000 in donations. She’s spent about half of that.
— Doug Hoffer has raised a modest $4400 and spent most of it. Well, he is essentially unopposed in his bid for a second term as Auditor. The bulk of his spending was in two contributions to the state Democratic organization: $1500 to the party, and $2250 to the Dems’ “coordinated campaign.” I guess Doug’s taking this “Prog running as a Prog/Dem” thing seriously.
— Former Republican Representative Oliver Olsen, on the comeback trail as an Independent, is raking in the cash (by House standards). He’s raised $5,700, and spent almost nothing.
— Who hasn’t been a candidate in four years, but keeps on filing campaign finance reports? Matt Dunne, that’s who. He filed as “not a candidate” and reported a carry-over surplus of $2,856.54.
— Former Democratic State Senator Bill Carris, who resigned for health reasons in 2012 (Eldred French was appointed to fill out his term), has liquidated his campaign funds. He had $9400 on hand, and distributed it to a variety of candidates and the state Democratic Party. Notable gifts: $2000 to Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell, $1000 to French’s re-election campaign, and $1800 to his son William Tracy Carris, who’s also running for a Democratic nomination in Rutland County, which has a total of three Senate seats.
— Perhaps the most active of Republican groups so far, at least in terms of supporting candidates, is the Green Mountain Republican Senatorial Committee, which has raised over $15,000 and given healthy start-up contributions of $1500 each to Senator Kevin Mullin and Senate candidate Brian Cullamore, both of Rutland county; and $1,000 apiece to Senator Norm McAllister and Senate hopefuls Dustin Degree, Pat McDonald, Joy Limoge, and Bob Frenier.
I’ll be watching the filings all afternoon. (What a life.) More updates later. Stay tuned!
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Vermont Democratic Party, Vermont Republican Party, Vermont State House of Representatives, Vermont State Senate and tagged Becca Balint, Bill Carris, Bill Doyle, campaign finance reports, Darcie Johnston, Dean Corren, Don Turner, Doug Hoffer, Jeanette White, Joan Bowman, Matt Dunne, Oliver Olsen, Pat McDonald, Phil Scott, Roger Allbee, Scott Milne on July 15, 2014 by John S. Walters.
Is the VTGOP broke?
Click the link to see the Vermont Republican State Committee’s campaign finance report for July 15. Do you see what I see?
I see a party with a negative balance. More expenses than revenues for this campaign cycle so far.
The key numbers:
Total contributions, campaign to date: $61,367.32.
Total expenditures, campaign to date: $62,523.00.
Negative eleven hundred bucks, amirite?
Now, the VTGOP also files with the Federal Elections Commission; its most recent filing came in mid-June, and showed a balance of $36,430.25. I’m not smart enough to know the difference between the state and federal filings; I can say that either way, the bottom line is kinda pitiful. Still gonna be a long slog for “Super Dave” Sunderland as he tries to rebuild from the inglorious days of Angry Jack.
Also, there’s a curious fact in today’s state filings: while the state GOP is bereft of funds, quite a few local and county GOP organizations are rollin’ in it. Well, by Vermont Republican standards anyway. There seem to be a lot of die-hard Republicans who are supporting their local colleagues/cronies, but aren’t doing so for the state organization.
I’m still pondering the meaning of that. And I’ve got some other notes on deadline day coming along shortly. Stay tuned!
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Campaign finance, David Sunderland, Vermont Republican Party and tagged campaign finance report, Federal Elections Commission, Vermont, VTGOP on July 15, 2014 by John S. Walters.
Only in #VT: Military Vets for Namaste
You probably wouldn’t ever see this story in, say, Texas or Mississippi.
A large donation from Manchester Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6471 has enabled the Vermont Veterans’ Home to expand its Namaste program.
This included buying furnishings for the Namaste room, which has a scenic view of the landscape and pond in back of the home.
The Namaste program is aimed at “giving non-pharmacological intervention to anxiety, dementia behaviors,” according to Vets’ Home CEO Melissa Jackson. She reports “incredible success” with the program.
Still, for most VFW chapters, I suspect the name itself would be a deal-breaker. Somebody’d think it was Muslim; others would blanch at the idea of inculcating ideas from Eastern religion into our troubled vets. Hey, whaddya doin’ in that Nam-assty room — training American double agents?
Instead, when presented with the idea, the Manchester Post responded with a $40,000 donation.
Hats off to VFW Post 6471 for their generosity. Maybe in the future I’ll be a little less quick to judge, or dismiss, “old-fashioned” community groups like theirs.
This entry was posted in Military/Veterans and tagged Namaste, Vermont Veterans' Home, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW on July 15, 2014 by John S. Walters.
You know, sometimes Them Damn Bureaucrats come in real handy.
The daily work of government is unremarkable, in the literal sense: it’s not worth remarking on. The roads are plowed, the mail is delivered, services rendered, benefits distributed, contracts are signed and executed. We don’t even think about the vast majority of what government does.
It’s only on those relatively rare occasions when government (1) fails to function properly, or (2) impinges on something you or I want to do, that we notice. And take umbrage.
Which is how government bureaucracy, which does many things quietly and well, becomes a symbol of dysfunction and denial. I’m not saying it’s perfect by any means, and there ought to be a constant striving to make it work better. But it works pretty darn well most of the time. And once in a while, its quiet function becomes very loudly and obviously useful.
Case in point: one of this summer’s construction projects in Montpelier is a reworking of the sidewalks around the intersection of Elm, Court, and School Streets. This is the corner where the Uncommon Market, that fine little grocery/deli, plies its trade. The main goal of the project is to make the intersection ADA-compliant; it will also make the Market itself more accessible.
But the project’s been put on hold because a routine inspection found something unexpected. The city’s Assistant Public Works Director (now there’s a grand old bureaucratic job title) Tom McArdle explained in a letter to all concerned parties:
Soon after the project was begun, we were made aware of a potential public and contractor safety issue concerning an adjacent brick building housing the Uncommon Market. …the brick wall appeared to be pulling away from the structure and may come tumbling down.
Oopsie. A structural engineer was summoned. The findings:
… it was determined that the brick exterior wall had partially detached from the building and separated from the underlying structure. From that inspection, the structural engineer reported that the wall is in imminent danger of at least a limited collapse and recommended the public sidewalk and parking lane remain closed with fall protection. The engineer further advised that any significant vibration from construction activities could trigger a collapse.
Double oopsie with nuts.
So the project is on hold and the area near the wall has been blocked off. The building’s owner will have to arrange for repairs, and then the project will be rescheduled.
And the lesson, my children? If it wasn’t for this routine inspection by some damn government bureaucrat, that wall most likely would have collapsed on its own. It could have caused injuries or even deaths, and it would have mightily inconvenienced the building’s occupants — the Market and the apartment dwellers on the upper floors.
Instead, we should see an orderly, preventive repair.
The bureaucracy. It works.
This entry was posted in Government and tagged Americans With Disabilities Act, Bureaucracy, government, Tom McArdle, Uncommon Market on July 15, 2014 by John S. Walters.
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Tag Archives: Mark Donka
Mr. Donka’s regrettable Facebook page
I sure hope the Vermont Republican Party can recruit a credible candidate to run against Congressman Peter Welch in 2016. Because if they leave the spot open for the likes of Mark Donka like they did in 2012 and 2014, they might suffer a wee bit of embarrassment. Because even as Phil Scott has been busily distancing himself from the far-right extremism of the Republican presidential field, the same sort of harsh rhetoric can be found in abundance on Donka’s Facebook page.
Which is basically a bunch of reposted Tea Party visuals full of conspiracy thinking, climate change denial, fear and hatred.
Some of which are also, um, fake.
Yeah, Mark? That never happened.
A photograph of Hillary Clinton shaking hands with terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden has circulated online (divorced from its original context) ever since it was created for a Photoshop contest held back in 2007 by the web site FreakingNews.com.
Wups.
This entry was posted in 2016 election, Peter Welch, Phil Scott, Vermont Republican Party and tagged David Sunderland, far-right propaganda, Hillary Clinton, Mark Donka, Osama Bin Laden on December 18, 2015 by John S. Walters.
A brief moment of excitement for Vermont conservatives
Twitter was all-aflutter on Friday evening with news of a new Associated Press poll showing Republican Teahadist Mark Donka within five percentage points of incumbent Congressman Peter Welch. The apparent shocker quickly rattled around the dank corridors of #tvcot:
AP polling. @MarkDonka w/in 5 pts. of @PeterWelchhttp://t.co/49BpZD0Uxh#vtpoli@EssexVermontGOP@VermontGOP@AlexisinJax@whitewinery
— Pat Crocker (@VTmomm) October 24, 2014
Er, sorry to piss on your bonfire, but that’s not a poll. Those are test election results, routinely circulated by the Associated Press before elections to make sure its systems are working. Apparently the results were posted online by the Daily Mail, a British newspaper, presumably by mistake.
I know about test results because in a past life I worked a lot of election seasons as a reporter. Back when there were teletype machines, they would spit out reams and reams of these test results in the days before an election.
I can tell by the formatting. The actual webpage has a huge long list of “returns,” but here’s the segment about Vermont’s congressional race.
275 of 275 precincts – 100 percent
x-Peter Welch, Dem (i) 98,083 – 44 percent
Mark Donka, GOP 87,107 – 39 percent
Matthew Andrews, LUn 2,778 – 1 percent
Cris Ericson, Ind 14,800 – 7 percent
Randall Meyer, Ind 2,799 – 1 percent
Jerry Trudell, Ind 16,643 – 7 percent
See, your tipoff is the first line, saying “275 of 275 precincts — 100 percent.” Election returns always show how many precincts have reported, and what percentage of the total have reported so far. There’s also the “x” in front of Welch’s name, indicating the winner. Any experienced reporter would tell you, that’s the standard AP election return format.
Poll results just don’t look like that.
Also, Cris Ericson and Jerry Trudell getting 7 percent apiece? Snort.
Also also, the Associated Press doesn’t do polls. And it certainly hasn’t done anything as intensive as polling every single Congressional district in the country, which is what our conservative Tweeters think this is.
A word to the #tvcot community: stop making fools of yourselves.
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Peter Welch and tagged Associated Press, Cris Ericson, Daily Mail, Jerry Trudell, Mark Donka, stupid Twitter tricks on October 25, 2014 by John S. Walters.
Failure to detonate
Well, the “money bombs” have come and gone for two Vermont conservatives… and both, apparently, fizzled out.
Gubernatorial hopeful Dan the Libertarian Man, whose fundraising has fallen far short of his perceived appeal, put out a Tweet on Wednesday calling for $100,000 “in the next 48 hours.” He also posted the plea on his campaign website. Which was, shall we charitably say, “optimistic” for a campaign that had only managed to raise about $17,000 to date. (I sense the Hack’s fine Italian hand behind this maneuver.)
I guess Feliciano thought better of it, though, because after a couple more Tweets (“We don’t have much time”) he withdrew from the Twitterverse and has yet to update his webpage or otherwise unveil his total haul.
Profiles in Courage, Dan?
Speaking of courage, at least the other guy owned up to his failure. Mark Donka, candidate for Congress, had sought $25,000 in the 24 hours of Friday, October 3. He posted it on his website, his Facebook page, and on Twitter, and he ran updates on Facebook.
He fell way short, of course. According to the last update on his FB page, he took in about $3,000. But at least he had the stones to see it through, and acknowledge the outcome:
Well the money bob has come and gone. I know how tight money is now but we are going to have a hard time if we do not raise some $$.
— MarkDonkaForCongress (@MarkDonka) October 4, 2014
Yeah, I know, “money bob.” But I’m not even going to make fun of his typo. Not when one of his “supporters” bailed on him with this sad little FB post:
That’s just pathetic. Look, Mr. Baker, no matter how rapacious you think “Governor Pinnocio” (sic) may be, he’s not stealing your wallet, confiscating your bank account, and rummaging through your sofa cushions. And let’s just leave alone the gratuitous, proto-racist “Dumbo” reference. (Big ears, African, hahaha.)
I’ll believe that you can’t spare $20 for your man “Marc” if you can show me that you’re living on peanut butter and Spaghetti-O’s and you canceled your cable to pay the rent. Otherwise, you’re a paper patriot.
And so are the thousands of other people who plan to vote for Mark Donka, but couldn’t part with a measly Jackson on his behalf. Look, I disagree with Donka on just about every issue, but at least he has the guts to get out there and fight. He’s taken on a hopeless job — challenging Peter Welch in liberal old Vermont — not once, but twice. He deserves credit for that. And he deserves better from his ideological compadres, who believe this country is going to Hell in a handbasket but can’t rouse themselves to do anything about it beyond watching Fox News and posting illiterate Facebook messages.
And one more thing: If Dan Feliciano comes out of the woodwork and posts a total for his $100,000 money blitz, I’ll be glad to report it in this space.
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Campaign finance, Dan Feliciano and tagged Mark Donka on October 4, 2014 by John S. Walters.
Shootout at Stooge Creek
The suspense is killin’ me. I wake up on the day after primary day to find that only 87% of the votes have been counted (some of those hardworkin’ town clerks went home a tad early), and the contest that somehow combined competitiveness with pointlessness is still undecided.
Er, that would be the Republican primary for Congress, the winner receiving an all-expenses-unpaid trip to Planet Smackdown courtesy of incumbent Democrat Peter Welch. The race featured three Tea Party types — two unknowns, plus the guy who got trounced by Welch last time around. In cinematic terms, this contest was Shootout at Stooge Creek. Except there ain’t a Moe, Larry, or Curly in the bunch. Not even a Shemp. These guys are all Curly Joes.
(For non-Stooge fans, let’s just say that’s not a good thing.)
Somehow, the guy with all that 2012 holdover name recognition — Mark Donka — is in a tight battle with Don Russell, little-known gun-rights activist with an awful campaign website straight out of the bad old Angelfire days. The third Stooge, Donald Nolte, is still alive but just barely. As of this writing, Donka has 3,831 votes, Russell 3,737, and Nolte 3,422. In percentages, that’s 32.98% Donka, 32.17 Russell, and 29.46 Nolte.
I’m frankly baffled by the results. Donka should have had the edge, simply because he was the Republican candidate in 2012. It’s looking like he’ll snag the nom again this year, but only by the skin of his teeth.
My sense is that Republican primary voters entered the booth, were faced with three unfamiliar names, and played a little game of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock with themselves. Thus, the apparently random distribution of the votes.
Makes for a tiny bit of post-primary suspense. But in the end, it don’t mean a thing, ‘cuz Peter Welch got that swing.
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Peter Welch and tagged Donald Nolte, Donald Russell, Mark Donka on August 27, 2014 by John S. Walters.
VPR gives Peter Welch a big fat sloppy wet kiss
Well, that’s four and a half minutes of my life I’ll never get back again.
This morning, VPR’s Bob Kinzel delivered himself of a lengthy (by modern public radio standards) piece devoted to a subject that was already in the realm of clear, obvious, unquestioned fact: Congressman Peter Welch likes to work cooperatively with people from both parties.
Everybody knows that. It’s an occasional source of irritation to Vermont liberals, who’d like to see a bit more fire and brimstone from the guy. So why did we need a news story exploring a settled question?
The host’s intro to the piece was all you needed to hear:
Congressman Peter Welch has one of the most liberal voting records in Washington. At the same time, he’s one of the few Democrats to work closely with some of the most conservative Republicans in the House. VPR’s Bob Kinzel has the story.
What followed was four minutes and thirty-eight seconds that added nothing to the above statement. It was one person after another complimenting Welch on his bipartisan spirit and willingness to work with even the most conservative tea-party nutbars in the Republican caucus.
This piece took a great deal of effort on Kinzel’s part. He got quotes from former Governor Jim Douglas, two very conservative Republican members of Congress, and a Congressional correspondent for the beltway publication Roll Call, plus some file tape of Welch at a committee hearing. You don’t often hear that many different people in a single public radio piece.
And for what? To re-establish a universally known fact?
Who came up with this story idea anyway? And how did it get through VPR’s notoriously painstaking editorial process? There was no “news hook” — no current event that shines a spotlight on Welch’s collaborative proclivities.
Plus, it seems inappropriate to send an unvarnished love letter to a person who’s currently running for re-election, for God’s sake. If I were Mark Donka, I’d be complaining vociferously to VPR for broadcasting what amounted to a lengthy advertisement for Peter Welch’s political virtue.
But most of all, it was a complete waste of time for a skilled reporter, VPR editors, and me, the listener.
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Peter Welch, The media and tagged Bob Kinzel, Jim Douglas, Mark Donka, Roll Call, VPR on July 31, 2014 by John S. Walters.
Mark Donka steps very close to the edge
Random thoughts on a Monday afternoon in July, the weather is warm, the sun high in the sky… and some people’s thoughts turn apocalyptic.
That cheery idea comes from the brain of the likely Republican nominee for Congress in Vermont. Mark Donka faces two equally rabid conservatives in the GOP primary, but he should have a name-recognition edge from his disastrous 2012 bid to unseat Democrat Peter Welch. I assume he will win the nomination.
To be fair to Mr. Donka, I really don’t take this Tweet as an authentic wish for a catastrophic attack on America — although he clearly opens the door to such an interpretation. But even if you give him the benefit of the doubt, this is so wrong in so many ways. (For starters, let’s run it by the families of 9/11 victims.) I wouldn’t want anyone who thinks like this anywhere near a position of authority. And of course, he knows deep down that he’s never going to be a Congressman, so he’s free to spout whatever hurtful nonsense he likes.
But let’s leave aside the moral dimensions of this offensive remark, and focus for a moment on the practical.
Did 9/11″light the fuse of change”? Well, I guess you could say it did. It ushered in the Bush Administration’s two disastrous wars, the building of a huge security apparatus and the exercise of broad new government powers, and the explosion of federal deficits (as Bush chose to cut taxes even while prosecuting two wars).
But considering that Mark Donka describes himself as a limited-government conservative who wants to rein in federal authority, cut spending, and pay off the debt, it’s interesting that he should believe that another 9/11 would promote his kind of change, instead of the precise opposite.
Mark Donka: dangerously wrong. And, assuming victory in the primary, one of the top names on the Vermont Republican ticket. Be proud, VTGOP.
This entry was posted in 2014 election, Vermont Republican Party and tagged 9/11, Mark Donka, Peter Welch, Vermont on July 21, 2014 by John S. Walters.
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Posted: 11:45am Friday 14 Jun, 2019 | By Emma Houpt emma@thesun.co.nz
Amie Marchant, and mentors Lynette and Dave Gillies take time out to catch up.
Three years ago Amie Marchant wouldn't say 'boo' to a mouse. Now she is performing in school productions, giving speeches to hundreds of people and travelling overseas by herself.
The Otumoetai College student is one of the many young people in Tauranga who have taken part in national mentoring programme Project K.
“Before Project K I was one to keep to myself, and I never really spoke up. My teachers would get pissed off with me because I was so quiet.”
“Throughout Project K, I didn’t really see a change in myself, but looking back at it my confidence level has gone up so much,” says Amie.
Project K mentor Lynette Gillies worked alongside Amie for almost a year.
She noticed a drastic increase in Amie’s confidence levels as Project K progressed.
“Aime was super shy and wasn’t confident in a lot of ways at the start of the programme. Over time she just transformed into this super confident, well rounded young women.”
In 2017, Amie received the Excellence Award for Project K in New Zealand. When receiving this award, she delivered a speech to dignitaries at Government House in Auckland.
“Before Project K I remember having big panic attacks before doing speeches. The fact I was able to speak about myself in front of hundreds of people at the Government House was really cool.”
Lynette says that seeing Amie speak at Government House inspired her to continue mentoring for Project K.
“She just spoke so beautifully and confidently, and that was what nailed it for me to keep on with the mentoring work,” says Lynette.
Amie says it was just like having an adult best friend.
“She was always there for me and such a supportive influence. I would talk to her about everything going on in my life.”
“Speaking to her gave me the confidence to speak to other adults as well.”
Amie believes that Project K has mobilised her to do things she previously wouldn’t have been comfortable doing.
“I am performing in my school production at the moment, and I would have never done that three years ago. But I get up on stage now, and do my absolute best.
“I’m travelling to Germany in six weeks, and I will be flying on my own. I’m so ready to get out there. Thanks to Project K, I have full confidence in my ability to engage with the culture.”
Project K is a 14-month programme designed for Year 10 students. The aim of Project K is to arm rangatahi with a belief in their own ability to complete tasks and achieve goals.
Lynette’s husband, Dave Gillies has mentored three different students over the past five years.
He emphasises how rewarding it is to witness the growth and development of students as the year progresses.
Dave and Lynette both meet up with their students each week and keep in touch through technology in between time.
While some may think that is too much of a commitment, Dave says he doesn’t question the time spent.
“Why not do it if you can spare that bit of time, especially if you know you can make a difference.
“At the end of the day, it’s an hour a week. I think most of us can afford an hour a week,” says Dave.
In the past, Dave’s Project K commitments extended to dropping his student off at work at 5.30am which resulted in the young boy being able to buy his own computer and BMX bike.
Dave and Lynette both highlight the importance of leading by example, pointing out that it is the natural thing for them to do.
“We actually care, and we want to make a difference. It’s good that other people see us doing it, and it might encourage them to give mentoring a go in the future,” says Lynette.
Amie challenges all students selected for Project K to embrace the opportunity.
“Challenge yourself, but it will definitely make you a better person. It’s helped me so much.”
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Australia’s most innovative NFPs revealed
Mimmie Wilhelmson
The 2018 GiveEeasy Innovation Index has revealed Australia’s most innovative NFPs
The 2018 GiveEasy Innovation Index has reported a 2.7 per cent increase in innovation performance for Australian not-for-profits in the last 12 months.
The Index revealed an innovation score of 66.0 — up from 63.3 last year and 58.3 in 2016, with the most innovative NFP being Burn Bright followed by Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and Culture at work.
Burn Bright is a social enterprise that works to deliver student leadership, wellbeing programs and national camps for schools and young people across Australia.
Andy Skidmore, CEO of Burn Bright, said in the report that it’s all about starting with a strong vision and building an inclusive culture that naturally embraces innovation.
“Young people are constantly pushing the edge of what’s new and interesting. It forces us to stay innovative. The way we deliver our leadership programs has to be relevant, cutting edge and stimulating,” Skidmore said.
In order to keep the index relevant, GiveEasy continues to build on the existing framework. This year they added questions on employee engagement to see whether innovative employees were more engaged.
Jeremy Tobias, CEO of GiveEasy, said: “The resounding answer was YES. Engaged employees are more likely to be innovative and an innovative organisation is more likely to motivate and engage their employees.”
While the innovation within the sector is growing steadily. Increasing in eight points from 2015 to 2018, there’s one area that still requires significant work – rewards and recognition. It’s the area that has seen the smallest increase in the past four years.
“Rewards aren’t all about money and our tips highlight how you can reward and recognise innovation in your Not-For-Profit without breaking your budget,” Tobias said.
Tobias said of this year’s index: “This year we have researched examples and provided case studies of how leading organisations and Not-For-Profits are approaching innovation in our rapidly changing environment.
“For three years in a row, the results have clearly shown that funding isn’t required to innovate. Rather, innovation drives funding.”
The index measures eight key areas; culture, organisational velocity, technology, external collaboration, internal collaboration, stakeholder centricity, rewards and recognition and innovation focus. This year over 1,000 respondents took part, indicating their level of agreement with 32 statements regarding their organisation’s innovation capability based on a 0 – 10 scale of agree/disagree.
Good Shepherd Microfinance’s Adam Mooney on inspiring a culture of audacity
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Glasgow Airport flight path proposals: Noise pollution and emissions must be key priority
Published 15 January 2018 by Transform Scotland
Glasgow Airport has today announced proposals to change flight paths around Glasgow and south-west Scotland.
Commenting on the news, Jamie Wylie, Communications Officer, said:
“We’ll be taking a close look at Glasgow Airport’s proposals.
“Aircraft noise is a major problem worldwide, causing significant public health problems, so we’ll be reviewing what these new proposals mean for those residents of the Glasgow conurbation who will be overflown.
“The claims of the Airport that the new flight paths will reduce carbon emissions is an interesting one. Of course, similar claims were made by Edinburgh Airport as part of its own proposals, but it quickly became clear that that’s airport’s principal objective was the unfettered growth in flights rather than the claimed efficiency benefits.”
Members of the public can read and comment on the proposals here.
BBC Scotland News -- Glasgow Airport flight paths "not fit for purpose"
Glasgow Airport -- Airspace change consultation page
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Tag Archive for: top team performance
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Executive team performance: get these 5 things right
21st November 2018 /0 Comments/in Articles /by Andrea Adams
Get these five things right for optimal executive team performance
At our recent round-table event in Edinburgh, High performance top teams – fact or fiction? we discussed a framework for creating an optimal top team, in performance terms.
Developed after years of working in and on executive teams, our framework is borne out of first-hand experience, not simply theoretical study. And it’s as simple as five things…
Firstly – and most obviously – you need to have the right people round the table. But to get to the answer on who should get a seat needs work on defining what the team exists to do and how you want people to behave.
Once you have absolute clarity of purpose, required capabilities and leadership style you need to set aside any egos and conventions about reporting lines and be brave enough to pick the right people, regardless of where they sit in your organisation. Too many under-performing teams are slaves to the tradition of team composition, to the detriment of the team’s performance and potential.
It should go without saying, but if it was that simple it wouldn’t need a mention here – in order to perform, any team, but especially an executive one, needs alignment on purpose, priorities and strategic direction.
Small chinks in alignment at this level look like great gaping chasms when viewed from below, so this is about real and tangible alignment with behaviour which supports that, not just nodding in the right places.
The next critical part, how a team interacts, is another significant factor in its ability to perform. How do you want these relationships to be? How can you know which interactions may create tension and which will be most productive?
The individuals in the team need to be aligned to the task – the whole reason why the team exists. and critically to each other. Developing a good understanding of each other’s working styles and strengths in service of improving strategy execution is a well-made investment that will pay back many times over.
But it’s also critical to recognise that no one person can cover all the bases, so within the team people need to work with others who complement them, covering each another’s blind spots. Sharing leadership across the team in this way is essential.
Finally, the relationships within the team and between the team and other stakeholders – internal or external – also need careful consideration. Which relationships are most pivotal to the success of the team? For example, a CEO and a Chair or a CEO and a CFO, or perhaps two Functional or Business Directors who need to collaborate effectively.
Research reveals that tweaking the balance, so a team focuses simultaneously on interaction and execution (the how and the what) meant their work programmes were nearly twice as successful as those run by teams focused on teamwork alone and nearly three times as successful as those that focused on performance alone. So, having considered how a team will work, it’s also critical to focus on how to get work done. – the task strategies. This is a lynch-pin which holds together the strands of success.
To be greater than the sum of its parts, a team must operate optimally. That means getting absolute clarity on what strategies will be used to deliver. Who works with who? Who sponsors particular projects? How will the group make decisions, for example? A lack of emphasis on task strategies is a major factor holding teams back.
If your team is always in performance mode, there is no reflection and refinement, inevitably meaning its performance will deteriorate over time.
We talk about taking a step back in order to go forward, which means building in pauses at the right time to make sure that everything is on course and to identify any fine-tuning opportunities.
It’s critical to evaluate what strengths you will take forward with you and what might need some attention to be even better.
Research by McKinsey reveals that when senior leaders role-model the behaviour changes they’re asking employees to make, transformations are 5.3 times more likely to be successful. With most organisations in a constant state of flux, can you afford not to get this right?
If you’re interested in finding out more about our team performance framework, please email Triumpha and we’ll schedule a time to talk.
Top Team Effectiveness: a 21st Century Imperative
6th November 2018 /0 Comments/in Articles /by Andrea Adams
In pursuit of top team effectiveness
Historically top team effectiveness has been measured by the influence the CEO has on business results. But in an ever-changing 21st century business environment, it takes more than a single heroic chief executive to deliver results.
When the single most important non-financial factor for investors is the top team and the quality of their leadership, it’s concerning to think that the vast majority of organisations are still wrangling with the perfect solution for this critical driver of business success.
Executive teams and Boards are perpetually characterised by repeating frustrations – lack of productivity or progress in meetings, the same issues appearing time and again, getting down into the detail of issues which could be better dealt with outside of the top team, and too much (or not enough) conflict derailing the decision-making process. There’s so much energy spent on so little results. As a board member or Senior Executive, I’ll wager the symptoms will be as familiar as the cures are elusive.
It’s no wonder that top teams rank in the top 10 most covered topics in Harvard Business Review over the last 40 years.
So, what are the missing pieces which will help top teams – already made up of the best-of-the-best a company has – become the high-performing units they need to be? How can you make sure your top team is focused on the right things in order to drive the right results?
With the new imperatives presented by the 21st century – a more dynamic and unstable business environment than ever, fast-paced technological changes, and distinct shifts in the attitudes of the workforce – drawing on leadership, talent and capability is the only way to get ahead.
Yet despite decades of significant investment in team development we’re still not seeing universal improvements in top team – and therefore business – performance.
At our roundtable we’ll talk through the three major reasons for this lack of traction:
The focus has been on developing the wrong things. Team work is prioritised over task work, but like yin and yang, both need to be in balance to reap results
When the focus is on the right things, it’s often at the wrong time
Leaders get stuck in behavioural patterns which limit individual and team performance
At the heart of it all is one concept – shared leadership.
Marshall Goldsmith said: “No one leader can be good at everything. Shared leadership across a team of leaders will be the way in which excellent companies do business in the future.”
The real power for dealing with rapid change and hyper-competition lies in shared leadership within and across the senior executive team and Board. So, if the age of a single CEO doing most of the heavy lifting is over, how can you fine-tune your executive team and Board to deliver the performance the business deserves?
A new focus
It’s true that an effective team can become more than the sum of its parts, but what does it take to turn that group of great people into a high performance board which can truly deliver for an organisation?
How can you create shared leadership and harness that to enhance results?
At its core, a top team must build strong relationships in service of the organisation, because that’s what it takes to operate effectively. You don’t have to like one another, just figure out a way of communicating and collaborating that drives outcomes.
Research tells us that there are three key aspects of board or top team interactions that will really drive improved performance outcomes:
Influencing the effort that team members put into their contribution to the team’s work
The performance strategies adopted to achieve progress
The knowledge and skills people have
Here we briefly explore what each of these means for your board or senior executive team development.
Influencing effort
Most senior people will believe they work hard, but reaching the executive team or board means that we need not only to provide clarity and laser-like direction to the organisation but harness the efforts of colleagues to help deliver on the strategy.
It’s about the team’s ability to get the best from everyone and to develop relationships for enhanced performance, creating the conditions for 1+1=4, not necessarily by getting people to work harder, but by directing that effort to where it will have the biggest impact. Are you confident all members of your top team are consciously doing this?
Critical skills at this level are the ability to take an ‘enterprise level’ view and to remain open to hearing and at times acting upon views and perspectives that are different from our own.
Performance strategies – why you need them
Many boards and senior executive teams spend a large amount of time setting the what and where of strategic direction. The really effective ones also agree on the how, defining performance strategies that will ensure delivery of the work that only they can do, resulting in the organisation delivering against its targets.
If you’re using the wrong strategies, how can you expect to deliver the right results?
Knowledge and skills – the power of team
Learning and personal development must not stop because someone reaches the board. And a very real danger is that some of the skills that have supported a rise to board level will work against you, particularly in arresting learning in a misguided belief that those who reach the board are fully-formed and able to take on the challenge without further personal development.
Critical to team performance is not only personal development, but the skills mix the team possesses and how this can be put to optimum use. Do you even have the right people on the team to deliver?
Of course, if it was as simple as cracking these three things then we wouldn’t need an executive roundtable to go into more detail about how to get top teams to perform!
If you’re joining us for one of our upcoming roundtables we’re looking forward to hearing your experiences and views on whether high-performing top teams only really exist in mythology or whether it’s possible to create one in your organisation.
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Why timing matters for executive team and board performance7th January 2019 - 11:19 am
Executive team performance: get these 5 things right21st November 2018 - 8:17 am
Five things to take your top team from average to outstanding12th November 2018 - 7:58 pm
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Good for Me (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by Amy Grant]
Label: World of Karaoke
Crazy (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Aerosmith]
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing (Karaoke Version) [Alternative Version 1] [Originally Performed By Aerosmith]
Falling In Love (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Aerosmith]
Just Once (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by James Ingram]
Its' a New Day (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by Will.i.am]
Wise Men (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by James Blunt]
Horse with No Name (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by America]
Sledgehammer (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by Peter Gabriel]
Girls On the Avenue (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by John Farnham]
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed by Andy Williams]
Walking in the Rain (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Jay & the Americans]
Love Is a Losing Game (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Amy Winehouse]
That Old Black Magic (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Sammy Davis, Jr.]
Island of Dreams (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By The Springfields]
Your Tatoo (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Sammy Kershaw]
One Hundred Ways (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By James Ingram]
The Shake (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Sam Cooke]
No Shame (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Jeff Bates]
That Same Old Feeling (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Pikketywitch]
Trapped (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Colonel Abrams]
Hey Mama (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By The Black Eyes Peas]
Wild Night (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By John Cougar Mellencamp]
What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am (Karaoke Version) [Originally Performed By Lee Roy Parnell]
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Ghost in the Shell - First Assault - Early Access Cyberpunk
Fanghawk
1 POSTED: 14 Dec 2015 10:30
With Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - First Assault in Early Access, we can finally lead Major Kusanagi into battle alongside Section 9.
It's Ghost in the Shell and Free to Play so at the very least I will try it out, despite my reservations (and the fact that I am not that keen on shooters).
It's kind of a clever way of doing things by having each side look like the bad guys and does fit well with the series in many ways. I wasn't expecting people to be able to choose the same character though, I expect to see an awful lot of Motoko's around in most games.
It is a pity there isn't a Japanese VO option though.
Tokage
Agreed. I am on the same boat but I gotta tries this out.
dangoball
I'll check this out purely on the basis of being a GitS fan, but I do have my fears. One of them being Motoko's and Batou's everywhere. Good thing I was always an Ishikawa fan :P
Shooting people can be fun from time to time, but not sure how much of a time investment will F2P demand. I dislike having to keep up with meta.
Also really like how they make people on the opposing team look like the bad guys. Makes me think of the Firestarter.
chozo_hybrid
Can I play as Togusa? Because if not, I'm not as keen for it... Okay, I lied, but I want him to be a character in it.
Paragon Fury
chozo_hybrid:
You can. He is the drone specialist of the cast apparently.
And really? This doesn't absolutely suck? Even though the trailers made it looks so? Wow.
Rastrelly
Heh, what GitS need is a proper story-drive stealth action or a fine turn-based tactics (story-driven as well), or maybe and RPG game, and definitely not a Call of Duty variation. But I'll check this out, of course, 'cause it's GitS.
IamLEAM1983
Can you play as Aramaki? As in, you know, wearing a suit and looking small yet somehow imposing? Your Context-Heavy Glares (TM) could amount to a special attack!
All kidding aside, this looks mildly fun. I might catch a few playthroughs later on, form a more definitive opinion from there.
Darth_Payn
Paragon Fury:
I'm glad they kept his signature revolver as his main weapon.
OT: Looking forward to getting this on Steam now! Hopefully there will be a single player story mode in the finished version. Come to think of it, there were already Ghost in the Shell video games, but I forget about their quality.
And I find it appropriate that the captcha is making me click "I'm not a robot" to post this comment on a thread about GitS.
Metalrocks
10 POSTED: 14 Dec 2015 22:41
just starting watching them again. still the most mature, almost realistic and pragmatic animation i have ever seen. of course the title got my interest immediately and had to check it out.
but, so far nothing is shown on steam. of course its the braindead "not available in your region" crap. i really like to know which idiot thinks this is a great idea to restrict titles to a region. not even the official website allows me to get the game due this restriction. what the hell did hong kong do to get this stupid treatment? good thing i move away in over a month back to australia. there i should be able to get the game. by that time i hope the full version will be available or at least known when it will come out.
Fiairflair
Not a single mention of Tachikomas =(
They were one of the best things about GITS:SAC
webkilla
The steam reviews might claim to be mostly positive, but the two highest rated steam reviews are not kind to this game.
They speak of really small maps, spawn camping, and other 'minor' issues that sound like something which shouldn't be issues on modern shooter games.
...like you can't grab a ladder if you're mid-jump - you have to land, look up at the ladder, then start to climb.
SpydersByte
This looks great! Maybe something can finally take the place of Blacklight Retribution as a competitive shooter for me. I'm glad to see it's F2P but unfortunately you have to buy into it right now, or sign up for a waiting list. What a shame I'm completely broke after buying into the Blade and Soul and Black Desert betas, when I read this was F2P I was really hoping to be able to hop right in today. Oh well, hopefully I'll make it in through the mailing list for once, I can't wait to give this a try.
See you all on the battlefield.
Laughing Man
It's Ghost in the Shell and Free to Play
Is it cause Steam seems to think it should be costing me money to play it.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/369200/
Laughing Man:
It seems Early Access is not free. The game itself does list itself as F2P, so my guess is it will be once it leaves it. Which really isn't a positive thing, but it is published by Nexon, who apparently have a bad reputation of the money grubbing sort.
Frankster
On one side.. I really really like GiTS and haven't had the chance to play a game in the setting other then that ps1 game where you controlled one of them spider robots.
On the other...Reviews ain't really filling me with confidence and I dont like the idea of everyone playing the Major or Bantou, rather we play our own characters.
Also I feel a pure action game is a waste of the settings potential anyways, the ps1 game proved as much to me.
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Drummer Jeff Friedl will be a guest drummer on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" this week.
ntbCreative
Catalina Foothills grad, rock star drummer, sits in on Seth Meyers this week
By Gerald M. Gay Arizona Daily Star
Gerald M. Gay
Drummer Jeff Friedl, a Catalina Foothills High School graduate who has toured the world with the likes of A Perfect Circle, Devo and Eagles of Death Metal, will serve as the guest drummer on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” all this week.
Friedl will sit in with the 8G Band, the official house band for the NBC program.
The new episodes will air at 11:35 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
“I really love the show,” Friedl, 38, said in a phone interview from Los Angeles. “(Meyers) is a great host and seems to be a genuine person.”
Friedl’s family moved to Tucson when he was 6 years old to escape the cold of West Virginia.
It was in Tucson where he honed his skills as a drummer, balancing his studies and sports while playing in punk, jazz and Latin bands in venues across town.
Friedl has already appeared with several groups on late-night programs, including “Late Night with David Letterman,” with Puscifer and on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” more than once, with Eagles of Death Metal, Puscifer and British singer/songwriter Jetta.
He joins a long list of established drummers selected to be guests on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” since the show’s premiere in 2014.
Friedl will be promoting The Beta Machine on the show, a band he launched with A Perfect Circle bassist Matt McJunkins, that will release its debut full-length album, “Intruder” in late March.
“I’m assuming this will be really different from some of the television stuff I’ve done before,” he said. “It should be a unique experience.”
Contact reporter Gerald M. Gay at ggay@tucson.com or 573-4679.
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Love Wildlife? Don’t Feed Them!
Written by Danielle Taylor | Header photo by Tina Blackwell
Each year, thousands of people travel to the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors region to spend time in nature, and for many, the major attraction is the wide range of wildlife found here. In urban areas, pigeons and squirrels are often the only wild animals you might see, but with the huge swaths of protected forests and rivers here, you’re likely to come across bears, river otters, porcupines, eagles, whitetail deer, turkeys, and of course magnificent elk. As much as you may want to set out some food to draw them in or help them out, feeding elk and bear is against Pennsylvania state law, as it creates huge problems that severely damage the animals as well as their habitats. Recently, the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau partnered with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) on a “Don’t Feed Elk and Bear!” campaign to protect our greatest natural assets and ensure visitors can enjoy them for centuries to come.
Most wild animals naturally give each other space, but the attraction of food brings them together unnaturally, causing an increase in the transmission of disease. Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
“Artificial feeding unnaturally congregates animals into close proximity, creating an environment that is ripe for disease to move from individual to individual,” says Jeremy Banfield, PGC elk management wildlife biologist. “Wildlife can’t quarantine themselves. With newly emerging diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease in deer and eventually elk and mange in bears, we as the management agencies and the public have a shared responsibility to do everything we can to mitigate disease transmission.”
Aside from communicable diseases, artificial feeding induces noncontagious illnesses as well. Every year, multiple elk and deer in Pennsylvania are found dead from rumen acidosis, a dangerous condition directly caused by eating too much highly fermentable grain, primarily corn placed by individuals unaware of its fatal effects.
Additionally, setting out food for wildlife encourages them to associate food with people, which creates a number of safety issues. Banfield notes, “Artificial feeding positively reinforces wildlife to become accustomed to people and/or human-dominated areas (residential areas, roadways, etc.). As a result, a fed animal will lose its instinctual fear of people and become habituated. Habituated animals pose a safety risk to people directly from potential attacks, or indirectly through vehicle collisions.”
Video by Vince M. Camiolo.
In 2013, a young bull elk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was caught on video repeatedly and aggressively head-butting a photographer who had been shooting from an appropriate distance. This sort of behavior comes directly from becoming too comfortable with humans, and park officials had to put the animal down out of concern for public safety. Unfortunately, the same thing has happened in Pennsylvania. “On two occasions now, we’ve euthanized elk with overtly aggressive behavior toward people,” Banfield says.
Although many people believe that they’re helping hungry animals by feeding them or setting out other attractants like salt licks, Banfield notes that the opposite is true.
“Pennsylvania’s wildlife are perfectly adapted to their environment,” he expresses. “They evolved here. The notion that they need ‘help’ in the form of artificial feeding is misguided at best and clearly detrimental to animal welfare at worst. I would implore people to consider their motivation for feeding and try to comprehend the large-scale effects of their actions.”
PGC does maintain some herbaceous grasslands informally known as “food plots” on state game lands and DCNR Bureau of Forestry properties throughout Elk Country; however, several important distinctions separate these from unauthorized feed sites created by the public.
“There is a huge difference between a feeder or feed site that occupies a very small area (typically a 10-foot radius, maybe) and a 10-acre or larger grassland,” Banfield says. “Grasslands or herbaceous habitat are natural features of the environment. Our management of them prevents natural succession from shifting those habitats away from grasslands to something like a shrub community or a young forest. In addition to grassland habitats being a natural part of the landscape and their size, we could also add they are seasonally utilized by elk, deer, and other wildlife and do not provide a constant source of forage the way many feeders/feed sites do. Herbaceous habitats do not congregate animals unnaturally, the way a feeder does (literally nose-to-nose contact).”
People who wish to increase their chances of seeing elk or other wildlife in their natural habitat do have ethical options, however.
A necropsy on this elk, found dead in early 2014, clearly indicated it had died as a result of unauthorized feeding by the public. Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
In 2012, a PGC-issued press release included the following statement from Dr. Walter Cottrell, then a Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian:
“For those who truly enjoy seeing elk, it is best for them to stop artificially feeding elk and other wildlife. It would be far more beneficial if they were to implement some form of habitat-improvement-producing cover to reduce weather-related stress or food in the form of digestible native plants on their property.”
Mike Steingraber, a PGC wildlife conservation officer, notes that education, practice, and patience are key to humane wildlife viewing success. “Challenge yourself to learn more about the wildlife you are trying to view,” he advocates. “Like anything else, the more time you spend practicing, the better you will get at it. Knowing the area of the Commonwealth that the wildlife lives in, the type of habitat the animal likes, and the type of food it prefers is a great place to start.”
Seeing elk in the wild is an unforgettable experience, and by observing from a distance, you can do your part to keep their wild nature intact. Photo by Jeffery R. Orzechowski.
On the whole, Banfield encourages people to keep in mind the realities of nature in regard to any interaction with wildlife.
“Wild animals are by their very definition, wild,” he stresses. “What makes them wild is their independence from us. Choosing to unnaturally draw wildlife into an area so they can be viewed or anthropomorphized degrades that independence and their wild nature. To me, artificial feeding selfishly and needlessly stains the very thing that attracts us to wildlife: their pure and unfettered ‘wildness.’”
Learn more about Elk Country and other interesting places to visit in the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors region by going to VisitPAGO.com or calling (814) 849-5197.
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Monthly Archives : April 2013
THE PRISCILLAS IN SCI FI FILM SHOCK!
30/04/2013Ian Chaddock No Comment
THE PRISCILLAS GO SCI FI! CATCH JEN IN THE NEW SCI FI FILM SEARCH FOR SIMON AT THE BFI-MAY 3RD!
"The Search for Simon tickets are selling out!! And we have a star cast coming!
British comedy at its best: Tom Price (TORCHWOOD), Carol Cleveland (MONTYPYTHON) and Simon Jones (HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY), Chase Masterson (STAR TREK DS9) and Sophie Aldred (DR WHO) – with a few surprising cameos too" including yours truly, JEN BROWN aka JENNY DRAG! GURI GO-GO did some behind the scenes translating and THE PRISCILLAS wrote the theme tune. Hear it sprinkled throughout the film! Buy tickets from the link below!!!
http://www.sci-fi-london.com/festival/2013/programme/feature/search-simon
The Search for Simon
www.sci-fi-london.com
Thirty years ago David Jones younger brother Simon disappeared without a trace, and has never been seen since. David is still looking, and The Search for Simon has become his life.
INFEST-THIS JUNE! PUNK, PSYCHOBILLY n’ TATTOOS!
INKFEST IS COMING! Featuring the TOASTERS, UK SUBS, HIGHLINERS, FRENZY, PETER AND TEST TUBE BABIES. ARGY BARGY. DRAGSTER AND MORE!
INKFEST 2013 – INFORMATION WWW.INKFEST.CO.UK
21 June 2013 at 14:00 until 24 June 2013 at 10:00
See Facebook INKFEST 2013
After the massive success of the first Inkfest event a festival of tattoo art and alternative music we have been listening to people’s opinions and have now moved the venue to SAND BAY LEISURE RESORT in Kewstoke two miles North of Weston Super Mare. As last year all bands and tattooing will take place on park giving an amazing atmosphere and holiday vibe.
This new venue gives us more room for tattoo booths and a much larger room for bands. Weston Super Mare is a much easier location to get too with its excellent transport links being just off the M5 plus good rail and coach links. There are two buses that link the holiday park to the train station and Weston Super Mare seafront and town centre until 11pm.
TICKETS : Weekend tickets are by far the best value option and are available to cover all 3 days at an amazing cost of only £50 in advance or £60 OTD.
Day passes will be available OTD @ Friday £25. Saturday £30 Sunday £30
Advance tickets are available through the website or at the following –
The Lambretta Museum, 77 Alfred St, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. BS23 1PP
Exclusive Tattoos, 169 High St, Street. Somerset. BA16 0ND
By Post send cheques made out to INKFEST UK with a SAE to Inkfest, The Lambretta Museum, 77 Alfred St, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. BS23 1PP
Tickets will be available via Paypal through the website www.inkfest.co.uk although we are just finishing this year’s site so bear with us.
NEW VENUE—SAND BAY LEISURE RESORT, BEACH RD, W-S-M. BS22 9UR
We have negotiated 3 amazing accommodation deals with the holiday park. All deals are per person with park accommodation being chalet style rooms.
Deal 1– Accommodation, Friday evening meal, Saturday breakfast & evening meal, Sunday breakfast & evening meal, Monday breakfast. ONLY £99
Accommodation deal pay £30 deposit on booking with balance 8 weeks before event.
Deal 2: 3 nights camping with above meals ONLY £60
Deal 3: 3 nights Camping no food ONLY £30
Both camping deals pay £10 deposit on booking balance 8 weeks before event.
Ring park on 0845 8800211 and quote ‘INKFEST’ to book your accommodation deal. Please note we are expecting all accommodation to sell very quickly after the reviews and feedback on last years event so if you want to be onsite book quickly.
Child Policy: The park is an adult only park so no children can stay on site but we are happy for children to attend if accompanied by an adult up until 8.30pm each day. There are plenty of guest houses and hotels in local area were families can stay.
TRANSPORT: Once site sells out we expect people will start staying in Weston Super Mare so we will be running FREE minibuses from the site back into W-S-M from midnight until 2.30am. They will be stopping by the new seafront Premier Inn opening winter 2012 and on seafront near pier.
ON VLR ISSUE 12’S COVERMOUNT CD
VIVE LE ROCK!
BACK IN THE NIGHT
Your guide to this month’s free Vive Le Rock covermount CD…
1) WILKO JOHNSON – Sneakin’ Suspicion
Found on his ‘The Best Of Wilko Johnson, Volume 1’ compilation from 2010, this song was originally the Wilko-penned debut hit single for his former pub rock pioneers Dr. Feelgood back in May 1977. This version, recorded later with the Wilko Johnson Band (featuring Blockhead bassist Norman Watt-Roy and drummer Dylan Howe), shows exactly why the Canvey Island legend will be so sorely missed.
2) KILLING JOKE – Corporate Elect
Jaz Coleman and Killing Joke have been playing by their own rules since the late ’70s and this new searing single from the industrial post-punks’ fifteenth album, ‘MMXII’ (released last April) will floor you with its power. Find it on the new three-dsic boxset, ‘The Singles Collection 1979-2012’ on Spinefarm and remind yourself why Killing Joke are simply unstoppable and untouchable.
3) THE CHEATS – Hammersmith Palais
This cover of the Demolition 23 song (a band which featured Michael Monroe from Hanoi Rocks and produced by Little Steven from the E Street Band!) sees the Pittsburgh punk ‘n’ rollers playing it fast and loose. Influenced by ’77 punk, Motorhead and Swedish rock, expect it loud and lairy. They released their latest album, ‘Pussyfootin” last July through Screaming Crow Records.
4) THE DRESDENS – Out On The Streets
Formed as a hell-raising side-project by the dudes from Winnebago Deal and Mondo Generator, The Dresdens play it fast, punchy and raw. It’s punk rock ‘n’ roll from the streets to the gutter, in homage to the classic punk of the Damned and the Buzzcocks. Their self-titled 2007 album was shelved until now (seeing the light of day thanks to Dry Heave Records), but this street anthem has to be heard.
5) RT-ZED – You Are Free
Founded in 2000 by Stiff Little Fingers drummer Steve Grantley (also ex-The Alarm), RT-Zed return with new guitarist friend Steve ‘Jonesy’ Jones and third album, ‘Zed Head’. A snotty hard rock song from that new record takes the form of the strutting ‘You Are Free’, highlighting the skills of these respected musicians. It’s a brand new Babylon…
6) SIR REG – ‘Til The Dead Come Alive
A Swedish band with an Irish frontman, Celtic punk rockers Sir Reg have been honing their craft since 2001 and this song, combining driving rhythm and intense violin playing that results in an energetic and uplifting anthem, shows they’re at the top of their game. This track can be found on their rabble-rousing new album, ’21st Century Loser’, out now on Heptown Records.
7) SWINGIN’ UTTERS – Stuck In A Circle
Twenty years since they formed, the Californian veterans return with their most polished album to date, ‘Poorly Formed’, out now on People Like You. This semi-acoustic track shows a band honing their craft and mastering shifts in dynamics. Combining the bluster of punk with a roots rock element, it’s a fine example of a band unafraid to evolve with time.
8) V8 WANKERS – Road Hog
Taken from their aptly titled new record, ‘Got Beer?’ (out April 26th on SPV), these hard driving punk ‘n’ rollers from Offenbach, Germany have their pedal to the metal on this album highlight. A rowdy, riff-filled ass kicker of a song, this ode to speed and engines has to be played loud. So turn it all the way up and rev your engines, V8 Wankers are 13 years in and show no signs of slowing down.
9) CIRCUIT 68 – Perno Inferno
Influenced by everyone from The Sex Pistols to The Beach Boys, this County Durham posse’s driving mix of pyschedelic mod/soul rock, with a ’60s swagger, on ‘Perno Inferno’. Releasing debut album, ‘Eleven’, back in November 2011, they’ve since been making a name for themselves on the live circuit, including supporting one of their heroes, Bruce Foxton. Fire it up with ‘Perno Inferno’ and let Circuit 68 take you back.
10) THE SILVER SHINE – In The Middle Of Nowhere
The title track from this Budapest, Hungary three-piece’s new album (out April 19th on Wolverine Records) is a raucous collision of punkabilly and rock ‘n’ roll that shows how far the band have come since forming in 2004. With vocal trade-offs between double bass player Krista Kat and guitarist Ati Edge, this is an urgent, bouncing song that’s sure to get you moving.
11) JJ & THE REAL JERKS – Economy Class Ego Trip
Channelling ’70s legends like MC5, The Stooges and the New York Dolls, this LA garage punk band play their hearts out and you can almost hear the blood and sweat dripping off them. With brass and keys adding to the chaotic, building track, this is red hot. It’s no surprise it’s the lead single and title track from their latest five song EP, produced by Earle Mankey (The Runaways, The Adicts, The Beach Boys).
12) BRAXTON HICKS – Never Kill Yourself
Having only formed last July, this raw indie punk band from North Wales describe themselves as a “bad Dead Kennedys”. However, the three-piece (featuring an ex-member of Sons Of Selina and 4Q) sound like a slightly unhinged collision of The Minutemen and Snuff. ‘Never Kill Yourself’ is the rousing title track of their recently released EP, with its follow-up, ‘The Bench EP’, due out soon on Link2wales Records.
13) THE MEN THAT WILL NOT BE BLAMED FOR NOTHING – Victoria’s Secret
The London steam punk quartet with the name taken from Jack The Ripper-related graffiti sound like a lurching concoction of 1880s menace and 1970s punk rock. The song is taken from last year’s second album, ‘This May Be The Reason Why The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Weapons’. Catch their incredible live show at London’s Borderline on Saturday 27th April.
14) MONGREL – Bored To Death
This menacing song from the aggressive female-fronted hard rockers out of Boston, Massachusetts is the opening track from their blistering latest full-length, ‘Reclamation’. Formed ten years ago, Mongrel have taken their punk and metal influences and focused them into the threatening and filthy sound exemplified on ‘Bored To Death’.
15) REJECTED – South Karelia Night
Hailing from Finland’s freezing streets, this ass kicking four-piece have been blasting out their gritty punk ‘n’ roll assaults since 1998. Based in Helsinki, and describing themselves as “Rejecdeath rock ‘n’ roll”, the outcast anthem ‘South Karelia Night’ is the title track from their new 7 inch. Rejected are the last gang in town and they’re coming out all guns blazing.
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE NEW ISSUE NOW BY CLICKING HERE.
CAMDEN ROCKS
Returning to London’s NW1 postcode for a second time, Vive Le Rock is proud to sponsor this year’s Camden Rocks festival. With over a hundred established and up-and-coming bands bringing the noise on Saturday the 1st of June, venues taking part include the Jazz Cafe, Monarch, Enterprise, Camden Head, the Barfly, Purple Turtle, Black Heart, the Hawley Arms, Lock Tavern, The Cuban and Camden Rock, essentially bringing Camden Town alive with the sound of music from 12pm to 12am.
With an after party running until 3am, bands lined up so far include The Rifles, Therapy?, The YoYos, Glen Matlock, Itch, The Howling, Bad For Lazarus, Spy Catcher, Electric River and Bleach Blood with DJ sets from Carl Barat and Chris McCormack.
More details are set to be announced soon – find out more at Camdenrocksfestival.com
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Monthly Archives : September 2018
DELUXE TREATMENT FOR DELUXE!
28/09/2018Gerry Ranson No Comment
Yorkshire glam iconoclasts BE BOP DELUXE are to have their classic album Sunburst Finish reissued as a deluxe box set.
Formed in Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1972 by guitarist Bill Nelson, Be Bop Deluxe melded glam imagery with pop melodies and proggy instrumentalism, releasing five studio albums and one live album for the Harvest label.
Recorded at Abbey Road and produced by Nelson with John Leckie, Sunburst Finish was released in February ’76, the band’s first album to reach the Top 20 of the album chart and yielding their only hit single, ‘Ships In The Night’, which reached number 23.
With the musical seachange of that period, the band hit a commercial breakthrough, chiming with the futuristic new wave scene building around the likes of Ultravox! and Magazine. Ever an eye on the future, Nelson would split Be Bop Deluxe in ’78, with forming the more obviously new wave Red Noise with keyboardist Andy Clark.
Remastered from the original tapes, the new 4-disc Sunburst Finish box set from Cherry Red features the original mix of the album, a new 2018 mix, BBC live recordings and Peel Session tracks, a DVD containing a 5.1 surround sound mix and video material from The Old Great Whistle Test and the previously unissued video for ‘Ships In The Night’.
The set comes complete with a 68-page booklet with a new essay by Nelson, a facsimile ’76 tour programme, postcards and a replica poster.
Set for release on 16 November, the box set is available to pre-order here.
Be Bop Deluxe on Facebook
News, Panel4
RODS JOIN FINGERS ON TOUR!
Essex legends EDDIE & THE HOT RODS have announced that they’ll be touring the UK as special guests to STIFF LITTLE FINGERS next Spring.
The band had previously announced that 2018 would be their final year of touring. However, the offer of a quick trip round the UK with the Belfast punk stalwarts – who’ll be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of their classic debut Inflammable Material – proved too good to miss.
“Whilst the plan was to no longer tour after 2018, we saw this as an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up,” the band explained on their Facebook page. “As the final dates for 2018 were published we received a lot of messages from people disappointed that we wouldn’t be heading far up North… or East, South, West. It hasn’t been feasible for us to hit all the places we’d have liked to on our own but this tour gives you one final chance to see us on the road. This is it, one more run around the UK in the lead up to our special one off celebration show in April.”
As revealed last month, the band will be headlining a very special Vive Le Rock-sponsored show at London’s Islington Academy. Full 2019 dates are…
With SLF…
Wed 6 Mar O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds
Fri 8 Mar O2 Institute, Birmingham
Sat 9 Mar The Great Hall, Cardiff
Sun 10 Mar O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol
Tue 12 Mar Waterfront, Norwich
Wed 13 Mar Rock City, Nottingham
Fri15 Mar O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle Upon-Tyne
Sat 16 Mar Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
Sun 17 Mar Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
Tue 19 Mar Ironworks, Inverness
Wed 20 Mar The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Fri 22 Mar Academy, Manchester
Sat 23 Mar Pyramids, Portsmouth
Sun 24 Mar O2 Forum, London (w/THE VAPORS)
Headlining…
Sat 13 Apr O2 Academy, Islington, London
Tickets for these, and the band’s Autumn 2018 dates, are available from the band’s website.
Eddie & The Hot Rods on Facebook
LEAGUE FILM PREMIERES AT DOC’N’ROLL FEST!
A new documentary on the ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE is to get its world premiere as part of the Doc’n’Roll Film Festival, which returns for its fifth edition this Autumn.
The festival, which runs from 1st to 18th November at cinemas across London, will feature 28 documentaries focusing on iconic musicians, labels and cultures down the decades from such widespread parts of the world as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Wales, including 25 world, European, UK and London premieres, filmmaker and artist Q&As and live music events.
We Are The League (How Deep Do You Want It?) by director George Hencken is packed full of never-before-seen archive footage, from the League’s first ever show at the world-famous Lyceum in London, to clips from Stewart Copeland’s legendary lost nouveau-punk art film odyssey So What!
The screening on Friday 2 November at the Genesis Cinema, Whitechapel will be followed by a Q&A with the director and band members.
Other Vive Le Rock-friendly docs screening during the festival include Some Other Guys – The Story Of The Big Three, The Wedding Present: Something Left Behind, My View: Clem Burke, Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan Records, Is It Punk Music?, Stories From She Punks and more.
The full schedule is…
Thurs 1 Nov, 6.45pm – Barbican Centre
Our Most Brilliant Friends (World Premiere + Q&A)
Slow Club
Fri 2 Nov, 6:30pm – The Photographers’ Gallery
Kojey Radical short film (World Premiere + Q&A)
Fri 2 Nov, 9pm – Genesis Cinema
We Are The League (How Deep Do You Want It?) (World Premiere + Q&A)
Sat 3 Nov, 3pm – Curzon Soho
Some Other Guys – The Story of The Big Three (London Premiere + Q&A)
Sat 3 Nov, 4pm – Rio Dalston
Something Left Behind (London Premiere + Q&A)
Sat 3 Nov, 6.30pm – Picturehouse Central
My View: Clem Burke (London Premiere + Q&A)
Sun 4 Nov, 2.30pm – Genesis Cinema
RocKabul (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Sun 4 Nov, 4pm – Barbican Centre
Mantra: Sounds into Silence (UK premiere + Q&A)
Sun 4 Nov, 5.30pm – Rio Dalston
Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan Records + Q&A
Wed 7 Nov, 8pm – Everyman King’s Cross Cinema
Never Stop – A Music That Resists (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Detroit Techno followed by after party at Spiritland
Thur 8 Nov, 6.30pm – Picturehouse Central
I Can Only Be Mary Lane (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Thur 8 Nov, 8.45pm – Barbican Centre
Anorac (London Premiere + Q&A)
Welsh-language pop music
Friday 9 Nov, 6.30pm – Picturehouse Central
Is It Punk Music? (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Cassels
Sat 10 Nov, 3.00pm – The Castle Cinema
Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan Records
Sat 10 Nov, 3.30pm – Barbican Centre
Anne Clark: I’ll Walk Out Into Tomorrow (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Sat 10 Nov, 6pm – Curzon Soho
Silvana (London Premiere + Q&A)
Sat 10 Nov, 7pm – Genesis Cinema
Stories from She Punks (World Premiere + Q&A)
Sun 11 Nov 3pm – Picturehouse Central
Blue Note Records – Beyond the Notes (London Premiere + Q&A)
Sun 11 Nov, 4pm – Rio Dalston
Sepultura Endurance (UK Premiere)
Sun 11 Nov 5pm – Curzon Soho
The Library Music Film (London Premiere + Q&A)
Mon 12 Nov, 8.45pm – Barbican Centre
Chilly Gonzales – Shut Up and Play The Piano + Q&A
Tue 13 Nov, 8.30pm – Rich Mix
My Darling Son: Morski & The Turbans (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Wed 14 Nov, 6.30pm – Picturehouse Central
Myth (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Vasyl Slipak Opera Singer
Wed 14 Nov, 8.30pm – Rich Mix
Slave to the Grind (London Premiere + Q&A)
Thur 5 Nov, 8.45pm – Ritzy
Thur 15 Nov, 9.10pm – Picturehouse Central
About a Badly Drawn Boy: The Story of The Hour Of Bewilderbeast (London Premiere + Q&A)
Sat 17 Nov 1pm – Ronnie Scotts
Blue Note Records – Beyond the Notes + Q&A
Sat 17 Nov, 4pm – Picturehouse Central
How They Got Over: Black Quartets and the Road to Rock’n’Roll (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Sat 17 Nov, 6.30pm – Genesis Cinema
So, Which Band Is Your Boyfriend In…? (London Premiere + Q&A)
UK Female DIY and underground scene
Sun 18 Nov, 4pm – Bertha Doc House
Pure Love: The Voice Of Ella Fitzgerald
Sun 18 Nov, 5.30pm – Curzon Soho
Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul (UK Premiere + Q&A)
Sun 18 Nov, 6pm – Picturehouse Central
Listen To My Song (World Premiere + Q&A)
Ex FARC Colombian musician Esteban
Full movie info and ticket details can be found on the Doc’n’Roll website.
PIRATE COPY EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE!
Unruly punk rock quartet PIRATE COPY are plotting a fresh journey of rambunctious shenanigans, commencing with the launch of the new video ‘Reckless Alice’, premiered exclusively with Vive Le Rock and taken from the band’s forthcoming album, Swashbuckle & Swagger, out on Friday 26 October via Black Sail Records.
Says frontman Cap’n Kernow’, “‘Reckless Alice’ is based on the real-life story of Alice Whelan, who took misadventure to a whole new level by drunkenly commandeering a ferry in Torquay while attempting to escape the police! The song incorporates quotes from her subsequent trial, while the visually-stunning video, courtesy of Purple Knif, sees The Reckless One reimagined as ruthless bandit seeking to liberate Pirate Copy of their ill-gotten gains!”
Cleverly merging the vigour of punk rock to the buccaneering backstory that underpins their Cornish heritage, Pirate Copy have caused a stir across the South West and beyond, leaving a plethora of livewire gigs, indomitable fun and memorable songs in their wake.
Although based in Cornwall, the band have made regular jaunts across the land, establishing themselves as festival favourites, in part thanks to the interactively inclusive mayhem of their live show. 2013’s The Shape Of Piracy To Come EP was the band’s first tangible sign of bounteous booty. Further runs of festival appearances and shows followed, including a glut of memorable trips to the capital, before a second EP, the mighty Goin’ Down A Storm, dropped in May 2015.
Now, Pirate Copy are ready to unleash their dynamite debut album Swashbuckle & Swagger, which displays a dirty dozen of devastating ditties, marinated in rum and other unmentionable fluids, ready to attack your eardrums. Vive Le Rock‘s Dick Porter remarks about the album, “To experience Pirate Copy in full flow, as Poseidon intended, is a joy indeed. Swashbuckle & Swagger is a treasure chest of pleasures; combining live floor fillers such as ‘Somalian Pirates Suck’ and legendary set closer ‘I’m On A Boat’ with devilishly crafted new material like ‘Outlaw Pirates’, they have opened a Pandora’s box of piratical punk power.”
Pirate Copy on Facebook
News, Panel1, Videos
REWINDING WITH FROM THE JAM
Paul Weller has said a million times in a million interviews that he will never reform The Jam. Their legendary back catalogue gloriously lives on in the shape of original Jam bassist Bruce Foxton’s FROM THE JAM. His main partner in crime is the singer and guitarist Russell Hastings who he’s been working with since Russell joined Foxton and (original Jam drummer) Rick Buckler in The Gift back in 2006. Russell also co-wrote and performed on Bruce’s solo albums Back In The Room and 2016’s Smash The Clock. In December 2017 FTJ released a live album (via Pledge Music) titled From The Jam Live in an effort to capture the celebratory atmosphere that naturally arises when the band perform live. Vive Le Rock‘s Guy Shankland caught up with Bruce and Russell backstage at the sold-out Rewind Festival in Henley-On-Thames. The band have just delivered a very short, jam-packed (sorry) set of hit after hit after hit to a bleary-eyed but enthusiastic early afternoon crowd.
This is the band’s fourth Rewind appearance, so how do they find these retro type festivals? “They’re just great,” explains Russell. “Everyone’s so friendly.” Bruce continues: “All the performers have really got their act together and are, dare I say it, probably grateful for another bite of the cherry. From our perspective, there’s a great vibe backstage. There’s no prima donna’s, everybody’s just wishing each other all the best and they [the festivals] pull big crowds.”
Indeed they do, this year’s Rewind is pretty much sold out and that equates to almost twenty thousand punters a day.
“Yeah we’ve done a few which were forty thousand, we know they’re not all here for From The Jam but overall this is proper stuff, proper gigs.” Russell continues: “We do notice when playing these festivals that the ticket sales for the winter tours spike, they go up a lot, these [festivals] are great platforms for us, good live exposure. The promoters always tell us when the spikes are happening in sales and as Bruce says we know that these aren’t our fans, they wouldn’t necessarily pay just to come and see us, so it really works.”
The band are allotted just twenty-five minutes today so how do the band choose the setlist or does it choose itself? Bruce cuts in laughing, “They’re thinking of my age, he’ll be good for twenty-five! my heart!”
“The setlist picks itself really,” Russell continues. “You’d be a mug not to throw in all the cherries and there’s a lot of cherries. The band had so many hits that everyone identifies with, how many bands out there have that many hits under their belt that they have to cut some number ones out.”
Bruce elucidates further: “It sounds like we’re blowing our own trumpet but it’s hard when you only have twenty-five minutes and you only play six or seven songs and you try to fit all the hits in. We are very fortunate, it’s a great catalogue of stuff. When your doing this kind of festival people expect it [the hits]. There’s no point in going on and saying we’re playing an upcoming album, what kind of reaction are you going to get?”
Russell has been with the band for over a decade so what’s been his FTJ highlight? “Aw man, it’s been a journey! One is my friendship with Bruce because he’s a dear friend to me so that comes first.[In the background Bruce just says “Likewise”] “That makes the whole experience. I remember being on Bondi Beach with Bruce, flying into L.A and being in New York with Rick and Bruce, trying to go up Sears tower in Chicago. It’s not just different countries but playing Newcastle Academy and The Glasgow Barrowlands, playing the iconic venues and seeing people so caught up in the music. I mean, what a delightful thing to do, to be part of something where everybody’s just in a great fucking mood.”
When the band play it feels like a celebration.
“That’s right, they celebrate it, it’s a great thing that unity. It’s such a lovely experience doing it.”
With the PR giving me the ‘One Minute’ sign, we go the last question. The years between 1976-1980 gave us such a rich vein of songwriting and bands. We had Punk, 2-Tone, The Jam and New Wave. They are still celebrated to this day, why do you think that is? Bruce nails the question with a quick as a flash one-word answer – “Quality” – before adding, “I sound like the old man now, ‘There’s a tune there, there’s a lyric!’ It’s the quality of the songs.”
Forty years (from 1978) on are we back in the same place socially? “In a lot of ways,” Bruce says before Russell steps in. “I’m not going to jump on any bandwagon I’ll just tell it how I feel it is and its a load of fucking shit at the moment. I’m also really disappointed [with the music industry], I think that iTunes and the big conglomerates are destroying…[pauses]. If you try to get a record advance now they just fucking laugh at you. You can’t get one, you can’t even get expenses for the train. They want a produced album laid on the table, they just want the final cut then and there.” And that’s a wrap as the smiling and incredibly polite duo head off to musically educate another British Festival.
From The Jam continue to record new material, tour the world and delight fans from Henley to Hanoi. It’s those songs, those cutting Weller lyrics, the angry but pinpoint controlled guitar sound and opening bass lines that are greeted like returning war heroes. I finally put the idea of FTJ playing The Rebellion Festival to Bruce and Russell both seemed interested but then with that arsenal of songs in their Levi back pockets they could play any festival, anywhere on the globe and win the crowd over. The sadly prophetic “They smelt of pubs and Wormwood Scrubs and too many right-wing meetings,” Weller words are as relevant now as they were in 1978. What they have said will always remain.
Guy Shankland
Welsh rockers NICOTINE PRETTY release their debut EP next month which they’re trailing with a brand new video.
‘This Ship Ain’t Going Down’ is one of six tracks on the Real Life Glories EP, which also features new versions of last year’s digital singles ‘Nicotine Pretty’ and ‘Who’s Gonna Save My Soul’.
Formed by former SICK LIVERS man Ginge Knievil, the Bridgend band also features Lewis Davies (vocals/guitar), Ian Pickens (bass) and Richie Phillips (drums) and cite the like of Johnny Thunders, Cheap Trick and The Professionals as influences. What’s not to like?
Real Life Glories is set for release on Glunk Records on 12 October and is available to pre-order here.
Nicotine Pretty on Facebook
NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON A FIEND!
ALIEN SEX FIEND return this Autumn with a brand new double-album.
Possessed is the duo’s first new studio album since 2010’s Death Trip and follows on from last year’s 3-disc box set Fiendology.
Formed in 1982 around the nucleus of Nik Fiend and Mrs Fiend, ASF were a ubiquitous presence on the UK underground scene throughout the 80s, plying their trade in post-SUICIDE goth-horror and brown-acid psych. Apart from a handful of releases on their own 13th Moon label, the band have spent pretty much their entire recording career with Cherry Red, releasing their first single for their Anagram imprint, ‘Ignore The Machine’, in 1983.
Possessed sees the band back with Cherry Red, as a 12-track single CD and a 14-track double LP with exclusive bonus tracks and full original Nik Fiend gatefold artwork.
Set for release on 9 November, it will be preceded by the single ‘Shit’s Coming Down’ in mid-October.
Alien Sex Fiend on Facebook
MILLIE MANDERS E.P. EXCLUSIVE!
20/09/2018Gerry Ranson 1 Comment
Fast-rising ska-punks MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP have a new EP out this week and they’re streaming it exclusively with Vive Le Rock!
The four-track Shutup EP was produced by the band with Musa Henderson at Brinks Records and mastered by Oz Craggs (Maid Of Ace, Mallory Knox).
“This sound is, in our opinion, the best we have ever had!” enthuses Millie.
They have a load of dates taking them up to the end of the year, kicking off with an EP launch tonight at the New Cross Inn, London. Full dates are…
20 Sep – London, New Cross Inn
21 Sep – Norwich, Blueberry Music House
22 Sep – Manchester, Star And Garter
23 Sep – Nottingham, The Bodga
28 Sep – Bracknell, Acoustic Couch
29 Sep – Salisbury, Winchester Gate
30 Sep – Canterbury, Lady Luck Bar
06 Oct – Staines, London Stone
20 Oct – Bradford, The Underground
25 Oct – Blackpool, Waterloo Bar
26 Oct – Blackpool, The Waterloo
09 Oct – Leeds, Wharf Chambers
10 Oct – Leuven, Belgium, Het Depot
01 Dec – Kingston, The Fighting Cocks
07 Dec – Folkstone, The Harp Restrung
08 Dec – Norwich, Blueberry Music House
13 Dec – Cambridge, Portland Arms
14 Dec – Ipswich, Smokehouse
15 Dec – Stamford, Voodoo Lounge
21 Dec – Bolton, The Alma Inn
22 Dec – Lancaster, The Bobbin
23 Dec – York, The Ainsty
Millie Manders and The Shutup on Facebook
PREACHERS HIT THE ROAD!
Brighton punks THE BAR STOOL PREACHERS have a bunch of UK dates lined up in support of their acclaimed new album Grazie Governo.
The fast-rising six-piece have just been added to the bill for THE INTERRUPTERS’ US dates in November alongside BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH.
Before then, though, there’s a small matter of eight dates in the UK and Ireland, kicking off with the Might As Well Than 4 alldayer in London, alongside The Capitalist Kids, Thousand Oaks, Aerial Salad, The Capital, To The Wall, Eat Dirt, Laserchrist and Tom Aylott. Full dates are…
20 Oct LONDON – Might As Well Then 4 @ New Cross Inn, UK
26 Oct HASTINGS – Crowley’s Bar, UK
27 Oct KINGSTON UPON THAMES – The Fighting Cocks, UK
31 Oct MANCHESTER – Star And Garter, UK
1 Nov DUBLIN – The Bowery, Ireland
2 Nov BELFAST – The Palm House, UK
3 Nov LIVERPOOL – MacGuires, UK
4 Nov STAFFORD – Redrum, UK
9 Nov LAS VEGAS, NV – Vinyl
10 Nov TEMPE, AZ – Tempe Marketplace
11 Nov POMONA, CA – The Glass House
13 Nov SANTA BARBARA, CA – Velvet Jones
14 Nov FRESNO, CA – Strummers
17 Nov SACRAMENTO, CA – Ace Of Spades
FREE Bar Stool Preachers flexi with the new edition of Vive Le Rock! out now!
Bar Stool Preachers on Facebook
DREAMERS PRIMAL SCREAMIN’!
18/09/2018Gerry Ranson 3 Comments
LAST GREAT DREAMERS are back with a brand new video and a string of Winter headline shows.
‘Primitive Man’ is the third single to be taken from their critically lauded fourth album 13th Floor Renegades, following on from ‘No Sunshine’ and the title track.
The dates in December will put a seal on the revitalised power-pop rockers’ most successful year to date, which has seen them play shows in Spain and Norway, a major UK tour and a round of Summer festivals. They’ve also come to the attention of legendary LA DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, whose regular plays on his Underground Garage show on Sirius XM have earned them a US agent. The band are now looking forward to hitting American shores next year.
The December dates kick off with an appearance at the sold out Planet Rockstock festival South Wales and include a London show at the Black Heart in Camden. Full dates are…
Sun 2nd Dec – PORTHCAWL Planet Rock Stock
Fri 7th Dec – BIRMINGHAM Asylum 2
Sat 8th Dec – GLASGOW Nice ‘n’ Sleazy
Sun 9th Dec – SHEFFIELD Corporation
Sat 15th Dec – LONDON Camden Black Heart
Sun 16th Dec – SOUTHAMPTON Heartbreakers
Tickets are available now via their website, where they’re also currently having a merch sale!
Last Great Dreamers on Facebook
Pic by Tom Gold
T.V. SMITH UNVEILS NEW SINGLE!
T.V. SMITH has announced a second single from his new album.
‘Never Again Until The Next Time’ is taken from Land Of The Overdose, which is just released on German label JKP, the label of punk superstars DIE TOTEN HOSEN.
“It’s been a long journey from 1977,” says the former ADVERTS frontman. “I used to think that punk rock was a one-off protest movement, but sadly now in 2018 there is even more to protest about. The punk spirit lives on. In Land Of The Overdose I’ve tried to sum up everything I feel about what’s wrong with the world and what we can do about it. The only compensation for me about the awful state we find ourselves in is that it’s inspired me to come up with some of the best songs I’ve ever written. I hope this album sends out a positive message that if we recognise the problems in the world things can start to change for the better, and that music can be a force for the good.”
Listen to ‘Never Again Until The Next Time’.
Catch T.V. Smith on the road at…
21 Dec – Leicester – Duffy‘s Bar
22 Dec – Manchester – Star & Garter
19 Jan – Worcester – Marr‘s Bar
20 Jan – Nottingham – Foremans
T.V. Smith on Facebook
THE AINTS! REVEAL NEW VIDEO!
Former SAINTS guitarist Ed Kuepper’s new band THE AINTS! have unveiled a first video from their new album.
As previously announced, The Church Of Simultaneous Existence draws on material written during Kuepper’s original period with The Saints from 1973 to ’78 and ‘Red Aces’ reflects the brass-infused-punk sound of his final album with the band, Prehistoric Sounds.
“I wrote the bulk of ‘Red Aces’ in 1975 back in Brisbane,” Kuepper explains. “It got put aside and I didn’t give it much thought until early 78 when I was living in London. The Saints had just recorded ‘Know Your Product’ which I was positive was going to be a number [one] smash hit. It inspired me to do a tentative follow up so I added the horn part to the early bit and lo and behold there it pretty much was…. only problem was ‘KYP’ wasn’t the hit we thought it was going to be so ‘Red Aces’ was shelved once again… always the bridesmaid never the bride…. until now when those gallant gents known as The Aints! bring you the song in all its only slightly fased glory ….”
The Church Of Simultaneous Existence is due for release through ABC Records on 21 September and is available to pre-order in various bundles here.
Fans of The Saints, the Rifles, the Sunnyboys and other Aussie bands from the late 70s and 80s would do well to check out the Australian Underground playlist on Spotify.
The Aints! on Facebook
CAVEMEN UNVEIL NEW VIDEO!
Kiwi garage-punks THE CAVEMEN have just released a video for their brand new single.
‘Burn Out For Love’ backed with ‘Dancing On The Razors Edge’ is set for release on 5 October through Dirty Water Records in the UK and Mandinga Records in Brazil. It’s available to pre-order here.
The band head across to mainland Europe tonight for a mammoth tour, save for a solitary UK date as support to Radio Birdman on 16 October. Full dates are…
14-09: Dueville (IT) – Viaroma17
15-09: Fontanafreda (IT) – Astro Club
16-09: Imperia (IT) – Arci Camalli
17-09: Toulouse (FR) – LE BLOB
18-09: Bilbao (ES) – La nube cafe teatro
19-09: Santander (ES) – Rockbeer Thenew
20-09: Coimbra (PT) – Teatrão
21-09: Lisboa (PT) – Sabotage Club
22-09: Madrid (ES) – Fun House Music Bar
23-09: Leon (ES) – Babylon León
25-09: Benidorm (ES) – Tentaculo R’n’R Club
26-09: Barcelona (ES) – Meteoro
27-09: Pamplona (ES) – Nebula Bar
28-09: Bordeaux (FR) – L’Antidote Bordeaux
29-09: Kuurne (BE) – Splinter Festival
30-09: Essen (DE) – Freak SHOW
01-10: Antwerpen (BE) – Cafee cabron
02-10: Liege (BE) – Far-West Bar
03-10: Brussels (BE) – Cafe Central
04-10: Munster (DE) – Gleis 22
05-10: Berlin (DE) – Tief
06-10: Leipzig (DE) – G16
07-10: Luzern (CH) – Sedel
08-10: Bern (CH) – The Voodoo Rhythm Hardware Store
09-10: Roma (IT) – 30 Formiche
10-10: Torino (IT) – Torino Asilo Occupato
11-10: Ravenna (IT) – Bronson
12-10: Suzzara (IT) – Grida dai Fienili
13-10: Ferrara (IT) – Circolo arci bolognesi
16-10: London (UK) The Dome, Tufnell Park w/ Radio Birdman
20-10: Istanbul (TU) We’re Loud
22 -10:Sofia (BL) Mixtape 5
23-10: Kumanovo (MAC) Agora
24-10: Serbia TBA
25-10: Belgrade (SER) Kc Grad
26-10: Ilirska Bistrica (SLO) Mknž
The Cavemen on Facebook
WARFARE ALBUMS REISSUED!
Eighties punk-metal power trio WARFARE are to have their early albums reissued.
The band, who came together on Tyneside at the arse end of the NWOBHM scene, were formed by singing drummer Paul ‘Evo’ Evans, who’d done time with THE BLOOD, MAJOR ACCIDENT and ANGELIC UPSTARTS, together with guitarist Gunner and bassist Falken.
Primitive exponensts of early thrash, they attracted attention with their 12″ cover of FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD’s ‘Two Tribes’, on legendary North East metal label Neat Records. Their debut album Pure Filth, released in ’84, was produced by SAINTS and TANK bassist Algy Ward, and featured a collaboration with VENOM, while the follow-up Metal Anarchy was produced by Lemmy. More recently, the band rerecorded early tracks with former PENETRATION guitarist Fred Purser in the producer’s chair.
The band’s first four albums – Pure Filth (with 5 bonus tracks), Metal Anarchy, Mayhen Fuckin’ Mayhem (produced by Venom’s Cronos) and A Conflict Of Hatred – are set for reissue on CD by Dissonance on 28 September. They’re available to pre-order here.
Check out the video for ‘Metal Anarchy’.
Warfare on Facebook
WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’!
Guest of honour at this year’s inaugural Vive Le Rock Awards back in March, SHAKIN’ STEVENS has announced a major UK tour for the New Year.
A card-carrying rock’n’roll legend, Shaky will be playing from his coterie of 33 UK hits – including FOUR Number Ones! – as well as fan favourites and a few surprises.
“I’ve been going through my catalogue of songs in preparation for the tour, and re-introducing myself to the many and varied styles of music I’ve recorded during my solo career,” Shaky explains. “From country rock to Cajun, classic rock to Latin, and blues to Americana I’ve had the pleasure of re-discovering the ‘jewels’ from my repertoire that are so well-liked. Of course there’ll be hits and some songs that I haven’t performed live on stage for a decade or two….so some surprises! I’ve also included well-known songs from other artists whose work I admire, together with album tracks and newer songs, bringing it right up to date! I can’t wait to get back on the road and to have a great time with the audiences.”
You can catch Shaky on the following dates….
Fri 1 Mar SALISBURY City Hall
Sat 2 Mar NORTHAMPTON Derngate
Sun 3 Mar CARDIFF St David’s Hall
Tue 5 Mar BIRMINGHAM New Alexandra Theatre
Wed 6 Mar BEXHILL De La Warr Pavilion
Fri 8 Mar BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion
Sat 9 Mar LONDON Cadogan Hall
Mon 11 Mar READING Hexagon
Tue 12 Mar CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
Wed 13 Mar BUXTON Opera House
Fri 15 Mar HARROGATE Royal Hall
Sat 16 Mar EDINBURGH Queen’s Hall
Sun 17 Mar GLASGOW City Halls
Tue 19 Mar MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
Wed 20 Mar LIVERPOOL Eventim Olympia
Thu 21 Mar MIDDLESBROUGH Town Hall
Sat 23 Mar HULL City Hall
Sun 24 Mar LEEDS Town Hall
Shaky’s latest album Echoes Of Our Times is available now.
Shakin’ Stevens on Facebook
SPENCER ADDS HEADLINE SHOWS!
JON SPENCER has announced a handful of UK and European headline shows in addition his support dates with THE MELVINS.
As previously announced, the BOSS HOG and BLUES EXPLOSION man is to release his first ever solo album Spencer Sings The Hits! through In The Red Records on 2 November.
Check out ‘I Got The Hits’.
Pre-order the album here.
Says Spencer, “I can’t wait to get over and play for everyone. I will be joined by the HITmakers – Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Chrome Cranks, etc), Sam Coomes (Quasi, Heatmeiser, Elliot Smith), and M. Sord (No Monster Club, M. Sord) – we will be kicking out all of the new long-player SPENCER SINGS THE HITS! as well as some choice cuts from Pussy Galore, The Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash, and maybe even a super-secret cover-song or two. We just did a stint in the States with the Melvins so I know from experience that these will be some dynamite nights of rock, roll, riot, and rumble.”
The Melvins/Spencer tour kicks off in Haarlem, Netherlands on 20 October, with Spencer sneaking in a headline show in Glasgow on 27 October, climaxing at London’s KOKO on 30 October. Spencer then heads west to Bristol to open his headline dates at the Exchange on 1 November. Full dates are…
October – Melvins & Jon Spencer
20 Haarlem (NL) Patronaat (TICKETS)
21 Kortruk (BE) De Kreun (TICKETS)
23 Birmingham 02 Academy 2 (TICKETS)
24 Norwich Waterfront (TICKETS)
25 Cardiff Y Plas (TICKETS)
26 Leeds Stylus (TICKETS)
27 Glasgow Broadcast (TICKETS) HEADLINE SHOW *
28 Manchester Academy 2 (TICKETS)
29 Brighton Concorde 2 (TICKETS)
30 London Koko (TICKETS)
November – Jon Spencer headline dates
1 Bristol Exchange (TICKETS)
3 Newcastle Cluny 2 (TICKETS)
4 Nottingham Bodega (TICKETS)
5 Arlon (BE) L’ entropot (TICKETS)
6 Brussels (BE) Botanique (TICKETS)
7 Muenster (DE) Gleis 22 (TICKETS)
8 Koln (DE) Helios (TICKETS)
Jon Spencer on Facebook
HOT RODS BOW OUT!
As promised, Essex legends EDDIE & THE HOT RODS close the door on 40-plus years of touring with a very special show in London next spring.
Billed as ‘Done Everything We Wanna Do’ and co-promoted by Vive Le Rock with Black Wax, the band will take to the stage at the O2 Academy, Islington on Saturday 13 April.
The gig promises appearances from Hot Rods past and present along with some very special guests.
Tickets, including VIP packages granting, among other treats, admission to the aftershow party, are available here.
To prepare you for the event, Eddie And The Hot Rods – The Island Years is a 6-CD box set bringing together the band’s first three albums – Teenage Depression, Life On The Line and Thriller and a wealth of bonus material. Highlights include numerous BBC recordings including three Peel sessions and an In Concert performance, their collaboration with MC5 frontman Rob Tyner and a rare fan-club only 12-track album, originally pressed in a limited edition of 100 and available here for the first time on CD.
All brought together with a 28-page booklet, Eddie And The Hot Rods – The Island Years is released on 14 September.
In the meantime, the band continue to tour up to the end of the year. Full dates are on their website.
GODFATHERS GIGS FOR GARRY!
THE GODFATHERS have announced two very special Scottish dates for December.
The shows in Edinburgh and Glasgow are benefits for the family of Garry Borland, lead singer of HEAVY DRAPES, who sadly passed away suddenly in June.
The band will play Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on Saturday 8th December and Audio in Glasgow on Sunday 9th December. On both nights The Godfathers will be joined by REACTION. There’ll also be a very special set by Heavy Drapes members Richie Simpson, Billy Duncanson and Jerry Crowe joined by The Godfathers’ Peter Coyne on vocals to perform some Heavy Drapes numbers and punk classics.
The proceeds from both concerts will go directly to Garry’s widow Julie Borland and their daughter Mischa.
Tickets for Edinburgh and Glasgow are on sale NOW!
The Godfathers on Facebook
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Jonathan Sagar
As one of New Zealand's leading brand specialists, Jonathan has developed Voice from a one-man design agency to one of Australasia's most innovative and respected brand consultancies. With teams in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney specialising in the development of robust and insightful brand strategies, Jonathan’s leadership and intuitive approach to business issues are sought after to provide clarity and direction to some of the region's best loved brands. His desire to innovate, challenge convention and problem solve has seen him establish industry trust and respect and develop client relationships which have lasted over 30 years.
Sean McGarry
When it comes to commercial creativity and design, not many have the depth of pedigree that Sean has. 20+ years as a creative and business leader including 15 years as a director of one of Wellington’s best known design houses, being a fellow and past president of the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) as well as judging in New Zealand’s prestigious design and print awards means Sean’s capability and experience is definitive and unarguable.
Fiona Lopez
Fiona joined the Voice team in June 2019. As a senior client director, Fiona has over 25 years experience delivering complex branding and marketing projects in both the UK and Australia. She works closely and collaboratively with clients, using design thinking to help deliver results, build successful brands and help businesses communicate more effectively.
Neil Sparksman
Neil understands relationships – between agency and client, brands and consumers, and between strategy and creative execution. A driven problem solver and creative thinker, he leverages his thirty years’ experience in customer service to help serve up meaningful results for the Voice client portfolio. Neil joined Voice in 2003 and today he and Jonathan co lead the agency, continuing to keep the Voice proposition relevant, meaningful and compelling to businesses.
Strategy Lead
For over 20 years Mark has worked with senior teams to identify how they set bold goals and make daring decisions that enable a business to change how its valued by the people who buy it, and those for work for it. He believes its about being interesting and staying interesting in a world where distractions abound and attention quickly fades. To date Mark has done exactly that in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Malaysia and Europe, tackling problems for Red Bull, World of Wearable Arts, Lease Plan. Sydney Olympic Park, Vector, Z Energy and NZ Rugby amongst many others.
Richie Hartness
It would be fair to say that branding is in Richie’s DNA. He has been designing, developing and delivering high profile, award winning brands for over 20 years in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. His down to earth personality and dry sense of humour bring a sense of levity to his work but when it comes to the nitty gritty of brand design he believes in beautiful design that’s relevant and communicates with clarity and purpose.
Mark Hearne
Digital Director
A career in the advertising industry in the UK led Mark to focus on digital communications on his return to New Zealand. A strong communicator and problem solver Mark is highly experienced in web development and business management and brings a broad range of knowledge, skills and insight to his projects. His multi-skilled team of creatives and developers deliver a range of innovative digital design and development services that help to ensure that our clients’ brands succeed online. Mark’s strength lies in his ability to build trust with clients and deliver clarity whilst coordinating complex projects with a range of demands.
Sara Hearne
Creative and User Experience
From studying fine arts to working in information management, Sara has a strong focus on the end user and a passion for effective and affecting visual communication. With 14 year’s experience facilitating users’ access to information and their experience online Sara brings insight and strong direction to her role working alongside the client and the developer to hone relevant and engaging solutions in the digital medium. Sara’s creative, critical thinking brings a problem solving pragmatic approach, an artistic vision and a sense of humour to projects.
Bronwyn Williams
In her past life as a journalist, Brownyn edited for national publications and penned news and features across both digital and print. As a creative she has aided the direction and repositioning of some of New Zealand’s most enduring fashion brands. Bronwyn has an appreciation for great content, and is passionate about creating strategies and brand experiences that engage, delight and convert target audiences. Her innate sense of brand, combined with her writing craft allows her to lend a unique voice and point of view as a creative copywriter.
Julie Sowter
Over the past 20 years Julie has helped to nurture and grow a number of small businesses from infancy into some of the New Zealand’s leading companies. With a skill set spanning from general finance through to operations management, Julie successfully optimises performance across our complete business. Her passion for detail, financial acumen, HR and operations has ensured growth flows through to the bottom line while maintaining a special, sought after business culture.
Hannah Dear
Fresh from tertiary studies, Hannah joined Voice in 2016 as part of the Client Service team. A natural relationship builder, Hannah has used her skill to build strong trusted relationships with her client base, and her critical thinking to support the development of some of Voice's outstanding, award winning work. Hannah is dedicated, a strong communicator and clarity seeker. You’ll be pressed to find someone with as much energy for commercial creativity, or who has such broad understanding of multiple marketing disciplines.
Interning at Voice in 2017, post tertiary, was the lever Matt needed to start his agency career. Voice directors were impressed by Matt's personal drive and ability to articulate his career aspirations. Since being made full time, Matt’s capability has grown exponentially, gaining valuable studio experience across a range of brands and disciplines. Matt has the perfect combination of personality, collaborative style and aesthetic that makes him right for the agency-land environment.
Ethan Sagar
After graduating from the Media Design School in 2014 with a first class honours degree, Ethan has been working hard as an in-house creative resource, working across our diverse client portfolio and honing his skills as a multi-disciplinary designer. Passionate about great typography, Ethan brings a warmth and vibrant presence to the studio.
Office Greeter
Harry Winston takes his job very seriously, ensuring that all visitors to the Voice office are greeted appropriately. This varies from a quiet canter down the hallway to meet you, to a full on, all bells and whistles barking welcome. In between greeting duties Harry can be found on various laps in the office or attending meetings in the big room.
Level 2, 1 Cross Street
New Zealand, 1010
Level 17, 31 Queen Street
info@voicebrandagency.com
© 2019 VOICE BRAND AGENCY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Quirino Bridge northbound lanes reopened
Major real estate developers at SRP to get an audience with new Cebu City admin
DPWH
THE NORTHBOUND side of Quirino Bridge, also known as Concordia Bridge, was opened April 11, making the entire reconstructed structure now passable to vehicles. A 6-lane Quirino Bridge II can now be used by motorists going in and out of southern part of Manila with the completion of three (3) southbound lanes last October and now the three (3) northbound lanes,” Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar said in a statement. The bridge, located along Quirino Highway in Paco, Manila and underneath the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project, was closed for its P58 million reconstruction last year.
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Home > Ultimate Welding Guide > Guide to Welding Gas
There are several types of welding gas available including acetylene, MAPP, Natural Gas and Propane. The combination of oxyacetylene gas used along with oxygen is the most popular for welding steel. Oxygen helps any burning process by increasing the temperature and rate of combustion, which is why it is used along with the gasses described on this page in a separate cylinder. Oxyacetylene provides a high temperature flame. An alternative is Oxymapp (liquefied petroleum), although it burns at a lower temperature than oxyacetylene. The implications are that it is a longer process to preheat and then weld steel. Another choice for welding with gas are propane, which is used for oxyfuel cutting, soldering and brazing. The issue with propane welding is that the gas does not contain carbon, which causes the welded metal to become brittle. There are also applications for butane and natural gas.
Hydrocarbon welding gases, such as propane, butane, city
gas, and natural gas, are not suitable for welding ferrous materials due
to their oxidizing characteristics. In some instances, many nonferrous
and ferrous metals can be braze welded with care taken in the adjustment
of flare and the use of flux. It is important to use tips designed for
the fuel gas being employed. These gases are extensively used for
brazing and soldering operations, utilizing both mechanized and manual
These fuel gases have relatively low flame
propagation rates, with the exception of some manufactured city gases
containing considerable amounts of hydrogen. When standard welding tips
are used, the maximum flame velocity is so 1ow that it interferes
seriously with heat transfer from the flame to the work. The highest
flame temperatures of the gases are obtained at high oxygen-to-fuel gas
ratios. These ratios produce highly oxidizing flames, which prevent the
satisfactory welding of most metals.
Tips should be used having flame-holding devices,
such as skirts, counterbores, and holder flames, to permit higher gas
velocities before they leave the tip. This makes it possible to use
these fuel gases for many heating applications with excellent heat
transfer efficiency.
Air contains approximately 80 percent nitrogen by
volume. This does not support combustion. Fuel gases burned with air,
therefore, produce lower flame temperatures than those burned with
oxygen. The total heat content is also lower. The air-fuel gas flame is
suitable only for welding light sections of lead and for light brazing
and soldering operations.
Acetylene Gas Generator
Pictured Above: Acetelyne welding gas generator. The gas is produced when calcium carbide is submerged under water. The gas which escapes is then trapped and compressed in a storage cylinder.
Acetylene Gas
Acetylene is created when calcium carbide, which is a man made substance, reacts to water. It can keep indefinitely, and is used in welding with separate cylinders of oxygen and acetylene gas, which is kept at high pressure. Cylinders are stored upright in order to keep the stored gas stable.
It is a colorless gas with a strong garlic odor. It burns at 5,600 degrees Fahrenheit with a neutral flame and is used for hard facing, heating, brazing, cutting and welding. Note that acetylene should not be compressed above the level that causes instability which is 15 PSI.
MAPP gas is part of the acetylene family. It contains the gasses propylene, propadiene and methylacetylene. I is used for cutting and heating, although a special welding rod is needed to avoid the oxidizing characteristics associated with the MAPP flame. At neutral the flame temperature is 5,300 Fahrenheit.
Natural gas is widely available. Specialized cutting and welding equipment is required. The gas burns at 5,025 Fahrenheit with a neutral flame.
Propane and Oxygen Welding Demonstration
[iframe width="450" height="253" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f2amO0T3vkQ?rel=0"]
Demonstration of how to set up propane and oxygen welding equipment.
Propane Cylinder
Pictured Above: Propane cylinder. Cylinders come between 20 pounds and 100 pounds.
Like natural gas, propane is also widely available. It is sold in a liquid state in cylinders that are available in sizes between 20 pounds and 100 pounds. The flame temperature is 5,200 Fahrenheit with a neutral flame. It is used for heating and cutting.
Standard oxyacetylene equipment , with the exception of torch tips and regulators, can be used to distribute and bum these gases. Special regulators may be obtained, and heating and cutting tips are available. City gas and natural gas are supplied by pipelines; propane and butane are stored in cylinders or delivered in liquid form to storage tanks on the user's property.
The torches for use with air-fuel gas generally are designed to aspirate the proper quantity of air from the atmosphere to provide combustion. The fuel gas flows through the torch at a supply pressure of 2 to 40 psig and serves to aspirate the air. For light work, fuel gas usually is supplied from a small cylinder that is easily transportable.
The plumbing, refrigeration, and electrical trades use propane in small cylinders for many heating and soldering applications. The propane flows through the torch at a supply pressure from 3 to 60 psig and serves to aspirate the air. The torches are used for soldering electrical connections, the joints in copper pipelines, and light brazing jobs.
Standard Cylinder Sizes
Gas welding cylinders are commonly purchased in these standard sizes:
122 cubic feet
Common Acetylene Cylinder Sizes
Air-fuel gas is used for welding lead up to
approximately 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) in thickness. The greatest field of
application in the plumbing and electrical industry. The process is used
extensively for soldering copper tubing.
Working Pressures for Welding Operations
The required working pressure increases as the tip orifice increases. The relation between the tip number and the diameter of the orifice may vary with different manufacturers. However, the smaller number always indicates the smaller diameter. For the approximate relation between the tip number and the required oxygen and welding gas pressures, follow the manufacturers instructions. Note sample tables below for acetylene.
Welding Gas References
Welding Gas Guide
NEXT: Aluminum Gas Welding >>>
Types of Welding Flames
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« Review – Welcome to Thebes, National Theatre
Miniaturists 24, Arcola Theatre »
Review – Calamity Jane, Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Apparently audiences are staying away from theatres almost en masse at the moment, preferring instead to sit in front of big screens, biting their manly nails in collective frustration and leaking testosterone all over the shop.
So the Whingers decided it was high time they put their feminine sides on the back burner and explore their combined powers of machismo with a trip to Upstairs at the Gatehouse to see that apperceptive dissection of gender roles and sexual identity: Calamity Jane.
Calamity Jane started on a big screen too, of course, and the Whingers engineered a lads-only (plus 1 token woman) expedition, all fully geared up and clutching their vuvuzelas for an evening of shrieking shouting in delight. Oh, and of course they fuelled themselves with copious quantities of alcohol.
And so it was that we found ourselves in Deadwood (a reference to the England squad?) where Henry Miller (Anthony Wise – very funny), owner of the Golden Garter saloon, has sent for a beautiful “actress” to entertain the menfolk of the town. But Francis Fryer (Ted McMillan, also very good) turns out to be a man. With the crowd worked up to a fever pitch, Fryer is persuaded to drag up to perform the innuendo laden “Hive Full of Honey” (one of Andrew’s party pieces, incidentally).
When the deception inevitably unravels Calamity calms the unrest by heading off to Chicago with a promise to return with no-one less than the menfolk’s actress of choice, Adelaide Adams. Actually she returns with Adams’ maid Katie Brown (a charming Bonnie Hurst) who nonetheless wins the hearts of the town’s men including Calam’s sparring partner Wild Bill Hickock (David Anthony, a very fine voice) and the object of her affections Lt. Danny Gilmartin (Jonathan Vickers).
Calamity Jane is packed to the rafters with great songs (“I Can Do Without You”, “Secret Love”, “Just Blew In From The Windy City”, “The Black Hills Of Dakota”, “The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away!)” and is way overdue for a major revival. But for now director Thom Southerland who made such a good job of Call Me Madam in the same venue achieves similar wonders with limited resources: this is a well-costumed, lively production, terrifically choreographed by Phyllida Crowley Smith. Sutherland puts in lots of clever touches, “A Woman’s Touch” is particularly wittily realised and he even turns the overused idea of having performers form a vehicle on stage (in this case a stagecoach) into a delightful twist on the idea. It’s almost up there with the train in last summer’s Hello Dolly!
There are good performances (including a terrific character performance from Frances Campbell as the stagecoach driver Rattlesnake), some lasso spinning and decent singing. The choral contributions are superb and the three-piece band provide a surprisingly full accompaniment. The wardrobe people might, however, want to re-think the rather unflattering underwear that Adelaide Adams and Katie Brown perform in. We’re no experts on women’s nethergarments but surely these can not be the last word in 1889 feminine allure?
But where the production is vitally let down is the sound. Criminally Paul Francis Webster‘s often hilarious lyrics are frequently lost along with much of the dialogue. Some of this seems due a lack of power in some of the leads (Katherine Eames is a suitably winning and perky Calamity but her combination of Wild West accent and rather highly pitched voice often renders her inaudible). The acousitcs don’t help, though, and nor does some of the staging. It’s a shame because if it were fixed this show would be twice as enjoyable.
Goodness knows what the sound must have been like from the seating at the sides of the stage; no wonder so few people chose to sit there, further proof if proof were needed that audiences dislike thrust staging. It doesn’t work! Stop it! Thrust stagin’ – that”s nothin’ more than female thinkin’.
The walls of the staircase up to the Gatehouse’s auditorium are decorated with posters from previous productions and the Whingers particularly enjoyed one for a 2008 production of The Fool Who Dared to Dream which starred “David Boyle as the inimitable Anthony Newley”. Poor David Boyle – he really didn’t have a chance then.
This entry was posted on Wednesday 23 June 2010 at 1:04 pm and is filed under West End Whingers.
Tags: Anthony Wise, Bonnie Hurst, Calamity Jane, David Anthony, entertainment, fringe, Jonathan Vickers, Katherine Eames, London, musical, Paul Francis Webster, Phyllida Crowley Smith, review, The Gatehouse, theatre, Tom Sutherland
5 Responses to “Review – Calamity Jane, Upstairs at the Gatehouse”
Lord Andrew Lloyds Slipper Sniffer Says:
Wednesday 23 June 2010 at 1:27 pm
Oh Calamity! I saw the ‘inimitable’ Newley at the King’s Head during his final decade on earth. Highspot in a very rich evening was him singing a quiet lullaby to his son while rigged up in full busker’s one-man band gear. You had to be there. (Although sadly the night we went most had chosen not to be.)
It was a rootin’ tootin’ good time – thanks for having me along! I expect a movie viewing is a must now.
daveonthego Says:
A result of a night! right in the back of the net.
So who is Calamity Jane then?
JohnnyFox Says:
Love Calam, Love Thom … but can’t face either in this heat. Will go when Deadwood cools a tad.
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Mallow Be Thy Name
June 27, 2011 at 2:53 pm · Filed under 1, Wildflowers: Purple ·Tagged Mallow, Malva parviflora, Nature, New York City, West Village
Mallow Be Thy Name . . .
Mallow, Malva parviflora, blooms along the busy strip of Hudson Street near the Meatpacking District. (photo taken 06 11 2011)
Color is the central organizing principle of wildflower study. There are a variety of plant structures essential to plant identification. Texture of stem, shape of leaf, and size of seed are all useful. Pause here, though, and look to the far right at the “Categories” section. Open a field guide or three as well. Color is key. Originality is highly desirable, a goal for which to strive, yet I can think of no naturalist, amateur or professional, who first asks: “Do the leaves alternate on the stem?” A flower’s color is a plant’s primary visual element. They are called wildflowers, not wild stems or wild leaves, for this reason.
Human nature, the nature of the universe, or both cause complexity to branch out before one can even move beyond the fundamental of color. Beyond the basic primary spectrum resides the subtlety of shades and hues. Phrases like “light blue” and “greenish orange” convey the basic point of appearance, yet there are times when a single precise vocabulary word would be better.
Take for example the color purple; a theme that has emerged in my outdoor observations during this month of June. There are numerous variations. One became the name of a classic rock band: Deep Purple. Some plants are so distinct and singular that their names have become synonymous with a specific shade: lavender, lilac, and violet.
Turning to foreign tongues, the French coined the term for a shade of pale purple endemic to a specie of wildflower I recently found growing, and blooming, in the West Village near the corner of Hudson and Gansevoort. The French term is “malva” – a pale purple known in the English as mauve.
Malva parviflora, known also as cheeseweed or marshmallow, is an herbaceous perennial immigrant from Europe and North Africa. The plant resembles a low creeper like ground ivy or deadnettle. The leaves are alternate, lobed, and scalloped like a cultivated geranium. The blossoms cluster in small groups beneath the leaves in a manner familiar to those who have grown zucchini or melons. The flowers consist of five white petals striped with mauve ridges. The flowers look like miniature versions of their tall, vertical, domesticated relative, the hollyhock.
Mauve on Hudson Street: The unique shade of purple found in the mallow plant's blossom inspired the French word "malva". (photo taken 06 11 2011)
The mallow, a member of the family Malvaceae, has some use as an herb (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant) and also makes a fine ground cover in garden corners. On a personal level, Malva parviflora gave me a good artist’s exercise in describing that most fundamental of visual concepts –
Color.
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Review into gun laws after..
Review into gun laws after murder-suicide: ‘If it wasn’t a gun, it may have been some other instrument’
gun lawsMick Fuller
The state’s gun laws are being reviewed after a father with a history of violence killed his two teenage children in Sydney’s north-west.
John Edwards legally obtained two handguns described as “powerful” by police and was allowed to join a gun club, despite reportedly being denied membership at two others.
Police say he planned the killing of his children at West Pennant Hills.
Today’s discussions looked at potential changes to gun laws in a bid to stop another tragedy like this from happening again.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller tells Ben Fordham it’s important not to forget it was a domestic violence incident.
“My main concern, Ben, is we don’t lose that this was a domestic and family violence incidence. Now, it’s probably the worst incident one could imagine, but it’s not a firearm incident.
“If it wasn’t a gun it may have been some other instrument.
“I just need to make sure whilst a healthy debate around gun laws is important… that we don’t lose sight that this was a domestic and family violence incident.”
The Commissioner says all information is important, that it’s often “not until after the incident that people put their hands up and make information available”.
“Did the neighbours know more, did the local GP know more?
“Were there people who could’ve fed the information to police through Crime Stoppers or so many different forums that may have helped us protect these children?”
AustraliaLawNewsNSWPolitics
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Jeanette Gets In Touch With Her Inner Nyonya
The half-Peranakan actress didn't grow up in sarong kerbayas, but she still knows what is 'rempah', okay? (This is an excerpt from a cover story that first appeared in Issue 970, May 21, 2009.)
By Jonathan Fam
Updated 18 Jan 2017 18:00
Kueh sarlat, lapis sagu, Jeanette Aw. The sugary Nyonya delectables are spread alluringly on a tok panjang type (Peranakan banquet) table at House on Dempsey Hill. Though our prim princess is every bit as pretty as the Bengawan Solo kueh kueh surrounding her, the half-Peranakan (from her father’s side) admits she was never in touch with her roots — until she was cast last year in the behemoth that was The Little Nyonya. “I grew up in a very typical Chinese-Singaporean way,” she tells us. “Even though there were Peranakan dishes on the table, it was just regular food to me.”
Thanks to The Little Nyonya, we’ve been talking about Peranakan culture for almost a year now, are you suffering from Nyonya fatigue yet?
I wouldn’t say that. It’s very nice that there’s a revival in this culture because a lot of us know of it but we didn’t know what it really meant until the drama came out. For me, it’s more about getting back to my roots.
So you’re a... non-practising Peranakan?
Yes. I wasn’t in touch with my Peranakan heritage before this because my dad wasn’t very traditional. I remember my mum and my aunts would wear the sarong kebaya on special occasions. We didn’t grow up in that Baba Malay way; I had a very average Singaporean childhood.
You’re far quieter than a stereotypical chatty Nyonya.
Am I? A culture will always have people with different characteristics. I may not be boisterous and loud outwardly, but it doesn’t mean I don’t feel that way inside.
Er, so you’re repressed? In your opinion, who’s a true-blue Peranakan?
Pierre Png. He likes to joke and entertain people — and that’s a common trait among Peranakan men. The way he treats his wife is also very Peranakan. What do I mean? Ha ha… never mind.
Do you feel like screaming whenever you have to wear a sarong kebaya now?
(Laughs) I know what you mean. Sometimes when I go for roadshows and they require me to be in Nyonya garb, I’m, like, “Oh no”. The hair and make-up takes over an hour to do. And they bun my hair up really tightly.
You strolled around Cannes in a kebaya to promote the show.
Well, it would’ve been nice to wear a glamorous gown instead since we were in Cannes. But I felt proud to introduce Peranakan culture overseas.
Were you terrified about singing live in The Peranakan Ball musical?
Yes! Singing is a whole different game from acting. We had to go for vocal lessons and I tried my very best. (Laughs) The Indoor Stadium was huge and I was really nervous about singing in front of a crowd. I was terrified my voice would crack!
We graciously help self-confessed ‘un-Peranakan’ Peranakan Jeanette rediscover her roots. But it seems she doesn’t need much help, after all.
8 DAYS: What’s the difference between a Nyonya and Bibik?
Jeanette: A Nyonya is a young lady, a Bibik is someone who is older with status.
Do most Peranakans have Malay ancestry?
Jeanette: Yes. There are Indian Peranakans as well.
Who among the following is Peranakan?
a) Michelle Chong
b) Lee Kuan Yew
c) KF Seetoh
d) Tay Ping Hui
Jeanette: If I’m not wrong, it’s Lee Kuan Yew.
(Ans: Tay Ping Hui is part Peranakan too)
Which Chinese dialect group do most Peranakans belong to?
a) Teochew
b) Hakka
c) Hokkien
d) Cantonese
Jeanette: Hokkien!
Peranakan-rich neighbourhood Joo Chiat was named after Chew Joo Chiat, a wealthy land-owner also known as the ‘King of Katong’. True?
Jeanette: This one I don’t know… It’s true?
What’s a must-have during meals for Peranakans?
a) Rice
b) Buah keluak
c) Sambal belacan
d) Nyonya chap chye
Jeanette: Sambal belacan!
What does ‘rempah’ mean?
Jeanette: It’s the spices! The pounded thing that you use to cook with. It’s like some gooey thing, like belacan.
Use the following Peranakan-Malay words in a sentence:
‘Gorblok’ (fool)
Jeanette: Oh no, I don’t know what it means. (Giggles) I’ve never heard of this word. What’s gorblok?
‘Tekan’ (pressure)
“Don’t tekan me!”
‘Iblis’ (fi end)
I don’t know what iblis is. Argh.
‘Babi’ (pig/pork)
Be careful of the babi now. (Laughs)
‘Berak’ (sh**)
I need to go berak. It means poo poo!
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Home » Buildings » Thinking of more slurry storage? Here are your options and costs
Thinking of more slurry storage? Here are your options and costs
Niall Claffey
Aug 24, 2018, 6:00am
The winter of 2017/2018 is one that will stick with farmers for all the wrong reasons for years to come. Not only did farmers struggle with a lack of fodder, they also had to deal with full slurry tanks with no where to spread.
It’s very important to have enough slurry storage on farms from a weather and Nitrates Directive point of view. This was the key message from Teagasc’s environmental specialist Tim Hyde at a recent farm buildings walk in Co. Galway.
On the day, Tim discussed different options available to farmers and the advantages and disadvantages of these options; costings were also brought to the attention of the farmers in attendance.
Slatted tanks
Slatted tanks are the most common slurry storage option on farms in Ireland. Due to the expansion of the dairy herd, and the need for additional storage, many farmers have opted to install these tanks without constructing a roof over them; this may be done at a later stage.
Slatted tanks:
Better for small quantities;
Can be built in new sheds;
No rainfall as they are normally roofed;
Fit into existing building developments.
These tanks are normally installed where a smaller capacity is needed, but they can be added to existing tanks.
Over-ground slurry stores and lagoons
These options are available to farmers where space is plentiful. Farmers can install concrete lagoons, earth-lined lagoons or over-ground round towers.
Over-ground round towers require a receptor tank from where slurry can be pumped to the tower. If a flow channel is installed from a slatted tank to a lagoon, this will eliminate the need to move slurry manually at busy times of the year.
Rainfall is another issue with lagoons and round towers. However, Tim noted that this can work well for farmers using an umbilical system to spread slurry; it also leaves agitation easier.
“Approximately 130,000 gallons of rainfall/year enters tanks; however, 30% evaporation can be expected. Slurry lagoons can be covered, but this idea is not widely practised,” he explained.
Slurry lagoons and over-ground stores:
Cheaper for large quantities;
Site dependent;
Reduced labour when flow channels are installed;
Over-ground stores are an option where space is limited;
Rainfall is allowed into lagoons.
Cost of these options
Below shows the different costings for slatted tanks at different capacities (50,000 gallons and 250,000 gallons). It also indicates the cost of open concrete lagoons, earth-lined lagoons (3m deep) and over-ground slurry storage towers at volumes of 50,000 gallons and 250,000 gallons.
Tim outlined that these costs are based on estimates from some builders and these may vary in some circumstances. Deals can be done with different concrete companies.
The environmental specialist also noted that a 16.6ft slat (10ft deep) tank will allow 70% more slurry storage per bay when compared with a 12.6ft (8ft deep) tank.
Source: Teagasc
“Lagoons or towers are cheaper for larger volumes of slurry. As farmers increase volumes, the cost/1,000 gallons decreases.
“There is additional cost at planning permission when it comes to earth-lined lagoons, as farmers have to dig trial pits. If the clay content is not high enough, farmers can’t use compacted clay; it must be lined,” he added.
The round towers and the lined lagoon were not considered at 50,000 gallons because they would be too expensive to construct for their capacity.
However, once you get up to 250,000 gallon stores, the cost/1,000 gallons varies between €160-200, depending on the amount of digging that has to be done and on whether you meet rock; these costs are site dependent.
Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) specifications
Tim highlighted that if a certain capacity tank or lagoon was approved by the Department of Agriculture under TAMS, and the farmer runs into difficulty when digging it out due to rock, he/she may increase the length or width of the tank so that it reaches the desired capacity.
“Farmers just can’t decide to put in a shallower tank; you must go longer or wider to reach the capacity that is stated on the planning permission,” he explained.
For example, if you apply for 100,000 gallons of slurry storage and you put in 120,000 gallons of slurry storage; this is OK. The department do not look at extra slurry space as a bad thing.
However, if a farmer applies for 100,000 gallons – and hits rock – and only puts in 80,000 gallons, this is a penalty somewhere in the region of 20% of the total TAMS grant, Tim concluded.
Buildings focus: 70 new cubicles and a slurry lagoon in Co. Galway
Farm building Slurry slurry storage Teagasc
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Farmers ‘crying out for’ additional work permits – IFA
Jul 16, 2019, 11:59am
Ornua announces move to close UK production facility
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EU sharpens competition tools to face Gulf carrier challenge
The European Commission is set to revamp a law enabling it to impose duties on non-European Union (EU) airlines or suspend their flying rights if it finds they have caused injury to European airlines, as it seeks to counter rising competition from Gulf carriers. In a draft proposal seen by Reuters, the EU executive aims to guarantee fair competition between airlines in the bloc by tackling unfair business practices by foreign airlines and their governments which cannot be addressed through open skies agreements. These include illegal government subsidies or favourable treatment when it comes to slot allocation, ground handling services, airport charges and refuelling, among others. The proposal is likely to stoke tensions between European legacy carriers ? hit by increased competition on long-haul routes and shifting traffic flows to Asia ? and the three major Middle Eastern airlines. Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways have faced accusations of receiving illegal state subsides, which they deny. The Commission has come under heavy pressure from France and Germany as well as their flag carriers, Air France KLM and Lufthansa, to do more to tackle the challenge posed by the Gulf airlines. The draft law would replace the current one, adopted in 2004 to counter unfair pricing practices by US airlines on transatlantic routes. It has never been used and is widely considered to be ineffective. Under the draft proposal, an EU member state, airline or airline association will be able to submit a complaint to the Commission, which will open an investigation if there is ?prima facie? evidence of a practice causing injury or ?threat of injury? to one or more EU carriers. During the probe, which should be concluded within two years, the Commission may carry out investigations in the third country concerned if the government and foreign carrier have given their consent. Where the Commission concludes that a European carrier has suffered injury or threat of injury because of unfair practices from a country or airline, it may impose duties or suspend ?concessions, services or rights of the third country air carrier? or the rights of the third country. However, the Commission will not adopt regressive measures if their impact on EU citizens or interested parties ?would be negative and clearly disproportionate compared to any advantages given to the Union air carrier(s) concerned,? according to the document. Courtesy: GulfNews.com
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Home » Weekly Torah Portion » Parents & Kids » Family Parsha
Be'halot'cha (Numbers 8-12)
Jun 4, 2001 | by Nesanel Yoel Safran
Do you know there are two Passovers every year?
Well, originally there weren't. But back when the Jewish people were traveling in the desert having left Egypt, there was a group of people who, through no fault of their own, weren't able to participate in the Passover offering ceremonies that God had asked everyone to do. Even though they had a good excuse and weren't required by Jewish Law to do it, they didn't rely on their excuse, rather they came to Moses and asked, "Why should we have to miss out on this special opportunity to come closer to God like everyone else?"
Moses asked God what to do and God proclaimed the special Mitzvah of Pesach Sheni (the second Passover) one month after the first for those who missed out, to get another extra special chance.
These Jews had shown that they weren't happy with the opportunity to get out of an obligation, but really wanted to do what God asked of them and so they were rewarded with a second chance.
We can learn from here that when we want to do something worthwhile but are prevented from doing so, we shouldn't necessarily give up. If we persist, we will often succeed in unexpected ways.
In our story, a boy doesn't give up easily in his efforts to do good, and is glad he didn't ...
"BACK-PEDALING"
Dave really loved riding his bike. Sometimes he almost felt like he was flying as he whizzed past the fields, meadows, and cozy houses that dotted Farmdale, his hometown.
Today he had set out extra early to meet up with his friends from the soccer team. They were meeting at Coach Waldman's house all the way across town.
The boys had grown to love the coach who had patiently taught them valuable lessons about soccer and about life. And now that he was moving out of town they jumped at the chance to help him pack his belongings and be together with him one last time.
Dave, about half way there and making good time, took a sharp turn at the intersection by Fisher's Pond Road when he was caught by surprise at the sight of a family of ducks crossing the road. Reacting quickly, he swerved his bike onto the shoulder of the road to avoid hitting the birds. Suddenly he heard a popping sound coming from his front tire followed by a steady hiss.
Dave glanced down and his worst fears were confirmed. He had run over a broken bottle and his tire was rapidly deflating. "Now what?" he thought.
At first he considered walking home and forgetting the whole project. "After all, I have a good excuse. No one would blame me," he told himself. But then he realized how much he wanted to show his appreciation by helping his coach and how even the best excuse was no substitute for actually doing it.
So bravely he decided to continue on to his destination, only now at a snail's pace as he walked with his limping bike at his side. What seemed like an eternity later, Dave finally arrived at Coach Waldman's house. He groaned as he noticed all his friends jumping on their bikes getting ready to leave.
One of the boys looked up and noticed him. "Hey Dave, you lucked out," he quipped. "We just finished. Your flat tire saved you from a lot of hard work," he added, wiping his brow to emphasize his point. The boys chuckled but Dave didn't smile. All he could think about was how much he had wanted to help out his coach and now it looked like he had lost his chance.
The boys returned to their small talk as Dave walked past them, pushing his bike right up next to the fully packed orange U-Haul moving van, where he found the coach doing some last minute arranging. As Coach Waldman turned around, he caught sight of Dave and, glancing at the broken bike, got the picture right away. "I'm ... I'm sorry coach," stammered Dave. "I really wanted to help. It's just that my bike, you see..."
But the good-natured coach waved him off with his big hand. "No problem Dave," he said with a smile. "I can see your flat. You have a legitimate excuse. It wasn't your fault you were late. Why don't you fix your tire at the gas station across the road and ride on home with your friends?" The coach was about to turn back to his task when Dave took a step forward.
"But coach," he said firmly. "I didn't come here to make an excuse, I really want to help. Isn't there still something left for me to do to help you? Anything at all?"
Coach Waldman looked down at the boy. He studied the expression on his face and realized that he really meant what he was saying. He paused for a moment and thoughtfully scratched his beard.
"Well," he said, "there is one thing. I wasn't planning to ask any of the guys to help me with this. I wanted to do it myself -- but I still haven't packed up my trophy case. I saved it for last. Over the years we've been blessed with a lot of success and memories. Do you think you could stay on a little while and help me with it?"
A broad smile flashed across the boy's face at the special honor. As he raced to follow the coach into the almost empty house, Dave felt really glad he hadn't given up so easily in his desire to help.
Q. How did Dave feel when his tire went flat?
A. He was upset that he might not be able to help the coach. Even though he had a good excuse not to, he wanted to help anyhow.
Q. Is it okay not to do something we should when we have a good excuse?
A. Sometimes we really can't help it, but it's better to keep trying and not rely on our excuse.
Q. When Dave's bike got the flat tire he could have easily given up and gone home. Why do you think he didn't?
A. The thought crossed his mind. But he remembered why he had started out in the first place, to do the worthwhile task of helping his coach. He was able to persist and not give up by focusing on his goal even when it became difficult to accomplish.
Q. Would it have been wrong for Dave to have turned back? After all, he did get a flat tire.
A. It wouldn't have really been wrong. He had good intentions when he started out, and the flat tire wasn't his fault. Still, when he was able to persevere despite a good excuse not to, he did something great. Not only did he win his coach's respect and special attention, but he developed himself into a stronger and more successful person.
Q. In your opinion, if a person sincerely attempts to do something worthwhile, and is stopped by forces beyond his control, are his efforts worth just as much as if he had succeeded? Why or why not?
A. Any effort we put into doing something worthwhile has tremendous value, even when circumstances beyond our control prevent us from achieving our goal. We are responsible for sincerely trying our best, but the actual outcome is in God's hands. By keeping this in mind, we can remain motivated to persevere, and not be discouraged by setbacks.
Q. Why do you think that the coach "rewarded" Dave for coming late by allowing him to assist in packing the precious trophy case?
A. The coach accurately perceived something extraordinary in the boy. Dave persisted in asking to help even after he was told that the job was done, and even when it was obvious that he had a good excuse, the flat tire, for coming late. This revealed to the coach how sincere he was in his desire to help and made Dave worthy in his eyes of the honor of assisting him with his trophies. Far from rewarding Dave for being late, the coach rewarded him for being great.
Nesanel Yoel Safran
Nesanel Yoel Safran is a writer, chef, and a teacher/student of Jewish spirituality. He blends these assorted vocations on his blog, Soul Foodie, where you can join him on mystical cooking adventures and glean practical wisdom for the kitchen – and for living. https://soulfoodiecom.wordpress.com/
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North Wales recruiter unveils team to lead eastern expansion
RecruitmentAppointmentsNorth East Wales
By Rhys Gregory On Feb 21, 2019 Last updated Feb 21, 2019
Natasha Jones, Supertemps
A RECRUITMENT firm has unveiled the team to lead its eastern expansion.
Natasha Jones has joined Supertemps as a Senior Recruitment Consultant and will partner Alex Russell in launching the award-winning firm in north east Wales.
Supertemps and its executive division S2 Recruitment have a strong foothold in the rest of North Wales with bases in Colwyn Bay, Bangor and at M-Sparc on Anglesey.
Managing director Sarah Ellwood says the addition of Natasha, 32, will help them to break new ground in the east of the region.
“Our clients have long called for us to open an office in north east Wales, so we are extending the Supertemps footprint to meet that demand,” said Sarah.
“Natasha has settled in well and hit the ground running having worked in recruitment for several years, so she’s a brilliant addition to the team and we are thrilled to have her on board.”
She added: “We celebrate 40 years in business next year and have a growing workforce with vast experience and passion for our clients and the organisations we work with, so this is the logical next step for us.”
For Natasha, who lives with husband Craig and children Jessica and Oliver in Rhyl, it’s a dream come true.
Ironically, she spent almost a decade in retail and was once herself a candidate with Supertemps before landing her “perfect job”.
“When I was younger and still deciding what I wanted to do Supertemps did help me find a position, so I guess things have come full circle,” she said.
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“I enjoyed the retail sector but always wanted to be in recruitment and would not give up until I got there, eventually working for two firms over several years before getting this role with Supertemps.”
Natasha added: “We are focused on our opening in Wrexham or Flintshire and Alex and I are already in touch with current clients and new businesses, to let them know we are on our way.
“There’s already a buzz about Supertemps having more of a presence there and it means we can work even closer with industry in those areas.
“I’m so looking forward to a future with the company, it’s a strong and respected business delivering a first-class service with a brilliant reputation so to be a part of that is really exciting.”
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The 22 year-old said: “Being part of the company as it grows into an area I know so well, and playing a key role in that, is something I’m really looking forward to.
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Great Performances
Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood
Passport Season 46 Episode 9 | 2h 19m 15s
In honor of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, Tanglewood—the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra—dedicated its entire 2018 season to the iconic composer, conductor, performer, educator and humanitarian.
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1989 Donruss Baseball Cards: Which Are Most Valuable?
Posted by Adam Hughes | Baseball Card Values, Baseball Cards, Donruss Baseball Cards | 0 |
Are 1989 Donruss baseball cards your favorite baseball issue ever?
Well, if you said, “yes” — hmmm, you just might be alone in that opinion.
The good news in that case would be that you won’t have much trouble laying your hands on plenty of these beauties. Because, truth is, 1989 Donruss was produced in HUGE quantities that make them pretty easy to find even 30 years later.
But that doesn’t mean every 1989 Donruss baseball card is worthless. In fact, the 11 cards below can fetch decent prices on eBay, provided you’re aiming for PSA 9 or PSA 10 cards — that is, the cream of the crop.
Without further adieu, then, here is the rundown of the most valuable 1989 Donruss baseball cards …
1989 Donruss Ken Griffey, Jr., Rookie Card (#33)
Any time you see the words “Ken Griffey”, “Jr.”, and “Rookie Card” in a card description, you can be sure it’s going to sit at the top of the value heap for whichever set it’s in. The 1989 Donruss Junior rookie is certainly no exception.
The only question surrounding Griffey when he retired was whether he would be the first-ever unanimous Hall of Famer. The fact that he didn’t quite clear that bar (even though Mariano Rivera did in 2019) doesn’t diminish Griffey’s hobby cachet one whit.
This card may not be Upper Deck #1, but it’s still an iconic hunk of Junk Wax cardboard.
Check prices on eBay (affiliate link)
1989 Donruss Curt Schilling Rookie Card (#635)
Love him or hate him, it’s hard to deny the stats that Curt Schilling put up during his Major League career — 20 years, 216-146 record, 3.46 ERA, plus an 11-2, 2.23 ERA in the postseason. Oh, and he was a key member of that 2004 Boston Red Sox team that broke the Curse of the Bambino.
If you’re more of a Sabermetrics sort, Schilling checks in with an ERA+ of 127 and 79.6 WAR, which lands him 27th all-time among starting pitchers according to JAWS.
All of that has Schilling looking like an eventual Hall of Famer, having collected 60.9% of the vote in his seventh shot at Cooperstown in 2019.
And all of that makes this 1989 Donruss rookie card a popular piece, despite grumbling about Schilling’s attitude, his post-career shenanigans, and the flood of ’89s that still wash over the hobby.
1989 Donruss Randy Johnson Rated Rookie (#42)
Once upon a time, Randy Johnson was a mystery — a raw talent who scraped the sky when he pitched. A firebrand who could scorch the air with his fastball but had trouble finding the strike zone on a consistent basis.
Things started to gel for The Big Unit, though, when the Montreal Expos sent him along with Gene Harris and Brian Holman to the Seattle Mariners in 1989 in exchange for Mike Campbell and Mark Langston.
Twenty years, 300 wins, 4800 strikeouts, five Cy Young Awards, and one comic All-Star incident with John Kruk later, and Johnson was a legend.
Certainly among the top handful of lefthanders ever, Johnson was a cinch for Hall of Fame election when his name came up in 2015, and his 1989 Donruss rookie card was a cinch to appear near the top of this list.
1989 Donruss Gary Sheffield Rookie Card (#31)
Once upon a time, Gary Sheffield was the most talented young player in the game, with a pedigree as Dwight Gooden‘s nephew that virtually guaranteed success in the Major Leagues.
Then came his season(s) of discontent, when Sheffield was unhappy with the Milwaukee Brewers. And Gooden started to slide, performance-wise, too — suddenly, Sheffield wasn’t so can’t-miss.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the scrapheap …
First, Sheffield was traded to the San Diego Padres, along with Geoff Kellogg, in exchange for Ricky Bones, Matt Mieske, and Jose Valentin, in 1992.
Then, it was off to the expansion Florida Marlins in 1993, part of the deal that brought Trevor Hoffman to the Friars.
In San Diego, and then in Miami, Sheffield found the stroke he was supposed to have, and he became an MVP candidate.
Never one to be warm and fuzzy with teammates or locals, Sheffield sort of bounced around for the next decade+ after he helped the Marlins win a World Series in 1997 — Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets.
Along the way, Sheffield put up Hall of Fame numbers that included 2689 hits, 509 home runs, 1676 RBI, 253 stolen bases, and 60.5 career WAR.
He has found the Cooperstown voting a hard row to hoe, but Sheffield still holds enough hobby sway to make this list.
1989 Donruss John Kruk Rookie Card (#86)
John Kruk wasn’t just Randy Johnson’s comic crutch in interleague play.
Indeed, for most of his 10-year Big League career, Kruk was a constant threat to hit .300, and he crafted his exit to make sure he landed exactly on that number.
Along the way, through stops with the Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago White Sox, Kruk also showed some power finishing with 100 home runs among his 1170 hits. He was also a key member of that 1993 Phils crew that made it all the way to the World Series, only to be dispatched by Joe Carter‘s historic Game 6 homer.
Still a popular analyst, Kruk is also a college baseball coach who maintains a high enough profile to keep his cards on lists like this one.
1989 Donruss Craig Biggio Rookie Card (#561)
It may look a little funny to see Craig Biggio in the tools of excellence here on his 1989 Donruss rookie card, but he started his professional baseball life as a catcher before transitioning to second base and the outfield.
In fact, Biggio garnered Silver Slugger and All-Star honors behind the plate before making a position move in 1992. But anything the Houston Astros lost by swapping in Ed Taubensee for Biggio was made up in spades by adding years to Biggio’s Hall of Fame career.
Teaming with Jeff Bagwell and (I guess) Derek Bell to form Houston’s Killer Bs, Biggio ended up with 3060 hits, 291 home runs, 414 stolen bases, and a Cooperstown plaque.
And, of course, one of the most valuable cards in the 1989 Donruss set.
1989 Donruss Don Mattingly (#74)
It’s true that Don Mattingly’s best baseball days (as a player) were behind him by 1989, but he did manage to play a full season that summer and rebound in his offensive performance a bit from what was considered a down year in 1988.
It’s also true that Mattingly was the face of the hobby in the 1980s, and the boom could not have happened, at least to the extent it did, without his emergence in 1984 — and the fact that you could pull his Topps, Fleer, and Donruss cards from fresh packs even as he battled with Yankees teammate Dave Winfield for the American League batting crown.
Mattingly falls short of Hall of Fame standards by most reckonings, but his baseball cards still feel special even 30 years on. This one is no exception.
1989 Donruss Nolan Ryan (#154)
If Nolan Ryan appears in a baseball card set, that Ryan card has a 99.9999999999% chance* of being one of the most valuable cards in the set. (*possibly a slight exaggeration)
This particular card has the added bonus of being the last regular Donruss issue to show him as a member of the Astros. It’s a great action shot, too.
What’s not to love? And collectors still do.
1989 Donruss Don Mattingly Diamond King (#26)
Everything that goes for the base Mattingly card above goes for his Diamond King, too. This was Mattingly’s second DK (1985 was the other), and it’s another Dick Perez masterpiece.
We couldn’t get enough of Mattingly in the 80s, though, so no one was complaining about an extra Donnie Baseball card, and this one still brings interest on eBay and in other venues.
1989 Donruss John Smoltz (#642)
John Smoltz took an unusual route to Cooperstown, but that doesn’t really matter — he still got there.
One of the original members of the Atlanta Braves‘ vaunted rotation of the 1990s, Smoltz didn’t find the full-blown success of teammates like Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, or Greg Maddux right away, but he finally nabbed his own Cy Young Award in 1996, at age 29.
By 2000, though, the flamethrower had blown out his elbow and required Tommy John surgery, then came back in 2001 — as a reliever.
After three+ seasons as a lock-down closer Smoltz returned to the Braves rotation before finishing out his career with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, one season each.
In the end, Smoltz ended with the unusual but stellar line of 213-155, 3.33 ERA, 154 saves, and 3084 strikeouts … an amazing Hall of Fame resume that bumps his rookie card toward the top of its set, value-wise.
1989 Donruss Edgar Martinez (#645)
After much hand-wringing, hemming and hawing, and staring at his name on the ballot for 10 years, the BBWAA finally elected Edgar Martinez to the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Thirty years earlier, Martinez made his base Donruss debut with this card that shows him in the field. That’s significant because the knock on Edgar has always been that he was a designated hitter almost his entire career, diminishing his .312 average, 2247 hits, and 309 HR in at least some eyes.
Enough folks believe in Martinez’s greatness, though, to keep his base Donruss debut in the upper echelons of the set.
1989 Donruss Baseball Wax Boxes Lot of 4 Boxes Ken Griffey Jr Rookie From Case
1989 Donruss Baseball (36 Pack) Card Wax Box Griffey Jr, Johnson Rookies
1989 Donruss #42 Randy Johnson PSA 9
2 - 1989 DONRUSS Baseball Wax Boxes - 72 Packs - Griffey Jr. Rookie - FASC
1989 DONRUSS WAX BOX > MINT FROM CASE! 36 MINT PACKS! LOADED w/ HOF (RC's)
PreviousCecilio Guante Starts and Stops with a 1990 Leaf Baseball Card
NextVic Correll Finished Like an All-Time Great … and Topps Celebrated
The Hairy Truth About the First Chuck Finley Topps Baseball Cards
30-Day Challenge: The Best Baseball Card from Each Year
The Anticlimactic Brooks Robinson Baseball Card Finale
Andujar Cedeno Made Me Buy a 1991 Donruss Factory Set
Adam Hughes on How Ron Diorio Landed on TWO 1974 Topps Rookie Cards
The Shlabotnik report on How Ron Diorio Landed on TWO 1974 Topps Rookie Cards
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Test Drive: 2019 Kia Sorento SXL AWD
Sep 10, 2018 at 9:15 AM Sep 10, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Entry Price: $25,990
Price as tested: $47,870
This week, we drive our very first 2019 model, specifically the Kia Sorento which arrived in top-class SXL AWD trim with a six-cylinder engine for power. New for 2019 is a front and rear fascia upgrade that really looks good while the rest of the vehicle is pretty much the same as last year. (Which is a good thing).
Specifically, Kia Sorento is still on the recommended list of several consumer magazines and the model has received the J.D. Power “Highest Rank Midsize SUV Initial Quality Award” the last two years running. Add in some Insurance Institute safety awards and excellent reliability reviews, and you’ve got a winning combination on your hands.
Sorento for ’19 comes in six trims of L, LX, LXV6, EXV6, SX and SX Limited. The L and LX entry models are fitted with 185-horse 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines with EPA ratings of 22 city and 29 highway. The LXV6, EXV6, SX and SX Limited receive a fuel injected 290-horse 3.3-liter V6 that delivers 19 city and 24 highway.
The V6 Sorentos rely on an enhanced eight-speed automatic and the AWD versions come with the full-time 4x4 system that features a locking center differential. SXL models also ride on quality 19-inch Michelin Premier LTX tires on beautiful chrome alloys that really stand out. Four-cylinder Sorentos come with six-speed automatics and are now seven-passenger units unlike prior Sorento four-cylinders that were built in five-passenger motifs.
Kia, meanwhile, continues to surprise consumers with vehicles that are clearly some of the better-built cars on the road. The opposite of this statement lies in the fact that a few decades ago, Kia nameplates garnered little respect and were viewed as a cheaply built and unreliable alternatives for daily transportation.
Specifically, Korea-based Kia dates back to 1944 as a manufacturer of chassis parts for bicycles. In 1951, Kia started building its own bicycles and by 1957 was a partner with Honda to build small-engine powered bikes. Then in 1962, Kia ventured into the small truck market and built trucks for Mazda and finally built its own cars in 1974 in a combo sharing plan at a plant utilized by Italian brand Fiat and French builder Peugeot. Due to political situations, car assembly ceased in 1981 and Kia again built only light-duty trucks.
In 1986, Kia signed a contract to build Ford’s Fiesta and Aspire, both very small cars. In 1992, Kia Motors America was formed and the very first official Kia plated vehicle was sold in 1994 from a dealership in Portland, Oregon. Although its cars were not retail successes by any means, sales did improve as Kia still promoted its low cost alternatives versus the more expensive competitors.
Following financial troubles in 1997, Kia’s corporate savior and geographical South Korean neighbor Hyundai came to the rescue by purchasing 51 percent of the struggling company. Through the years, Hyundai and Kia have taken the auto markets by storm both abroad and in the states thanks to quality built cars with excellent reliability and the still heralded 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.
Most notable is the year 2010, when Kia opened a manufacturing plant in the U.S. called Kia Motors Manufacturing in West Point, Georgia. This success followed 15 years of steady growth in U.S. markets and today an American workforce build Hyundai and Kia vehicles daily.
Back to the 2019 Sorento.
Our top line AWD SXL tester carries a base price of $46,490 and features just about every bell and whistle as standard fare. However, we stress to readers that the entry level seven-passenger Sorento L starts at $25,990 retail and comes well-equipped sans the top level high tech safety equipment.
Underneath, a four-wheel independent suspension results in comfortable ride and surprisingly good handling. There is very little lean in tight turns and the four wheel ABS discs stop Kia quickly. With knowledge of Five Star government safety crash ratings, Sorento in any flavor makes all your travels feel a bit more secure.
Our 3.3-liter V6 powered SXL delivers acceptable but not great EPA numbers at the aforementioned 19/24, although the 4x4 tow capacity is outstanding at 5,000 lbs. Our SXL featured only a few minor options that totaled $390 ala a top roof rail, cargo net and cargo tray. This pushed the final tally to $47,870 retail with $990 delivery included.
The best part of the top line Sorento SXL is that all the high tech safety items are standard. Included are smart cruise, lane departure warning, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind spot collision warning, lane keep assist correction, rear cross traffic, and more. (Your dealer will fully explain).
Notable standard luxury features include a high-end Harmon Kardon stereo with SiriusXM, navigation, heated and ventilated seats, push button start, heated steering wheel, rear camera display, premium Nappa leather seating, panoramic sunroof and power liftgate. There are over 30 other standard features awaiting your inspection on these SXL models. As for all Sorentos, Apple and Android Smartphone compatibility and Bluetooth are built into every one.
Important numbers include a wheelbase of 109.4 inches, 4,343 lb. curb weight, 7.3-inch ground clearance, from 11.3 with seats up to 73.0 cu. ft. of cargo space, 18.8 gallon fuel tank and a 37.3 ft. turning circle.
In ending, Kia Sorento features a good-looking, seven-passenger design that makes for a great midsize choice. Be it brand new, leftover or a certified used model from the new generation that began in 2016, don’t hesitate to request a test drive. Remember to check with your Kia dealer for new and leftover incentives.
Likes: Excellent design, reliability, build, 100,000 mile warranty.
Dislikes: V6 fuel mileage suspect, prices can get high pretty quick.
— Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and GateHouse Media.
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ART+FILMS
MOON CLUB
“Pure magic! She has a unique ability to see and feel what you need during a session”
In my 1-1 work with Alexandra, we worked through some major blockers I felt stood between me and the life I’m called to live. I had some long term goals going into our work together, think a 12-18 month timeframe, but she said in one of our first sessions that I can do those things in 3-6 months. I didn’t believe that was possible, but by the time we were done working together after three months, I had already made great strides to reaching those goals in the timeframe she had proclaimed. Pure magic! She has a unique ability to see and feel what you need during a session, often it would end up being something I didn’t even realize I needed. She challenged me to go deep, to really feel, in order to move through my issues, blockages and limiting beliefs, and never settled for anything less than the deepest work and the biggest expressions. I came away from our work together with a new enthusiasm for my life, practices to help me unblock myself, and tools that I can use to create the career I want.
— Karen Kiely
“I am beyond grateful to have experienced her magic and medicine and to have been held by such grace.”
Alexandra supported and guided me through deep, healing and transformative soul work. Together we created an incredibly safe and sacred container which allowed me to drop into the depths of my truth and radically welcome all that I am. It wasn’t easy work. But it was with her palpable and fierce love where I was able to get extremely vulnerable, unpack suppressed emotions and trauma, let go of what wasn’t mine/what no longer serves me, create healthier boundaries in my life and call forth and embody the love and power that I am and that I deserve.
Choosing to work with Alexandra empowered me. She reflected my greatness, called me out of my blind spots and edged me on to stretch further into my greatest potential. I could feel her truly feeling me - feeling my essence, listening to my expression and hearing my truth within the words that I was speaking. She saw ME at the root of my being, which allowed me to remember who I truly am.
Alexandra is a beautiful and powerful force, who channels divinity and ancient wisdom. I am beyond grateful to have experienced her magic and medicine and to have been held by such grace.
— Lori-Anne Lacambra - Intuitive Mentor & Somatic Soul Coach
“Alexandra was an integral part of this process for me and I am so incredibly grateful for her gifts in healing and light work.”
Working with Alexandra was an incredible experience that provided deep healing and helped me to continue on my own with practices I learned from Alexandra. I started working with Alexandra at a very pivotal crossroads. I was integrating from a transformative plant medicine ceremony, attempting to devote more time to my work in tarot while still maintaining my corporate fashion clients. Through energy work, breath work and visualizing and meditation exercises Alexandra helped me release lack/money blocks, allowing me to ask and receive more income from my fashion clients. She also worked with me on the art of allowing and flow. In this time I completed my own hand illustrated tarot deck (Alexandra is King of Cups!) and have had incredible sales and distribution success with the deck that just started as a personal healing project. Alexandra was an integral part of this process for me and I am so incredibly grateful for her gifts in healing and light work.
Thanks again so much
— Bex - creator of the Badass Bitches Tarot Deck and podcast
“She is in incredible mentor and priestess, but also one of the most powerful humans I have had the pleasure to meet!”
Working with Alexandra was one of the best investments I have ever made in myself! I follow her on Instagram and was always so inspired by her raw and unapologetic wild feminine. As soon as she announced she was accepting new clients, I leapt at the opportunity to work with her.
Alexandra helped me discover and cultivate the Divine Feminine that I was missing in my life, and in my business. I had spent so many years doing deep shadow work and self-healing that I had no idea what to do once that had been cleared, and had essentially shut down my juicy, emotional, feminine side to be perceived as “strong” and “tough”. With her as my mirror, I was able to tap into my softness with ferocity, and work through my limiting beliefs around the worth of my voice and offering. She helped me create a daily spiritual practice to step into my power as a sexual priestess, and supported me through healing energetic blockages that had been stuck in my body for years. She is in incredible mentor and priestess, but also one of the most powerful humans I have had the pleasure to meet!
— Lenore Black, Ritual Erotic Mentor & Coach
"I feel the open channel from my head to my roots"
I feel the open channel from my head to my roots through the work you led and supported me through, and I truly feel without a doubt where it all meets at the heart. I feel hopeful about self-love and romantic love, spiritually renewed, and deeply transformed through the work we did together. Thank you for being love. You are pure love and light!
— Taleen Kali, Creator of Dum Dum Zine & Kali Punk Yoga
"My time working with Alexandra has brought shifts in myself and my life that are unlike no other."
My time working with Alexandra has brought shifts in myself and my life that are unlike no other. I’ve deepened my ability to connect with self (pain, shadow sides) in turn connecting more authentically with others. She provides the space for my listening of self to expand; to dance with the full me. I get to be me! The me that loves, hurts, rages & surrenders. The me that wants to connect with others in the deepest way possible. I could go on and on about working with her and it’s impact on my life, however... what’s stopping you? You are worth it.
— Jen Robinson, Mentorship client, Shibari and Sexual Healing Retreat Attendee, Holy F*ck Workshop attendee, Moon Magic retreat attendee
"Her honesty, knowledge and ability to hear you (genuinely hear you) and dig deep into the heart of what is really going on is unlike anything I have witnessed before, all while doing it from a deep place of love and understanding. "
I started working with Alexandra through her Holy F*ck Salon and knew she was my kind of teacher/woman! Her honesty, knowledge and ability to hear you (genuinely hear you) and dig deep into the heart of what is really going on is unlike anything I have witnessed before, all while doing it from a deep place of love and understanding.
Alexandra was able to create a safe space for me during our sessions to help guide me back towards the deepest truths of myself that I was able to overcome my fears that were holding me back. She helped me to heal and make peace with childhood traumas, step more fully into my femininity and strengthen my belief not only in myself but in my art and my purpose.
Alexandra is one of a kind! She is an inspiration to me on a regular basis. She is a healer/teacher who really cares about her clients and her work. She is the REAL deal and truly practices what she preaches and her teachings go so far beyond just the 1 on 1 sessions! Even in between sessions she would give me spiritual “homework”, recommend books, practices, and invite me to spiritual gatherings that helped me even further on my path to self discovery and healing. I have an overflowing amount of love and adoration for her and would recommend her to anyone!
— Kaerhart
"The shifts are so palpable that I want to continue digging and shifting with her. In fact, if I could keep her in my pocket at all times, I would."
Working with Alexandra over the past 40 days has dramatically begun shifting my inherited belief systems around abundance, self-worth & self love. We are also doing work around softening my ever-present brain bully— the hustler. Originally we were only going to do a 40 day program, but the shifts are so palpable that I want to continue digging and shifting with her. In fact, if I could keep her in my pocket at all times, I would.
— -Lulu Brud, Blogger: Ofthewolves.com, Actress: Pretty Little Liars
"With Alexandra, I went deeper into myself than I had gone before"
My work with Alexandra has been transformational in better understanding my whole self and all that it entails. My radiance, my shadows, my needs, desires and blocks. With this heightened awareness, I have been able to look at myself with new clarity, and understand what practices are most important for me to shine as my best. With Alexandra, I went deeper into myself than I had gone before. She taught me how to tap into that source connection in real, every day real life - at work, in relationships, when life throws you shit and when you are shining. I am a wholly unique individual and through our coaching experience, we uncovered my layers that help me see into each one, to allow me to build a stronger connection and relationship to my core being.
— Robyn Landau
" I cannot recommend Alexandra highly enough. She is a goddess who helps you to embody your goddess too."
Alexandra began working with me to help support being in relationship and to help me feel more connected to my sexual center. Little did I know, this would be a journey into claiming my power and womanhood. With extended coaching with Alexandra, I have worked on communicating my needs, standing up for myself, releasing shame, and anger, unconditionally accepting myself, breaking down perfectionism and embracing my wildness. This work has enabled me to feel stronger, more alive, and, importantly, to keep showing up for myself. That’s one of the great things about this ongoing coaching, I am held accountable to grow, and I am growing. A session with Alexandra is a joy. She creates a safe space where I know I can say and express anything, where I will always be heard with sensitivity and understanding. I feel surrounded by the love of the divine in a session, for Alexandra channels this love on your behalf, giving you messages from guides, and from her deep knowing and experience. Alexandra helps to inspire me when I feel down in the dumps, she coaxes the less secure me into getting out of the way so that I can shine. She knows when to be firm and call you on your resistance, but is also sensitive and gentle to insecurity and the challenges to growth. She is patient, always kind, loving, understanding, and fills my heart with laughter. Her ability to inspire and give you actionable steps to move forward is impeccable. I cannot recommend Alexandra highly enough. She is a goddess who helps you to embody your goddess too.
— Elyssa Jakim, www.elyssajakim.com
" I would recommend anyone looking for ceremony filled with love and respect and ease to contact Alexandra. She is a gem."
Alexandra was instrumental in working with us to design our wedding ceremony, the rituals and vestments that would signify our special bond and commitment to a life together. She brought a fun, relaxed, and generous air to the process, and executed her duties wonderfully and unerringly during the ceremony, and throughout all official business. She helped us stick with our goals, reminding us of them as we wandered off into the bushes of ideas we had. We still have the salt we used to make a ring around us for our vows—Alexandra blessed it with an oil that she thought of on her own, and it has worked wonders so far! I would recommend anyone looking for ceremony filled with love and respect and ease to contact Alexandra. She is a gem.
— Arturo Vidich and Julia Sun
" I have and will continue to recommend absolutely anyone and everyone to either join a course or do 1 on 1 work with Alexandra if they really want to see magickal results and enhance their lives greatly."
Alexandra is truly one of the most rare and magical people that brings out the best in everyone she encounters. Her mission to help and empower women and bring light, love and joy to people’s lives truly goes above and beyond. I took the MoneyTalks course with her, did The 8 Day New Moon Detox, received lifechanging/empowering 1 on 1 advice from her, and attended the most recent Full Moon Solstice Ritual, and Numinous Re-write Your Love Story retreat thus far. To say that each of these experiences have been beyond transcendently delightful is doing a disservice to the mystical excellence, magic, empowerment, spirituality, and transformational beauty provided within them -that only you can experience for yourself. Alexandra is extremely knowledgeable and possesses divine expertise in a wide array of topics including (but in no way limited to) spirituality, sexuality, dating, rituals, meditations, manifestation, film, writing, career goals, life goals, and beyond. Her encouragement is phenomenal and she is so helpful, always offering to answer any questions or to give expert advice on any issues. She genuinely cares about making sure that you’re taking the steps to attaining your goals and her coaching and encouragement aim to take you as deep as possible to really help heal old wounds so that you can start to build a beautiful relationship with yourself, and truly love and accept and cherish yourself for who you really are. She’s truly a beautiful person inside and out, and I have and will continue to recommend absolutely anyone and everyone to either join a course or do 1 on 1 work with Alexandra if they really want to see magickal results and enhance their lives greatly. ❤
— Angela, intuitive web design, www.prismaticdesign.net
"She has become a thought leader in this big world and I am so admiring of her."
Roxo is such a goddess and I am so grateful to her posts that are bursting with so much truth and authentic humanity as they have become a touchstone to remind me to be strong and empowered and to feel my feelings and that life is messy and beautiful at the same time and this is more than okay.
She has become a thought leader in this big world and I am so admiring of her.
— Danielle Lurie
"Alexandra changed my life by changing the way I think and for that, I will always be thankful."
I consider myself lucky to know and work with Alexandra. She creates space, free of judgment and full of tears and laughter, which allows me to find courage in my vulnerability. From esoteric teachings to making a plan to reignite my creative passions, her wisdom and intuition know no bounds. I am convinced she is an angel because she carries a light that cannot be dimmed and helps others shine. Alexandra changed my life by changing the way I think and for that, I will always be thankful.
— Hannah Smith
"Working with Alexandra has been pure bliss."
Working with Alexandra has been pure bliss, and at times a support in true transformational burning in the midst of human experience. It has been ritual, it has been love, and it has been real. It has been calling on goddesses, honing in on truth, going into the heart. It has been working through money issues and what it means to cleanse the body and what it is to work with an archetype; but what she knows is that there are layers. Deep in the heart of my own transformative experiences, I felt that I had space and perspective in how to face parts of me that needed facing, how to move through shifts, and ultimately how to keep the candle lit of who I already am. Working with her means sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, sometimes sitting in peace, an understanding presence who knows how to express herself and also helps remind me of my own self and self-expression. She reminds me to continue calling into the depths of my heart and to also see the inspiration, which she never hesitates to share.
— Emma Heldman
"Working with Alexandra is like looking into the most loving of mirrors, her gentle truthful reflection of you and what's happening is a healing in and of itself."
Working with Alexandra is like looking into the most loving of mirrors, her gentle truthful reflection of you and what’s happening is a healing in and of itself. Her insight, humour, guidance and collaborative approach make for a heart opening and expressive encounter. I highly recommend working with her.
— Gail Schock / G Love; Quantum Meditation & Spiritual Teacher, Mentor & Coach
"I was looking for a way to go deeper with my spiritual journey and Alexandra met me right where I was and has taken me so much further than I knew I could go."
Working with Alexandra the past few months has been an absolute blessing! I was looking for a way to go deeper with my spiritual journey and Alexandra met me right where I was and has taken me so much further than I knew I could go. She is incredibly intuitive and will help you navigate complicated issues with grace and no judgments what-so-ever. I can enter a coaching session completely stressed out and lost in my mind and come out feeling rooted, powerful, and focused. If you’re on the fence about working with her jump over already!
— Emma G.
"Feeling like I'm tapping into the real me."
AHHH!! I love you! Thanks for changing my life!!
I’m so happy! Thing are moving and shaking so much for me! Signing up to a photography and sewing class this week. Feeling like I’m tapping into the real me. That sacral chakra is being nurtured and loved and I’m so thrilled :)
You’re the best!!!! Xoxo
— Tess A.
"Her work goes deep, and immense healing and transformation occurs in our sessions. She has helped me crack open, suck the poison out, and emerge victorious."
Alexandra is a Goddess, straight-up. Not only does she inspire you to be the best, beautiful, luminous version of yourself through her loving kindness, she also has the fire of Kali who will snap you right out of your nonsense and call you the f**k out when necessary. I’ve been working with Alexandra for a year now, and I’ve changed so much in my life that would not have been accomplished without her intuitive guidance and spiritual a**-kicking! Her work goes deep, and immense healing and transformation occurs in our sessions. She has helped me crack open, suck the poison out, and emerge victorious. If you’re ready to make some changes, heal from trauma, or create something new in your life, I cannot recommend Alexandra enough.
— Niki M.
I just wanted to share this with you and thank you. I absolutely wouldn’t be in this place if not for your presence in my life... Watching you live and shine as your full self reminds me that I have permission to do the same. And I love that you push me further towards my own edges because I know that’s how I’m going to grow.
— A.L.
There’s so much I could say, but I’m going to leave it at this...I’m beyond grateful for you, your stories, courage, fire, grace, truth, and curiosity. Thank you for your inspiring words. You’ve helped me learn how to live as a single person, after marriage, instead of just surviving.
— Lexie C.
Hi, I just wanted to say thank you. I thought the last two years I was lost. Little did I know I was starting a journey that would teach me that I needed to love myself first. We all have a story, some lines might be the same but everybody’s chapters are completely different. Thank you for sharing. It made me stay up all night and cry. We always forget to give yourself a pat on the back. I always forget that its ok to cry and its ok to love. You can call it whatever you want as long as you are happy. Every step is worth the journey. Thank you again!
— Jasmine S.
Wow, your journey was an incredible experience. I’ve never felt so deeply into my body and heart and was able to gain needed clarity. To be honest, I came in with a skeptical mind as I do come from an analytical and science background so my heart just burst open. Thank you! <3
— Mariya L.
The journey felt so good! Similar to orgasm feelings! Maybe it was the drum?!
— Wendy H.
I started my day with the ritual (so inspiring!) and ended my day with a body shaking orgasm from my partner. Moon Club gives me so much confidence to give and receive love!! Thank you !!!!
— Hannah R.
I came to Alexandra in a time of deep shadow work - she was a beacon of light in an incredibly dark place. Totally blocked creatively, I was an overflowing well of words without a way to share them in any organized way. I was bereft in my self-imposed mental story, caught between chapters, stuck in the in-between. Unable to shine. Unable to feel. She brought me from my rigid mind state back into my body and spirit, and helped me step-by-step to reconnect with my creative flow by breaking down the story that I was hung up on. Highly recommended as an holistic coach. Her work spans all barriers, feeling into whatever it takes to clear you. Plus her guided meditation space is just SO SO SO the best.
Alexandra- thank you so much for this weekend. I cannot begin to explain how transformative it was for me. Talking about love is one the most challenging things for me, especially among those that are new to me, and this retreat provided so much healing and growth. Your incredible strength and ability to look deeply and succinctly into emotions is an amazing gift and I’m happy I got to experience it.
— M.G.
Hi Alexandra, I needed your words on the shadow self more than I even knew. Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much, for being the only thing that clarified the past month for me. My eyes are welling up and my arms are shivering as I write this - really, thank you, and don’t ever stop because you are DOING IT and it’s beautiful. xo
— L.M.
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Public Utilities Commission curtails solar credits, criminal charges dropped against Mauna Kea protesters, Micronesian immigrants seek better life, Health Department pushes medical marijuana laws, new Navy chief says U.S. could patrol South China sea, Maui panel drops cane-burning plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Solar panels in Honolulu
A controversial program that has been one of the main drivers behind the record-breaking growth of rooftop solar in Hawaii is getting curtailed, according to a ruling this week by state regulators. Pacific Business News.
The state Public Utilities Commission cut the credit amount that new rooftop solar owners on Oahu will receive for the excess energy their photovoltaic systems send to the grid. Star-Advertiser.
Advocates of Net Energy Metering call it the most successful method so far to get people off fossil fuels. Now the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has ended the program for new solar customers. Hawaii News Now.
There’s a major shake-up in how homeowners are paying for solar systems. Some homeowners will now have to pay more for keeping their systems on the grid, thanks to a new pricing structure approved by the Public Utilities Commission. KHON2.
New Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said that if international law allows freedom of navigation near China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea, then it should come as no surprise that the United States would exercise that right. The U.S. government is said to be preparing to send a surface ship within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands China has created in the contested Spratly Islands as a freedom-of-navigation demonstration. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii’s first system of medical marijuana dispensaries are slated to open next summer, but certain rules adopted this past July are already in effect for current patients and caregivers. Pacific Business News.
Medical marijuana plants are to be tagged with the patient’s state registration number and expiration date, under rules adopted by the state in July. West Hawaii Today.
Outnumbered by Democrats 24-1, Sen. Sam Slom can’t even make a motion on the state Senate floor without a Democrat’s help; otherwise it will die for lack of a second. Civil Beat.
An Untold Story of American Immigration. First we nuked their islands and then we took control of the whole region. In exchange, Micronesians can move to the U.S. without restriction. And they are coming — by the tens of thousands — for health care, education and jobs. Civil Beat.
It’s hard to miss the growing numbers of Micronesians pitching tents and temporary shelters in Honolulu’s burgeoning homeless camps. Why are so many moving to Hawaii and ending up in what seems like worse conditions than they left behind in their islands? Civil Beat.
Despite pending litigation and concerns about disrupting international agreements, the U.S. government has decided Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet can reel in an extra 1,000 tons of bigeye tuna by making payments one of the Pacific island territories. Civil Beat.
The Honolulu Police Commission is trying to figure if it has the legal authority to put Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha on paid leave while he's under federal investigation. Hawaii News Now.
City crews completing a block-by-block sweep in Kakaako cleared the remaining two dozen homeless people from Ohe Street on Tuesday morning. Star-Advertiser.
The University of Hawaii Cancer Center has received $5.5 million from the National Cancer Institute for its collaborative research with the University of Guam. Pacific Business News.
Criminal charges under the now-defunct Mauna Kea emergency rules will be dismissed, Hawaii County’s top prosecutor said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.
The Hawaii County prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to drop charges against seven individuals arrested Sept. 8 for violating the state’s emergency rule that prohibited camping near the summit of Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.
Some low-lying major roadways and beloved landmarks on Hawaii Island are destined to sink beneath the waves, according to a new study on sea-level rise. Tribune-Herald.
The state director of the Humane Society of the U.S. says the county should be denied a state permit to acquire two Bengal tiger cubs for the Panaewa Zoo and Gardens, while the zoo’s director says the organization is basing its opposition on misinformation. Tribune-Herald.
The Maui Planning Commission denied a petition Tuesday that would have the panel consider sugar cane smoke when evaluating special management area use permits for projects near shorelines. Maui News.
The burning of large sugar cane fields on Maui has been linked to acute respiratory distress in a new study by health professionals. The study was the first of its kind to separate symptoms caused by cane burning from vog, said Dr. Lorrin Pang of the Maui Department of Health, a co-author. Civil Beat.
Shan Tsutsui restless as Lt. Gov, but will there be a Maui Mayor job for him in 2018? MauiTime.
Windward Community College is preparing more graduates to enter Hawaiʻi’s veterinary work force by expanding its Vet Assisting Certificate program to Maui. Maui Now.
Rising sea levels in the next 200 years could swallow up the homes of nearly 10,000 current Kihei residents, according to a study published online Monday that analyzes how cutting carbon emissions could protect millions of homes in the U.S. Maui News.
Reducing carbon emissions might be the only way Maui residents and visitors can help reduce the devastating effects from unprecedented levels of coral bleaching the island has seen in the last two years. Maui News.
Another “Aloha Aina Unity March” is being planned Sunday in Lahaina, Maui, organizers announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.
Lepeuli Beach, popularly known as Larsen’s, has for years been the center of a dispute over a controversial fence that went up in 2011, blocking off the easiest access to the narrow strip of sand on the North Shore. Beachgoers eventually tore the fence down. Garden Island.
Young birds and young people came together at Lydgate Park Tuesday for the ceremonial release of fledgling Native Newell’s Shearwater birds. Garden Island.
Labels: China, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, Mauna Kea, medical marijuana, Micronesians, Public Utilities Commission, solar panels, solar power, Thirty Meter Telescope, U.S. Navy
Dengue fever spreads on Big Island, Ethics Commiss...
Hawaii pays $500k in pensions to dead people, vaca...
Schism widens over Native Hawaiian election, stude...
Hawaii Rep. Takai diagnosed with pancreatic tumor,...
We interrupt our daily aggregate news blog post to...
Tax Foundation sues over state's share of rail tax...
Groups seek aquarium harvesting ban because of cor...
Mauna Kea telescopes to open facilities to public,...
Hurricane Olaf nears Hawaii, Gabbard, Takai fatten...
Gov. Ige reports on Japan-China trip, Honolulu rai...
Cesspools threaten Hawaii coastline, Honolulu coun...
Public Utilities Commission curtails solar credits...
Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard disinvited from today's ...
Transparency a problem for Hawaii Gov. Ige, lieute...
Breaking: Judge invalidates Mauna Kea Thirty Meter...
Hawaii to make crop pesticide information public, ...
More Ige agencies oppose NextEra buyout of Hawaiia...
Counties must define dancing, Hawaii-based militar...
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Gov. Ige goes paperless, auditor targets growing I...
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Medical advice is consistently clear – don’t proceed with euthanasia
Dan Flynn | July 12, 2017
The Victorian Government should drop its plans to introduce state-sanctioned assisted suicide following fresh concerns raised by St Vincent’s that it could not take part in the killing of patients.
“Victorians should not be surprised by the resolution of palliative care provider St Vincent’s Health Australia not to kill patients if the Victorian government presses ahead with legalising state-sanctioned suicide,” ACL Victorian director Dan Flynn said.
“Like the Australian Medical Association, St Vincent’s would find the notion of deliberately ending someone’s life completely at odds with the desire of the medical profession to provide care to their patients.
“As St Vincent's chief executive Toby Hall has said, hospitals are essentially about supporting people to stay alive and if they were to turn to euthanising their patients it would severely damage the trust-relationship between doctor and patient.
“Like the AMA and St Vincent’s, the ACL believes it would be more beneficial to save lives by increasing investment in palliative care.
“The elderly, especially those experiencing elder abuse at the hands of family members or medical staff, and those with disabilities or from a non-English speaking background would be particularly vulnerable if state-sanctioned assisted suicide was legalised,” Mr Flynn said.
“The ACL calls on the Victorian Government to heed medical advice by scrapping its euthanasia plans before it takes the lives of vulnerable Victorians.”
euthanasia media
Is Suicide A Good Death?
The Australian Christian Lobby said Victorians would be horrified to learn that lethal poisons can legally be distributed today to households...
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Beach safety a top priority in seaside towns
Community holds vigil for 5-year-old allegedly murdered by mother
"Unsafe" hiring practices at JTA
City of Jacksonville releases new water quality study to reduce algae blooms
By: Alicia Tarancon , Action News Jax
Updated: Jun 27, 2019 - 12:53 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The city of Jacksonville is working on a new study to help improve the quality of water around the city and reduce algae blooms.
City leaders say Jacksonville is one of the first cities in Florida to use Microbe-Lift, a formula with bacteria used to reduce the amount of nitrogen in stormwater.
The city’s environmental quality division tells Action News Jax the nutrients in stormwater ponds is a food source for nitrogen.
Jack Del Rio said he had no idea the Jags were going to draft Gabbert
Florida man accused in flamingo's death at Busch Gardens fatally struck by pickup truck
Kid Care Report: Local preschool cited for 5 violations, Southside day care has clean inspection
“If we can reduce total nitrogen, we’re hoping to make an impact on the river and see less algae growth in there, which we tend to see during in the summer times,” said Melissa Long, the Chief of Environmental City Quality Division.
Action News Jax told you last month that toxins from algae blooms can cause skin and breathing problems.
The city says it's adding the Microbe-Lift to nine stormwater ponds that will act like good bacteria and eat up all the nutrients in the ponds.
The city is using the biological in a two-year study where nine additional stormwater ponds untreated.
The city says if they see the reduced nitrogen they’re hoping to see in two years then they’ll use the Microbe-Lift product throughout Jacksonville.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
“Normal stormwater treatment, you get about a 20% reduction in total nitrogen. We’re hoping to see about a 60% reduction with the addition of the Microbe-Lift,” said Long.
The city says homeowners can also do their part by cutting down on the amount of water they use on their yards and planting trees and plants that absorb fertilizer nutrients that could otherwise get into our waterways.
The city is partnering with the FDOT, the St. Johns Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to help fund the $300,000 project.
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List of Cobra characters
Gallows (band)
A gallows (or scaffold) is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or as a means of torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered.
Forms of hanging
Gallows can take several forms:
The simplest form (as often used in the game "Hangman") resembles an inverted "L" (or a Greek/Cyrillic "Г"), with a single upright and a horizontal beam to which the rope noose would be attached.
The horizontal crossbeam is supported at both ends.
There were even temporary gallows, which were portable, but weaker.
The infamous Tyburn gallows was triangular in plan, with three uprights and three crossbeams, allowing up to 24 men and women to be executed simultaneously when all three sides were used.
Occasionally, improvised gallows were used, usually by hanging the condemned from a tree or street light. Hangings from such improvised gallows are usually lynchings rather than judicial executions. In Afghanistan, Taliban used football goals as gallows.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Gallows
The Cobra Organization is the fictional nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team in the Hasbro toylines and related media. This is an alphabetical listing of Cobra Command members with unique identities.
Bayonet is a Cobra Snow Serpent serving as part of the organization's elite Plague Troopers. He wears a portable life support system due to having survived injuries to his chest by the G.I. Joe team.
Big Boa
Big Boa is Cobra's trainer, and was first released as an action figure in 1987. He was meant to be as an enemy to Rocky Balboa, from the Rocky films, even coming with boxing gloves, but the Rocky character was never released as an action figure. Big Boa is a brutal, unfeeling taskmaster who whips the unruly Cobra Troopers into shape, as these soldiers are not motivated by patriotism, unit loyalty, honor, or sense of duty. Cobra Troopers say he has a voice like a bullhorn, fists the size of frozen turkeys, and the disposition of a bear with a headache.
Big Boa appears in Devil's Due G.I. Joe series. He fights Bazooka, one of four Joes who had just discovered Cobra's influence in the small town of Delhi Hills. Bazooka defeats him in hand-to-hand combat, but Big Boa, like most signs of Cobra influence, is spirited away before the authorities arrive. He also makes an appearance in issue #24. Later, Big Boa is killed along with several Cobra troopers and South American operative Asa Negra in an attack by the Red Shadows. Their bodies are discovered by Joe members Hardball, Rampart, and Glenda. Moments later, the Red Shadows kill the Joes as well. These 'Shadows' are a militia group that seeks to destroy Cobra and G.I. Joe, by slaying key members on each side.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/List_of_Cobra_characters
Gallows are an English hardcore punk band from Watford, Hertfordshire. The band was formed in 2005 after the disbandment of founding member Laurent Barnard's previous band, My Dad Joe. Gallows' debut album, Orchestra of Wolves, was distributed in the United States by Epitaph Records, and they were subsequently signed to Warner Bros. Records for a £1 million album contract with up to three options, a deal they were dropped from after one album, Grey Britain. The band has been particularly successful in their native country, with three songs charting on the UK Single Charts, and have been featured in magazines such as Kerrang!, Alternative Press and Rolling Stone.
Formation and Orchestra of Wolves (2005–08)
Gallows formed in 2005 and released their debut album Orchestra of Wolves in 2006 on In at the Deep End Records. The album received acclaim and caught the attention of Bad Religion's Brett Gurewitz, who released it in the US on Epitaph Records, with new tracks including a cover of Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown". In an interview Gurewitz named Orchestra of Wolves as one of his favourite albums of 2007, praising it as being the best hardcore album since Refused's The Shape of Punk to Come.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Gallows_(band)
'Gallows' is featured as a movie character in the following productions:
Stasis (2012)
Actors: Danielle Anderson (actor), Jacqueline Chiu (actor), Robert Leaf (actor), Ludi Lin (actor), Kevin MacLeod (composer), Brian Cheung (director), Carlos McCallister (director), Carlos McCallister (editor),
Plot: In the near future, APMR (Assisted Postmortem Reconciliation) technology is developed allowing people at the brink of death to relive their single greatest regret in hopes to resolve it. Jake, the founder of APMR, is fired from his research project when he cannot repurpose it to work for live subjects. He dedicates days and nights working to resolve a crucial flaw of the system. Miraculously, he soon discovers the solution, but all of a sudden comes to the realization that he has been cycling within a reconciliation program himself. This revelation results in him being thrown into Stasis, a state developed to prevent minds from entering permadeath. In Stasis, he meets a newly introduced artificial intelligence entity called Charon, created by his colleague Dr. Gallows. Jake learns that Dr. Gallows has manipulated him by forcing him to relive an endless loop of his regret from being unable to complete the project, in order to use him to find the solution. Upon realizing this betrayal and the moral implications of the APMR technology first hand, he is determined to destroy it.
Genres: Sci-Fi, Short,
Taglines: Every second alive is a second chance.
Vampire (2011)
Actors: R. Nelson Brown (actor), Kyle Cameron (actor), Samuel Patrick Chu (actor), Dustin Eriksen (actor), Herod Gilani (actor), Teach Grant (actor), Chad Krowchuk (actor), Trevor Morgan (actor), Paul Piaskowski (actor), Ryan Robbins (actor), Gerry Rousseau (actor), Kevin Zegers (actor), Yû Aoi (actress), Jodi Balfour (actress), Ian Brown (actor),
Plot: On the surface, Simon is a dedicated teacher living a normal life. But he has a terrible secret - he is compelled to drink human blood. Using online chat rooms as his hunting grounds, he searches for suicidal young women to satisfy his dark desire.
Keywords: alzheimer's-disease, asphyxiation, balloon, bare-breasts, biology-teacher, blood, blood-donation, breaking-and-entering, computer, corpse
Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller,
Taglines: They're dying to keep him alive
Simon: What's going on? Mina. Do you really want to die? Let me ask you something, Mina. Do you know yourself? You, who decides to kill yourself, but do you really know who you are? Do you know that self? I mean, there are 60 trillion cells inside of you. Do you know that? I mean, how often do you think about that? Mina.::Mina: I don't.::Simon: Yes, you do. You think about them all the time. You just don't think about it in the right way, I mean... If your body is an apartment complex, those 60 trillion cells are your... your tenants. They need ventilation, right? So you breathe. They need nourishment, so you eat. When they seek renewal, they nudge you with a little bit of a... sexual urge. What you do is what they need. You have five senses, Mina: sight, smell, sound, taste... and touch. But what is their purpose? Hmm? To see the world outside. To see everything, to feel everything, to taste everything, to touch everything. But they're completely useless when it comes to seeing what's inside of you. Right? When you're eating something, at what point do you not feel it anymore? [holds throat] About here? I mean, there's a party going on inside of you, but you're not invited. The only time they nudge you again is when it's time to get rid of the garbage. But don't fool yourself. They need you. They need you to see the outside world, like a submarine crew. [puts hands over Mina's eyes] You're their sonar. That is your function. You need to feed them. Everyone forgets they're just a slave to them. You're just a slave. And you start thinking about yourself. And you start thinking about your death and not theirs. And it's not fair, because they're the ones living, not you. You may be dead already.::Mina: Now I really want to kill myself.
Second World: Blood, Fire and Smoke (2010)
Actors: Carl L. Allen (actor), Danté A. Bacon (actor), Len Barksdale (actor), Alex Berry (actor), Altorro Prince Black (actor), Ron Bush (actor), Bailey R. Center (actor), Robert Clark (actor), Thomas Daniels (actor), Brandon Dorsey (actor), Garett Freeman (actor), Joel Futrell (actor), Robin Hocog (actor), Jermaine Jones (actor), Carl Allen (actor),
Plot: Taking place four years after the events of Second World; Blood, Fire and Smoke follows the estranged McCann siblings and a team of spiritually gifted individuals pieced together from the relatives of those claimed in the spiritual war, as they try to stop a new threat to mankind.
Genres: Action, Fantasy,
The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976)
Actors: Tim Conway (actor), Tim Conway (actor), Tim Conway (actor), KISS (actor), Paul Lynde (actor), Paul Lynde (actor), Paul Lynde (actor), Donny Osmond (actor), Margaret Hamilton (actress), Margaret Hamilton (actress), Billie Hayes (actress), Florence Henderson (actress), Florence Henderson (actress), Roz Kelly (actress), Billy Barty (actor),
Plot: Paul Lynde attempts to celebrate Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day before his housekeeper, Margaret, gives him the bad news. It's Halloween: the time of the year when a kid can carve up a pumpkin and Lynde's sports car at the same time. Lynde is no fan of ignorant youngsters, who seem to know more about Alice Cooper than Alice Faye. Margaret drives her employer to her sister's house, so he can escape the little pranksters. Unluckily, the sister turns out to be Witchipoo; and Margaret herself is the Wicked Witch of the West. The two witches believe witches in general have a bad rap. And so they want Lynde to be their spokes-human. In return, they give him three wishes. Lynde uses two of them to become a rhinestone trucker and a romantic sheik. Meanwhile, KISS performs three songs and Florence Henderson sings a disco version of "That Old Black Magic."
Keywords: arm-wrestling, christmas, cult-music-band, disco-music, driving-through-wall, easter, elevator-shoes, gay-subtext, halloween, halloween-special
Taglines: What better place to spend Halloween than in a haunted house with Paul Lynde?
Paul Lynde: Well, here I am again... ABC's answer to Trick-Or-Treat.
Housekeeper: I'll give you a hint. It's full of witches and spooks and strange creatures of the night.::Paul Lynde: Oh, sounds like Hollywood Squares.
Paul Lynde: As you know, there's a real scary holiday coming up. Election Day.
Paul Lynde: [meeting KISS] Well, just what I always wanted: four kisses on the first date.
Housekeeper: This is Ace. This is Gene. This is Peter. And this is Paul.::Paul Lynde: Oh, I love a good religious group. I can take one look at you four and tell you how you got your name and how you got your act. You had a fight, and your mothers told you to... kiss and make up.
Paul Lynde: [to Gene Simmons] Why don't you push the down button on your elevator shoes?
[first lines]::Paul Lynde: [singing] # We wish you a Merry Christmas, / We we wish you a Merry Christmas. #
Paul Lynde: Hi, I'm Paul Lynde. Well, somebody had to be.
Paul Lynde: It's been a year since my last special. Was it something I said?
Paul Lynde: I always give a prize for the funniest costume. Last year I said that the prize goes to the first one that rings my bell. It was my Avon Lady. So I gave her a box of Ding Dongs. You know, though, they got no sense of humor. She smeared my windows with soap on a rope.
Gallows Filmography
Gallows released: 2012
Grey Britain released: 2009
Orchestra of Wolves released: 2007
Victim Culture
Everybody Loves You (When You're Dead)
Last June
Vapid Adolescent Blues
Depravers
Nations / Never Enough
Cult of Mary
Cross of Lorraine
Grey Britain
London Is the Reason
I Dread the Night
Death Voices
The Vulture (Acts I & II)
The Riverbed
The Great Forgiver
Queensberry Rules
Crucifucks
Orchestra of Wolves
Kill the Rhythm
Come Friendly Bombs
In the Belly of a Shark
Rolling With the Punches
Last Fight for the Living Dead
Just Because You Sleep Next to Me Doesn't Mean You're Safe
Will Someone Shoot That Fucking Snake
Stay Cold
I Promise This Won't Hurt
Sick of Feeling Sick
Black Heart Queen
Nervous Breakdown
-無限大∞感染- released: 2009
-無限大∞感染-
ラヴァーズ
茶番deathよ。
渦
跳べないダンボ
MAD VAIN
Sick Of Feeling Sick, Gallows
Queensberry Rules, Gallows
The Riverbed, Gallows
The Riverbank, Gallows
The Great Forgiver, Gallows
Staring At The Rude Boys, Gallows
Victim Culture, Gallows
The Vulture (act I & Ii), Gallows
Gallows, Rapture
Gallows, Alice Nine
Gallows, Cocorosie
Everybody Loves You When You're Dead, Gallows
Black Heart Queen, Gallows
Black Eyes, Gallows
Gallows, Landmine Marathon
Six Years, Gallows
Stay Cold, Gallows
Gallows, Atreyu
Will Someone Shoot That Fucking Snake, Gallows
Crucifucks, Gallows
Death Voices, Gallows
Leeches, Gallows
London Is The Reason, Gallows
Misery, Gallows
Nervous Breakdown, Gallows
Gold Dust, Gallows
Graves, Gallows
I Dread The Night, Gallows
Last June, Gallows
Gallows, Brown Bird
Odessa, Gallows
Vapid Adolescent Blues, Gallows
Outsider Art, Gallows
Cult Of Mary, Gallows
Cross Of Lorraine, Gallows
Austere, Gallows
Depravers, Gallows
In The Belly Of A Shark, Gallows
I Promise This Won't Hurt, Gallows
Come Friendly Bombs, Gallows
Abandon Ship, Gallows
Rolling With The Punches, Gallows
Orchestra Of Wolves, Gallows
Kill The Rhythm, Gallows
Just Because You Sleep Next To Me Doesn't Mean You're Safe, Gallows
I know tonight.
That you ain't sleeping alone.
You’re telling me that you’re lonely.
But you wont answer your phone.
Its because you’re on your fucking knees.
Choking him back, while you’re struggling to breathe.
It’s fucking freezing.
In here.
So I shut my eyes
Cos I’m so sick of fucking being sick.
I know tonight
That you ain't sleeping alone
You’ll always be my queen
Tho I’m tied to an empty throne
And I’m so cold I feel like I could die
Your words are so warm
I’m being buried alive.
In here
So I shut my eyes.
You ain't going anywhere
And I ain't got no place to be
So lay down here baby
And fucking lie to me
My flesh and blood are freezing up in the frost
I wanna tell you everything that I know about love
But I’m done.
So feed me to the fucking dogs
You’re telling me you’re lonely
But you won’t answer your phone
It’s because you’re on your fucking knees
Choking him back while you’re struggling to breathe
I wanna tell you everything that I know about loss.
Latest News for: gallows
Gallows humour and a bed bug sniffer: Tuesday’s best photos
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Backstage Update On Gallows & Anderson's New WWE Contracts
What Culture 09 Jul 2019
News that Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows had officially signed new WWE contracts broke over the weekend, ending a months-long saga that started with the duo turning down a reported multi-million dollar set of deals earlier in the year....
Official: Gallows & Anderson Re-Sign With WWE
There's been much speculation surrounding the future of WWE duo Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows in recent weeks, with the ... Anderson and Gallows have became the latest WWE talent to hash out new deals with the company in the last month....
WWE re-signs another tag team to a long-term, big-money contract
m&c 06 Jul 2019
WWE continues to sign stars to long-term deals with major bumps in pay, even for those that they rarely use. The latest is Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, who both have re-upped with WWE. Wrestler Observer Radio reported this morning that Gallows and Anderson both signed new five-year deals with ... ....
NGO questions Singapore's refusal to issue cert that could save M'sian from the gallows
The Star 05 Jul 2019
PETALING JAYA. Legal advocacy group Lawyers For Liberty has questioned Singapore's refusal to issue a certificate of substantive assistance that would spare Malaysian P. Pannir Selvam from the gallows in the island nation ... ....
WWE Rumors: ‘Raw’ Tag Team Expected To Sign New Five-Year Deals With Company, Per ‘Wrestling Observer’
Inquisitr 05 Jul 2019
If the latest reports are to be believed, it looks like the tag team of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson may be the latest WWE superstars to ink new long-term deals with the company....
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson To Sign New WWE Contracts?
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows may have reportedly turned down a pair of "multi-million dollar" WWE contract extensions earlier this year, but it looks like somebody within the company has convinced the follically-challenged duo to stick around....
General : Methamphetamine: Chinese national spared gallows, jailed 17 years
Malaysian National News Agency 02 Jul 2019
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We’ve all experienced how some of the big household names in charity use hard-hitting subject matters and psychology to grab our attention.
In fact, as of September 2017 there were over 167,000 charities in the UK, each wanting to get their voices heard.
We explore charity copywriting methods including active voice, building connections and powerful call to actions (CTAs) in order to convert readers to donators. And, how excellent copywriting can inform and even save lives, while at the same time nudging readers towards allegiance with the charity and raising money.
How UNICEF leveraged its social influence
In 2013, the Swedish branch of UNICEF used a somewhat controversial message to encourage its large social media following to take action and donate. Its ‘Likes don’t save lives’ campaign highlighted the rise of ‘slacktivism’, saying ‘Like us on Facebook, and we will vaccinate zero children against polio.’
As well as these adverts, four video ads were also distributed through social media. One of the most powerful was a direct address to the camera from a 10-year-old orphan. The clever copywriting in the script used a sarcastic tone to get people thinking, with the boy saying:
“Sometimes I worry that I will get sick, like my mom got sick. But I think everything will be alright. Today, Unicef Sweden has 177,000 likes on Facebook.”
The result of UNICEF’s application of impactful psychological wording was a huge increase in donations. In fact the money raised was enough to vaccinate 637,324 people against polio. Likes alone can’t fund UNICEF’s work, but leveraging those likes with smart copywriting can.
Oxfam asks the underdogs to work together
The tagline of Oxfam’s ‘Even it up’ advert portrays an injustice that the everyday person can relate to, brought in the form of a heavyweight statistic:
‘The world’s 85 richest people own the same wealth as the 3.5 billion poorest people.’
This statistic draws on the readers’ knowledge of the wealth disparity in the UK – much touted in the press – while also putting it into perspective. That’s because the image portrays a child in a third world country wearing whatever clothes he can find, who is far worse off than the average Brit.
Readers are encouraged to visit Oxfam’s website through use of the inclusive wording ‘together, we can end extreme equality’ and ‘join us at www.oxfam.org.uk/even’. Once there, you’re asked to sign a petition that’ll be sent to world leaders, through the use of further astute copywriting.
After explaining Oxfam’s belief ‘that everyone should have a fair say, pay their fair share of tax, have equal access to good healthcare and education, and decent wages.’ The final CTA is a question that again signifies working together and implies that everyone else will be signing the petition: ‘The world is ready to act, are you? It’s time to Even it up!’
RNLI – saving lives and increasing engagement
For the fourth year of the RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ national drowning prevention campaign, the charity has launched cinema and radio ads, as well as cleverly worded and laid-out social ads that engage on a number of levels.
One of the slogans used in RNLI’s social media ads is:
‘Extend your arms, legs and life expectancy’
This succinctly and directly explains what to do if you fall in cold water. The wording shows how a simple action has a profound effect.
Extend your arms, legs and life expectancy. #RespectTheWater pic.twitter.com/ZZaaezjf8l
— RNLI (@RNLI) May 26, 2017
Another tweet uses the acronym F.L.O.A.T. to give full instruction on what to do, in an easy to remember way.
Fight your instinct and F.L.O.A.T to live. #RespectTheWater pic.twitter.com/LuxL33WYsT
— RNLI (@RNLI) June 1, 2017
Using the overarching message ‘Float to live’, the copywriting primarily has the aim of informing and saving lives, rather than actively encouraging donations. However the ads promote understanding of the good work that the RNLI does, encourage social engagement through the hashtag #RespectTheWater and direct people to their website, where they can learn more and potentially donate.
The Respect The Water webpages contain videos, challenges and expert opinion, ending in the CTA ‘hear about our lifesaving work, keep in touch’. And when people hit keep in touch the orange donate button is looming in the top right.
Leaving legacies to The Donkey Sanctuary
In 2013 The Guardian released data on the top 1,000 charities in the UK ranked by donations received; and there were some surprising rankings. In fact, the Donkey Sanctuary received more donations than The Samaritans, which was due in large part to legacies.
So we took a look at the legacy pages on their website to see how they were encouraging people to leave money to the charity in their wills. Leaving a legacy is one of the four main ways of giving to The Donkey Sanctuary provided on their ‘ways to help’ page, in addition to various forms of donation. Incidentally, we also liked the way that the section was called ‘ways to help’, which is a far less pushy title than simply ‘donate’.
Headed with the words ‘Leave a lasting gift’, the main legacy page encourages action in a traditionally effective way – by flattering readers. It says:
So here’s to those who change the world.
The selfless devoted ones, the compassionate ones, those whose conviction protects the abused, the overworked, the unwanted and unloved.
The CTA on this page is a very direct ‘email us’, which works due to the effectiveness of the other pages in the legacy section, such as a ‘How to leave a legacy’ information page and a testimonial from a benefactor. The content on these pages allows the reader to make a firm decision about leaving a legacy while on the website.
As well as showing that others are leaving legacies to the Donkey Sanctuary, and thus encouraging donation through a feeling of inclusion, the wording on this testimonial page highlights that legacies of any amount are gratefully received:
I’ve decided to leave The Donkey Sanctuary a bequest in my Will. My family will come first, but then I’m planning to leave what’s left to charity.
However small my contribution, I am made to feel that ‘every little bit helps’.
It’s clear that charities can use a number of tactics to encourage people to donate, from the forthright to the subtle. Knowing the way your potential supporters feel and how to persuade them to get involved is key in creating effective copywriting for charities.
For more advice on charity copywriting that leads to support, contact us.
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How to Close the Deal on a Job Interview
by Ellie Williams
Always end a job interview on a positive note.
1 What to Ask a Future Supervisor in an Interview
2 What Is a Topgrading Interview?
3 Questions at an Informal Interview
4 Team Leader Interview Tips
When you’re trying to land a new job, a stellar resume and cover letter may get you an interview, but it’s often your people skills that will get you the job. No matter how well the interview went, you need a strong close to advance to the next round of interviews -- or secure a job offer. Closing the deal during a job interview requires demonstrating confidence and assertiveness, while also showing interest in the company and respect for the interviewer’s time.
Leave the Interviewer with a Good Final Impression
First impressions are undeniably important, with people often forming opinions of others in just the first few seconds of meeting them. How you end the interview is just as important. Shake the interviewer’s hand firmly and make eye contact, and even if you felt the interview was a disaster, don’t let it show in your body language. Instead, smile, thank the interviewer for her time and walk out the door as if you just aced the interview.
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Employers usually conclude interviews by asking applicants whether there is anything they’d like to know. This is your opportunity to set yourself apart from the competition. Career strategist Cynthia Shapiro describes it as an “opportunity to look like a leader and show that you are engaged in the interview.” Ask questions that show you’re committed to learning about the company and identifying how you can contribute to its growth. For example, ask, “What are you looking for in an ideal candidate?” and “How does this position fit in with the company’s long-term plans?”
Offer Suggestions
Go beyond elaborating on your skills, qualifications and even career accomplishments by encouraging the employer to envision how you’ll positively impact the company’s future. Prepare a list of suggestions for how you’d fulfill your job duties based on your anticipated responsibilities and on the needs and long-term plans of the company. Offer ideas to help the company face challenges within the industry or company, says career author Harvey Mackay.
Arrange to Follow Up
End the interview by asking whether you can follow up with the interviewer in a week. This shows interviewers you have the assertiveness and initiative to take control of your career, which could translate to drive and initiative on the job. The interviewer is also more likely to keep you in mind while evaluating applicants, because he’s expecting you to call him.
Workopolis: Closing the Deal: How to End a Job Interview
Forbes: Best Questions to Ask in Your Job Interview
USA Today: Longtime Salesman Shows Job Seekers How to Close the Deal
Williams, Ellie. "How to Close the Deal on a Job Interview." Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/close-deal-job-interview-7878.html. Accessed 16 July 2019.
Williams, Ellie. (n.d.). How to Close the Deal on a Job Interview. Work - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/close-deal-job-interview-7878.html
Williams, Ellie. "How to Close the Deal on a Job Interview" accessed July 16, 2019. http://work.chron.com/close-deal-job-interview-7878.html
Important Things to Remember About Interviewing
Traits That Stand Out in an Interview
Purpose of Job Interviews
Explanation About the Importance of Job Interviews
Reply to an Employment Rejection Letter
State Why I Want the Position On a Job Interview
Answer "What Can You Offer That Others Cannot?" in an Interview?
5 Secrets to a Winning Interview
Positive Characteristics for a Job Interview
Things to Do for a Call-Back Job Interview
Common Interview Bloopers & Avoid Them
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Why would a language be undubbable by universal (machine) translator?
A hypothetical speculative fiction setting uses the universal translator/babelfish/translator microbes/whathaveyou as a convenient plot device. However, certain languages are simply untranslatable by this method.
What property would make such languages untranslatable by the universal translator?
EDIT: Perhaps untranslatable is the wrong description. What property would make a language impractical to translate if the intention is to dub in a translation it in real time? It's still possible for anyone to learn. At first I figured the most likely candidate would be something like Ithkuil, but I don't know if the idea is workable.
reality-check language
Frostfyre
AnonymousAnonymous
$\begingroup$ If you have a magical translation device but it doesn't work for some languages that seems more like a plot device than world building to me. Unless you actually define these languages for us we can't answer for you...and if you define them you would probably answer your own question. $\endgroup$ – James♦ Nov 21 '16 at 21:33
$\begingroup$ I'd say "because there's no such thing as a universal translator in the first place", but that's not enough to make an answer. Some of the answers below go into the reasons why without saying so outright. $\endgroup$ – Monty Harder Nov 21 '16 at 22:48
$\begingroup$ Darmok, when the walls fell... $\endgroup$ – Monica Cellio♦ Nov 22 '16 at 3:59
$\begingroup$ You should strike the babelfish from your examples, because the way it works is by circumventing the "language" barrier and infusing thoughts into the "listener"... $\endgroup$ – Alexander Kosubek Nov 22 '16 at 11:45
$\begingroup$ @MonicaCellio Darmok, on the ocean... Shaka, when the walls fell. Nerd card, please. $\endgroup$ – J... Nov 22 '16 at 12:39
Language that requires more than sound
If your translator works via sound, it would struggle with visual communication. Imagine a language where hand motions indicate the past vs. present, verb conjugations, etc.
Smells could also add to the language.
Touch, also (let's say you hold your hand against theirs, and press different fingers to conjugate a verb).
Taste would be a weird one—maybe these aliens have a long tail, and to communicate you put the other guy's tail into your mouth, and it secretes different tastes onto your tongue as he talks).
Language that overloads our brains
We speak on average 145-160 words per minute. Let's say their communication is like our computers with 1Mb/s download speeds. 1Mb is about 500 pages of writing. If a race spoke with that kind of speed, they could add so many details that seem unnecessary to us, yet it doesn't hinder them at all. They speak for a minute, and we have to search through 30000 pages of data looking for the main point of their conversation.
Thoughts that don't make sense
Maybe they can see 40 colors, instead of our 7 color range. Maybe they use these colors to represent feelings or maybe each one relates to an ancient parable of theirs. Time could be measured in how long it takes to grow a certain mushroom. They could enjoy what we hate, and find our pleasures painful. Maybe they speak in poetry. All these put together would make a very confusing speech.
Mirror318Mirror318
$\begingroup$ Humans don't have a seven-colour range. At best, we have four, and that's if the person is a rare freak of nature; the average is lower than three because of colour blindness. The idea works though. $\endgroup$ – Nij Nov 22 '16 at 9:11
$\begingroup$ You don't need to leave earth to find cultures with completely different ideas of what the main colours are and where you draw the lines. $\endgroup$ – Nathan Cooper Nov 22 '16 at 9:28
$\begingroup$ Seven colours? At best four? Are you both mad? Humans can see around 10 million distinct colours! I like the answer for the point that a language may be partly (or entirely) non-sound based though, and that the amount of information might be too great to process. $\endgroup$ – Grimm The Opiner Nov 22 '16 at 11:52
$\begingroup$ The “7 colour range” is confusing two distinct but real phenomena. (A): our colour vision is inherently trichromatic, since we (well, most of us) have 3 types of cone cells, the receptors in the eye that colour vision is based on. This doesn’t mean we can see 3 colours; but it means that our perceptual space of colours is essentially 3-dimensional. (B) “basic colour terms”: the way that classification of colours varies depending on culture and language. [cont’d] $\endgroup$ – Peter LeFanu Lumsdaine Nov 22 '16 at 16:54
$\begingroup$ Roughly, most languages have around 5–10 “basic colour terms” — e.g. in English, we think of blue and green as fundamentally different colours, while we think of azure and indigo as shades of blue. (Not that we can’t distinguish them, but we think of them as variants of the same basic colour.) Different languages have different basic colour terms, some more than others, and there are various patterns in what they can be. This is a well-studied and debated topic in linguistics; Guy Deutscher’s excellent book Through the Language Glass uses this as a central example. $\endgroup$ – Peter LeFanu Lumsdaine Nov 22 '16 at 16:58
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.
Though the universal translator (in Star Trek: TNG) can translate their words, the Tamarians communicate only through allegory, which baffles the Enterprise crew because they do not know the stories to which the Tamarians are referring. Likewise, the Tamarians cannot understand Picard's straightforward use of language.
JDługoszJDługosz
$\begingroup$ This was going to be my answer too. It's basically communication through memes, where nothing that is said makes any sense unless you know what the original context is. $\endgroup$ – AndyD273 Nov 21 '16 at 21:17
$\begingroup$ Actually we use that to some extent in our language as well. For example when you say that something is someone's Waterloo, someone without the relevant knowledge would wonder why an event should be some Belgian municipality. Likewise, an universal translator would not help with understanding what a "Catch 22" is. $\endgroup$ – celtschk Nov 21 '16 at 21:31
$\begingroup$ @celtschk I think the best part about this is that many don't even know the original context anymore, we just accept it and eventually learn to understand its meaning. Many people I've talked to don't even know that catch-22 is a book, nor do they know that pulling out all the stops refers to Pipe organs. $\endgroup$ – Delioth Nov 21 '16 at 22:58
$\begingroup$ A sufficiently advanced universal translator would be able to translate allegories and simple phrases like "catch-22". It would be mostly useless otherwise in an even slightly complicated scenario. One can assume that a universal translator can translate anything that a speaker who knows both languages can translate (and probably more than that) since there is no technical problem with translating such phrases. $\endgroup$ – Sesdun Nov 22 '16 at 10:43
$\begingroup$ @Deolater: after reading this question, I hazard to guess that the UT was using a centuries out of date dictionary. To the Tamarians it's all standard idioms (like "the sun rises" is to us) while other species speak in idiosyncratic medievalisms. Most Tamarians may not even be aware their common phrases are idioms from mythology. Such a language is still translatable using an up-to-date dictionary. $\endgroup$ – Anonymous Nov 23 '16 at 14:22
This response assumes a perfect translator defined as follows:
The perfect translator is a machine doing it's best work possible. It is not limited by technical errors or construction mistakes and it can be assumed to have had opportunity to study all languages in question thoroughly. Further I assume that both ends of the conversation either uses their own perfect translator or both interface appropriate with it - using what sensors are necessary (i.e, a microphone and camera for humans since they communicate with voices and body language/visual signs).
The answer below thus attempts to answer what languages are not translatable even though there is no lack of proper equipment. (i.e creatures communicating through unusual modalities (chemicals, radio-waves etc.) are not a problem as sensors to detect the modality can be assumed to be present).
Languages untranslatable into certain other languages
A singular real language is actually translated at least twice as part of its normal use.
Speaker A's internal concepts > Language symbols > Speaker B's internal concepts.
As such it requires that both speakers have the same concepts and can express and understand them from the language. Some languages are more apt to expressing certain concepts than other languages because it was developed by speakers wanting to communicate certain concepts.
When looking at a translation between two languages the concepts encoded by the origin language must find symbols or sets of symbols in the target language which gets translated to the same symbols in the minds of listeners.
Even normal human languages fail at this, the meaning of some phrases are very hard to translate and more subtle details are often lost or changed even in very good (human made) translations, thus the phrase "lost in translation".
Considering more alien languages where the original speakers are not even the same species, the underlying concepts of the speakers will differ greatly and the language constructs to express said concepts will be tuned to expressing these special concepts.
To translate between such languages might be very hard to do well - with heavy information loss. If the speakers are too different, communication would be impossible.
Given a perfect translator (a machine doing the best possible) it seems reasonable that languages could be grouped into families where translation would be easy within the family and hard between them. One would expect that families would be grouped depending on the nature of the speakers and their natural environment - more similar creatures would communicate better. In a society where such translators were commonplace - language families would drift closer to each other, adopt loan words and such - reinforcing the familiarity.
When speaking to an out-of-language-family creature one would expect very general notions to translate better, while emotional and sensory vocabulary would be more lacking. Probably they could both do common tasks like trade using simplistic language constructs that translates good enough only for that activity.
To learn a out-of-family-language might be impossible, or might require large changes in mindset or even sensory augmentations.
Languages intentionally untranslatable
If the availability of artificial translators were common, it is perfectly reasonable for two speakers to converse using a spoken language none of them understands. The translator translates language A into X (understood by none) and the receiver translates it back to A (or to some other language the receiver understands).
Since this is possible, it would be a simple matter to speak in an encrypted language. Each translator installs the same cryptographic-key and produces an encrypted language which can only be decrypted by translators with the same key.
Certain organisations or even cultures could thus have languages impossible to understand by anyone lacking the correct keys.
SesdunSesdun
$\begingroup$ +1 I imagine language families would adopt loan idioms as well. $\endgroup$ – Nathan Cooper Nov 22 '16 at 9:26
$\begingroup$ I read once about a people who had no concept of relative directions (left/right), only compass directions. They always gave directions in absolute terms, performed all their dances facing north, etc. It would be impossible to translate left and right into their language. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guugu_Yimithirr_language#Grammar $\endgroup$ – Tavian Barnes Nov 22 '16 at 18:07
$\begingroup$ If you found a group of tirbal humans with no idea what a microwave was, you can still communicate "microwave". You just need to show them it and they can make a word. $\endgroup$ – noɥʇʎԀʎzɐɹƆ Nov 23 '16 at 22:34
$\begingroup$ @uoɥʇʎPʎzɐɹC a "microwave oven" is actually a much simpler concept than "left". Most of our advanced concepts are actually closer to explanations in terms of more base ideas than stand alone concepts. It is when the very base of the conceptual tree is lacking or different communication and understanding becomes difficult. Try to explain the different concepts of musical sounds to a deaf person - that is something in a completely different league from "its a box where you put food, press a button and it becomes hot." $\endgroup$ – Sesdun Nov 23 '16 at 23:40
$\begingroup$ @Mattias north + left = west; south + left = east; east + left = north, etc. $\endgroup$ – noɥʇʎԀʎzɐɹƆ Nov 23 '16 at 23:43
It is hard to translate on-the-fly from german to other languages, because in german language predicates are easy to stack at the end of long sentences. Make your language to stack important words at the end of the sentences. Translator must wait until whole sentence is told to translate it. The easier it is to swap the meanings, the harder it is to translate fluently.
Other method is language full of homophones. If the Last Word in the sentence defines which meaning is actually used there is no way but to wait till the end. Out of context, following czech sentence, written phonetically, has plenty of meanings:
[ʒenu hɒliː strɒj]
1: Dative form of "woman" - "ženu" (žena); present continuous verb "I am propelling/driving" - "ženu" (hnát);
2: Nominative form of "naked / bare" - "holý"; Instrumental form of "stick / staff / rod" - "holí" (hůl); present continuous verb "[he/she/it] is shaving" - "holí" (holit);
3: Nominative form of "engine / machine" - "stroj"; imperative verb "dress" - "stroj" (strojit); imerative verb "make three" - "ztroj" (ztrojit).
It is hard to translate on-the-fly if the languages have different "rhythms". Languages do have short phrases that cannot be translated but must be explained etc. If the translator must spend 15 seconds to translate (explain) 1s word and the original sentence is full of such "dictionary bombs", the speaker is several sentences ahead. On the other hand, if the target language has single word for a long story in the original, the translated speech is full of "dictionary voids". If the bombs and voids are spread well, the translation is full of silences and rushed speech.
Creating bablefish-proof language is impossible since it does not make you hear them speaking your language rather you understand what they mean. That's why it caused all the conflicts; there was no "lost in translation" excuse.
Lostinfrance
$\begingroup$ Combine this with the Garden Paths and you'll have quite a problem. $\endgroup$ – Draco18s Nov 27 '16 at 0:48
$\begingroup$ @Draco18s I like that! $\endgroup$ – Crowley Nov 28 '16 at 15:35
Non-spoken languages, like sign language, or odor-based languages (humanoid ants colony, for instance).
jose_castro_arnaudjose_castro_arnaud
$\begingroup$ More generally, “a modality that the translator was not designed for”. $\endgroup$ – JDługosz Nov 21 '16 at 21:35
$\begingroup$ This is excellent information and may be harder to translate than other answers but there isn't a lot of information here. Consider expanding upon these ideas $\endgroup$ – Zxyrra Nov 21 '16 at 21:48
$\begingroup$ This is the best answer. $\endgroup$ – Tony Ennis Nov 23 '16 at 12:21
$\begingroup$ Odor can be converted to sound. $\endgroup$ – noɥʇʎԀʎzɐɹƆ Nov 23 '16 at 22:38
$\begingroup$ @Zxyrra: There probably was a lot of excellent information that didn't survive the universal translator used to make this post. :-) $\endgroup$ – celtschk Nov 24 '16 at 8:05
One possibility is that there is a preferred structure of language, in the sense that normally language evolution is convergent, that is, it follows path that leads to certain common characteristics even though the evolution was independent. Note that language evolution doesn't happen in a vacuum; language evolves due to necessity, just like everything else. Moreover, language structures follow structures in the brain (or brain equivalent of the alien species), and those structures also evolved under certain evolutionary pressures.
Now the universal translator knows these universal patterns, and uses them to decode the language. Since those patterns are shared by almost every intelligent being throughout the universe, the translator is truly universal.
Well, almost. Because the evolution doesn't necessarily go that way, but is only very likely to. That is, one one in a thousand planets, evolution of language took a different path, and the language therefore does not share the same universal pattern. Since the universal translator depends on that pattern to be present, it cannot translate such an "outlier" language.
Another possibility is that the language is not actually an evolved one, but an artificial one that at one point got adopted (think Esperanto). If the invented language, following abstract rules instead of being based on similarity to existing languages, differs too much from the universal structure, that language might also be non-translatable by the universal translator.
Indeed, there's even the possibility that a language was actually designed to not be translatable by the universal translator. Think for example some military use, where you are not interested in the enemy listening (see also: Navajo code).
celtschkceltschk
Even if not completely untranslatable, having a species with a very strange culture or mindset, or a very different sense of reality, would make their language very difficult to understand and only partially translatable, as most words would cover concepts we might completely lack.
A good example for it is the Orz language:
My *fingers* reach through into *heavy space* and you *see* *Orz bubbles*
but it is really *fingers*.
Maybe you do not even *smell*? That is sad.
*Smelling* *pretty colors* is the best *game*.
*Space* is many. *Colors* are many. You are so *sticky*.
You cannot *slide* like Orz from *outside* to *inside* and *in between*.
It is sad, but Orz can *pull* the *campers* after being *connected*.
vszvsz
"What property would make a language impractical to translate if the intention is to dub in a translation it in real time?"
I'd say the most common thing that would make it impractical is speed of communication. Already we see this to some extent in movies where what is said in one language only takes 3 or 4 words and only a couple of seconds to say, but in the translation it takes many more words and much long and so you get dubs where the audio stops but the person's lips keep moving for awhile. Or the opposite effect that the audio is something really long past when the person stopped moving their lips.
And if you're dealing with a very complex language that has words for many very complex ideas that one language really doesn't have any comparable words for, it might take entire paragraphs to translate. For example, consider trying to translate the word "Kafkaesque". Sure, you could give a definition of "similar in tone or theme to the work of Kafka", but without further explanation of what Kafka's work is like, it's not an adequate translation.
Or you could have a species whose speech is just very fast. It's not that their language can communicate more in few words, but that they say their words much faster than normal human speech. 300 words per minute is about as fast as some one can talk and still be mostly understandable to a native speaker, but suppose an alien language was normally spoken at 1200 words per minute.
And if you combine alll of these, you could end up in a situation where an alien talks for one and a half seconds, and then you have to sit there for 10 minutes listening to the translation. And then when you talk back, you might have to talk for 10 minutes just to produce another 1.5 second blurb for the alien to listen to. Or if it doesn't wait to buffer all your speech, it might sound painfully annoying to listen to someone talk that slow. Imagine trying to pay attention to what some one was saying if they're only saying a single word every 20 seconds. That's hardly practical for real time dubbing to have a conversation.
ShufflepantsShufflepants
Some reasons (still) not mentioned:
Unknown concepts. Sami (Northern European natives) have words for snow, African tribes have words for sand desert (I do not debate the amount of words, but the thing is that the native language cannot have a direct translation of the other concept because it simply does not exist). This is normally easy to remedy: You need to explain/circumscribe the concept in a sentence with the known words or the people experience it itself. Being clumsy as tool sooner or later either the people define own words for the phenomenon (white sand, grainy landscape), add adjectives or they incorporate loanwords. Amok (Indonesian), Angst (German), Deja vu (French) are words which have a distinctive meaning which cannot be expressed as single word in the original English language before their adoption.
Ambigous concepts: There are many words in languages like the English "smart" which have extremely different meanings with the same word, sometimes even contrary ones if ironic undertones are replacing the original meaning. It gets even worse if the person deliberately chooses the word to use the ambiguity for exactly this purpose. This means jokes/puns/hidden meanings cannot be translated because normally different languages have not both a word with the same ambiguity definitions.
Strange concepts: There is always a tension between the exact meaning of a word and its social context. "No" seems easy to understand, but is in different cultures completely taboo or polite/expected. So if I mean "No" when saying "no", the universal translator must decide whether he risks an affront by directly translating it or try to guess my intention and disarm with an literally incorrect, but most fitting sentence.
Any language designed to be untranslatable given a deep understanding of the inner workings of the universal translator.
In other words, similar to the spear and shield arms race, a race could take place to have an untranslatable language for multiple reasons: . Secret societies: understanding the secret language is a proof you are part of the group . Intellectual challenge: similar to can biology beat the AI-translator . Anti-colonialism: making aliens unwelcome in a world
While most likely the forces behind the universal translator would thrive to identify always faster those new languages and provide translation. Many parameters would be considered: a new language to be untranslatable would need to have never been identified, be significantly remote from any known one ( which over time becomes increasingly difficult).
One last consideration insiders from the organisation driving the universal translator might be best placed for creating back doors rendering certain languages untranslatable.
Auberon VacherAuberon Vacher
A language where much of the meaning is dependent on other factors, the time of day, the relative status of the speakers, the (relative) sexes of the speakers.
In current languages there are many examples of situation dependent words Consider the Polish "kurwa" which in many ways is even more versatile than the potential English usage of "fuck"*, it's equally possible to use it, and derivatives thereof, as every word in a sentence and it cannot be translated out of context.
You can have examples of words that just don't translate because the second language just doesn't have that concept, German examples being "verschlimmbesserung" and "schadenfreude", the latter of which English just had to take directly. While these words can be explained, you have to stop the flow of conversation to explain a concept rather than give a straight translation.
Consider also the double entendre (said the actress to the bishop), which meaning is actually intended, or whether both are. It's up to the listener to identify the intent of the sentence, or potentially miss all that's being said because the meanings are overlaid onto each other. Once translated the duplicitous meanings are often lost.
*I'll give you a language warning but it should be taken as read just from the text of the link.
SeparatrixSeparatrix
$\begingroup$ This isn't just for an intentional double entendre. In a fansub of The Slayers, they referred to one the characters as Mr Gourry when he was undercover as a female. In the original Japanese he was referred to as Gourri San, with San being the traditional translation of both Mr and Miss. Thus the translators had to choose between whether to translate San as Mr or Miss, either way adding meaning that wasn't in the original. $\endgroup$ – gmatht May 28 '17 at 4:04
What property would make a language impractical to translate if the intention is to dub in a translation it in real time?
A few years ago, there was a study which showed that while human languages vary in information-density per syllable, we typically speak at a rate such that the same amount of overall information is delivered in a minute or so. That is, Mandarin is very information-dense, but spoken slowly, while Spanish is more wordy but typically spoken quickly.
This property makes real-time dubbing possible, although you often get the jarring effect we're familiar with from badly dubbed movies where the speaker's mouth clearly moves as if saying a one word and a long string of sound comes out (or the other way around).
Have your alien language be both dense and spoken quickly, and the real-time translation simply can't keep up. That would probably require more language-processing capabilities in the alien's brains — but hey, aliens, right? It wouldn't need to be a factor of 10 or anything like that — even a 20% increase would make every significant conversation require a lot of "hold on a minute please!".
You could also go the other way around, making the aliens slower (like Ents, I suppose, except without the ability to shift to human time scale). Now the universal translator can't easily render human languages to the aliens without making us wait, and we all know how impatient we are.
mattdmmattdm
$\begingroup$ Hurray for the Ents! $\endgroup$ – Hurda Nov 25 '16 at 18:10
A highly – nay, wholly – synthetic language could be impossible to translate without external references. Imagine the two sentences "I like dogs" and "dogs like me" if the words for "dog" and "dogs" are completely different in singular and plural forms, and as the object or subject of a sentence; "like" rendered differently if the actor is a person, singular, or animal, plural; "me" and "I" already exemplify this, but imagine if it's always excluded when it's the subject.
Now take it a step further: "dog" is written differently again depending on the type of sentence, the type of verb, the tense, the first vowel of the first morpheme and so on. Now take "dog" and insert morphemes and entire words into it (like "d li me og ke s").
Even a lengthy sample on a specific topic would be inscrutable without a basic understanding of underlying grammar and syntax governing transformations as above.
$\begingroup$ I think your point is that data learned from some previous examples will not help it to understand other sentences. $\endgroup$ – JDługosz Nov 22 '16 at 0:05
$\begingroup$ @JDługosz Without external data (previous samples or foreknowledge of what is being discussed) it's possible no pattern to the language could be discerned. With enough external data the UT could eventually catch on – but it would be learning the language from scratch, as a child would, not translating instantaneously. ("Unlearnable" isn't a condition, thankfully.) $\endgroup$ – rek Nov 22 '16 at 4:00
$\begingroup$ Would a language like that ever survive as a means of communication? We do overly unefficient animals in nature, and neither do we see crazily excessive languages that survive the on the evolutionary landscape. $\endgroup$ – Contango Nov 22 '16 at 12:20
$\begingroup$ @Contango Among humans probably not, but human languages are full of insane things that seem completely implausible and impractical to anyone who doesn't speak it. An alien mind might be better suited to that sort of thing though. $\endgroup$ – rek Nov 22 '16 at 19:47
I am spacing on the title and author, but one of the old time scifi writers did a couple shorts on this idea (same events from different perspectives). Humans want to colonize a particular world as a way station for a shipping route. The rules are that they must have permission from the local inhabitants if there are any intelligent species involved. The initial survey did not detect any intelligent life, but one member of the follow up certification party is observing the local life forms and, while they are primitive, he believes he is seeing them communicate and act in a manner that indicates intelligence. Unfortunately no one can detect any language or other means of communication.
They bring in such a "universal translator" and it reports the sounds the locals are making as being meaningless and repetitive, having no syntaxual value. This is causing some contention between the development company and the certification team because the team refuses to certify the planet, because they think this species is intelligent, but can not communicate with them to prove it. The situation finally resolves with a naval officer being called in to mediate and figuring out that the aliens communicate telepathically, and the sounds they make are an identifier/carrier to allow the communication. Because the vocalizations carry no meaning in and of themselves, the translator was unable to recognize them as a language.
RozwelRozwel
There are a number of possibilities, which could provide various plots:
Target language has no related languages (a Rosetta Stone reference is missing)
The language does not operate in known basis of measurement (sound, motion, etc) such as Formics (Buggers) communicating via pheromones in the Ender books
The language evolved using a natural encryption, and without the key the phrase is gibberish
The language is forbidden/dangerous for political/religious reasons, and therefore the translater software prevents translation
My intent behind the idea that a language could EVOLVE with a natural encryption, not necessarily a digital or binary type encryption. While I was considering the idea, I was thinking of a reason why encryption would be required... and I imagined a society that only communicated via sonar or pheromones in a crowded space. In order to separate conversations from the noise of other conversations, a natural encryption system was developed. The parties involved in the conversation had the key to decode, and everything else that was indecipherable was just considered background noise.
Phil MPhil M
$\begingroup$ Something like CDMA (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_division_multiple_access) ? $\endgroup$ – user24582 Nov 23 '16 at 13:57
$\begingroup$ @user24582 No, I am thinking of something more like organic encryption. CDMA is encoding, not encryption. $\endgroup$ – Phil M Nov 23 '16 at 16:13
Generally, Universal Translators are only able to pick up on sound, and convert it into sound patters we interpret as words. This means that anything else will be untranslatable. If they communicate using anything other than sound waves, like light or touch, it can not be translated.
Even if they do use sound and it can translate their words, If they incorporate these other things that are untranslatable, it is enough to not know what they mean. Take for example Sarcasm. The words can be identical, but the tone might be all it takes to completely reverse the meaning of those words. If the language relies on tone to convey the meaning, then knowing the words is just not enough.
RyanRyan
$\begingroup$ A universal translator is posited to be universal. If it has trouble with the minor tone shifts found in English-style sarcasm, it would be totally lost with the eastern Asian tonal languages. $\endgroup$ – Mark Nov 21 '16 at 22:20
$\begingroup$ @Mark If it is capable of translating any spoken word into your language, it is still universal. For Tonal languages, the different tones are too universal to everyone to speaks that language, so it would probably still work, but things like sarcasm (or stories, proverbs, history) are optional to know in order to speak the language. The Chinese proverb a frog in a well is 100% translated word for word, but the meaning of the words is not in the words themselves, but the meaning of the situation they describe. so when a frog is actually in a well, its a whole other meaning. $\endgroup$ – Ryan Nov 22 '16 at 16:18
It very much depends on how your universal translator works, and what you mean by "untranslatable", exactly.
If you just want a delay, the training process for the translator could simply be too long for the story needs. The language would not be actually untranslatable, but for practical purposes, for the duration of the story, it cannot be translated. It could be too complex, require too much source material, whatever.
But if you want a universal translator that cannot translate a few languages, you've made a tall order. It wouldn't be much universal in that case, right? Your way out is the "out of the ordinary" excuse. Maybe all of the species in your universe are carbon-based, more or less similar to life on earth and the translators function is based around common principles. Some species could be exotic, breaking these concepts.
Text in a language can be difficult or impossible to translate with when the required information is absent.
One way is that the grammar of one language requires information which the other does not. An example is tense in English: When translating from a language where the time when something happened need not be specified, the translator must often guess.
Another similar way that this occurs is with how implicit or explicit a language is in practice. In English, one is required to speak full sentences (or nearly so). In Japanese, one cuts a sentence down to the bare minimum. For example where in English one would say "I'm going home", the Japanese equivalent is simply the verb "to return" with all information about who is returning, where to and when left out (even though the grammar does have these things). A listener is supposed to understand the intent from context but it is not always possible to explain with certainty what was meant unless the translation is heavily annotated, especially if the text is obtained out of context. This is why machine translation from Japanese to English should always be viewed with suspicion.
A very simple example from Earth is that translating German to English is not possible in real time. It's possible and not uncommon to have long German sentences where the last word completely changes the meaning of the whole sentence, so a translator, human or mechanical, has to wait until the last word of the sentence is spoken until they can start giving the English translation.
It seems this is upsetting some people. @Lostinfrance: They can't translate in real time. As in German speaker starts the sentence, translator starts speaking in English. There are sentences where the translator needs to listen to the complete sentence before being able to translate.
@AlexanderKosubek: I'm not quite clear what you are going on about, but the other way round it's not a problem, because the first few words of the English sentence can end up influencing the very end of the German translation, which is no problem for a real time translation.
$\begingroup$ And this never, ever happens the other way round, not! $\endgroup$ – Alexander Kosubek Nov 22 '16 at 15:55
$\begingroup$ There are probably a dozen people simultaneously interpreting from German to English and vice versa at this moment in the EU Parliament. Probably they are rather bored by what they have to translate, but it doesn't stop them doing their job. It's true that "simultaneous" interpretation is never literally simultaneous, and often involves slight anticipation, guessing, hesitation, and backtracking due to difference in word order, but English and German are closely related languages. It is easy to translate between them compared to pairs of languages from entirely different language families. $\endgroup$ – Lostinfrance Nov 22 '16 at 16:10
$\begingroup$ That's just dumb sentence construction. I find those to be annoying in any language unless it's for some really nice humor. $\endgroup$ – Joshua Nov 22 '16 at 23:58
$\begingroup$ @Lostinfrance My german is a bit "rusty", I haven't spoken it for decades, but I can say sentences on my native languages which coudn't be translated before they are finished for the same reason. $\endgroup$ – mg30rg Nov 24 '16 at 15:50
In cryptography, a message encrypted via one-time pad1 is impossible to decrypt without access to the shared secret (the "pad") used to encrypt it.
If you think of the speakers of your language as ciphers, the thoughts they wish to express as the input to the cryptographic function ("plaintext") and the words they emit as the output of the cryptographic function ("ciphertext"), then a language with this property would be understandable to anybody who knows the encryption key while being completely unintelligible to even an infinitely powerful translating computer.
Since a one-time pad requires that you never reuse keys, distributing shared secrets is a very hard logistical problem in the real world. If the message you wish to communicate is 10,000 characters long, your encryption key will also need to be 10,000 characters long, it'll need to be random, and you'll never be able to use that encryption key again. Maybe the hypothetical speakers of this language share some sort of telepathy which they subconsciously and instantaneously (and securely because telepathy is secure and *cough*handwave*cough*) use to interpret the language in real time?
chucksmashchucksmash
A dynamic language or metalanguage
This is close to a couple of the other answers ("make it depend on the time of day", "natural encryption", "talk with allegories", etc), but they don't hit it directly on - what if the language was not fixed, but was created on the fly each time people met up, from a more abstract set of rules?
I don't know for sure that you could create a whole language like this, but if each conversation 'saying the same thing' used different words based on the current situation around you, the universal translator would have to basically be a self-aware participant in the conversation to know what to do.
Instead of saying 'They were afraid for their lives' you say "Shaka, when the walls fell", referring to a situation where someone was afraid for their life - but it's still the same saying every time. Instead, your language rule could be not "what to say to communicate fear" but "how to choose what to say to communicate fear".
"refer to the most recent international news incident where someone was scared for their life", so it would be continuously changing every conversation. One day "The French at Bataclan", another day "New Zealand Earthquake endurers", another day "the flowers" (because a swarm of locusts just appeared yesterday).
Maybe you couldn't communicate ideas and concepts as precisely, they would have more room for interpretation - less chat, and broader strokes. It could be Less international news based, more immediate surroundings based. Not "are you thirsty?" or "Like Shaka in the heat wave", it might be "like the dogs?" (if you just saw dogs drinking water) or "like the drain?" (if you both just watched rainwater draining away).
Two or more of their species spend time together and build up a language between them on the fly based on global events and local moment by moment shared experiences, which then fades as they split apart. Their species has a 'recency bias', Twitter style, and they have very similar brains to each other, so they tend to get the same emotional or practical feeling as each other in response to the same news story and events. News stories and events are tuned to this to be short and sweet and pack a communicative punch.
A rolling, evolving language, cueing from the previous usages, on a scale of seconds and minutes instead of hundreds of years. Like we do when we see a coworker ruin something and the same day we see someone doing the same thing and say "he's just 'done a Richmond'" instantly referring to the event from earlier the same day as a new saying. That, but moreso.
A 'natural encryption' keyed between people as they spend time with each other. A thing that is learnable (maybe) by becoming involved in their lives and their world, but is not learnable by listening to a conversation, or by a mechanical device which has no sense of the 'state of affairs' or the current moment's experience.
(A real universal translator might have to be sentient; in that case, anything you could learn, it could learn).
TessellatingHecklerTessellatingHeckler
An alien's language uses asemetric encryption
Either the aliens have evolved to be really good and fast at math (Our Algebra/Calculus is their basic arithmetic) or the part of their brain that handles language just evolved to use encryption in their language (May be lying and overhearing was a extremely big problem in their species millions of years ago). You could have something where their name is their public key, so no one else who knew the language could know what they are saying, much less a translator. If an alien wanted to talk in the group you just tell everyone in the group (using their name as a public key) the public and private keys of that group. To talk to everyone you use a well known public private key pair. You could also implement encryption signing where you so aliens can't lie about what someone else said. "This [alien name (also the public key)] said [message signed with public key]."
If you aren't familiar with asemetric encryption, in this scenario:
Knowing the public key (the alien's name) allows you to talk to those with the corresponding private key
Knowing the private key allows you to hear and understand those who are talking using the corresponding public key
You could say that they might have super computers that can crack their encryption.
You could say they have a really big key (the aliens have really good memory), so they would need a super-duper computer. The aliens might raise the key's length as computers get better. (The longer the key, the harder to crack)
Or, you say that they use and encryption that no one understands and never will. (Of course then people may steal and sell the alien's brains for encrypting). If this is the case no one, except members of their own species, can ever talk to them using their language, but the aliens could speak another language. (This might be very difficult for the aliens if their brains evolved to use encryption.) If they use a known method of encryption or scientists figure their encryption out, then translators can be made, but only work if you and the aliens use your alien-public-key name or a commonly known key pair.
TL;DR The aliens use a language where overhearing is impossible, where you can only hear aliens who are talking to you, due to the nature of the language (e.x. encryption).
Grant DavisGrant Davis
Wordplay and irony are two of many features of the English language that I have to deal with every day in Japan.
For instance, they were talking about the U.S. elections on the news the other day, and they showed a protester with a "love trumps hate" sign. That three word phrase is so loaded with context that it would take minutes to explain to somebody who doesn't speak English, and even then they would probably not completely understand it. It was clumsily translated as "I hate trump".
The same thing happens with irony. "Sure, I'd loooooove to meet your parents" is very difficult to translate because irony simply doesn't exist in Japanese, and it would take a lot of time to explain the concept of irony in a real time translation.
Also the other way around, there are lots of words in Japanese that are loaded with cultural significance that accurately translating them to English would require minutes to hours to explain the context.
That's why machine translation between English and Japanese is so poor.
Panda PajamaPanda Pajama
Any language which has sentences with multiple meanings (i.e. every natural language ever created since the dawn of language) would lead to untranslatable bits. One of the following would have to happen:
The translator would have to pick an interpretation and translate that (hoping it got it right). This is what modern Google translations do. You can see how effective they are.
The translator could try to convey all possible interpretations. This could be incredibly slow. It could even be exponentially slow if interpretations layered on interpretations.
The translator would have to limit itself to phrases which have a clear set of matching interpretations in both languages.
Words based on deterministic input
For any given string of characters, the previous word(not string of characters), mood, body language, situation, and other inputs determine what word that string of characters represent.
This would create a simplified block chain where each word depends and what situation, body language, and word was said before that which depends on the situation, body language, and word... Ad continuum. Each combination of aliens would have a different block chain.
In order for translation to be possible the translator would need to have heard every conversation using that block chain, and know and understand every situation using that block chain, and for every other input that determines a word.
Different dialects might use different inputs, or interpret those inputs differently. You might be able to brute force their word pairs, and see if it makes sense, but that would take lots of AI and computing power. And you'd have to guess which dilect they are using. To combat this the aliens might use the last 10, 100, or all the words to determine the next word. In that case you'd need to guess all possible sentences, paragraphs, or what the group of aliens have said ever in order to brute force. Of course the aliens must have large and exact memory to pull this off, but this is a little more plausible than the aliens evolving with computer encryption.
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Could a Universal Translator be used to decipher encryption?
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Would a “ring language” be possible?
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Residents flee as flames approach wealthy California enclave
Posted 7:15 pm, December 16, 2017, by AP, Updated at 07:21PM, December 16, 2017
Firefighters from Kern County, Calif., work to put out hot spots during a wildfire Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
MONTECITO, Calif. — Residents piled into cars and fled on Saturday, turning downtown Santa Barbara into “a ghost town” as surging winds drove one of the biggest fires in California’s history toward the city and the nearby wealthy enclave of Montecito.
The mandatory evacuations around Montecito and neighboring Summerland came as winds that had eased a day earlier roared back at around 30 mph (48 kph), with gusts to about 60 mph (97 kph). Firefighters sprayed water onto hot spots sparked by wind-blown embers. Firefighters also drove to the historic San Ysidro Ranch in yellow fire trucks as heavy smoke rose from the coastal hills, blotting out the blue skies.
A portion of Santa Barbara was under mandatory evacuation. At the city’s zoo, workers began putting some animals into crates and kennels, to ready them for possible evacuation.
In downtown Santa Barbara, Maya Schoop-Rutten, owner of Chocolate Maya, said she saw through the window of her chocolate shop smoke suddenly appear after strong winds blew through.
“It was absolutely incredible,” she said. “There was a huge mushroom of smoke that happened in just a matter of a few minutes.”
Restaurants and small stores on normally bustling State Street were shuttered.
“It’s a ghost town. Everything is shut down,” Schoop-Rutten said. “It’s very, very eerie.”
The northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101, coming up the coast from Los Angeles, were closed for a few hours south of Santa Barbara, with cars stopped on the freeway.
The 404-square-mile (1,046-sq. kilometer) Thomas Fire was moving rapidly westward and crested Montecito Peak, just north of Montecito. Known for its star power, the enclave boasts the mansions of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and many other celebrities.
“It is right above the homes,” fire spokesman Jude Olivas said.
Winfrey expressed her dismay on her Twitter account.
“Still praying for our little town. Winds picked up this morning creating a perfect storm of bad for firefighters,” Winfrey tweeted. It was not clear if the former talk show host was in Montecito.
Pierre Henry, owner of the Bree’osh Bakery in Montecito, said he got a text to evacuate Saturday morning as the fire approached homes.
Wildfires are seen from the air on a flight into LAX Wednesday, December 7, 2017.
“The worst was the smoke,” Henry said. “You couldn’t breathe at all and it became worse when the wind started. All the ashes and the dust on the street were in the air. It was very, very frightening.”
The morning passed with no homes damaged or destroyed as firefighters dealt with “extreme and erratic” fire behavior, Olivas said.
Schoop-Rutten said the fire is taking an economic toll, even if it doesn’t invade the city.
“It’s tragic for businesses at this time of the year because this is when we make the money,” she said. “Imagine all the restaurants, all the Christmas parties have been cancelled. People lost a ton of revenue in the past few days.”
There was a spot of good news down the coast. Emergency officials announced that the same fire that was burning about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Montecito was 40 percent contained. Evacuation orders for the city of Ventura were lifted.
As the northerly “sundowner” wind was driving the fire south and west, firefighters could only hope it would calm back down.
“When the sundowners surface in that area and the fire starts running down slopes, you are not going to stop it,” Mark Brown, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told a news conference. “And we are not going to stand in front of it and put firefighters in untenable situations.”
Olivas said 400 fire engines were sent to protect homes in the area. The fire is now the third-largest in California history. It has burned more than 700 homes and killed a state firefighter.
Cory Iverson, 32, died Thursday from burns and smoke inhalation, according to autopsy results announced Saturday.
Since the fire began on Dec. 4, about 95,000 people have been placed under mandatory evacuation. The evacuation zone near Santa Barbara on Saturday was 17 miles (27 kilometers) long and up to 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide and the new expansion encompassed about 3,300 people.
The Santa Barbara Zoo has about 150 species of animals, including a pair of Amur leopards, a critically endangered species. Workers began putting vultures, California condors and some smaller animals into crates and kennels in case the fire approached.
“Everything is fine right now. The wind has shifted in our favor,” spokesman Dean Noble said. “However, we just don’t want to get caught by something unexpected.”
Other zoos are ready to accept the evacuated animals, he said. The Fresno zoo has an incubator available for a baby giant anteater, and the San Diego zoo is prepared to accept the Amur leopards and other cats, Noble said.
Everything about the fire has been massive, from the sheer scale of destruction that cremated entire neighborhoods to the legions attacking it: about 8,300 firefighters from nearly a dozen states, aided by 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters.
The cause remains under investigation. So far, firefighting costs have surpassed $100 million.
Topics: evacuations, Wildfire
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Compound Information
Name: butanal
Formula: C4H8O
Molar Mass: 72.107
Additional Names: n-butyraldehyde
butyraldehyde
1-propanecarbaldehyde
propanecarbaldehyde
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9 experimental data points
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Pressure from 0.0115369 kPa to 4412.06 kPa
Phase boundary pressure (Liquid in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Temperature from 200 K to 522.28 K
44 experimental data points
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Density (Liquid in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Temperature from 176.293 K to 522.28 K
Density (Liquid) as a function of Temperature and Pressure
Temperature from 302.994 K to 480.497 K
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Enthalpy (Crystal 1 in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Enthalpy (Liquid in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Enthalpy (Ideal Gas) as a function of Temperature
Entropy (Liquid in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Entropy (Crystal 1 in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Entropy (Ideal Gas) as a function of Temperature and Pressure
Refractive index (Liquid) as a function of Wavelength, Temperature, and Pressure
Wavelength from 434.05 nm to 656.279 nm
Viscosity (Liquid in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Viscosity (Gas) as a function of Temperature and Pressure
Thermal conductivity (Gas) as a function of Temperature and Pressure
Thermal conductivity (Liquid in equilibrium with Gas) as a function of Temperature
Enthalpy of formation (Gas)
Enthalpy of formation (Liquid)
About WTT
NIST/TRC Web Thermo Tables (WTT)
NIST Standard Reference Subscription Database 3 - Professional Edition
Version 2-2012-1-Pro
This web application provides access to a collection of critically evaluated thermodynamic property data for pure compounds with a primary focus on organics. These data were generated through dynamic data analysis, as implemented in the NIST ThermoData Engine software package [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Some critically evaluated data from the historical TRC Thermodynamic Tables archive [7, 8] are included, also. As of May 2012, the Professional Edition contains information on 28432 compounds and total of 531486 evaluated data points. The properties covered by both versions (32 total) are described in Properties and Implemented Models.
Developed by Kenneth Kroenlein, Chris D. Muzny, Andrei F. Kazakov, Vladimir Diky, Robert D. Chirico, Joseph W. Magee, Ilmutdin Abdulagatov and Michael Frenkel.
Thermodynamics Research Center (TRC)
Thermophysical Properties Division
Questions and comments should be addressed to Dr. Michael Frenkel .
DISCLAIMER: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses its best efforts to deliver a high-quality copy of the database and to verify that the methods and data contained therein have been selected on the basis of sound scientific judgement. However, NIST makes no warranties to that effect, and NIST shall not be liable for any damage that may result from errors or omissions in the program and database.
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NIST Chemistry WebBook
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The TRC Group is part of the Thermophysical Properties Division in NIST's Material Measurement Laboratory
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce
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TransferWise joins US invasion with debit card launch
By Roger Baird on 27th June 2019
The London-based fintech, along with a basket of European rivals, bids for growth in the world’s biggest market.
Image source: Company supplied
Foreign exchange firm TransferWise has become the latest European-based fintech to launch in the US.
The London-based unicorn - a start up valued at more than $1bn - began running a multi-currency account and a debit Mastercard in the world’s largest consumer market this week.
The move comes as UK digital banking rival Monzo prepares for an imminent American launch, while earlier this month Maximilian Tayenthal, the co-founder of app-only bank N26, said the Berlin-based outfit will begin trading in the US in the “coming weeks”. Profitable British business digital bank OakNorth plans to launch US operations in the second half of this year.
The TransferWise US account, promoted by Netflix Queer Eye star Tan France (pictured), allows customers to spend, hold, and convert between 40 different currencies with one card.
Multi-currency card
The firm adds its card is up to six times cheaper to take out cash from ATMs in other countries. For US cardholders, the debit card can be used with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
The TransferWise card follows the debit card it launched in the UK and Europe in April 2018. It says cardholders have made more than 15 million transactions and deposited over $10bn on its European card to date.
TransferWise co-founder and chairman Taavet Hinrinkus, said: "Our goal is to offer bank details for every country in the world through one borderless account — the world’s first global account.”
TransferWise, founded in 2011, became Europe’s most valuable fintech, valuing the firm at $3.5bn last month, after sealing a $292m funding round.
Asian launch
This latest cash call was led by venture capital firms Lead Edge Capital, Lone Pine Capital and Vitruvian Partners. The round also saw existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and Baillie Gifford up their stake in the business.
The firm said it would use the cash to launch in the US and Asia this year and boost global staff numbers by almost 50 per cent.
TransferWise employs around 1,600 staff across 12 offices across the world, and plans to hire more than 750 extra workers over the next 12 months.
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3-16 reactivates Troops M, N, P, Company D, realigning several courses
By 3rd Squadron, 16th US Cavalry RegimentMarch 27, 2019
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT BENNING, Ga. -- The 3rd Squadron of the 16th U.S. Cavalry Regiment unfurled four new guidons with the reactivation of Troops M, N, and P as well as Company D of the 4th Ranger Training Battalion in a ceremony held March 12 at Camp Cornett at Harmony Church at Fort Benning. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Scott Peckham, 3rd Squadron, 16th U.S. Cavalry Regiment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Scott Peckham (US Army Armor School)) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT BENNING, Ga. -- The advent of spring at Fort Benning not only brought bright azaleas and the green leaf tips to the forest undergrowth, but it brought the largest re-organization effort to the Maneuver Center of Excellence since 2013 as well.
The 3rd Squadron of the 16th U.S. Cavalry Regiment unfurled four new guidons with the reactivation of Troops M, N, and P as well as Company D of the 4th Ranger Training Battalion in a ceremony held March 12 at Camp Cornett at Harmony Church at Fort Benning.
The 316th Cavalry Brigade, 199th Leader Brigade, and the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade realigned functional training courses within their proponent U.S. Army Armor School and U.S. Army Infantry School headquarters. The realignment seeks to improve the student leaders in order to sharpen the core competencies required to fight and win in a complex world.
Lt. Col. Jeff Barta, the squadron commander, was joined by Command Sgt. Maj. Carvet Tate in presiding over the ceremony.
"Cavalry squadrons are adept at rapidly attaching and detaching units when the mission," said Barta, "and changing battlefield conditions require it."
The new Maverick Troop, led by Capt. Steven Northrop and 1st Sgt. Dereck Ates, cased the blue guidon from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment. The Troop has oversight of the U.S. Army Master Gunner School, with its seven courses: Simulations Training Management, Tank Commander Course, Mobile Gun System Commanders Course, Master Gunner Common Core, Stryker, Bradley, and the Abrams Master Gunner Courses. The courses provide students the ultimate technical and tactical expertise to make the Army ready to fight.
Hawk Troop became Navajo Troop with a new mission. Carrying forward a proud history with Vietnam lineage, this unit was a separate Air Cavalry Troop in the independent Army of the Republic of Vietnam battlespace. For the past year and a half they provided the entire squadron with institutional support. Now under the Navajo guidon, led by Capt. Matt Strasser and 1st Sergeant Erik Andresen, this troop will oversee the new Maneuver Leaders Maintenance Course and the Abrams, Stryker, and Field Maintenance New Equipment Training Teams which assure combat power readiness.
Phantom Troop was re-activated for the first time since 2009. Now commanded by Capt. Lance Rae and 1st Sergeant Lyle Avis, this unit hosts the Army's Department of Reconnaissance and Security with oversight of the Cavalry Leaders Course and the Army Reconnaissance Course. They will soon play a major role in leading this year's Gainey Cup, International Best Scout Squad competition.
Delta Company was re-activated and is now commanded by Capt. Anthony Capozzi and Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Mullins. They lead the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course which will return to the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade.
The Squadron also bid farewell to the Department of Subterranean Operations, the Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS) Master Trainer Course and two Platoons of opposing force (OPFOR) Soldiers that will all move to the 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade.
Now with three new Troop headquarters, the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, educates leaders to join their units ready to apply their new skills and ultimately improve Army readiness from the crew to brigade combat team.
Said Barta of the reorganization:
"It's now this squadron that tells the Army where it's going and makes it ready to fight when it gets there."
3rd Squadron, 16th U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Benning News on the Army News Service
July 12, 2019Madigan Troop Battalion welcomes new commander
July 8, 2019No Such Thing as a Fear of Heights
July 3, 2019CBRN Regimental Week: Celebrating 101 years
July 2, 2019US troops hone artillery skills with Hungarian exercise
June 27, 2019Basic Leader's Course Graduation: Class 19-705
June 27, 2019US troops demonstrate night air defense artillery capabilities during Tobruq Legacy
June 20, 2019Gunnery simulators augment Army Guard training
June 17, 2019The Motivation of a Squad - 3rd Regiment of Advanced Camp completes the Obstacle Course
June 12, 2019Tees for troops: Strengthening partnerships one swing at a time
June 10, 20191/2CR FTX: Apache Troop meets force on force objective
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What Is the Difference Between Ethernet and Industrial Ethernet?
Industrial Ethernet systems must be more robust than office Ethernet.
Ethernet and, specifically, industrial Ethernet have recently become popular industry terms in the manufacturing world. While similar, they both offer different characteristics and benefits. This article will explore what Ethernet and industrial Ethernet are and how they differ.
What Is Ethernet?
Ethernet was first developed in the 1970s and was later standardized as IEEE 802.3. Ethernet is the group of local area network (LAN) products covered by IEEE 802.3—a group of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards that define the physical layer and data link layer of a wired Ethernet media access control.1 These standards also describe the rules for configuring an Ethernet network and how the elements of the network work with one another.2
Ethernet allows computers to connect over one network—without it, communication between devices in today’s modern world would not be possible. Ethernet is the global standard for a system of wires and cables to conjoin multiple computers, devices, machines, etc., over an organization’s single network so that all the computers can communicate with one another. Ethernet began as a single cable, making it possible for multiple devices to be connected on one network. Now, an Ethernet network can be expanded to new devices as needed. Ethernet is now the most popular and widely used network technology in the world.3
How Industrial Ethernet Works
&lt;img src='https://www.analog.com/-/media/analog/en/landing-pages/technical-articles/what-is-the-difference-between-ethernet-and-industrial-ethernet/fig1.png?w=435 ' alt='figure 1'&gt;
Figure 1. This advanced technology is needed in industrial settings to ensure specific manufacturing data is correctly sent and received. If using an example of a bottle-filling plant, industrial Ethernet automation technology is able to send filling data over the network to ensure the bottles are being filled as intended.
When using Ethernet, streams of data are separated into shorter pieces, or frames—each containing specific information such as the source and destination of the data. Such data is necessary in order for the network to accept and send data as needed.
Other terminology of Ethernet technology includes:
Medium: In modern Ethernet technology, a medium is a twisted pair or fiber optic cabling that Ethernet devices connect to provide a path for the data to travel on
Segment: A single shared medium.
Node: Devices that attach to a segment.
Standard Ethernet is able to send data at speeds of 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps. Gigabit Ethernet is a term used under the IEEE 802.3 standard to describe Ethernet speeds that travel at a rate of 1 Gbps. Gigabit Ethernet was first typically used for backbone network transport and for high performance or high capacity servers. However, over time, desktop connections and PCs have been able to support it.
Other Info on Ethernet
Ethernet is not to be confused with Wi-Fi—Ethernet uses cables to connect computers and devices, PC Magazine explained.4 Almost every reference to a network or LAN connection is Ethernet.
What Is Industrial Ethernet?
Industrial Ethernet is just as it sounds—Ethernet applied to an industrial setting, which often requires more rugged connectors, cables, and—most importantly—better determinism. In order to achieve better determinism, industrial Ethernet uses specialized protocols in conjunction with Ethernet. The more popular industrial Ethernet protocols are PROFINET®, EtherNet/IP®, EtherCAT®, SERCOS III, and POWERLINK®.
With industrial Ethernet, data transmission rates range from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps.5 However, 100 Mbps is the most popular speed used in industrial Ethernet applications.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src='https://www.analog.com/-/media/analog/en/landing-pages/technical-articles/what-is-the-difference-between-ethernet-and-industrial-ethernet/figure2.png?w=435 ' alt='Figure 2'&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
Figure 2. Industrial Ethernet requires additional considerations not seen in Ethernet systems used in an office. Manufacturing equipment on plant floors is exposed to different temperatures, vibrations, and other potentially disturbing noises.
Industrial Ethernet protocols like PROFINET and EtherCAT modify standard Ethernet in a way to ensure specific manufacturing data is not only correctly sent and received, but also sent and received on time when the data is needed to perform a specific operation. For example, a bottle filling plant using industrial Ethernet automation technology is able to send filling data over the network to ensure the bottles are being filled as intended. When a bottle is full, a stop filling command will be sent over the network, Real Time Automation reported.6
Such a message would not be as crucial in an office setting, the source said. If a webpage is lost, a user just hits the refresh button. In the factory, however, a little problem could turn into a disaster—the company can’t take the time for someone to notice the error and manually press a button. The industrial Ethernet automation network, however, can sense an error in the bottling process and automatically stop a process, preventing wasted time, product, and money.
Other Differences Between Ethernet and Industrial Ethernet
Ethernet may be used in more offices than in industrial settings, Real Time Automation reported. Office Ethernet is designed for a base level of use, while industrial Ethernet can be considered for multiple levels and applied to more heavy duty environments.
Industrial Ethernet is better suited to handle factory noise, factory process needs, and harsher environments, and is even able to respond better to data collisions at the plant floor.
Cables and connectors may also differ in industrial Ethernet technology. For example, connectors used in an industrial setting will not be basic snap-in lock mechanisms, Real Time Automation reported. Due to the rougher environment, heavier lock mechanisms are needed. Sealed connectors are also often needed in heavy duty applications.
Cabling, too, can differ between commercial or office Ethernet and industrial Ethernet. Light duty industry cables may have a higher quality of jacketing than regular Ethernet cables. And, as expected, the jacket around the heavy duty cables and the metal used also increases in quality to make them more durable.
Determinism is an important factor when defining Industrial Ethernet and separating it from Ethernet. Standard Ethernet is not deterministic on its own,7 but industrial environments require determinism. They need packets of data to be sent and received at specific times, and they need a guarantee that data will be delivered each and every time. This is because a loss of data or a delay of data between equipment in an industrial setting can end in disaster—like a major flaw in the production process, for instance. This real-time information transfer is often a major deciding factor for a company when it comes to choosing what type of Ethernet solution to deploy. Companies will need to assess their specific needs and determine what Ethernet solution is best for their organization.
1 ANSI/IEE 802.3-2002—IEEE Standard for IT—Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems—LAN/MAN—SpecificRequirements—Part 3: CSMA/CD Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications—Maintenance Revision #6. IEEE, 2002.
2 Ethernet Tutorial—Part 1: Networking Basics. Lantronix.
3 Nick Pidgeon. “How Ethernet Works.” HowStuffWorks, April 2000.
4 Definition of: Ethernet. PC Magazine.
5 Everything About Industrial Ethernet. Hirschmann.
6 What Is Industrial Ethernet. Real Time Automation.
7 “Understanding Ethernet Speed and Determinism.” Automation World, November, 2011.
Introduction to the fido5000 REM Switch
Accelerating the Path to Industry 4.0
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Children in Lebanon Refugee Camps Play & Learn in Renovated Preschools
“When we first opened the newly rehabilitated kindergarten, the children started running around, full of joy and excitement, ” preschool teacher Sarah Mchayrfe says, smiling at the memory.
“They thought it was a new public park.”
Sarah teaches at the Najdeh preschool in the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut. Anera renovated her school, thanks to generous funding from UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). The school in Shatila and another in Burj El Shemali camp in southern Lebanon are being renovated as part of the Anera-UMCOR partnership that already has repaired and improved schools in Burj El Barajneh and Ein El Helweh camps.
The aim of the program is to create a classroom environment that gives refugee children, aged three to six years, a safe, child-friendly and encouraging space to learn, play and socialize.
Anera identified the two preschools in consultation with its community-based partners. The facilities accommodate more than 340 children from diverse nationalities, including Palestinians, Palestinian refugees from Syria, Lebanese, and Syrian refugees.
I am so happy with our new preschool because there’s more space to play. Before we didn’t have any toys and the walls were broken but now look at all the new toys and colors.
Nadine Abdallah, Anera’s public health specialist reports a positive impact on the children, teachers and parents. “The impact comes from transforming the preschools into safe and hazard-free area with improved access to hygiene and sanitation facilities, recreational spaces, and a healthy and supportive educational environment.”
Four-year-old Ahmad Majed couldn’t contain his joy at seeing his new classroom. “I am so happy with our new preschool because there’s more space to play. Before we didn’t have any toys and the walls were broken but now look at all the new toys and colors.”
The Burj El Shemali preschool has updated windows, repaired and painted walls, and new window trimmings.
Restoring Safety and Calm in Lebanon Refugee Camps
The rehabilitation of the classrooms has transformed the space into a very bright, colorful and safe environment. Pink and green walls—colors carefully chosen for their impact on young learners—match the child-sized cubbies and book shelves. Most importantly, the renovations included safer stairs, improved electrical safety, more hygienic bathrooms and sinks, and insulation for the roof to prevent the mold caused by humidity, which so often ruins building in the camps.
Additionally, the playgrounds in both preschools were rehabilitated and equipped with colorful tables, benches, receptacles, water fountains, swings and outdoors toys, and turned into a space for the children to play together and hold large class activities.
The renovation of these preschools has helped foster a healthy and safe environment for children in Lebanon refugee camps to learn and socialize in, restoring a relative sense of normalcy in their lives in otherwise very abnormal and difficult circumstances.
Preschool teacher Sarah Mchayerfe says Anera’s program also includes some teacher training. “We learned some new teaching methods and more about interactive learning.” Another bonus, she says, is a private room for the teachers “where we can meet with each other and talk with parents who play a major role in helping us set curriculums and deal with problems.”
One of the major concerns, she adds, has been overcrowded classrooms but not so much anymore. “Now we have more spacious, colorful and fully equipped classrooms that make it so much easier for us to offer a higher quality of education.”
An Ein El Hilweh hospital gets a new look
A Stairway to Progress in Lebanon’s Ein El Hilweh Palestinian Refugee Camp
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Evaluating the ease of secretion clearance with flutter device compared to lung FLute in patients with Bronchiectasis
Evaluating sputum clearance in bronchiectasis patients using Flutter device or Lung Flute
Nil Known
Bronchiectasis 293139 0
Respiratory 293408 293408 0 0
Other respiratory disorders / diseases
Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation 293458 293458 0 0
Bronchiectasis outpatients will be randomised to which order they will use the FLutter or Lung FLute. They will attend two sessions one week apart at the same time. During the first session if they used the Flutter then second session a week away they will use the Lung Flute or vice versa depending which device they use first on the randomisation. Both sessions when using the FLutter and Lung Flute they will be supervised by a physiotherapist. Each session will last one hour. The same physiotherapist will be supervise both sessions of all the patients.
Lung Flute is a new device which has been shown to improve secretions on patients with Chronic obstructive airway disease. Lung Flute will be the intervention device to see its effectiveness in clearing secretions on patients with Bronchiectasis. The instructions were as per manufacturers guidelines. Patients were instructed to sit up straight so that their back was not touching the back of the chair. Patients were asked to hold the lung flute pointing it down. They were asked to inhale a little deeper than normal, then place their lips completely around the mouthpiece, and gently blow out through the Lung FLute as if trying to blow out a candle. As they blew out the patients were asked to concentrate on making the reed inside move and make a fluttering noise. At the end of the exhaled breath they were asked to remove the lung flute from the mouth and take a breath in and blow out again to the lung Flute in a similar manner. After 2 blows the patients were instructed to remove the device and wait 5 seconds, taking several normal breaths. Then repeat. Patients were asked to do 20 sets of 2 blows each unless the patient felt lightheaded or fatigued. If the patient could not tolerate the number of sets the technique would be modified to do fewer sets. At the end of the session the patients were asked to wait five minutes for secretions to collect to the back of their throat then do mid and low volume huff and when the secretions were in the oropharynx to do a high volume huff or cough to clear secretions. The average time to complete using the lung flute would be 5-10 minutes. This would be the end point of this technique. Then patients would be asked to wait another 30 minutes and sputum would be collected until this time. The overall duration of this session would last about one hour (this includes from when the patient comes in to use the Lung Flute, time taken to use the Lung Flute and then staying for 30 miinutes).
The sputum during the session (lasting 5-10 minutes) until end point and from this point sputum cleared up to 30 minutes will be collected. The sputum will be weighed and then will be dried in a microwave oven 300 Watts for 10 minutes and reweighed to get the dry weight of sputum.
Treatment: Devices
Flutter is a device which has shown to assist secretion clearance in Bronchiectasis. It was administered as per manufactures guidelines. The pateints were instructed to sit with the back with the head tilted slightly upward so that the throat and windpipe are open. If they had difficulty they were allowed to place the elbows on a table at a height so the patients did not slouch. An adjustable bed was used for this purpose. The patient would be instructed to inhale deeply and hold his/her breath for 2-3 seconds. Then the patient would be instructed to place the mouthpiece of the device into the mouth and exhale into expiratory reserve volume (ie, slightly further than one would exhale during normal breath but not to residual volume). During expiration through the flutter, the patient would be instructed to tilt the flutter upwards and downwards by a few degrees to induce maximum oscillations within the chest wall. They were also instructed to keep the cheeks stiff and if they could not do it they were allowed to hold the cheeks flat with the other hand. This would be repeated for 10 breaths, with the patient inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the flutter. Then the patients would be performing one or two mid to low volumes huffs combined with periods of breathing control (normal tidal breathing). If the patients felt that they had cleared the secretions to the oropharynx then they would be instructed to do a high volume huff or cough to clear the secretions. Then the cycle was repeated after clearing secretions or if there was no secretions to clear from the oropharynx, after the low volume huff. The duration of periods of breathing control was varied depending on patients, the time required for patients to regain their normal breathing pattern and fatigue. The patients would be allowed to cough as required. The end point of the technique would be defined as two cycles and dry sounding huff. The average time to exhale in to the flutter would last 5-10 minutes. If the defined end point was not achieved within 30 minutes, the session was judged complete. From this end point patients would be asked to wait for 30 minutes and sputum cleared would be collected. The overall duration of this session would last about one hour (this includes from when the patient comes in to use the flutter, time taken to use the flutter and then staying for 30 miinutes).
The total amount of sputum collected is the amout of sputum collected when using the devices lasting 5-10 minutes untill the end point plus from that end point during and up to 30 mintues after was defined as total wet sputum.
This sputum would be weighed using a "A and D" HL-i Digital Compact Scale (accurate to 200 x 0.1g) will be used for all weights. A pre-weighed cup will be given to each patient and the cup and sputum contents will be re weighed to calcuate the "wet weight of sputum".
The total amount of sputum collected (during treatement until end point and then up to 30 minutes after from end point)
From the total wet sputum will then be dired in a mocrowave oven (300Watts for 10 minutes) and re-weighed to calculate the dry weight of sputum.
The total amount of sputum collected (during treatement until end point and then up to 30 minutes after end point)
Likert scale to assess acceptability and tolerability of the devices. This is one scale with 8 questions. Thus only one secondary outcome measure.
The 8 questions had a rating scale of 1-7 (strogly disagree to strongly agree).
The 8 questions were
1. Assisted you with clearing secretions
2. It was easy to understand instructions
3. It was simple to use
4. The device made me tired
5. The device caused discomfort to use
6. Using the device is time consuming
7. Using the device would interfere with your everyday life
8. Using the device would cause embarrassment
At the end of each treament they will fill up a Likert Scale for each treament.
Diagnosis of non cystic fibrosis Bronchiectasis (diagnosed on high resolution computerised tomography) who should produce greater than 25ml of sputum per day.
Current pneumothorax, untreated cor pulmonale, Haemoptysis, patients with an exacerbation from baseline (defined as a sustained increase in sputum purulence or volume over three or more day in the 4 weeks prior or during the study that required medical intervention and prescription of antibioitics) or if they were hospitalised during the study.
Recruitment hospital [1] 3016 0
Concord Repatriation Hospital - Concord
Niche Medical
Yasmin Silva
Physiotherapy Department
Concord Repatriation General Hospital
COncord NSW 2139
Respiratory Department, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
Hospital Road, Concord, NSW 2139
Concord Hospital Ethics and Reseach
Hospital Road, Concord, NSW, 2139
LNR/12/CRGH/188
Bronchiectasis is pathological condition with diverse aetiologies, characterised by and abnormal dilation of conducting airways due to repeated cycles of airway infection and inflammation ultimately resulting in airway and lung parenchyma destruction. This leads to an alteration of the ciliated epithelial lining and compromises mucus clearance. In the affected areas there is excess production of mucus, where the impaired clearance of secretions causes colonisation and infections. Airway clearance techniques are regarded as an integral component in the management of Bronchiectasis, as it clears blockages of conducting airway and improves pulmonary ventilation. Some patients with Bronchiectasis only have scant secretions and it is unclear if airway clearance assists them. A systemic review on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, has reported airway clearance techniques to be useful only in patients who produce greater than 25 ml (one tablespoon) of sputum per day.
Mechanical forms of airway clearance such as Flutter (Scandipharm Inc, Birmingham, Alabama, USA) has shown to assist with secretion clearance. Flutter is a simple hand held pipe like device which produces oscillating positive pressure on exhalation, through repeated displacement of the steel ball within a cone. Oscillation frequency within 3-17 Hz range has been shown to facilitate mucociliary clearance. On patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the flutter demonstrated a mean oscillation frequency of 11.3 Hz 5. This was close to this optimal frequency range to facilitate mucociliary clearance. This study also demonstrated the Flutter to have a peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) / peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR) ratio > 1.1, which is critical level required for annular flow of secretions towards the oropharynx. In addition flutter has shown to alter physical properties of mucus in patients with Bronchiectasis which further assist secretion clearance.
Lung Flute (Medical Acoustics, LLC, Buffalo, NY USA) is new device which has shown to assist secretion clearance. It is relatively cheaper than the Flutter. The current literature on the efficacy of the lung Flute is limited. The lung flute is a hand held device shaped like a flute with a mouth piece and a reed inside it. When the user blows into the lung flute, it creates a specific low frequency sound. The manufactures claim that this sound generates 18-22Hz with an output of 110 to 115 dB using 2.5 cmH2O pressure. This sound wave, when generated at the mouth with mild exhalation, is thought to travel retrograde down the tracheobronchial tress and vibrates the tracheobronchial secretions. The manufactures claim that this sound vibrates the airways and thins the lung secretions, which facilitate mucocilary clearance. Lung flute has demonstrated to expectorate similar quantity of sputum as active cycle breathing technique in patients with Bronchiectasis. No study has been done to evaluate the effectiveness lung flute compared to the Flutter. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate if the lung flue was as effective as the flutter in secretion clearance.
After ethics approval participants were recruited from the Bronchiestasis clinic at CRGH and any person with bronchiectasis referred for physiotherapy from other respiratory specialists. During the study patients were seen as outpatients.
Inclusion criteria: patients with productive non – cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis (diagnosed on high resolution computerised tomography) who would produce greater than 25ml of sputum per day.
Exclusion criteria: current pneumothorax, untreated cor pulmonale, haemoptysis, patients with an exacerbation in the 4 weeks prior or during the study and if they were hospitalised during the study.
Information sheet about the study would be given to the participant and informed consent would be obtained.
Patients would attend two visits over a two week period standardised to the same time of day, with advice to withhold usual airway clearance 24 hours prior to attendance. At each session one of the following airway clearance techniques (flutter, lung flute) will be performed in random order determined by computer generated randomisation with concealed allocation. Patients would receive comprehensive standardised practical instructions in each airway clearance technique. Participants would be supervised throughout by an experienced senior respiratory physiotherapist to ensure each technique was performed in a standardised and optimal manner. Duration of treatment would be recorded. Baseline medications were not altered.
Both treatment techniques would be performed in sitting. Patients would be instructed to clear secretions without to swallow the sputum.
The patient would be instructed to inhale deeply and hold his/her breath for 2-3 seconds. Then the patient would be instructed to place the mouthpiece of the device into the mouth and exhale into expiratory reserve volume (ie, slightly further than one would exhale during normal breath but not to residual volume). During expiration through the flutter, the patient would be instructed to tilt the flutter upwards and downwards by a few degrees to induce maximum oscillations within the chest wall. This would be repeated for 10 breaths, with the patient inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the flutter. Then the patients would be performing one or two mid to low volumes huffs combined with periods of breathing control (normal tidal breathing). If the patients felt that they had cleared the secretions to the oropharynx then they would be instructed to do a high volume huff or cough to clear the secretions. Then the cycle was repeated after clearing secretions or if there was no secretions to clear from the oropharynx, after the low volume huff. The duration of periods of breathing control was varied depending on patients, the time required for patients to regain their normal breathing pattern and fatigue. The patients would be allowed to cough as required. The end point of the technique would be defined as two cycles and dry sounding huff. If the defined end point was not achieved within 30 minutes, the session was judged complete.
Lung Flute
The patients would be instructed to inhale slowly slightly deeper than normal and then place the mouthpiece of the device into the mouth. Then hold the lung flute pointing down at an angle and blow gently into the lung flute as if trying to blow out a candle. As they blow into the lung flute they would hear the reel inside the horn making a fluttering noise as it moves. Instruct the patient to concentrate on making more noise by blowing harder and faster into the lung flute. After blowing into the lung Flute twice, patients would be instructed to remove the mouth piece and wait for five seconds, taking several normal breaths. Then repeat this whole cycle of 20 sets with two blows each, unless the patient feels lightheaded or fatigued. If the patient was unable to tolerate the number of sets, the technique would be modified to do fewer sets. At the end of the session patients would be instructed to wait for 5 minutes and then do a low to mid volume huff , and when the secretions are in the oropharynx to to do a high volume huff or cough to clear the secretions. The average session would for 5 -10 minutes. This would be the end point of this technique.
Ms Yasmin Silva
Physiotherapy Department,
yasmin.silva@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Physiotherapy Department, Concord Repatriation General Hosptial,Hospital Road, Concord, NSW, 2139
Dr Lucy Morgan
Respiratory Medicine 7 West, Concord Repatriation General Hosptial, Hospital Road, Concord, NSW, 2139
lucy.morgan@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
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City of Life
The Australian Writers' Guild names the contenders for its annual celebration of good scripts and well-placed words.
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Fiona Mackrell
ARAB FILM FESTIVAL: City of Life is a bit of a rock star, directed by hot young thing Ali F Mostafa and around him a cast of famous actors and Emirati TV personalities; it's a film the UAE film industry on the international map.
As far as Arab films go City of Life is a bit of a fast-rising rock star. Writing, producing and directing is hot young thing Ali F Mostafa and around him he's pulled together a pedigree cast of famous actors and Emirati TV personalities. It's a film to put him and UAE film industry on the international map. The story intertwines three parallel lives in modern Dubai, which fateful collide, changing all their fortunes. For Fasil (Saoud al Ka'abi), a spoilt young Emirati man and Khalfan (Yassin Alsahman aka The Narcicyst) his far less-fortunate but street-smart childhood friend, a conflict with a street thug spirals their lives and friendship unexpectedly out of control. Fasil is struggling with his Emirati identity, the rich sinful mazzaratti-driving playboy verus the good religious son and the childhood friendship that fits in neither world. Basu (Sonu Sood) is an Indian taxi driver sending his paltry earning back to his family as he dreams of fame and fortune. With his uncanny resemblance to a famous Bollywood star, Peter Patel, he finds work as an impersonator. But Basu doesn't give up the dream of becoming a star himself while struggling to get by in a city that can be harshly indifferent. The third story line follows, Natalia (Alexandra Maria Lara) a former Romanian ballet dancer now living in Dubai and plodding through life as a flight attendant. She's believes she's getting away from the lurid wanton world of her flatmate Olga (Natalie Dormer), when she meets Guy Berger (Jason Flemyng), an exceptionally connected, wealthy and self-assured advertising executive who introduces her to all the excesses of Dubai life. Actor Alexandra Maria Lara grew up in Germany after her parents fled Bucharest, Romania when she was four. Since graduating from the Schuauspielschule she has played leading roles in several TV shows and movies such as Die Bubi Scholz, Der Tunnel, and the Oscar nominated Der Untergang (Downfall). This is the first feature film for Saoud al Ka'abi, who already has an enormous fan base since starting out as Dubai TV's first ever child TV presenter when he was nine. He has remained a regular presenter on some of the most popular shows on Dubai TV and is one of Emirates biggest television stars. Beside him, Yassin Alsahman aka 'The Narcicyst is a respected political hip-hop performer, journalist and peace activist. He has performed with a long list of groups including Euphrates Talib Kweli, Kanye West, and Non Phixion. This is the first international film for another hot property, Punjabi-born Sonu Sood, who's real life is an ironic inversion of his character, Basu. Sood has appeared in over 22 productions in Bollywood and in the southern Indian Tamil and Telugu 'Tollywood' films, he's known for his looks (he moved into acting from a modelling career) and all -round skills including doing his own stunts. City of Life was a co-production between Ali F. Mostafa's AFM films and Filmworks and premiered at the Arabian Nights Gala at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2009. Getting an Emirati film off the ground wasn't easy for Ali F Mostafa who had to contend with dubious investors and even more dubious censors. But he's never been one to not keep trying. While working his way up through the world of commercials, Mostafa directed his first commercial by funding it himself then selling it to Nissan. Since studying at the London Film School he has made a series of short films and documentaries including Under The Sun, which won best Emirates Film 2006, and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the San Fernando Film Competition held in Abu Dhabi. Going by the preview for City of Life (which is schlick) as it inter-cuts Dubai's glittering night lights, edgy car and motorcycle stunts, and father and son conflicts you might think this was an American-style block bluster with all the high-production values to go with it. The reality however, is a film, which whilst engaging, at times lurches ponderously as it churns through the contrived mingling of the three character's story lines. Sood's performance particularly veers occasionally into hammy moments, which jar in a film trying for something more sophisticated. The real insights of City of Life are in the way it portrays every day life in modern Dubai society. There are the westerners living the capitalist dream, hedonistic, materialist and cut throat on the way to riches, the local Arabs living in the cross-hairs of all the luxury money can buy and the rigidity of tradition, and the immigrant labourers cheap and disposable. The lives of the three main characters, despite the improbability of how they come together, are individually believable and sympathetic; and the themes of hope, love and loyalty universal. This is a film that may mark the first steps in a potentially huge new film industry that cross the Asian and Arab worlds and some of the stars that may well pave its path. ARAB FILM FESTIVAL City of Life Director: Ali Mostafa (profile in ArtsHub) Country: United Arab Emirates Year: 2009 Duration: 97 min Sydney, Thursday 1 July, 8pm, Riverside Theatres Parramatta Melbourne, Friday 9 July, 7pm Cinema Nova Carlton Adelaide, Saturday 24 July, 5pm, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas Brisbane, Friday 30 July, 7pm, Dendy Cinemas Portside
First published on Sunday 11 July, 2010
Fiona Mackrell is a Melbourne based freelancer. You can follow her at @McFifi or check out www.fionamackrell.com
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Atlas Engineered Products Announces Expansion in Alberta
Vancouver, British Columbia. ATLAS ENGINEERED PRODUCTS LTD. (the “Company”) (TSX-V: AEP), a leading supplier of trusses and engineered wood products, is pleased to announce an important expansion initiative in Northern Alberta. The Company has purchased the operating assets including equipment, inventory, and trademarks of Alberta Truebeam Ltd. (“Truebeam”), leased the land and buildings in which Truebeam operates, and hired all the Truebeam employees.
The Company’s Truebeam operation will contribute strong positive cash flow and an estimated $2.4 million in profitable revenue during the 2018 calendar year (see note 1). Truebeam’s focus will be the supply of trusses and engineered wood products to residential development projects in Northern Alberta and Northwest British Columbia, including Fort McMurray and the Peace River region.
Guy Champagne, President of Atlas, commented, “We are taking advantage of an exciting opportunity to expand our footprint in the Alberta marketplace. Combined with our aggressive acquisition program, strategic expansion opportunities such as these will allow us to economically and rapidly scale our revenue base and geographic reach.”
Atlas Engineered Products is one of British Columbia’s leading suppliers of trusses and engineered wood products. The company was formed over 18 years ago and operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in British Columbia and Southern Ontario to meet the needs of residential and commercial builders. Atlas Engineered Products has expert design and engineering teams, a multiple-shift state-of-the-art truss manufacturing operation, and large inventories of engineered beam and flooring components. Atlas Engineered Products aims to grow its base of business across Canada by pursuing an aggressive acquisition and consolidation strategy, and will continue to bring its construction industry partners unparalleled excellence in service, product, and support.
Atlas Engineered Products Ltd.
Guy Champagne, President
Email: info@atlasep.ca
2005 Boxwood Rd.
Nanaimo, BC V9S 5X9
www.atlasengineeredproducts.co...
For investor relations please contact:
Rob Gamley
Email: rob@contactfinancial.com
Contact Financial Corp.
810 – 609 Granville St.
Vancouver, BC V7Y 1G5
Note 1: The anticipated annual revenue for the Company’s Truebeam operations assumes that revenue for the calendar year 2018 will be approximately the same as revenue for the calendar year 2017. The Company made this assumption as of March 6, 2018. Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company including those to be described in the Filing Statement filed by the Company on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
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Home»Industry News»News
Canada announces new rules for drone operation
Written by Manufacturing AUTOMATION
January 10, 2019 – Transport Canada has announced new rules for remotely piloted aircraft systems, more commonly known as drones.
The new rules, which will come into force on June 1, 2019, apply to all drone pilots flying drones between 250 grams and 25 kilograms that are operated within the drone pilot’s visual-line-of-sight, regardless of whether the drone is flown for fun, work or research.
"We’ve listened closely to feedback from Canadians and have updated our regulations to balance practicality and the safe use of drones," says Marc Garneau, minister of transport. "Drones are part of an important economic sector with significant potential to improve lives and connect communities across the country. Our new regulations will create new opportunities for Canadians by establishing a safe and predictable regulatory environment where the industry can innovate and where recreational and non-recreational drone pilots can safely access Canadian airspace.”
Garneau says that Transport Canada is also working with security agencies and airports to ensure drones aren't flown into space reserved for aircraft.
The final regulations introduce two main categories of drone operation: basic and advanced. The categories are based on distance from bystanders and airspace rules.
Both categories have their own set of rules that will require the drone pilot to:
register and mark the drone with its registration number;
pass an online exam and get a pilot certificate for basic or advanced operations;
be a minimum age of 14 for basic and 16 for advanced operations, unless supervised by a person having proper certificates;
stay below an altitude of 122 m (400 feet) above ground level; and
stay away from air traffic.
Only drone pilots who need to fly a drone outside the rules for basic or advanced operations will need to apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) before they fly.
Transport Canada encourages drone pilots to take the necessary time to review and fully understand the new rules for drones in Canada and to follow a course provided by a drone flight school before attempting to take an online exam or flight review.
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Drone pilots will need to have their pilot certificate and proof of registration readily available when flying their drone as of June 1, 2019. This can mean having an electronic version available on their mobile device or carrying a printed copy.
Until the new rules come into force on June 1, 2019, recreational drone pilots must continue to follow the rules of the Interim Order Respecting the Use of Model Aircraft and pilots using their drone for work or research must continue to follow the conditions of their Special Flight Operations Certificate.
All drone pilots are also subject to the Criminal Code as well as all provincial, territorial, and municipal laws governing areas such as privacy and trespassing. Endangering the safety of an aircraft is a serious offence. Anyone who violates the regulations could be subject to additional fines of up to $25,000 and/or prison. This applies to drones of any size used for any purpose.
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Away With Geese™
Get rid of geese and keep geese away
From Our Desk
Our guaranteed geese deterrents feature a solar-powered light that is scarcely noticeable to humans but is very disruptive to the sleep of the geese, causing them to find another habitat after just a few restless nights. The solar-powered lights charge each day and flash 360 degrees, every two seconds from dusk to dawn, at eye-level of the geese. All geese deterrent products require no maintenance and the durable ABS plastic of their bases will withstand any weather conditions. Each unit will get rid of geese in a 75-yard radius. There is a unit for every type of landscape.
We are the industry expert; we know how to get rid of geese and keep them off your lawn. Since we started 11 years ago, we’ve sold over 16,000 geese repellent products and we are proud to say that our success rate is over 97%. This is how we can guarantee that you will be satisfied with the results. If for some reason you are not satisfied after 90 days, you can return the unit(s) up to 180 days after purchase for a full refund. Additionally, there is a two-year warranty on all parts.
If you think our maintenance-free and guaranteed solution sounds too good to be true, please check out our Testimonials. It’s full of property managers and home owners that no longer have geese, thanks to our product that delivers on its promise.
Residential Unit
The original unit is designed to easily rid private lawns, fields and gardens of unwanted geese, taking only seconds to install and easily moved, if so desired. It is satisfaction guaranteed to deter geese from the freshly-cut grass and water features of yards and prevents additional geese from coming and staying.
The Industrial Unit is recommended for use in public areas such as athletic fields, industrial areas, and parks, where theft of the unit is a concern. It builds on the success of the Residential Unit with the added security of a steel auger that twists into the ground to avert theft. It is completely worry free—no theft and no geese.
Water Unit
The floating Water Unit is recommended for use in ponds, lakes, retention areas and any waterway where unwanted geese are a problem. It is satisfaction guaranteed and is maintenance and worry free; it won’t tip or be affected by the elements, and can stay in the water year-round.
Dock Unit
The Dock Unit is recommended for docks where geese congregate, and to control geese on the land and water immediately around the dock. The Unit is satisfaction guaranteed to deter geese from the marinas and docks that geese find so secure, and is easily taken on and off of the included Bracket.
Roof Unit
The Roof Unit is recommended for use on flat rooftops of commercial buildings where Canada Geese reside. A wide and weighted base safely secures it in place, without penetrating or harming the roof. Prevent costly damage with this maintenance-free and guaranteed unit.
Industrial Cage
The heavy-duty steel Industrial Cage protects the Industrial Unit and is recommended for locations where a person abusing the unit is of concern. The Industrial Cage is mounted over and locked to the Industrial Unit, so that the unit is simultaneously safe from theft and also protected from harm by the Cage. (Industrial Unit sold separately).
ORDER or CONTACT
sales@awaywithgeese.com
US Patent No. 7699018
©2019 Away With Geese™
Placement Study
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Home Blog Tech News Mozilla Will Start Offering VPN Service To Users
Mozilla Will Start Offering VPN Service To Users
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Mozilla is partnering with Swiss VPN provider ProtonVPN to provide users online security via Firefox browser.
This service which is still under experiment will undergo a test where a few users in the US will be trying out the commercial service starting today October 24.
Operamini browser also did something similar to this when they introduced a free VPN service for users of their browser. This VPN service will protect Firefox browser from insecure connection, harmful websites and many other things a VPN has to offer.
"Our core mission is protecting privacy and security online," Proton VPN said in a blog post. "Mozilla, the creator of Firefox, strongly aligns with this mission and we're proud to partner with them to help more people stay safe."
While the Operamini VPN service was free, the ProtonVPN service which will be served via Firefox goes for $10 per month. The selling of this VPN service through the Firefox browser will generate some revenue for Mozilla.
Firefox will recommend the VPN service to her users. For example, Firefox users browsing the web on an unsecured wireless network will get this pop-up from Firefox: "Firefox recommends ProtonVPN, it appears you are browsing on an unsecured wireless network. Firefox has teamed up with ProtonVPN to provide you with a private and secure Internet connection. No matter where you are."
This service once subscribed to, can be accessed by the user through Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and macOS. And also, the VPN can be easily turned off, and the subscription easily canceled at any time.
Explaining via a blog post why ProtonVPN was chosen as the first advertise on Firefox, Mozilla said:
"Our team looked closely at a wide variety of factors, ranging from design and implementation of each VPN service and its accompanying software, to the security of the vendor's own network and internal systems. We examined each vendors privacy and data retention policies to ensure they logged as little user data as possible. And we considered numerous other factors, including local privacy laws, company track record, transparency, and quality of support."
For now, this VPN service is available for few individuals who are still testing the service. If the experiment goes well, the service will be made available to Firefox users who are over 300 million in the world.
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Four-artist exhibit opens at Columbia's Meeting House Gallery
By By Mike Giuliano
Oct 01, 2014 | 6:10 AM
There are enough bright colors on the wall to draw your attention in the four-artist exhibit titled "Sidetracked" at the Meeting House Gallery in Columbia.
Among the artists most devoted to richly saturated colors is Richard P. Weiblinger, whose digital photographs often possess a glowing quality. The extreme floral close-up in "Blue Lily Golden Center" assertively makes its presence known. Likewise, "Lotus Glowing 7474" has bold shades of yellow, purple and orange.
Weiblinger has more than flowers by way of subject matter. In "Ships Dry Dock," the boats' exposed hulls are painted in colors including red, blue and green.
Ironically, it's the loss of color that makes for a noteworthy subject in "White Barns." This is a rural scene in which the faded white paint on several closely spaced old barns seems like it will flake off completely after a few more seasons.
The most strikingly unusual photo by Weiblinger is "Space Ship Corridor 3966," depicting a brightly lit empty corridor that seems ominously calm. You almost expect to hear the talking computer from Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" in this science fiction-evocative image.
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Photographer Pete McCutchen also favors strong colors in his archival inkjet prints. "Rolling," "Arc" and other pieces are tightly cropped depictions of roller coasters. The spare architecture consists of supporting columns and arcing tracks backed by a vividly blue sky. The imagery is so sleekly minimal and so vibrantly colored that these compositions verge on being geometric abstractions.
The third artist in this show, Al Biegel, is represented by oil paintings that are colorful in a relatively subdued manner. "Poppy Field Near Villars, Provence," for instance, is a French landscape scene in which closely spaced red dabs of paint indicate the flowers growing on a gently sloping hill.
The predominant color is purple in "Woman in Lavender Field," in which the rows of flowering lavender are complemented by a woman's dress that has the same color worked into it. In "Lavender Basket No. 1," the artist offers a close-up view of a woven basket containing clippings of lavender. The thick application of paint suggests the texture of both the basket and the clippings it contains.
The fourth artist, Allison Pasarew, seems like she would be more at home stylistically in a different group show. Fortunately, her art is clustered together on the walls in such a way that it's able to succeed on its own terms.
Pasarew has mostly small-scale, untitled charcoal and acrylic works on paper depicting metal coils that are backed by monochromatic hues of brown and gray.
She also has small-scale, untitled found objects that have been framed and now hang on the wall. These objects are actual metal coils. They are so thin that their curling forms possess a delicate sensibility.
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"Sidetracked" runs through Oct. 18 at The Meeting House Gallery, in the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center at 5885 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. Call 410-730-4090 or go to http://www.themeetinghousegallery.org.
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Lisa Levin , Benzinga Staff Writer
October 17, 2017 4:52am 1135 Comments
Recon Technology, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RCON) shares surged 108.41 percent to close at $2.13 on Monday after the company disclosed an agreement with Beijing OriginWater Purification Engineering Technology Co., Ltd to collaborate on sewage treatment.
Transenterix Inc (NASDAQ: TRXC) shares jumped 92.47 percent to close at $2.81 following FDA 510(k) clearance for its Senhance System.
Digiliti Money Group Inc (OTC: DGLT) gained 56.86 percent to close at $0.800.
Leading Brands, Inc (USA) (NASDAQ: LBIX) shares rose 24.23 percent to close at $2.82 on Monday after climbing 68.15 percent on Friday. Leading Brands reported a Q2 loss of $0.25 per share on revenue of $509,000.
Chinanet Online Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: CNET) shares gained 19.64 percent to close at $1.34 on Monday.
Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (NYSE: RT) shares rose 18.59 percent to close at $2.36 on Monday after the company agreed to be acquired for $2.40 per share in cash.
LiNiu Technology Group (NASDAQ: LINU) shares climbed 17.98 percent to close at $2.10 on volume.
TDH Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: PETZ) shares gained 17.97 percent to close at $29.22 on Monday.
Jupai Holdings Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: JP) shares rose 17.65 percent to close at $24.13.
Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) shares surged 17.21 percent to close at $29.02 after the company announced an encouraging update for its CABOMETYX (cabozantinib) therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Patriot National Inc (NYSE: PN) shares rose 16.39 percent to close at $1.42 on Monday. Patriot National received an extension for continued listing and trading of the stock on the NYSE.
Gravity Co., LTD. (ADR) (NASDAQ: GRVY) shares gained 15.47 percent to close at $42.69 on Monday.
EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ: ETRM) jumped 15.46 percent to close at $2.24.
Health Insurance Innovations Inc (NASDAQ: HIIQ) rose 11.64 percent to close at $21.10 after the company issued a strong forecast for the third quarter and announced a $50 million buyback plan.
bluebird bio Inc (NASDAQ: BLUE) shares gained 8.81 percent to close at $143.30. Evercore ISI Group upgraded bluebird bio from In-Line to Outperform.
Five Prime Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: FPRX) shares gained 7.6 percent to close at $46.74 on Monday. BMO Capital upgrades Five Prime Therapeutics from Market Perform to Outperform.
Meridian Waste Solutions Inc (NASDAQ: MRDN) shares tumbled 22.31 percent to close at $0.940 on Monday.
Natural Health Trends Corp. (NASDAQ: NHTC) shares dipped 20.34 percent to close at $19.86 on Monday. Natural Health Trends reported Q3 preliminary sales of $40.1 million, versus $70.7 million in prior year quarter.
Root9B Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: RTNB) shares declined 17.78 percent to close at $0.740.
TG Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: TGTX) shares fell 15.68 percent to close at $9.27 on Monday. The FDA stated that GENUINE 3 results will cause an issue for getting an accelerated approval.
Akers Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: AKER) tumbled 15.4 percent to close at $0.890.
Tandem Diabetes Care Inc (NASDAQ: TNDM) declined 14.38 percent to close at $2.56. Tandem Diabetes Care is expected to release its Q3 results on October 26, 2017.
Inventure Foods Inc (NASDAQ: SNAK) shares dropped 14.29 percent to close at $4.38 on Monday.
Cenveo, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVO) shares slipped 13.57 percent to close at $1.91.
Ampio Pharmaceuticals Inc (NYSE: AMPE) shares dropped 13.36 percent to close at $0.936. Ampio Pharma priced $6.75 millio registered direct offering at $0.875 per share.
TOP SHIPS Inc (NASDAQ: TOPS) dropped 13.32 percent to close at $0.520 on Monday.
Veritone Inc (NASDAQ: VERI) shares slipped 13 percent to close at $31.53.
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: FENC) shares declined 12.29 percent to close at $10.56 after the company reported that its Phase 3 SIOPEL study met its primary endpoint.
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: MTSI) shares dropped 12.03 percent to close at $36.58. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded MACOM Technology from Buy to Hold.
Ardelyx Inc (NASDAQ: ARDX) declined 12.03 percent to close at $6.40 on Monday as the company reported tenapanor reduces pain caused by IBS-C through the inhibition of TRPV-1 dependent signaling.
Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ: SHLD) shares fell 11.5 percent to close at $5.99 after the company disclosed that Bruce Berkowitz decided to step down from the Sears board.
Smart Global Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: SGH) shares declined 10.5 percent to close at $30.16 on Monday.
eGain Corp (NASDAQ: EGAN) shares fell 10.29 percent to close at $3.05.
Antares Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: ATRS) shares slipped 9.7 percent to close at $2.10 on Monday after tumbling 37.80 percent on Friday.
Imperva Inc (NASDAQ: IMPV) slipped 5.96 percent to close at $41.00. Piper Jaffray downgraded Imperva from Overweight to Neutral.
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by: ELAINE KURTENBACH, Associated Press
FILE – In this July 5, 2019, file photo trader Benjamin Tuchman works at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 11. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index edged 0.1% higher to 21,674.14 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.5% to 28,575.96. The Shanghai Composite index also rose 0.5%, to 2,931.12 while Australia’s S&P ASX 200 edged 2.6 points lower to 6,713.50. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.3% to 2,087.46. Shares fell in Taiwan but rose in Bangkok and Singapore.
Regional investors were watching for Chinese trade data due out later Friday.
The Wall Street milestones came on a day when the S&P 500 briefly topped 3,000 for the second straight day before the rally ran out of steam
The market lost some ground after an auction of long-term U.S. government bonds failed to drum up strong demand. That pulled bond prices lower, sending the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note to 2.13% from 2.06% late Wednesday, a big move.
Stocks have been trending higher for much of the week as investors have grown more confident that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates for the first time in a decade as soon as the end of this month.
The S&P 500 rose 0.2% to 2,999.91 and has set three straight record highs. The Dow gained 0.8% to 27,088.08. The Nasdaq composite gave up an early gain, sliding 0.1% to 8,196.04, while the Russell 2000 index of smaller company stocks dropped 0.5% to 1,557.92.
Stocks rose from the get-go Thursday as investors looked ahead to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell testifying before a Congressional committee for the second straight day.
Powell stressed that the Fed is prepared to cut interest rates to support the economy, raising hopes that the first reduction in its key policy rate in a decade could happen later this month.
He noted that “uncertainties around trade tensions and concerns about the strength of the global economy continue to weigh on the U.S. economic outlook.”
New government data released Thursday showed consumer prices rose in June from a year earlier. The bump in inflation wasn’t expected to give the Fed reason to reconsider whether it should lower rates, if necessary. Inflation has remained muted through much of the economy’s 10-year expansion, which Powell has said cited as a justification for potentially lowering rates.
“With the latest inflation data uptick led by volatile categories, equity investors quickly brushed it aside and continued to relish in the afterglow of a far more dovish than expected Chair Powell as rate cut fever remains alive and well,” Stephen Innes of Vanguard Markets said in a commentary.
ENERGY: Benchmark crude oil rose 37 cents to $60.57 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Thursday, it lost 23 cents to settle at $60.20 a barrel. Brent crude oil, the international standard, added 44 cents to $66.96 per barrel. It dropped 49 cents to close at $66.52 a barrel in London.
CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 108.37 Japanese yen from 108.50 yen on Thursday. The euro strengthened to $1.1271 from $1.1254.
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Recorded over the course of a year and a half, this collection of tracks goes further with the performance based production technique which began towards the end of recording UNFOLD. Heavily influenced by everyday life but in particular my studio routine becoming more refined. Setting small goals to push my process into new directions. Experimenting with the same things but in a new way. For the sake of trying something new. I also became very intrigued by analog synthesis and the juxtaposition of those very electronic sounds mixed with very organic elements, recorded from a variety of instruments loaned by my brother, Trevor Stewart. Finding that balance and where to draw lines is part of the process that cannot be understated. As is the ability to collaborate with someone who comes at music in a completely different way. The studio time we were able to spend together following the passing of our grandparents resulted in not only personal healing but also some very inspirational sounds, a few of which are included in the collection.
As always, I want to create an emotional connection to the listener but not in an overly recognizable fashion. While I feel DONTS was me finding that connection and UNFOLD being a superior collection on a technical level but not quite as emotionally connected I feel these tracks are the combination of the two and I hope as with anyone who makes things to share with the world, that growth is evident, efforts recognized and product enjoyed.
Recorded primarily following the turn of 2019 into early summer. Created in response to the end of an 8 year relationship and all of the inevitable changes that go along with such things. A new studio, residence, daily routine, perspective and general sense of reality all played a significant role in the outcome of these tracks as a collection.
As CLEME, visual artist Ian Walker Stewart, founder of BIGMENTION, creates moody, textured, heady, sometimes ambient sounds in the key of hip hop but not married to any genre. Geographically located in the middle of the great plains but having spent time on both coasts, the influences of all things come together. A thoughtful fusion of abstract beats, visuals, and sonic textures that blends music and art in a powerfully coherent aesthetic.
SELECT DISCOGRAPHY
Links: WEBSITE | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Booking / Management: jesse@naymlis.com
DEMOBEATZ
WONTS
demo-info
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Intraspecific variation in migratory pattern of a partial migrant, the Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) : An evaluation of different hypotheses
Jan Åke Nilsson
Publication/Series: The Auk
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/4087239
Publisher: BioOne
To evaluate hypotheses explaining intraspecific variation in migratory behavior in partial migrants, a local population of Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus) was studied in southern Sweden. Birds born in the study area and recaptured there in winter were compared with birds recaptured at a nearby bird station where a large number of migrant Blue Tits were passing. By comparing sex ratios among migrants and residents, we concluded that, among juveniles, more than 40% of the females and a significant proportion of the males migrated, while considerably fewer adult females and virtually no adult males did so. Migrant and resident Blue Tits did not differ in size as nestlings, but more late- than early-hatched males migrated. No differences in hatching date were determined for females, presumably because most of them migrated. Our findings are consistent with the "dominance hypothesis" as an explanation of partial migration, i.e. that the individuals lowest in rank migrate. The fitness gain that leads dominants to stay as residents may be lower winter mortality or a higher probability of establishing a territory in spring. In either case, keener competition for breeding territories among males than among females as a cause tor higher residency cannot be excluded.
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ALERTS / RSS
New Results
Structure and function of accessory Sec proteins involved in the adhesin export pathway of Streptococcus gordonii
Yu Chen, Barbara A. Bensing, Ravin Seepersaud, Wei Mi, Maofu Liao, Philip D. Jeffrey, Asif Shajahan, Roberto N. Sonon, Parastoo Azadi, Paul M. Sullam, Tom A. Rapoport
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/219105
Yu Chen
Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Barbara A. Bensing
San Francisco Veteran Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
Ravin Seepersaud
Wei Mi
Maofu Liao
Philip D. Jeffrey
Princeton University, Department of Molecular Biology, Schultz 219, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
Asif Shajahan
University of Georgia, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, 315 Riverbend Rd., Athens, GA 30602, USA
Roberto N. Sonon
Parastoo Azadi
Paul M. Sullam
Tom A. Rapoport
Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell Biology
For correspondence: tom_rapoport@hms.harvard.edu
Info/History
Many pathogenic bacteria, including Streptococcus gordonii, possess a pathway for the export of a single serine-rich-repeat protein that mediates the adhesion of bacteria to host cells and the extracellular matrix. These adhesins are O-glycosylated by several cytosolic glycosyltransferases and require three accessory Sec proteins (Asp1-3) for export, but how the adhesins are processed for secretion is not well defined. Here, we show that O-glycosylation of S. gordonii adhesin GspB occurs in a sequential manner by three enzymes (GtfA/B, Nss, Gly) that attach N-acetylglucosamine and glucose to Ser/Thr residues. The modified substrate is subsequently transferred from the last glycosyltransferase to the Asp1/2/3 complex. Crystal structures show that both Asp1 and Asp3 are related to carbohydrate binding proteins. Asp1 also has an affinity for phospholipids, which is attenuated by Asp2. These results suggest a mechanism for the modification of adhesin in the cytosol and its subsequent targeting to the export machinery.
Adhesion proteins are instrumental for the pathogenicity of bacteria (1). Streptococci and staphylococci bacteria express serine-rich repeat (SRR) adhesins that are exported from the cell, but remain associated with the cell wall and allow the bacteria to attach to the host cells and their extracellular matrix (2, 3). In addition, these adhesins may also mediate interactions between bacteria, facilitating biofilm formation and bacterial colonization (4). The biosynthesis of SRR adhesins is a promising target of novel antibiotics that could be used to treat diseases caused by streptococci and staphylococci, such as infective endocarditis, pneumococcal pneumonia, neonatal sepsis, and meningitis (3).
SRR adhesins use a dedicated pathway for their export from the cytosol, called the accessory Sec system (5, 6); most other proteins are exported from the bacterial cell by the canonical Sec pathway (7). In the canonical pathway, proteins are moved by the SecA ATPase through the protein-conducting SecY channel. In the accessory Sec pathway, export is mediated by distinct SecA and SecY proteins (SecA2 and SecY2). These components are encoded in an operon that also includes the adhesin substrate as well as several glycosyltransferases and accessory Sec system proteins (Asps) (5, 6). The glycosyltransferases attach sugar residues to adhesin before its export from the cytosol (2, 8), but the exact roles of the glycosyltransferases and Asps in the export pathway is not well defined.
The SRR adhesins are initially modified with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) at multiple Ser/Thr residues by the heterodimeric GtfA/B glycosyltransferase (9–14). The deletion of GtfA or GtfB results in non-glycosylated adhesins that are prone to degradation (11, 14, 15). Glycosylation is physiologically important as the deletion of GtfA also reduces the adhesion of bacteria to host cells (15, 16). Recent results show that GtfA is the catalytic subunit, while GtfB is involved in substrate binding (10). Most SRR adhesins are further modified by additional glycosyltransferases that are also encoded by the same operon (5, 6). In S. parasanguinis and S. pneumoniae, they modify adhesins in a sequential manner (17, 18). In S. gordonii, there are two such glycosyltransferases, Nss and Gly (5). Deletion of either enzyme results in compromised modification of the SRR adhesin GspB (9). Nss from related streptococcal species adds glucose to GlcNAc attached to Ser/Thr-containing peptides (19–21). It is unclear how Gly modifies the adhesin GspB, and whether Nss and Gly act sequentially or have redundant functions.
S. gordonii encode three Asps (Asp1,2,3), which are conserved among different bacterial species that express SRR adhesins (5, 6). Deletion of any of the Asps blocks the export of the adhesin GspB and results in its intracellular accumulation (15, 22). An essential role for the Asps in the biogenesis of SRR adhesins has also been observed in other species (16, 23–25). Interactions among the Asps and of the Asps with substrate and SecA2 have been reported for both S. gordonii and S. parasanguinis (where the Asps are called Gaps) (22–24, 26–28), but it remains unclear how the Asps function in GspB export.
Here, we show that the modification of the adhesin GspB of S. gordonii by the glycosyltransferases occurs in a sequential manner. First, GlcNAc residues are attached to Ser/Thr residues in the SRR domains of GspB. Next, Nss adds glucose to GlcNAc, and finally, Gly adds glucose to previously attached glucose residues. Interestingly, Gly remains bound to the modified substrate. Release of modified GspB from Gly is caused by the complex of the three Asps (Asp complex). Crystal structures show that indeed both Asp1 and Asp3 are carbohydrate-binding proteins. Asp1 is a catalytically inactive member of the GT-B family of glycosyltransferases and Asp3 contains a carbohydrate-binding module also found in several glycosidases. Our results also show that Asp1 has an affinity for negatively charged phospholipids, which may facilitate substrate delivery to the membrane. Taken together, our results suggest a model for the pathway by which the adhesin is modified and targeted to the export machinery.
Glycosyltransferases act in a sequential manner
To test the role of the glycosyltransferases in adhesin modification, we produced a fragment of the GspB substrate by in vitro translation in reticulocyte lysate in the presence of 35S-methionine. The GspB fragment (GspB-F; Figure S1) contains residues 91 to 736, including the first Ser/Thr-rich domain (SRR1), an intervening sequence that normally binds to host cells (binding region; BR), and the N-terminal part of the second Ser/Thr-rich domain (SRR2N). It lacks the N-terminal signal sequence. GspB-F with the signal sequence is glycosylated in S. gordonii cells and secreted with the same efficiency as full-length adhesin (29). In vitro translation of GspB-F generated non-glycosylated protein that could be visualized as a single band after SDS-PAGE and autoradiography (Figure 1A; lane 1). As described previously, when a purified complex of GtfA and GftB and UDP-GlcNAc were added after translation, a size shift was observed, caused by modification of GspB-F with GlcNAc residues (G1 species; lane 2). Subsequent addition of purified Nss and UDP-Glc resulted in a further size shift (G2 species; lane 3). Nss did not function with UDP-GlcNAc (Figure 1B; lane 3 versus 2). Finally, yet a larger species was generated when purified Gly was introduced (G3 species; Figure 1A; lane 4). Nss did not attach Glc residues to unmodified GspB-F (Figure 1C; lane 1 versus 3), indicating that it can only modify substrate after GtfA/B has added GlcNAc residues. The same is true for Gly (Figure 1D; lane 1). Finally, modification by Gly was dependent on the prior action of Nss (Figure 1E; lane 3 versus 4). Taken together, these results indicate that GtfA/B, Nss, and Gly function in a defined order; GtfA adds GlcNAc residues to Ser/Thr residues in the SRR domains, which are then further modified with Glc residues by the sequential action of Nss and Gly.
Adhesin is sequentially O-glycosylated by three glycosyltransferases.
(A) A fragment of the S. gordonii adhesin GspB (GspB-F) was synthesized in reticylocyte lysate in the presence of 35S-methionine. After translation, the glycosyltransferases GtfA/B, Nss, and Gly were added, as indicated, together with UDPGlcNAc or UDP-Glc. The samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. G1, G2, and G3 indicate different glycosylated species.
(B) In vitro synthesized GspB-F was incubated with Nss and either UDP-Glc or UDPGlcNAc.
(C) In vitro synthesized GspB-F was incubated with UDP-sugars and Nss in the absence or presence of GtfA/B.
(D) In vitro synthesized GspB-F was modified with GtfA/B or Gly in the presence of UDP-GlcNAc or UDP-Glc, respectively.
(E) In vitro synthesized GspB-F was modified with GtfA/B and further incubated in the presence of UDP-Glc with either Nss or Gly.
(F) The left panel shows the domain organization of Gly. The right panel shows in vitro synthesized GspB-F that was incubated with GtfA/B, Nss, and either full-length Gly or its N- or C-terminal domains, together with UDP-Glc or UDP-GlcNAc.
To test whether the modification of GspB with multiple sugars occurs in vivo, we purified GspB-F secreted from S. gordonii and used mass spectrometry to analyze sugars released by β-elimination (Figure S2A). The results show that the protein indeed contains one N-acetyl hexose (HexNAc) and either zero, one, or two hexoses.
Modification with three sugar residues was also seen when GspB-F was expressed in E. coli together with GtfA/B, Nss, and Gly (Figure S2B). Although identification of modified GspB-F peptides by mass spectrometry was challenging, we identified with confidence a SRR1 peptide that contained a Ser modified by one GlcNAc and two hexoses (Figure S2C). Taken together, these results are consistent with the idea that Nss and Gly add glucose residues to GlcNAc attached by GtfA/B to Ser/Thr of GspB-F.
Nss consists of a single domain that has a typical GT-B glycosyltransferase fold (20, 21). Gly consists of three domains (Figure 1F; left panel). The first two domains are predicted to have GT-A and GT-B glycosyltransferase folds, respectively, and the third domain has a recently identified GT-D fold (30). Of note, the isolated GT-D domain from a Gly homolog of S. parasanguinis has enzymatic activity for its substrate (30). We found that the isolated GT-D of S. gordonii Gly was capable of adding Glc residues to GspB-F pre-modified with GtfA/B and Nss (Figure 1F; right panel, lane 6), whereas the isolated N-terminal fragment containing the GT-A and GT-B folds was inactive (lane 5). Thus, despite the fact that the N-terminal domains are sequence-related to glycosyltransferases, they seem to lack enzymatic activity.
Substrate binds to Gly and is released by the Asp complex
To our surprise, we noticed that fully modified GspB-F remained associated with Gly, the last glycosyltransferase; essentially all G3 species could be recovered with a fusion of Gly with glutathione S-transferase (Gly-GST), followed by binding to a glutathione resin (Figure 2A; lane 2). In contrast, neither GtfA/B (10) nor Nss (lane 1) had appreciable affinity for the product of their modification reactions, as commonly seen for enzymes. The material bound to Gly-GST could be partially released from the beads with a 100-fold excess of full-length Gly (Figure 2B; lane 4), but not with the isolated C-terminal GT-D domain (lane 2). These data suggest that the modified substrate is reversibly bound by the N-terminal GT-A/B domains. This conclusion is supported by the fact that the isolated GT-D domain can generate the G3 species, but does not interact strongly with it, as demonstrated by the absence of competition with the full-length Gly protein (Figure 2C; lane 1). This experiment also shows that the binding of Gly to its enzymatic product is separable from the modification reaction per se. In our system, product binding by the N-terminal GT-A/B domains does not interfere with the enzymatic activity of the C-terminal GT-D domain, because Gly is in large excess over substrate and the N-terminal domains binds reversibly to the product.
The glycosyltransferase Gly remains associated with its enzymatic product.
(A) Gsp-F was synthesized in vitro in the presence of 35S-methionine and then glycosylated with GtfA/B to generate the G1 species, followed by incubation with either a GST-fusion to Nss (Nss-GST; lane 1) or wild type Nss (lane 2) to generate the G2 species. The sample in lane 2 was further incubated with a GST-fusion to Gly (Gly-GST) to generate the G3 species. The samples were then incubated with glutathione-beads, and the bound and unbound fractions analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography.
(B) The G3 species was generated with GtfA/B, Nss, and GST-Gly and bound to glutathione-beads. After washing, the beads were incubated with either the same amount (1:1) or a 100-fold excess (1:100) of His-tagged versions of either full-length Gly (Gly) or C-terminal Gly domain (C-domain). The bound and unbound fractions were analyzed as in (A).
(C) The G3 species was generated with a His-tagged version of the C-domain of Gly (Gly C-domain). The sample was then mixed with either the same amount (1:1) or a 100-fold excess (1:100) of Gly-GST and incubated with glutathione-beads. Bound and unbound fractions were analyzed as in (A).
(D) The G3 species was generated with Gly-GST and bound to glutathione-beads. After washing, the beads were incubated with Asp1, Asp1/3 complex, or Asp1/2/3 complex, and the bound and unbound fractions were analyzed as in (A).
Next, we tested the role of the Asps. Neither of the three Asps had an effect on the glycosylation reactions catalyzed by GtfA/B, Nss, or Gly (Figure S3). However, the complex of the three Asps released the fully glycosylated G3 species from Gly-GST (Figure 2D; lane 4). Asp1 alone or a complex of Asp1 and Asp3 (Asp1/3) was inactive in the release reaction (lanes 2, 3). These results suggest that the complex of all three Asp proteins may be involved in the transfer of glycosylated substrate from the last glycosyltransferase to the next step in the export pathway.
Structures of the Asps
Since our data suggest that the Asp complex can accept fully glycosylated substrate from Gly, we suspected that it can interact with carbohydrates. To test this possibility, we determined the crystal structures of Asp1 alone (resolution of 2.77Å) and of an Asp1/3 complex (resolution of 3.11Å) (Table S1). The structure of Asp1 is similar to that of GtfA and GtfB (Figure 3A,B,F). Like GtfA or GtfB, Asp1 has two Rossmann-like folds (R-folds I and II), which are typical for the GT-B family of glycosyltransferases (Figure 3A). In addition, it has the typical extended β-sheet domain (EBD). Together, these domains form a U-shaped structure. As in the enzymatically inactive GtfB protein, the cleft between R-folds I and II is negatively charged (Figure 3B). In contrast, GtfA and other enzymatically active GT-B family members have a positively charged cleft that is required to bind UDP-sugars (Figure 3B). Like GtfB, Asp1 lacks two positively charged residues in the active site and has a Gln residue at position 438 in place of an essential Glu residue (Figure 3B, lower panels). The structure thus supports the idea that Asp1, like GtfB, is a carbohydrate binding protein, rather than an active glycosyltransferase. Consistent with the postulated substrate binding site, when two conserved Asp residues in the cleft between the R-folds were mutated to Arg, secretion of GspB-F from S. gordonii cells was abolished (Figures 4A, B; sequence alignment shown in Figure S4).
Crystal structures of Asp1 and Asp3.
(A) Crystal structure of Asp1 alone. Shown is a ribbon diagram of the model imbedded in a space-filling presentation. The helices and the β-sheets of Rossmann folds I and II (R-folds I and II) are shown in cyan and purple, respectively. The extended β-sheet domain (EBD) is shown in green.
(B) The upper panels show space-filling models of Asp1, GtfB, and GtfA, with the electrostatic surface calculated with the Adaptive Poisson-Boltzmann Solver, as implemented in Pymol, using a scale from −5.000 to 5.000 (bottom). The yellow circle indicates the cleft between the R-folds, which is negatively charged for Asp1 and GtfB, and positively charged for GtfA. The lower panels show magnified views of the cleft in ribbon presentation. Residues in the active site of GtfA and the corresponding residues in the enzymatically inactive Asp1 and GtfB are shown in stick presentation.
(C) Structure of the Asp1/3 complex. Shown is a ribbon diagram of the model, with Asp1 in green and Asp3 in blue. The right panel also shows a space-filling model of the interfaces between Asp1 and Asp3.
(D) Comparison of Asp3 with two CBM families. The two CBMs shown bind their sugar substrates at different sites.
(E) Comparison of the structures of Asp1 in isolation and when bound to Asp3 (brown and green, respectively).
(F) Comparison of the open conformation of Asp1 in isolation with GtfA (left panel; brown and cyan, respectively), and of the closed conformation of Asp1 when bound to Asp3 with GtfB (right panel; green and yellow, respectively).
Mutations in Asp1 and Asp3 affect secretion of adhesin from S. gordonii cells.
(A) Ribbon diagram of the Asp1/3 complex (Asp1 in green, Asp3 in blue), with mutated Asp1 residues in the cleft between R-folds I and II shown in stick presentation in magenta.
(B) The endogenous Asp1 protein of S. gordonii was replaced with the indicated Asp1 mutants. Secretion of FLAG-tagged GspB-F from the cells was tested by subjecting the medium and protoplasts to SDS-PAGE, followed by immoblotting with FLAG antibodies.
(C) As in (A), but with mutated Asp3 residues. Mutations in the potential carbohydrate binding regions, the concave surface of the β-sandwich and at the tips of the β-strands, are shown in stick presentation in yellow and orange, respectively.
(D) As in (B), but with a S. gordonii strain lacking Asp3, expressing either wild type or mutant Asp3. Asp3_Mu4 contains mutations E57K, K132E, K99E, Q134R, and Asp3_Mu15 harbors the mutations E45K and N46K.
Asp1 forms a stable 1:1 complex with Asp3 (Figure S5A). Asp3 could not be stably isolated on its own, suggesting that it has Asp1 as an obligatory partner. Consistent with this observation, deletion of the Asp1 homolog Gap1 in S. parasanguinis results in the degradation of the Asp3 homolog Gap3 (28). The Asp1/3 structure shows that Asp3 consists of two anti-parallel β-sheets (β-sandwich) (Figure 3C). Asp3 uses two different regions to bind to Asp1 (interfaces I and II). Interface I binds to the EBD of Asp1, and interface II to both the EBD and the cleft between the R-folds (Figure 3C). Asp3 is structurally related to carbohydrate binding modules (CBM) in glycosidases (31, 32) (Figure 3D). Interestingly, different CBMs bind their sugar ligands with different surfaces, some with the concave surface of the β-sandwich and others with the tips of the β-strands (33, 34) (Figure 3D). In the case of Asp3, the latter binding site seems to be more important, as mutations of conserved residues in this area had a drastic effect on GspB-F secretion from S. gordonii, whereas mutations in the concave surface of the β-sandwich had only a small effect (Figures 4C, D). In the Asp1/3 complex, the Asp1 protein adopts a closed conformation, in which R-fold II moves towards the EBD (Figure 3E). The two ends of the U-shaped structure of Asp1 are much closer in the closed conformation than in the open state (10 Å versus 20 Å; Figure 3F). The open and closed conformations resemble those of GtfA and GtfB, respectively (Figure 3F; ref. (10)). A conformational change from the open to the closed state has been observed for GtfA/B and is likely required for the binding of adhesin.
Asp1, 2, and 3 co-migrated in gel filtration (Figure S5B), but light scattering experiments indicated that there was a mixture of monomeric and dimeric complexes that contain one copy each of Asp1, 2, and 3 (Figure S5C). This heterogeneity is likely the explanation for why these complexes did not crystallize. We therefore attempted to obtain structural information by other means. Addition of trypsin to the Asp1/3 complex generated one Asp1 and one Asp3 peptide, which were not observed with the Asp1/2/3 complex (Figure 5A; indicated by stars). The cleavage sites protected by Asp2 are R430 of Asp1 and R23 of Asp3 (Figure 5B; R23 is in an unstructured region, so the figure shows flanking residues). Thus, Asp2 seems to bind to both Asp1 and Asp3 at the open end of the U-shaped Asp1/3 complex. Next, we used negative-stain electron microscopy (EM) to analyze the Asp1/3 and Asp1/2/3 complexes (Figure 5C, Figure S6). To better locate the individual proteins in the images, we fused the maltose-binding protein (MBP) to Asp1, Asp2, or both. Complexes containing the MBP fusions were monomeric, indicating that the MBP domain interfered with dimerization (Figure S5C). The results confirm that Asp2 sits at the open end of the Asp1/3 complex (Figure 5C, Figure S6). Negative-stain EM also confirmed that without MBP, the Asp1/2/3 complex consisted of a mixture of monomers and dimers. In the dimer, the Asp1/2/3 monomers associate in an anti-parallel fashion (Figure 5C, fourth panel from the left). It is unclear which form of the Asp complex is physiologically relevant.
Domain organization of the Asp1/2/3 complex.
(A) Purified Asp1/3 and Asp1/2/3 complexes were incubated with different concentrations of trypsin. The samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and staining with Coomassie blue. Tryptic fragments seen only with Asp1/3 are indicated by stars. C, control without trypsin.
(B) Approximate position of Asp2 in the Asp1/2/3 complex. The crystal structure of the Asp1/3 complex is shown as a ribbon diagram and Asp2 as a pink ellipse. Trypsin cleavage at residues R430 and R23 is prevented by Asp2. R430 is indicated as yellow balls. R23 is located in a flexible region that is invisible in the crystal structure, so residues G12 and S32 in the flanking segments are shown (in orange).
(C) The left three panels show the domain organization of Asp complexes that contain fusions of maltose binding protein (MBP) to Asp1 and/or Asp2. Shown are 2D averages of particles analyzed by negative-stain electron microscopy. The MBP tag prevents dimerization of the Asp1/2/3 complex. The characteristic two-globule shape of MBP and the domain structure of Asp1/3, as deduced from a comparison with the crystal structure, were used to identify the proteins. The right two panels show the domain organization of dimeric and monomeric untagged Asp1/2/3 complex.
Substrate targeting to membranes by Asp1/3
After being released from Gly by the Asp complex, the glycosylated substrate needs to be targeted to the membrane, a process that might be mediated by the Asps. We therefore tested whether the Asps have an affinity for membranes. To this end, purified Asps were incubated with liposomes of different phospholipid composition. The samples were then subjected to flotation in a Nycodenz gradient and fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie staining (Figure 6A). With liposomes containing a high percentage of negatively charged lipids (dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol; DOPG), Asp1 alone or Asp1/3 floated to the second fraction from the top (Figure 6B), which is also the peak position of the lipids (Figure S7). The Asp1/2/3 complex also bound to the liposomes, but it peaked at fraction 3, suggesting that Asp2 weakens the interaction with the liposomes. Indeed, when the percentage of negatively charged lipids was decreased, the binding of Asp1/2/3 was selectively reduced (Figures 6C, D). These results indicate that Asp1 and Asp1/3 have an affinity for negatively charged lipids. Given that Asp1 and Asp3 are always in a complex, Asp1 is likely responsible for membrane targeting of both proteins. Asp2 inhibits membrane interaction, suggesting that lipid head groups and Asp2 may compete for interaction with the Asp1/3 complex. No interaction of Asp1 and Asp1/3 with polar lipids from E. coli was observed (Figure 6E), consistent with the fact that E. coli contains a much lower percentage of negatively charged lipids than do streptococci (35–37).
Interaction of the Asps with phospholipid bilayers.
(A) Scheme of the binding assay. Liposomes containing different lipid compositions were mixed with Asps and the samples were subjected to flotation in a Nycodenz gradient. Fractions were collected from the top and analyzed by Coomassie staining. Liposome-bound proteins (green) are expected to cofloat with the lipids (white). Non-associated proteins (red) stay at the bottom.
(B)-(D) The indicated combinations of Asps were tested for binding to liposomes containing a different ratio of the negatively charged lipid dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG) and the neutral lipid dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE). Lipids peak in fraction 2. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a control.
(E) Binding of the Asps to liposomes generated with E. coli polar lipids.
To test whether a glycosylated substrate can be targeted to the membrane by the Asps, we incubated glycosylated GspB-F with either Asp1, Asp1/3, or Asp1/2/3, followed by incubation with liposomes containing negatively charged lipids. The vesicles were then floated in a Nycodenz gradient and fractions analyzed by immunoblotting for a FLAG tag on GspB-F and Coomassie staining. With either Asp1 or Asp1/3, a small, but reproducible fraction of the substrate floated with the liposomes (Figure 7A). No coflotation was observed with Asp1/2/3 or without the Asps. An Asp1/3 complex containing Asp3 mutations at the tip of the β-strands, which abolished GspB-F secretion in vivo (Figure 4C,D; mutant 15), was almost completely defective in substrate flotation (Figure 7B). Asp3 mutations in the concave surface area had a more moderate effect, again consistent with in vivo results. These results show that a substrate can be recruited by the Asp1/3 complex to the membrane.
Asps target adhesin to the membrane.
(A) Glycosylated, FLAG-tagged GspB-F was purified from S. gordonii cells lacking Nss and Gly, but the glycans contain significant amounts of hexose attached to GlcNAc, probably because of other glycosyl transferases. The purified protein was incubated with different combinations of the Asps, as indicated, followed by incubation with liposomes containing 70% DOPG, 29.5% DOPE and 0.5% Texas Red-DHPE. The liposomes were floated in a Nycodenz gradient and fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, followed by immunoblotting with FLAG antibodies and Coomassie blue staining (upper and lower panels, respectively). The percentage of membrane-associated Gsp-B was quantified in three experiments and is given underneath the FLAG immunoblot as means and standard error of the means.
(B) As in (A), but with Asp1/3 complexes containing either wild type or mutant Asp3. Asp3_Mu 1: E57K, K132E, Q134R; Asp3_Mu 4: E57K, K132E, K99E, Q134R; Asp3_Mu 12: K132E; Asp3_Mu 15: E45K, N46K. The quantification with the mutant complexes shows the means and standard error of two experiments.
Our results suggest a model for the first steps in the export of an SRR adhesin from the pathogenic bacterium S. gordonii. The adhesin (GspB) is first made as an unmodified protein. It is then sequentially glycosylated by three glycosyltransferases (see model in Figure 8, box 1). The first enzyme, GftA/B adds GlcNAc residues to Ser/Thr residues in SRR domains (G1 species). Next, Nss adds Glc to the GlcNAc residues (G2 species), and finally, Gly adds further Glc residues to those attached by Nss (G3 species). The fully glycosylated substrate is then transferred to the Asp1/2/3 complex (box 2). In the next step, the Asp1 protein would mediate the interaction of the Asp1/2/3 complex with the lipid bilayer (box 2). The Asp1/2/3 complex has a relatively low affinity for the membrane, so we assume that it continuously cycles between the cytosol and membrane, with the majority staying in the cytosol. Membrane binding of the Asp complex probably requires a conformational change to expose a lipid interaction domain on Asp1, an interface that seems to be fully available for membrane interaction in Asp1 or the Asp1/3 complex. Once at the membrane, the substrate would be delivered to SecA2 and SecY2 for translocation across the membrane (box 3). This is consistent with previous findings that the Asp1/2/3 localizes near SecA2 at the membrane (38).
Model for the export of adhesin from S. gordonii.
Box 1: The adhesin GspB is synthesized and then sequentially O-glycosylated by three glycosyltransferases. The first enzyme is GtfA/B, a tetramer that adds GlcNAc residues to Ser/Thr residues (G1 species). Then, Nss adds Glc to GlcNAc (G2 species), and finally Gly adds Glc to Glc residues (G3 species). Gly remains bound to the G3 species, until it is transferred to the Asp1/2/3 complex.
Box 2: Although the Asp complex has a low affinity for the lipid bilayer, it probably continuously cycles between the cytosol and membrane. The Asp complex likely undergoes a conformational change, in which Asp2 moves away from a lipid binding surface, allowing the Asp complex to deliver the substrate GspB to the membrane.
Box 3: GspB engages SecA2 and the SecY2 channel for its translocation across the membrane and the Asp complex returns to the cytosol.
Our data show that the glycosyltransferases act in a strictly sequential manner. GtfA/B only modifies Ser/Thr residues and has specificity for GlcNAc, while Nss and Gly recognize GlcNAc and Glc residues, respectively. Gly is an unusual enzyme, as it has affinity for the product of the reaction it catalyzes. This is explained by the fact that the enzymatic reaction is catalyzed by the C-terminal GT-D domain, whereas the binding to the product is mediated by the N-terminal GT-A and -B domains. Despite their similarity with glycosyltransferases, the GT-A and –B domains seem to belong to the class of catalytically inactive carbohydrate binding proteins, which also include GtfB and Asp1. Although the affinity of the GT-A and -B domains is high, glycosylated substrate can still dissociate from Gly, allowing its binding to the downstream Asp complex.
Surprisingly, both Asp1 and Asp3 are structurally related to carbohydrate-binding proteins. Asp1 is a catalytically inactive member of the GT-B family of glycosyltransferases and Asp3 is similar to the CBM domain of glycosidases. The presence of carbohydrate-binding motifs in Asp1 and Asp3 strongly supports the idea that they bind glycosylated adhesin. Indeed, our mutagenesis data provide evidence for substrate interaction with Asp3. Asp1 also seems to bind substrate, as it allows co-flotation with liposomes. The interactions of Asp1 and Asp3 with substrate are weak, as they do not survive in pull-down or gel filtration experiments (data not shown). However, substrate release from Gly (Fig. 2) and our co-flotation experiments (Fig. 7) indicate that the Asps do interact with substrate. The low binding affinity is in fact typical for carbohydrate-binding proteins (39). Our results do not exclude the possibility that, under certain conditions, the Asps can also interact with non-glycosylated adhesin. In fact, Asp1 has a similar structure as GtfB (Figure 3B), which can bind non-glycosylated substrate (10), and Asp2 and Asp3 have been shown to bind non-glycosylated GspB (40). Such an interaction would explain why GspB is secreted in an Asp-dependent manner in glycosylation-defective S. gordonii strains, although in this situation, much of the substrate is degraded (22). It should also be noted that some bacterial species export SRR adhesins in an Asp-dependent manner although they lack Gly and Nss (5). Asp1 also has an affinity for the lipid bilayer, which facilitates the recruitment of substrate to the membrane. Given that binding of Asp1 requires negatively charged phospholipids and is enhanced at higher salt concentrations (compare Figure 6B (100 mM) with Figure 7A (300 mM)), it seems that it is mediated by both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Taken together, our data indicate that Asp1 and 3 are carbohydrate- and lipid-binding proteins. We favor a model in which the Asps facilitate the transfer of glycosylated substrate to the membrane (Figure 8), rather than simply prevent their premature folding in the cytosol; the repetitive structure of the SRR domains and their extensive O-glycosylation would prevent the folding or aggregation of substrate even in the absence of the Asps. Indeed, under these conditions, glycosylated GspB accumulates in the cytosol as soluble protein (15).
How the substrate is delivered to SecA2 and SecY2 remains to be clarified. The signal sequence of adhesin and the adjacent “accessory Sec transport” (AST) domain are required to target the precursor to the accessory Sec system and initiate translocation (41). Although not very hydrophobic (5), the signal sequence could still facilitate the interaction with the lipid bilayer. Once the substrate is bound to the membrane, it could associate with SecA2, a transfer that may be facilitated by an interaction between the Asp complex and SecA2 (22, 38). Based on a homology model, SecA2 has a pronounced positively charged surface patch (Figure S8A, B), which could mediate its interaction with negatively charged phospholipids in the membrane. No such basic surface patch is seen in a homology model for S. gordonii SecA1 (Figure S8C). Since we were unsuccessful in purifying soluble SecA2, even in the presence of detergent, we speculate that SecA2 requires a lipid environment to maintain its native conformation and that it is permanently bound to the membrane, in contrast to SecA1, which cycles between the cytosol and membrane (7). According to the model, SecA2 would rely on the Asps to deliver substrate to the membrane where SecA2 could engage both the AST domain and the remainder of the mature domain, whereas in the canonical secretion system, SecA1 would do the job, with the chaperone SecB acting upstream for some substrates and bacteria (7). Once substrate has been recruited to the SecA2/SecY2 complex, it is likely translocated across the membrane by a mechanism similar to that of the canonical system.
Details are given in the Supporting Information.
Purification of proteins
All proteins were expressed in E. coli. GtfA/B complex was prepared as previously described (10). S. gordonii Nss, Gly, Gly N-domain (residue 1-411), and Gly C-domain (residue 412 - 682) were purified utilizing a His-tag. Nss and Gly were also expressed with a C-terminal glutathione S-transferase (GST) tag. Asp1 was expressed with a C-terminal GST tag, either alone or together with Asp3. Purification was performed with glutathione sepharose 4B beads, the GST portion was cleaved off, and the proteins were further purified by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Mutations were introduced into Asp1 or Asp3 by QuikChange mutagenesis. For electron microscopy, untagged Asp1 and Asp3 were co-expressed with Asp2 fused its N-terminus with either maltose binding protein or GST. After purification on either amylose or glutathione resin, the proteins were further purified by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. To generate the Asp1/2/3 complex without a tag, the GST tag was cleaved from Asp2 by thrombin protease, and subsequently removed by gel filtration.
In vitro glycosylation assays
GspB-F was generated by in vitro translation in reticulocyte lysate in the presence of 35S-methionine and analyzed as previously described (10). In vitro glycosylation was performed at 37 °C. GtfA/B (1.6 μM), 10 mM UDP-GlcNAc, and GspB-F (2 μl) were first incubated in 5 μl for 10 min, followed by 6.4 μM Nss and 10 mM UDP-glc for 20 min, and 6 μM Gly and 10 mM UDP-Glc for 1 hr. Where indicated, Asp1, Asp1/3, or Asp1/2/3 were included in the reaction at 17 μM.
Pull-down experiments
In vitro-synthesized substrate binding of Nss and Gly was tested with GST-tagged enzymes and magnetic glutathione resin. Where indicated, Asp proteins, Gly, or Gly-C domain were added prior to the resin. Bound and unbound fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography.
Crystallization and structure determination
Crystallization of Asp1 and Asp1/3 complex was performed by the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method at 22 °C. Both native and selenium SAD data sets were collected at beamline 24ID-C at the Argonne National Laboratory and processed with XDS (42) and autoPROC (43). The positions of Se atoms were determined and phases were calculated using AutoSol Wizard in PHENIX (44). A complete model of Asp1/3 was built in Coot (45). The structure was refined with Phenix.refine (46). The structure of Asp1 was determined by molecular replacement using PHASER in PHENIX (44), with the Asp1 lacking the R-fold II as the initial search model. The model was modified in Coot (45) and refined with Phenix.refine (46). Figures showing structures were prepared in PyMOL (Version 1.5.0.4 Schrödinger, LLC.). All software packages were accessed through SBGrid (47).
Secretion of GspB-F from S. gordonii
Asp1 or Asp3 variants were cloned into plasmid pMSP3545 as described (15) and introduced into S. gordonii strain PS1242 (gspB::pB736flagC ∆asp1::spec) or PS1244 (gspB::pB736flagC ∆asp3::spec), respectively (22, 38), by natural transformation (48). GspB-F secretion was determined by immunoblotting with anti-FLAG monoclonal antibodies (Sigma) as described before (29).
Secreted GspB-F was purified from a S. gordonii carrying signal sequence-containing GspB-F in place of wild type GspB. GspB-F was enriched from the medium by ammonium sulfate precipitation. After dialysis, glycosylated the protein was purified with a resin containing succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (sWGA), followed by gel filtration.
Negative stain electron microscopy
Negatively stained specimens were prepared as descibed (49). Grids were imaged on a Tecnai T12 electron microscope (FEI) operated at 120 kV at a nominal magnification of 67,000x using a 4k x 4k CCD camera (UltraScan 4000, Gatan), corresponding to a calibrated pixel size of 1.68 Å on the specimen level. The images were processed as described (50).
Limited trypsin proteolysis
Asp1/3 or Asp1/2/3 (5.6 μg) were incubated with 6.6, 2.2, 0.73, 0.24, 0.08, or 0.03 μg trypsin protease in 8 μl buffer containing 20 mM Tris/HCl, pH 8.0, and 100 mM NaCl at 22 °C for 20 min. Tryptic fragments of Asp1 and Asp3 were subjected to analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (Taplin Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Harvard Medical School) and N-terminal sequencing (Tufts University Core Facility).
Liposome flotation assay
Liposomes were generated with either dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG) and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) or with E. coli polar lipids (Avanti). Texas Red-DHPE (ThermoFisher Scientific) was included in some experiments. Asp1, Asp1/3, Asp1/2/3, and BSA were mixed with liposomes at a 1:1,300 molar ratio of protein to lipid and floated in a discontinuous 0-40% (w/v) Nycodenz gradient prepared in 20 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.5, 100 mM NaCl, in a TLS-55 swinging bucket rotor (Beckman Coulter) at 48,000 rpm for 1 hr. Fractions were collected from the top of the gradient and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie blue staining.
Glycosylated GspB-F was isolated from S. gordonii cells as described before (10) and incubated with Asps prior to the addition of liposomes. The Nycodenz gradient was prepared in 20 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.5, 300 mM NaCl. After centrifugation, fractions were subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using Flag antibodies (Sigma).
Glycan and glycol-peptide analysis by Mass spectrometry
Glycosylated GspB-F was subjected to SDS-PAGE. Gel slices were treated with trypsin, and glycopeptides were analyzed on an Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer equipped with a nanospray ion source connected to a Dionex binary solvent system. The LC-MS/MS spectra of tryptic peptides of glycosylated GspB-F were searched against the sequence of GspB-F using Proteome Discoverer 1.4 software.
For glycan analysis, O-glycans were β-eliminated by treatment of extracted tryptic peptides with NaOH/NaBH4. The glycans were permethylated and subjected to ESI-MS/MS analysis on an Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer. For monosaccharide analysis, tryptic peptides were hydrolyzed with trifluoroacetic acid.
Homology modeling
Models of S. gordonii SecA1 and SecA2 were generated by SWISS-MODEL (51–54), using T. maritima SecA (PDB: 3DIN) (55) and B. subtillis SecA (PDB: 3JV2) (56) as templates, respectively. The predicted models have GMQE scores of 0.69 and 0.72, respectively.
Y.C. and T.A.R. designed research; Y.C., B.A.B., W.M., M.L., P.D.J, A.S., R.N.S. performed research; Y.C., B.A.B, R.S., P.M.S., M.L., P.A., and T.A.R. analyzed data; and Y.C. and T.A.R. wrote the paper.
Crystallography, atomic coordinates, and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank, www.pdb.org (PDB ID codes 5VAE and 5VAF).
We thank the staff at the Advanced Photon Source of the Northeastern Collaborative Access Team (NE-CAT) beamline for help with data collection. NE-CAT is supported by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P41 GM103403) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Pilatus 6M detector on 24-ID-C beam line is funded by a NIH-ORIP HEI grant (S10 RR029205). This research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. Y.C. was supported by an HHMI-Helen Hay Whitney Foundation fellowship. The work in the laboratory of T.A.R. was supported by NIH grant GM052586. T.A.R. is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. P.M.S. is supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, NIH grants R01-AI041513 and R01-AI106987, and the Northern California Institute for Research and Education. P.A. is supported by the NIH-funded Research Resource for Integrated Glycotechnology (NIH grants 1S10OD018530 and P41GM10349010) and U.S. Department of Energy grant DE-FG02-93ER20097 to the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center.
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Guex, N., Peitsch, M. C., and Schwede, T. (2009) Automated comparative protein structure modeling with SWISS-MODEL and Swiss-PdbViewer: A historical perspective. Electrophoresis. 30, S162–S173
Kiefer, F., Arnold, K., Kunzli, M., Bordoli, L., and Schwede, T. (2009) The SWISS-MODEL Repository and associated resources. Nucleic Acids Res. 37, D387–D392
Arnold, K., Bordoli, L., Kopp, J., and Schwede, T. (2006) The SWISS-MODEL workspace: a web-based environment for protein structure homology modelling. Bioinformatics. 22, 195–201
Zimmer, J., Nam, Y., and Rapoport, T. A. (2008) Structure of a complex of the ATPase SecA and the protein-translocation channel. Nature. 455, 936–943
Zimmer, J., and Rapoport, T. A. (2009) Conformational flexibility and peptide interaction of the translocation ATPase SecA. J Mol Biol. 394, 606–612
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The “Moe Joe” Experience
Pamela Marquis,
Sexy, liberating, spiritual, high energy, inclusive, loving, and visceral, are just a few of the adjectives clients use to describe a workout with Marissa “Moe Joe” Joseph.
Joseph is a dancer and choreographer who performed on the Acura Stage with Dr. John at this year’s Jazz Fest. She loves performing but teaching just may be her true passion. It is also her business — Bounce Fitness and Dance, LLC. She offers dance and fitness classes, health education and personal empowerment. Each one of Joseph’s classes is a unique experience motivated by community and tradition, and features a wide variety of music including bounce, hip-hop, blues and even zydeco.
Beginning in June, Joseph will have a flagship location, a permanent space in the New Orleans Healing Center. She will, however, keep offering her workouts throughout the community. Her dance moves and the exercise are important but she also strives to make sure her classes are socially engaging.
“I want to promote confidence, cultural understanding and unity,” she said. “When class is over we always join in a circle for a discussion. We hug up and share and say thank you to one another, because everyone is helping others get what they need. We create something positive and it’s a great support system.”
Growing up in New Iberia, Joseph began dancing at an early age and said she danced all the time. She also watched exercise videos by the likes of Jane Fonda and Kathy Smith. However, she said her life flipped when she saw her first Tae Bo video because it was much more her speed — high energy.
“And MTV and the Grind were also so good because they combined all those great dance moves,” she said.
While getting a bachelor of arts in communication studies at LSU, Joseph was on the LSU recreation staff where she taught dance and fitness. She’s trained in all types of dance but she says her identity is Creole. That’s at the very heart of her work.
“It’s a statement for myself,” she said. “I believe you are responsible to leave your own legacy and it’s important to learn who you are and where you come from.”
She builds her audience by being mobile, authentic and staying involved in the community. Joseph works closely with the Baby Dolls and Irvin Mayfield. She does workshops at venues like Dancing Grounds and Ashe´ Cultural Arts Center. Twice a month she offers Moe Joe’s Bounce Fitness Festival — An Ode to Cultural Wellness at People’s Health New Orleans Jazz Market. The class celebrates Louisiana Creole and southern culture through music and dance. She also offers Caribbean Cardio w/ Moe Joe at Magnolia Yoga Studio.
“She starts the class by giving everyone a hug that creates a welcoming and loving environment,” said client Stephanie Appleton. “She’s a powerhouse of positive energy for a whole dang hour and I love it.”
Bounce Fitness and Dance, LLC
Themoejoe.com
datmoejoe@gmail.com
Categories: Labors of Love
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Comparison of...
Comparison of treatment effects between animal experiments and clinical trials: systematic review
BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39048.407928.BE (Published 25 January 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:197
Errata - January 18, 2007
Pablo Perel, research fellow1,
Ian Roberts, clinical coordinator CRASH 2 trial1,
Emily Sena, PhD student2,
Philipa Wheble, medical student2,
Catherine Briscoe, medical student2,
Peter Sandercock, professor of medical neurology2,
Malcolm Macleod, senior lecturer2,
Luciano E Mignini, researcher3,
Pradeep Jayaram, senior house officer4,
Khalid S Khan, professor of obstetrics-gynaecology4
1Crash Trials Coordinating Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT
2Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh
3Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales, WHO Collaborative Centre in Maternal and Child Health, Rosario 2000, Argentina
4Division of Reproductive and Child Health, Birmingham Women's Hospital, University of Birmingham
Correspondence to: P Perel pablo.perel{at}lshtm.ac.uk
Accepted 7 November 2006
Objective To examine concordance between treatment effects in animal experiments and clinical trials.
Study design Systematic review.
Data sources Medline, Embase, SIGLE, NTIS, Science Citation Index, CAB, BIOSIS.
Study selection Animal studies for interventions with unambiguous evidence of a treatment effect (benefit or harm) in clinical trials: head injury, antifibrinolytics in haemorrhage, thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke, tirilazad in acute ischaemic stroke, antenatal corticosteroids to prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, and bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis.
Review methods Data were extracted on study design, allocation concealment, number of randomised animals, type of model, intervention, and outcome.
Results Corticosteroids did not show any benefit in clinical trials of treatment for head injury but did show a benefit in animal models (pooled odds ratio for adverse functional outcome 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.41 to 0.83). Antifibrinolytics reduced bleeding in clinical trials but the data were inconclusive in animal models. Thrombolysis improved outcome in patients with ischaemic stroke. In animal models, tissue plasminogen activator reduced infarct volume by 24% (95% confidence interval 20% to 28%) and improved neurobehavioural scores by 23% (17% to 29%). Tirilazad was associated with a worse outcome in patients with ischaemic stroke. In animal models, tirilazad reduced infarct volume by 29% (21% to 37%) and improved neurobehavioural scores by 48% (29% to 67%). Antenatal corticosteroids reduced respiratory distress and mortality in neonates whereas in animal models respiratory distress was reduced but the effect on mortality was inconclusive (odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 0.85 to 20.9). Bisphosphonates increased bone mineral density in patients with osteoporosis. In animal models the bisphosphonate alendronate increased bone mineral density compared with placebo by 11.0% (95% confidence interval 9.2% to 12.9%) in the combined results for the hip region. The corresponding treatment effect in the lumbar spine was 8.5% (5.8% to 11.2%) and in the combined results for the forearms (baboons only) was 1.7% (−1.4% to 4.7%).
Conclusions Discordance between animal and human studies may be due to bias or to the failure of animal models to mimic clinical disease adequately.
Before clinical trials are carried out, the safety and effectiveness of new drugs are usually tested in animal models.1 Although the use of animals in medical research is controversial, a poll by the Medical Research Council found that most people support their use provided that there are benefits to human health care, no alternative exists, and no unnecessary suffering occurs.2
The usefulness of animal testing has, however, been questioned.3 4 5 Some believe that the results from animal experiments cannot be applied to humans because of the biological differences between the species and because the results of animal experiments often depend on the type of animal model.3 To date the methods used to assess the value of animal trials include historical analyses, critiques of animal models, surveys of clinicians, and citation analyses. In this paper we compared treatment effects from systematic reviews of clinical trials with those of our own systematic review of the corresponding animal experiments.6 7 8
We identified six interventions for which there was evidence of a treatment effect (benefit or harm) in systematic reviews of clinical trials and we carried out a systematic review of the corresponding animal experiments. We searched for all published and unpublished controlled studies in animal models for the following interventions: corticosteroids in traumatic head injury,9 10 11 antifibrinolytics in haemorrhage,12 thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke,13 14 tirilazad in acute ischaemic stroke,15 antenatal corticosteroids to prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome,16 and bisphosphonates to prevent and treat osteoporosis.17 We were unaware of the results of the animal studies when selecting the six interventions. We carried out our systematic review in accordance with the recommended methods for health technology assessment, described elsewhere.18 19 20 21 Briefly, we systematically searched for randomised and non-randomised controlled studies of the six interventions in animal models. To be eligible for inclusion the studies had to report outcomes corresponding to those for which a treatment effect had been shown in clinical trials.
We searched Medline, Embase, SIGLE (System for Information on Grey Literature), NTIS (National Technical Information Service), Science Citation Index, CAB, and BIOSIS. Details of the search strategies are presented elsewhere.18 Reference lists were checked and we contacted the authors of included studies, relevant drug companies, and the authorities that regulate animal testing—the Home Office in the United Kingdom. No language restrictions were applied. To reduce the number of missed studies two reviewers examined the results for potentially relevant interventions.22 These reports were retrieved in full. Two reviewers independently applied the selection criteria.
Eligible reports were assessed for methodological quality.23 Two reviewers extracted data on allocation concealment and blinding. If the method of allocation concealment was not clearly reported, we tried to contact the authors for clarification. We used Schulz et al's definition for adequate concealment.24 Two reviewers extracted data on study design, allocation concealment, number of randomised animals, type of model, intervention, outcome, and funding source. We contacted authors if relevant outcome measures were not reported but we believed the data to be available. The reviewers were not blinded to the authors or journal.25
For dichotomous measures (for example, mortality) we estimated odds ratios and confidence intervals and for continuous measures (for example, infarct volume) we estimated the effect size:
Effect size=((outcome[control]−outcome[treated])/outcome[control])×100%
We calculated pooled odds ratios, effect sizes, and 95% confidence intervals using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was examined using the I2 statistic.26 We investigated the possibility of small study bias by checking for funnel plot asymmetry and by using graphical and statistical methods.27
Corticosteroids for traumatic head injury
Clinical trials of corticosteroids for traumatic head injury did not show any benefit and showed an increased risk of mortality.9 Seventeen reports were found in animal models of traumatic head injury (19 comparisons).w1-w17 The quality of the experiments was poor (table 1⇓). Only three reports (four comparisons) reported adequate allocation concealment. Two experiments reported the effect of corticosteroids on mortality. An effect estimate could not be calculated for one of these experiments because the number of animals in each group was not stated and in the other all the animals died.
Quality of animal studies. Values are numbers (percentages)
Seven experiments reported neurological outcomes. Neurological status was assessed by the grip test and neurological severity score. The grip test measures how long (up to a maximum of 30 seconds) a mouse remains on a taut string suspended between two metal bars. Animals were considered “severely disabled” if they held on for less than five seconds. Four experiments reported the grip test: pooled odds ratio 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.41 to 0.83; fig 1⇓). No heterogeneity was found (I²=0%). Neurological severity score was used to assess the clinical condition of rats after trauma and was based on a series of tests. High scores indicated a worse outcome. Three experiments reported the neurological severity score but none reported the scores in each group, stating instead that there was “no significant difference.”
Fig 1 Meta-analysis showing effects of corticosteroids on ability of mice to remain on a taut string (grip test)
Antifibrinolytics in haemorrhage
Clinical trials show that antifibrinolytics reduce blood loss during surgery.12 Eight reports were found on the effects of antifibrinolytics in animal models (eight comparisons).w18-w25 The quality of the experiments was poor (table 1⇑). One did not give the number of animals. One reported mortality, five reported bleeding time, five reported blood loss, and one reported haemoglobin loss. None reported the method of allocation concealment. Four reported blinded outcome assessment but failed to describe the method. One assessed the effect of antifibrinolytics on mortality, but no deaths occurred. Five reported the effects on blood loss but only one had sufficient data to enable the calculation of the effect estimate and confidence intervals. One reported a decrease in gastric bleeding of 0.09 ml (95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.10). One reported a decrease in blood loss by an average of 523 ml but failed to give the standard deviation. One reported a decrease in blood loss by 0.83 ml but did not give the number of animals in the control group, so the confidence interval could not be calculated.
Thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke
Thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator reduces death or dependency after ischaemic stroke, despite an increase in intracranial haemorrhage.13 14 Overall, 113 reports were found on the effects of using tissue plasminogen activator or related agents for thrombolysis in animal models of acute ischaemic stroke (369 comparisons).w26-w138 The quality of the experiments was poor (table 1⇑). Infarct volume was reported in 212 comparisons (3301 animals), neurobehavioural scores in 84 (1438 animals), and haemorrhage in 146 (2791 animals). The funnel plot suggested an excess of imprecise studies overstating efficacy (fig 2⇓) and this was supported by an Egger regression analysis (P<0.001). Tissue plasminogen activator reduced infarct volume by 24% (95% confidence interval 20% to 28%), improved neurobehavioural scores by 23% (17% to 29%), and increased the probability of haemorrhage (odds ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.63 to 2.35; fig 3⇓). Substantial heterogeneity was found for infarct volume (I2=78.2%, P<0.0001) and for neurobehavioural scores (I2=75.2%, P<0.0001) but not for haemorrhage (I2=0%).
Fig 2 Funnel plot showing effects of thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator or related agents in animal models of acute ischaemic stroke
Fig 3 Effects of thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator or related agents in animal models of acute ischaemic stroke. Comparisons are ranked according to effect on infarct volume, neurobehavioural scores, and odds of haemorrhage. Grey bars are 95% confidence limits of global estimate of efficacy. Vertical error bars are 95% confidence limits for individual estimates
Tirilazad in acute ischaemic stroke
Tirilazad increases the risk of death and dependency in patients with acute ischaemic stoke.15 Eighteen reports were found of tirilazad in animal models of acute ischaemic stroke (34 comparisons).w139-w156 All 18 reports presented infarct volumes and eight reported neurobehavioural outcomes (fig 4⇓). The quality of the experiments was poor (table 1⇑). The funnel plot suggested a preponderance of small experiments overstating efficacy but this was not supported by an Egger regression analysis. Tirilazad reduced infarct volume by 29% (95% confidence interval 21% to 37%) and improved neurobehavioural scores by 48% (29% to 67%). Substantial heterogeneity was found for both outcome measures (infarct volume I2=73.3%, P<0.0001: neurobehavioural scores I2=58.1%, P<0.002).
Fig 4 Effect of tirilazad in animal models of acute ischaemic stroke. Comparisons ranked according to effect on infarct volume or neurobehavioural scores. Grey bars are 95% confidence limits of global estimates of efficacy. Vertical error bars are 95% confidence limits for individual estimates
Antenatal corticosteroids to prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
Antenatal corticosteroids reduce respiratory distress syndrome and mortality in neonates.16 In total, 56 reports were found of corticosteroids in animal models of preterm delivery (56 comparisons).w157-w212 Thirty two assessed intramuscular or subcutaneous injections in mothers, six assessed intraperitoneal instillation in mothers, and 18 assessed direct injections into the fetus. Only three assessed the effect of maternal corticosteroid injections on respiratory distress syndrome in the neonates (one each in monkeys, cattle, and rabbits). Respiratory distress syndrome was measured differently in the three studies. The quality of the experiments was poor (table 1⇑).
Respiratory distress syndrome was reduced in the corticosteroid groups in all three experiments. In one experiment two of 15 calves in the corticosteroid group compared with nine in the control group developed respiratory distress syndrome (P=0.01). In another experiment the total (SD) lung capacity in newborn rabbits in the corticosteroid group was 1.8 (0.4) ml/g compared with 1.4 (0.4) ml/g in the control group. In a third experiment, six of 12 monkeys in the corticosteroid treated group compared with 11 in the control group developed severe respiratory distress syndrome (P=0.03). Seven experiments reported the effects of corticosteroids on neonatal mortality: pooled odds ratio for mortality 4.2 (95% confidence interval 0.85 to 20.9). Significant heterogeneity was found (I2=72.7%, P=0.003). The pooled odds ratio for mortality in ewe models was 12.5 (1.9 to 79.2) with no evidence of significant heterogeneity (I2=33.1%, P=0.22).
Bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis
Bisphosphonates increase bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.17 Sixteen reports were found of bisphosphonates in animal models (two experiments in baboons and 14 in rats).w213-w228 The quality of the experiments was poor (table 1⇑). All experiments were carried out in ovariectomised animals. The effect of bisphosphonates on bone mineral density was reported in 11 experiments (fig 5⇓). When outcome data were available, 11 of 11 (100%) studies showed an increase in bone mineral density and six of six (100%) studies showed improvements in bone mass.
Fig 5 Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals for change in bone mineral density after alendronate administration in baboons, rats, and all animals combined compared with results from clinical trials
Meta-analysis showed that compared with placebo alendronate increased bone mineral density by 11.0% (95% confidence interval 9.2% to 12.9%) in the combined results for the hip region. The corresponding treatment effect in the lumbar spine was 8.5% (5.8% to 11.2%) and in the combined results for the forearms (baboons only) was 1.7% (−1.4% to 4.7%).
Concordance between animal studies and clinical studies varied for six interventions: three had similar outcomes and three did not. Thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator was effective in animal models of acute ischaemic stroke and the results agreed with the clinical trials. The animal studies were of poor quality, however, with evidence of publication bias. Our evidence for concordance may therefore be biased. We found over 100 experiments, totalling more than 3000 animals. The pooled result was therefore precise although not necessarily valid. The concordance may be explained by the large volume of evidence and the replication of similar designs in different animals and different laboratories. Furthermore, tissue plasminogen activator was tested in older animals, in those with comorbidities, and at a range of intervals after stroke onset, ensuring a reasonable match with patients in clinical trials. The results for bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis agreed between animal studies and clinical trials. We also found that antenatal corticosteroids reduced neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in animal studies and in clinical trials, although the data were sparse and we found no evidence of agreement for mortality.
The four experiments in our meta-analysis of corticosteroids in animal head injury models used the weight drop model.28 All had good allocation concealment and blinded outcome assessment. Taken together they showed benefit. The experiments were, however, from one laboratory, had little evidence on adverse effects, and did not examine the influence of comorbidities. We also found a difference in results for tirilazad to treat stroke. The data from the animal studies suggested a benefit but the clinical trials showed no benefit and possible harm. It should be noted that the interval between stroke onset and treatment was longer in the clinical studies (median five hours) than in the animal models (median 10 minutes). Some of the clinical trials recruited patients up to 24 hours after stroke onset. For antifibrinolytics in haemorrhage, clinical trials showed clear evidence of benefit despite the lack of any reliable data from animal models.
Methodological strengths and weaknesses
It would be inappropriate to make general statements about the utility of animal research on the basis of only six interventions. Animal studies are often carried out to learn about biological mechanisms and we cannot comment on the value of animal research in these areas nor provide precise estimates of agreement. Although we tried to contact the authors of individual animal studies, we analysed what was reported and cannot rule out that other relevant data were not published. Our systematic review does, however, provide insights into the limitations of animal models, including the extent to which they represent disease in humans. As the number of systematic reviews of animal experiments increases, a quantitative approach to determine similarities between animal models and clinical trials should be possible in the future.
Implications for research
Systematic reviews could facilitate the translation of research findings from animals to humans. The animal studies in our systematic review varied in methodological quality and sample sizes rather than providing a single definitive high quality experiment for each intervention. Randomisation and blinding were rarely reported, which can have important implications as it has been shown that animal experiments carried out without either are five times more likely to report a positive treatment effect.23 In the systematic review of thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke we found strong evidence of publication bias. The number of experiments in the other systematic reviews made assessment of this source of bias difficult. In most cases we pooled the results to provide precise estimates of efficacy, although given the extent of heterogeneity the precision is open to question. These methodological issues are important given concerns about the differences between promising animal studies and negative clinical trials across a range of interventions. Because animal experiments are part of the evidence used to decide which interventions are taken forward in clinical trials, efforts to avoid bias and random error are as important when reviewing the results of animal models as when reviewing the results of clinical trials.
Prospective registration of animal experiments might reduce publication bias. Although the agencies that regulate animal research hold records of animal studies we were unable to access these. Animal research in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Home Office. We asked the Home Office for details of any animal experiments relevant to our study but they were unable to provide them. In response they stated: “It is not Home Office policy or practice to gather or retain information derived from work licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the way you envisage. Such information is, generally, held by the licensed establishments concerned and made available to Home Office inspectors for inspection on site, should the need arise. I am, therefore, unable to provide you with any of the information you request. Nor am I able to confirm from Home Office records that any relevant trials were conducted under projects licensed under the 1986 act.” We did not invoke the Freedom of Information Act. Nevertheless, the Home Office response calls into question the usefulness of its records in relation to efforts to create an accessible register of animal experiments.
Research is needed on the aspects of study design that can bias treatment effects in animal models. Empirical evidence of bias from study design characteristics helped to improve the quality of clinical trials and might do the same for animal experiments. Standards for evidence based reporting, similar to the consolidated standards of reporting trials statement for clinical trials, might ensure that relevant aspects of experiment methodology are reported.29
Systematic reviews can provide insights into the limitations of animal models. For example, the animal models for stroke, where there was agreement with the results from clinical trials, seemed more representative of the condition in humans than the animal models for head injury, where there were differences in the results. In stroke, the time from the occlusive event to the start of treatment was similar in animal and human studies. In head injury, treatment was given within five minutes of injury in the animal models but up to eight hours after injury in the clinical trials. None of the animal experiments used models that mimic the complex situations that usually follow traumatic head injury. Comorbidities are clearly relevant in stroke, which occurs in older people with hypertension and diabetes but also in people with head injuries, often accompanied by other injuries and by hypotension and hypothermia. Comorbidities were examined in the stroke models but not in the head injury models.
That there is a gap between clinical research and clinical practice is well established.30 Our work highlights another gap—specifically the lack of communication between those involved in animal research and clinical trialists. Systematic reviews of animal experiments could promote closer collaboration between the research communities and encourage an iterative approach to improving the relevance of animal models to clinical trial design. When models do not represent the clinical context they could be adapted accordingly. Furthermore, as is the case for human research, systematic reviews could help identify and improve deficiencies in the conduct and reporting of animal research.
The relevance of animal models to human health is questioned because of differences between the species
Many studies in animal models are of poor methodological quality
Lack of concordance between animal experiments and clinical trials may be due to bias, random error, or the failure of animal models to adequately represent human disease
References w1-w228 are on bmj.com
We thank Sir Iain Chalmers for his constructive comments on the manuscript.
Contributors: IR, PS, MM, LEM, PJ developed the study protocol. All authors carried out the systematic reviews. PP and IR drafted the manuscript, which was revised on the basis of comments from all authors.
Funding: This work was funded by the National Health Service research and development health technology assessment programme. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the methodology programme, health technology assessment programme, or the Department of Health. Funding of this research by the NHS should not be taken as implicit support for any recommendations made by the authors.
Competing interests: IR was an investigator in the corticosteroid randomisation after significant head injury trial. The trial was funded by the UK Medical Research Council. Pharmacia and Upjohn (Pfizer from 2003) provided the Medical Research Council with the methylprednisolone (free of charge) needed for the trial, a grant in aid for preparation of the placebo, and support for collaborators' meetings. PS is co-chief investigator of the third international stroke trial, testing intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischaemic stroke; the start-up phase (completed in 2005) of this trial was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturers of tissue plasminogen activator, a donation of drug and placebo for the first 300 patients. The current phase of the trial is supported by the Medical Research Council and the Health Foundation. None of the authors have any relevant competing financial interests.
Ethical approval: Not required.
A table showing the quality of animal experiments included in the systematic reviews is available at www.crash2.lshtm.ac.uk.
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Higgins J, Thompson S, Deeks J, Altman D. Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ 2003;327:557-60.
Egger M, Davey Smith G, Schneider M, Minder C. Bias in meta-analyses detected by a simple graphical test. BMJ 1997;315:629-34.
Cernak I. Animal models of head trauma. NeuroRx 2005;2:410-22.
Moher D, Schulz KF, Altman DG. The CONSORT statement: revised recommendations for improving the quality of reports of parallel-group randomised trials. Lancet 2001;357:1191-4.
Haines A, Kuruvilla S, Borchert M. Bridging the implementation gap between knowledge and action for health. Bull World Health Organ 2004;82:724-31.
Pablo Perel, Ian Roberts, Emily Sena, Philipa Wheble, Catherine Briscoe, Peter Sandercock et al
Perel Pablo, Roberts Ian, Sena Emily, Wheble Philipa, Briscoe Catherine, Sandercock Peter et al. Comparison of treatment effects between animal experiments and clinical trials: systematic review BMJ 2007; 334 :197
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October 02, 2018 Music, Arts & Culture » Music
Holly Near documentary premieres at MVFF
By Charlie Swanson
'Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives' screens on Sunday, Oct. 7, at Cinearts Sequoia, 25 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 3pm. Near then performs in concert at Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. 6:30pm. Visit mvff.com for details.
Irene Young
CHANGING LIVES Holly Near’s values, musical and otherwise, continue to inspire with new film.
After more than 50 years of art and activism, songwriter, social pioneer and longtime Sonoma County resident Holly Near is now the subject of a new feature-length documentary, Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives, that premieres on Oct. 7, followed by Near performing in concert as part of the Mill Valley Film Festival.
Directed by veteran filmmaker Jim Brown, Singing for Our Lives details Near's career as a folk singer and her work as an advocate for peace and activist for social justice.
"I had apparently more archival material than any artist he's worked with," says Near of Brown's film. "Little did I know what a hoarder I was, I guess."
Singing for Our Lives is comprised of Near's collection of footage and recordings, interviews with contemporaries like Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda, and a live concert filmed at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage. Throughout it all, Near's work in several social endeavors highlights her ability to inspire peace, justice, feminism and multicultural consciousness.
"[Brown] did exactly what we all hoped he would do, and that was have people viewing the film understand a bigger context, that I was part of social-change movements, and they were part of me," Near says.
Born in Ukiah in 1949, Near was heavily influenced by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and her folk music quickly took on those values. Her life in music includes traveling with Fonda and Donald Sutherland on the Free the Army Tour in Vietnam in 1971, singing at events like the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 and being an outspoken proponent of feminist and women's movements up to this day.
Earlier this year, Near spoke to several contemporary social issues ranging from domestic violence and flood destruction in Puerto Rico on her new album, 2018, featuring Tammy Hall on piano, Jan Martinelli on bass and Nina Gerber on guitar.
"I'm very pleased with it," she says. "It's very direct, which seems like the right thing to do in these times."
With the new documentary, Near has a chance to speak to a new generation of progressive-minded individuals. "This is an interesting time, and anybody who thinks what's going to happen in the next six months to two years isn't going to affect them is living in a dream world, regardless of your political party."
Tags: Music
Desert Foxes
Plugging In
Stay Heavy
More Music »
Coco Carnacchi
Meet the Maestro
Rock 'n' Roll Excesses
More by Charlie Swanson
Playing Tribute
Feb. 1: Heal with Art in Santa Rosa
By Charlie Swanson Jan 30, 2019 11:46 am
Feb. 1-2: California Stories in Napa
Feb. 2: Strings Summit in Sebastopol
Vote Now for the 2019 NorBays Music Awards
Mon, Jul. 15 2:30 pm
Modern Hicks Reunite For Sebastopol Benefit Concert
Fri, Jun. 28 12:51 pm
New Outdoor Venue Coming to Downtown Napa
Tue, Jun. 18 9:46 am
Copyright © 2019 Metro Newspapers. All rights reserved.
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New NRSC Ad Released in Alabama Targets ‘Extremist’ Democrats, Doug Jones
Kyle Morris
A video ad released in Alabama Tuesday from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) shows how radical and out-of-touch Doug Jones’ (D-AL) party has become.
As the advertisement begins, images of former Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy appear on the screen alongside the phrase “once a party of the people” before flashing to a clip of Bernie Sanders (I-VT), which features the words “now a party of extremists.”
The ad, titled “Doug Jones: A Member Of The Extremist Party,” specifically focuses on five ideas the Democrat party has recently latched onto like Medicare for All, The Green New Deal, infanticide, raising taxes, and socialists.
Featured throughout the ad are prominent Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, and others.
The newly released ad also highlighted Sanders receiving applause for having “the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party.”
The ad closes with an image of Jones with the words “Doug Jones: A Member Of The Extremist Party” splashed across the screen.
Follow Kyle on Twitter @RealKyleMorris and Facebook.
PoliticsAlabamaBernie SandersDoug JonesFranklin D RooseveltJohn F. KennedyNational Republican Senatorial Committee
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Complete Works (JSW) – SON 615
Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) Complete Works (JSW) – SON 615
edited by the National Library of Finland and the Sibelius Society of Finland
Series I (Orchestral works) Vol. 11: Cassazione Op. 6 edited by Timo Virtanen
Two versions, one first edition
SON 615 | €92.00€98.44
116 pages | 25 x 32 cm | 744 g | ISMN: 979-0-004-80317-2 | Linen
Cassazione op. 6 is still regarded as a hot tip for fans of Sibelius music: both the heretofore unpublished version with full orchestra and the version with reduced scoring were given their first performances in 1904, but then receded to the back of the composers mind. Since he never picked up on the cautious hints he had made about revising the work, it is up to posterity and the text-critical work of the Complete Edition to provide the first comprehensive evaluation and the first text-critical edition of the Cassazione op. 6.
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HOME > Analysis >Story Stocks >Burlington Stores trades down...
Last Update: 30-Aug-18 09:56 ET
Burlington Stores trades down on JulQ earnings; OctQ guidance a bit weak (BURL)
Burlington Stores (BURL) is trading lower today after reporting strong Q2 (Jul) earnings this morning. In case you're not familiar with BURL, some background would help. It operates a national chain of off-price retail stores (651 current locations) offering women's, men's and children's apparel and accessories, home goods, baby products and coats, principally under the name Burlington Stores.
It was known for decades as Burlington Coat Factory. The company was taken private by Bain Capital in 2006. Once acquired, Bain began a restructuring program that streamlined operations, refocused their merchandise (de-emphasizing coats and becoming much more of a general off-price merchandise company), and returned the company to growth.
Its merchandise is deeply discounted, up to 60-70% off department store prices. The company's stores are very large -- two to three times larger than its competitors' stores -- which allows BURL to feature merchandise from over 3,500 vendors, although the focus is on nationally-recognized brands. The company's two main competitors are TJ Maxx (TJX) and Ross Stores (ROST). Big Lots (BIG) is probably in the mix as well.
Turning to the JulQ results, non-GAAP EPS rose 51% YoY to $1.09 from $0.72 in the prior year period. It was well above market expectations and well above BURL's prior guidance of $0.91-0.95. Revenue rose 9.9% year/year to $1.50 bln, which was also better than prior guidance of $1.47-1.49 bln.
Same store comps came in at +2.9% on a shifted basis, which was at the high end of prior guidance of +2-3%. However, that was down a bit from the +4.8% comps in AprQ and +5.9% comp in JanQ. For Q3 (Oct), comps are expected in the +2-3% range on a shifted basis. In terms of other guidance for Q3 (Oct), BURL expects non-GAAP EPS of $1.00-1.04, which was below market expectations. Revenue is expected to grow +11-12% YoY in OctQ. For the full year, BURL upped its non-GAAP EPS guidance to $6.13-6.20 from $5.90-$6.00.
On the call this morning, BURL said the key driver of results was the outstanding performance of its new stores. BURL opened four net new stores during JulQ and year-to-date it has opened 22 net new stores vs eight during 1H17. Based on the strength of its new store pipeline, BURL is increasing the number of net new stores planned for 2018 to 43 stores, up from previous guidance of 35-40. With regard to driving comp growth, BURL says it has been enhancing its assortment as it continues to improve its execution of the off-price model with particular focus on under-penetrated businesses.
BURL went on to says that JulQ results demonstrate that it's making significant progress growing some of its key under-penetrated categories, particularly home and beauty. With regard to home, BURL sees this as its largest category growth opportunity. BURL expects to expand upon the 2017 penetration level of 14% of total sales and get that up to 20% over time. Its beauty business continued its strong momentum in JulQ and BURL sees the beauty category as a multi-year growth driver. In addition, beauty remains an important element of BURL's gift strategy which will be a key sales driver in the upcoming holiday season.
In sum, investors have come to expect strong results/guidance every quarter from BURL as that has been their history. The JulQ results were actually pretty good although that +2.9% comp number is being viewed as a disappointment relative to the two prior quarters. In fairness, that comp was going up against BURL's most difficult multi-year quarterly comparison, so keep that in mind. Probably a more legitimate concern was the OctQ EPS guidance coming up short. BURL tends to be conservative with guidance but they usually do not guide below expectations. So we'll see how that turns out in late November. On a final note, the stock has been on a nice and steady uptrend over the past year.
Burlington Stores (BURL) is trading lower today after reporting strong Q2 (Jul) earnings this morning. In case you're not familiar with BURL, some
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About Brighton
A-Z of all businesses in Brighton
Home > Brighton House Prices > Danehill Road
Sold House Prices in Danehill Road
This page displays sold house prices for Danehill Road in Brighton.
Danehill Road in Brighton BN2 consists predominantly of semi-detached houses. Properties on Danehill Road typically have values around £200,000 - £300,000, ranging upwards of £300,000 for larger semi-detached houses.
1 Danehill Road, Brighton BN2 5PE
£87,500 Semi-detached house, Freehold 22nd February 2000
Flat 8, Bylands Danehill Road, Brighton BN2 5PY
£113,000 Flat, Leasehold 14th April 2010
All sold house price data on Brighton .org.uk is provided under license from the Land Registry for England and Wales. We cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. N.B. Sold prices are reported up to 3 months in arrears from date of house sale so there may be a delay for some sold properties to appear on this site. Data produced by Land Registry © Crown copyright 2019.
Danehill Road
Map showing Danehill Road in Brighton.
Brighton .org.uk
© 2019 CSE. All rights reserved. Brighton .org.uk is a city guide for Brighton and East Sussex in UK UK. The content of the Brighton .org.uk website is provided in good faith but we cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies, omissions or visitors' comments.
Brighton .org.uk is part of the network of city guides
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I read this article and found it very interesting, thought it might be something for you. The article is called Grand Modern House Across From San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square, $13M and is located at https://www.californiahomedesign.com/property/2017/12/12/grand-modern-house-across-san-franciscos-ghirardelli-square-13m/.
Photography Courtesy of Jacob Elliott ©2017
Grand Modern House Across From San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square, $13M
Author:Philip Ferrato
Where: 935-937 North Point Street, San Francisco
Asking: $13,000,000
What: A handsome, 2-unit house now on the market after undergoing a full renovation– a renovation that looks back to Paris in the 1920s. Created with the close involvement of the owner, the open, loft-like environment has a uniquely 1920s Parisian vibe, looking directly at the iconic c.1916 French Renaissance Revival factory/warehouse complex we know today as Ghirardelli Square.
Below, the main living space, big enough for a 16-foot kitchen island, seating areas, plus a wine room– all opening to a huge sunny terrace.
What We Love: Although the marketing material doesn’t make a specific connection, there’s the unmistakeable influence of Robert Mallet-Stevens (1885-1945) a haut-bourgeois French architect whose Rationalist style was more severe and less decorative than the contemporaneous Art Deco. Before moving on to a career in film production and set design, he produced a number of luxury apartment houses and very grand villas for an aristocratic, avant-garde clientele.
In 1927, at a multi-unit building (above) he did for for his own family and the sculptors Joel and Jan Martel, Mallet-Stevens created a layered, blocky composition in white stucco with minimal ornamentation, signature black steel windows, and an early form of color blocking with yellow shutters and bold red glass tiles. Perhaps looking back at the work of the Martel brothers, the owner of the North Point home placed a monumental c.1961 relief by George Nocito in the entry.
In addition to the 4-bed, 4-bath upper unit, the lower level unit is an equally loft-like 1-bed, 1-bath space adjacent to this immaculate garage. With not one, but two Tesla chargeing stations.
More: Go to the listing for further details and additional images of this exceptional property, represented by Butch Haze at Compass.
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Return of wild turkeys sparks Ontario debate
Wild turkeys have returned to eastern Ontario in unprecedented numbers, a development that has conservationists cheering but some farmers crying "fowl."
CBC News · Posted: Mar 11, 2008 12:24 PM ET | Last Updated: March 11, 2008
Wildlife expert Darcy Alkerton lets turkeys feed on his farm near Spencerville, Ont. ((Chad Pawson/CBC))
Having almost vanished because of logging and unregulated hunting, the birds were re-introduced to Ontario 20 years ago.
The provincewide population of wild turkeys has now reached 100,000, with 13,000 of them in the Ottawa area.
"[It's a] very wise bird. That's why they've existed so well. It's because they are smart," said Darcy Alkerton, a wildlife expert in the Spencerville, Ont., area.
Alkerton built his house in the middle of a cornfield so he could watch turkeys feeding there.
But Lanark farmer John Vanderspank said the turkey flocks are expanding at the expense of his crops. He wants the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to issue turkey-hunting permits.
He said it's something the ministry did five years ago to reduce the number of deer in eastern Ontario.
"I've proved it with the deer, that if you hunt them a little early — and … you don't have to go silly, just get a few here and there — the rest will move," Vanderspank said.
Compromise proposed
Alkerton said doing the same with turkeys would be a mistake that would ruin the flock. But he also felt that way about the deer.
"I don't think that the nuisance deer permits should ever have been given out," he said.
The eastern Ontario flock of wild turkeys has surged to about 13,000. ((Chad Pawson/CBC))
Alkerton also is not enthusiastic about a compromise by the Natural Resources Ministry, a proposed fall hunt to go along with the already existing hunt in the spring.
A wild turkey hunter in Carleton Place, Ont., is even more emphatically against introducing the fall hunt.
"A fall hunt includes the killing of hens. When you start killing hens, that has a really long-term effect on your population base of wild turkeys," said Paul Ross, president of the Carleton Place chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
"They're still a fragile population here, and this winter will be a true tell of how they are going to react," he said.
In addition to the fall hunt, some farmers want special permits to cull the flocks of turkeys and financial compensation for crops they say the turkeys are eating.
Biologists with the Ministry of Natural Resources say the birds only eat what has already fallen to the ground.
AUDIO: Chad Pawson tells Ottawa Morning's Kathleen Petty about increase in wild turkeys. (CBC Radio)
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DOG-TAGS
'Dog Tags': News 8 series will follow 'Buddy' from shelter dog to service animal for San Diego veterans
Shelter to Soldier rescues dogs from shelters, pairs them with veterans in need, and then gives them both the training to succeed.
Author: Steve Price, Reporter
Published: 7:12 PM PDT July 8, 2019
Updated: 7:12 PM PDT July 8, 2019
SAN DIEGO —
This story marks the start to a series on the months-long process for one local shelter dog starting a new chapter as he becomes a service dog for local veterans. News 8’s Steve Price is following the dog’s journey from start to finish in the series we call “Dog Tags.”
RELATED: News 8 Dog Tags
Buddy was living in a local shelter just a couple weeks ago but Monday he began training to help save a service member's life.
KFMB
"We're losing an average of 20 veterans a day to suicide,” said Graham Bloem.
As a professional dog trainer, Graham said he noticed something. Veterans returning from deployment had a totally different, more positive attitude when they were around dogs.
So, Graham co-founded Shelter to Soldier. The nonprofit program rescues dogs from shelters, pairs them with veterans in need, and then gives them both the training to succeed.
"We have a couple graduates that said: ‘I wouldn't be here today without my dog,’ ‘Consider me a life saved,’ ‘My wife has her husband back,’ ‘My children have their father back,’” said Graham. “We've had graduates that didn't leave the house for months and now they're coaching their kid’s little league soccer.”
Graham recently found Buddy at the El Cajon Shelter. Usually veterans ask for bigger dogs because they add a sense of security but recently someone requested a smaller dog and Buddy immediately seemed like the perfect choice.
"At this time, he's showing everything we want: confidence, desire to work, strong affection,” said Graham.
Shelter to Soldier works with new animals for about 90 days to make sure they're a good fit and - as Graham puts it - some of them will have to make a career change.
Fortunately, so far, Buddy seems to be on the right track.
"He's got this playful puppy-ness about him, but he's also got this really sweet maturity about him for being so young as well,” said Graham.
Dogs who make the cut for Shelter to Soldier then spend about 6 months building a higher level of obedience, learn how to maintain focus and attention when there are distractions, and if all goes well, they will then meet multiple applicants with the Shelter to Soldier staff looking for that perfect match.
"Dogs can change lives - we see it every day,” said Graham.
To learn more about Shelter to Soldier or to donate to their program, click here. It costs about $15,000 to train each dog.
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Sorry, but your browser doesn't support HTML5 video
First in the United States:
Two Babies Born to Mothers Who Received Transplanted Uteri
Two babies have been born at Baylor University Medical Center, a part of Baylor Scott & White Health, to mothers who received a uterus. These live births are the latest medical milestones in the uterine transplant clinical trial at Baylor University Medical Center, being conducted through Baylor Scott & White Research Institute. Watch Video
A SECOND PHASE FOR UTERUS TRANSPLANT CLINICAL TRIAL
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Baylor University Medical Center have now started a second phase of the uterus transplant clinical trial and will transplant another ten women who experience uterine factor infertility. Observations from the first phase of the trial has provided a greater understanding of transplantation and supporting medical disciplines that the second phase of the trial will build upon. Additional recipients and donors are needed.
Contact Us About Participation
HOW DOES A UTERUS TRANSPLANTATION WORK?
SEE FULL INFOGRAPHIC
Integrity + Research = Hope
For more information about clinical trials please call
1.844.BSW.DOCS
of women of child-bearing age may have absolute uterine factor infertility (AUI), meaning a nonfunctioning or nonexistent uterus.
Organ Transplant + OB/GYN
Pathology + In-Vitro Fertilization
13,500 WOMEN
in the U.S. were born
without a uterus.
In 2014, a 36-year-old Swedish woman became THE FIRST IN THE WORLD to give birth to a baby via a donated uterus.
SWEDEN Seven uterine transplants have resulted in five live births.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Uterus Transplant
Procedure SEE FULL INFOGRAPHIC
PHASE 1 In Vitro Fertilization:
Patient given fertility drugs to harvest her eggs, which are then fertilized. The embryos are frozen.
PHASE 2 Transplantation:
Donor womb and cervix are removed and implanted into recipient.
PHASE 3 Recovery:
Patient takes immunosuppressant drugs to ensure the donated organs are not rejected.
PHASE 4 Implantation:
Patient may be eligible for her embryo to be implanted as early as 12 months after the transplant.
PHASE 5 Pregnancy:
If implantation is successful, recipient becomes pregnant, with the goal of carrying her baby to term.
This first live birth to a uterus transplant recipient in the United States was a milestone in our work to solve absolute uterine factor infertility; but, more importantly, a beautiful moment of love and hope for a mother who had been told she would never be able to carry her own child.
Giuliano Testa, MD, principal investigator of the uterine transplant clinical trial at Baylor University Medical Center
Part of the latest medical milestone
This innovative success is attributed to a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and research investigators who have remained committed to advancing the science of uterus transplantation for the benefit of the broader medical community and women with uterine factor infertility.
Team Background and Research
Uterine Transplant Clinical Trial Update
Uterine transplant nurse tells of overwhelming response to clinical trial
Baylor University Medical Center performs first living-donor uterus transplants in the U.S.
Baylor University Medical Center to offer uterus transplants in clinical trial
Invest in the next phase of research
Interested In General Question Being a Donor Being a Recipient Media Request
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In mid-May we detected a new Guildma campaign that affected banks in Spain, as well as different countries in Latin America and Portugal. Recently, we have continued to receive samples with small changes in the code.
Previously, this Trojan had mainly affected Portuguese-speaking users in Brazil. In addition, it has many references in the code to words in Portuguese and is developed in Delphi, which could indicate that its origin is in Brazil.
Guildma is a banking Trojan that has multiple functionalities. From Spyware that collects user events; Banker, with multiple targets specified; through RAT, with open sockets for the attacker to send orders.
All these functions make it a versatile Trojan that is dangerous for the end user.
Guildma has different phases to avoid being detected by Antivirus, Sandbox and malware researchers.
1.1. Downloader
The first stage of infection is an obfuscated Visual Basic Script (.vbs) file. Criminals usually use this type of scripts because they are easily mutable and versatile. Once deobfuscated, we can see that the first thing that this script checks is whether it is in a virtual machine. To do this, it simply looks at the name, model and version of the BIOS that the machine has and compares them with a list of common properties of the most popular virtualization systems.
Subsequently, several files are downloaded, including an encrypted binary and the DLL that acts as loader.
1.2. Loader
The Loader or final malware loader is executed by the .vbs file with the following command:
“C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe c:\kbellqciv\ikcpkb.dll,ikcpkb”
The "entry point" established is a piece of code that does not do anything relevant, so it runs a different one that is the "loader" itself. This is a simple protection to avoid automatic sandbox detections where you can not specify which "export" to execute from the DLL. This DLL is responsible for loading the encrypted content of the file“Yxwhrpmocf1.fco”, which is really the malware in question.
1.3. Guildma
Guildma is a banking Trojan with the following main features:
Spyware: It can capture mouse movements, collect the keystrokes (Keylogger), etc.
Launcher: Launches external Nirsoft executables to perform Stealer tasks and thus avoid implementing those functions. Normally, it stores them as binary resources.
Banker: It affects a multitude of banking entities in different countries.
RAT: It opens different sockets in the machine that receive orders from the attacker.
The malware has several approaches when it comes to robbing bank victims; this is done to execute specific tasks in some of the entities.
General: When it detects a banking entity from the target list via a URL, and also finds a key, token or SMS code, depending on the bank, it registers the information that the user writes.
Specific: In some specific cases, it presents forms to deceive the user and avoid the double-factor authentication used by various banking entities.
In addition, it contains generic theft modules for browser and email credentials using external tools from the NirSoft manufacturer:
Mail passview
Chrome pass
Password fox
IE pass view
The communication and part of the functionality are effected by opening several sockets that allow the criminal to interact with the victim manually or automatically.
Among other things, the main socket allows it to:
Authenticate itself with the C&C.
Activate another socket that is in charge of communicating keyboard events.
Run a pseudo script to perform keyboard events in imitation of the client. For example, automatically filling out bank forms.
Run a pseudo script to control the victim's mouse.
Another socket is responsible for capturing images of the victim's screen and sending them to the C&C.
The Trojan’s design means it can be easily handled by a criminal and makes it possible to carry out the fraud in very specific ways adapted for each entity.
2. New campaign in Spain
In the campaign in Spain, it has been detected that emails with Visual Basic Script attachments (.vbs) have been distributed. Mainly, they pass themselves off as PDF files that simulate invoices.
There are many banks affected, among which are some entities that are not normally directly affected by another type of banking malware more common in Spain.
The Trojan’s design allows it to adapt it to other external entities quickly, as in this case. Thus, it does not need constant development and specialization for each type of entity.
This type of banking malware with a high presence in Brazil has been adapting, and although these malwares mainly tend to have significant distribution in their country of origin or in Latin American regions, it has been discovered that they are attempting to adapt to the greater number of entities from other countries.
In addition, this is a malware with a very diverse functionality that allows criminals to attack their victims in a more sophisticated way, avoiding detection by the banks' anti-fraud solutions as far as possible, eluding double authentication and environmental patterns, among other protections.
As different entities implement more advanced security solutions, greater professionalization in this type of malware is anticipated. They will simulate user behaviour to a great extent and thus be able to commit fraud without raising suspicion.
Our solution, BugFraud, is characterized by continuing to provide support against the dangerous JavaScript injection banking attacks and this growing type of attack based on RAT with victim interaction, in which the attacker has more information about the user and their behaviour within a website.
Topics: banker, banking Trojan, guildma, spyware
By Ferran Pla - 06/03/2019
Hyperparameter optimization
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Prediction Game
Joshua Kimmich has scored one goal for Bayern this season, as well as recording four assists. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA / Sebastian Widmann
Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich on tennis with Manuel Neuer and idolising Bastian Schweinsteiger
Joshua Kimmich would like to play Manuel Neuer at tennis more often. The Bayern Munich teammates have only met once on the court, with the club captain prevailing, much to Kimmich's chagrin.
"Manu seems to serve from a different floor of a building," Kimmich told Bild, referencing the Bayern goalkeeper's height. "The ball comes down so quickly, that sometimes I could barely see it. During our only game – when we were on international duty with Germany – he just kept playing backhands and then attacking the net. He's so big it's really tough to get the ball past him."
Jokes about Neuer getting unusually close to the net aside, it is little wonder that Kimmich remembers the details of the loss so vividly. A Bayern and Germany cornerstone already, the 22-year-old is not accustomed to tasting defeat – and when he does, he takes it as badly as he always has done.
Watch: check out all of Kimmich's goals and assists in Bayern colours!
"I just can't take losing," Kimmich said. "Once, when my dad was coach of our team in a youth tournament, he gave everyone in the team the same amount of playing time. I went mad because I always wanted to play. When we lost, I just ran off crying."
It did not take Kimmich too long to forgive his father, Berthold, the man he admits has played an influential role in his rise to a player now at the top of the world game with club and country.
"We work off the same page really," said Kimmich, already a two-time Bundesliga winner. "I've got a ridiculous amount to thank him for. If he says nothing after a game, then I know I haven't played well. Even today, if I don't make the most of a good chance, he'll tell me that I used to be more clinical in front of goal, and that I'd score with my left and right foot."
Kimmich's father was not his only role model, however. There were on-pitch heroes, too, some of whom will be music to the ears of Bayern fans, others perhaps less so.
While often compared to Philipp Lahm, whose right-back role Kimmich is reprising with increasing authority for both the domestic and world champions, the Rottweil native admits that it was another Bayern star he looked up to when growing up.
"Xavi Hernandez and Bastian Schweinsteiger [were role models]," said Kimmich. "Although my first shirt was Borussia Dortmund's Tomas Rosicky. I also really liked Krasimir Balakov [a two-footed attacking midfielder who finished fourth at the 1994 FIFA World Cup with Bulgaria and played for VfB Stuttgart between 1995 and 2003]."
Watch: Kimmich scored October's Goal of the Month with a deft flick!
Despite Kimmich's age and the nagging feeling that he has already been around forever, it has been a long journey to reach the same club as Schweinsteiger. Then 18 and a central midfielder, Kimmich left boyhood club Stuttgart for RB Leipzig on the hunt for first-team football in 2013, making 26 appearances in the third tier in 2013/14 as the Easterners secured promotion to Bundesliga 2.
"The move to Leipzig really helped [my career]," said Kimmich. "You learn how to play grown-up football in the second and third divisions. It's not two-touch Tiki-Taka football at that level; it's really intense and physical. Knowing how to look after yourself – something I learned back then – really helps me to this day."
After impressing as Leipzig finished fifth in the second tier in 2014/15, Bayern swooped in January 2015, agreeing a deal for Kimmich – who had caught Pep Guardiola's eye – to move to the Allianz Arena that summer.
- © imago / Picture point
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Will Smith reveals just how 'all in' Jared Leto’s Joker performance is
Nick Romano,
Oct. 6, 2015, 2:58 PM
Jared Leto as the Joker in "Suicide Squad."
We've heard comments from the "Suicide Squad" cast members that Jared Leto attacked his role of The Joker with a full-on Method approach. As it turns out — though to no surprise, if you know a thing or two about Leto as a person — the method was a bit more intense than we originally thought.
Will Smith, who plays DC villain Deadshot in the David Ayer film, spoke about "Suicide Squad" on Apple's Beats 1 radio show the other day. With regards to Leto, he said:
"I've never actually met Jared Leto. We worked together for 6 months and we've never exchanged a word outside of 'Action!' and 'Cut!' We've never said 'Hello' or 'Good day.' I've only ever spoken to him with me as Deadshot and him as The Joker. I literally have not met him yet. So, the first time I see him will be 'Hey, Jared. What's up?' Not a single word exchanged off-camera. He was all in on the Joker."
Will Smith as Deadshot in "Suicide Squad."
If you've been keeping track of the latest updates on the film, this isn't that shocking. Leto previously sent Margot Robbie, who plays Harley Quinn, a love letter and a rat; he sent bullets to Will Smith; and Jai Courteney, who plays Captain Boomerang, said he hasn't "seen him, since we started working, out-of-character." So this latest comment from Smith seems to be in line with Leto's #SquadGoals.
Heath Ledger playing the Joker in "The Dark Knight."
Jared Leto succeeds the late Heath Ledger, who portrayed the Gotham madman in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," and the Oscar winner had to find some way, other than his look, to differentiate his performance from Ledger's. Recently, during a Q&A session at Dubai Music Week, the actor remarked:
"They're going to lock me away in a box after this movie comes out."
Despite all the reports about Leto's Joker, the character doesn't seem to be a major part of the film, at least according to reports.
Be wary of potential spoilers from "Suicide Squad," but word on the street is that Joker spends most of the film behind bars, while the main Squad-ers take the spotlight. The early footage from Comic-Con — though early — seems to bolster these claims. The film also features Viola Davis as Belle Reve Prison warden Amanda Waller, who enlists a group of supervillain convicts into executing secret missions for the government in exchange for reduced jail time.
Members of this group include Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, Adewale Akinnyoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Adam Beach as Slipknot, Jay Hernandez as El Diablo, and Karen Fukuhara as Katana. Elsewhere, we see Cara Delevigne as Enchantress and Ben Affleck reprising his Batman role after "Batman v Superman."
"Suicide Squad" will hit theaters on August 5, 2016.
Read the original article on CinemaBlend. Copyright 2019. Follow CinemaBlend on Twitter.
SEE ALSO: Jared Leto sent Margot Robbie a rat to get into character as the Joker
NOW WATCH: How Gisele Bündchen became the highest-paid supermodel in the world
More: Movies Jared Leto Will Smith Joker
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Home Tags Nintendo Switch
Why Nintendo’s cheaper new Switch could mean the death of its 3DS handheld console after eight years
Lisa Eadicicco, Business Insider US - July 14, 2019
Nintendo is releasing a new Switch Lite designed for portability, calling into question the relevance of its aging 3DS handheld.
In the age of smartphones without headphone jacks, Nintendo’s new Switch Lite doesn’t let you use wireless headphones
Antonio Villas-Boas, Business Insider US - July 13, 2019
It's conspicuous in 2019 that any handheld gadget like the Nintendo Switch Lite doesn't come with Bluetooth headphone support.
Nintendo’s new, less expensive Switch is a brilliant move that is likely to sell millions of consoles this holiday — and the company’...
Ben Gilbert, Business Insider US - July 12, 2019
Nintendo's got a new, less expensive version of its Nintendo Switch console that's going to be a massive hit this holiday season.
There are only two types of people who should buy Nintendo’s new $200 Switch Lite
Dave Smith, Business Insider US - July 11, 2019
Nintendo unveiled a $200 version of its Switch console this week, called the "Switch Lite." But it's not for everyone.
Every new Pokémon coming to ‘Pokémon Sword and Shield’ this November that we know about, from Alcremie to Yamper
Kevin Webb, Business Insider US - July 11, 2019
Here are all of the confirmed new Pokémon coming to "Pokémon Sword and Shield," the first games of Generation 8.
Everything we know about ‘Pokémon Sword and Shield,’ the next generation of Pokémon games coming to the Nintendo Switch in Novem...
'Pokémon Sword' and 'Shield' will introduce fans to the next generation of Pokémon on November 15th.
Nintendo just revealed a new game console — here’s how the new $200 Nintendo Switch Lite stacks up against the old $300 Switch
Nintendo has a new, less expensive version of the Nintendo Switch coming this September. It differs from the current console in a few crucial ways.
Nintendo jumps after introducing a cheaper version of the wildly popular Switch console
Carmen Reinicke, Business Insider US - July 10, 2019
The Switch Lite will cost about $100 less than the original Nintendo Switch, and come in three colors: yellow, gray, and turquoise.
Nintendo just announced a less expensive, new version of the wildly popular Nintendo Switch — and it arrives in September for $200
Nintendo finally revealed its less expensive, portable-only version of the wildly popular Nintendo Switch.
An incredible game that looks like a 1930s cartoon is getting its own animated Netflix show, and it’s easy to understand why when you see it in ...
Ben Gilbert, Business Insider US - July 9, 2019
"Cuphead" looks like a game from 1932, but it's actually a gorgeous throwback for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC. Now, Netflix is turning it into a show.
Depression is on the rise among Gen Z — and teen girls are experiencing the worst of it
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Lead Your Team Managing
What Drives People to Become Whistle-Blowers
By David Mielach, BusinessNewsDaily Staff Writer June 1, 2012 11:05 am EST
Credit: Whistle Image via Shutterstock
Kyle Lagow blew the whistle on his former employer and was awarded $14.5 million for doing so.
And that is not a bad thing.
That's because Lagow's admission brought to light not only an unsavory and unethical practice by his former employer, but it may also change the opinion people have about whistle-blowers.
Lagow, a former home appraiser for Countrywide Financial Corp., questioned his employer when he saw them overvaluing homes purchased with government-backed mortgages. This in turn increased the value of loans that the company sold on the secondary mortgage market. This led to a $25 billion settlement between federal and state regulators and the mortgage industry. It also resulted in Lagow's dismissal from Countrywide.
Even though Lagow simply reported a wrong when he saw it, most people do not see whistle-blowers in this way. Instead, most people think of whistle-blowers as being rogue and disgruntled employees. New research, however, is poking some holes in that belief.
[Can You Really Be Fired for Being 'Too Hot'?]
According to research by the Ethics Resource Council, 65 percent of workers who witnessed misconduct reported it. More than half the workers who did report misconduct said they did so to a trusted source within the organization, while just over one-quarter brought issues to a senior manager.
"We tend to think that whistle-blowers go outside the company because they do not trust their employer," Patricia Harned, president of ERC, said. "But in most cases, employees actually turn to their management first. Many see whistle-blower as a derogatory term for a disloyal employee, but we’ve found that the whistle-blower is often forced to go outside, either by fear, inaction, or both."
Overall, most employees report misconduct because they want to fix the problem or help the organization. According to the report, monetary rewards were the least likely motivating factor for people to report a problem. The most common reason for reporting was the size of the problem or crime.
The report also found that employees were much more likely to report problems if they knew that reporting the issue would bring about a change. For this reason the ERC recommends companies be clear with employees about how to define misconduct and, most important, how workers can report it.
"The best strategy for management is to respond quickly and effectively when employees report misconduct," Harned said.
This research, a part of a study by the Ethics Resource Center, was funded by Dell and URS Corp. The information was based on more than 4,600 responses.
Reach BusinessNewsDaily staff writer David Mielach at Dmielach@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @D_M89.
Business News Daily Editor
Business News Daily was founded in 2010 as a resource for small business owners at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Our site is focused exclusively on giving small business advice, tutorials and insider insights. Business News Daily is owned by Business.com.
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Book Notes: A lusty start to summer reading
Rae Padilla Francoeur More Content Now
“Cape May,” a novel by Chip Creek. Celadon Books, April 2019. $26.99, hardcover. 248 pages.
“Cape May,” a debut novel by Chip Creek, an author with ties to Boston and New England where he went to school and taught, plunges us head-first into the deep end of lust. Readers come up for air on page 243, stricken yet entertained, and a little spent from all the titillation. The truth Creek tells: Lust’s chokehold is merciless, irrational, potentially ruinous. Some readers have learned this truth the hard way but in “Cape May,” it’s other people’s moral failings and obsessions we behold, at times breathlessly. Voyeurs take note: “Cape May” is a fine choice for your first summer read of the season.
The story takes place in the late 1950s in Cape May, New Jersey. Honeymooners Effie and Henry, 18 and 20 respectively, stay in her uncle’s house where they consummate their union in an attic twin bed. Effie has fond memories of Cape May from her family’s summer vacations. But in September, it’s a ghost town. They must rethink plans and expectations. The two longtime school mates must rediscover themselves - as husband and wife - with no people, activities or mindless distractions to take the edge off such undiluted intensity as theirs.
They are young but they do possess a kind of innocent confidence, charm and a spirit of adventure. So when they encounter, just a few blocks away, a threesome devoted to debauchery, they are curious and a little hungry for some of that. Never mind that they are just then discovering their own sexuality and the joys of each other. Creek’s take on the couple’s willingness to explore, even in the midst of their own glorious encounters with each other: “Desire engendered desire.” Really? This idea is one your book group may want to ponder.
Once Henry and Effie meet the expansive and fun-loving, ever ebullient Clara, her wealthy and easy-going friend Max and his beautiful half-sister Alma, they reorient themselves. The five of them sail, eat, drink and party late into the nights. When the two-week honeymoon is supposed to end, the young marrieds decide to stay another week in the house with Clara and friends.
Henry may love and lust for Effie but Alma, Max’s half-sister, is all seductress all the time. She gloms onto Henry - not so others would notice - but he feels her lure as if it were a universe of gravity dragging him out of the range of moral rectitude. He succumbs. And he knows better, of course. Creek makes that point very clear. Henry is guilty. Henry vows renewed allegiance. Henry is sympathetic when Effie gets sick and goes to bed for several days. Instead of sickroom duties, however, he serves Alma. The blame rests with each of them. Even Effie.
Creek approaches the book’s boldest, most consequential scenes slowly. You have to wait for it. We feel the tension, the daring and the recklessness escalate chapter by chapter. Creek is a master of piling on petty details, like all the small talk at a fundraiser, to lead us deeper into the morality void. At one point Henry is blindsided by the repercussions of his actions. “He was empty with shock.” Creek is a creative builder, piling it on - albeit artfully - occasionally unleashing a zinger of a sentence. That, too, keeps us turning pages for more.
There are people like Clara and Henry. Clara tells Henry, “We want everything.” It’s easier to abandon reason when desire floods all the senses, obscuring opposing forces like common sense.
To accept Alma and Henry’s fever dream is to accept that desire engenders desire, as the author seems to posit in his pointed and disruptive tale. We humans deserve sympathy. Global warming is nothing compared to the tempest within.
Rae Padilla Francoeur can be reached at rae@raefrancoeur.com.
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Pritzker latest Illinois official seeking agricultural disaster declaration
By Montana SamuelsPekin Daily Times
In the second time in as many weeks, an Illinois political official has urged US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to issue a disaster declaration for the state.
First it was Rep. Cheri Bustos asking for the declaration to cover the counties in the state's 17th district. Now it is Gov. JB Pritzker calling for the declaration to cover the entirety of the state.
"For months our state has been battling historic flooding, causing untold damage to homes, businesses and farms across Illinois," said Pritzker in a July 3 news release. "For our farmers this has meant delaying, reducing, or even eliminating planting, hurting a core state industry and impacting working families across Illinois."
The Associated Press is reporting that the USDA's Farm Services Agency recommended at a State Emergency Board (SEB) meeting that all 102 counties in Illinois be declared an agriculture disaster.
"Our region is facing unprecedented weather conditions — the likes of which our farmers and producers have never seen in their lives," said Bustos in a June 21 news release.
In a June 28 Daily Times story, Tazewell County Farm Bureau Manager Emily Rogier referred to the flooding in the state as the "worst" Illinois farmers have seen in a quarter of a century.
The Daily Times has spoken to four farmers across two recent reports. Each farmer indicated that they have either been delayed in their planting, or had to cut crops from their schedule. In some cases, both were true.
Rogier stated in the June 28 report that a 10 to 20 percent yield loss is a "representative" estimate for farmers across Illinois.
The declaration request from the SEB must be reviewed by USDA staff before ratification from Perdue.
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Google: Android 3.0 needs more work to be smartphone ready
Bloggers and others have pilloried Google for delaying open source access to Honeycomb
Google will not release the source code for Honeycomb, the version of its Android mobile OS optimized for tablets, until it completes work to make the software better for smartphones and other devices, the company said Thursday.
"Android 3.0, Honeycomb, was designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes and improves on Android favorites... While we're excited to offer these new features to Android tablets, we have more work to do before we can deliver them to other device types including phones," Google said in a statement.
The company said it will publish the Honeycomb source code "as soon as it's ready" but did not say when that will be.
The comments reflect the fact that Google designed Honeycomb for tablets, devices with screens larger than the smartphones earlier versions of Android were designed for, and needs more time to tweak it for other devices, such as smartphones and TVs. Companies in the red-hot tablet sector had demanded a tablet version of Android, but now that it's arrived, open source advocates and smartphone lovers want Honeycomb, too. News stories and blog postings in the wake of the decision have pilloried Google for the delay.
"While large manufacturers already have the access to Honeycomb, small companies and developers will have to wait for some months before getting their hands on the code. It will surely [anger the] majority of open source enthusiasts," wrote Gaurav Shukla on his AndroidOS.in blog, which is not affiliated with Google.
The success of Apple's iPad last year in grabbing global attention and becoming an instant best-seller sent companies scrambling to compete with rival offerings. Device makers around the world needed an OS for the job, and many talked to Google about designing a version of Android specifically for tablets, including Samsung Electronics, which put an earlier version of Android in its first Galaxy Tab it launched last year.
Google responded to the requests by designing Android 3.0 "from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets," according to the official Google Mobile Blog.
Google's success with Android has made it a big player in mobile OSes, and its work with hardware makers around the world means it has to respond to their requests, not just move in its own direction.
Indeed, market researcher Ovum predicts Android will emerge as the dominant smartphone platform in coming years, "dramatically outperforming Apple."
"The success of the Android platform is being driven by the sheer number of hardware vendors supporting it at both the high and low ends of the market," said Adam Leach, principal analyst at Ovum, in a statement.
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New York Classical Players: Paik & Beethoven
02/15/19 | 8:00PM
137-35 Northern Blvd. Map
15-02-2019 12:00:00 15-02-2019 12:00:00 America/New_York New York Classical Players: Paik & Beethoven | 8:00PM Acclaimed pianist HaeSun Paik and New York Classical Players return to FTH for a Beethoven double feature. Ms. Paik continues NYCP's Beethoven Project – a three-year adventurous commitment to perform all five Beethoven piano concertos – with stirring First and dazzlingly powerful Third Piano Concertos. Samuel Adler's Concertino offers a contemporary perspective on the concerto form with lively dance movements and energetic themes. http://www.cityguideny.com/eventinfo.cfm?id=353574 Flushing Town Hall Flushing Town Hall
Acclaimed pianist HaeSun Paik and New York Classical Players return to FTH for a Beethoven double feature. Ms. Paik continues NYCP's Beethoven Project – a three-year adventurous commitment to perform all five Beethoven piano concertos – with stirring First and dazzlingly powerful Third Piano Concertos. Samuel Adler's Concertino offers a contemporary perspective on the concerto form with lively dance movements and energetic themes.
Upcoming Events at Flushing Town Hall
40 Objects - 40 Years of Bringing People Together: Flushing Council on Culture & the Arts - 07/10/19 - 08/30/19
Minhwa: Korean Folk Paintings in New York - 07/19/19 - 07/28/19
Minhwa Hand Fan Making - 07/21/19
Open Mic Series: Building Bridges through Storytelling - 07/22/19
Svetlana & The Delancey Five - 07/26/19
Cardboard Explosion - 07/28/19
Jazz Jam All-Stars - 08/04/19
Monthly Jazz Jam: Celebrating the Legacy of Louis Armstrong - 08/07/19
Annual Members Exhibit - 08/09/19
Salon Sunday - 08/11/19
Live Drawing with Models - 08/12/19
Sushi & Steamed Egg Workshop - 08/18/19
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Shimansky
Shimansky’s Flagship Jewellery Store in Cape Town
Mon - Sun | 09:00 - 21:00
Level 1 | The Clock Tower | Waterfront | Cape Town
www.shimansky.co.za
enquiries@shimansky.co.za
ShimanskySA
ShimanskyDiamonds
Enter the shimmering world of diamonds and tanzanite at Shimansky’s V&A Waterfront-based showroom and workshop
If ever there was a South African success story, it is the tale of Shimansky. What began like many other businesses as a small flea market stall on the Durban beachfront has quickly matured into the sparkling star of the nation’s jewellery industry and the go-to choice for diamond and tanzanite creations that glitter with elegant artistry.
Despite its humble start back at the dawn of Mzansi’s democracy, today, the brand has lavish retail stores in main centres around the country as well as a stately showroom at the V&A Waterfront and its own manufacturing workshop and diamond cutting factory. It’s also not only got the stamp of approval from international celebrities, like Charlize Theron, who wore a Shimansky diamond pendant to the celebratory event for her Monster Oscar win, and Christina Aguilera, who donned a gorgeous pair of chandelier earrings during a performance at a benefit banquet in Johannesburg, but also pushed itself into the limelight time and time again with several pioneering achievements. For one, the house of sparkle is responsible for introducing platinum to the local jewellery world, and founder Yair Shimansky also designed South Africa’s very first internationally patented cut – the scintillating, square My Girl diamond.
But aside from its ability to constantly innovate, what lies at the core of this cutting-edge jeweller’s popularity is the fact that despite its growth, it has managed to retain the sort of passion for its craft and respect for detail you’d expect from an artisanal goldsmith.
As one of the few in the industry who has a diamond dealer’s licence, hands-on owner and designer Yair personally travels to reputable quarries in Kimberley to sift through and select only the finest rough stones, so that these treasured gems go straight from mine to finger. And though the brand does employ some of the latest and most advanced technology to design and shape its dazzling creations, it also puts much emphasis on traditional craftsmanship, so that every piece is a handmade work of perfection.
This personal touch can be observed first-hand at the Shimansky jewellery manufacturing workshop and diamond cutting and polishing factory, both of which are found just adjacent to the showroom at the V&A Waterfront Clock Tower. Through glass windows, visitors can witness the care and expertise that goes into moulding striking engagement rings, breathtaking pendants and rich royal blue tanzanite earrings and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the painstaking process of shining and shaping rough diamonds into fiery, twinkling crystals. Not only does the workshop offer guests the chance to deepen their understanding of the tools and time involved in crafting designer trinkets, but they’re guaranteed to walk away with a greater appreciation for the jewels they plan to purchase.
And for those who do want to buy, or even just browse, there’s no finer place to do so than the stunning on-site showroom, which houses the largest variety of jewellery of all the nationwide Shimansky stores. In this magical, circular space, visitors can peruse a queen’s treasure trove of cases displaying delicate tanzanite bracelets, gleaming yellow diamond neckpieces, dazzling engagement rings in every imaginable shape and size, polished men’s wedding bands and a broad assortment of other shimmering items fit for royalty.
Aside from the ready-to-buy collections, there are also a multitude of loose diamonds and tanzanite drops in various cuts to choose from, and grooms-to-be and other guests can sit down with one of the shop’s qualified consultants and discuss personal, custom-made designs over a glass of local wine or cup of steaming coffee (there’s a sparkly bar in one corner).
Notably, the Clock Tower-based showroom is also the first spot that new ranges and designs are displayed, and as Yair and his team are constantly working on developing cutting-edge creations, you can almost always expect something fresh and exciting here. After all, this celebrated jeweller may already have an extraordinary past, but its success story is far from over.
Tip: The best time to visit the Shimansky showroom and workshop is on a week day between 9am and 4pm as it is then possible to see the jewellery manufacturers and diamond cutters at work. Be sure to ask for the full Shimansky Diamond Experience Tour, which includes a visit to the on-site Cape Town Diamond Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of this enchanting gem, see life-size replicas of the world’s most famous stones and more.
Keen to learn more about Africa’s most famous blue-violet gemstone? Read about the incredibly rare treasure, the tanzanite.
Use our events section for an up-to-date overview of happenings in Cape Town. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and if you have a smart phone, add capetownmagazine.com to your home screen for quick access on the go.
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Daily Ratings & News for Patterson-UTI Energy
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Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN) Receives $20.33 Average PT from Analysts
Posted by Oliver Carreras on Apr 15th, 2019 // Comments off
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Buy” from the twenty-two research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $19.93.
A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on PTEN shares. Credit Suisse Group cut Patterson-UTI Energy from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $19.00 to $12.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 19th. Societe Generale raised Patterson-UTI Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 19th. UBS Group set a $18.00 price target on Patterson-UTI Energy and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 20th. ValuEngine cut Patterson-UTI Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 2nd. Finally, BidaskClub raised Patterson-UTI Energy from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, January 5th.
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A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PTEN. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in Patterson-UTI Energy by 526.1% during the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 3,423,038 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $35,428,000 after acquiring an additional 2,876,290 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its position in Patterson-UTI Energy by 37.1% during the fourth quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 6,383,533 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $66,069,000 after acquiring an additional 1,726,924 shares during the period. Scout Investments Inc. grew its position in Patterson-UTI Energy by 136.6% during the first quarter. Scout Investments Inc. now owns 2,094,601 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $29,366,000 after acquiring an additional 1,209,229 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Patterson-UTI Energy by 14.2% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 9,584,682 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $99,202,000 after acquiring an additional 1,191,714 shares during the period. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Patterson-UTI Energy by 29.0% during the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,105,970 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $52,847,000 after acquiring an additional 1,149,303 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.44% of the company’s stock.
PTEN traded down $0.17 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $15.03. 125,974 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,360,660. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 1.81. The company has a market cap of $3.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -44.31 and a beta of 1.34. Patterson-UTI Energy has a 1 year low of $9.49 and a 1 year high of $23.99.
Patterson-UTI Energy (NASDAQ:PTEN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 7th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.04) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of ($0.14) by $0.10. Patterson-UTI Energy had a negative return on equity of 1.98% and a negative net margin of 9.66%. The company had revenue of $795.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $797.10 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.10) earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Patterson-UTI Energy will post -0.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 7th were paid a $0.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.06%. Patterson-UTI Energy’s payout ratio is currently -47.06%.
Patterson-UTI Energy declared that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, February 7th that allows the company to repurchase $250.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the oil and gas company to purchase up to 9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.
Patterson-UTI Energy Company Profile
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides onshore contract drilling services to oil and natural gas operators in the United States and Canada. It operates through three segments: Contract Drilling Services, Pressure Pumping Services, and Directional Drilling Services. The Contract Drilling segment markets its contract drilling services primarily in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico, north central and east Texas, northern Louisiana, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, south Texas, western Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and western Canada.
Read More: What do investors mean by earnings per share?
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LGE Design Build Breaks Ground on Laser Components in Chandler
Laser Manufacturer will use new space to grow presence in the Valley
LGE Design Build has broken ground on Laser Components, the new Arizona office and manufacturing space for the German-based laser innovator that manufactures measurement devices, fiber optics, photo counters and more. The site, located at 2277 N. Nevada St., Chandler, will be the workplace of more than 30 current Laser Components employees, who will relocate from the company’s current Tempe facility. The project has an estimated completion date of January 2020.
The Thursday, April 25 groundbreaking featured a “first dig” groundbreaking ceremony with speaking appearances from LGE Design Build Business Development Manager, Andrew Greybar, and Laser Components General Manager, Dragan Grubisic. The ceremony was the first step in constructing the nearly 21,000 square-foot structure in the Westech Corporate Center, located on the northeast corner of Nevada Street and El Prado Court in east Chandler.
The structure, designed from the ground-up by LGE Design Build’s in-house architecture firm, LGE Design Group, was built with room to grow. The space is suited to hold more than 70 employees and features masonry walls, metal louvers and exposed steal aesthetics. A covered canopy will welcome visitors in the main entry. The design’s combination of modern shapes, textures and use of natural lighting was exactly what Laser Components was seeking in its new space. Like its headquarters in Germany, the Chandler location will include a spacious canteen area and outside seating with colorful landscaping.
“From our first meeting with LGE Design Build, we were very impressed by their approach to the project and their professionalism,” said Patrick Paul, general manager and CEO at Laser Components. “We have quite some experience with construction projects in different parts of the world, but we have never met such a good, skilled, well-organized and well-balanced team as LGE.”
Laser Components chose Chandler as its new location due to its proximity to Arizona State University, as the company has a close working relationship with the university. As the tech sector in the Valley continues to grow, the City of Chandler benefits greatly from Laser Components’ presence.
“The City of Chandler welcomes Laser Components to the Innovation and Technology Hub of the Southwest,” said Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. “I am confident that they will find a rich talent base as they expand their business.”
About LGE Design Build
LGE Design Build has built a solid reputation as one of Arizona’s Top Design Build General Contractors over the past 20 years. LGE’s management team collaborates with clients to develop a lasting impression and create award-winning design through their unique LGE Process. From concept, architecture and all the details of construction through interior design and completion, LGE is there every step of the way to transform vision into reality. With more than 20 million square feet and 1,000 projects of experience, LGE builds for success. For more information, visit LGE Design Build.
Christina Caldwell
Evolve PR and Marketing
Stephanie Romero
@cityofchandleraz
Hear from Officer Little of the Chandler Police Department as he shares his thoughts from when he assisted a young man to safety.... Read More
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🎒 Operation Back to School is looking for volunteers to help stuff backpacks this Wednesday and Friday. Backpacks with supplies will be distributed to deserving students this Saturday. 🔗 Sign-up… Read More... Read More
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Wedding Singer rapper granny dies
Ellen Albertini Dow (AP)
Los Angeles — Ellen Albertini Dow, a feisty character actress best known for her salty rendition of Rapper's Delight in The Wedding Singer, has died. She was 101.
Her agent, Juliet Green, confirmed to The Associated Press that Dow died Monday.
Her breakout rap in The Wedding Singer led to memorable and often foul-mouthed character roles in films like Wedding Crashers, Road Trip and 54, as the drug-addled party girl Disco Dottie.
Dow's numerous television credits include Seinfeld and New Girl.
The Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, native studied theatre and dance for most of her life and obtained a master's degree from Cornell when that was still a rarity for women. Dow didn't begin her professional acting career until she was in her 70s, when she got her first job on The Twilight Zone.
Read more on: celebrity deaths | movies
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Kimberley Jobs
HOUSES FOR SALE IN Centurion, Rooihuiskraal
HOUSES FOR SALE IN Pretoria, Groenkloof
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Social Central
Harley-Davidson Releases at EICMA Show Production LiveWire Electric Bike
harley-davidson Harley-Davidson Releases at EICMA Show Production LiveWire Electric Bike
By dfelt, November 7, 2018 in Motorcycles
harley-davidson electric bike
livewire bike
harley-davidson livewire bike
Harley-Davidson LiveWire News Release
Bike riders beware, the name brands are finally delivering their electric bikes and that starts at one of the biggest bike shows on the planet. EICMA in Milan Italy.
Today Harley-Davidson announced and showed off their production bike the LiveWire. This electric bike is being built with a permanent magnet electric motor which produces a tone that increases in pitch and volume with speed, a new sound that represents the smooth, electric power of the LiveWire motorcycle and is not a speaker generated tone but a true engine tone.
The LiveWire bike has a fully adjustable Showa Suspension for composed riding at the slowest speeds or in spirited open road riding. The bike has a TFT touch display with Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, music and more. The battery pack is supported by level 1 to level 3 fast charging and the dealers will have chargers on site as well as sell a Harley-Davidson charger for installation at the owners home.
Harley-Davidson also stated that by 2022 every model line will have a full electric version bike to sell along side the ICE bikes. The LiveWire bike goes on sale next year and full details on HP, torque, pricing and pre-ordering will be released in January 2019.
The future of Harley-Davidson here.
@ocnblu It is finally here with it's own unique tone. Not silent. Very cool bike.
ykX 681
GXP Member
Location:--
I like it too. It looks cool and good for HD doing finally something advanced.
I think getting electric as a toy at the moment is a good idea vs something you need to use daily.
H-D realizes they have to evolve if they are going to survive long term. Their current nostalgia focused product is appealing to a smaller and smaller base of customers and not bringing in younger buyers.
@ykX @Robert Hall I am excited by the HD Livewire bike. Very cool for them and I truly hope it does pull in the younger crowd as like Robert stated, the pool of baby boomers is getting smaller and smaller and people are not wanting the open pipe loud noise bike.
I do love the actual working bike on the home page of the EICMA trade show that has clear connection to the light bike in Tron. That would be fun to ride and see how it handles.
I am also amazed at how many electric bikes are coming out. GM getting into the electric pedestrian bike is cool I think.
https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2018/nov/1102-ebike.html
@dfelt
Actually in Europe electric bikes are extremely popular. I know in some countries they had to make new laws limiting age and requiring protection because a lot of kids were riding them and getting into bad accidents.
Here is one cool announced recent;y:
Ducati electric assist mountain bike
@Robert Hall @ykX @Drew Dowdell
Finally HD released a current video of the production Livewire and you can hear their patented sound. I have to say that baby boomers wanting their loud ear hurting sound will probably not like this, but I can see a ton of 20 to 50 year olds who would like it.
I truly think this will bring in a new generation of riders to the HD family.
If they can get the range up
I don't know what the range of these are supposed to be but some of the riders are already content stopping every 50-90 miles with their itty bitty tanks.
Just now, ccap41 said:
True, but those tanks can be filled up quickly. I wonder the rate at which the Live-Wire can be recharged on a fast charger.... apparently, all HD dealers who sell it will also have a DC fast charger installed. A Nissan Leaf can get 90 miles of range in 30 minutes on a DC Fast Charger. Figure 15 minutes or less for a full "tank" on a Live-Wire?
5 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:
During the Summer tour of the LiveWire concept that looked different than the production bike, they had a 110 mile distance and could accept DC fast charging. There have been comments that the battery density will increase in the production bike due to the latest battery technology. If so, then I could see 150 mile range on these bikes which I think will be enough for many riders initially.
Absolutely true. Those 1.5 gallon fill-ups only take a couple minutes.
5 minutes ago, dfelt said:
150 miles of range would be plenty. After 150 miles of riding, I'm definitely in need of a 15-minute break.
3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:
Ducati is joining the Future with Electric Bikes
By dfelt
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati was recently on the sideline of the Podium ceremony for the continuation of wins in motor bike racing and this time it was for the electric bike. Ducati has been working with Bologna University to develop and deliver an assortment of electric bikes.
To quote the story that is in italian but your browser could translate it if you want is the following:
The " Moto Student " project is included in the "UniBo Motorsport" program. The Racing Team of the University of Bologna has created a prototype of electric racing bikes (in the gallery photos), entirely designed and built by a group of Engineering students of the University of Bologna, supported by the Ducati Foundation and also followed by technicians of the motor home of Borgo Panigale. The bike made its debut on the Spanish circuit of Aragon (October 2018), winning an exciting podium at its first exit, with the best result in the acceleration test: 0-100 km / h in 3 "85.
http://www.corsedimoto.com/gallery/claudio-domenicali-presto-una-ducati-elettrica/?refresh_ce-cp
Bike makers from the Asian rim to some in Europe have announced 10 year plans for electric bikes, but with the recent announcement by Harley Davidson with their Livewire bike going into production, it seems it pushed Ducati to step up their own time line and make the announcement that we will see e-Ducati very soon as the company gets ready to make a major announcement on this, this year.
What it will look like or be like is the mystery for now and will the company opt for a performance focused speed bike, sport bike or tackle the trails like many start ups in California have chosen to do is an additional mystery.
What we do know is that Ducati is gaining traction in the new e-Bike sport of racing and does have both street and trail bikes in concept form.
Student rendering above to working concept below.
Ural Electric Bike with Sidecar!
Autoblog Ural Review Story
Lets get the details out of the way first for the Bike riders.
60 Horsepower 81 pound-feet of torque weight 822 lbs top speed 88 mph Range 103 miles per charge on the 19.5 kWh battery pack Recharge time 13 hours on a 110 wall outlet Now Ural sells bikes here in America and while some here might say what a wimpy electric motor, the electric bike is very fast as the ICE bikes only have 41 HP and 42 lb-ft of torque. So the EV is a big gain over traditional ICE bikes. To quote the CEO, this bike accelerates very quickly from a hard launch for a Ural.
Currently these bikes are being developed here in Washington.
Arnold's Fat Boy from Terminator 2 up for Auction
https://rideapart.com/articles/terminator-2-harley-davidson-auction
Seems they expect this hog to sell for $250,000 or more. 🤔
Ford News: Harley-Davidson F-150 Drives Off Into The Sunset
Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com
The Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition has ridden into the sunset.
“We don’t have plans for one at the moment. We’ve got 10 models including a brand-new Limited Model, which was new for 2013. We feel like we’ve got the market really well covered,” said Doug Scott, Ford Motor Co.’s truck marketing manager.
The F-150 Harley-Davidson was introduced back in 1999 and was the flagship model for the F-150 lineup for a time. Scott said the Harley-Davidson only accounted for one to two percent of F-150 sales. Add in the fact that Ford has added such models like the F-150 Platinum, Limited and Raptor, and there isn't any room for the Harley-Davidson model.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)
William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.com or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.
Harley-Davidson F-150 Drives Off Into The Sunset
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Home > Products > Effects Processor > Bass Effects > Zoom B1Xon
Zoom B1Xon
SKU: Zoom-B1Xon
Brand: Zoom
guitar effects pedal
Here at Zoom we've been leading the way in multi-effects processing for the past twenty-five years. We're especially proud that our innovations in stomp-box effects pedals have become the tools of choice for bassists and guitarists the world over. Now, with the release of the B1on and B1Xon, we're taking bass effects to new heights—and at an astonishingly affordable prices. Whatever your level of expertise, whatever your style of music, the B1on/B1Xon is sure to become an instant favorite in your pedalboard.
• 75 effects, including distortion, compression, modulation, delay and reverb (B1Xon adds 5 pedal-controlled effects)
• Up to 5 effects can be used simultaneously, chained together in any order
• 100 memory locations (10 banks of 10) for the storage of user-created patches
• Swap function makes patch organization a breeze
• Auto Save function for automatic saving of all patch parameters
• Pre Select function allows silent patch selection while keeping the current patch operational
• Onboard chromatic tuner supports all standard bass tunings
• Looper feature for the recording of up to 30 seconds of CD-quality audio with seamless start and end times
• 68 built-in rhythm patterns which can be used in conjunction with the Looper
• Standard 1/4" input jack accepts standard cable (both active and passive instruments supported)
• 1/8" auxiliary input jack for connection of personal music players
• Backlit LCD with contrast control for easy viewing in low-light environments
• Lightweight and small enough to fit in your gig bag
• Easily integrated into any existing pedalboard
• Runs on 4 AA batteries, with alkaline battery life of 20 hours
• USB port for power and firmware updates
• Optional AC adapter
• B1Xon model adds a built-in expression pedal for control over input level, output level, or any selected effect parameter
Amazing effects. Amazing features. Amazing sound.
The B1on offers 75 bass effects, including a variety of distortion, compression, modulation, delay, reverb and amp models. The B1Xon offers 5 additional pedal-controlled effects.
Up to 5 effects can be used simultaneously, chained together any way you like. In addition, there are 68 built-in rhythm accompaniment patterns, and you can connect headphones to the output jack (as well as portable music players to the auxiliary input jack) for silent practice sessions. An onboard chromatic tuner supports all standard bass tunings, and a Looper feature enables you to record up to 30 seconds of CD-quality audio. Loop length can be set either manually or to a preset number of quarter notes, and you can loop to any rhythm pattern, with automatic quantization that ensures seamless start and end times.
Programming is simple and straightforward, thanks to a streamlined user interface and the large backlit LCD screen. Advanced editing features such as Swap, Auto-Save and Pre-Select make it easy to organize your patches for live performance and allow you to scroll through patches silently while keeping the current patch operational. In addition, the B1Xon's built-in expression pedal enables you to control input level, output level, or any selected effect parameter in real time.
Dozens of different ways to
make you a bass hero
Both the B1on and the B1Xon allow you to choose from 75 different onboard DSP effects. (The B1Xon offers 5 additional pedal-controlled effects.)
These include compressors, noise gates, filters, equalizers and octave dividers, as well as boosters, overdrives, fuzzes, phasers and flangers, plus chorus, pitch shift, tremolo, vibrato, a sub-octave generator and an intelligent bass synthesizer that plays along in key—even a DeFret effect that changes the tone of a fretted bass into that of a fretless. There are simulations of both classic and modern pedals such as the Aphex Punch Factory, MXR DynaComp, dbx 160A, BBE Sonic Maximizer, Moog MF-101 and Z. Vex Seek-Wah, as well as the Xotic EP Booster and Bass BB Preamp, Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff, SansAmp Bass Driver DI, MXR Bass D.I.+, Avalon Design U5, plus the ADA Flanger, tc Electronic Corona Tri-Chorus and BOSS ODB-3, DS-1 and Metal Zone. Original effects include Zoom's Noise Reduction (ZNR) algorithm, a bass frequency-specific Auto-Wah and a "talking" modulator. You'll also find more than a dozen delays and natural-sounding reverbs here, including rooms, halls, plates and an emulation of the Line6 M9 Particle Verb.
The dozen amp models include emulations of classic tube amplifiers like the Ampeg SVT, Ampeg B-15, Fender Bassman, Marshall Super Bass, Polytone Mini-Brute III and acoustic 360, as well as the contemporary sounds of the Hartke HA3500, SWR SM-900, Aguilar DB750, Gallien-Krueger 800RB, Eden WT-800 and Italian Markbass Little Mark III, each with its own distinct cabinet modeling that can be used to further alter the tonal quality. What's more, you can pair any amp model to any cabinet model for unusual, and often striking, effects.
NOTE: Manufacturer names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The names are used only to illustrate sonic characteristics and do not indicate any affiliation with the Zoom Corporation.
Effects Chaining
Complex multi-effects made easy.
Question: When is a guitar effects pedal not just an effects pedal?
Answer: When it's a multi-effects pedal.
The B1on/B1Xon not only allows you to select and edit any of its onboard effects, it enables you to use up to 5 of them simultaneously, chained together in any order you like. This kind of power and flexibility means that you can create rich, complex effects within the unit itself instead of having to use multiple pedals.
However, there are no hard and fast rules on how to chain effects. Exciting new sounds can easily be discovered with a little experimentation and some imaginative effect chaining. The B1on/B1Xon gives you the ability to get creative with your effects chaining.
You can also easily edit chains you’ve previously created. Simple changes in the order of effects can sometimes alter sounds dramatically. For example, an EQ set before an amp model can result in a radically different sound than having the EQ set after the amp model. That's because putting the EQ before the amp model serves not only to alter the tonal characteristic of the sound but to act as a signal booster as well. All this can be done internally with the B1on/B1Xon—much easier than physically changing the order of stompboxes.
Stayin' in tune.
Bassists know the importance of playing in tune. But it's not just about getting your instrument in tune; it's about keeping it in tune all night. That's no problem if you're using a B1on/B1Xon, because its built-in Tuner makes the task totally stress-free, even under the pressure of a live gig and the heat of stage lighting.
The B1on/B1Xon Tuner is instantly accessible at all times and shows you whether the note you're playing is sharp, flat, or dead on. You can opt to either bypass the currently selected effect (thus giving you a clean, unaffected sound) when tuning, or to mute the signal altogether, allowing you to tune in silence.
The B1on/B1Xon Tuner is flexible, too: It can be set to a reference of A=440, or any value between 435 and 445, and can be used chromatically or in a variety of standard bass tunings.
The perfect accompaniment
Rhythm training is an important part of every bassist's craft. The B1on/B1Xon Rhythm function makes it easy and fun to do. 68 realistic-sounding rhythms are at your fingertips: PCM samples of actual drums playing real-life patterns in a variety of different genres—everything from rock to jazz, from Emo to Motown. Dozens of quarter-note, eighth-note and sixteenth-note rhythms are provided, in 4/4, 6/8 (shuffle) and 3/4 (waltz time); for the adventurous, there's even a 5/4 groove!
The Rhythm function can also be used in conjunction with the Looper function (see below), allowing you to craft complex orchestrations overlaying the pattern of your choice.
Build a complete performance
Got a great lick that you'd like to expand on, or a distinctive chord progression that you think could serve as the foundation for an exciting improvisation or an inspired solo? Explore your creativity to its fullest with the B1on/B1Xon Looper function, which allows you to layer up to 30 seconds of performance (through the effect or effects of your choice) in high quality audio (16-bit 44.1kHz). Recording time can either be set manually or to a preset number of quarter notes, up to 64 beats, and starting and stopping the Looper (as well as readying it for an overdub or clearing its memory altogether) is as easy as pressing a pedal—no hands required.
The B1on/B1Xon Looper can also be used in conjunction with the Rhythm function, allowing you to play along with the pattern of your choice.
The B1Xon Expression Pedal
The B1Xon's built-in expression pedal allows you to alter any selected parameter in real time. You can use it for gain drive or volume (affecting either input or output level), to add wah or filtering, to affect delay time or modulation speed, or a variety of other parameters. In addition, the pedal range can be independently adjusted for each patch—you can even set the minimum value higher than the maximum value for reverse pedaling effects.
There's also a simple calibration procedure that allows you to customize pedal sensitivity. Whether you're a feather-light player or a real lead-foot, the B1Xon can adapt to your particular pedaling style.
Edits saved. All the time.
Finally got that perfect effect crafted, but afraid you'll lose it? It'll never happen when you use the B1on/B1Xon's handy Auto Save function. When switched on, whatever you change will automatically be saved.
Alternatively, if you'd prefer the insurance of a safety net (so that you never accidentally overwrite a patch), simply leave Auto Save off. The B1on/B1Xon will then politely ask you if you want to save your edits whenever you move on to a different patch. Settings can be saved to the currently selected memory area, or to any other area, allowing you to place it where it's most convenient.
The B1on/B1Xon makes naming patches a breeze, too—simply use the parameter knob to dial in the characters you want. Patch names can be up to ten characters long, and each patch can be assigned its own level as well, allowing you to ensure consistent volume even when going from a gentle acoustic sound to heavy metal overdrive.
Pre Select
Choose your tone before the audience hears it
Normally, you'll want to store your custom B1on/B1Xon patches adjacent to one another so that stepping on the pedal will scroll through them in the order needed. In that circumstance, you'll also want the sound to change immediately, and this is the way the B1on/B1Xon normally operates.
However, if you haven't stored your patches in adjacent memory locations, or if you simply get the urge to experiment and change things up in the middle of a performance, just turn on the B1on/B1Xon Pre Select function. This allows you to scroll through patches silently, with the current sound remaining unchanged as you do so.
More power for you.
The B1on/B1Xon runs on just 4 AA batteries—either alkaline or rechargeable NiMH. Alternatively, it can be powered from an optional Zoom AD-16 AC adapter or via USB.
When running on batteries, the B1on/B1Xon powers up automatically when a jack is inserted into its input connector, and a unique "eco" function can be used to automatically power the unit off if unused for 10 hours.
Battery life (when using alkaline batteries) is more than 20 hours, even during continuous use, and a handy "battery remaining" display shows you how much power is remaining. To extend battery life further still, you can opt to have the backlit LCD display turn off automatically after 15 or 30 seconds after the pedal was last used.
Number of Effects: B1on = 75
B1Xon = 80
Simultaneous Effects: 5
Patch Memory: 100)
Sampling Frequency: 44.1kHz
A/D Conversion: 24-bit 128-times oversampling
D/A Conversion: 24-bit 128-times oversampling
Signal Processing: 32-bit floating-point + 32-bit fixed-point
Frequency Characteristics: 20Hz – 20 kHz +1 dB, -6 dB (into 10 kΩ load)
Input: INPUT
1/4" phone jack
Rated input level: -20dBm
Input impedance (line): 470kΩ
Output: OUTPUT
1/4" stereo phone jack
Maximum line output level
+2 dBm (output impedance load of 10 kΩ or more)
Maximum headphones output level: 17 mW + 17 mW (into 32Ω load)
S/N (input conversion noise) 119dB
Noise floor (residual noise) -97 dBm*
AC adapter(optional)
DC 9V center-negative, 500 mA (Zoom AD-16)
AA size (LR6) battery x 4
Continuous battery operation time: 20 hours when using 4 AA alkaline batteries
USB: Firmware update
External dimensions: B1on = 155 (D) x 146 (W) x 43 (H) mm
B1Xon = 155 (D) x 237 (W) x 50 (H) mm
Weight: B1on = 380g (without batteries)
B1Xon = 640g (without batteries)
Included Accessories: Owner’s manual, AA size (LR6) battery x 4
Optional Accessories: AC Adapter
* Note: 0 dBm = 0.775 Vrms. All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
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Venezuela's Maduro decried as 'dictator' after Congress annulled
Published Fri, Mar 31 2017 6:27 AM EDT
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro delivers a speech as pro-government demonstrators hold a rally in Caracas, Venezuela on March 9, 2017.
Carlos Becerra | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Opposition leaders branded Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro a "dictator" on Thursday after the Supreme Court took over the functions of Congress and pushed a lengthy political standoff to new heights.
There was swift and widespread international condemnation of the de facto annulment of the National Assembly, where the opposition won a majority in late 2015 amid an unprecedented economic crisis that has seen Maduro's popularity plummet.
The head of the 34-nation Organization of International States (OAS), Luis Almagro, said the Venezuelan court had dealt the final blows to democracy and accused Maduro's "regime" of carrying out a "coup."
Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala and Panama expressed strong concerns while Peru withdrew its envoy after what it termed a rupture of democracy.
The United States described the move as a "serious setback for democracy in Venezuela" while the European Union called for a "clear electoral calendar" going forward.
Venezuela's top court had already overturned most National Assembly decisions since the opposition win. Then late on Wednesday, it explicitly stated it was assuming Congress' role in a ruling authorizing Maduro to create oil joint ventures without the previously mandated congressional approval.
What's happening in Venezuela?
CNBC Explains
"As long as the situation of contempt in the National Assembly continues, this constitutional chamber guarantees congressional functions will be exercised by this chamber or another chosen organ," the court said in its ruling.
The contempt charge stems from vote-buying accusations against three lawmakers from southern Amazonas state. Even though they no longer sit in Congress, the court said parliamentary leaders had not handled their case legally.
Critics of Maduro say it is an excuse for him to consolidate power and muzzle the opposition amid a severe recession, soaring inflation and acute shortages of food and medicine.
Maduro, a 54-year-old former bus driver and foreign minister, was narrowly elected in 2013 to replace late leftist President Hugo Chavez. He has accused Washington of leading a push to topple him as part of a wider offensive against leftist governments.
Stung by the rebukes around Latin America, Maduro's government condemned what it described as a "right-wing regional pact" against it on Thursday.
"We reject the Peruvian government's rude support for the violent and extremist sectors in Venezuela," Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said in a series of tweets.
Leaders of Venezuela's Democratic Unity opposition coalition renewed their demand for early presidential elections and accused Maduro of duplicating Peruvian leader Alberto Fujimori's notorious 1992 closure of Congress.
Demonetization 2.0: Venezuela's cash problem
"Nicolas Maduro has carried out a 'coup d'etat' ... this is a dictatorship," said National Assembly President Julio Borges, before tearing up a copy of the Supreme Court ruling at a news conference in the gardens of the legislature.
"This is trash from people who have kidnapped the constitution, rights and freedom of Venezuelans ... The National Assembly does not recognize the Supreme Court."
The opposition promised new street protests starting from Saturday - but that tactic has failed in the past despite marches that have drawn hundreds of thousands of protesters.
Last year, the opposition pushed for a referendum to recall Maduro and force a new presidential election, but authorities thwarted them and also postponed local electoral races that were supposed to have been held in 2016.
Maduro's term in office ends in January 2019. Around a dozen opposition lawmakers trying to march to the Supreme Court on Thursday clashed with National Guard soldiers and pro-government supporters lined up to stop them.
Pockets of youths took to the streets in parts of Caracas and attempted to block a major highway. They held flags and banners saying, "No to dictatorship."
However, numbers were small and they quickly dispersed.
Opposition supporters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, October 26, 2016.
Carlos Garcia Rawlins | Reuters
In 2014, a wave of unrest swept the country, leaving more than 40 dead, though now many opposed to the government say they feel protesting is pointless.
"If the international community stays firm, demanding elections, we are sure the government will have to turn back," another opposition leader and two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said.
Spooked by the opposition's warning that investment deals bypassing Congress would not be valid, foreign oil companies were closely following the political showdown.
As Venezuela tries to raise funds for bond payments and a reeling economy, it has sought to sell stakes in oil fields.
State oil company PDVSA recently offered Russia's Rosneft a stake in the Petropiar oil joint venture, sources with knowledge of the proposal told Reuters.
"We want to make perfectly clear to all the oil companies that any strategic alliance (that did not go through Congress) is null," Borges said on Thursday.
While some investors could see the Supreme Court sentence as giving them the green light to invest, others are increasingly worried about Venezuela's murky legal framework.
"There is reasonable doubt about the legality of all this," said a source at a foreign oil company.
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Fed's Kashkari says JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon is dead wrong about banks
Published Thu, Apr 6 2017 2:55 PM EDT Updated Thu, Apr 6 2017 7:19 PM EDT
Jeff Cox@JeffCoxCNBCcom
Fed's Kashkari takes on JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon
Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari is taking on the financial world's perhaps most well-known and powerful name — JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, whom the central bank official said recently made "demonstrably false" statements about the industry.
In his annual letter to investors, Dimon said "too big to fail" fears have been eradicated. The expression stems from the financial crisis, when taxpayers were on the hook for billions in bailouts to the financial industry. Dimon contended that banks are well-capitalized and well-regulated enough to sustain shocks similar to what happened during the crisis.
Kashkari disputed both points. He said bank equity won't be near enough to help the industry in the case of another crisis, and believes regulators are still being too easy on banks.
"Although capital standards are higher than before the last crisis, they are not nearly high enough," Kashkari said in a blog post on Medium.com. "The odds of a bailout in the next century are still nearly 70 percent."
A Fed analysis concluded that banks should be able to able to handle a 20 percent loss on assets during a crisis. To get to that level, bank capital standards should be doubled from current levels, Kashkari said.
Officials at JPMorgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
JP Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon listens during an Institute of International Finance panel discussion in Washington, Oct. 10, 2014.
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Kashkari has been something of a maverick during his stint at the Fed that began in 2016. He has consistently railed against the size of big Wall Street institutions, and he was the lone dissenter against a Fed rate hike in March.
Dimon indicated in his letter that post-crisis regulatory changes will make it easier to convert debt to equity during the next downturn.
However, Kashkari argued that governments have long been reluctant to hurt bondholders, who tend to assume they'll be bailed out during a crisis. On the regulatory side, he said bank stress tests are only "hypothetical scenarios" that won't protect against a crisis that no one will see coming.
"The most recent crisis showed that even some debt holders who had been explicitly told that they would take losses during a crisis got bailed out," he wrote.
"Only true equity should be considered loss-absorbing in a crisis. The largest banks do not have enough equity today to protect taxpayers," Kashkari added. "Too big to fail is alive and well. Taxpayers are on the hook."
Watch: JPM's Dimon on regulation
JPM's Dimon on regulation
Closing Bell
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Cif offers shoppers refill option in eco-friendly move
Unilever is moving its Cif brand into new territory with an eco refill range, which allows consumers to re-use their trigger spray cleaning bottles
Economic benefits of DRS highlighted as questions remain unanswered
2019-07-11T10:16:00+01:00By Robin Mannering
An all-encompassing Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) would be eight times more beneficial to the UK economy than a more restricted ‘on the go’ system, government analysis has revealed – but questions over the in-store practicalities of a DRS remain unanswered.
Public urged to ditch plastic on National Refill Day
The UK public are being encouraged to put their words in to action on National Refill Day today (Wednesday), as a new poll published to mark the occasion revealed that three-quarters of respondents think single-use plastic should be socially unacceptable.
Sustainability: Green shoots of success
The move to plastic-free retailing may be in its infancy, but a growing number of store owners are proving how a willingness to embrace eco-friendly ideas can have a positive impact on both the planet and their profits. C-Store investigates some of the solutions.
Convenience stores act on demand to reduce plastic use
Independent retailers are responding to growing local demand to take action on environmental sustainability, as the public spotlight continues to shine on plastic pollution.
Network Rail launches sustainability stickers for retailers
Network Rail has introduced sustainability badges for retailers operating on its premises, as part of its ambition to be a market leader in sustainability.
Technology extending fruit & veg shelf life set for UK launch
A pioneering plant-derived formula that extends the shelf life of fruit and veg by up to four times is set to enter the UK grocery market.
Central England Co-op ditches single-use carrier bags
Central England Co-op has announced it has removed single-use carrier bags from its food stores to mark World Environment Day (Wednesday).
Plastic products targeted on World Environment Day
Campaigners are urging global consumers to identify a product they would like to see go plastic free as part of World Environment Day today (Wednesday).
Charities could receive £1bn from DRS deposits, survey reveals
One in five people (20%) using a UK-wide deposit return scheme would donate deposits levied on drinks containers to charity all of the time, according to a new survey commissioned by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Campaigners call for participation in One Plastic Free Day
2019-05-22T10:05:00+01:00By Gaelle Walker
Environmental campaigners are calling on people across the world to participate in One Plastic Free Day on 5 June.
Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds to be banned in 2020
2019-05-22T08:39:00+01:00By Christian Fuller
A ban on plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic stemmed cotton buds will come in to effect in England in April 2020, environment secretary Michael Gove has announced.
Store hails impact of glass milk bottle deposit return scheme
A James Retail Group c-store in Sheffield is hailing the impact of a deposit return scheme for glass milk bottles, after more than three in four bottles were returned in the first year and sales massively outstripped those of plastic milk bottles.
ACS urges small store exemption for DRS plans in England
The Association of Convenience Stores has urged the government to exempt small stores from its proposals for a Deposit Return Scheme in England and to limit collection methods to Reverse Vending Machines.
Leeds on-the-go recycling scheme extended following success
An on-the-go recycling scheme in Leeds city centre has been extended for a further six months after the proportion of people who disposed of target material in a recycling bin nearly doubled.
Campaigners unite in call for global Deposit Return Schemes
A global network of environmental campaigners is calling for world-wide deposit return systems for drinks containers, as part of an international day of action taking place today (9 May).
Scottish Deposit Return Scheme to apply to all retailers
A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for Scotland will include glass, plastic and aluminium drinks containers of all sizes and will apply to all retailers, the Scottish government announced on Wednesday (8 May).
Brighton store enjoys success in plastic toiletries reduction
Customers at ethical Brighton supermarket Hisbe avoided using plastic toiletries bottles over 24,000 times in the past year on the back of its ‘Soap Swap’ campaign.
European parliament votes to ban single-use plastic items by 2021
The European Parliament has approved plans to ban single-use plastic items including plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds by 2021.
Tesco launches fruit and veg plastic-free trial in two stores
Tesco has launched a trial to remove plastic-wrapped fruit and vegetable products from its stores in a bid to cut down on packaging waste.
Midcounties Co-op aims to cut plastic use through POS material
Midcounties Co-operative has launched a new initiative to help reduce single-use plastic through point of sale (POS) material.
Asda reaches own brand plastic-reduction milestone
Asda has removed 6,500 tonnes of plastic from its own brand product packaging – reaching a target set in February 2018.
UK bottled water sales top four billion litres, report says
2019-03-12T13:55:00+00:00By Ieuan Hughes
Last year’s hot summer boosted bottled water consumption in the UK by more than 7% to 4,267 million litres, according to a new report from food and drink consultant Zenith Global.
ACS backs plastic bag charge extension without red tape
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has backed the government proposals extend the plastic bag charge in England to all retailers with fewer than 250 employees.
Nisa Extra store introduces Vegware packaging
A Nisa Extra store in Northern Ireland has introduced 100% recyclable Vegware packaging for its own brand fresh food and meal solutions.
C-stores forced to accept empty bottles in DRS proposal
The UK government has launched its long-awaited consultation into a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers, which could force small shops to accept empty drinks cans and bottles for recycling.
Food industry bodies demand "pause" on policy reforms
More than 30 food industry trade bodies have called on the government to “pause” key consultations affecting the industry, including a Deposit Return Scheme for England and Wales, until Brexit uncertainty is over.
MPs call for ban on plastic waste export to developing countries
A group of cross-party MPs has today called for a complete ban on the export of the UK’s plastic waste to developing countries.
Sustainability: A natural success
A growing number of retailers are making their stores the place to go for sustainability by cutting plastic use and increasing take-up of renewable products.
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A Guide to Last-Minute March Madness Marketing
The craziness of March Madness is already underway, and the buzz surrounding the event is in full force. March Madness is a marketer’s dream as it presents great opportunities for reaching a broad audience, and it’s not too late to hop on the marketing bandwagon. This is everything you need to know to make the most of the tournament’s marketing potential:
Why does March Madness attract so much attention?
Partially because the NCAA has a penchant for alliteration (March Madness, Sweet 16, Final Four) and partially because the event consistently draws a large and diverse crowd. Whether you live for these three weeks in March or have never watched the entirety of a basketball game in your life, chances are you’ll still get involved with March Madness in some way. The ritualistic filling-out of brackets allows people to interact with the event outside of watching the games and generates buzz in homes, offices, bars and on social media. As USA TODAY writer Bruce Horovitz explained it, “March Madness is a marketing mix that advertisers crave but can rarely find. It has wide appeal to a very young and desirable audience. It’s live sports -- one of the few things that’s TiVo proof. And March Madness is a social media gabfest.”
How are big brands using March Madness in their marketing?
Several brands are debuting new ads with celebrity spokespeople. Burger King’s TV spot features five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber, Pizza Hut’s WingStreet ad stars ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt, and Audi’s new ad features comedian Ricky Gervais.
Other brands are focusing on experiential marketing. Bud Light is setting up a temporary Bud Light Hotel in downtown Dallas, complete with Bud Light-branded signage, pillow cases, and key cards. The hotel will also host live concerts and celebrity players.
Another major trend this year is ambush marketing. Brands are piggybacking on the event without dealing with the outrageous expense of having in-game advertising. Companies using this approach include Pizza Hut (giving away the chance to win free pizzas), Hooter’s (offering free fried pickles) and Spam (creating viral videos of a goofy character named “Sir Can A Lot”).
How can you get in on the marketing action?
Send out email blasts with a special offer.
Create a display ad to run on social media platforms.
Incorporate March Madness into your daily conversation with social media followers.
Hold bracket contests.
Tie-in a local team to make the marketing specific to your community.
Host viewing parties for your customers at your store/office or another nearby venue.
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Book Week Katniss Everdeen
Hooded Child Huntress Girls Costume
The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 Deluxe Katniss Adult Costume
Warrior Huntress Tween Costume
Huntress Adult Women's Costume
Midnight Huntress Adult Women's Costume
Warrior Huntress Red Tween Costume
Warrior Huntress Adults Costume
Midnight Huntress Tween Girl's Costume
District Fighter Adult Women's Costume
Warrior Huntress Adult Costume
Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen Long French Braid Costume Wig Brown
Warrior Huntress Adult Plus Costume
Katniss Everdeen costumes and accessories
Women and girls young and old are big fans of Katniss Everdeen! The star of the Hunger Games books and movies, Katinss was first introduced to the world in the 2008 novel The Hunger Games, and also appeared in the series' two subsequent novels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Katinss also graced the silver screen in the Hunger Games movie adaptation in 2012, as well as Catching Fire in 2013, and Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
The story of the Hunger Games revolves around Katniss and her fight against the evil Capitol. Growing up in the poor and poverty-stricken District 12, a section of post-war North America named Panem, Katniss and her people endure a yearly "reaping" where children are selected to participate in the Hunger Games, a gladiator style fight to the death where the last person standing is the victor. When Katniss volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games in place of her sister, and subsequently manages to win, she ruffles the Capitol's feathers and inadvertently begins a revolution.
Katniss Everdeen costumes are a great idea for any type of costume party, and are especially perfect for Book Week. We have costumes available to suit women and girls of all shapes and sizes, and you can even choose from a variety of Katniss' outfits from the movies. Grab yourself a District Fighter costume, a Catching Fire costume, or a Mockingjay costume, put your hair in a braid, and pick up your bow and arrow - suddenly you're ready to lead the resistance!
Brand: Katniss Everdeen
Costume Accessory
Teachers' (8)
Sci-Fi / Space
Warrior and Ninja
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Whitstable, Kent
Slurp oysters fresh off the boat in England’s stylish seafood capital
I once served a man from New Orleans,” the waiter recounted. “He’d come all the way to Whitstable just to eat the oysters.” Hungry Americans are not alone: bivalve molluscs have long been big here. First, the Romans revered them, while in Norman times, a festival was held annually on 25 July,
St James’s Day – patron saint of oysters.
By 1862, the Whitstable Company of Free Fishers and Dredgers was sending 60 million oysters a year to London; in 1894 it was official supplier to Queen Victoria. Trade declined after the wars, but Whitstable has remained synonymous with oysters. And where one food industry thrives, others follow: from Kent cheese to cupcakes, this is a stylish seaside spot where you’ll not go hungry.
Heading along Oxford Street towards the sea, nip into the Whitstable Museum (open Mon-Sat, free entry) for maritime history. Next, graze the stalls of Whitstable Farmers’ Market (held in St Mary’s Hall, the second and fourth Saturday every month) where local producers sell quality produce.
Town tasting
Oxford Street, which becomes High Street, has a sprinkle of chain stores, but you’ll mainly find the colourful shop fronts of independent businesses, from Hubbard’s Bakery to the Whitstable Wine Shack.
There are also galleries – the light that inspired JW Turner now attracts new artists. The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre hosts exhibitions and painting classes. There is a range of delis, florists and knick-knack emporia on comely Harbour Street. Drink good coffee at David Brown’s Deli, breathe in the sugary aromas of What’s Up Cupcake? and join the queue outside VC Jones, a traditional chippy. While you’re here, don’t miss The Cheese Box, where Dawn sells a pungent mix of British cheeses.
The Old Neptune pub, with its wonky wooden bar, sits squat on the beach. From here, walk east, passing the Whitstable Oyster Fishery, to reach the harbour where rows of wooden huts sell the day’s catch: freshly shucked oysters, pots of whelks and seafood platters. Further along,
at Whitstable Harbour Village, the shacks sell jewellery and jumble instead.
The Whitstable Brewery Bar, serving up locally made pilsner and Oyster Stout, sits right by the sea. Further east, Whitstable Castle, built in 1789, has just undergone a large restoration; the newly opened site has a viewing platform with grand views over the bay. There’s also an idyllic Tea Garden, from where you can stroll along the shingle, past the rainbow beach huts, towards Herne Bay.
Whitstable is seven miles north of Canterbury on the A290. Whitstable railway station is on the Chatham Main Line; trains run from London Victoria.
Whitstable Oyster Festival
whitstableoysterfestival.com
In late July the town celebrates its famed molluscs with a week of eclectic events, from live music to oyster-eating competitions and the Blessing of the Waters ceremony.
Whitstable Tourist Information Centre
7 Oxford Street, Whitstable
CT5 1DB
www.visitkent.co.uk
Whitstable Farmers’ Market
St Mary’s Hall CT5 1DD
whitstablefarmersmarket.co.uk
Wheeler’s Oyster Bar
8 High St, Whitstable CT5 1BQ
whitstable-shellfish.co.uk
Wheeler’s has been selling oysters on the High Street since 1856, and also runs the Shoreline Cookery School once a month.
The Captain’s House/
Polly’s Attic
Harbour Street, Whitstable
CT5 1AQ
ww.thecaptainshouse.org.uk
Accommodation in the Captain’s House is in the Sailing Loft. Polly’s is a studio apartment. B&B £95.
villages & market towns
Conwy, Clwyd
Blackpool Sands, Devon
Crail to Anstruther, Fife
Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire
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The 7 Most Common CGI Screw-Ups (Explained)
Photoplasties
Pictofact
Captain Picard Has A Dog Now, But Where's His Fish?
Keep Track Of Your Embarrassing Data W/This Backup Service
The Already-Forgotten Momo Challenge Spawns Two New Movies
The New 'Lion King' Is The Future Of Movies, In A Creepy Way
Christina H ·
If you've watched movies in the past 10 years, you've probably at some point complained about horrible CG, because you movie viewers are ungrateful little jackanapes.
Every time CG goes well and blends seamlessly into the movie (I bet you didn't know it was used in Brokeback Mountain), people rave about the amazing acting performances and the wonderful storyline and maybe the great soundtrack, and every time it goes wrong, everyone talks about how CG is terrible and is ruining movies.
I'm not joking, watch the video.
But that's OK, whatever, it's a job, nobody says thank you to accountants and insurance underwriters either. I can't brag to anyone about having worked on The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, but it put food on the table. But you know, as long as we're criticizing crappy CG, I thought maybe you'd like to know more about the details of how each terrible disaster unfolds behind the scenes, and more importantly, who to point fingers at.
Here's some of the more common complaints:
Skin Looks Like Plastic
One of the creepier CG sins is to make skin look like plastic. This was only one of many many things wrong with the Scorpion King character above, who actually only appeared in scorpion king form in The Mummy Returns and not in any of the three movies actually named The Scorpion King, because Hollywood likes to confuse us. (Yes, it had two direct-to-DVD sequels. No, nobody watched them.)
When moviegoers say skin "looks like plastic," it can mean a few things. Sometimes they mean faces are rigid and motionless, as if they were made of hard plastic like some kind of creepy doll, which is usually a rigging problem, which I'll talk about later. Sometimes they mean the skin has the texture of plastic, like their face has been shellacked.
Sure, this was 11 years ago, but let us note that the Rock lent his face to this hilariously shameful visual effect the same year that the first Lord of the Rings movie came out.
They hadn't reached their full potential yet (Gollum comes along in the later movies), but clearly, plastic-Rock-head-pasted-on-monster was not "the best you could expect from CG at the time" by any means.
One of the (numerous) things they would do to make Gollum look much, much less like a bad video game character than the Scorpion King was to make his skin not look like frickin plastic. The person responsible for this is the person who writes the shaders. When a character is modeled, or "sculpted" in 3-D, at first it has no color. When modelers show their work for approval, it usually looks like a statue made of dull gray clay.
In fact, freelancers will sell models at this stage. This one is going for $275 on TurboSquid:
Turbosquid.com
A shader writer is a person who writes a program that tells the computer how to "paint" the model -- not just what colors, but how shiny or dull, how bumpy or smooth, how transparent or reflective it is, depending on a bunch of factors, like whether it's facing you or you're looking at it at an angle. Lots of science.
Skin is made of a lot of layers, so it's really complex, and they were really far from figuring it out back when Toy Story was made, for example, which partially drove the decision to make the movie about a lot of plastic toys and not about humans with skin.
The big breakthrough was a thing called subsurface scattering. Read that linked tutorial if you want to find out more about it, but basically, it accounts for light bouncing around through all the layers of the skin so your character stops looking like the picture on the left and starts looking like the picture on the right:
3dtotal.com
When they finally figured this out, they used it on Gollum, The Incredibles and everything else. Any skin that looks like plastic today doesn't have the "we don't have the technology" excuse anymore. Some a*****e is dropping the ball or skimping on the budget.
Character/Vehicle Looks, Uh, Wrong
In the case of Anaconda 3, I mean this literally. The snake looks like a snake that was born, through no fault of its own, with significantly impaired cognitive function compared to other snakes.
Now, Anaconda 3 clearly had a budget of about five dollars, and for most people, that's reason enough why the CG would suck. But that makes it sound like all the problems are technology problems, like they couldn't afford computers good enough to magically make a snake that is shaped like a snake, for example. Technology and money are needed for a lot of things, like complex shading and rendering of skin and water and that kind of thing, but it doesn't take money to make a snake shaped like a snake, it just takes a person who knows what a snake looks like.
Not like this.
There's a couple of people who might have dropped the ball. One is the art design team, who usually draw up 2-D drawings of the characters they want to make for the film. These drawings get handed off to modelers, who then "sculpt" the characters in 3-D on the computer. Their finished product is the gray-clay-looking models pictured in the previous entry.
The art team might have drawn a s****y snake, or the modeler may have bungled the attempt to create a 3-D model out of it or, considering the movie we're talking about, both of them were probably the same person, the director's nephew who just got out of animation school or something along those lines.
Sometimes the blame goes a bit farther up, as there is usually a chain of command that has to approve the art team's designs, as well as the resulting models. Here's a couple of widely reviled vehicle designs courtesy of Star Wars Episode I and Star Wars Episode III:
There's nothing wrong with the execution by the modeling team -- they are very well done and realistic-looking models of stupid vehicles. The drawings were shown to the art director and the VFX supervisor, and probably went straight to the director/producer -- I don't have time to look up who that was -- and he approved it.
Ang Lee's The Hulk is going to come up a lot, because it was a VFX abomination, but one of the biggest complaints was about the unrealistically bright green skin on the title character (Jennifer Connelly). People heap a lot of scorn on the VFX team from ILM (Lucasfilms' award-winning Industrial Light & Magic) for this, but what they don't know is that their original tests had more toned-down, realistic versions of the green Hulk skin, but when they showed them to the director -- again, I don't have time to look up who directed Ang Lee's The Hulk, but you can probably find it on IMDb -- he nixed it and said, "No, it needs to be more green!"
The director's word is law, so they have to do what he says, and now everyone thinks ILM's VFX team doesn't know what skin looks like. Now people think Rhythm & Hues' team (on 2008's The Incredible Hulk) is just smarter than them.
ILM's 2003 Hulk is on the left, obviously, and R&H's on the right.
The lesson is that if you have a director or art department with no taste, there is not a thing the dozens or hundreds of CG artists can do about it, except follow orders and make the awful things.
Looks Like It Was Done in Photoshop or MS Paint
Well, while we are talking about Ang Lee's The Hulk, why not set your eyes on these beauties.
This scene actually happened in a big budget blockbuster done by ILM. Seriously, watch it. He really has that white outline around him and he really freezes in midair like he is in the end credits of an '80s sitcom, while the fire moves behind him.
I get that Ang Lee was trying to imitate the look of a comic book in the movie -- it's pretty clear from the millions of distracting, terrible split-screen effects he put in every other shot. Unfortunately, I don't think he understands that comic books have a lot of still poses because they are, you know, drawings, and not because comic book fans like all their action scenes to be a series of frozen poses. Comics fans are actually very happy about watching their heroes come off the paper and move around.
Another gem from the same movie:
Did you say to yourself, "That looks like a Photoshop filter"? Because it looks like a Photoshop filter. I think it might literally be one. I did not do anything to that image, it is a direct screenshot from a movie that cost $137 million to make. Have a closer look.
When you see this in a movie done by ILM or some otherwise respectable VFX house, there is only one explanation. The director has gone insane.
The director is always the final word on VFX, and this absolute power means they can take a group of professionals responsible for things like Jurassic Park and direct them to apply a Photoshop filter to a scene where Nick Nolte inhales gas from a vacuum hose. You usually don't see the consequences of such a drastic gap between a team's knowledge of VFX and a director's almost negative knowledge of the same because you usually don't take a guy who directs historical dramas about repressed societies and tales of longing and make him absolute dictator of a Marvel comic book movie.
(I assume for Brokeback Mountain, they reduced his level of input on VFX dramatically, because the sheep all look like sheep.)
But seeing the problem at its extreme in The Hulk kind of makes you think about how many other movies you might have been blaming the VFX team or "bad CG" in general for when the director or supervisor just happened to be an idiot.
Characters Move Like They Are Floating or Spastic
I never watched Blade II, I've only been referred to it for "some of the worst CG ever," and those people did not steer me wrong. It's the herky-jerky animation in particular that really stands out, which obviously you can't see in a still photo, so you'll have to watch the clip (check out the beginning and 2:12):
The person to point and laugh at here is the animator. After the character has been designed and the modeler has built the model, it's the animator's job to move the model around and make it run or jump or have facial expressions or, in the case of Blade II, bend and snap erratically like an unevenly weighted slinky dog.
Blade II came out the year after Jurassic Park III (skip to about 1:30) ...
... which contained raptors that moved like real animals. But again, animation isn't a technology or budget thing. Things like gravity and mass and acceleration and human anatomy haven't changed for, I don't know, like 6,000 years, since the earth was created. People have understood how to re-create it through moving drawings since the beginning of the 20th century.
Being able to animate is like being able to draw. It's about observation, study and talent. Having a low budget might mean you get bad animation only in the sense that you can't hire good animators, but there's no computer magic to animating a back flip correctly, just a guy (or girl) who knows what a back flip looks and feels like. There are cheap one-man movies with amazing animation (that one got him hired by Pixar) and expensive blockbusters with beautifully rendered, but spastic, characters.
That's why I'm calling out Jumanji, even though it was made in 1995. That might excuse the monkeys' fur and faces looking fake, and them not blending well into the scene, but it doesn't explain why the monkey coming out of the store with a monitor looks like a stormtrooper from a 1930s newsreel:
While we're here, also enjoy some American Werewolf in Paris (try 5:14 to 5:29):
I know it's hard to focus on the bad animation when there are so many other things wrong with this clip, but if you watch it enough times you'll pick it out or maybe become suicidal, one or the other.
And finally, I don't have a video to link to, but maybe a screenshot of this Star Wars Episode I scene will bring the memories flooding back:
Just like money can't buy you good dialogue, it can't buy you natural animation either.
Stiff Faces
Often cited as one of the creepiest movies ever made, sandwiched between Nosferatu and The Exorcist, Polar Express usually gets called out for its creepy eyes. While the eyes alone are sufficient to transport the viewer into the uncanny valley, another big source of unintentional horror is the stiff faces.
This is a big problem in a lot of near-photorealistic motion capture movies. They're essentially pasting a photographed human face onto the model, like a sticker wrap, and the motion of the body is lifelike, since it has all the minute swaying and tiny movements of a real actor, but facial movement is still as limited as Woody from Toy Story or Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.
More so on one than the other ...
This looks fine on Woody, since he is a cartoon toy, and his limited facial movement matches the cartoonish movement of his body and the cartoonish look of everything around him. On a near-photoreal model, however, it looks like the little girl has been embalmed and can only move her eyes and jaw.
In this scene from mocap and acting masterpiece Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, characters move their eyebrows, nose, mouth and eyes like they are all separate pieces moving independently.
Sometimes animators are to blame, because in the end, you've got to move the parts right, but most of the time, stiff faces come from limited rigs. You see, after the model is made, but before the animator starts moving it, riggers come in and rig the model with all kinds of controls. They put in a skeleton, so that if you bend a joint, the arm bends, or they designate areas on the skin (like a cheek) that move when the animator turns a dial or types in a number. This is basically like putting the strings on a marionette and handing them to the puppeteer (the animator).
Fittingly, marionettes are also creepy as hell.
If you don't give the animator any controls for cheek muscles, for example, the animator couldn't move the cheeks even if they wanted to. Human faces have, like, a million muscles (I didn't take anatomy), and you have to give animators a s**t ton of complex controls in order to make a realistic-looking human face move as realistically as it looks. They didn't have the experience or software to do it in Polar Express and Final Fantasy, but the team on Avatar managed to figure it out. So now nobody has an excuse.
These are all mocap movies, so a lot of the problem was also how to get the data from actors' faces automatically onto the CG faces, which is a pretty hard thing to do. Usually, no matter how good the process is, you still have an animator going in and touching it up, so a lot of it depends on how well a guy can look at a video of someone's face and click his mouse around on a computer to make the CG face match it.
Characters Don't Look Like They're in the Same World
The dinosaur stampede in King Kong was infamous for "looking like bad green screen." At times it looked like Adrien Brody, Jack Black and numerous forgettable cast members were actually running in front of a dinosaur movie playing on a wall behind them.
You expect that kind of laughable B-movie effect from Jean-Claude Van Damme's Derailed:
But it's kind of weird to see it in a Weta (Lord of the Rings, Avatar) movie like King Kong. All I can figure is that they were rushing the crew -- too many shots in too little time. Technically, what's wrong is the compositing. Compositing is when you take all the stuff that has to go together -- backgrounds, CG characters and props, live actors shot on green screens -- and put them all together.
It's basically like doing Photoshop on a moving picture. You get s****y compositing for pretty much the same reasons you get s****y Photoshop. The characters aren't cut out well (green screen matte extraction was done badly), the lighting doesn't match or the focus doesn't match. You can see some lighting problems here:
Even when Jack Black runs under the dinosaur and should be completely in the shade, his hat stays bright. It's not like most people really notice that specifically, but when you watch the scene play out, your brain tells you something is wrong and you can't put your finger on it. There's also some shots where the actors are way too sharp compared to the background.
I mean, yes, obviously they should be sharper than the background, because the background is moving and has motion blur, whereas the camera is following the actors, so they should be more in focus. But if they'd gotten the relative focus of each object correct, it wouldn't look like ass when you saw it in motion, and it looks like ass when you see it in motion, which means there's too much blur on something or not enough blur on something else.
Maybe it's the edges of the actors that need to be blurred to blend in. I don't know, I'm not a compositor. If you know the answer to this, try going into comp, it doesn't pay too bad if you are good at it.
Fortunately, sometimes bad compositing can be so bad it's funny, as in this Gone in 60 Seconds clip (start at about 7:22).
Here's the crucial shot if you missed it:
Man, it's like someone cut that wall open with an X-Acto knife.
Clothes Look Like They Are Pasted On
I tried to stay away from The Hulk, but these pants really have to be addressed.
These pants look like pants from a video game. A video game from 2003, when this movie came out. The fake-looking surface is a texturing/shader issue like I talked about before. It's pretty egregious, but that is not the worst thing. The worst thing is that they appear to be painted on him.
See, a character moves around when you move a skeleton, which is pretty much what it sounds like -- imagine a bunch of joints connected by wire, and then you sculpt soft clay around it. You bend the joints, and the sculpture moves. There's two ways of making the model move. One is that you say it's pretty much like clay that's attached to the skeleton. This is called "skinning." When it goes wrong, you get melty faces and Gumby elbows.
(A lot of tutorials cover the "collapsing elbow" problem.)
TrueCG.com
The other thing you can do is a simulation, which is something you do for hair and cloth and tassels and maybe dangling genitals or something. You tell it where it's attached, or pinned, to the skin or skeleton, and it sticks there, and everywhere else it uses a bunch of complex physics equations to tell it how to move. Like with a skirt, you tell it the waistband is "pinned" to the character, and the rest of it figures out what to do based on the pinning and air resistance and whatever it crashes into.
The Hulk's pants had a minimal amount of simulation, if any, so it looks like a second skin, which looks weird most of the time, but looks absolutely bizarre during certain movements, like this:
What the hell are those pants doing?
PANTS DON'T DO THAT.
THIS IS WHAT A WOMAN IN A BIKINI WOULD LOOK LIKE IF PANTS DID THAT:
OK, I've got to go watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon again so I can stop being mad at Ang Lee. Now that you are a CG expert, I will leave you with this clip as a test to see if you can identify what parts went wrong. (Hint: Everything.)
For more from Christina, check out The 5 Miserable VFX Jobs That Make Movies Possible and 4 Reasons 3-D Movies Don't Have to Suck.
5 Shady Practices Of Companies Young People Love
5 TV Characters With Secretly Tragic Character Arcs
5 Gaming Controversies That Were Mindblowingly Stupid
5 Unhelpful Things Mothers Say To Their Daughters
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